Explore Namibia with family and friends in the comfort of a 4x4 Land Cruiser on this guided private tour to the lesser-known gems of remote northern Namibia.
Experience spectacular scenery and the fascinating cultures of Namibia on this private Namibia Lodge Safari. Encounter the ancient San, traditional Himba, and pastoral Herero tribes. Explore central Etosha National Park and the less-visited western region of Etosha and Hobatere Concession. Then travel to the Kunene River, Epupa Falls, and an authentic Himba village. Next, stay at Fort Sesfontein and spend a day in the rugged Hoanib Valley where free-roaming wildlife is often spotted. Lastly drive from remote Kaokoland to strange Damaraland admiring more of the spectacular landscapes of northern Namibia, before returning to Windhoek.
An affordable private safari through unique Namibia, staying at a well-curated selection of comfortable safari lodges, rest camps, and guesthouses.
__large.jpg "Private Namibia Safari, Kaokoland")
__large.jpg "Himba cultural experience, Namibia")
__large.jpeg "Namibia Safari lodge room")
__large.jpg "Namibia Lodge Safari, Kaokoland")
__large.jpg "Damaraland, Nambia Private Tour")
__large.jpeg "Namibia Private Tour lodge")
Start this unusual Namibia Lodge Safari in Windhoek, the charming and modern capital of Namibia. Your private tour group is collected from the Hosea Kutako Airport and driven to your first overnight guesthouse in Windhoek.
Arriving at The Elegant Guesthouse you are free to take it easy, swim in the pool, and freshen up after your travels. Later we set off on a guided tour of Namibia's historic capital. Your guide takes you to the oldest building in Windhoek - the German colonial Old Fort (Alte Feste) and National Museum. You also visit the House of Parliament, called Tintenpalast (the Ink Palace), hosting the National Assembly and National Council. We also go to the landmark Christ Church and Independence Avenue with its monuments, clock tower, and old German architecture.
Tonight you have the option of enjoying dinner (own expense) at Joe's Beerhouse, one of the most famous restaurants in Windhoek. We spend the first night of our private safari in comfortable en-suite rooms at the modern guesthouse located in an upmarket neighbourhood of Windhoek.
On day two of our Namibia Safari, we have breakfast at the guesthouse before leaving Windhoek in our 4x4 vehicle. Traveling north our private safari takes us through the open landscapes of rural Namibia towards the Waterberg Plateau.
Just before reaching Grootfontein, we stop at the world-famous geological site of Hoba Meteorite, the largest meteorite on the planet. We visit this massive chunk of iron that fell to the ground about 80,000 years ago.
Then we continue to our accommodation just north of Grootfontein, situated on the elevated plateau. We spend the next two nights at Fiume Bush Camp located in the open Kalahari Desert.
Today an authentic African cultural experience awaits. Meet the unique San people of Namibia and gain insight into their ancient culture. The San tribe is one of the oldest in the world and the first to inhabit southern Africa.
Interact with the local San people and learn about their old customs and traditions. Find out how these traditional hunter-gatherers have survived in the harsh environments of southern Africa. On day three of our private tour of Namibia, you embark on a guided bush walk with the San and can try your hand at some of their traditional practices. The San bushmen can show you how to start your own campfire, create a primitive bow and arrow, or make some jewellery. You'll also get the chance to join their traditional singing and dancing.
After an intriguing cultural journey with the San people of Namibia, we head back to our rustic bush camp.
Day four of our private safari in Namibia starts with breakfast before we drive to Etosha National Park, via Tsumeb city. Along the way, we skirt the shores of Lake Otjikoto, the source of numerous old tales and myths. Arriving at our safari camp near Etosha Park you have time to rest, dip in the pool, and unwind.
Later we make our way into Etosha National Park, Namibia's most famous game park, in our 4x4 Land Cruiser. Driving through the dramatic landscapes of this rugged wilderness area, we scan the bush for wildlife and admire the wild scenery. Elephants, lions, and rhinos are frequently sighted in Etosha, which also hosts numerous predators; including leopards, cheetahs, hyenas, jackals, and spotted genets. Etosha is also home to a wide diversity of game - oryx, giraffe, zebra, wildebeest, springbok, kudu, black-faced impala, gemsbok, eland, and more.
Etosha (‘Great White Place’) is one of the biggest national parks in Africa and with its diverse wildlife and landscape – from Acacia trees on the wide-open plains to the large salt pan, stretching as far as the eye can see – it is one of the most interesting. Keep an eye out for elephants, giraffes, lions, many antelope species, and much much more!
After our first game drive in Etosha Park, we retrace our steps to Mushara Bush Camp. Spend the evening reliving the wildlife adventures of the day, enjoying a tasty dinner, and sitting beside the campfire under the stars.
Time for some serious game viewing in one of Africa's finest reserves - Etosha National Park. We spend days five and six of our Namibia Lodge Safari observing the wildlife of Etosha. From the comfort of our 4x4 safari vehicle with a pop-up roof, we also get to enjoy the captivating landscapes. The national park is named after the vast, flat Etosha Pan that dominates much of the territory. Etosha means 'Great White Place' - a name that aptly describes this arid expanse of often dry salt flats.
Our exploration of central Etosha takes us to the various waterholes scattered across the hills and plains fringing Etosha Pan. These watering holes attract an abundance of animals and birds making for excellent sightings, particularly in the dry season when water is scarce.
We spend our nights at Etosha Village, just outside of the national park. We leave Etosha in the late afternoons before sunset and spend our evenings relaxing at the laid-back safari lodge.
Next, our Namibia private tour heads into the western region of Etosha National Park. We spend most of day seven exploring the western area where thrilling wildlife encounters await. Your guide takes you in search of game animals that may have eluded us thus far sharing insights along the way. As you explore, note how much your wildlife-spotting skills have improved - you will be surprised at how much you have learnt about the animals, birds and plants of Etosha.
Late this afternoon we exit Etosha National Park and drive to the nearby Hobatere Concession, located along the western border of the national park. Our drive takes us through the dramatic landscapes of Damaraland to the Hobatere Lodge set inside this 8808-hectare wildlife area. Keep an eye out for wildlife en route to our next Namibia safari lodge as the sun dips down to the horizon. The concession area hosts lions, elephants, leopards, cheetahs, black rhinos, giraffes, eland, and Hartmann’s zebras among others.
Settle in and enjoy a delicious dinner at the lodge. Then you can join an open-vehicle night game drive in the concession area to search for elusive nocturnal animals, such as bat-eared foxes, aardwolf and genets.
Begin the day with breakfast at the lodge, enjoying the wild setting of the concession area. Then we journey north along the western fringes of Etosha National Park to the Kunene River. Along the way we pause to admire Ruacana Falls, one of the largest waterfalls in Africa, when in full flood. From there we proceed to our next Namibian safari lodge on the banks of the Kunene River, which forms the border with Angola to the north.
Our scenic drive takes us along the river through a sparsely populated area that is almost entirely deserted. The next safari lodge on our private Namibia Safari is Omarunga Epupa Falls Camp, near Epupa Falls. After settling in at our oasis-like camp, you have some free time to relax and enjoy the beautiful surroundings. Then you can take a walk to the cascading Epupa Falls to view the 60-meter tall waterfall where the Kunene River drops into the deep gorge below. Later this afternoon, you can join your guide on a walk to the nearby viewpoint. Keep an eye out for birds as you walk along the Kunene River to the viewpoint where you can watch the sunset over the lovely landscape dotted with baobab trees and palms.
This morning we set off on a cultural excursion to a nearby Himba village. Here we encounter the distinctive Himba, one of Namibia's indigenous tribes.
Visiting the Himba village gives you a chance to experience both traditional and modern influences on the local culture as it is today. The Himba are best known for their striking ornamentation and unique appearance, especially amongst the women. The bare-chested Himba women rub a mixture of butter, red ochre, and ash into their hair and skin, giving their bodies a vivid red glow and protecting them from the sun. The Himba women traditionally wear elaborate beaded, iron, and copper jewellery, as well as leather headpieces when they reach puberty.
A local Himba guide takes us on a two to three-hour walk along the Kunene River this afternoon. As we walk the guide tells us more about the natural vegetation of this part of northern Namibia. Keep your eyes open for the possible sighting of a crocodile basking in the sunshine.
We spend another night of our Namibia Lodge Safari at Omarunga Epupa Falls Camp, beside the Kunene River.
Start the day with a laid-back breakfast beside the Kunene River. Then we travel south via Opuwo town and along the Joubert Mountains, crossing over the impressive Joubert Pass in our sturdy Land Cruiser.
Our long drive takes us to Fort Sestfontein where we spend the next two nights of our private African safari.
Fort Sestfontein was built by the German colonial government in 1896, to guard against the spread of cattle disease, illegal hunting and weapon smuggling. The ruins of the old fortress have been rebuilt and restored to create the unique lodge where we stay. This comfortable safari lodge offers a lush setting, with an interesting history.
We are up early on day 11 of our Namibia Lodge Safari, for a day trip to Hoanib River Valley. This morning we travel through the breathtaking landscapes of Kaokoland, taking in the strange scenes of this diverse and remote region.
We drive across the sandy floor of the Hoanib Valley in our 4x4 safari vehicle, travelling through low grasslands and across arid gravel plains, looking out for wildlife as we go. This secluded area is home to desert-adapted elephants, oryx, zebras, giraffes, and even lions that are occasionally seen roaming freely here.
After exploring the rugged Hoanib Valley area we return to Fort Sesfontein, where we freshen up and have dinner.
Today we get an early start for the long drive southeast to Khorixas, the former capital of Damaraland.
Our drive takes us via the Palmwag area into Damaraland. Along the way, we will stop to visit the national monument of the Petrified Forest. The area is scattered with about 50 ancient tree trunks some as long as 34m with a circumference of 6m. These petrified trees are thought to have washed to the site in a flood and are over 250 million years old.
We also pause to take a closer look at the peculiar-looking Welwitschia plants. Also called tree tumbo, these hardy plants are endemic to the Namib Desert.
After marveling at the petrified trees and unique Welwitschia plants we proceed through to Khorixas, passing through the town en route to Vingerklip Lodge. At the end of the day, we catch a splendid sunset from the veranda of the lodge, which looks out over the wide valley featuring Vingerklip (Finger of Stone). This 35-meter tall rock formation is the eroded remnant of one of the flat-topped hills of Ugab Terraces.
We have dinner at Vingerklip Lodge and spend a relaxing evening under the stars.
In the morning your safari guide accompanies you on a walk to the Vingerklip pinnacle. Standing at the base of the vertical rock formation you can see the sedimentary layers revealed through the ages of erosion. The Vingerklip hill is also an excellent vantage point for taking photos of Ugab Terraces with its sandstone hills and valleys.
After we walk to the distinctive Vingerklip formation, we drive on to the town of Okahandja. This town in the Greater Windhoek area is best known for its large arts and crafts market. We stop off at the market to look at the wood carvings and local creations, ranging from jewellery to textiles. This is a good place to get gifts and souvenirs.
Then we continue to our final Namibia safari lodge, the Immanuel Wilderness Lodge near Windhoek. Settle in at the tranquil lodge and take a dip in the pool. This evening we celebrate our memorable journey through northern Namibia together.
On the last day of our Northern Namibia Lodge Safari, we have breakfast at the charming lodge before hitting the road in our comfortable safari vehicle. Arriving back in Windhoek where our private Namibia Safari began your guide takes you to the Hosea Kutako Airport or your post-tour accommodation in Windhoek.
This private safari tour is conducted in a 4x4 Land Cruiser, built to navigate the rough roads of Africa. On each private tour, a maximum of six clients get to experience Namibia from the luxury of a 4x4 safari vehicle, guaranteeing each guest a window seat. The Toyota Land Cruisers feature pop-up roofs which are ideal for viewing wildlife and the open landscapes of Namibia, providing excellent photographic opportunities. Exploring the long, wide-open roads of remote northern Namibia in the comfort of a well-equipped 4x4 vehicle makes all the difference!
For up-to-date and confirmed pricing info for optional items, please drop us an enquiry.
This tour does not take children.
This itinerary may have some long travelling days, and we would therefore not recommend this group safari for young children.
Families with younger children who are confident and comfortable with travelling long distances, are welcome on a private safari basis only.
Please contact African Budget Safaris for information regarding private tours and quotations.
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