EXPLORATIONS
SPIRIT OF THE NAMIB
An Adventurer Exploration - 11 night / 12 day
Tour code: WS SON – Windhoek to Windhoek
Combination Vintage camp, Discoverer Camp, hotel overnight and fully
serviced dome tent camping in private concession areas and campsites.
This old-style serviced camping safari recreates a sense of pure adventure for the traveller
seeking an authentic African experience. Wilderness’ Adventurer Explorations provide serviced
spacious tents, designed to provide comfort in remote wilderness areas, coupled with lodges and
hotels that accentuate the overall enjoyment and experience.
The Adventurer style of accommodation takes you back to the great days of African exploration.
Pure cotton linen bedrolls (with duvets) on GI stretchers, bedside table with silver lantern and mini
luggage benches complement the atmosphere in pristine, wild camping areas. Separate toilet and
shower ‘bathrooms’ with old-style tin bucket showers and basins and all amenities create simple
serviced comfort.
Guide s: The entire safari is guided and hosted by professional and passionate trained guides
who share their in-depth knowledge to present a seamless, well -rounded experience.
Exclusive experienc e: To ensure total privacy and exclusivity, most areas in which we travel are
private concessions in unspoiled, prime game and scenic locations. All campsites are private and
for the use of Wilderness Safaris guests only.
Route s: The routes followed on this safari aim to track the shy, elusive wildlife of the desert, revel
in the abundance of life on the Atlantic Coastline and view the enormous moving dunes of the
Namib Desert. Surprisingly, the seemingly barren desert comes to life with an amazing plethora
of plants and animals that have ingeniously adapted to their harsh surroundings – and in fact
thrive. On this journey there is an excellent opportunity to find even the largest of mammals
surviving here – the desert black rhino and elephant.
Transfer s: To maximise guests’ travel time, a variety of transport modes that bring out the best of
each area is used: flying in private charters (when the travelling experience is not enhanced by
road) and cross-country transfers provide both a bird’s-eye view and an in-depth experience of the contrasting landscapes of Namibia.
ITINERARY
Days 1 & 2: Ongava Homestead, Etosha Region
Transfer by comfortable charter flight to Namibia’s big game country: Etosha and its environs.
Here, the diverse and varied flora and fauna is brought to life in a variety of activities, from game
walks to game drives and visits to hides on the property and into the famous Etosha National
Park.
Within Etosha we’ll also visit numerous perennial springs and pans, encountering lion, leopard,
elephant and black rhino as well as plains game.
We stay the night at Ongava Homestead, a renovated old farmhouse, with en-suite bathrooms,
and a farm kitchen overlooking its own waterhole, floodlit at night to watch nocturnal visitors, from
the timid genet to big game such as elephant, lion, leopard and a host of antelope come to drink.
Simple safari furnishings create a wonderful atmosphere in which to make friends and enjoy good
company throughout the Exploration.
Days 3 & 4: Palmwag Adventurer Camp, Damaraland
After an early breakfast, we depart westwards by road in the direction of Palmwag concession.
Here, on the concession and in the surrounding areas the desert-adapted elephant, the careful
feeder and gentle giant of Damaraland thrives.
Special activities include tracking and searching for this wonderful mammal on foot and by
vehicle. In addition, our guides expose the sheer magnificence of nature’s survival strategies in
this arid environment , through walks and game drives concentrating on a variety of topics from
birds to insects, medicinal uses of plants and viewing wildlife. Our Adventurer campsite is set in a
private setting with magnificent views of the surrounding mountains and vast, wide-open
landscape.
Day 5: Damaraland Camp, Damaraland
Departing early, we travel to Twyfelfontein where we take a guided walk via a number of routes,
with local San (Bushman) people to view the petroglyphs - ancient rock etchings strewn over the
rock face. After a quick stop at the "Burnt Mountain" a place where the mountainside glows as if
on fire, when the red-orange shales catch the morning and evening sunlight. We end the journey
at Damaraland Camp, set in the heart of the largest free-roaming population of the critically
endangered black rhino on Earth.
Damaraland Camp accommodates guests in 10 comfortable tented rooms, with en-suite facilities
including flush toilets and showers with hot and cold running water. The dining room and pub are
combined under canvas, and an open fire is enjoyed on calm evenings. A feature of the camp is
its unique rock pool. In the late afternoon, we search on foot or on a game drive for the black
rhino, hoping to have a glimpse of this prehistoric-looking animal that survives today in these
desolately beautiful areas.
Day 6: Beach Lodge, Swakopmund
We cross-country westwards and out of the concession along the ephemeral game-rich Ugab
River, where we begin to encounter the extraordinary Welwitschia plants and "wandering lichen"
en route to the life-filled Atlantic Ocean. Arriving at Cape Cross Seal colony, we make our way
through the mass of life on the shore – including the only mainland-breeding site of Cape fur
seals.
After relaxing over lunch at the Cape Cross restaurant, we make for Beach Lodge in the quaint
"colonial style" town of Swakopmund, arriving in the late afternoon. Swakopmund is a wonderful
town in which to end a safari after the experiences of the northern Namibian bush, with its unique
urban atmosphere that is a vibrant combination of Africa and Europe.
This quaint Bed & Breakfast is directly on the beach! Enjoy the magnificent view of the sea from
each room, listen to the waves and smell the fresh sea breeze. Beach Lodge offers three double
rooms and four 'family units', each with fully equipped kitchenette and en-suite bathrooms.
Tonight we enjoy a braai (barbecue) while overlooking the roaring Atlantic Ocea n.
Days 7 & 8: Aonin Dune Camp, Rooibank, outside Walvis Bay
After an early breakfast, we drive southwards to the Walvis Bay Lagoon. Here in a protected bay,
many flamingos, pelicans and other waterfowl congregate. On the calm waters of the bay, we
embark on a sea kayak trip, a spectacular activity that allows close approach to the avian
inhabitants and their habitat and provide some unique photographic opportunities of birds flying
low over the bay.
We enjoy a seafood lunch served on the beach and afterwards a short leisurely drive inland to the
Aonin Dune Camp, close to a large date palm oasis, providing welcome shade, sweet water and
a special atmosphere. The walk-in meru tents are situated under Acacia trees, with spectacular
views into the dune fields, wonderfully lit in the early mornings and late evenings.
While in the area, we enjoy walks into the spectacular dunes, environmental drives in the dry
Kuiseb River and surrounding gravel plains and also have the opportunity to walk with the
Topnaar community (seasonal) who are specialists at survival in this harsh environment.
Days 9 & 10: Kulala Adventurer Camp, Sossusvlei
After an early breakfast, we travel along the Kuiseb riverbed, past old mines, through the
geologically interesting Kuiseb Canyon to the Kulala Adventurer Camp in our private Sossusvlei
concession.
Here we enjoy access to the Sossusvlei dunes, for walks in the immense moving sands of the
Namib, game drives on our concession and stargazing. Photography in the early morning of the
dunes is particularly stunning with rich reds and dark shadows completing the extraordinary vista
that is the enormity of the Namib Desert.
Day 11: Transfer to Windhoek
After breakfast we transfer by road, including lunch overlooking the view of the plains below, to
Windhoek and bid farewell to the adventure.
NOTE: THIS ITINERARY IS AVAILABLE ON FLEXIBLE DATES AND ITINERARIES,
FOR TAILOR-MADE SAFARIS FOR SMALL GROUPS UP TO EIGHT GUESTS.
.
|
