12 Days / 11 Nights - Best of Namibia Tour

TOUR INFORMATION: TOUR CODE:                       SD013 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 – Kalahari Desert - Namib Desert - Namib Naukluft Park – Sossusvlei  - Sesriem - Swakopmund  & Skeleton Coast – Twyfelfontein - Damaraland – 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, which offer Namibian style breakfasts (Frühschoppen) 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: Villa Verdi Guest House
Villa Verdi is where you will spend tonight, surrounded by lush, tropical gardens, is one of the more popular accommodation establishments in Windhoek and is only a short walk from the city centre and its international banking institutions, top class restaurants and excellent shops. The secluded gardens, large swimming pool and views of the Auas Mountains, give a superb opportunity to unwind after the rigors of travel or a day's shopping in Windhoek. Villa Verdi is the ideal location to explore the galleries, theatres and museums of Windhoek.

Day 2
Kalahari Desert
Driving from Windhoek today you travel to the Southern parts of Namibia. While Namibia is more famous for being the home of the Namib Desert, it must be remembered that much of eastern and southern Namibia is covered by another - the Kalahari Desert. The Kalahari is not a true desert as it receives too much rain, but it is actually a fossil desert. So do not expect to find the tall sand dunes associated with Sossusvlei, the landscape is more one of golden grass and small red dunes.

Accommodation: Intu Africa Camelthorn Kalahari Lodge
Camelthorn Kalahari Lodge is situated north of Mariental on The Intu Afrika Kalahari Private Game Reserve. The reserve is a 10,000ha wildlife sanctuary, located in the south-western region of the Kalahari Desert along the upper reaches of the Auob river system of Namibia. The lodge is set in a secluded valley between two red Kalahari dunes, and nestled amongst camelthorn trees.
The ambiance of this lodge is distinctly Bushman, enhanced with indigenous decor and home to a fine collection of San artefacts, one of the oldest cultures in the world.
This area offers guests the opportunity to learn about a predator re-introduction programme, the Kalahari Lion Project. An opportunity to take a walk in the Kalahari with a bushman tracker to discover their desert survival techniques, and to learn some of the history of the ancient San people, is also a possibility. Guests can explore the Kalahari in open 4x4 vehicles.
Camelthorn Lodge is child friendly and there is a nearby landing strip, with transfers to and from the lodge for their guests

Day 3 & 4
Namib Desert / Namib Naukluft Park
The Namib Desert is often referred to as the world's oldest desert. Namibia gets its name from the Namib so it should come as no surprise to discover that the entire western section of the country is comprised of the Namib. Of course the Namib spreads beyond the borders of Namibia and flows into southern Angola and the Northern Cape Province of South Africa. A section of the central Namib Desert incorporates The Namib Naukluft Park, one of the largest national parks in Africa, as well as the Naukluft Mountains. The park is a combination of the Namib Desert Park and the Naukluft Mountain Zebra Park as well as sections of the Diamond Area. The combined area is just under 50,000km² and main attractions are Sossusvlei, Sandwich Harbour and the Naukluft hiking and four wheel drive trails.

Accommodation: Le Mirage Desert Lodge
Le Mirage Desert Lodge is located only 21 kilometres from Sesriem, the entrance gate to the Namib Naukluft Park and Sossusvlei. Sossusvlei is part of an ephemeral river system, whose route to the ocean has been cut by the ever advancing dune sea of the Namib Desert. The Namib-Naukluft Park is not only Namibia’s largest park, but also one of the largest in Africa. The Namib is considered to be one of the oldest deserts in the world. The lodge was designed to be a harmonious blend of luxury and nature with each room offering a spectacular view of the Namib Desert. The lodge is a 'faux' castle and the highlight of Le Mirage is the wellness centre. It has a jacuzzi and a pool. There are 5 treatment rooms and aroma baths. It specializes in massages, pedicures, manicures, aroma massages, Thai massages and de-stress treatments. In the large courtyard guests can retreat at the swimming pool sheltered from the desert in an oasis of palm trees.
Guests can visit Sossusvlei either under their own steam or as part of a guided trip. Guided quad bike trips, nature drives, as well as scenic flights and hot air balloon safaris over the Namib Desert, can also be organized. Also very popular with guests are the lodge's scenic sundowner drives. Children of all ages are welcome at Le Mirage Desert Lodge and there is a babysitting service.

Day 5 & 6
Swakopmund
Today’s journey passes through the spectacular Gaub and Kuiseb Canyons before crossing the gravel plains of the Namib Desert on route to the commercial harbour town of Walvis Bay. This is Namibia’s largest commercial harbour, while the Walvis Bay Lagoon, protected under the RAMSAR Convention as an important wetland, is renowned for its seasonal abundance of both the Greater and Lesser Flamingo species. The scenic drive from Walvis Bay to Swakopmund leads between the dramatic coastal dues and the ocean.

The remainder of your afternoon can be spent 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: The Stiltz
The Stiltz offers the most spectacular views in Swakopmund overlooking either, the Atlantic Ocean, the river-bed or the sand dunes and the bird rich lagoon at the river mouth. If that does not take your breath away, the architecture of these wooden bungalows built on stilts will. Each private bungalow has been attended to in the finest detail, interlinked by wooden walkways to the others and to the main dining bungalow. You will feel in a different space, yet you are only minutes away from the charming town centre with plentiful restaurants, loads of activities and all the amenities you could wish for.

Day 7
Damaraland
Leaving the coast behind you, today you travel inland again to the beautiful area of Damaraland. Damaraland is one of the most scenic areas in Namibia, a huge, untamed, ruggedly beautiful region that offers the traveller a more adventurous challenge. Here there are prehistoric water courses with open plains and grassland, massive granite koppies and deep gorges. Towards the west, the geography changes dramatically with endless sandy wastes, that incredibly are able to sustain small, but wide-ranging, populations of desert-adapted elephant, black rhino, giraffe, ostrich and springbok. These animals have adapted their lifestyles to survive the harshness of the sun-blistered, almost waterless desert spaces. Elephant move through euphorbia bush country, and can travel up to 70km in a day in search of food and water and unusually, do not destroy trees in their quest for food. Follow black rhino cow and her calf in typical Damaraland 'melkbos' terrain. Together, Damaraland and Kaokoland are known as the Kaokoveld.

Accommodation: Ugab Terrace Lodge
Ugab Terrace Lodge is nestled on a plateau and is situated in the heart many of Namibia's tourism attractions. It's central location, 90kms from Outjo, 60kms from Khorixas, and 120kms from Twyfelfontein, make it an ideal self-drive, stop-over for a couple of days to visit Vingerklip, Brandberg Mountains, Twyfelfontein or the Petrified Forest. Travellers can then head off to Etosha National Park or Swakopmund, depending on their itinerary. It is an ideal setting, in a relaxing and tranquil environment, before heading onwards to an exciting safari or coastal destination. Activities include bird-watching, exploring the local area on hiking trails and mountain bikes.

Day 8 & 9
Etosha National Park (West)
Travel from Damaraland to Etosha today. Etosha National Park is one of Southern Africa's finest and most important Game Reserves. Etosha Game park was declared a National Park in 1907 and covering an area of 22 270 square km, it is home to 114 mammal species, 340 bird species, 110 reptile species, 16 amphibian species and, surprisingly, one species of fish. The Etosha Park is one of the first places on any itinerary designed for a holiday in Namibia.

Accommodation: Eagle Tented Camp
Eagle Tented Camp is situated south of Etosha National Park (Links) and on the same property as Epacha Game Lodge. The Epacha Game Reserve is home to 21 antelope species, as well as the endangered Black Rhino and rare Sable antelope. It provides breathtaking views over the surrounding mountains and valleys!
This charismatic lodge is built from natural rock. Here, modern day luxuries combine perfectly with the raw African bush. A more informal, personal touch has been emphasized than its big brother, Epacha Game Lodge.
Guests can partake in selected activities. Epacha morning and afternoon game drives, Etosha day excursions and clay-pigeon shooting are all at your disposal.

Day 10
Etosha National Park (East)
Today can be spent travelling from west to east through Etosha National Park whilst game viewing.

Accommodation: Mushara Lodge
Situated on the Eastern gate of the Etosha National park is Mushara Lodge and it is just 8km from the eastern gate. The lodge is situated on its own 2,500 ha private reserve where a variety of wildlife and birdlife can be found. It is surrounded by the Purple Pod Terminalia tree, from which the name Mushara is derived. The green lawn is occasionally visited by local wildlife.
Game drives can be arranged into Etosha National Park in specialised safari vehicles. Enjoy the warm welcome, excellent amenities and the freedom to explore at Mushara Lodge!

Day 11
Windhoek
After breakfast depart to Windhoek via the small town of 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

Accommodation: Villa Verdi Guest House
Afternoon arrival back in the capital city, Windhoek where the late afternoon will be at leisure, where you will spend the night at Villa Verdi Again as the first night in Windhoek

Day 12
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