Best of Namibia Safari - Camping & Lodge Tour

Tour Overview

• Day 1: Windhoek to Okonjima Nature Reserve & AfriCat Foundation
• Day 2: Etosha Park (Okaukeujo Camp)
• Day 3: Etosha National Park (Okaukeujo Camp)
• Day 4: Hoada Camp and Himba village
• Day 5: Skeleton Coast National Park and Cape Cross
• Day 6: Cape Cross Seal Reserve and Swakopmund
• Day 7: Desert Camp, near Sesriem
• Day 8: Desert Camp, near Sesriem and Namib Desert (Dune 45, Sossusvlei & Deadvlei)
• Day 9: Windhoek – End of Safari

Day 1: Windhoek to Okonjima Nature Reserve – Namibia

Our affordable Namibia Safari starts at a backpackers in Windhoek where we meet for a pre-tour briefing. Anyone not staying at the selected backpackers will be collected in Windhoek at 7h15 this morning. After the meeting we leave Windhoek, making our way north to Okahandja. Here we visit the Okahandja Mbangura Woodcarvers Craft Market where woodcarvers from all over Namibia sell their hand-crafted goods. This is the perfect opportunity to practice your bargaining skills and support the local community.

Our next stop is our overnight destination, the world-renowned Okonjima Nature Reserve. Okonjima is an impressive 20,000ha nature reserve which is home to an incredible array of wildlife species. It is also home to the AfriCat Foundation, whose long-term mission is to conserve Namibia’s wildlife in its natural habitat. The Okonjima game reserve is renowned for its predators, including leopards, cheetahs, and hyenas. In addition to seeing leopards and cheetahs up close, you can also view some of Africa's keystone species.

We aim to arrive at camp around midday, giving us ample time to set up camp and enjoy lunch. In the afternoon we get to view cheetahs and other animals being rehabilitated at AfriCat. The aim of this wildlife rehabilitation program is to re-introduce big cats and other animals back into the wild where they can thrive.

After our educational tour, we join an afternoon game drive on the game reserve before enjoying our first spectacular sunset in the Namibian bush. This evening we enjoy a dinner prepared by your safari guide on the open campfire.

• Meals included: Lunch & Dinner
• Distance traveled: about 200km

Day 2: Okonjima to Etosha National Park – Namibia

This morning we depart from camp after breakfast and stop briefly at Otjiwarongo, a small town north of Okonjima. In Otjiwarongo we gather some fresh supplies, before continuing to Etosha National Park, one of Southern Africa’s premier wildlife reserves.

As soon as we enter Etosha the game viewing begins. We start our search for antelope, such as springbok and impala and with any luck some megaherbivores such as elephant, rhino or giraffe, on our short game drive to Okaukuejo. Arriving at Okaukuejo, we set up camp and enjoy a delicious lunch before heading out on an afternoon game drive. Etosha is unlike any other park, and our game drives take us from waterhole to waterhole in search of predators as well as plains game, birds and if we are lucky, even reptiles.

We return to camp just before sunset, and whilst dinner is cooking, we have the chance to visit the excellent floodlit waterhole where rhino, elephant, giraffe, lion and hyena are frequent visitors. Tonight we tuck into another tasty dinner cooked on the open campfire by our guide.

• Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
• Distance traveled: about 200km

Day 3: Etosha National Park & Okaukuejo Camp – Namibia

On day three we get a pre-dawn start. After a quick coffee and rusk, we set off on our full day game drive at sunrise to catch a glimpse of predators returning after a night of hunting.

We drive through the national park, pausing at waterholes to watch for wildlife and birds. Later we stop at a picnic site to have breakfast in the bush. Then we continue our game drive east in search of the many wild animals living in Etosha. When we reach Halali Camp you can take a dip in the pool, visit the waterhole and enjoy lunch.

After lunch, we visit the Etosha Pan where the national park gets its name. Here we can get out of the safari vehicle and experience this 4500 sq km ‘saline desert’. The salt pan is so large it can be seen from space. After exploring Etosha Pan on foot we return to Okaukuejo Camp, looking out for big game en-route. Our game viewing adventure comes to an end by sunset then we settle in for our final night of camping in Etosha Park. Tonight you can head to the floodlit waterhole at camp to watch for nocturnal visitors, including rhino, elephant, giraffe and other animals.

• Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
• Distance traveled: about 200km

Day 4: Hoada Campsite, Kunene Region – Namibia

Day four kicks off early, starting with breakfast as the sun rises over the wilderness. Then we embark on a short game drive back to the park gate. Then we drive west into the remote Kunene Region of northern Namibia.

Our first stop is a visit to the Otjikandero Himba Village. The Himba people are one of the last tribes in Namibia who still embrace their ancient culture and customs. We participate in a guided tour around the village where will have the chance to not only gain an in-depth insight into the Himba way of life but to get to know the Himba people to share a little of our own culture with them.

We continue west and stop briefly in the small town of Kamanjab before continuing on to the Hoada Community Campsite, situated between large granite boulders and Mopane trees, creating the illusion of a serene home in the wilderness. Here we set up camp before enjoying a leisurely afternoon and watching the sunset from the Hoada deck. Your guide cooks up a delicious dinner over the fire again tonight.

• Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
• Distance travelled: about 300km

Day 5: Cape Cross Campsite, Skeleton Coast – Namibia

Today our adventure takes us through the infamous Skeleton Coast National Park all the way to the Atlantic Ocean.

The coastline itself is a very hostile but fascinating area. It is known for the Welwitschia mirabilis, the Northern Namibia sand sea, the derelict oil rig near Toscanini, the Huab lagoon and the diminishing remains of the Winston Shipwreck. On exiting the national park we stop for Instagram-worthy photos of the iconic skull and crossbones gate.

We arrive at Cape Cross late afternoon where we set up camp for the night and have the opportunity for a sunset walk on the beach. Tonight we enjoy another meal prepared over the campfire.

• Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
• Distance travelled: about 350km

Day 6: Cape Cross & Skeleton Coast to Swakopmund – Namibia

Today you get the rare chance to sleep in and after a hearty cooked breakfast, we take a short walk to the Cape Cross Reserve.

The reserve is home to one of the world’s largest breeding colonies of Cape Fur seals and during the breeding season (November-December) up to 200 000 plus seals can be spotted basking on the beach– a unique sight and smell to behold. After our visit to the seal colony, we continue traveling along the coast stopping to view the Zeila Shipwreck, one of the latest victims of the Skeleton Coast from as recent as 2007.

Early this afternoon we reach Swakopmund, Namibia's top seaside destination. The rest of the day is free for you to do some sightseeing and explore the quaint town on foot. Alternatively, you can embark on one of the many optional activities on offer in and around Swakopmund, including skydiving, scenic flights, quad biking, dolphin cruises and more. Dinner tonight is at own expense in one of Swakopmund’s excellent restaurants and our guide will be happy to make recommendations or bookings depending on what we feel like.

• Meals included: Breakfast
• Distance traveled: about 130km

Day 7: Desert Camp, near Sesriem – Namibia

Today we leave Swakopmund at 11h30 so we have the time to enjoy an optional activity. For the adrenaline junkies, this could be speeding down a sand dune headfirst at 60km/h on a sandboard, exploring the dune field on a quad biking tour, or discovering the “old city” of Swakopmund on a fat bike (e-bike option available).

Whatever we choose, we depart Swakopmund no later than 11h30 and drive through the Namib Desert via the Kuiseb Pass, crossing the Tropic of Capricorn, stopping briefly in Solitaire and arriving at our camp late afternoon. We have a chance to relax and enjoy the views before taking a short walk for sunset looking over the Naukluft mountain range. Overnight is in twin rooms with en-suite bathroom facilities. There is a pool and bar available, and dinner is prepared by our guide.

• Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
• Distance traveled: about 350km

Day 8: Sossusvlei & Sesriem Canyon, Namib Desert – Namibia

We leave camp before dawn on day eight, heading into the desert to catch the sunrise over the orange-red dunes. We drive down an ancient river bed surrounded by towering dunes to the 2x4 parking (around 55kms) and take a 4x4 shuttle into the Sossusvlei area to appreciate the beauty of this place in early morning light and enjoy the peace and tranquillity of the region. We explore this unique area on foot before heading into Dead Vlei with its large expanse of bleached cracked clay and skeletal camel thorn trees, contrasting with a backdrop of huge dunes with their ever-changing colours before taking the 4x4 shuttle back to our vehicle.

As we drive back to our accommodation we will stop at the famous Dune 45 and climb this dune if we wish or just wander around the base. We return to Sesriem and visit the nearby Sesriem Canyon, one of the few permanent water sources before arriving back at our lodge late afternoon to watch the sunset over this spectacular desert.

• Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
• Distance traveled: about 150km

Day 9: Namib Desert to Windhoek – Namibia

Early morning breakfast before heading to Solitaire where we climb onto an open vehicle and visit the local conservation project. Here they have a number of cheetahs that are unable to be released for different reasons. This one hour activity gives us the chance to learn more about the cheetah, the work done by local conservation projects, and get some fabulous photos of the worlds fastest land mammal. We return to Windhoek via Bullsport and Rehoboth. We arrive mid-afternoon and will be dropped at our accommodation.

• Meals included: Breakfast
• Distance traveled: about 400km

Note: For those that choose to fly today, NO FLIGHTS DEPARTING PRIOR TO 18H00 in case there are unexpected delays on safari.