19 Days / 18Nights - Cultural Discovery Tour

Routing Highlights: A true Namibian cultural experience! Windhoek – Swakopmund - Skeleton Coast Park – Terrace Bay - Damaraland – Twyfelfontein – Damaraland – Opuwo - Kaokoland – Epupa Falls – Ruacana Falls – Owamboland - Etosha National Park - Waterberg Plateau Park - Windhoek Tour Information: Departure Date:                 Any date of your choice Departure Location:         Windhoek – Airport or City Tour Ends:                          Windhoek – Airport or City Car Rental: The type of vehicle rented will depend on your group size and amount of luggage and personal preference.

click route-map to enlarge

Tour Summary:

Itinerary:

Day 1
Windhoek
On arrival at the Windhoek Airport you will be welcomed by a company representative who will present you with your travel vouchers and assist you with the collection of your rental vehicle. Continue to the capital city, Windhoek. The remainder of the afternoon will be at leisure to view the historical landmarks of this cosmopolitan city or to do any last minute shopping for your tour.

Accommodation: Windhoek Country Club Resort
The desert oasis theme of the Windhoek Country Club Resort is no coincidence. The hotel is a true haven of charm and hospitality, situated in the picturesque Namibian town of Windhoek. Exceptional service, superb conference facilities and luxury accommodation in a tranquil desert setting, have ensured that this hotel maintains its premier position in the Namibian tourism industry. The resort is situated on the outskirts of Windhoek and therefore only a five-minute drive from any business meeting or cultural shopping experience. Bordering on a championship 18-hole golf course, this luxurious hotel is every golf enthusiast's dream.

Day 02
Swakopmund
Departing Windhoek travel north through the historical town of Okahandja to the coastal town of Swakopmund. En-route we pass through Karibib, a small town known for the very hard, high quality marble produced at a nearby quarry. The tourist centre has one of the country’s best selections of Namibian semi-precious and gemstones. Graced with many beautiful old buildings in a variety of architectural styles, the best way to experience this small town is on foot.
Accommodation: Swakopmund Hotel

Day 03
Skeleton Coast
Departing Swakopmund travel northwards past a number of shallow ponds used for salt production and farming oysters, following the coastline to Henties Bay. En-route a great variety of lichens will be found, of which Namibia has some of the rarest and most interesting species in the world and onwards to Cape Cross Seal Reserve where thousands of Cape Fur seals live and breed. You enter the Skeleton Coast Park at Ugab gate and continue through to Terrace Bay. En route there is a small shipwreck, the South West Seal, and an abandoned oil rig that is now a cormorant breeding colony. Terrace Bay was originally a diamond mining camp and has many a tale to tell with legends of shipwrecked sailors, rumours of a mysterious race of small people that roamed the bleak beaches (called the Strandloopers or Beach walkers), tales of diamond expeditions, fortunes lost and made, scandals and swindles
Accommodation: Terrace Bay

Day 04
Damaraland
Departing Terrace Bay head east and exit the Skeleton Coast National Park entering Damaraland. Northern Damaraland is beautiful with flat top mountains and rock strewn valleys, a striking landscape – strewn with red boulders and dotted with strange, desert adapted plants. Twyfelfontein, meaning ‘doubtful spring’ has been occupied for thousands of year with its spring attracting huge herds of game making this an excellent base for early hunters. The slopes of the area are strewn with boulders; all dotted with thousands of paintings and ancient engravings, a virtual open-air museum. Geological features in the area include the Organ Pipes, angular columns of dolerite which are all part of Namibia’s rich natural history.
Accommodation: Mowani Mountain Camp

Day 05 & Day 06
Damaraland
Damaraland is home to the only population of free-ranging (living out side a national park) Black Rhino in the world, the so called “desert” Elephant not to mention Giraffe, Hartmanns Mountain Zebra, Kudu, Springbok, Ostrich and Steenbok. Strange and beautiful plants occur here too, such as the Euphobia Damarana and the Bottle Tree (Pachypodium lealii). This area offers perfect opportunities for walks around the Lodge and offers close up views of the wonderful desert adapted plants that occur in this area, one which follows the course of the river where you may well spot game. Morning and afternoon guided drives are offered.
Accommodation: Palmwag Lodge

Day 07
Damaraland
Departing Palmwag to Khowarib Schlucht (gorge) on the Hoanib River where one can visit Anmare Traditional Village (Herero). Ongongo Waterfall where one can stop for a swim in the crystal clear pool. Fort Sesfontein was one of a chain of out posts built by the Germans to try and combat gun smuggling and control cattle movements (in an attempt to control the spread of diseases). In 1987 the fort was restored and turned into a lodge. The name Sesfontein derives from the Afrikaans words ses = six and fontein = spring and refers to the six springs found here. The “town” is a small, dusty outpost and supports a mixture of Afrikaners, Nama’s, Herero’s and sometimes Himba.
Accommodation: Fort Sesfontein

Day 08
Damaraland
Leaving Sesfontein the route winds through and across the hills towards Opuwo where an incredible diversity of vegetation is found. One starts to encounter Herero homesteads and may also encounter the colourfully dressed Herero women en route. Opuwo is very aptly named – meaning “the end of the road” and is a true frontier town. In the centre of Opuwo you will find the oasis of Ohakane Lodge which can arrange a guide to take you on a walking tour of Opuwo which is an excellent introduction to the Herero and Himba people.
Accommodation: Ohakane Lodge

Day 09 & Day 10
Kaokoland
After breakfast head north towards Okongwati to Epupa Camp, en-route one encounters several Himba villages, men watering herds of cattle at remote water points, and women at work drawing water or busy in fields. The Himba people are nomadic herdsmen so some of the villages may be empty as they move depending on the availability of grazing for their cattle. The Himba are proud, beautiful people with aristocratic features, the women rub a mixture of animal fat and ochre onto their skin and braid their hair into ceremonial styles. Sundowners on the hill overlooking the beautiful Epupa Valley are included and present a wonderful opportunity to photograph the valley in beautiful late afternoon light. An excursion can be undertaken to nearby Himba settlements where one learns more about these pastoralists. Time to relax or wander down to the falls, or enjoy a walk to an archaeological site nearby followed by sundowners overlooking the valley
Accommodation: Epupa Camp

Day 11
Kaokoland - Ruacana
Continue east along the Kunene River to Ruacana, where you can view the Ruacana Falls, the Hydro Scheme and the local Himba Villages.
Accommodation: Ruacana Eha Lodge

Day 12 & Day 13
Owamboland
Departing Opuwo head east towards Ruacana and on to Oshakati, en-route visit the Mahanene agricultural and skills training project and the big Ombalantu Baobab. Visit the Nakambale Mission House/museum, church and cemetery which gives one a good introduction to the history of the Finnish mission in Namibia, the political history of northern Namibia, and the history of the Owambo kingdoms and introduce you to the traditional Oshiwambo life. Visits to the numerous Cuca shops (informal trading stores), lively open-air markets, roadside shops and traditional restaurants can be easily arranged with a local guide.
Accommodation: Oshakati Country Lodge

Day 14, 15 & Day 16
Etosha National Park
Departing Oshakati travel south east to Ondangwa and on to Etosha National Park. Fort Namutoni was built in 1899 by the German Schutztruppe in an effort to control illegal gun running and cattle movement. It was one of the forts that saw action – in 1904 it was attacked by an estimated 500 Owambo warriors. A place of mirages, springbok or ostrich that wander out onto the pan shimmer and distend into unreal shapes in the heat haze. If there has not been much rain and there is little field water then each morning the long trek from grazing areas to the life sustaining waterholes begin, with long lines of Zebra, Springbok and Wildebeest plodding along ancient paths leading to the water. During early morning and late afternoon nocturnal predators such as Lion, Leopard, Cheetah and Hyena may be seen. Other species active during the night and early morning are animals such as Black and White Rhino, Honey Badger, Bat-eared Foxes, Cape Foxes, African Wildcat and Caracal.
Accommodation: Namutoni & Okaukuejo Resorts

Day 17 & Day 18
Otjiwarongo – Waterberg Plateau Park
Departing Etosha head south via Outjo and Otjiwarongo to reach Waterberg Plateau Park. Waterberg National is situated at the foot of the Waterberg Plateau – a 50 kilometre long, 16 kilometres wide sandstone plateau rising 150 metres above the surrounding plains. The sheer sided plateau has an abundance of small springs that support a great variety of flora and fauna. There are several walking trails laid out around the camp, one of which leads to the top of the plateau and offers stunning views. You may encounter the tiny Damara Dik Dik, Chacma Baboon, Rock Hyrax and a variety of birds walking in this area.
Accommodation: Waterberg Plateau Park

Day 19
Windhoek
You may wish to spend some more time walking in the park before returning to Windhoek via 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 and the Herero Graves.
Continue to the Windhoek International Airport for your scheduled departure.
Arrangements will be made for your rental vehicle to be returned to the airport prior to your 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