Best of Namibia Circuit
Price per person in double $4320 low season, $5165 high season; single supplement $955.
Create your own Namibia safari: experience the enormous red dunes of Sossusvlei, the nutrient-filled coasts of Swakopmund, the starkly beautiful plains and river valleys of Damaraland and the bushveld of Etosha National Park.
Observing Namibia from the air is an awe-inspiring experience: the vast expanses of moving, rippling sands, the great blue skies and grey of the ocean extending to the horizon. This safari explores four distinct regions: the sands and red dunes of Sossusvlei; the icy, life-filled coasts at Swakopmund and Walvis Bay; the stark plains of Damaraland, with their desert-adapted elephants; and the amazing wildlife abundance on the savannah of Etosha.
*There are no set departures as this Exploration is designed to offer flexibility and we encourage you to create your own itinerary.
Suggested Itinerary:
DAYS 1 & 2: Sossusvlei Wilderness Camp (substituted by Little Kulala Camp in early 2010)
Depart by light aircraft from Eros International Airport, close to the centre of town in Windhoek for a one-hour flight down to Sossusvlei Wilderness Camp, for two nights to explore the Reserve.
Kulala Wilderness Reserve, a 40 000-hectare tract of land near the spectacular sights of Sossusvlei, borders the expansive Namib Naukluft Park. Today, after ten years of habitat rehabilitation, Kulala is once again home to of all forms of desert wildlife and provides convenient access to the splendour of the towering red dunes of the Namib. The Sossusvlei dunes rise dramatically more than 300 metres above the surrounding plains, and are surrounded by rugged, ancient volcanic mountains and open plains. Larger desert-adapted wildlife such as ostrich, springbok and gemsbok flourish here with carnivores such as bat-eared fox, Cape fox, cheetah and black-backed jackal often seen. Emphasis is laid on the smaller desert fauna, spectacular scenery and the incredible night sky. Unique birds include Dune Lark, Burchell's Courser, Ludwig's Bustard and Stark's Lark.
DAYS 3 & 4: Damaraland Camp or Desert Rhino Camp
Fly over the Namib Desert for an alternative view of the dunes from the air and then due west to Meob Bay on the Skeleton Coast. The desert and Skeleton Coast scenery is spectacular, where the dunes and the desert meet the Atlantic Ocean, inland to Damaraland for two nights. Choose between Damaraland Camp in the Torra Conservancy or Desert Rhino Camp in the Palmwag Concession.
*Please enquire for more details on the option of extending your safari in Swakopmund.
The 352 200ha Torra Conservancy lies in northern Damaraland, where the landscape is characterised by hills interspersed with valleys and dry riverbeds that occasionally flow, sustaining riverine vegetation through the long dry seasons. Early morning fog provides precious water to the flora and fauna, all of which has adapted superbly to this harsh environment. Despite its aridity, the area supports a surprisingly high diversity of wildlife including a healthy number of desert-adapted elephant and good populations of Hartmann's mountain zebra, southern giraffe, gemsbok, springbok, with occasional cheetah and black rhino as well interesting flora like euphorbias, pachypodiums and shepherd's trees. Birding is excellent with Herero Chat and Benguela Long-billed Lark common finds. The conservancy is the result of a highly successful partnership between Wilderness Safaris and the local Torra community - that has become an inspiration for communities and conservationists throughout Africa.
The 450 000ha Palmwag Concession situated in northern Damaraland is made up of rolling, rocky hills and flat-topped mountains with scattered euphorbia, ancient welwitschia plants, scrubby vegetation and isolated clumps of trees. The conservancy supports the largest free-roaming population of desert-adapted black rhino in Africa as well as a healthy number of desert-adapted elephants. Thanks to the freshwater springs in the area, there is a surprising amount of life here: Hartmann's mountain zebra, giraffe, gemsbok, springbok and kudu, as well as lion, cheetah, leopard, and brown and spotted hyaena. Birdlife is equally varied including endemics like Benguela Long-billed Lark, Dusky Sunbird and Bokmakierie. Palmwag holds the core of the rarely seen desert-adapted lion population of north-west Namibia. Cheetah and leopard also occur in this area.
DAYS 5 & 6: Ongava Tented Camp or Ongava Lodge
Fly by light aircraft today from Damaraland to Ongava Game Reserve for a further two-night stay at the camp of your choice. Highlights are the game drives into Etosha National Park as well as night drives, nature walks and hides on the private Ongava Game Reserve.
On the southern boundary of Etosha National Park and forming a buffer to the Park lies Ongava Game Reserve, a prolific 30 000ha private concession. It is a haven to large concentrations of wildlife: notably lion, cheetah, springbok, gemsbok, wildebeest, Burchell's zebra, Hartmann's mountain zebra, waterbuck, red hartebeest, giraffe, eland and the largest population of the endemic black-faced impala outside of Etosha. The Reserve is also known for the successful reintroduction of white and black rhino. Bird life is prolific with 340 species seen, amongst them 10 of Namibia's 14 endemic bird species including White-tailed Shrike, Short-toed Rock Thrush, Hartlaub's Francolin, Rüppell's Parrot and raptors in abundance. Ongava also provides easy access to the prime game viewing areas of western Etosha, Namibia's premier wildlife destination.
DAY 7: Windhoek
Depart Ongava by light air charter back to Windhoek where the safari ends at either Windhoek Eros or Windhoek International Airport.
This Exploration has the following unique features:
- Enormous concessions and private camps combine with advantages of nearby National Parks
- Circuit-style safari offers daily departures, several camp choices in the northern region, and can be combined with add-ons to other regions, such as Skeleton Coast and Swakopmund
- Diverse activities enhance an in-depth experience of the landscape, including an optional dolphin cruise, seafood lunch and quad biking.