This 12 day self drive tour endeavours to show you the very best parts of Namibia, whilst staying in luxurious accommodation.
Departing from your hotel or airport in Windhoek, you travel West to the Namib Desert for 2 nights to experience the desert and dunes. Continue North, to the Atlantic coastal town of Swakopmund. Desert meets ocean here, which means plenty to do and see. Onwards to Damaraland, home to the elusive Desert Elephants and Black Rhino, and an UNESCO World Heritage Site at Twyfelfontein. Your adventure continues as you head to the western side of Etosha National Park staying on the Ongava Reserve, where the exclusivity and privacy offered ensures that your game-drives are both memorable and exciting. You then journey south to your final location, Okonjima Nature Reserve, a wildlife conservation and rehabilitation centre run by a non-profit organization called the AfriCat Foundation, where you have an excellent opportunity to observe leopard and cheetah.
Day 1 – WINDHOEK – SOSSUSVLEI
Distance – 350km / Approximate journey time 5hrs
Galton House has facilities available to you to freshen up from the long flight and where you can enjoy a fresh cup of coffee or tea while your Ultimate Safaris guest liaison will provide you with a full safari briefing and assist you with your vehicle handover.
You will be provided with everything that you will need for your self-drive safari; from a map marked with your route to self-drive directions. Also ensure that you have your driver’s license, credit card, and passport on hand to complete the vehicle hire documents.
After the briefing you depart Windhoek onwards to your first overnight destination, Little Kulala. You depart in your rental vehicle and drive onwards, where you will explore the remarkable sights of the Namib Desert. Depending on your arrival, the rest of the afternoon is at leisure at Little Kulala to enjoy your scenic desert surroundings and relax by the pool.
If there is still time today, you may want to visit Sesriem Canyon, a nearby geological attraction. However, if you prefer or if there are time constraints, you can just relax and soak in the scenic and tranquil surroundings as there is plenty of time to do this tomorrow.
Overnight Little Kulala
Suite x 1 – Meals & most local drinks, scheduled shared camp activities guided quad bike excursion.
Day 2 – SOSSUSVLEI
This morning you will rise early for a magical shared excursion into the Namib Naukluft National Park, entering the Park gates at sunrise to capture the dunes whilst the light is soft and shadows accentuate their towering shapes and curves. This area boasts some of the highest free-standing sand dunes in the world.
Your local guide will give you an insight on the formation of the Namib Desert and its myriad of fascinating creatures and plants that have adapted to survive these harsh environs. Once you have explored the areas around Sossusvlei and Deadvlei to your hearts content you can enjoy a picnic in the shade of a camel thorn tree.
Return to Little Kulala in the early afternoon for a late lunch.
The rest of the afternoon is at your leisure (from experience, this is usually welcomed after an exhilarating morning in the dunes) or can be spent on another guided scheduled activity within the nature reserve as offered by the lodge.
Overnight Little Kulala
Suite x 1 – Meals & most local drinks, scheduled shared camp activities guided quad bike excursion.
Day 3 – SOSSUSVLEI – SWAKOPMUND
Distance – 372km / Approximate journey time 5hrs
Today you can have the choice of an early morning start with a memorable balloon flight over the Namib Desert (this is additional cost and will be reconfirmed a day prior). You will be transferred before sunrise to the launch site, which is about 45 minutes’ drive from the lodge (depending on the launch site for that day).
The fascinating drive today takes you northwest through awesome and ever changing desert landscapes of the Namib Naukluft National Park, including the impressive Gaub and Kuiseb canyons. You will meet the coast at the port town of Walvis Bay, where you have the option to visit the lagoon to see the interesting mix of pelicans, flamingos and other sea-birds, before continuing north to Swakopmund where you can enjoy the pleasant seaside location and cooler coastal air.
This afternoon you have the option to explore the shops, waterfront and craft market as appeals, before heading out for dinner at one of the popular restaurants in town. Dinner this evening is for your own account as there are a number of excellent restaurants to choose from. We recommend that you avoid a stay in Swakopmund over a weekend, as most shops close by Saturday afternoon and only a select few open on a Sunday. However, restaurants will be open and tours will be on offer in the morning over weekends.
Overnight The Swakopmund Strand Hotel
Luxury Room – Sea View – Bed & breakfast
Day 4 – SWAKOPMUND
Today is a day at your leisure to explore Namibia’s premier seaside town. There are a host of activities to participate in while in Swakopmund, these range from sandboarding through quad biking to sky-diving or marine/boat excursions, Historical Tours or general sight seeing – there is something for everyone! Activities are not included in this itinerary but can be pre-arranged when you book this itinerary or left for you to arrange on arrival in Swakopmund.
Overnight The Swakopmund Strand Hotel
Luxury Room – Sea View – Bed & breakfast
Day 5 – SWAKOPMUND – DAMARALAND
Distance – 326km / Approximate journey time 4-5hrs
Today you continue your self-drive journey, passing Namibia’s highest mountain, the Brandberg which peaks at 2,573 m above sea level, and take time to view game and absorb the vastness of the scenery along the way.
Damaraland is typified by displays of colour, magnificent table topped mountains, rock formations and bizarre-looking vegetation. The present day landscape has been formed by the erosion of wind, water and geological forces which have formed rolling hills, dunes, gravel plains and ancient river terraces.
It is the variety and loneliness of the area as well as the scenic splendour which will reward and astound you, giving one an authentic understanding of the word ‘wilderness’. If you arrive on time, you can join a scheduled afternoon activity to visit the twyfelfontein rock engravings.
Overnight Mowani Mountain Camp
Luxury Room – Full Board + two activities
Day 6 – DAMARALAND
After an early breakfast you will be treated to an exciting 4×4 excursion to explore this remarkable region and to search for game, especially the elusive desert adapted elephants, if they are in the area. Damaraland is home to a variety of desert adapted wildlife and hidden desert treasures.
If time allows this afternoon, you will embark on a guided excursion to visit the nearby attractions and geological sites of Twyfelfontein rock engravings (a UNESCO World Heritage Site) if this was not done the previous day.
Return to camp with time to freshen up before dinner.
Overnight Mowani Mountain Camp
Luxury Room – Full Board + two activities
Day 7 8 9 -DAMARALAND – ONGAVA RESERVE
Distance – 330km / Approximate journey time 3.5-4hrs
This morning after breakfast you will continue your safari journey towards the southern boundary of the Etosha National Park.
The Ongava Reserve lies on the southern border of Etosha near the Andersson Gate, and it is here you will spend the next three nights at Anderssons at Ongava. This afternoon you can join a guided game drive or just relax and enjoy your surroundings.
The next two days can be spent on guided game drives and walks around Etosha & the Ongava Reserve.
Ongava Game reserve is one of the few private game reserves in Southern Africa where you have a chance of seeing both black and white Rhino. The reserve also has a good population of lion, eland, mountain zebra, black faced impala and a number of other antelope species and is one of Africa’s great conservation success stories.
Overnight Anderssons at Ongava
Suite – All meals, twice daily scheduled camp activities, selected local drinks & park fees. Excludes premium imported brands & champagne.
Day 10 11 – ONGAVA RESERVE – OKONJIMA NATURE RESERVE
Distance – 240km / Approximate journey time 3hrs
Leaving Ongava Reserve, the drive to Okonjima takes around 3 hours. Apart from the beautiful location, stunning accommodation and wonderful meals the main reason for visiting Okonjima is to view cats. Your activities here are included in this package and centre around viewing leopard & cheetah, visiting a night hide and generally learning about what the AfriCat foundation is doing to preserve these wonderful animals. You will be accommodated in the private Bush Suite and can enjoy a range of activities including cheetah feeding, leopard tracking and visits to night hides. If you do not feel like participating in an activity you can relax in the lounge or around your large private swimming pool at the suite.
Overnight Okonjima Bush Suite
Bush Suite – All meals, privately guided camp activities & most local drinks.
Day 12
Distance – 226km / Approximate journey time 2.5-3hrs
You will rise early this morning for another memorable guided activity before you return for a sumptuous breakfast.
After freshening up you will depart for Windhoek in the late morning, via the town of Okahandja, to arrive back in Windhoek in the mid afternoon. Upon your arrival in Windhoek you return your rental vehicle, before being transferred to the Windhoek’s Hosea Kutako International Airport by a guest liaison in time for your international flight or additionally we can arrange accommodation in Windhoek or make arrangements for an extension to your safari.
INCLUDED:
Accommodation as stipulate.
Meals as stipulated.
Vehicle hire as stipulate (from day specified).
Excursions and activities as (and if) stipulated (as offered by specified supplier).
Windhoek Hosea Kutako Airport transfers as (and if) stipulated.
Welcome pack and safari briefing on arrival.
EXCLUDED:
All international and regional flights, and airport tax.
Any meals not included in the above itinerary.
Any entrance fees and excursions not stipulated in the above itinerary.
Fuel and refundable deposit payable to clients for rental vehicle.
All national park and other entrance fees, as well as all guided and optional excursions or activities (other than shown as included in itinerary).
All beverages imported beverages and vintage wines.
Laundry unless specified otherwise (laundry service available at lodges at extra cost).
Gratuities and Porterage.
Items of personal nature (telephone expenses, curios, medicines etc).
Comprehensive travel insurance (recommended).
ENTRY VISA FEES.
BANK CHARGES (as per bank or 3.5% commission for VISA/MASTER and 4.5% commission for AMEX).
Any unscheduled additions to the safari.
