Culture and Nature (Low Season) Accommodated Tour

This morning, A Tour Guide from Nali Safaris will collect you from your various accommodation establishments or from the Windhoek International Airport (assuming you land before 08h00). You then depart Windhoek in your safari vehicle with your private guide and head north via Okahandja town for a short visit to a local market, to shop for woodcarvings and curios. The local community operates the stalls on a co-operative basis and the market is a perfect place to do last minute shopping for truly Namibian souvenirs.

En-route we visit the Herero tribe village that seeks to document and preserve the heritage and culture of the Ovaherero People. On arrival, friendly guides will usher you into their heritage passed through generational oral story telling, taking you on a interactive guided tour of the village, entering houses showing how the Ovaherero people live, collect and prepare food, their perfumes and costumes.

The guides will explain different facets of the Ovaherero people including their belief system and customs, initiation ceremonies, marriage, economic system, construction of houses. Guests are encouraged to touch, feel and taste during the tour, as well as ask questions to the villagers and guides.

We then proceed to Okonjima Africat Foundation, the highlight at this sanctuary is the tracking of cheetah and leopard safaris. Okonjima Africat Foundation is situated halfway between the capital Windhoek and the Etosha National Park, the 55,000 acre Okonjima Game Reserve has some of the best accommodation in Namibia.  We arrive in good time to join excursion at the foundation.

If there is still time, you will be taken on a tour during which you will be able to meet, close-up-and-personal, some of the cheetah that are going through the Africat rehabilitation programme. Most of the animals currently living at Okonjima have been rescued from various desperate situations, being orphaned or caught in a trap, and the aim of the rehabilitation process is to attempt to re-introduce them into the wild.

After your early morning excursion and branch meal, we depart to Etosha National Park. We arrive late afternoon in Etosha area just 40 meters outside Etosha National Park at your accommodation of Mokuti Etosha Lodge and you will stay here for one night whilst you explore the remarkable sights of the eastern side of the park with your guide. If there is still time today, your guide will take you to nearby wildlife waterholes to begin your wildlife viewing experience. However, if you prefer, you can just relax and soak in the scenic and tranquil surroundings at the lodge.

Arriving at Mokuti – a mere 40 meters from the Etosha Gate – is an experience on its own. A new contemporary safari experience greets you and will leave you speechless as you arrive at the Porte Cochere with its uninterrupted view through the lobby to the pool bar. The gardens are magnificent, with cool rippling water features that accompany you as you step out of the lobby to the water lounge. Uninterrupted views and gardens that interact with the living spaces create an inviting, friendly, comfortable and relaxing atmosphere, which sets the tone for your stay at Mokuti Etosha.

This morning you will need to rise early for a magical wildlife encounter’s experience with your guide in the famous Etosha National Park, normally setting off before sunrise with luck on your side, you will observe nocturnal animals in the early mornings. Today you will spend a full day in this world-class game park in your touring vehicle, visiting a number of waterholes to observe the wildlife.

Etosha translated, means ‘The place of dry water’ and here we get our first view of the magnificent salt pan.  Etosha National Park is home to 114 different mammal species including zebra, springbok, eland, oryx, kudu, giraffe and the all-important big four: the lion, the leopard, the elephant and black and white rhino.  The wide variety of animals guarantee impressive game viewing.  Etosha is also a bird watchers’ paradise, with more than 340 bird species recorded in the park.

**Memorable Moment: The Etosha Pan is a vast, bare, open expanse of shimmering green and white that covers around 4 800km², almost a quarter of the beautiful Etosha National Park.  At 130 km’s long and up to 50km’s wide in places, it is comfortably the largest salt pan in Africa and is the park’s most distinctive and dramatic feature, visible even from space.**

You then make a lunch stop at Halali Wildlife Resort located in the middle of the park. After lunch you proceed with game viewing on your way to overnight accommodation, Okaukuejo Wildlife Resort. The rest of the remainder of the afternoon is at your leisure (from experience, this is usually welcomed after an exhilarating full day game viewing seated in the vehicle).

After sunset floodlights illuminate the waterhole. This is the best time and place to see the endangered black rhino. This archaic mammal can often be seen drinking alongside lion and elephant. The number and interaction of the animals is the major drawcard of Okaukuejo Rest Camp in Namibia.

Today we have two sets of game drives, a morning and afternoon game drive. We spend another day in Etosha’s unique desert landscape searching out for amongst other animals it’s large population of elephants and marvelling at its prolific bird life. Unlike other parks in Africa, where you can spend days looking for animals, Etosha’s charm lies in its ability to bring the animals to you. Just park your car next to one of the many water holes, then wait and watch while a host of animals – lions, elephants, springboks, gemsboks etc. – come not two by two but by the hundreds.

Etosha’ s essence is the vast Etosha Pan, an immense, flat, saline desert that, for a few days each year, is converted by rain into a shallow lagoon teeming with flamingos and pelicans. In contrast, late in the dry season, everything, from the elephants to the once-golden grasslands, seems cast, spectrelike, in Etosha’s white chalky dust. And what wildlife there is! Even if you’ve had a taste of African wildlife watching previously, you are likely to be mesmerized by it here.

We rise early this morning for a day which is sure to prove most memorable. With their intricate hairstyles and traditional adornments, the Himba are one of Namibia’s most distinctive tribes. We spend time with these proud people, learning about their captivating heritage and special way of life. From the small settlement near Kamanjab we then head via Khorixas, the capital of the Damaraland region, before arriving at our accommodation we visit the Petrified Forest which dates back millions of years and offers a haunting landscape of gigantic fossilised trees, we arrive at our lodge in the afternoon.

An early start to see the highlights of Damaraland – one of the last true wilderness areas in Africa. Craggy mountains and table-flat plateaux unfolding towards deep-red kopjes and oft-dry plains: rocks are the key to Damaraland’s scenic beauty. With no permanent rivers, few inhabitants and a smattering of wildlife, this is a place to unwind, to watch and to wonder.  We visit the rock engravings at Twyfelfontein, the fascinating geological features such as the Organ Pipes, Burnt Mountain and Damara Living Museum. 

Twyfelfontein: A true landmark situated in the heart of one of the world’s most magnificent wilderness regions. Declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site, Twyfelfontein in Damaraland is home to one of the largest collections of rock-art engravings found in Southern Africa. Not only did the Khoi-San and tribes of ancient years leave us with a true cultural heritage, but the whole area is characterised by natural wonders such as Doros Crater, Burnt Mountain, Organ Pipes, Petrified Forest and desert-adapted animals – of which the desert-adapted elephant is probably the most well-known species.

After visiting the rock art engravings and geological sites, we depart to the charming coastal town of Swakopmund. The drive today takes you southwest through awesome and ever changing landscapes passing through some small settlement town of Uis. You will meet the ocean at the coastal town of Henties Bay and then continue south to Swakopmund where you can enjoy the pleasant seaside location and cooler coastal air for your next two nights. 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 locally harvested seafood.

Swakopmund resembles a small, German coastal resort nestled between the desert and the sea. It boasts a charming combination of German colonial architecture blended with modern hotels, shops, restaurants, museums, craft centres, galleries and cafés. Swakopmund had its beginnings as a landing station in 1892 when the German Imperial Navy erected beacons on the site. Settlers followed and made attempts to create a harbor town by constructing a concrete Mole and then an iron jetty – which attempts were ultimately unsuccessful.

The advent of World War one halted developments, and the town sank into decline until half a century later when infrastructure improved and an asphalt road opened between Windhoek and Swakopmund. This made reaching the previously isolated town quicker and easier and it prospered once again to become Namibia’s premier resort town. Although the sea is normally cold for swimming there are pleasant beaches and the cooler climate is refreshing after time spent in the desert.

You rise early today and have your breakfast and your tour guide will drive you to Walvis Bay for the memorable excursion of the Full Day Shipwreck Sandwich Harbor Excursion (activity on own account). You check in at the office located at Walvis Bay Waterfront at 08h00 for a departure shortly thereafter.  After a short break at the Walvis Bay Lagoon to see masses of flamingos, the drive initially takes us through our exclusive Concession area to the Kuiseb river delta, a dry riverbed where the odd springbok may still be seen. 

We proceed on a route through the dunes and along the beach, stopping at various spots along the spectacular Sandwich Harbor lagoon.  We drive southwards on narrow stretches of beach where the majestic dunes of the Namib Desert roll into the sea. We will arrive at the Shawnee ship wreck late morning.  Namibia’s coast’s rough seas, roaring winds and strong ocean currents are primarily responsible for a number of shipwrecks strewn along the Namibian coast.  One of these is the Shawnee, a transport tug that ran aground in mysterious circumstances on 6th February 1976.   Now wedged on a narrow stretch between the ocean and the dunes, it is home to a variety of seabirds and black-backed jackal.

You will be served with lunch on the spectacular beach at the wreck, consisting of a selection of fresh Namibian oysters paired with crisp sparkling wine; meat and fish platters with Namibian beer, an assortment of cool drinks and bottled mineral water. We proceed over some exhilarating dunes and you will experience some of the area’s typical fauna and flora.

Animals which have developed ways to adapt to the desert include the black-backed jackal, fog-basking beetle, dancing spider (‘white lady of the Namib’), golden mole, shovel-snouted lizard, palmato gecko, springbok, oryx, brown hyena and ostrich.  Endemic to the central Namib Desert, the !Nara plant has adapted well to the desert.  Its tap root can reach more than 15m into the ground to reach water resources. Passing a stretch through the Kuiseb Delta, we will be back at the Waterfront at around 17h00. Your tour guide will be waiting to pick you up back to Swakopmund.

This morning we depart to the southern region of the Namib Naukluft Park, the Kuiseb Canyon, and the Gaub Pass before we reach our accommodation. We make a lunch stop at the famous place, Solitaire. This is a remote settlement located at the edge of the Namib-Naukluft National Park. It has been a welcome stopover for more than 60 years. A thirsty traveler will find cold drinks, coffee, lunch, and the world famous apple pie. Also, there is an eclectic Solitaire Garage, you can also fill up on petrol and diesel, have your tyres repaired, and stretch your legs between the long drive from Swakopmund to Sessriem.

After lunch we proceed to our accommodation, we arrive at Le Mirage Desert Lodge in the afternoon and you will stay here for two nights whilst 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. However, if you prefer, you can just relax and soak in the scenic and tranquil surroundings of the Lodge.

Sesriem Canyon: Sesriem Canyon has evolved through centuries of erosion by the Tsauchab River which has incised a narrow gorge about 1.5 km long and 30 meters deep into the surrounding conglomerates, exposing the varying layers of sedimentation deposited over millions of years. The shaded cool depths of the canyon allow pools of water to gather during the rainy season and remain for much of the year round. These pools were a vital source of water for early settlers who drew water for their livestock by knotting six (ses) lengths of rawhide thongs (riems) together, hence the canyon and surrounding area became known as Sesriem.

This morning you will need to rise early for a magical excursion with your guide in the Namib Naukluft National Park, normally setting off before sunrise to capture the dunes whilst the light is soft and shadows accentuate the towering shapes and curves. This area boasts some of the highest free-standing sand dunes in the world and 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 these harsh environs. Once you have explored Sossusvlei, Deadvlei and surrounding dune fields to your heart’s content you visit Sesriem Canyon after lunch and then you drive back to the Lodge. The rest of the afternoon is at your leisure (from experience, this is usually welcomed after an exhilarating morning in the dunes).

Sossusvlei: This most frequently visited section of the massive 50,000 km² Namib Naukluft National Park has become known as Sossusvlei, famous for its towering apricot coloured sand dunes which can be reached by following the Tsauchab River valley. Sossusvlei itself is actually a clay pan set amidst these star shaped dunes which stand up to 300 meters above the surrounding plains, ranking them among the tallest dunes on earth. The deathly white clay pan contrasts against the orange sands and forms the endpoint of the ephemeral Tsauchab River, within the interior of the Great Sand Sea. The river course rises south of the Naukluft Mountains in the Great Escarpment. It penetrates the sand sea for some 55 km before it finally peters out at Sossusvlei, about the same distance from the Atlantic Ocean. Until the encroaching dunes blocked its course around 60,000 years ago, the Tsauchab River once reached the sea; as ephemeral rivers still do in the northern half of the Namib.

Sand-locked pans to the west show where the river previously flowed to before dunes shifted its endpoint to where it currently gathers at Sossusvlei. Roughly once a decade rainfall over the catchment area is sufficient to bring the river down in flood and fill the pan. On such occasions the mirror images of dunes and camel thorn trees around the pan are reflected in the water. Sossusvlei is the biggest of four pans in the vicinity. Another, famous for its gnarled and ghostly camel thorn trees, is Deadvlei which can be reached on foot over 1 km of sand. Deadvlei’s striking camel thorn trees, dead for want of water, still stand erect as they once grew. They survived until about 900 years ago when the sand sea finally blocked the river from occasionally flooding the pan.

After breakfast, we depart for Kalahari Desert. The Kalahari Red Dunes Lodge is located in and around a vlei in the dunes of the western outskirts of the Kalahari. It is here where the vast Karoo desert meets the first red dunes of the Kalahari Desert. The small lodge with its individually and lovingly designed suites offers high amounts of space and privacy. The guests are welcomed in the spacious reception building. Following a wooden walkway, the main building, with the restaurant and cosy fireplaces, bar, attached lounge and the new “Kalahari Lounge” with a fine selection of whiskey and a pool with a shaded area and pool loungers, is located in the center of the vlei.

The guests are welcome to explore the Kalahari Desert on foot, on the well-signposted network of hiking trails, by bicycle or on one of the nature drives in the morning or afternoon hours. All the activities on offer at the Game Reserve can be enjoyed at any of the lodges and the friendly staff efficiently facilitate the client’s desires. So whether it’s a game sunset game drive on an open-air 4×4 vehicle or on a quad bike, or a walk with the Bushman (San) or simply a massage, simply ask, it shall be done. Book your activities on arrival and all activities with the lodge is on own clients cost.

After breakfast we depart for Windhoek city on a good tarmac road passing through the town of Rehoboth. The town is situated about 85 km south of the capital Windhoek along the B1 and counts about 21,000 inhabitants. The town was founded in 1871 by the so called Baster, who emigrated from the Cape Province. The Baster are descendants from marriages between Nama women and Boer emigrants from the South African Cape Province. Expect to arrive in the city at around 13:30pm, although please note that times may vary.