Welcome to Namibia! Upon arrival in Windhoek, a local representative will collect you either from the International Airport or your local hotel, from where your adventure will officially start.

Leaving Windhoek behind, you will be driven via safari vehicle with your guide and driver. The journey will begin southwest through the scenic Khomas Hochland highlands, before heading down the Great Escarpment into the Namib Desert below. Along the way, you will stop for a picnic lunch at a scenic location. You will arrive at the Sossus Dune Lodge by the mid-afternoon. This will be your home base for the next two nights, as you explore the remarkable sights of the Namib Desert with your guide.

If there is still time today, your guide will take you to visit Sesriem Canyon, a nearby geological attraction, or to explore Elim Dune. However, if you prefer, you can simply kick back, relax and soak in the scenic and tranquil surroundings at the Lodge.

**PLEASE NOTE: Guests must arrive before 8:00 AM otherwise you must plan to arrive a day earlier and overnight in Windhoek so you can make today's pickup time.

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

This morning, you will need to rise bright and early for a magical excursion with your guide in the Namib Naukluft National Park. Typically, you will set off on this tour before sunrise, in order to capture the dunes at a time when the light is soft and the shadows accentuate the towering shapes and curves. This area boasts some of the highest free-standing sand dunes in the world and this morning your guide will give you an insight on the formation of the Namib Desert and its myriad of fascinating creatures and plants that have adapted to survive this harsh environment.

Once you have explored Sossusvlei, Deadvlei and surrounding dune fields to your heart’s content, you can enjoy a relaxed picnic brunch in the shade of a camel thorn tree. You will then return to the Lodge in the early afternoon, with time to relax and freshen up before a late lunch. You will also have the option of visiting Sesriem Canyon afterwards, if you didn't have the chance to do so yesterday. The rest of the afternoon will be left at your leisure, which, from experience, is usually welcomed after an exhilarating early morning in the dunes!

Journey to the Coast

The fascinating drive today, will take you on a journey northwest through the picturesque and ever changing desert landscapes of the Namib Naukluft National Park, including the impressive Gaub and Kuiseb canyons. You will eventually meet the scenic coast at the port town of Walvis Bay, from where you will continue north to Swakopmund. This is where you will be staying for the next two nights for a taste of Namibia's pleasant seaside and to soak up the cooler coastal air. There will be time this afternoon to explore the town and wander along the waterfront on foot, before heading off for dinner at a popular restaurant which specializes in fresh seafood. Cheers!

Additional options at an extra cost on this day: The option to include a sunrise balloon flight early this morning or the option to embark on a scenic light aircraft flight over the Namib Naukluft National Park en route to Swakopmund, rather than an overland journey by vehicle.

* The accommodations in Swakopmund is subject to change based on availability. Similar centrally located guesthouse will be substituted if The Delight Swakopmund is not available.

Swakopmund

From its name, to its architecture, to its residents, it's hard to ignore German colonization's influence on Swakopmund, and Namibia as a whole. The German tourists that frequent this city certainly feel at home here, and with its seaside promenade and authentically laid back attitude, you certainly will as well. You can spend the day on one of its many beaches, or venture out to partake in one of many available adventure activities. Surfing, sand boarding, sky diving, it's all here in Namibia's adventure sports capital. Lastly, Swakopmund is also the gateway into the Skeleton Coast to the north, making it a likely stop on your way into this fascinating region.

Walvis Bay Exploration

Following an early breakfast this morning, your guide will drive you along the scenic coastal road back south to Walvis Bay for a memorable kayaking adventure within the outer lagoon. After meeting your kayaking guide, you will be taken on a short drive to Pelican Point to see its lighthouse and windswept beauty, stopping briefly at the salt works, where you can observe the variety of bird life on your way to the launch point. This kayaking tour will be an ideal way to see Cape fur seals, heaviside and bottlenose dolphins, pelicans, flamingos and a wide variety of other sea birds. If you are lucky, you may even catch a sighting of whales, leatherback turtles and sunfish. During the course of the day, your guide will stop and inform you about the surrounding environment. Light refreshments will be served on the beach, before heading back to Walvis Bay.

Should the kayaking tour not appeal to you, you will also have the choice to partake in a motorized boat seal and dolphin excursion within the outer lagoon and harbor. This option would afford you the same chance to admire the wildlife you would while kayaking. During the course of this excursion, snacks will be served along with local sparkling wine and fresh oysters, before returning to the jetty in the midday.

After touring, you will have the opportunity to further explore the waterfront area of Walvis Bay on your own, before returning to Swakopmund for an afternoon at your leisure. Activities such as camel rides, scenic flights, sandboarding and more, can all be booked at an extra cost, should you desire.

* The accommodations in Swakopmund is subject to change based on availability. Similar centrally located guesthouse will be substituted if The Delight Swakopmund is not available.

Unique Landscapes & Geological Sites

Continuing on your safari today, the road takes you north and east into the wonderful and diverse region of Damaraland. Along the way, you will pass Namibia’s highest mountain, the Brandberg, which peaks at 2,573 m above sea level. Of course, the drive will also reward you with plenty of opportunities to view the game and absorb the vastness of the scenery. Damaraland is characterized by rich displays of color, magnificent table topped mountains, unique rock formations and bizarre-looking vegetation. The present day landscape has been formed by the erosion of wind, water and geological forces, which have created rolling hills, dunes, gravel plains and ancient river terraces. It is the variety and loneliness of the area, as well as the scenic splendor, which will impress and astound you, offering an authentic understanding of the word 'wilderness'.

If time allows later this afternoon, your guide will take you to visit the nearby attractions and geological sites of the pre-historic Twyfelfontein rock engravings. This UNESCO World Heritage Site showcases boulders and slabs of red sandstone that present some 2,500 prehistoric engravings that depict wildlife, animal spoor and abstract motifs. It is perhaps the largest and finest collection of petroglyphs in all of Africa. However, not to worry if the day gets away from you, there will be plenty of time to see them tomorrow instead.

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

After an early morning breakfast, you will be treated to an exciting 4x4 excursion along the ephemeral Aba Huab and Huab River Valleys. Explore this remarkable region and search for game, including the elusive desert adapted elephants, if they are in the area. Damaraland is home to a variety of desert adapted wildlife and hidden desert treasures. As the elephants are mostly active in the mornings, you will normally have the best chance to see them then, just as the day begins to break. Following an exciting adventure, you will return to Camp for lunch, however, if everyone in your safari group agrees, you may also have the option to pack a picnic lunch, stopping to eat it offsite the Camp, in the shade of a large Ana tree by the riverbed. This option will allow you the entertainment of watching a nearby herd of elephant browsing, as you munch on your snacks.

Your guide will make sure to arrange visits to Twyfelfontein and other nearby attractions today, if you were not able to fit them into your schedule yesterday. When it is time to head back to Camp later in the day, there should be time to take a leisurely walk into the local area with your guide if desired, or of course, simply relaxing and enjoying some well-deserved rest is always encouraged as well.

Today you set off on your journey to the Ongava Game Reserve, which is situated on the southern border of Etosha National Park. You arrive in time for an afternoon game drive on the Ongava Game Reserve in an open game viewer with Ongava ranger, on shared basis with other lodge guests.

Ongava Game Reserve: The Ongava Game Reserve is effectively a private game reserve, spanning 30,000 hectares along the south-west border of Etosha National Park. The reserve is home to a wide variety of game including lion, leopard, giraffe, rhino, Hartmann’s mountain zebra, gemsbok (oryx), kudu, steenbok and much more. The scenery is attractive with large open plains blending into Mopane tree woodlands and dolomite outcrops.

Southern Etosha National Park

Today you will be treated to an exciting morning guided game drive into the Etosha National Park, to see more of the wide variety of game and bird species that are to be found there. There is then time to relax by the refreshing swimming pool before you head out again for an afternoon game drive into Etosha before exiting the park before sunset. Alternatively, you can opt to spend the whole day out in the park and either take lunch by one of the other rest camps in the area, or have a picnic while watching game at a particularly productive waterhole in the area. Once you are back (gates close at sunset), the rest of the evening can be spent game viewing at the camp’s floodlit waterhole while enjoying dinner, and afterwards.

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.

Full Day Game Activities

Another morning dedicated to memorable game drives within the southern section of Etosha National Park with your guide. You return to camp for lunch and an early afternoon rest, spending your final afternoon on a game drive on the private Ongava Game Reserve. You then return after sunset with enough time to freshen up and enjoy your final ‘safari dinner’ overlooking the camp’s floodlit waterhole.

AfriCat Foundation

Your early departure this morning, will take you south via Outjo and Otjiwarongo, to reach Okonjima’s AfriCat Day Center. This is the perfect highlight with which to conclude your safari. The AfriCat Foundation is a wildlife sanctuary, which focuses on the research and rehabilitation of Africa's big cats, especially injured or captured leopard and cheetah. You will arrive at the Center in time for lunch, before embarking on an informative game drive and tour. You will have the chance to learn about the function and vision of the Foundation and will also get to meet some of the special carnivore ambassadors.

PLEASE NOTE: There will be no tracking of wild cats on this visit and should that be required an overnight extension should be booked (ask our agents for more details).

After this excursion, your journey continues further south, arriving back in Windhoek by the late afternoon, just as the sun is setting. Upon your arrival in Windhoek, you will be transferred to your accommodations or the Windhoek International Airport. Please note that departure flights must be no earlier than 9:00 PM, to allow sufficient time for the AfriCat Foundation visit. A final night in Windhoek is highly recommended to relax and reminisce before returning home!

*** Please note that you have the option to extend your safari for an additional night or two at Okonjima's Luxury Bush Camp. This extension affords you the opportunity to get a more in-depth insight into the work being done by the AfriCat Foundation, as well as getting to see more of cheetah, leopard and other big cats in the wild.