Suggested Routes & Holiday Ideas - ITINERARY-9
A Namibian Adventure
Summary of the Route
From the sea of sand dunes in the south, to the harsh landscape of Damaraland in the north, and across to the wildlife rich plains of the Etosha National Park, Namibia is a truly stunning country full on contrasts. The vastness of the country will both impress and delight first time visitors, and returning visitors will always find somewhere new to explore and enjoy.
ITINERARY-9Sample Itinerary For This Route
Below is a sample itinerary that follow this route.
*Prices are per adult sharing and are fixed in South African Rand (R).
Prices exclude international flights - ask us if you would like to include these.
Accommodation varies from comfortable guest houses and rustic style cabins, to luxury 5* lodges, and many people choose to combine stays at both to maximise both their budget and Namibian experience.
Depending on the timing of your flights in and out of Windhoek you might choose to add a day or two in Namibia's capital at the start or end of your trip.
Below is a short summary of just SOME of the highlights of a trip to this country.
The Dunes of Sossusvlei
On arrival at your destination, the vast silence will engulf you, and immediately you leave any troubles behind. Whilst the journey to get there is long, it is truly worth the effort...
The contrast between the clear blue skies, deep red dunes, and the cracked white base of the dry lakes (vleis) lends itself to some truly stunning photography, and climbing the easily accessible dunes to get a view over the spectacular 'dune sea' is unforgettable.
Balloon rides and scenic flights are very popular as well, and provide a fabulous opportunity to see the full extent of the dune sea which the Namib Desert is so famous for.
Damaraland
Boasting spectacular desert vistas, some of the most impressive mountains in Namibia, plants that live for hundreds of years and starry nights that can take your breath away - Damaraland is certainly a beautiful region.
Famous for its rare desert elephants and free-roaming black rhino, Damaraland is one of the few places in Southern Africa where the magnificent wildlife of Africa can be found outside of National Parks or private game reserves, and co-exist with traditional villages and farms.
A 2 night stay here would allow you ample time to explore your surrounds, and go in search of the ever-elusive desert elephants, and so much more...
The Grandeur of Etosha National Park
The 22,000 km² Etosha National Park in the north of Namibia offers some of the finest wildlife viewing in Africa, and is one of the undisputed highlights of any visit to the country.
The Park is home to 114 different mammal species, including 4 of the Big 5 - leopard, lion, elephant and rhino (both black and white), and has recorded nearly 400 species of bird, and over 110 species of reptile.
Etosha is also home to 3 uncommon antelope species - the beautiful black-faced impala, the roan antelope, and Southern Africa's smallest antelope, the Damara dik-dik, which stands only 40cm to the shoulder as a fully grown male adult.
Fish River Canyon
At 160 km in length, up to 27 km wide in places, and a depth reaching up to 550 m, the Fish River Canyon is one of Southern Africa's most stunning natural features.
The Fish River Canyon is situated between the Namib and Kalahari deserts, and the only roads to it are across vast areas of flat and barren landscapes, sparsely populated with desert plants, quiver trees and cacti.
As a result of this physical isolation, the whole place feels magical and unvisited, despite being a major tourist attraction.
The Skeleton Coast
The Skeleton Coast gets its name from the huge number of shipwrecks that have happened on the treacherous rocks over the centuries since the early Portuguese and Dutch explorers attempted find a route around Africa to India.
Today, this eerie coastline of sand dunes and fog has been preserved as a National Park, but the more pristine and remote northern area can only be visited by joining an exclusive fly-in safari or tour.
Access to this area is tightly controlled, but certainly worth it, and you get to enjoy highlights such as towering sand dunes, deep canyons and remote mountains, desert elephants, shipwrecks and huge seal colonies.
Okonjima, home of the AfriCat Foundation
Okonjima is the home of the AfriCat Foundation, a non-profit organisation dedicated to the conservation and welfare of Namibia's wild predators, especially cheetahs and leopards.
The Foundation takes on a large number of cats who are caught on farmlands, including orphaned cubs.
The AfriCat Cheetah Rehabilitation project was initiated to give some of the cheetah orphans an opportunity to return to their natural environment, and once they have proved that they can hunt and sustain themselves, they are relocated to private game reserves.
Swakopmund
Surrounded on 3 sides by the Namib desert, and on the 4th by the Atlantic Ocean, Swakopmund is Namibia's busiest resort town and offers a huge array of activities, an interesting German heritage, and some of the friendliest people in Southern Africa.
Being on the Atlantic coast, Swakopmund offers a cooling respite from the hotter temperatures of the inland hot desert, but this can have its disadvantages too.
Occasionally, a thick grey fog will envelop the town, quickly transforming the sunny holiday resort into a dreary place where you only venture outside if totally necessary - so keep your fingers crossed that this happens when you are in a bar!
Windhoek
The capital of Namibia, Windhoek, is a pleasant city set at an altitude of just over 1,600m amongst rolling hills right in the centre of the country.
Windhoek is a very compact town, and all of the main places of interest in the town centre can be easily reached on foot.
The Alte Fest, or Old Fort, is the oldest surviving building in Windhoek, and is set in a commanding position overlooking the city. Its whitewashed walls now house the National Museum of Namibia, which covers the history of Namibia.
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