17 Day / 16 Night Delta & Desert Discovery Safari
HIGHLIGHTS
San Bushmen experience, bush walk and Kalahari game drive, Khwai River Area, Moremi Game Reserve, Caprivi, visit to local Kavango fishing community, Etosha National Park, Spitzkoppe rock formations, Swakopmund, Walvis Bay Lagoon, Sossusvlei, Sesriem Canyon, Windhoek
DAY 1: WINDHOEK, NAMIBIA
On arrival at Hosea Kutako International Airport in Namibia’s capital, Windhoek, you will be met and transferred to your accommodation for the night. The rest of the afternoon may be spent at leisure. This evening you will meet your guide and the rest of your group at the lodge at 18h00 for your pre-departure meeting.
Accommodation: Terra Africa Guest House or similar (rooms with en-suite bathrooms, swimming pool & bar)
DAY 2/3: WINDHOEK, NAMIBIA TO GHANZI, BOTSWANA
Today we travel through the expansive sandveld landscape of eastern Namibia on the so-called Trans-Kalahari highway towards Botswana. The Kalahari Desert derives its name from the Tswana word “Kgala” meaning “great thirst”, however it hosts a great variety of fauna and flora and is surprisingly well-vegetated especially after the summer rains. After crossing the border into Botswana, we proceed to our lodge, owned and managed by the San Bushmen community. In the evening, the San will demonstrate a variety of their traditional dances around the camp fire. The next morning we will join the San on a guided bush walk, interpreting trails and gathering seasonal food and medicinal plants. We will also benefit from the San’s astonishing tracking abilities on an afternoon game drive exploring the Kalahari.
Accommodation: Dqae Qare San Lodge or similar (rooms with en-suite bathrooms, swimming pool, dining room area) [BLD], [BD]
DAY 4: KHWAI RIVER AREA, BOTSWANA
After breakfast we head off to our camp, which is situated in a private concession in the Khwai River area. This large area is renowned for its concentration of mammals and it is not unusual to see many different types of wildlife during just one game drive. Game viewing is seasonal; depending on the time of the year you may see different species in different areas. The best time for game viewing is the end of the dry season or spring from August to November. During this season, in order for us to offer the best game viewing possible, extra driving may be required due to the animals migrating closer to the river. In the summer, birdlife can also be viewed in abundance with exceptional sightings of wildfowl and raptors.
Accommodation: Hyena Pan Tented Camp or similar (tented camp with en-suite bathrooms) [BLD]
DAY 5: MOREMI GAME RESERVE, BOTSWANA
Today we head into the famous Moremi Game Reserve known as one of the most beautiful and varied reserves in Africa with an unprecedented concentration of wildlife. The full day is spent in the unspoiled nature of the Moremi Game Reserve.
Accommodation: Hyena Pan Tented Camp or similar (tented camp with en-suite bathrooms) [BLD]
DAY 6: MAUN, BOTSWANA
We leave the Khwai River area and travel to Maun, a busy safari town known as the gateway to the Okavango Delta and Moremi Game Reserve. The name Maun is derived from the San word “maung”, which means “the place of short reeds”. The afternoon is yours to spend at leisure, either relaxing next to the pool at the lodge or if you are keen for some excitement, why not book a scenic flight over the Okavango Delta.
Accommodation: Thamalakane River Lodge or similar (chalets with en-suite bathrooms, swimming pool, bar & restaurant) [BL]
DAY 7& 8: MAUN, BOTSWANA TO CAPRIVI, NAMIBI
Leaving Botswana, we drive up the Western border of the Okavango Delta before crossing back into Namibia and onto Mahangu, meaning ‘food of the local people’. We will arrive at our lodge in the late afternoon to enjoy sundowners on a deck overlooking the Okavango River, listening to the sounds of Mother Nature. The next day we enjoy a morning game drive in Mahangu National Park, which is part of the Greater Bwabwata National Park extending from the Kavango River in the west to the Kwando River in the east. Elephant, roan, kudu and buffalo are amongst the animals likely to be seen as well as prolific birdlife. The afternoon may be spent at leisure or participating in optional activities offered from the lodge.
Accommodation: Mahangu Safari Lodge or similar (rooms with en-suite bathrooms, swimming pool, bar & restaurant) [BLD] [BLD]
DAY 9: OKAVANGO RIVER TO GROOTFONTEIN, NAMIBIA
Driving through the lush and tropical floodplains of the Kavango region, we travel towards the town of Rundu. We visit the Mbunza Living Museum, a traditional cultural school and communal business for the local Kavango people who make a living from fishing, tending cattle and cultivating crops. After this cultural interaction, we proceed to our camp in Northern Namibia’s Bushmanland. Why not stretch your legs on one of the walking trails the camp has to offer, ideal for bird and game watching.
Accommodation: Roy’s Rest Camp or similar (bungalows with en-suite bathrooms, swimming pool, bar & restaurant) [BLD]
DAY 10 & 11: ETOSHA NATIONAL PARK, NAMIBIA
After breakfast we make our way to Namibia’s best-known highlight of the north – Etosha National Park. Our lodge is located on a 4000 ha private wildlife reserve on the eastern side of the park. We will fill the next 2 days with game drives in the hopes of spotting lion, leopard, elephant and rhino as well as cheetah, giraffe, zebra and the numerous different types of antelope the park has to offer. Etosha was declared a National Park in 1907 and it is home to approx. 114 mammal species, 340 bird species, 110 reptile species, 16 amphibian species and, surprisingly, one species of fish.
Accommodation: Mokuti Etosha Lodge or similar (rooms with en-suite bathrooms, swimming pool, bar & restaurant) [BLD] [ BLD]
DAY 12: ETOSHA NATIONAL PARK TO OMARURU, NAMIBIA B
This morning we bid farewell to the wild animals of Etosha and travel southwards to the Erongo region, known for its unique rock formations, cultural heritage and rock paintings.
We spend some time familiarising ourselves with the local artistry at a woodcarving workshop and craft gallery. After tasting some of the home-grown produce of a local distillery and small wine cellar, we overnight in the town of Omaruru. Once a mission station, the settlement has great historic significance and has evolved into an artistic hub for local crafts and small industries.
Accommodation: Omaruru Guest House or similar (rooms with en-suite bathrooms, swimming pool, dining room area) [B]
DAY 13: OMARURU TO SWAKOPMUND VIA SPITZKOPPE, NAMIBIA
Today we visit an iconic group of curved granite mountains, known as Spitzkoppe and nicknamed ‘The Matterhorn of Africa’ due to its sharp silhouettes and steep inclines. The vivid colours of the rocks will not fail to impress a keen photographic eye as we walk amongst the boulders. A protected conservation area, it is managed by the local community, however only few San Bushman paintings remain unfortunately.
We continue further on a scenic drive to the charming coastal town of Swakopmund, where you will have the opportunity to partake in a few of the many optional activities
available this afternoon. Alternatively, just soak up the atmosphere of this quaint, little German town and enjoy its beauty and beaches.
Accommodation: Hotel A La Mer or similar (standard rooms with en-suite bathrooms) [BL]
DAY 14 & 15: SWAKOPMUND TO SOSSUSVLEI, NAMIBIA
An early morning departure takes us to Walvis Bay for a relaxing cruise on the lagoon. Sailing with a luxury catamaran, we search for various marine animals and birds
including dolphins, Cape Fur Seals, cormorants, oyster catchers, pelicans and flamingos. Moving further south, we make our way towards the Namib Naukluft National Park
and our accommodation for the next two nights, Agama River Camp. The park contains what is considered to be the oldest desert in the world and contains some of the rarest
plant and animal species. The next morning we need to wake up early to visit the world’s highest sand dunes at Sossusvlei and Deadvlei. These dunes, which can reach
heights of over 300m, are absolutely spectacular and provide for a fantastic photo opportunity. With luck, there may even be water in the vlei (lake). We also stop to view the
Sesriem Canyon, which was carved millions of years ago by the Tsauchab River.
Accommodation: Agama River Camp or similar (rooms with en-suite bathrooms, swimming pool, bar & restaurant) [BLD] [BLD]
DAY 16: RETURN TO WINDHOEK, NAMIBIA
We leave the Namib Desert behind us and travel back to Windhoek through the beautiful countryside, making short stops en-route. Once we arrive, we will embark on a short orientation tour of the capita cityl. The rest of the afternoon can be spent at leisure, and dinner can be enjoyed in one of the many fabulous restaurants available.
Accommodation: Terra Africa Guest House or similar (rooms with en-suite bathrooms, swimming pool & bar) [BL]
DAY 17: END OF TOUR
Our safari ends after breakfast. You will be transferred to Windhoek Airport in time for your departure flight. We hope to welcome you again one day on another of our African adventures. [B]
