9 Days / 8 Nights - Northern Namibia Tour

TOUR INFORMATION: TOUR CODE:                       SD006 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 – Okonjima, AFRICAT Foundation – Etosha National Park– Damaraland – Skeleton Coast National Park - Swakopmund - 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.

click route-map to enlarge

Tour Summary:

Itinerary:

Day 1
Otjiwarongo – Okonjima – AFRICAT FOUNDATION
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.

Departing from Windhoek continue in a northerly direction towards the central Namibian towns of Okahandja and Otjiwarongo. Okahandja 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.

Continue north from Okahandja on route to the Okonjima Guest Farm. Your scheduled arrival at Okonjima should be by early afternoon allowing you sufficient time to participate in the afternoon scheduled game drive.

Accommodation: Okonjima Main Camp
Okonjima Main Lodge lies in the Omboroko mountains, which form part of the Waterberg Plateau in Namibia. The main attraction of this lodge is the leopard and cheetah that are resident on the farm. Okonjima is home to the AfriCat foundation which is dedicated to preserving the big cats of Namibia, at Okonjima special emphasis is placed on cheetah and leopard.
Apart from the lodge, there is also an education and research centre on the property, as well as rehabilitation camps for the various animals. Guests at Okonjima have the opportunity to experience these cats firsthand, and will also learn about what is being done by the AfriCat foundation to ensure the survival of these animals in Namibia.
The lodge has ten en-suite double rooms and a secluded swimming pool surrounded by beautiful gardens where a variety of birds and animals may be encountered. Keep an eye out for the warthog which is a regular visitor to the lodge grounds. Okonjima lodge is the best place in Namibia (and probably the world) to view and learn about the conservation of cheetah and leopard.

Day 2
Etosha National Park
Daily scheduled activities while at Okonjima will commence with a light breakfast served at the “Lion Lapa” before continuing on a guided nature walk. This walk is an interpretive introduction into the lives of the “Bushmen” and provides explanations and examples on fire making, hunting skills and the manufacturing of rope and ornaments.

After a late “brunch” departure continue your travels in a northerly direction towards the towns of Otjiwarongo and Otavi.

Otjiwarongo provides a convenient stop over on route to the north 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 north towards the town of 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’s, Herero's and Bushmen.

Leaving Otavi continue along the main route heading in northerly 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 last stop before 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.

From Tsumeb return to the main route to lead you towards the Owamboland District and the Etosha National Park. 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.

Late afternoon arrival at the Lodge which is located on the eastern boundary of the Etosha National Park.

Accommodation: Mushara Lodge
Mushara Lodge is situated 8 km from the eastern entrance to the famous Etosha National Park. The lodge offers 10 twin-bedded bungalows, one family unit, and two single rooms. All rooms are stylishly decorated with bathrooms en suite, air conditioning, mini bars telephones and mosquito nets. Activities at Mushara include nature walks on the farm and game drives into the park. Mushara’s mission is to serve guests as well as possible and to comply with their every wish by means of their comprehensive wine list, high quality meals and dedicated and friendly staff.

Day 3
Etosha National Park
After an early breakfast departure continuing into the Etosha National Park via the Von Lindequist Gate. Continue with a full day of game viewing drives as you traverse through the park on route towards the central and western regions. The Etosha National Park has over 114 mammal species, 350 bird species and 21 vegetation types. The most common plains game species encountered include; Burchell’s Zebra, Springbok, Black– Faced Impala, Blue Wildebeest, Gemsbok / Oryx antelope, Giraffe and Red Hartebeest. The Etosha National Park also boasts healthy populations of Lion, Elephant and Black Rhino.

While in the park your game viewing activities should be concentrated around the various waterholes on route. 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, black-faced impala, warthog and giraffe and allows for excellent photograph.

Other waterholes worth visiting include Klein Namutoni, Groot Okevi, Tsumcor and Kalkheuwel while also including a visit to the Fort Namutoni. 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.

Besides visiting the numerous water holes on route excursions can also be conducted to the Halali and Okaukuejo Rest Camps. It would be advisable to have lunch at one of these rest camps before departing from the park via the Anderson / Ombika Gate to arrive at Toshari Lodge by late afternoon.

Accommodation: Toshari Lodge
Toshari Lodge is situated only 25kms from Namibia's Etosha National Park's western gate (Andersson's gate.) It is a reasonably priced accommodation-alternative for visitors to the game park.
Relax on the terrace or at the swimming pool, and enjoy those spectacular Namibian sunsets. There is also a 'boma', where you can sit around a campfire and enjoy the lodge's traditional hospitality.
The Restaurant offers buffet style breakfast and dinner meals. Lunch, breakfast and lunch bags can be ordered on request. Why not enjoy some refreshment prior to and after dinner? There is a full bar service with an excellent selection of Cape wines.

Day 4
Etosha National Park
While at Toshari Lodge you will have the option to participate in optional extra game viewing drives into the Okaukuejo Region of the Etosha National Park.

Okaukuejo is the main administrative camp of the Etosha National Park, and was officially opened for visitors in 1957. Apart from the accommodation and other facilities for tourists, the camp 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.

Accommodation: Toshari Lodge

Day 5 & Day 6
Damaraland
After a leisurely breakfast it’s time to travel towards the ever popular Damaraland.

Accommodation: Camp Kipwe
Designed to creatively embrace the granite boulders, the camp embodies its Swahili meaning as it ‘blesses’ the mind, body and soul of every traveller that makes the journey. Taking advantage of the nearby Aba Huab River and all consuming expansive landscape, Kipwe offers a refreshing perspective on traditional safari life.

Here is where your uncluttered sense of self emerges redefined, as you enjoy the simplistic elegance of the camp and appreciate the attention to detail in everything you touch. At Kipwe, your blessings find you again.

'Kipwe', meaning blessed in Swahili, is built creatively into the large granite boulders of the area and is the latest addition to the Vision of Africa camps.

Day 7
Skeleton Coast / Swakopmund
Today’s journey leaves the pro-Namib Region of Damaraland descending towards the coastal plateau passing and entering into the Skeleton Coast National Park. This route passes some Welwitschia plants and some sand dunes before arriving at the Atlantic Ocean south of the seasonal fishing resort of Torra Bay. The 16th century Portuguese sailors named it “Dark Hill” after the dark capped hills, which they could see while they were looking for fresh water.

Continue in a southerly direction through the Skeleton Coast National Park before entering the National West Coast Recreational Area. Despite forming part of the Skeleton Coast this area is generally deemed to be flat and dull and is only attractive to the local surf-fisherman. Points of interest on route include a few cement slabs at Toscanini which is the site of a derelict diamond mine, an abandoned oil rig north of the Huab River which dates back to the 1960 and the ship wrecked Seal which dates back to 1976.

Your next stop after leaving the Skeleton Coast National Park will be at the Cape Fur Seal Colony at Cape Cross. In 1486, the first European to set foot on the coast of Namibia, Diago Cao, erected a cross in honour of John 1 of Portugal at a site now known as Cape Cross 115 km north of Swakopmund. In addition to being of historical interest, Cape Cross has a breeding colony to some 80 000 Cape Fur seals (Arctocephalus pusillus pusillus).

Continue via the small fishing villages of Henties Bay and Jakkalsputz for your late afternoon arrival in Swakopmund.

Accommodation: Swakopmund Boutique Hotel
A boutique hotel has to look stylish, distinctive, yet still retain warmth and intimacy. The Swakopmund Boutique Hotel scores on all of these fronts and many more. A convenient location is key to any city business and the Boutique's central position offers it visitors straightforward access to the Swakopmund amenities including: quaint German bakeries and coffee houses, shopping malls, a decent range of popular restaurants and bars, and up-to-date medical and banking facilities. As Swakopmund is Namibia's premier seaside resort, a wide range of holiday and adventure activities happen right here on your doorstep.

Day 8
Swakopmund
Today will be at leisure to exploring the town of Swakopmund and the surrounding dunes and “Gravel Plains.” Swakopmund is considered as Namibia’s premier coastal resort and is a popular destination with Namibian’s as a welcome respite from the heat of the interior. The town is also noted for its Old World charm and relaxed atmosphere. Founded in 1892 during the period of German colonial rule it served as the territory’s main harbour for years. Today this quaint town nestled between desert and ocean is enhanced by lush green lawns, palm trees and carefully tended gardens. There is a good selection of restaurants and coffee shops selling traditional German cakes and pastries, while the coastline and the desert respectively offer many options for adventure or relaxation.

Excursions into the Namib Naukluft Park should include visits to the spectacular “Moon Landscape” formation and the “Welwitschia Drive” with its classic examples of the ancient Welwitschia mirabilis plant species.

Accommodation: Swakopmund Boutique Hotel

Day 9
Windhoek
Leaving the coast continue in an easterly direction returning across the “gravel plains” towards the small towns of Usakos, Karibib and Okahandja. Usakos had its hay days up until the 1960’s where it served as a service centre for the narrow gauge railway line between Swakopmund and Otavi. Once the steam locomotives were replaced by diesel locomotives the town lapsed into its present sleepy state. 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. Okahandja 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 extra excursions on route include a visit to the open - air wood carving centre at Okahandja and the Herero Graves.

Continuing via Windhoek on route to the Windhoek International Airport for your scheduled departure.

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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