7 Days / 6 Nights - Escape to Etosha National Park

TOUR INFORMATION: TOUR CODE:                       SD002 Type of Tour:                      Accommodated Self Drive Tour (Fly & Drive) Departure Date:                 Any date of your choice & Last minute bookings Departure Location:         Windhoek – Airport or City Tour Ends:                          Windhoek – Airport or City ROUTING HIGHLIGHTS: Windhoek – Erongo Mountains - Etosha National Park – Windhoek Car Rental: The type of vehicle rented will depend on your group size and amount of luggage and personal preference. NOTES: Our suggested itineraries are ideally suited to the first time or seasoned visitors alike; we assist and guide you all the way.  This tour can also be done as a Private Guided Safari or Fly-In Safari. As Custom Design Travel Specialists we can tailor-make any itinerary to suit your individual needs, interests, style and travel budget.

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Tour Summary:

Itinerary:

Day 1
Windhoek
On arrival at the Windhoek Airport you will be met by a company representative who will present you with your accommodation vouchers and assist you with the collection of your rental vehicle. Continue towards the capital city, Windhoek.

Windhoek is often described as a city with a “continental” atmosphere due to its architecture (historical buildings dating back to the German colonial rule), cuisine, culture, dress and educational institutions. Windhoek portrays the colour, sounds and tempo of a modern African city with its displays of African drums and woodcarvings on the pavements, which contrast with the elegant shops offering sophisticated Swakara garments and Namibian gemstones. Sidewalk cafes offering Namibian style breakfasts (Frühschoppen) which can be enjoyed with a glass of sparkling wine or locally brewed draught beer. In addition to steak houses and coffee bars serving snacks, the city has a wide range of a la carte restaurants offering German, French, Taiwanese, Portuguese, Italian, African and Chinese cuisine.

Accommodation: Olive Grove Guest House
A small, up market accommodation establishment situated close to the Windhoek city centre in a quiet, peaceful area. The open-air lounge, spa bath, plunge pool and tranquil garden all invite the visitor to unwind and relax under Namibia’s open skies. Our Wellness Room offers a selection of professional services to help guests relax and de-stress after a long flight or for just the perfect end to an adventurous holiday. Olive Grove will turn Windhoek into one of the highlights of any trip, creating and leaving a lasting impression of this beautiful country.

Day 2
Erongo Mountains
Departing from Windhoek join the main route heading in a northerly direction indicated as Okahandja. This is one of Namibia’s oldest established settlements and is the administrative centre of the Herero-speaking people. Numerous of the former Herero leaders are buried here and an annual procession through the town to the Herero graves commemorate those who died during the wars against the Nama’s and Germans. Optional excursions on route include a visit to the open - air wood carving centre at Okahandja and the Herero Graves

From Okahandja continue in a westerly direction towards the coastal towns of Walvis Bay and Swakopmund. This route will take you through the small town of Karibib. The main attractions in Karibib include the colonial buildings, the gemstone and mineral exhibition at the Henckert Tourist Centre, the Marble works and the Navachab Gold mine.

From Karibib continue in a northerly direction towards the town of Omaruru. The first European to visit this area was, Hugo Hahn a missionary, in 1851. Due to its wealth in game, humans have frequented this area for thousands of years. This is evident in the numerous sites of rock art found in the Erongo Mountains. The name Omaruru is derived from the Herero word, Omaere Omaruru, meaning “bitter curd” which is apparently how the cattle’s milk tasted after eating a particular bush in the area.

Shortly before Omaruru continue into the Erongo Mountains.

Accommodation: Erongo Wilderness Lodge
The Erongo Wilderness Lodge is located in the foothills of the Erongo Mountains. Accommodation is in 10 tent-bungalows built on stilts set amongst the granite boulders. Raised illuminated walkways and natural stone steps connect the bungalows with the central dining and reception area.
While at the Erongo Wilderness Lodge you will have the opportunity to participate in optional extra-guided nature drives to the nearby Paula's caves with examples of "San" rock art, enjoy guided walking safaris with your local guides or spend some time exploring the area on your own. The Erongo Wilderness area has an abundance of bird life varying from soaring raptors to the tiniest of sunbirds.

Day 3 & Day 4
Etosha National Park
After a leisurely breakfast and optional early morning walk, departure from the Erongo Wilderness Lodge in a northerly direction towards Omaruru and Kalkfeld.

An optional excursion on route can be included to the Dinosaur Footprints on the farm Otjihaenamaperero. The site of the Dinosaur Footprints was declared a National Monument in 1951. The dinosaur was probably one of the forerunners of modern birds, and much like an ostrich had powerful hind legs. The 25cm tracks were made by a 2-legged, 3 - toed dinosaur and are estimated to have been made between 150 – 200 million years ago in what was then soft, red Etjo sandstone, now the dominant surrounding rock formation.

Returning to Kalkfeld continue in a northerly direction on route to Outjo. The small farming centre of Outjo has its origins as a hunting and trading centre and was first inhabited by the early European explorer Tom Lambert in 1880.

From Outjo continue in a northerly direction on route towards the Etosha National Park. Entrance into the park is via the Anderson’s Gate. Please note that on entering the Etosha National Park an entrance permit must be completed. Ensure that you familiarize yourself with the conditions of entry into the park and comply with them. Your park entry permit must be presented at the reservations office when registering for your rooms.

The late afternoon can be spent conducting game drives to the numerous waterholes in the Okaukuejo area. Each camp in the park has a restaurant, a shop and a filling station. Purchase a map of the park to familiarize yourself with the waterholes in your area, as this is where you will be most likely to encounter the game. Please remember to return to the camp before the gates close at sunset. All meals are served at the camp restaurant while the late evening can be spent game viewing at the adjacent floodlit waterhole.

Accommodation: Etosha National Park - Okaukuejo Rest Camp
Okaukuejo is the main administrative camp of the Etosha National Park, and was officially opened for visitors in 1957. A variety of accommodation is available from self-catering chalet units to twin bedded bungalows. Facilities at the rest camp include a restaurant, shop, post office, swimming pool and filling station. Okaukuejo is also home to the Ecological Institute, which is responsible for the research and management of the park. The Okaukuejo waterhole is probably one of the most renowned waterholes in the park. The presence of game is seasonal but winter offers game enthusiasts a unique experience as the illuminated waterhole is situated next to the camp. Common sightings include large herds of elephant, black rhino, lion, cheetah, brown hyena, Burchells and Hartman’s Mountain Zebra, Gnu and numerous antelope species.

Day 5
Etosha National Park
Continue with a full day of self-guided nature drives through the Etosha National Park visiting the numerous waterholes on route and the edge of the majestic Etosha Pan. Each camp reservations office has an “animal sightings” book. This should be consulted to determine the current movement of the game in the area and to optimize on your game viewing experience.

A recommendation is to arrange your morning game viewing activities to be at the Halali Rest Camp by midday. This is usually a welcome break for lunch and provides the opportunity to get out of the car for a short walk through the campgrounds and visit the waterhole. The word “Halali” is derived from the bugle call made to announce the end of the hunt. The word has a German origin, and in earlier years the bugle was sounded when the gates of the camp were about to close.

Continue your afternoon game drives at leisure through the park visiting the numerous waterholes on route towards the Namutoni Rest Camp. All meals are available from the rest camp’s restaurant while late evenings can be spent game viewing at the adjacent floodlit waterhole.

Accommodation: Etosha National Park - Namutoni Rest Camp
The first fort, a six roomed building was erected during 1902. In 1904, however it was totally destroyed by Owambo raiders. In 1906 it was rebuilt and considerably enlarged and the fort never again came under attack. From 1910 onwards it served periodically as a police post but eventually fell into disuse. It was however rebuilt in 1956 according to its original design and opened in 1958 as a tourist camp.

Your days can be spent conducting game viewing activities around the waterholes in the eastern Namutoni Region. Some of these waterholes are artesian fountains or contact springs while others are artificial. One of these is the Chodob waterhole, which is fed by an artesian fountain. It has a floating reed island, a characteristic associated with this sort of fountain. It is one of the few waterholes frequented by eland. Apart from eland, black-faced impala, warthog and giraffe gather here to drink allowing for excellent photograph. Other waterholes worth visiting include Klein Namutoni, Groot Okevi, and Kalkheuwel while also including a visit to the Fort Namutoni.

Day 6
Windhoek
After a leisurely breakfast departure from the Etosha National Park via the eastern Von Lindequist Gate before heading in a southerly direction towards the mining town of Tsumeb. Thanks to the wealth generated by the mines, Tsumeb is an attractive town boasting some fine old colonial buildings and a palm lined central park with spreading lawns. It is also the first stop after passing the “redline” which leads across the country from west to east and separates the southern commercial farms from the communally owned lands in the north.

An optional excursion on route can be included to the Sinkhole Lake Otjikoto. The first Europeans to encounter this lake were Francis Galton and Charles Anderson in 1851 and even to today this lake still has an uncanny mystery attached to it.

Departing from Tsumeb continue in a southerly direction towards the towns of Otavi and Otjiwarongo. An optional excursion that you have on route is to visit the largest known meteorite at Hoba located near the town of Grootfontein. This town forms one of the trio towns of the maize triangle with agriculture on predominantly white owned farms. Apart from the usual livestock farming of cattle, sheep and goats, the farms in this region produce most of Namibia’s maize, sorghum, cotton, peanuts and sunflowers.

The second town of the maize triangle is Otavi. This is a very inconspicuous town but was an important copper mining town in its day and was also the scene of many feuds between the Owambo, Hereros and Bushmen.

Returning to the main route head south towards the town of Otjiwarongo which provides a convenient stop over on route to the north or the south of the country. As with most towns in central Namibia the name Otjiwarongo originates from the Herero language, which translated means “place of the fat cattle” or “beautiful place”. Given the central role that cattle play in the Herero culture, both meanings are appropriate. The town was officially founded in 1906 upon the arrival of the narrow gauge railway linking the important mining centre of Tsumeb and the coastal town of Swakopmund.

From Otjiwarongo continue south along the main route returning towards Okahandja and Windhoek. Afternoon arrival back in the capital city, Windhoek where the late afternoon will be at leisure.

Accommodation: Olive Grove Guest House

Day 7
Windhoek
Depart to Hosea Kutako International Airport for the departure of your scheduled flight.
Provision will be made for your rental vehicle to be returned to the airport prior to your departure. Please note that check-in times for departures is two hours prior to the flight departure time.

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Our tours are merely suggested itineraries and therefore can be tailor-made to suit your specific needs. Our Self Drive Tour routings are also suitable as a Guided Safari or Fly-In Safari. Routes can be amended according to your preference Accommodation can be changed to suit your style and budget Accommodation meal basis can be booked according to your requirements Extra nights can be added depending on your arrival and departure flight times and the pace that you want to travel