Affordable Namibia Lodge Safari

This 13 day Affordable Namibia Lodge Safari explores Namibia's top cultural and wildlife destinations, combining the best that Namibia has to offer in a comprehensive, exciting and affordable safari. Highlights on this accommodated budget safari through Namibia, include:

• Sossusvlei Dunes and Sesriem Canyon, Namib-Naukluft Park
• The Cape Cross Seal Colony and Swakopmund 
• White Lady bushman paintings and Twyfelfontein rock art
• Petrified Forest and cultural visit to a Himba village
• Game viewing in Etosha National Park 
• Waterberg Plateau and Cheetah Conservation Fund

This accommodated African Safari through Namibia, starts and ends in Windhoek.

DAY 01: Windhoek – Namibia

The Affordable Namibia Lodge Safari starts in Namibia’s capital city, Windhoek, located on the Khomas Highland plateau in central Namibia. 

On day one we visit the attractive city of Windhoek, Namibia’s biggest city lying at an altitude of 1650m, nestled among some of Namibia’s highest mountains. Colonial German influences meet modern architectural styles making Windhoek a unique and cosmopolitan African city. Windhoek is the social, economic, and cultural centre of Namibia and a popular tourist destination. It is seen as Namibia’s only “real” city, with a mere population of 300 000. On the first night of the Namibia Lodge Safari we overnight at Arrebusch Lodge on the outskirts of the city of Windhoek. 

Standard Hotel, Lodge or Guest House (Meals Included: Lunch)

DAY 02: Windhoek to Namib Naukluft Park – Namibia

We depart from Windhoek after breakfast on day two, travelling through the scenic mountain region of Khomas Hochland. The drive over the Khomas Hochland, one of the highest points in Namibia, offers spectacular views of the surrounding valleys.

We descend the steep slopes of the Gamsberg, the third highest mountain in Namibia, as we head towards the small village of Solitaire. We should spot the first of our game species en route to our guest farm. The next two nights are spent at Solitaire Guest Farm, located on the edge of the Namib‐Naukluft Park. The Namib-Naukluft reserve covers about 50 000 sq km’s making it Namibia's biggest game reserve and one of the largest wilderness parks in Africa.

Standard Hotel, Lodge or Guest House (Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)

DAY 03: Sossusvlei & Sesriem Canyon, Namib Naukluft Park – Namibia

On day three we get an early start, heading into the red-orange dunes of the Namib Desert, considered the world's oldest desert. We climb the famous Dune 45 for panoramic views of the sand dunes of Sossusvlei and the Tsauchab River Canyon.

After the climb up Dune 45 we are rewarded with a hearty cooked breakfast, enjoyed in a stunning desert setting. Breakfast is followed by a short drive to the entrance of the Sossusvlei area of the Namib Naukluft Park. The Namib-Naukluft Park is home to some of the rarest and most peculiar plant and animal species in the world. The Sossusvlei area is famous for its towering sand dunes, boasting some of the highest dunes in the world. We explore the desert by foot, taking a guided walk to Hiddenvlei, with its dead trees and stark scenery.

Next we drive to the Sesriem area of the Namib Naukluft, where we stop for a picnic lunch and a refreshing dip in the swimming pool. We then visit the Sesriem Canyon, which is a kilometre long and around 30 meters deep. Formed by the Tsauchab River about 2 million years ago this deep canyon reveals distinct sedimentary layers and features several muddy pools. After our visit to the unique Sesriem Canyon we head back to our camp for a peaceful night under the star-filled African skies.

Standard Hotel, Lodge or Guest House (Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)

DAY 4: Swakopmund via Solitaire, Kuiseb Canyon & Walvis Bay Lagoon – Namibia

We will travel through the striking scenery of the Namib desert on day four of the Affordable Namibia Lodge Safari stopping at the smallest town in Namibia, Solitaire, on the way. We travel via the Kuiseb Canyon, where two German geologists and their dog lived for over two years during World War II. We then make our way to Walvis Bay, a scenic drive to Namibia's coast that takes about 5 hours. Here we visit the Walvis Bay Lagoon, one of the most important wetlands on the west coast of Southern Africa. The lagoon is famous for its large population of flamingos, as well as being home to a variety of other bird species. The Walvis Bay Lagoon is listed as an international Ramsar bird sanctuary. The next two nights are spent at Swakop Lodge, in Swakopmund.

Standard Hotel, Lodge or Guest House (Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch)

DAY 5: Swakopmund  – Namibia

Today is free for you to explore the popular summer destination of Swakopmund at your leisure or to take part in the various optional activities available in and around Swakopmund. Adventure activities include sand boarding, desert flights, skydiving, quad biking, dolphin cruises and more. Swakopmund, where European and African influences meet, is located on the Atlantic coast and surrounded by the Namib-Naukluft Park.

Standard Hotel, Lodge or Guest House (Meals Included: Breakfast)

DAY 06: Via Cape Cross Seal Colony to Brandberg – Namibia

Leaving Swakopmund behind we journey north along the coast of Namibia making our way to the small fishing village of Henties Bay, known for its angling and seal population. We visit the Cape Cross Seal Colony at Henties Bay and witness one of the largest breeding Cape Fur Seal colonies in the world. The colony consists of up to 250 000 Cape Fur Seals, the biggest fur seal species in the world. We get up close to the seals gaining insight into their natural behaviour as they go about their daily tasks. Next we leave the coast heading inland into arid and rocky terrain. Our next overnight stop is at the White Lady Lodge, located near Brandberg Mountain, Namibia's highest peak at around 2600m.

Standard Hotel, Lodge or Guest House (Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)

DAY 07: Khorixas via Twyfelfontein – Namibia

On day 7 we rise early to take a guided walk to the "White Lady", a group of famous (San) Bushmen paintings. The walk to the cave follows the dry Tsisab riverbed and takes about 2 hours. The "White Lady" figure is the most detailed human figure at this famous site of Bushman paintings. After the walk our journey takes us past Herero villages and if we are lucky we may even catch a glimpse of the famous desert Elephants of Damaraland on our way to Twyfelfontein. In Twyfelfontein we visit more ancient rock paintings, taking another guided walk to explore the Bushman rock art. Tonight we stay at Igowati Lodge in the town of Khorixas, located in the southern Kunene Region of Namibia.

Standard Hotel, Lodge or Guest House (Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)

DAY 08: Kamanjab & Ova‐Himba Village – Namibia

Next we drive to Kamanjab, pausing to visit the Petrified Forest en route. This ancient forest consists of around 50 fossilized tree trunks about 260 million years old. The trees, some of the longest being over 30 meters in length, are thought to have washed to the current site in a flood. The oldest plants in the world, Welwitchia mirabilis, are also found in the area, some being as old as 2000 years. We stay overnight in the town of Kamanjab, close to the village of the last remaining traditional tribe in Namibia, the Ova‐Himba. Our visit to the Ova‐Himba village offers excellent photographic opportunities as well as a chance to gain insight into this tribe's way of life. We stay at Oase Guest House on day 8 of the Affordable Namibia Lodge Safari.

Standard Hotel, Lodge or Guest House (Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)

DAY 09: Kamanjab to Etosha National Park – Namibia

Our next destination on the Affordable Namibia Lodge Safari is the famous Etosha National Park in northwestern Namibia. We spend the next three days on safari game viewing in this 22 270 sq km game reserve. Etosha National Park, one of Africa's top game reserves, is dominated by a vast salt pan. Etosha Park is named after this dry lakebed, the name meaning 'place of dry water'. Etosha is home to 340 bird species and over 100 mammal species, notably the endangered cheetah and black rhino, as well as black-faced impala, tsessebe, roan antelope and gemsbok. 

On the first night in Etosha we stay at either Okaukuejo or Halali camp, both of which have tourist facilities, including a restaurant, a basic shop and a swimming pool. The rest camps offer around-the-clock game viewing at floodlit waterholes. These waterholes are frequented by elephant and black rhinoceros on a daily basis in the dry winter season, as well as drawing a variety of other wild animals, such as leopard and lion.

Comfortable Hotel, Lodge or Guest House (Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)

DAY 10: Etosha National Park – Namibia

We take a leisurely game drive through Etosha on day 10, taking in the wide-open expanse of the Etosha Pan. The flat green surface of this dry lakebed stretches out under the hot African sun, offering spectacular stark scenery and glimpses of ostriches amongst the shimmering mirages. On day 10 we stay at Halali camp, where the secluded and scenically located waterhole offers visitors excellent opportunities for sighting a variety of game species.

Comfortable Hotel, Lodge or Guest House (Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)

DAY 11: Etosha National Park – Namibia

Our next stop in Etosha is on the eastern side of Etosha pan at the Namutoni rest camp, featuring a beautiful old German fort. The northern parts of the Namutoni area are known for the large number of plains game found there. High concentrations of waterbirds also inhabit the area during the wet season, including flamingos. Other species found in the Namutoni part of Etosha include leopard, cheetah, lion, kudu, giraffe and damara dik dik. We will spend the night next night in Etosha at either Namutoni or Halali camp.

Comfortable Hotel, Lodge or Guest House (Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)

DAY 12: Via Cheetah Conservation Funds to Waterberg Plateau Park – Namibia

On day 12 of our Namibian safari we depart Etosha, travelling south towards the Waterberg Plateau Park. Along the way we stop off at the Cheetah Conservation Funds, a non‐profit organization. Here we learn more about these endangered predators and the work that this organization does to help protect them in the wild. The Waterberg Plateau is a flat-topped geological feature towering around 200m above the surrounding landscape. The plateau consists of orange-red sandstone featuring some interesting rock formations and steep cliffs. Some rare animal species, including the white and black rhino, sable and roan antelope, are bred in the Waterberg Plateau Park. The only breeding colony of endangered Cape vultures in Namibia is found on the western edge of the Waterberg Plateau.

Comfortable Hotel, Lodge or Guest House (Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)

DAY 13: Waterberg Plateau & Okahandja to Windhoek – Namibia

Today we rise early and walk up to the Waterberg Plateau, climbing the sandstone block for spectacular views of the surrounding landscape.

After our walk we continue our journey, heading back to Windhoek via Okahandja, where we visit the local craft markets for some souvenir shopping. We arrive back in Windhoek at about 12:00pm, bringing the Affordable Namibia Lodge Safari to a close in time for onward flights. 

(Meals Included: Breakfast)

Please Note:

• Private safaris based on custom schedules can be arranged for groups on request. For more information and prices please contact African Budget Safaris.
• This tour requires a minimum of 2 people to guarantee departures.
• Maximum group size of 12 people per safari.
• Transport for 2 ‐ 3 clients will be in Toyota 4x4 Hilux or Mercedes Benz Sprinter. For 3 or more clients, transport will be either in Mercedes Benz Sprinter or Custom Built Safari Truck.
• SH ‐ Standard Hotels, Lodges or Guest Houses - usually with twin or single rooms and en suite facilities. These are generally standard, no‐frills hotels of acceptable standard. These are often small, family run establishments.
• CH ‐ Comfortable Hotels, Lodges or Guest Houses with twin or single rooms and en suite facilities. Generally good levels of service and often added amenities such as restaurant, bar, swimming pool and garden. 

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