Luxury Skeleton Coast (Low Season) Accommodated Tour

On arrival at Windhoek International Airport you will be met by a Nali Safaris Representative and you will be transferred to Windhoek city. Enjoy the pleasures of city life and the serene atmosphere of Africa in style in The Weinberg Windhoek. Its iconic styling seamlessly blends old-world splendour with modern lines as well as state of the art amenities.

Spend the day exploring Windhoek. Visit the Christ Church (Christuskirche), the National Museum and the Alte Feste, or take the opportunity to go shopping in one of the modern malls. And don’t forget to try a typical Namibian dish, kapana or biltong, before returning to your temporary home at the end of an exciting day.

This morning, A Tour Guide from Nali Safaris will collect you from your various accommodation establishments. 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.

You arrive at your overnight accommodation, Huddled in the rocks, with sweeping views across the Aba Huab valley, Camp Kipwe is full of surprises, starting when guests first arrive. It appears as if rocks have tumbled down the hill to reveal this gem of a camp. The setting is one of intimacy and space. An inviting lounge area, where birds fly in to enjoy the water seeping from the rocks, a refreshing swimming pool nestled in the rocks and a scattering of bungalows complete this eco friendly camp.

After breakfast and morning activities we embark on an extraordinary expedition to Skeleton Coast through a captivating corner of the world, where the remnants of bygone eras adorn the shores. Located just 45 kilometres from the quaint settlement of Möwe Bay, this seemingly short distance belies the time it takes to traverse the rugged landscape and witness the must-see sights along the way. In days gone by, the entire coast of Namibia was known as the Skeleton Coast. Today only the park located on the northern coast, stretching from the Kunene River to Ugab River, is called by this name. The area covering 16,845 km2 was declared a nature reserve in 1971 and serves to protect nearly a third of Namibia’s coastline. It is notorious for its treacherous weather, rough surf and shifting shores. Live in this seemingly stark desert, life flourishes. Elephants, lions, brown hyenas, birds and other desert-adapted wildlife call this unforgiving land their home.

Skeleton Coast is harsh and dramatic, and as you traverse these shores, you can imagine why the Portuguese sailors of old dubbed it “The Gates of Hell”. Over a thousand wrecks scatter the coastline, but only a few are visible to us, slowly breaking up or rusting away under the relentless assault of sea mists and saltwater over the years. Sundowner activity awaits (on clients own account).

Today prepare yourself for unforgettable sights and thrilling experiences that will leave a lasting impression. This journey promises to be an unparalleled encounter with the past and the remarkable wildlife that inhabits this extraordinary place.

Witness the remnants of the abandoned Westies diamond mine, explore the haunting shipwrecks, and marvel at the natural wonders of the Flamingo Pools and the bustling seal colonies. Journey into the Hoarusib River, and be amazed at the mesmerising geological wonders of the Clay Castles. Immerse yourself in the rich tapestry of wildlife that flourishes in the surrounding area, their fascinating behaviours and gain insight into their ways of life. The plant life in the area is abundant, and their survival in this ecosystem with minimal water a true feat.

Experience the thrill of sandboarding on the timeless dunes of the world’s oldest desert or join an exhilarating quad bike tour. Indulge in beach lunches, where the refreshing Atlantic breeze caresses your skin and the rhythmic waves serenade your senses. No matter your choice of excursion, your guides will enthral you with their knowledge on the area, the history, the wild- and plant life that surrounds the lodge.

After breakfast we leave this awesome majestic place. We begin our journey south passing through Tora Bay, we drive through the park. We continue via Henties Bay to the charming coastal resort of Swakopmund. Spend the remainder of the afternoon at leisure, with optional activities including a visit to the museum, the aquarium, the crystal gallery, or simply to just explore the town. Dinner is on own cost to choose from a variety of the Namibian cuisine.

Swakopmund: 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.

Today is a free day. The idea is to allow time for everybody to do their own thing. Swakopmund is a very pleasant seaside town with lots of shops, a good stretch of beach (although the Atlantic here is quite cold) and an open-air curio market. There is also a very good museum and the Namibian National Marine Aquarium is located in Swakopmund. Alternatively, there are various optional activities that can be arranged. These include airplane and microlight flights over the desert, scenic drives, fishing trips (both from the beach or in a boat), four-wheel motorcycle (quad bike) trips into the desert and over the sand dunes around Swakopmund, sand boarding trips (also in the dunes), skydiving, surfing, bird-watching and many other activities are available. Your tour guide will discuss all the possible options with you before you reach Swakopmund and will offer to make bookings in advance of your arrival.

In addition to this, you can opt for 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.

After a leisurely breakfast we depart to the majestic Spitzkoppe Mountain range. As you approach the lodge, weaving around large, apricot-coloured boulders, the awesome Spitzkoppe Mountains – dubbed the “Matterhorn of Namibia” – grow from silhouettes on the horizon until they loom large above you. It is not hard to understand why this area was chosen as the set for Hollywood blockbusters 10,000 BC and Stanley Kubrick’s 2001: A Space Odyssey.

The Grosse and Kleine Spitzkoppe Mountains are important sites in describing patterns of hunter-gatherer settlement and subsistence that occurred in the area until the introduction of livestock during the previous millennium. Evidence is documented at over forty rock-art sites. In addition to their historical significance, the cultural and spiritual value of the sites make the Spitzkoppe an important heritage area for all Namibians.

The Spitzkoppe is an iconic granite outcrop, globally known for its natural beauty and archaeological heritage. These assets, along with mountaineering potential, location and interesting fauna and flora result in the area being a popular tourist attraction. The quiet, desolate sense of place and unspoilt landscape add to the attraction.

After breakfast, depending on your airport flight departure location and time, either Walvis Bay International Airport or Hosea Kutako International Airport or you are overnighting in Windhoek city, we depart according to such specific timings and you will be dropped off at the accommodation or to the International Airport for your outbound flight.

END OF SAFARI