Okonjima Plains Camp

View Room (Lunch, Dinner, Bed and Breakfast) for 1 night

Upon departing Windhoek after a leisurley breakfast we will travel approximately 1 hour/80 km to Okahanja, where we will stop for a light snack or coffee and visit the local market (at one owns cost). We will then proceed another 150 km to Okonjima, arriving in time to settle into our rooms and have lunch. After lunch and perhaps a bit of siesta which is the norm on safari  an afternoon game drive or activity provided by the camp will be had. Dinner will be had followed by a night cap and overnight  Okonjima. Extra excursions may be available if time permits and if desired, at your own expense.

Okonjima Plains Camp is a luxury camp situated halfway between Namibia’s quaint capital city, Windhoek, and the Etosha National Park, the private Okonjima Nature Reserve, nestled over 200 square kilometres amongst the imposing Omboroko Mountains, boasts some of the most exceptional accommodation in Namibia, but the unequivocal highlights are the cheetah and leopard safaris. There are unlimited opportunities to see these beautiful carnivores in their natural environment within the huge Okonjima Nature Reserve, as well as to witness the critical conservation work undertaken by the AfriCat Foundation, which researches and rehabilitates cheetahs, wild dogs, and hyaenas. Okonjima offers a wide spectrum of accommodation options, ranging from well-appointed private camp sites to breath taking safari lodges.

Okonjima is so much more than just a luxury lodge. It is also home to the AfriCat Foundation, which is committed to researching and rehabilitating Namibia’s threatened wild cat population. AfriCat is known internationally after featuring in an award-winning documentary filmed for the Discovery Channel. Among the carnivores being researched and rehabilitated by AfriCat are cheetah, leopard, lion and caracal. Guests are given the opportunity of tracking cheetahs by foot or visiting the Cheetah Project.

Activities included are an afternoon game drive provided by the lodge. www.okonjima.com  

Onguma Bush Camp

Waterhole/Poolside Room: 3 Night Package

We begin Day 3 with a morning game drive/excursion at Okonjima. Then after lunch we will depart Okonjima and travel approximately 4 hours/270 km to arrive at the eastern border of Etosha, arriving late afternoon. Checking into Onguma, you can then relax by the pool or simply enjoy a cold beer before dinner. Lunch on this will be had somewhere on the road.

In the morning of Day 4, we will explore the eastern part of Etosha and its waterholes, entering through the Von Lindiquist gate. Days will be long, so packed lunches will be provided.

Etosha National Park

Etosha was declared a game reserve by the German colonial administration back in 1907 and covers an area of more than 22 000 km². At a stage it covered a vast area of 93 240 km² and was the largest game reserve in the world. For various political reasons, the park was progressively diminished in size until by 1975 it had been reduced to its current size.  In its centre lies a vast saltpan surrounded by grass and thorn savannah, Mopane bushland in the west and dry forest in the north-east. About two million years ago, this area was an enormous lake, fed by the Kunene River. However the lake slowly dried up because over time, the river changed its course. Today the pan is a shallow depression and has an approximate size of 5000 km². Of the 114 mammals species found in the park, several are rare and endangered, such as the black Rhino and cheetah. Etosha’s current population of +- 600 Black Rhinos represents one of the few growing populations in the world.  The National Park has three Rest camps Okaukuejo, Halali and Namutoni. These all have restaurants, stores and swimming pools. The main entrance to the park is called the Andersson Gate at Okaukuejo in the south and the Von Lindequist Gate in the east near Namutoni.

Originally part of the greater Etosha Game Reserve, Onguma Game Reserve is one of Namibia’s best kept secrets. Situated on the eastern side of Etosha, bordering Fisher’s pan, it has so much to offer visitors. The reserve covers an area of over 34,000 ha and incorporates ecological substrata such as savannah, bushveld, omuramba and dry pan. The reserve boasts over thirty different animal species. Plains game roam freely on the reserve and predators although not easy to spot are nevertheless common residents of the area. Lions are frequently seen and often heard. There is a healthy black rhino and leopard population and hyenas are also often seen. More than 300 bird species can be viewed at Onguma.  The Onguma Reserve boasts 5 unique lodges for guests to choose from, catering to every traveler’s individual needs. There of the Onguma Bush Camp caters to families with classic safari styling. The lounge and dining areas overlook a stunning waterhole that affords great opportunities to see nature at play around the clock. You don’t even have to leave the camp to see game – they come to you!

Day 5 will include still more exploration of this wildlife treasure. www.onguma.com

Okaukuejo Camp

Waterhole Chalet Double Rooms for 2 nights

Okaukuejo is located 17 km from the southern entrance of the park, and famous for its flood-lit waterhole, where visitors can observe at close quarters a spectacle of wildlife congregating and interacting. Accommodation is provided to suit every need, in premier bush chalets overlooking the waterhole; bush chalets and double rooms; or family chalets. Other facilities include a restaurant, bar, shop, swimming pool, kiosk and camping facilities.

Our plan is to reserve mornings for game drives and spend afternoons by the water holes where we can sit with our tripods waiting for elephants and other game to show up. Okaukuejo-Resort

Dolomite Camp – Western Etosha

1 night en suite chalets

After breakfast we will depart Okaukejo heading west towards Dolomite. Once again it will be a long day getting to Dolomite mid afternoon in time for a cold beer and relax. Overnight will be at Dolomite camp. 

Dolomite Resort offers its clients an intimate experience of one of the most scenic areas of the Etosha National Park, an area where previously endangered species like the Black Rhinoceros and Black-Faced Impala have been successfully bred. With no fewer than 15 waterholes in the surrounding areas, Dolomite Resort presents an exhilarating wildlife viewing experience and with such abundance in animal diversity your only concern should be your photography skills. With the area having been virtually “tourist-free” for half a century, it is common to see high numbers of Zebra, Giraffe and antelope species such as the previously endangered Black-faced Impala roaming the plains below the hill.

Black and White Rhino can also be spotted in numbers at Klip –pan waterhole. Mirroring the animals in terms of sheer attraction, the Dolomite hill where the Resort is set presents a Botanists dream, boasting hundreds of plant species which bloom at different times of the year; giving Dolomite Resort its seasonal cadence of colours, aroma and mood. Dolomite-Resort

Mowani Mountain Camp

View Room: 2 Night package for 2 nights

On the morning of Day 9 we will be making the approximately 5 hour/360 km trip to Mowani. We will want to leave early enough to get to Mowani in time for Lunch. That afternoon, we will go out to look for the desert Elephants using lodge vehicles.

Day 10 will begin with an early morning elephant drive.  Lunch will be at the lodge followed by an afternoon excursion of Twyfelfontein, rock art, organ pipes and perhaps a visit to a local village.

From the moment you arrive at Mowani, you will be spoiled with the services and attention of our excellent staff, which will go out of their way to make your stay as unique and enjoyable as humanly possible. Mowani Mountain Camp consists of 12 luxury tents, all with en-suite facilities, decorated beautifully in East African style. The luxury tents are a great source of relaxation. Comfortably hidden in your own private hide-away, you will be pampered by crisp white linen, en-suite bathrooms, and of course your own wooden deck offering an open view of the wonderful Damara landscape.

Activities will be Desert Elephant game drive with lodge vehicles, Organ pipes and rock art, and twyfelfontein. www.mowani.com

The Delight Swakopmund

Standard Room (Bed and Breakfast) for 1 night

We will leave Mowani for the trip to Swakopmund, arriving in time for lunch. It will be an approximatley 5 hours drive.   The afternoon will be spent walking through town and seeing places of interest.

Our lodging for the evening will be at the “Delight Swakopmund.”   Amongst the town’s captivating contrasts and old traditions, Gondwana’s Delight is a fresh breeze in the desert. Conveniently located within short walking distance of the ‘Mole’, our modern, uplifting and inviting hotel is the ideal base for your stay.  Every effort is made to surprise and delight guests with thoughtful touches and locally inspired reasons to smile. From the easy comfort of our hotel, the warm and welcoming service Gondwana is known for, to the assistance provided by our knowledgeable Delight Host for anything from activity bookings to dinner reservations – your stay is always an effortless and memorable experience.

Swakopmund

Swakopmund was of major importance as a harbour during the German colonial era even though the water at the coast is actually too shallow and the bay is unprotected. But Lüderitz was too far away and the seaport of Walvis Bay was in British possession in those days. On 4 August 1892 the crew of a gunboat named Hyena erected two beacons on a large dune, probably in the vicinity of the present lighthouse. This is regarded as the founding date of Swakopmund. The first settlers were 120 Schutztruppe with equipment and 40 settlers who offloaded from the Marie Woermann using four landing boats. The settlers had to build caves on the beach to protect themselves against hostile weather. Before a breakwater was built in 1898, which later became known as the Mole, all offloading was done with special boats The 325 metre long wooden jetty was only completed in 1905 and it was in 1914 replaced by a more solid iron construction. Swakopmund became the gate to South-West Africa and the entire supply for the colony was wound up through this little town. The narrow-rail train to Windhoek started operations in 1902 while at the same time, the station was built. It was completely restored some years ago and has become an entertainment centre, a casino and a luxury hotel. It is one of the best preserved examples of German colonial architecture in the world. The appearance of the town, with its 47 500 inhabitants, is characterised by numerous colonial buildings with the Woermann House from 1905 as its landmark. The former trading house in Bismarck Street with its 25 metre high Tower and its courtyard bordered by arcades today houses the city library and an art gallery. Swakopmund is a popular seaside resort with a slightly nostalgic atmosphere, many tourist attractions and a pleasant climate in summer. Swakopmund-Resort

Sossus Dune Lodge

Dune Chalet for 2 nights

Day 12 beings with about a 5 hour, but with the extraordinary payoff of arriving at Sossus. Once again we will either stop for lunch on route or arrive at the lodge in time for lunch. That afternoon, we will enjoy a sundowner drive with the lodge vehicles. The next morning, we will once again use the lodge vehicles for our first visit to the world-reknown Dead Vlei. This will require an early morning departure, to arrive before sunrise for the best possible photography. It will also require a short hike, so make sure to lighten your load!  Mornings can be cold, so dressing in layers will be important.  We will then have a bush breakfast and return to our camp. If time permits and the interest is there, we will visit the Sesirem Canyon as well.

Afernoon will be spent relaxing for our main objective, which will occur that evening when we will head back to the Dead Vlei to take capture sunset images.

Sossus lodge is built in an environmentally sensitive manner, primarily from wood, canvas and thatch, in an attractive ‘afro-village’ style, Sossus Dune Lodge offers guests an evocative and life changing experience. Situated within the park, guests benefit from being able to reach Sossusvlei before sunrise, and stay until after sunset, and on their return after an exhilarating day, relax in the tranquillity and splendour of the Namib Desert, under the spectacular African sky. Sossus Dune Lodge offers professional guided tours, fully unleashing the beauty and biological diversity of the desert environment to visitors, and offers the best beds in the desert.  Please note: this is the best accommodation for visiting the famed Sossusvlei.  Trips that do not include lodging at the Sossus Dune Lodge have a much, much longer drive to visit the vlei.

Sossusvlei

The Sossusvlei is a huge clay pan, enclosed by giant sand dunes. Some of the spectacular hills of sand are, at a height of 325 metres, the highest in the world. Only after a heavy rainfall, which is a rare event in this area, does the vlei fill with water. As the clay layers hardly allow any water infiltration, a turquoise lake will remain for quite some time. The Dead Pan is a large ghostly expanse of dried white Clay, punctuated by Skeletons of ancient camelthorn trees, about 600 years old. The dunes of the Namib Desert have developed over a period of many millions of years. It is thought that the vast quantities of sand were deposited into the Atlantic Ocean by the Orange River. This material was subsequently moved northwards by the Benguela current to be dumped back onto the land by the surf. The coastal dunes developed as a result of this and were shifted further and further inland by the wind. Wind continuously reshapes the patterns of the huge dunes of the Namib Desert. The last 5 km are only negotiable with 4×4 vehicles. There are 4×4 Shuttles available for rent if you don’t want to hike there. 

Sossus Dune Lodge – Guided Night Drive Excursion to Sossusvlei – included

Departing with the lodge Guide an hour before sunset into the Park to set up and have a private tour until 8:00 pm depending on the season! An hour before the excursion ends we will need to leave the Park.

Activities included will be deadvlei, afternoon sundowner drive and night visit to deadvlei. Sossus-Dune-Lodge

Return to Windhoek

The Olive Grove Guesthouse

Luxury Room (Bed and Breakfast) for 1 night

On Day 14 we will depart Sossus for the approximately 5 hour/400 km drive back to Windhoek. It is our intent to get to the guest house in time for lunch, relax, have a well-earned dinner, and return the vehicles. 

Namibia’s capital Windhoek is often described as a city with a continental atmosphere. This can be ascribed to its architecture, cuisine, culture, dress codes and educational institutions. Windhoek combines the modern city architectural style with that of the German colonial era. Historic sites to visit in the town centre are the ‘Christuskirche’, ‘Alte Feste’ (Old Ford), ‘Tintenpalast’ (Parliament Buildings), Zoo Park, Museum and the Craft Centre. With 400 000 inhabitants, Windhoek is the biggest city in the country and also the commercial centre of the country.

Flying Home

You are free to fly out of Hosea Kutako International Airport any time on Day 15. Remember, flights to and from Africa are not included in this package—you must purchase those tickets on your own.

Transfer to the airport will be organised for all and is included in the price.