Welcome to Namibia! Upon arrival at the Windhoek International Airport this morning, you will be greeted by a local representative and shown to your light aircraft for boarding. This flight will take you over the central highlands of Namibia, before descending after the escarpment and venturing on over the Namib Desert, ultimately landing at the Geluk Airstrip in the Kulala Wilderness Reserve. This scenic flight will be the perfect introduction to Africa, as you soar over the spectacular wilderness and begin your safari adventure!

Upon arrival at the Geluk Airstrip, you will be met by your local guide, who will transfer you directly to the Kulala Desert Lodge. Get settled into your room and start exploring the beautiful surroundings of Sossusvlei on a variety of lodge activities!

*Please note that you will need to arrive in Windhoek no later than 12:00 PM, in order to make your domestic charter flight connection.

Sossusvlei

This place, this isolated, dry, epic, desolate place, is why you came to Namibia. Sossusvlei is a sea of red sand unlike any other, seemingly transplanted directly from Mars. Sunrises and sunsets light the sand on fire, and constant wind causes landscapes to change entirely, ensuring that no two visits to Sossusvlei are the same. Any native life one finds here is barely clinging to the term, and long-dead trees are often the only break in landscape. Make no mistake, Sossusvlei is one of the most beautiful places you will ever see, though your definition of beauty may be changed by your time here.

Namib Naukluft National Park

Rise and shine early this morning, for an enchanting excursion into the Namib Naukluft National Park. Alongside your guide, you will enter the park gates at sunrise, to capture the dunes at the magical time when the light is soft and the shadows accentuate their towering shapes and curves. This area boasts some of the highest free-standing sand dunes in the world. As you explore, your guide will teach you about the formation of the Namib Desert and its myriad of fascinating creatures and plants that have adapted to survive in these harsh environs. Take a break to enjoy some refreshments and admire the views, before returning to the Kulala Desert Lodge.

You will arrive back at the lodge in the early afternoon, just in time for a delicious lunch. The rest of this afternoon can be spent at your leisure. Following such an early morning wake up call to see the dunes, this relaxing free time is welcomed and appreciated by most! However, if you're feeling up for it, you may want to embark on another guided lodge activity within the Kulala Wilderness Reserve. Perhaps an exploration of the incredible Sesriem Canyon!

After a leisurely breakfast this morning, you will be transferred back to the local airstrip in good time to board your 10:00 AM light aircraft flight into the heart of Damaraland. On this aerial adventure, you will fly across the dune belt to meet the picturesque Atlantic, before continuing north to the coastal retreat of Swakopmund. You will stop here to refuel the plane.

From Swakopmund, your journey proceeds further north to reach the Doro Nawas Airstrip, landing at 11:40 AM. Upon arrival, you will be welcomed by your private naturalist guide, who will accompany you for the next few days of your safari. You will then be transferred on the 30 minute drive from the airstrip to Camp Kipwe, making sure to arrive in time for lunch.

*Please note that for an additional cost, this flight can also be arranged as a private charter scenic flight. Private charters showcase the most beautiful views of the region and offer a truly once in a lifetime experience.

The rest of this afternoon can be spent as you desire. You may want to embark on a guided excursion to visit the rock engravings at the World Heritage Site of Twyfelfontein and other nearby geological sites. You will return to the camp before sunset, with time to freshen up before dinner. Pre-dinner drinks on Kipwe’s sundowner rock, a short stroll from the camp, is never a bad idea too! Later this evening, you can exchange stories by the fire.

Damaraland

Central Namibia is dominated by a series of plateaus at its higher elevations, and it's on these plateaus where life has found a way to thrive. Winding rivers and active springs dot the landscapes of Damaraland, attracting giraffes, elephants, zebras, antelopes and even the rare black rhino. The relatively livable environment also allowed for early man to build societies here, leaving behind evidence of their passing via fascinating rock engravings - some of the oldest in the world. Damaraland is one piece of a landscape puzzle that is necessary for a complete picture of Namibia's awesome space and scope.

4x4 Safari Excursion

Following this morning's breakfast, you will be treated to an exciting 4x4 safari excursion along the ephemeral Aba Huab River Valley! This tour offers the opportunity to not only explore more of this remarkable region, but to also track down the beautiful wildlife! The elusive desert adapted elephants are always on the top of the list, if they happen to be in the area. Damaraland is home to an impressive variety of desert adapted wildlife and hidden desert treasures. At the end of your desert discovery, you will head back the camp to enjoy lunch and a lazy siesta.

If you're up for it, your guide can arrange a visit to Twyfelfontein and other nearby attractions later this afternoon. Alternatively, you may also wish to accompany your guide on a walk into the local area around camp, to learn more about the community. Of course, you are always welcome to just relax and enjoy yourself in the comforts of the camp as well!

Damaraland Exploration

This morning you will have an early departure from Camp Kipwe as you make your way north deeper into the heart of Damaraland. You will then continue on your journey, having a picnic lunch en route, and you will arrive at the Okaukuejo Resort, located inside the Etosha National Park, in the early afternoon. This rest camp’s focus is the popular floodlit waterhole, where guests can easily linger all day and watch the wildlife come and go. The basic accommodation, hosting and food is reasonably adequate for the value this rustic rest camp offers; the focus of this camp is its prime location being situation inside the park and thus you can dedicate as much time as possible on game drives within the Etosha National Park, subject to park regulations.

Etosha National Park

Etosha, meaning "Great White Place," is dominated by a massive mineral pan. The pan is part of the Kalahari Basin, the floor of which was formed around 1000 million years ago. The pan is now a large dusty depression of salt and clay which fills only if the rains are heavy and even then it only holds water for a short time. This temporary water in the Etosha Pan attracts thousands of wading birds including impressive flocks of flamingos. The perennial springs along the edges of the Etosha Pan draw large concentrations of wildlife and birds. Ranking as one of Africa's top wildlife viewing destinations, Etosha is your opportunity for a more traditional game viewing safari in an otherwise nontraditional African travel destination.

Game Drive & Wildlife Excursions

This morning's guided adventure consists of an exhilarating game drive within the wonders of Etosha National Park! This activity offers the chance to discover a wide variety of game and bird species that call this beautiful destination home. Admiring the wildlife in their natural habitat is something that is truly spectacular. And within the unpredictable action of the game, every drive offers something new and exciting! Head back to the camp this afternoon, to enjoy lunch and relax by the swimming pool. Before sunset, you will have the opportunity for another game drive out in the wild.

Alternatively, you may decide to spend the entire day out in the park. You can venture out to one of the other rest camps in the area to enjoy lunch this afternoon. Or, you can take a picnic lunch along with you, to eat while watching game at a particularly active waterhole in the area. Back at the camp this evening, the rest of the day can be spent game viewing at the camp’s floodlit waterhole and sharing stories with other guests.

AfriCat Foundation

Enjoy one last breakfast at the Okaukuejo Camp this morning, before packing up the car and making your way south from the Etosha National Park, through the small towns of Outjo and Otjiwarongo, along the way to the Okonjima Day Center. You will arrive just in time to enjoy lunch, before taking an exciting and informative game drive and tour of the center. Your guide will teach you all about the function and vision of the inspiring AfriCat Foundation during this interactive excursion. You will even get to meet some of the Foundation’s special carnivore ambassadors.

At the end of your tour, you will be driven to the luxurious Okonjima Bush Camp, where you will spend the final two nights of your trip. Your total driving time today will be around 3 hours. These last few days in Okonjima offer the unique opportunity to appreciate a deeper insight into the work being done by the AfriCat Foundation. Getting to see more of the cheetah, leopard and other big cats in the wild, will quickly make you understand the significance of the Foundation's influential mission.

Okonjima Nature Reserve

Okonjima Nature Reserve is famously known as the home of the AfriCat Foundation, an organization dedicated to revitalizing Namibia's wild cat population. Because of this exclusive attraction, there may not be a better destination in the world to ensure wild leopard or cheetah sightings, than here. Halfway between Windhoek and Etosha National Park, Okonjima also serves as a convenient stopping point between these two highlights. If you're feeling particularly brave, walking safaris are available, to truly get up close and personal with the wild cats.

The Okonjima Bush Camp offers you the most elegant way of getting up close and personal with Namibia's wildlife. You may want to simply relax pool side in the midst of this incredible setting, while you keep your eye out for the wildlife passing by. However, you may also be interested in partaking in some of the optional activities on offer at the Camp, not included with your stay. These excursions involve large carnivore tracking on foot, leopard viewing tours, game drives or self guided nature trail walks, just to name a few. You may also be interested in learning more about The Cheetah Project or the Africat Foundation, that the camp strongly supports.

A specialty tour, offered only at the Bush Camp, for those feeling very adventurous, can join the nocturnal animals tour. After dinner, you could partake in the nocturnal hide, where you may view 'Nightlife' such as porcupine, honey-badgers and caracal, among others or join in on a guided night-drive into the Nature Reserve. Whether you are enjoying the scenery on your own, or actively in search of the excitement, you are sure not to be disappointed!

Sadly, your journey through the pristine wilderness of Namibia must come to an end today. However, you will be leaving with unforgettable memories and the experience of a lifetime! After checking out of the Okonjima Bush Camp, you will be transferred back to the Windhoek International Airport, a drive of around 3 hours. You will be dropped off with plenty of time for your 2 hour mandatory check in procedure prior to your international departure flight home. We hope you had an incredible trip and we wish you safe and pleasant travels!

*Please note that you will need to book your international outbound flight no earlier than 4:30 PM, in order to allow for enough time to transfer back to Windhoek and check in at the airport.