A 12 Day Self Drive itinerary in Namibia, visiting the Kalahari, spectacular desert landscapes of the Namib-Naukluft Desert at Sossusvlei, the forbidding Skeleton Coast, the fascinating Damaraland, the abundant wildlife of Etosha National Park and the Africat Foundation at Okonjima. Guide price £1545 per person (Jan to Jun and Nov to Dec) or £1750 per person (Jul to Oct) based on 2 people sharing.
Flexible departures
Day 1 : Arrival at the Windhoek Hosea Kutako Airport in Namibia in the early morning. Pick up your rented vehicle and drive south to Bagatelle Kalahari Came Lodge on the edge of the Kalahari. Overnight here. (Dinner, Bed and Breakfast). 4 hour drive.
Bagatelle Kalahari Game Lodge lies on the edge of the southern Kalahari in the mixed tree and shrub savannah. The ranch is characterised by huge red sand dunes running parallel, and in a northern-westerly to southeasterly direction. The valleys in between the parallel dunes are commonly known as ‘streets’.
The design and décor, materials and furnishings, gardens and natural settings, all combine to ensure guests live their dream of an African safari. A rambling old farmhouse was extensively altered, upgraded and renovated to not only serve as a residence, but also as the main nerve centre of the Lodge. An entrance hall leads to the reception, lounge, dining room, bar, cellar, library and office. The main dining area is an enclosed porch of enormous proportions.
There is a swimming pool and recreation area with a pool table and hammock. An open-air lapa for outdoor meals captures the atmosphere of an African Safari.
Although two styles of accommodation are provided, both have the same standard of luxury and finish quality. Four, constructed of wood and on stilts are built on top of a Kalahari Sand Dune, with unsurpassed views to the Southwest. The other six are built in the street or valley between the dunes. These are built of ‘hay balls’ with walls 600mm thick, the insulation and atmosphere are equally fantastic.
The main difference between the two styles, besides the construction method, is that the wood bungalows have a bath and shower, while the ‘hay ball’ chalets only have a shower. The level of finish is the same for all bungalows, with fans, air conditioners, shower, toilet, vanity basin, writing desk, coffee table, chairs, bed lights, bar fridges, quality linen and décor that will exceed your expectations. Activities include a ‘Nature drive’ during the early morning and late afternoon that will enable you to view the diverse animal and bird life, and the unique dune topography and vegetation. Traditional sundowners on a red Kalahari sand dune are the perfect way to watch the sun sink dramatically away into the distant dunes. A viewing platform overlooking a natural waterhole from where you can watch our cheetah at play. A small well stocked library with a broad selection of books mainly on Africa and matters related to African flora and fauna. At Bagatelle you can also visit a local sheep and cattle farming operation and get an insight into what is entailed to keep the ranch going as a viable concern in such harsh and unforgiving conditions.
Day 2 : A full day to explore the Kalahari staying at Bagatelle Kalahari Game Ranch (Dinner, Bed and Breakfast).
Day 3 : Drive through the mountainous Khomas Hochland down the steep Spreetshoogte pass to the Namib Desert. Continue via Sesriem to the magnificently situated Kulala Desert Lodge. Overnight here. (Dinner, Bed and Breakfast). 4 hour drive
Situated on over 46 000 acres of private property and bordering the Namib Naukluft Park, Kulala Desert Lodge lies in the heart of the Namib and offers magnificent views of the famous red dunes of Sossusvlei, as well as magnificent mountainous scenery and vast open plains. Twelve thatched and canvas chalets or "Kulalas" (Kulala in the Namibian language "oshiwambo" means "to sleep") with en-suite bathrooms and showers are set on wooden platforms to provide maximum airflow. For outdoor enthusiasts, mattresses can be moved to the rooftop to sleep under the stars from a private star gazing platform. The main lodge, with décor inspired from Northern Africa, has a lounge, bar, dining area and plunge pool, and offers a wrap-around verandah that overlooks the waterhole and provides a perfect location to view and photograph the desert sunset. Early morning guided game drives to the spectacular dunes are through a private gate on the Tsauchab River. Game drives and walks are also offered on the private reserve with incredible views, desert game and smaller desert fauna and flora. Another option, is an early morning hot air balloon flight. Beginning at first light, the 60-90 minute balloon safari offers a truly unique experience to soar silently above the magnificent sand dunes and desert - with a champagne breakfast served at your landing site.
Activities available at Kulala include: morning drive to Sossusvlei to see the dramatic sunrise (£50 per person), an afternoon nature drive (£28 per person), horse riding at sunrise with champagne breakfast (£50 per person), horse riding with sun downers (£30 per person), 3 hour eco quad bike safari (£42 per person), dawn hot air balloon flight over the dramatic desert landscape (£200 per person). All Inclusive option available - please see below.
Day 4 : Rising early to see the subtle colours of the morning sun over the world's highest dunes at Sossusvlei is definitely worthwhile. Later, visit the interesting Sesriem Canyon. Overnight at the Kulala Desert Lodge (Dinner, Bed and Breakfast)
Day 5 : After having acquired a permit at Sesriem, drive via the Gaub and Kuiseb passes through the Namib-Naukluft Park to the harbour town of Walvis Bay - here you can enjoy a kayaking trip with seals and occasionally dolphins in the Bay or for the less energetic a boat cruise. Continue to Swakopmund along the Atlantic coast. An unusual and fascinating German colonial town that is an ideal base to explore this region (including Walvis Bay wetlands, Swakopmund itself, the Skeleton Coast and the Cape Cross Seal Colony). Overnight here at the 4 star Hansa Hotel (Bed and Breakfast). 6 hour drive
Day 6 : A full day to explore the region around Swakopmund. You can enjoy one of the many adventurous activities available at Swakopmund, including quad biking, sand boarding, sky diving, a scenic flight along the Skeleton Coast, kayaking, surfing, sand-skiing, windsurfing, paragliding or even rallying. Overnight at the Hansa Hotel (Bed and Breakfast)
Day 7 : Today, drive through the Namib Desert inland via Uis to visit the famous rock art painting of the "White Lady" at the Brandberg, Namibia's highest mountain. Continue through beautiful landscapes to the ancient rock engravings at Twyfelfontein and the Petrified Forest in Damaraland. Overnight at Damaraland Camp. (Dinner, Bed and Breakfast). 6 hour drive
Situated on the northern face of the Huab River Valley and looking south toward the imposing Brandberg Mountains, Damaraland Camp offers its guests endless vistas. Early morning mists generated by the clash between the icy Atlantic Ocean and the warm desert air of the Skeleton Coast, drift inland along the river sand canyon, providing sustenance to the flora and fauna of the region. This comfortable and friendly camp offers walks and drives in one of the best wilderness areas in Namibia. Although wildlife is not concentrated, Damaraland Camp is situated where the rare Desert Elephant roams, alongside Gemsbok (Oryx), Springbok, Ostrich and other hardy desert animals. Rare succulent plants somehow manage to eke out an existence in this harsh countryside. Damaraland Camp has 10 tented rooms each with an en-suite bathroom including flush toilet and shower with hot and cold running water. A laundry service is offered. The dining room and bar are combined under canvas, and an open fire is enjoyed on calm evenings. A feature of the camp is the unique rock pool. Activities throughout the area are in 4x4 vehicles and on foot. Mountain bikes are also available for guest use. The natural laws of food and water availability dictate the movement and cycles of the elusive and majestic desert adapted Elephant, the rare Black Rhinoceros, Oryx, Kudu, Springbok and other species that have come to terms with life in a desert environment. Even Cheetah move in and out of the area occasionally.
Activities at Damaraland Camp include: morning game/nature drive (£45 per person) and afternoon game/nature drive (£29 per person). All inclusive option available - please see below.
Day 8 : A full day exploring the dramatic landscapes of Damaraland. Overnight at Damaraland Camp. (Dinner, Bed and Breakfast)
Day 9 : Visit the impressive Rock Finger (Vingerklip) in the Uchab terraces and continue via Outjo to the famous Etosha National Park. Overnight at Ongava Game Lodge (Dinner, Bed and Breakfast) 3 hour drive
Ongava Game Lodge is situated along the southern boundary of Etosha National Park in the privately owned Ongava Game Reserve. Ongava is the ideal place from which to base your activities when visiting Etosha. Accommodation comprises twelve air-conditioned brick, rock and thatch chalets, each with en-suite facilities. Meals are either served in the main dining area under thatch with a view over the camp's water hole, or on the dining deck under the stars. Activities include game drives in open 4x4 vehicles into the Okaukuejo area of Etosha where Lion, Elephant, Cheetah, Gemsbok, Springbok and Hartebeest can be seen at many of the water holes in the park. In addition, night drives, hides and walks with armed guides are enjoyed on the private reserve. Ongava has resident White Rhino and Black Rhino, giving guests staying at Ongava the opportunity to see both species. Etosha is Namibia's premier game viewing destination. It is one of Africa's largest game parks being nearly the size of Switzerland. Large herds of plains game concentrate around the waterhole's in the dry season making for exciting game viewing. Species that can be seen year round include Elephant, Lion, Leopard, Cheetah, Giraffe, Zebra, Wildebeest, Springbok, Oryx, Kudu and the Diminutive Damara Dik-Dik. Birdlife is also good with Ostrich and raptors in abundance. Local specials include the Short-toed Rockthrush, Hautlaubs Francolin, Rockrunner, Ruppells Parrot, White-tailed Shrike and Chesnut Weaver. For those who enjoy close wildlife encounters, tracking White Rhino on foot with an armed guide is a highlight not to be missed. Ongava Game reserve also has a good population of Lion, Eland, Mountain Zebra, Black Faced Impala and a number of other antelope species.
Activities at Ongava include: morning game drive (£50 per person) and afternoon game drives (£28 per person). All inclusive option available - see below.
Day 10 : A full day in the Etosha National Park and Ongava Game Reserve. Overnight Ongava Game Lodge (Dinner, Bed and Breakfast).
Day 11 : After breakfast, drive via Otjiwarongo to the Africat Foundation at Okonjima. Overnight at the Bush Camp. (Dinner, Bed and Breakfast) 2 hour drive
Okonjima is home of the Africat Foundation, which is dedicated to the preservation and rehabilitation of Africa's large carnivores. Experience a day in the life of a Bushman. Learn how they adapt and survive in an unforgiving wilderness environment or go Cheetah tracking and viewing, or enjoy a sun-downer walk - leisurely walks through the African landscape. These walks have been made with varying degrees of difficulty, ranging from very easy to more strenuous, giving everyone the opportunity to experience the beauty of Namibia at dusk. You can sit in a hide and watch as the creatures of the night go about their business. As the day comes to an end, whether you've been learning to track kudu, watching leopards, or just sitting by the pool, we know the fresh country air can give you quite an appetite. Sit back and enjoy an excellent meal around an enchanting fire where every effort is made to ensure you feel at home in a peaceful, caring and friendly atmosphere.
Activities at Okonjima cost £30 per person per activity. Usually you will enjoy two activities a day, one in the morning and one in the evening.
Day 12 : After breakfast leave Okonjima and drive south through Okahandja to the capital Windhoek and the Hosea Kutako International Airport. Return your rented vehicle here before you take your scheduled flight out of Namibia. 2 hour drive
End of Arrangements
Itinerary includes: Group B vehicle with Super Cover and unlimited kilometers. No excess deposit will be required, but fuel deposit of N$ 1000 is payable directly, all accommodation on a Dinner, Bed and Breakfast basis, except in Swakopmund (Bed and Breakfast only), detailed maps and route instructions.
Itinerary excludes: International flights, accommodation in Windhoek, drinks, meals not stated in the itinerary, personal travel insurance, items of a personal nature, tips and gratuities.
Upgrade: Whilst in Damaraland you can upgrade from the Damaraland Camp to Palmwag Rhino Camp for two nights (Fully Inclusive) for £120 per person and track desert adapted rhino with the Save the Rhino Trust.
Palmwag Rhino Camp is situated in the 1-million-acre private Palmwag Reserve in northwest Namibia, between Etosha and the Skeleton Coast - few places on the planet can offer this level of privacy and wilderness experience. This desert reserve has a number of fresh water springs that support healthy populations of animals including desert adapted Back Rhino and Elephants as well as large populations of the rare Hartmann's Mountain Zebra, Giraffe, Oryx, Springbok and Kudu. The predator population is the largest outside of the Etosha National Park with over 100 Lions, Cheetah, Leopard, Brown and Spotted Hyena. Bird life is prolific and diverse with most of Namibia's endemics present. Palmwag Rhino Camp has eight large East African-styled "Meru" tents each with an en-suite bathroom comprising hand basin, flush toilet and a classic bucket shower that is filled with hot water whenever needed. The tented dining room offers uninterrupted views of the desert and mountains. Welwitschia (ancient desert adapted plants) plants dot the plain in front of the camp. The primary activity is rhino tracking which is usually by vehicle until a sighting is made by trackers and then on foot. Guests can also enjoy full day outings, with a picnic lunch, on the reserve. Palmwag Rhino Camp is a joint venture between Wilderness Safaris and the "Save the Rhino Trust" - a non-profit conservation organisation that has been working in this area for 20 years. The Trust has been singly responsible for helping to ensure that these rare, desert adapted black rhino survived the slaughter that went on throughout other parts of Africa in the 80s and 90s. Today this population of black rhino is growing in numbers and the area boasts the largest concentration of rhino anywhere on the planet outside of a national park. Community game scouts who were employed by the Trust to help with the patrolling and monitoring all these years are now seconded to the camp and are the trackers and guides. A portion of every guest's revenue goes to the Trust.
Note: During Namibia's rainy season (Apr / May and Nov) we strongly recommend you upgrade to a 4x4 vehicle for this self drive - additional cost £575 per vehicle split between the number in your group.
All Inclusive Option: We can also arrange the above itinerary to include all of your activities (game drives, nature drives, walking trails, tracking elephant and rhino, bushman experiences etc.) at Kulala Desert Lodge, Damaraland Camp, Ongava Lodge and Okonjima for £1990 per person (Jan to Jun and Nov to Dec) and £2290 per person (Jul to Oct).