Trip Info
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Vehicle type: 4x4 D/Cab, 4x4 SUV
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3 Star Hotels, Lodges, Guesthouses
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Dinner, Bed and Breakfast
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English, German, French, Spanish
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Private Guided
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Easy to Moderate
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All year round
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Min: 2 & Max: 3
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Windhoek City
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Windhoek City
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12
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75
Overview
This tour is designed to show you the very best of iconic Namibia, from the breath-taking landscapes of Sossusvlei one of the most spectacular sights in Namibia. Swakopmund – West Coast Recreational Area, the countries leading adrenaline destination, with a wide range of activities to suit all ages and (most) egos. Etosha National Park is one of Southern Africa’s finest and most important Game Reserves, home to 114 mammal species, 340 bird species, 110 reptile species, 16 amphibian species and, surprisingly, one species of fish. A visit to experience the close-up-and personal with the Big Cats at Okonjima Africat Foundation.
Trip Highlights
- Experience the breath-taking landscapes of Sossusvlei.
- Swakopmund - West Coast Recreational Area, the countries leading adrenaline destination.
- Explore Etosha National Park, one of Southern Africa's finest and most important Game Reserves.
- Discover the Himba tribe; with their intricate hairstyles and traditional adornments.
- Experience the close-up-and personal contact with the Big Cats at Okonjima Africat Foundation.
Itinerary
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.
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.
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.
Overnight: Okonjima Plains Lodge or similar
You join an early morning excursion (on clients account) for leopard tracking in the Jeep, after the excursion you will return to the lodge for a brunch meal. After the brunch meal we exit Okonjima Africat Foundation on our way to Etosha National Park.
You 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.
Mokuti Etosha Lodge is proud to announce it’s reopening on the 5th of March after a rigorous refurbishment. Not only have we recreated the exterior of the lodge under the theme “Africa Reimagined” but every touchpoint of the guest journey has been optimized and upgraded to offer you the best Safari experience Africa has to offer.
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.
Overnight: Mokuti Etosha Lodge or similar
Mokuti Etosha is Africa Reimagined – where we can discern the familiar but at the same time encounter an elevation to create a unique and different experience. Everything here has a story and a reason, from the buildings to the different activities and experiences. This Africa Re-imagined encapsulates a natural African Safari environment that is familiar, but also different in a unique, authentic and warm way.
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, Toshari Lodge. 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).
Overnight: Toshari Safari Lodge or similar
Toshari Safari Lodge: A quick 20 minute drive from Etosha National Park, nestled under a forest of Mopane & white Seringa Trees, you’ll find the eco-friendly Toshari Lodge. Toshari Lodge is perfectly positioned for day trips into Etosha and offers luxurious suites, warm hospitality and authentic Namibian cuisine.
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.
Overnight: Toshari Safari Lodge or similar
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. Adorned with handmade jewelry, the beautiful Himba women and children are instantly recognisable due to their intense red ochre coloured skin and intricate hair styles. Himba women spend many hours attending to their beauty care and grooming. The women and children, clad only in loincloths and goat skin mini skirts, protect themselves from the weather, moisturize and beautify with ‘otjize’.
After visiting the Himba tribe, 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 towns of Kamanjab, 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: 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.
Overnight: Swakopmund Sands Hotel or similar
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 a full day excursion into Sandwich Harbor to view one of the oldest shipwrecks. This one-day excursion is designed for those interested in experiencing the rugged beauty of the Namibian coastal landscape and dreams of seeing an actual shipwreck stuck high-up on a beach in one of the world’s most isolated places.
Experience a piece of Namibia’s central Skeleton Coast exposed to the stormy South Atlantic Ocean claiming numerous ships over past centuries. Combine the scenic beauty and wildlife of the Kuiseb Delta and Sandwich Harbour, as we explore further South along the coastline to an area where the Namibian coast claimed another victim, the Shawnee, a transport tug that ran aground in foul weather on 16 February 1976 about 15 miles north of Conception Bay.
Overnight: Swakopmund Sands Hotel or similar
This morning we visit some of the regions natural wonders such as the ancient Welwitschia Mirabilis and the Moon Landscape before continuing to the edges of the Namib Desert and then proceed through the southern region of the Namib Naukluft Park, the Kuiseb Canyon, and the Gaub Pass before we reach our accommodation. You arrive at the Lodge in the afternoon and you will stay here for one night 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, a nearby geological attraction, or explore Elim Dune. 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.
Overnight: Dead Valley Lodge or similar
Dead Valley lodge opened in July 2019 and is situated inside the Namib Naukluft Park, in-between the park gate at Sesriem and Elim Dune. It is therefore next to the road leading down to the world-famous Sossusvlei Dunes and “Deadvlei”. The lodge offers 20 free standing, climate-controlled luxury tented chalets, each with adjoining bathroom and a panoramic view of the Namib Desert with towering red sand dunes, rugged mountain ranges and arid desert savannahs. The lodge restaurant serves delicious Namibian style meals, and guests can also relax in the picturesque bar by the swimming pool while looking out over the local desert scenery towards Elim Dune.
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, we continue for a visit to Sesriem Canyon.
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 lunch, we depart on our journey to Windhoek via the Remhoogte Pass – although this pass is not as steep as the Spreetshoogte, it offers beautiful scenery, if weather condition permits. Expect to arrive in the city at around 17:00pm, although please note that times may vary.
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Cost
Includes
- Accommodations and meals as stated in the itinerary.
- Transportation in air-conditioned safari vehicle.
- Meal basis as per booked option and as prescribed in the itinerary.
- Services of a registered and experienced English-speaking safari guide.
- Entrance fees and excursions as described in the itinerary.
- Bottled still water on board the safari vehicle.
- Airport transfers to Windhoek International Airport if departing on the last day of the tour.
Excludes
- International flights to Namibia and airport taxes.
- Pre and post safari accommodation in Windhoek (to be done on request).
- Any entrance fees and excursions not included in the itinerary.
- All beverages with the exception of mineral water on board the safari vehicle.
- Laundry (laundry service available at lodges at extra cost).
- Gratuities and Items of personal nature (telephone expenses, curios, medicines etc).
- ENTRY VISA FEES, BANK CHARGES (as per bank percentage commission for VISA/MASTER and commission for AMEX).
Details
Low Season Package:
- Includes: Breakfast, Dinner except in Swakopmund (lunch on clients own cost)
- Single Supplement rate: US$750
Please note:
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- Please note that all prices indicated are based on a per person sharing rates per night.
- Single (Sup) Supplement is an additional rate charged for one person to stay in a room or tour package meant for two people.
- If you have made up your decision for the tour of your choice and number of travelers, make your booking and payment here.
FAQs
Namibia is found in the South West of Africa. Angola borders it to the north, Zambia to the northeast, Botswana to the east and South Africa to the south. The Atlantic Ocean borders Namibia on the western side.
Namibia has a subtropical climate, characterized by hot and dry weather with little rain along the coast. Periods of winter drought alternate with summer rainfall between October and March with the interior having higher rainfall.
Namibia is a year round destination but Peak season is from July to November. Bear in mind that if you are planning to visit in December/January it gets very hot!
No you do not necessarily need a 4×4 to tour in Namibia. It however depends on which areas in Namibia you would like to see. Areas such as the Kunene Region it is advisable to hire a car with high ground clearance and 4×4. The National parks in the Zambezi (Caprivi) you will require a 4×4. It will also depend on if you are planning on traveling to Namibia during the rainy season. Remember that 80% of roads in Namibia are gravel and if you are traveling in a normal sedan car you will be required to travel slowly to ensure your safety.
The official currency of Namibia is the Namibian Dollar (N$), divided into 100 cents. The Namibian Dollar and South African Rand are the only currencies accepted in Namibia. Traveler’s cheques in Rands are accepted. Foreign currency can be converted into Namibian Dollars or South African Rands at commercial and bureau de change.
Major credit cards are widely accepted, including Visa, MasterCard, American Express and Diners Club. Cards can also be used to withdraw cash from ATM’s. Filling stations do not accept credit cards.
It is customary to give 10% of the bill in restaurants if service received is of a good standard. Porters should receive about N$5.00 – N$10.00, a petrol station attendant about N$10.00 and if you are on a guided safari tour, the minimum tip for your tour guide is N$100.00 per person per day, it’s not compulsory but it’s a token of appreciation for service rendered daily.
Namibia is a peaceful country overall…it is considered to be one of the most stable and safe countries on the African continent. However like any country tourists can be targeted. Pickpockets can be a problem and don’t make yourself a target i.e. have your camera hanging around your neck – rather place your goods in a secure bag or back pack. Be alert and use some common sense and you should be fine. If you want to visit a township, do so in a group and with someone who is familiar with the area. Driving under the influence of alcohol is also a problem, so when driving and walking over the weekends, be alert.
Yes, Namibia is a safe country and often regarded as a great place not only for first time travelers to Africa but also for families. Most of the accommodation establishments cater for families and a lot of the activities on offer cater for families and children. The infrastructure is good, water is generally safe to drink and there is plenty to keep everyone of all ages occupied.
Mobile phones are common in Namibia and use the same frequency as Europe and the rest of Africa. One is able to purchase a starter kit from the local Cell phone service provider. These are widely available at international airports, cities and towns. You would then need to purchase air time as and when you need it.
Most of the accommodation establishments now offer free WI-FI for their guests. There are also internet cafes in Windhoek, Swakopmund and other towns.
The voltage in Namibia is 220-230 V (identical to South Africa). Most supermarkets sell adapters. Many farmers generate their own electricity with a diesel generator, which is only run during the day.
Yes most definitely. The largest and only international airport is Hosea Kutako International Airport located about 45km east of Windhoek, the capital of Namibia There are smaller airports located all over the country.
Namibia does have a few strange items on the menu as with many countries in the world. Don’t worry too much though, those are not the only options available. Namibia offers a great selection of steaks and game dishes and hamburgers are widely available. A wide variety of seafood is also available as Namibia borders the Atlantic Ocean which is rich in sea life. If you are vegetarian you will be pleased to know that more and more of the local restaurants and accommodation establishments cater for vegetarians.
Highways exist from Windhoek to all major towns. Asphalt roads extend to most of the borders (except Mata Mata, Klein Manasse, Velloorsdrift and Tsumkwe). Main roads are in good condition and are maintained to all weather standards. At least 80% of the roads in Namibia are gravel roads and are generally very well maintained. Please always remember to stay within the speed limit on gravel roads.
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