This 18-day tour will give you an opportunity to discover the pristine landscapes and abundant wildlife of Namibia on a decelerated safari through the northern parts of the country packed with hikes and excursions through breathtaking surrounds.
This active safari with emphasis on the Erongo Mountains, Damaraland, Etosha National Park, and the Kalahari allows plenty of time to absorb the impressive and diversified Namibian nature. The safari stands in contrast to many other Namibian safaris, which focus more on ticking off as many touristic highlights as possible.
You’ll spend much less time driving than on the usual Namibia tour. The guided and unguided hiking trails are diverse and can be classified as easy to moderate.
After you arrive at the Hosea Kutako International Airport approx. 45 km east of Windhoek, you will be welcomed by the car rental company and taken to Windhoek where you will take over your vehicle with all the necessary instructions and information.
Afterward, you will drive to your accommodation where you can freshen up and rest. In the afternoon you will be picked up by your guide from Bwana Tucke-Tucke for an interesting Windhoek city tour, during which you will get to know historical buildings and the township of Katutura. In the evening you can go out for a relaxing dinner.
We can recommend Joe’s Beerhouse, Cape Town Fish Market, or The Stellenbosch.
Bed and Breakfast
After breakfast you can buy some supplies at the supermarket. Heading north you take the B1 to Okahandja. Continue on the B2 via Karibib and Usakos. In Usakos look out for the signboards to Ameib Lodge. In the afternoon you have enough time to explore the famous Bull’s Party and Elephant’s Head. Giant boulders scattered on vast granite field bathed in the soft afternoon light make provide beautiful photographic motives. Experienced climbers might want to consider a climbing trail up the Elephant’s head with some beautiful rock paintings at the beginning of the trail and spectacular views at the end.
Overnight & Ameib Guesthouse
After a hearty breakfast, you can drive to the marked parking for the cave and take a 40-minute hike through magnificent scenery. Alternatively, you start directly from the campsite/guesthouse, which will take you about 20 minutes one way.
Look out for endemic bird species like the Hartlaub Francolin and White-tailed Shrike. Philip’s cave is well known for its abundance of ancient rock paintings by the San (Bushmen), the most famous one being the ‘White Elephant’. There are a few shorter trails around the guesthouse that can be done in the afternoon.
40-minute hike
Bed and Breakfast
The journey continues after breakfast. You drive through the dry and dusty landscape of Damaraland. After around two hours you will reach the little village of Uis where you can have lunch in one of the restaurant or rest camps in town.
After lunch, you pass through Uis and turn right onto the C35. Follow this road for 13 km before turning left onto the little gravel road towards the majestic Brandberg. Follow the signs to the Brandberg White Lady Lodge. The Brandberg Massif not only holds the highest mountain in Namibia (Königsstein 2573m), but is also home to about 50.000 rock paintings.
We highly recommend a visit to the famous “White Lady” rock painting. A 40-minute walk with a local guide through the Tsisab Gorge will take you to this beautiful painting. Depending on the weather conditions you can visit the Mountain either in the afternoon or in the cooler hours of the next morning.
Overnight & Brandberg White Lady Lodge
As you continue deeper into the Damaraland, the landscape becomes increasingly dramatic. You should reach your accommodation around lunch time.
In the afternoon you will visit the Twyfelfontein rock engravings, the Burnt Mountain and Organ Pipes, geological rock formations bearing witness of a time long gone. Enjoy another breath-taking sunset with a refreshing drink.
Included Activities
Overnight & Mowani Mountain Camp
Today you have an early start into the day as you will spend the larger part of the morning in search of the illusive desert-adapted elephants.
The hot part of the day is spent at the lodge or campsite. We recommend a visit to the Damara Living Museum in the afternoon where you will have a unique experience of historic Damara culture.
Optional Activities
Overnight & Mowani Mountain Camp
Bed and Breakfast
After yesterday’s early start you can have a late sleep today and a very relaxed breakfast – after all, you are on holiday! Today’s destination is Palmwag Lodge, which is only about two hours drive from Mowani.
You travel along the D2612 until you get to the T-junction C39. Here you turn left and continue through the beautiful Damaraland landscapes for about 60km before turning onto the C 43 to Palmwag Lodge. Here a driver collects your luggage and takes everything to the River Camp of the Etendeka Walking Trail while you meet your guide for the next three days.
The first leg of the trail takes about 2-3 hours and takes you through impressive areas from the Palmwag into the Etendeka Concession. Your knowledgeable and experienced guide will introduce you to the flora and fauna of this arid Eden.
You’ll arrive at the River Camp in the afternoon. Dinner at River Camp is prepared over an open fire and enjoyed together. Sitting around the campfire, listening to stories told by the guide, another adventurous day comes to an end.
Overnight & Etendeka Mountain Camp
Early wake up from your first night under a starry sky filled with sounds and smells of the Namibian wilderness. Enjoy a tasty breakfast and pack your day’s provisions into the backpacks provided. Embark on the hike to Mountain Camp taking you through pristine landscapes around the Grootberg Mountain.
The walking distance today is between 15 and 20 kilometers. Depending on the fitness level of the group this takes about 6-7 hours.
The rocky plain offers a wonderful view of the ancient Etendeka-Basalt formations and the flat mountains are home to many desert-adapted animals and plants. Giraffes, mountain zebras, oryx, and steenbock are some of the mammals found here.
With some luck you can even get to see the famous desert-adapted elephants and endangered black rhino. Your guide can show you countless animal tracks and has detailed knowledge about the history of the region.
The Mountain Camp is reached in the early afternoon in time for a light lunch. During the hottest time of the day, it is time for a siesta. Also, a time to reminisce about the impressions of the last few days.
The Mountain Camp is situated on top of the Crystal Mountain offering spectacular vistas, exquisite crystals, and beautiful rock formations. You will again spend the night on platforms very similar to the ones at River Camp.
In the late afternoon you go on a short sundowner walk around the plateau. Afterward, a simple but delicious, wholesome meal is enjoyed around the campfire.
Included Activities
Overnight & Etendeka Mountain Camp
Bed and Breakfast
Enjoy a short morning walk to Etendeka Mountain Camp after breakfast. Drive through picturesque landscapes in an open vehicle back to Palmwag Lodge where you pick up your vehicle and continue towards another highlight of your journey – the Etosha National Park.
From Palmwag Lodge you take the C40, which will take you along the breath-taking Grootberg Pass to the small village of Kamanjab. Continue towards Outjo and then northwards towards the wonderful Etosha National Park and your accommodation, the very pleasant Etosha Safari Camp.
Relax at the refreshing swimming pool after a long day of driving and start looking forward to tomorrow’s excursion into the famous Etosha National Park.
Overnight & Etosha Safari Camp
Bed and Breakfast
The mornings and afternoons you will spend exploring the park always on the lookout for the wild animals of Namibia. The Etosha National Park hosts more than 110 mammals, some of which are elephants, white and black rhinos, lions, leopards, hyenas, several smaller predators, giraffes, zebra, and uncountable antelopes.
Furthermore, more than 340 different bird species are found here. During the hot midday, you can relax in the rest camp or return to your accommodation. A stop at the Pan’s edge is as recommendable as exploring the different waterholes in the area.
Especially during the dry season, which is from May to November/December, large herds of game gather at the waterholes to quench their thirst. In the visitor’s books at the rest camp receptions, one can sometimes find hints about interesting sightings of rather rare species like leopards and predator kills. Depending on the season one should focus on the central parts of the Etosha National Park around Okaukuejo or the eastern area around Namutoni, as the larger herds and with them the predators move between the areas during the year.
We will of course take this into consideration, depending during which season you book your safari, and will advise accordingly.
Including Activities
Overnight & Etosha Safari Camp
Bed and Breakfast
Another whole day for exciting game viewing. You cross the park from the central area to the east. Experience new impressions on the way like a drive around the beautiful Fisher’s Pan.
Enjoy your last day in the Etosha National Park!
Overnight & Etosha Safari Camp
Bed and Breakfast
After one last early game drive you exit the Etosha National Park. Hint: Before leaving, make a turn at Chudop and Klein Namutoni waterholes.
This is often well worth it. On the way to Roy’s Camp via Tsumeb and Otavi the Otjikoto Lake can be visited, a collapsed karst cave, into which the German troops dumped a large amount of weapons and ammunition from the First World War.
After the visit you drive on towards Grootfontein and from there on the B8 towards Rundu. After 51 km from Grootfontein, you’ll find Roy’s Restcamp on your left.
Bed and Breakfast
Today your journey takes you to Grashoek into the Kalahari basin and one of the last resorts for the ancient inhabitants of southern Africa, the San (Bushmen). There is hardly a more fascinating culture and for one day you will have the opportunity to get a glimpse of it. The Ju/’Hoansi Living Museums offers different programs for visitors.
We recommend the ‘Action Day’ which takes about 4 hours and includes demonstrations on making fire, jewelry and weapons. It also includes a bush walk where you get to know some of the most important plants of the San culture as well as singing and traditional dancing. A day not to be forgotten soon!
Overnight & Roy’s Rest Camp
Bed and Breakfast
Enjoy a scrumptious, late breakfast before driving back to Grootfontein. Continue to Otavi through the beautiful Otavi Mountains with lush vegetation, a rather unusual sight in our dry country. You have the chance to visit the Hoba meteorite, the largest meteorite ever found until today. When entering Otavi continue straight on the C39 until your reach the D3031, which you follow all the way to Gabus Game Ranch.
Gabus offers numerous activities, like guided and unguided hikes, game drives, horse riding, and bird watching. We recommend a visit to the nearby waterhole to enjoy your sundowner drink, whilst watching a variety of games coming to quench their thirst.
horse riding and bird watching
Overnight & Gabus Game Ranch
We strongly recommend taking part in the Uiseb Stalactite Cave Excursion offered by Gabus Game Ranch. Here you can visit up to three, pristine underground caves depending on your level of fitness. The caves with their exceptional display of stalactites and stalagmites are unique to this specific area. Only small groups are allowed to ensure the conservation of this underground world. A light lunch and refreshments are served after the excursion.
In the afternoon you have enough time to visit one of only four wine estates in Namibia, close to Gabus Game Ranch. Enjoy a taste of the locally produced wine and for the brave the “Maroela Bliksem” a home-made spirit.
Overnight & Gabus Game Ranch
Bed and Breakfast
Again, only a short drive awaits you, hence you have enough time to part-take in activities at Gabus you missed during the last two days. A short drive takes you back to Otavi and from here you take the B1 south to Otjiwarongo, one of the larger towns in this sparsely populated country.
Continue south on the B1 until you reach the turn-off C22 to Waterberg on your left. Follow this road for about 35 km to reach Waterberg Guest Farm – the ideal place to enjoy the last two days of your holidays.
Feel free to take one of the many guided or unguided hiking trails to explore the beautiful landscape of the Waterberg Plateau area. Trails vary in length so you can choose the one that suits you best.
Overnight & Waterberg Guest Farm
One of the specialties of Waterberg Guest Farm is a guided excursion to the Cheetah Conservation Fund. The drive takes you through the grounds of the farm where you are introduced to cattle farming in Namibia as well as the challenges life-stock farmers face when it comes to predators, before reaching the Cheetah Conservation Fund.
This visit will closely introduce you to these majestic predators, with the opportunity to take amazing pictures. On your return drive you will cross the “Little Serengeti” and enjoy the last magnificent African sunset of this journey.
Overnight & Waterberg Guest Farm
Bed and Breakfast
Today is the last day of your journey. Depending on your flight schedule you might have time to enjoy a relaxing massage offered by the lodge before saying farewell to the Waterberg and Namibia.
You drop off your vehicle at the car rental and they will take you to the airport, as arranged at the beginning of your tour.
Emergency Services: Emergency evacuation services are included.
Drivers: A valid and unendorsed license must be produced by all drivers. The minimum age for authorized drivers is 23 years.
Fuel: The renter will receive the vehicle with a full tank of fuel. Upon the return of the vehicle/termination of the hire, the vehicle will be refilled at the renter’s expense.
Insurances: The rental vehicle includes Zero Excess
Rental Agreement: Upon renting the vehicle the renter and additional drivers will be required to complete a standard rental agreement with the car rental company. A valid credit card is required for the rental deposit.
Health: It is the client’s responsibility to ensure that he/she is medically fit and able to embark on the tour.
Force Majeure: We do our utmost to conduct the tour as described in the program; however, we cannot guarantee it. Unfavorable weather conditions, rivers in flood, organizational problems, unforeseen events, or other factors may force us to change the course of the tour. We apologize for the inconvenience.
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