Wonders of Namibia

After a hearty breakfast you continue your journey southwest to the Namib Desert. You travel back to Mariental and on to Maltahohe, a small farming settlement on the edge of the escarpment. Heading down the escarpment mountains you need to be alert sections of the road are steep with some sharp beds. Drive slowly and carefully. You will reach your overnight accommodation on the edge of the Namib dune sea later this afternoon. Relax at the swimming pool and enjoy the late afternoon light on the mountains.

Wake up early and leave your lodge, heading for the Sesriem entrance gate to the Namib Naukluft Park. This gate only opens at sunrise, so there is no point arriving earlier. Driving the 60 kilometres from Sesriem through the dunes towards Sossusvlei while the sun rises is a real pleasure. The first major dune you will encounter goes by the imaginative name of Dune 45—many people choose to stop and climb this dune but we suggest you continue onwards towards Sossusvlei. Park at the 2×4 car park (unless you have a 4×4 vehicle this is as far as you can drive), Sossusvlei is a further 4km from here but you are already amongst fairly large dunes. The walk along the dry riverbed into Sossusvlei is lovely but for the very unfit or terminally lazy, there are 4×4 shuttles from the car park to Sossusvlei. Deadvlei, so named because it is a large pan with sculptural dead trees, is close by and definitely worth a visit.

The fascinating drive today takes you northwest through the awesome and ever-changing desert landscapes of the Namib Naukluft National Park, including the impressive Gaub and Kuiseb canyons.
Stop in Solitaire to refuel. The bakery is pretty good too.
There are a host of adventure activities to participate in while in Swakopmund. These range from sandboarding through quad biking to sky-diving. No activities are included in this package but they can be pre-arranged when you book this itinerary or left for you to arrange on arrival in Swakopmund. Being a German-inspired town, good food and beer are never hard to find. We are sure you will find something productive to do!

When you’re there: there are plenty of shops and attractions in Swakopmund. Curios and good food on every corner. Enjoy the beach. There are loads of activities on offer, this is Namibia’s activity centre. Visit the Walvis Bay Lagoon, where you can see flamingos, pelicans and numerous waders.

Continuing on your safari today, the road takes you north and east into the wonderful and diverse region of Damaraland. You’ll pass Namibia’s highest mountain, the Brandberg which peaks at 2,573m above sea level. Take time to view the game and absorb the vastness of the scenery along the way. Damaraland is typified by displays of colour, magnificent table-topped mountains, rock formations and bizarre-looking vegetation.
Book an activity with the lodge to search for the elephants. They know the area well and when last the elephants were spotted and where.

Today, you’ll have the choice of exploring the sites of Damaraland on your own vehicle to your next destination Palmwag Lodge. Your lodge for tonight, where the flat-topped Etendeka Mountains and the carpet of rich red rock greet the tributaries of the Uniab River.

The drive to Etosha National Park is a scenic few hours through more of Damaraland’s singular beauty. The Anderson Gate is much closer to Damaraland and will take about three hours to Okaukuejo Resort, home to one of the most popular waterholes in the Etosha National Park. It is instrumental in the dry seasons when the animals have no natural water elsewhere in the region. They are all congregating around the Okaukuejo waterhole.

It is really worth waking up early and heading out on your game drive as soon as the gates open at sunrise. Animals are most active in the cool of the day (early morning & late afternoon). In order to maximise your chances of good viewings, it is worth imitating their behaviour. The roads in Etosha have unsealed gravel but are in reasonable condition—and the general tourist behaviour is to drive between various waterholes searching for animals. As the day gets hotter, head for shade, and lunch, at one of the park’s three camps, Okaukuejo, Namutoni or Halali. When things start to cool down again, head out for another game drive.

With a long day of game driving ahead of you, it is best to pack up early and get into the swing of things as soon as the gates open at sunrise. The gravel roads are usually in decent condition, an advantage as you head from waterhole to waterhole in search of mammals all the way west to Halali.

Hopefully, by now you will have seen everything the park has to offer and are ready to move on to Mushara Lodge for a relaxing and pampering afternoon around the pool and sip a cocktail.
The name Mushara is derived from the purple-pod Terminalia tree which grows abundantly on the lodge grounds and in the surroundings. The thatched public area includes a small library with a selection of good books, a bar with an extensive wine cellar, an airy lounge complete with a welcoming fireplace for winter evenings, a dining area and a well-stocked curio shop. Great attention has been paid to the décor, which is an eclectic blend of traditional African and modern works of art mixed with original older paintings.

Your destination is Okonjima and the AfriCat Foundation. Apart from the beautiful location, stunning accommodations and wonderful meals, the main reason for visiting Okonjima is to view cats. Activities here centre around viewing leopards and cheetahs, visiting a night hide and generally learning about what the AfriCat Foundation is doing to preserve these wonderful animals. Activities are not included in the package.

Depart Okonjima drive via Okahandja to Windhoek. In Okahandja, you can stop over at the Kavango woodcarvers market, have a look around or buy some last souvenirs. You will arrive in Windhoek at around noon. After check-in, you’ll have some time to do some shopping in the city centre.

After breakfast at the guesthouse, you will still have time to do some shopping before heading to the Hosea Kutako International Airport, where you’ll check-in for the onward or homeward flight.