Essence of Namibia

Arrival in Windhoek according to the scheduled flight time, police and customs formalities, luggage collection. Reception by our representative at the airport, assistance with the signing of the car rental contract and the handover of your vehicle. Drive to Windhoek, formalities at the hotel, delivery of your road book with a detailed map of the country. Review and practical information on your itinerary day by day with our representative.

Free dinner and overnight stay at Hotel Heinitzberg or similar.

Breakfast at the lodge,
Departure towards the south of the country, through vast and increasingly colourful savannah landscapes. Encounter with the first animals (antelopes, zebras), often present on the edge of the track, then, around midday, arrival in the Mariental region. You are at the gateway to the Kalahari Desert, a vast, colourful and green semi-desert where you will spend the night.
Lunch free, afternoon walk in the reserve to observe the Kalahari desert, these dunes and the animals (ostriches, oryx, wild animals, meerkats etc...). A possibility of a walk and cultural meeting with the bushman.
The Kalahari desert or Kgalagadi, "great thirst" as it is known in Botswana, covering 500 000 km² over Namibia, Botswana and South Africa. The semi-desert part of Namibia is made up of parallel red dunes, dotted with grass and greenery. With an annual rainfall of more than 250 mm, the Kalahari is home to a large fauna of mammals, reptiles and birds. It is also the ancestral home of the Bushmen or San, the first inhabitants of southern Africa.

Dinner included and Overnight stay at Intu-Africa Suricate Lodge or similar.

Breakfast at the lodge,
Departure to Sesriem National Park via the town of Maltahöhe.
Information: Sesriem, entrance to the Namib-Naukluft National Park South section. The canyon of Sesriem, was a vital place for the Nama, Hereros and Damara peoples. This gorge, 50 m deep, was carved by the Tsauchab River. Today inhabited mainly by birds, the spring and the canyon are a place for excursions. Sesriem, is the entrance to the Namib-Naukluft National Park. The Sesriem Canyon, was a vital place for the Nama, Hereros and Damara people. This gorge is 50 m deep and was carved by the Tsauchab River. Sesriem means 6 straps, which was necessary to bring up buckets of water from the gorge. The presence of a permanent spring has been the envy of these different peoples over the centuries. Today inhabited mainly by birds, the spring and the canyon are a place for excursions. At the end of the afternoon, you can go for a walk of about 2 hours around the ancient fossilized dunes. You will be amazed by the light at the end of the day through the red dunes, true natural masterpieces. From the ridge of the dunes where the sand starts to glow red, a magnificent view is offered to you, stretching from the gentle dunes with river trees to the purple-blue mountains, then back to the accommodation before sunset.

Dinner included and overnight stay at The Elegant Desert Lodge or similar.

Breakfast to go,
Departure at dawn to reach dune 45. Ascent of the dune to observe the sunrise and admire the extraordinary view and colours of the desert. On the way down, have your breakfast to take away at the foot of the dunes.
Continuation of the visit to discover Dead Vlei which is certainly the most famous place in Namibia, with its famous dunes, dried lakes and standing dead trees; it is a real postcard landscape that exudes a strong emotion. Then, it is the site of Sossusvlei that we walk along with its giant dunes.
At Sossusvlei you will discover the highest dunes in the world (over 300 metres) in the oldest desert on the planet. This park is also the kingdom of the oryx, a beautiful antelope that has been able to adapt to the extreme conditions of the desert. The more sporty can climb to the top of Big Daddy and admire the view of the sea of dunes that goes on forever (don't forget to bring water and good protection from the sun). The visit of this site is best in the morning thanks to the play of lights on the dunes. Lunch free, an afternoon stroll in the dazzling Seriem canyon.

Dinner included and overnight at The Elegant Desert Lodge or similar.

Breakfast at the lodge,
Road to the Atlantic coast via the town of Swakopmund, an obligatory passage through the small town called Solitaire, where a petrol station has been set up to supply motorists with fuel Overlooked by old abandoned car bodies reminiscent of the Baghdad café area and enjoy the best pastry shop in the area.
Then cross the Tropic of Capricorn, an imaginary line that separates the equator from the southern hemisphere.
Continue crossing the Gaub and Kuiseb pass. A geological formation of folded shale through which the river Kuiseb has carved an impressive canyon. This river marks the boundary between the immense rocky plains in the north and the sea of sand that joins the Orange River. Picnic lunch free.
Free dinner and overnight stay at Swakopmund Sand Hotel or similar.

Breakfast at the lodge,
Transfer at 7.30 am to Walvis Bay for a cruise by boat (Catamaran) or kayak to discover this famous bay populated by flamingos and sea lion colonies at fur. This excursion is for all levels, even if you have never been in a kayak and can't swim! Indeed, excellent supervision, good equipment, a life jacket is compulsory for the kayak, a champagne cocktail is served during or after the activity.
Lunch and afternoon free. You can therefore take advantage of the opportunity to make an excursion of your choice at your own expense. Amongst others: Coastal Flight, 4x4 Excursion to Sandwich Harbour, Quad, Parachute, Sand Boarding, Guided City Tour etc...
You can also simply go shopping, take a walk around the city or along the shores of the lagoon.
Free dinner and overnight stay at Swakopmund Sand Hotel or similar.

Breakfast at the lodge,
Drive to Cape Cross National Park along the Skeleton Coast Park where you will have the opportunity to visit a stone cross erected by Portuguese explorer Diego Cao in 1486 to mark the southernmost point ever reached by Europeans in Africa and a gigantic beach which is home to the largest of 15 fur seal colonies, a colony can number some 100,000 members.
After this visit, drive to Twyfelfontein via the small town of Uis not far away with a remote view of the highest point in the country called Königstein in the Brandberg at 2,573m.
Continuation to the site of Twyfelfontein, an archaeological site in Namibia. Included on the UNESCO World Heritage List since 2007. An important concentration of petroglyphs with nearly 2,000 figures recorded dating back 6,000 years. The site consists of a valley flanked by sandstone mountains that receive very little rainfall and have a wide range of daytime temperatures. The classic walk is accompanied by a local English-speaking guide and allows you to discover on the rock faces the countless representations left by the early Bushmen. Made of red sandstone and remarkably well preserved, they represent animals: sea lions, lions, giraffes, elephants, rhinoceroses, antelopes...
Other sites are worth a visit in the vicinity of Twyfelfontein. You could also take a look at Burnt Mountain, a volcanic chain that seems to have been devastated and Organ Pipe: a 100 m high basalt wall 100 m high and 4 m high. The Petrified Forest is another geological wonder with coniferous trunks 30 m long and 6 m in diameter fossilised in sandstone and estimated to be about 260 million years old.
Dinner included and overnight stay at Twyfelfontein Country Lodge or similar.

Breakfast at the lodge,
Departure to Etosha Park passing Kamanjab with the possibility of a good small cultural meeting with the Himbas people at Otjikandero Orphan Village discovering the way of life of these nomadic people with animist beliefs. The Himba people, who are part of the Herero ethnic group, are mainly concentrated in the inhospitable desert region of Kaokoland in north-western Namibia. This herding people with archaic customs took advantage of the inaccessibility of their territory for decades to preserve traditions that have now disappeared from the rest of the world. They are less and less numerous, remaining nomads in constant search of new pastures. The meeting is subject to certain moral rules of respect. Continuation to Galton Gate the western entrance to Etosha National Park, Lunch or picnic free. Safari in the late afternoon, the best hours of the day when the animals, crushed by the heat and sun, finally start to live again. Scenes parade between cohorts of animals heading towards waterholes, dust in the setting sun and dazzling landscapes. Exit Etosha National Park via Anderson Gate and check in at your lodge.
Dinner included and overnight stay at Toshari Lodge or similar.

Breakfast at the lodge,
Departure for a full day safari in Etosha National Park to see African wildlife at liberty in their natural environment. An explosive day as you travel from waterhole to waterhole on all the tracks to surprise animals that come to drink. Lunch free. Continuation of the safari in the afternoon until sunset. Return to the lodge via Anderson Gate.
Dinner included and overnight stay at Toshari Lodge or similar.

Breakfast at the lodge,
Depart for a second full day safari in Etosha National Park to see African wildlife at large in their natural environment as you cross the park on its eastern side towards the Von Lindequist Gate. You have time to walk along all the tracks from waterhole to waterhole to surprise animals that come to drink. Free lunch at Halali Camp or picnic. Continuation of the safari in the afternoon until sunset.

Dinner included and overnight stay at Onguma Bush Camp or similar.

Breakfast at the lodge,
Road to the town of Otjiwarongo, which in Otji-Herero means "Beautiful Place", an agricultural town located on the road that runs through the northern regions of Namibia and on the Trans Namib railway line. Continuing southwards from Otjiwarongo, 60km away is the reserve of the AfriCat Foundation, whose mission is the conservation and protection of endangered African cats. The wilderness areas being reduced by human activity, some species such as leopards and cheetahs are now found on commercial farm territories and come into conflict with farmers. The foundation tries to find solutions for the cohabitation between farmers and predators and to fight against the abuse of captivity. Their programme combining research and education reintroduces injured or displaced animals back into the wild.
Dinner included and overnight stay at Okonjima Plain Camp or similar.

Breakfast at the lodge,

Departure to the city of Windhoek with a stop in Okahandja to visit the handicraft exhibition market. Continue to Windhoek, return your rental car to the car rental company and transfer to Windhoek International Airport for your return journey.

NB: Plan to be at the airport 2 hours before your flight time.