LUXURY BIG CAT CONSERVATION, ADVENTURE & DESERT SAFARI
15 DAY SMALL GROUP GUIDED NAMIBIA SAFARI (UPMARKET) – 2008

Trip Summary
A truly varied trip which includes safari drives in the renowned Etosha National Park, rich with wildlife including lion, leopard, cheetah, elephant, rhino, and giraffe and where wildlife viewing comes relatively easily. Opportunities for activities include a dolphin cruise, excursion to a Himba tribe, scenic flights, eco-quad biking on the sand dunes, deep sea fishing, a round of golf in the desert and horse riding. Highlights of the trip include a visit to a big cat rehabilitation project and seeing ancient rock art on the landscape of Damaraland.

Accommodation is in luxury lodges and permanent tents and the itinerary features some of the best lodges in Namibia. Guests will typically wake up to fantastic African bush and desert views without needing to move from their bed! Evenings at the lodges tend to focus on having a nightcap around the ‘boma' or campfire: surely nothing can complete with a star-filled sky, a crackling fire, the sounds of the African bush and some good stories from our hosts after a homecooked evening meal! Our guides are local to the area, and have an intense passion for nature and their country. Their ability to speak local dialects gives guests a privileged insight into the intriguing local tribal cultures, whilst their well-trained game-spotting skills and expert knowledge of botany and wildlife provide for a unique and informative experience.

What this trip contributes:
Admission fees to the Big Cat rehabilitation project ensures that the work undertaken by the charitable foundation is supported. The foundation has rehabilitated over 80% of cats back into the wild since its work began.

Our visits to the rock art sites in Damaraland are led by local guides, and fees paid for our tours are reinvested directly back into the local community.

We travel in small groups of up to 8 people, to avoid overwhelming local communities and to give our guests an overall better experience. Small group travel means we can get off the beaten track and use small lodges and guesthouses that tend to be more homely and personable.

Day 1 — Arrival in Windhoek to Erongo Mountains (260 km; 3.5 hours driving)

On your arrival at the Windhoek International Airport you are met by one of our expert guides (alternatively you are collected at your previous nights accommodation establishment). You immediately depart and head for northern Namibia (this is assuming you arrive on the morning Air Namibia flight…if not, a night in Windhoek will be required). Lunch is had en route and you visit the Okahandja Craft Market. You arrive at the Erongo Wilderness Lodge in the early afternoon and the late afternoon is at leisure.

Okahandja:
Directly north of Windhoek lies Okahandja, a town of great significance to the Herero people because it was once the seat of Chief Samuel Maharero. Every year on 26 August referred to as Heroes' Day thousands of Hereros converge in the town to pay homage at the graves of their great chiefs. Some of the women are dressed in traditional red and black, others in green and black, while the men wear full military regalia complete with medals. Visitors are welcome to view this rich and colourful ceremony. According to historian Dr Vedder, the name Okahandja comes from Herero and means ‘small widening', the place where the rivers meet. The earliest records of the town date back to 1844 when the first two missionaries arrived there. The year 1894, however, is regarded as the birth of the town as Okahandja became a military base in this year and a fort was built. On 26 August, 1923, the famous Herero Chief Samuel Maharero was laid to rest in Okahandja at a funeral attended by approximately 2 000 people. Since then this day has been celebrated annually at Okahandja by the Herero people. The town is an important centre for woodcarvers from the north. They practise their ancient skills at the wood and thatch Mbangura woodcarvers Market next to the main road, both at the entrance and at the exit of the town.

Erongo Wilderness Lodge:
Two hours North West of Windhoek lies a special wilderness are, encircled by the Erongo Mountains, where the desert, mountain, and bushveld ecosystems combine. This is one of Namibia's most diverse and rewarding environments, and Erongo Wilderness Lodge provides the Ideal way to experience it. The lodge has 10 luxury tented bungalows, built on stilts and shaded by thatched roofs, set amongst granite boulders. We offer guided walks, nature drives, rock art, excellent birding and guaranteed relaxation.

Overnight: Erongo Wilderness Lodge or similar — Lunch, Dinner, Bed & Breakfast www.erongowilderness.com

Day 2 — Erongo Mountains to AfriCat Foundation (140 km; 2 hours driving)

After an early morning wake up call you depart on a guided walk of the area. Here close encounters with the local fauna and flora are common. You also have the opportunity of seeing numerous endemic bird species. You return to the lodge for breakfast, after which you depart and head for the AfriCat Foundation. You arrive at the AfriCat Foundation in the early afternoon and the late afternoon is spent on an activity exploring the project.

Okonjima Bush Camp:
Okonjima offers a Main Camp, with 10 en-suite, double rooms, and a Luxury Bush Camp, with 8 unique, African–style chalets. Activities include the Cheetah Tracking trail on foot, or a visit to our Cheetah Project. Then there is Leopard viewing from the safety of a hide or radio-tracked from our game-viewing vehicles, as well as Birding, Guided and self-guided walking trails.

Overnight: Okonjima Bush Camp or similar — Lunch, Dinner, Bed & Breakfast
www.okonjima.com

Day 3 — AfriCat Foundation

Today is spent on various activities exploring the AfriCat Foundation.

Overnight: Okonjima Bush Camp or similar — Lunch, Dinner, Bed & Breakfast

Day 4 — AfriCat Foundation to East Etosha National Park (415 km; 4 hours driving)

After an early wake up call you depart on another activity to explore this great project. You also have the opportunity to view some of Africa's large cats in close proximity. You return for a late breakfast, after which you depart for Etosha. Lunch is had en route, also visiting Lake Otjikoto and also visit the controversial Ombili Project which is in aid of the bushman tribes of the Etosha region (www.ombili.de), and the late afternoon is spent game viewing in the Etosha National Park. You arrive at Mushara Outpost just before dark.

Lakes Otjikoto and Guinas:
During the South West Africa Campaign in 1915, retreating German forces dumped their military equipment into Lake Otjikoto, about 24 km north-west of Tsumeb. There the armaments lay, undisturbed, until members of the Windhoek Underwater Club recovered an ammunition carrier now on display in Windhoek's Alte Feste Museum. On subsequent forays a number of cannons, machine-guns and other weapons were retrieved. These form an important part of the displays in the Tsumeb Museum. Many legends surround the lake. A favourite myth is that Otjikoto and its sister lake Guinas are bottomless. A rare, mouth-breeding species of fish is found in Otjikoto Lake, as well as in Guinas, which lies to the north west of Otjikoto. The 130m deep Lake Guinas is noted for its beautiful setting and the dark inky blue colour of its water. However, since it is on a private farm, permission to view it needs to be obtained from the owner.

Etosha National Park:
Large enough to be classified as a saline desert in its own right, the Etosha Pan lies in the Owambo Basin on the north-western edge of the Namibian Kalahari. Until three million years ago it formed part of a huge, shallow lake which was reduced to a complex of salt pans when the major river that fed it, the Kunene, changed course and began to flow to the Atlantic instead. If the lake existed today, it would be the third largest in the world. Etosha is the largest of the pans, 4 760km2 in extent, or about half the size of Lebanon. It is nowadays filled with water only when sufficient rain falls to the north in Angola to induce floods to flow southward along the Cuvelai drainage system. Etosha is open throughout the year and is accessible on tarred roads via the Anderson Gate in the central southern section and the Von Lindequist Gate in the east. Each of Etosha's three resorts, Okaukuejo in the centre of the park, Namutoni in the east and Halali halfway between the two, has its own distinctive character and atmosphere. Each has a floodlit waterhole where wildlife can be viewed throughout the day and night.

NOTE:
Visitors to Etosha should approach and depart from waterholes as slowly and as quietly as possible, so as not to disturb the game. Loud conservation not only disturbs the animals, but annoys serious game viewers. It is especially important not to disturb the peace and quiet of night game viewing at floodlit waterholes at the resorts.

Mushara Outpost:
The Mushara outpost is on the same reserve as the Mushara Lodge and Villa Mushara, 2km east of Mushara Lodge as the crow flies. The Mushara Outpost consists of 8 units for guests, each sleeping two, and two units for tour guides. Guests are accommodated in custom made tents on a wooden deck nestled amongst trees on the western bank of a small omuramba, also known as a dry river bed. As far as we know the last time water flowed through the omuramba was 40 years ago. The ground water level is shallow so that trees and shrubs have overgrown most of the omuramba. The tents are facing eastwards, to allow for privacy and protection from the sun which is harshest from the west. Pathways leading to and from the main lodge are on the western side. Since we spend most of our time on "ground level" it was decided to raise the tents off the ground to provide a different perspective of the surrounding bush. A wooden ramp leads onto the deck and 12 square metres of private space, this is the perfect spot for enjoying the solitude of nature. A large glass sliding door leads into the tents, all windows and doors are covered with fly- screen to keep cool air in and insects out. The tent is a wooden structure, wrapped with canvas containing fixed wooden door and window frames. Three large glass windows stretching from ceiling to floor allow for plenty of fresh air during the night. For warm afternoons, air conditioning adds an extra level of comfort. The open-plan bathroom has an enclosed toilet with ceiling and two large windows. When faced with a choice between a large mirror at the basin or a better view into the bush, the mirror size quickly shrank. The shower walls are glass from top to bottom. Unzip the outside canvas wall of the shower to your preferred height and your time in the shower takes on a new dimension! The furnishing of the tent is minimal, comfortable and has a light feel to it. A mini bar, coffee station, safe, telephone, mosquito net and hair drier are standard. Did we mention the air con? The lodge house is styled on an old farm house, tall walls, corrugated iron roof with a large wrap around veranda. This is NE facing to take advantage of cooling shade. The ambiance is that of a well lived in house, friendly, warm and extremely comfortable with a homely atmosphere. Dinner is enjoyed under the African stars, breakfast and lunch are taken on the veranda and in the house. A wide refreshing pool is welcome relief after a hot day in Etosha. The Etosha National Park is Namibia's premier big game destination and one of Africa's iconic landmarks. The Mushara Outpost offers game drives into the park with talented local guides who are truly passionate about sharing the wonders of Etosha. The Mushara Outpost is all about old-fashioned hospitality with warm, friendly and personalized service on the doorstep of the magical Etosha Pan National Park.

Overnight: Mushara Outpost or similar — Lunch, Dinner, Bed & Breakfast
www.musharalodge.com

Day 5 — East Etosha National Park (game viewing)

Full day of game-viewing in the Etosha National Park.

Overnight: Mushara Outpost or similar — Lunch, Dinner, Bed & Breakfast

Day 6 — Etosha National Park (game viewing)
After an early breakfast the day is spent on game-viewing from your private vehicle. You will leave the park before sunset, arriving at Etosha Mountain Lodge in time to enjoy sunset.

Etosha Mountain Lodge:
Etosha Mountain Lodge consists of 6 luxury chalets overlooking a breathtaking view. Each chalet is built for your privacy. The main complex, also with wonderful view including a reception area, lounge, dining room, bar, swimming pool with teak deck and wine cellar (grotto) where you can taste the best wines. Also accessible to handicapped guests. Morning Game drive including drinks and picnic lunch. Game on View? Black Rhino, White Rhino, Giraffe, Eland, Mountain Zebra, Kudu, Oryx, Cheetah, Leopard, Springbuck, Blue Wildebeest, Warthog, Duiker, Black-faced Impala, sable antelope, Hartebeest etc.

Overnight: Etosha Mountain Lodge or similar — Lunch, Dinner, Bed & Breakfast
www.etoshamountain-lodge.com

Day7 — Etosha National Park to Damaraland (290 km; 4 hours driving)

After breakfast you depart and head into the Damaraland. You visit the Petrified Forest, Twyfelfontein Rock Engravings which have recently been declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site, Organ Pipes and Burnt Mountain. You arrive at the camp in time for a sundowner.

Petrified Forest:
Huge trees that turned to stone 280 million years ago lie in the Petrified Forest 45km west of Khorixas. Broken into segments but aligned, they are clearly recognizable as fallen trees, some as long as 45m and 1,2m in diameter, complete with wood grain and growth rings. It is the biggest accumulation of petrified logs in southern Africa. Floodwaters uprooted the trees elsewhere and carried them to their present position towards the end of an ice age on the Gondwana super continent. The trees were Cordaites, early conifers, that are now extinct.

Twyfelfontein:
Strewn over a hillside at Twyfelfontein in the southern Kaokoveld, boulders and slabs of red sandstone hold some 2 500 prehistoric engravings that depict wildlife, animal spoor and abstract motifs. It is perhaps the largest and finest collection of petroglyphs in Africa. The engravings show animals such as elephant, giraffe, kudu, lion, rhinoceros, springbok, zebra and ostrich that once used to drink from a fountain at the bottom of the hill. In some cases footprints were engraved instead of hooves or paws. The abstract motifs feature mainly circles. Stone tools and other artifacts found at Twyfelfontein suggest that hunter-gatherers occupied the site over a period of perhaps 7 000 years. The exact age of the engravings is unknown, but the patina on individual figures — the darker, the older — does give an idea of their relative age. Guides take visitors to view the rock art. The engravings lie along two circular routes, one an hour's climb and the other 40 minutes longer. The engravings are best seen in the softer light of early morning or late afternoon. Twyfelfontein is a national monument situated about 100 km south-west of Khorixas in a valley among flat-topped mountains of red sandstone.

Burnt Mountain:
A rounded hill south-west of the Petrified Forest, Known as the Burnt Mountain, seems to catch fire again at sunrise and sunset. Its fantastic range of colours comes from a chemical reaction that took place 132 million years ago when molten lava penetrated shale and limestone deposits. In ordinary sunlight it is a dull black. Blackened rubble lies to one side like cinders from the original fire.

Organ Pipes:
The Organ Pipes, a mass of basalt slabs in a ravine gouged out by a river, is another geological curiosity in the area.

Mowani Mountain Camp:
The thatch dome-shape structures of Mowani Mountain Camp echo that shape of the rough textured granite boulders amongst which they are built, a theme complemented by African wood carvings and artifacts. Mowani's main complex consists of a reception area, bar, spacious dining room and lounge overlooking a waterhole where elephants and other animals come to drink. Guest are accommodated in 12 Luxury East-Africa–style en-suite safari tents built on raised wooden platforms, each with a canvas veranda and splendid views over the Aba Huab Valley.

Overnight: Mowani Mountain Lodge or similar — Lunch, Dinner, Bed & Breakfast
www.mowani.com

Day 8 — Damaraland

After an early breakfast you depart in search of the elusive desert-adapted elephant in an open 4x4 vehicle. You return to the lodge for lunch and the rest of the afternoon is at your leisure.

Desert Elephant:
In habitats with sufficient vegetation and water an adult elephant consumes as much as 300 kg of roughage and 230 litres of water every day of its life. Consider what a herd of them would eat and drink in a week or a month or a year. African elephant in a desert? Well, yes! Not only elephant, but other large mammals as well, like black rhinoceros and giraffe. Their ranges extend into the northern Namib from river catchments in the Kaokoveld. Apart from the Kunene River, seven river courses northwards from the Ugab provide them with possible routes across the desert, right to the Skeleton coast. The biggest are the Hoarusib, the Hoanib, the Huab and the Ugab. Desert-adapted elephant in the Kaokoland and the Namib walk further for water and fodder than any other elephant in Africa. The distances between waterholes and feeding grounds are as great as 68 km. The typical home range of a family herd is larger then 2 000 square km, or eight times as big as ranges in central Africa where rainfall is much higher. They walk and feed at night and rest during the day. To meet their nutritional and bulk requirements they browse on no fewer than 74 of the 103 plant species that grow in their range. Not a separate species or even a subspecies, they are an ecotype unique to Namibia in Africa south of the equator, behaviourally adapted to hyper-arid conditions. Elephant in Mali on the southwestern fringe of the Sahara Desert are the only others known to survive in similar conditions.

Overnight: Mowani Mountain Lodge or similar — Lunch, Dinner, Bed & Breakfast

Day 9 — Damaraland to Swakopmund (325 km; 5 hours driving)

After breakfast you depart for Swakopmund. En route you visit a small Herero settlement, where you get some insight into this interesting cultural group. You pass by Namibia's highest mountain, the Brandberg, as well as the lichen fields of the Namib. You also pass the Swakopmund Salt Works, where there is usually some good birding. Lunch is had en route and you arrive in Swakopmund in the late afternoon. Dinner tonight is had at a famous seafood restaurant.

The Herero:
The Herero pastoralists with large herds of cattle also entered the country from the north in the 1500s. After almost two centuries in the Kaokoveld, the majority of them migrated southward in search of better pastures, which they found in the central highlands. Only the himba stayed behind. The most traditional of Herero people, bound to ancient ways and beliefs, they still inhabit the Kaokoveld. The Herero were semi nomadic herders, like the Masai of East Africa, with cattle at the centre of their culture. They regarded their herds as an ancestral legacy which had to be husbanded for future generations. Cattle were slaughtered only on ceremonial occasions. As the Herero grazed their cattle ever further south, they encountered other pastoralists, Nama headed in the opposite direction. Skirmishes over rangeland combined with cattle raids on the part of both led to bloody if sporadic conflict between them which only petered out towards the end of the 19th century. Neither side gained permanent ascendancy over the other. Although the Herero were top at the end, they had at one stage been reduced to "only individuals", as missionaries noted at the time," who wander about in a state of greatest misery." Worse was to befall them at the hands of Imperial Germany. Persistently cheated out of cattle and land, they rose in rebellion against the colonists in 1904. In the war that followed the Herero people were massacred. They fell to enemy fire both on and off the battlefield or died from thirst as they fled into the Kalahari. To compound the carnage, their waterholes were poisoned. Their paramount chief, Samuel Maharero, escaped into Bechuanaland, now Botswana, with some of his followers. He would die in exile. The rebellion was finally crushed in 1907. Afterwards the colonial rulers stripped them of their lands and cattle. With their life as herders over, they were no longer independent. In modern times Herero activists like Chief Hosea Kutako figured prominently in the quest for support from the international community for Namibian independence. They established two of the earliest parties, both with the aim of uniting Namibians behind the demand for independence, but neither managed to gain national support.

Brandberg:
The imposing Brandberg massif is a challenge to rock climbers, especially its peak Königstein, which at 2 574m is the highest point in Namibia. The Acacia montis-usti trees, conspicuous in the Brandberg valley, is endemic to this region. Fine specimens of the desert plant Welwitschia Mirabilis can be seen at the Messum Crater south west of the Brandberg. The Brandberg is famous for the rock painting known as the white lady.

Swakopmund Town:
Swakopmund is a town with an air of enchantment about it, as if the ornate buildings of the old quarter and the lush greenery of the seafront were somehow spirited away from their proper setting, only to be left without rhyme or reason in an African desert. Beyond the last row of houses the desert is devoid of vegetation except for low bushes. On a slight rise above the seashore, the town is exposed to both the Atlantic and the Namib, a gravel plain to the north and east. It stands on the north bank of a river course that is nearly always dry. A narrow belt of sand dunes, outriders of the Great Sand Sea to the south, comes to a halt on the opposite bank. A bare plain beside a rough sea and dry river is hardly a prime position for a holiday resort. In fact the town was never meant to be a resort, but became one against all the odds. It was established as a harbour town. Swakopmund had its beginning as a landing station in 1892 when the Imperial Navy erected beacons on the site. Initially cargo and passengers were rowed ashore in surfboats from steamers anchored offshore. Once a concrete Mole or breakwater had been built it became possible to use tugs and barges instead.

The Stiltz:
The new accommodation is unique in every aspect. It offers the most spectacular views in Swakopmund overlooking the Atlantic Ocean, the riverbed, the 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 other, and to the main dining bungalow with yet another magnificent view. You feel in a different space, yet you are only minutes away from the charming town centre with plentiful restaurants, loads of amenities you wish for …that is if you really feel like leaving your bungalow.

Overnight: The Stiltz or similar — Lunch, Dinner, Bed & Breakfast
www.thestiltz.in.na

Day 10 — Swakopmund

Today is a day of leisure and for you to part take in any additional activities of your choice. You meet again for dinner at a well known restaurant. Optional activities today could include a marine cruise, scenic flights, trips to Sandwich Harbour (ask your guide for details).

Marine Cruise: NAD/ZAR 430 per person
Sandwich Harbour tour: NAD/ZAR 900 per person (min 3 pax)
Living desert tour: NAD/ZAR 500 per person (min 3 pax)
Scenic flight (Sosusvlei): NAD/ZAR 8 250 per aircraft (maximum 5 pax)
Himba Excursion (flight): NAD/ZAR 18 200 per aircraft (maximum 5 pax)

Overnight: The Stiltz or similar — Dinner, Bed & Breakfast

Day 11 — Swakopmund to Sossusvlei (420 km; 6 hours driving)

After breakfast you depart from Swakopmund and make your way into the heart of the Namib Desert. You visit the prehistoric Welwitschia plants and the fascinating moon landscape. Lunch is had en route, and shortly before arriving at the Sossusvlei Lodge, you visit the Sesriem Canyon. After arrival at the lodge, the rest of the afternoon is at your leisure.

Welwitshia Drive and Moon Landscape:
The Welwitschia Drive is a half day, self drive circuit of the Namib Naukluft Park in the vicinity of Swakopmund that gives travellers a look at the gravel plains of the Namib, the moon landscape, the Welwitschia mirabilis and few sites of historical interest. A permit to enter the Namib Naukluft Park is required. The Moon landscape is a rather beautiful view of the rugged hills that lie beyond the gravel plains of the Namib. It can be seen on the Welwitschia Drive.

Sesriem Canyon:
At the entry to Sossusvlei is Sesriem Canyon, where centuries of erosion have incised a narrow gorge about 1km in length. At the foot of the gorge, which plunges down 30 to 40 m, are pools that become replenished after good rains. Sesriem derives its name from the time when early pioneers tied six lengths of rawhide thongs together to draw water from the pools.

Sossusvlei Lodge:
Located next to the entrance gate of the Namib - Naukluft Park, almost unnoticed in the vastness of unparalleled desert beauty, is Sossusvlei Lodge, your gateway to the Namib. Shaded by ancient camel-thorn trees, the Lodge bears testimony to the ingenuity of an eco-friendly design. Accommodation is in 45 en-suite bedroom units, each sleeping four. After an exciting day in the desert, you can shake off the desert dust with an ice-cold local lager in the unique bar, take a refreshing dip in the sparkling pool or browse through the curio shop. Excellent cuisine under the guidance of the executive chef is the order of the day in the restaurant and on the al fresco terrace.

Overnight: Sossusvlei Lodge or similar — Dinner, Bed & Breakfast
www.sossusvleilodge.com

Day 12 — Sossusvlei to NamibRand Nature Reserve (90 km; 1.5 hours driving)

After a very early morning wake up call and some coffee/tea you make your way to Sossusvlei. The area consists of a sand sea and boasts some of the highest freestanding dunes in the world. Amongst these dunes you have your picnic breakfast and enjoy the scenery. After attempting to climb one of these sand giants you will make your way due south to the NamibRand Nature Reserve. You arrive at the Wolwedans Dunes Lodge, which is a small exclusive camp hidden in the dune fields, in time for lunch and an afternoon siesta. In the late afternoon you depart on a sundowner drive in an open 4x4 Land Rover and return in time for dinner.

Sossusvlei:
Sossusvlei is a clay pan set amid monstrous piles of sand known as star dunes that reach the height of a 70 storey skyscraper and rank among the tallest dunes on earth. A deathly white against red sands, the pan is the endpoint of a usually dry river, Tsauchab, in the interior of the Great Sand Sea. The river course rises south of the Naukluft Mountains in the Great escarpment. It penetrates the sand sea for some 55km before it finally peters out about the same distance from the Atlantic. Until dunes stopped it in its tracks 60 000 years ago, the Tsauchab reached the sea, as ephemeral rivers still do in the northern half of the Namib. Sand-locked pans to the west were endpoints before Sossusvlei. The dunes in the vicinity of Sossusvlei get to be as high as 220m. They look even higher when their base rests on an elevated surface such as a river terrace. Indeed one of them that lies beside the Tsauchab rises 325m above the valley floor. Once a decade or so rainfall over the escarpment is sufficient to bring the river down in flood and fill the pan. On such occasions the mirror images of dunes and gnarled trees around the pan are reflected in the water. Sossusvlei is the biggest of four pans in the vicinity. In one of them, Dead Vlei, big camelthorn trees, dead for want of water, still stand erect. They grew in that place until about 900 years ago when the sand sea finally blocked the occasional floods. It is the only place where the sand sea is accessible to sedan cars. The road ends 4 km short of Sossusvlei, but 4x4 vehicles can go further. The alternative is to walk.

NamibRand Nature Reserve:
Close to Sossusvlei, about one hour's flight by aircraft from Windhoek, lies the NamibRand Nature Reserve, an initiative that was started in 1984 by the purchase of the farm Gorrasis. Extending over nearly 180 000ha, it shares a common border of nearly 100 km with the Namib-Naukluft Park in the west, while the imposing Nubib mountain range forms a natural border in the east. The particular attraction of NamibRand is its diversity of different desert landscapes, representing virtually all facets of the Namib Desert. Expansive sand and gravel plains and endless stretches of grass savannah alternate with majestic mountain ranges and vegetated dune belts of deep red sand. The variety of flora and fauna is as fascinating as the colour nuances of the landscape, which change continuously as the day progress. Before NamibRand became a private nature reserve, it consisted of sheep farms, surveyed and allocated in the early fifties to ex-soldiers of World War II. Today visitors to NamibRand can admire nature in its original state, as animals and plants are back where they belong.

Wolwedans Dunes Lodge:
This 20 bed Lodge is perched on top of a dunes plateau and overlooks panoramic vistas in all direction, capturing the desert in an intimate and memorable way. The building style is a combination of wooden poles and large canvas blinds/windows that open up to the desert beyond. Each of the nine spacious chalets with en–suite bathroom leads onto a private veranda and stretches of untouched sand. A special attraction at the Lodge is the Mountain View Suite. Providing living space in abundance, the suite is ideally suited for those who want to stay for several days taking it easy at times reading, walking or just relaxing.

Overnight: Wolwedans Dunes Lodge or similar — Inclusive (most drinks included)
www.wolwedans.com

Day 13 — NamibRand Nature Reserve

After a leisurely breakfast you depart in a 4x4 Land Rover on an entire day safari of the NamibRand Nature Reserve (the largest privately owned nature reserve in Southern Africa) exploring the marvels of the Namib Desert. You have lunch in the desert and arrive back at the camp during the mid afternoon.

Overnight: Wolwedans Dunes Lodge or similar — Fully Inclusive (most drinks included)

Day 14 — NamibRand Nature Reserve to Windhoek (390 km; 5 hours driving)

After a leisurely breakfast you depart and head back to Windhoek. Lunch is had en route and you arrive in Windhoek in the mid afternoon. Dinner tonight is had at the world famous Joe's Beerhouse. This is also the official end of your Namibian Safari…bon voyage…

Overnight: Olive Grove Guesthouse or similar — Dinner, Bed & Breakfast
www.olivegrove.com.na

Day 15 — Departure

Today you can explore Windhoek on your own accord, before being transferred to the Windhoek International Airport this afternoon in time for your evening flight home.

Windhoek – Capital City:
Windhoek, Namibia's capital nestles among rolling hills, bounded by the Eros Mountains in the east, the Auas Mountains to the south and the Khomas Hochland in the west. It is a meeting place between Africa and Europe, the modern and the old. In the capital's main street, well-preserved German colonial buildings are in sharp contrast with modern architectural styles, while Herero women in their traditional Victorian dresses mingle with executives dressed in the latest fashions. Located centrally, Windhoek is the starting point of an adventurous holiday for many visitors to the country and an ideal base from where to explore the rest of the country. The city's restaurants offer a variety of meals, ranging from international and continental cuisine to German dishes such as Eisbein with Sauerkraut and African delicacies such as mopane worms. Windhoek offers a wide choice of accommodation options, ranging from four-star hotels and homely pensions to backpackers establishments and campsites. In the rural areas beyond the city's limits there are also a number of lodges and guest farms.

COST:
VALID FROM 01 JUL – 31 OCT 2008
MINIMUM 2 PAX & MAXIMUM 8 PAX

RACK RATE:
NAD 48 540,00 PER PERSON SHARING
NAD 10 730,00 SINGLE SUPPLEMENT
ENQUIRE FOR RATES FOR CHILDREN UNDER 12 YEARS

DATES:
26 JULY – 09 AUGUST 2008

INCLUDED:
Accommodation as stated above, subject to availability.
Transportation in a luxury air-conditioned vehicle.
Meals stipulated above.
Services of a registered and experienced English-speaking tourist guide.
Entrance fees and excursions where stated in above itinerary.
Welcome Pack.

EXCLUDED:
International flights to Namibia.
Airport Tax
All other meals other than stated in above itinerary.
All other entrances and excursions than stated in above itinerary.
Items of personal nature such tips, beverages, laundry etc.
BANK CHARGES (as per bank or 3.5% commission for VISA/MASTER).

NOTES:
The above is a quotation only.
Services subject to availability at the time of booking.
Rates subject to change without prior notice due to circumstances beyond our control e.g. fuel increases, currency fluctuation etc.
Should the period of travel, number of participants, type of accommodation, type of vehicle, or the duration of the stay change, the quote will vary accordingly.
Terms and conditions apply.