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13 Day Nambian Explorer - March 2015
13 Day Nambian Explorer
Windhoek - Kalahari Namibia - Sossusvlei - Swakopmund - Spitzkoppe - Damaraland - Etosha National Park - Windhoek
13 Days / 12 Nights
2 Persons
Reference: 13 day Namibia explorer - March 2015
Date of Issue: 13 September 2016
Click here to view your Digital Itinerary
Overview
Accommodation / Destination / Nights / Basis / Room TypeLondiningi Guest House / Windhoek / 1 / B&B / 1x Double Room
Kalahari Anib Lodge, Gondwana Collection Namibia / Kalahari Namibia / 1 / D, B&B / 1x Double Room
Sesriem Campsite / Sossusvlei / 2 / SC / Camping
The Stiltz Hotel / Swakopmund / 2 / B&B / 1x Double Room
Spitzkoppe Community Rest Camp / Spitzkoppe / 1 / SC / Camping
Palmwag Campsite / Damaraland / 2 / SC / Camping
Okaukuejo Resort / Etosha National Park / 2 / SC / Camping
Londiningi Guest House / Windhoek / 1 / B&B / 1x Double Room
Key
RO: Room only
SC: Self Catering
HB: Half Board
B&B: Bed and breakfast
D, B&B: Dinner, bed and breakfast
FB: Dinner, bed, breakfast and lunch
FB+: Dinner, bed, breakfast, lunch and activities daily
FI: Fully inclusive
Namibia
With its well-developed infrastructure, some of the best tourist facilities in Africa and an impressive list of breathtaking natural wonders, touring Namibia is truly a pleasure. Visit the capital of Windhoek and the lovely coastal town of Swakopmund to discover remnants of the country’s German influence, reflected in the architecture, culture, cuisine and the annual Oktoberfest celebrations. To properly appreciate this extraordinary country, you will have to venture out of the cities to explore the remarkable natural landscapes Namibia has to offer. These include: the impressive Fish River Canyon Park; the vast Etosha National Park teeming with local subspecies, such as desert lions, desert elephants and the Hartmann's Mountain Zebra; the hauntingly beautiful Kalahari Desert; and of course the Namib Desert stretching for nearly 1000 km along the magnificent Atlantic coastline. Namibia is an ideal destination for travellers seeking an unforgettable African experience in a uniquely beautiful untamed wilderness.
Day 1: Londiningi Guest House, Windhoek (Sat,7March)
Windhoek
Windhoek is Namibia’s capital, home to an international airport and a plethora of restaurants, shops, entertainment venues and accommodation options. The city is clean, safe and well-organised, with a colonial legacy that is reflected in its many German eateries and shops, and the widespread use of the German language. Windhoek has an interesting mix of historical architecture and modern buildings, many of which are worth a look, including the Alte Feste (Old Fort), the 1896 Christuskirche (Christ Church), and the more contemporary Supreme Court.
Overnight: Londiningi Guest House
If you’re looking for something snobbish, continue straight on. Londiningi is the exact opposite. Whether it’s because of the place or the hosts, we find ourselves in the lap of comfort and a sincere welcome.
As for the setting, the 9 rooms spaced around the sumptuous garden and swimming pool, offer their irreproachable comfort, authentic charm and a permanent attention to detail -terra cotta floor tiles, furniture and fabrics chosen with taste, decoration simple and refined. We find the same generosity in the dining room – a personalized and lavish breakfast, or dinner derived from an eclectic mix of French and Namibian cuisine, served on tables daintily decorated. What’s more, many of the art objects that adorn this guest house, decidedly unlike others, are for sale – without any profit to the establishment – in order to help local artists and artisans.
On the human side, equally, Londiningi well deserves it’s name, which means “he who protects and shelters “ a Nguni word (of which Zulu is a dialect).
Nathalie (French) and Alexander (Namibian) will bend themselves 16 times over in order to satisfy their guests’ needs, many of whom quickly become friends, as the Golden Book stands to witness (guest comments) filled with many moving testimonies of gratitude.
Proof that Londiningi is not just a simple stopover, less still a dormitory or canteen. Whether we come here on our own, as a couple or a family, whether we visit here for a day or a long stay, whether we search for some quiet time, or intense moments of fun, Londiningi is a haven we cannot forget.
Included
Bed & Breakfast
Day 2: Kalahari Anib Lodge, Gondwana Collection Namibia, Kalahari Namibia (Sun,8March)
Kalahari Namibia
The Kalahari is an exceptionally beautiful living desert a large semi-arid sandy savannah draped over a gently rolling inland sea of sand covering most of Botswana and large parts of Namibia and South Africa. It is also the last bastion of the San people with the modern world having enveloped all the other areas they once roamed.
Here in Namibia it is typically red sands covered in thin, wispy, mostly golden grass and dotted with acacia trees and wide ranging wildlife including gemsbok, impala, jackals and cheetah.
Overnight: Kalahari Anib Lodge, Gondwana Collection Namibia View iBrochure
Kalahari Anib Lodge lies like a lush green oasis in the midst of red Kalahari dunes. The restaurant and chalets are arranged around a shaded courtyard with a large swimming pool. 52 rooms (30 Twin Standard, 17 Twin Comfort and 5 Family Comfort Rooms) with a private veranda are available for tour groups.Located about 30 km northeast of Mariental the lodge makes for a perfect stopover on the way south.
Included
Dinner, Bed and Breakfast
Day 3: Sesriem Campsite, Sossusvlei (Mon,9March)
Sossusvlei
Sossusvlei is where you will find the iconic red sand dunes of the Namib. The clear blue skies contrast with the giant red sand dunes to make this one of the natural wonders of Africa and a photographers heaven.
Aside from the attractions at Sossusvlei - Dune 45, Hiddenvlei, Big Daddy and Deadvlei - other attractions in the area include the Sesriem Canyon and Namib-Naukluft National Park, where the mountains of the Namib meet its plains.
Overnight: Sesriem Campsite
At the entry to Sossusvlei is Sesriem Canyon, At the foot of the gorge, which plunges down to 30 to 40 m, are pools that become replenished after good rains. Located perfectly at the entry to Sossusvlei inside the park gate is Sesriem Camping, right beside the gate into the desert and just a short drive from Sesriem Canyon where centuries of erosion have incised a narrow gorge about 1 km in length.
It is perfect for campers who want to experience the beauty of the Namib Desert with the sun setting over the Elim dune then the stars emerging until they fill the sky above you and the clicking of the desert barking Geckos and distant howl of the Jackal. Sit by the fire and imagine what you will.
After a good nights rest its up early (one hour before sunrise) for a drive to the sossusvlei wherer you can climb a sand dune and watch the colours change as the sun rises over the horizon slipping its morning warmth over the Namib desert dunes. Sesriem derives its name from the time when earlier pioneers tied six lengths of rawhide thongs (riem) together to draw water from the pools. Accommodation at Sesriem is provided in 24 campsites. Facilities found there include a gas station, convenience store and a secure parking area.
Activities
Sesriem
Elim Dune
Sesriem
As there is no accommodation at Sossusvlei, visitors to this desert wilderness are likely to end up staying at Sesriem, 65 kilometres away, where camps and lodges serve as a base from which to explore the dunes. Sesriem Canyon, a deep chasm carved through the rocks by water, is a striking natural feature of the area that is best explored on foot. Stony walls rise up sharply on both sides of the canyon, while birds roost in its crags and lizards dart along the ledges. The canyon’s name was coined when early settlers used it as a water source, using six lengths of leather (‘ses riem – six thongs) tied together to lower buckets into the water at the base of canyon.)
Elim Dune
Just five kilometres from the camp at Sesriem, Elim Dune is best viewed at sunset, when the colours deepen, intensifying the contrast between the red dunes and the purple-blue Naukluft Mountains on the opposite horizon. Elim Dune is roughly 100 metres in height and the climb to its zenith takes under an hour.
Included
Self Catering
Day 4: Sesriem Campsite, Sossusvlei (Tue,10March)
Included
Self Catering
Day 5: The Stiltz Hotel, Swakopmund (Wed,11March)
Swakopmund
Founded in 1892 as the main harbour for German South West Africa, Swakopmund is often described as being more German than Germany. Now a seaside resort, Swakopmund is the capital of the Skeleton Coast tourism area and has plenty to keep visitors happy. The quirky mix of German and Namibian influences, colonial-era buildings and the cool sea breeze make it very popular.
Day Itinerary
The adventure capital of Namibia. Your tour consultant can organise the following activities for you whilst you are in Swakopmund : Quad biking and sand boarding on the dunes, seal and dolphin cruise, day tour to Sandwich Harbour, skydiving, scenic flights over the Namib Desert.Swakopmund is a quaint German town which has a great craft market and curio shops. A visit to Karakulia Weavers is highly recommended.
Overnight: The Stiltz Hotel
This new accomodation is unique in every aspect. It offers the most spectacular views in Swakopmund overlooking either the Atlantic Ocean, the river-bed or the sand dunes and the bird rich lagoon at the river mouth. If that does not take your breath away, the architecture of these wooden bungalows built on stilts will. Each private bungalow has been attended to in the finest detail, interlinked by wooden walkways to the others and to the main dining bungalow. You will feel in a different space, yet you are only minutes away from the charming town centre with plentiful restaurants, loads of activities and all the amenities you could wish for... That is if you really feel like leaving your bungalow!
Included
Bed & Breakfast
Day 6: The Stiltz Hotel, Swakopmund (Thu,12March)
Day Itinerary
Today is a free day. The idea is to allow time for everybody to do their own thing. Swakopmund is a very pleasant seaside town with lots of shops, a good stretch of beach (although the Atlantic here is quite cold) and an open-air curio market. There is also a very good museum and the Namibian
National Marine Aquarium is located in Swakopmund. Alternatively, there are various optional activities that can be arranged. These include aeroplane and micro light flights over the desert, scenic drives, fishing trips (both from the beach or in a boat), four-wheel motorcycle (quad bike) trips into the desert and over the sand dunes around Swakopmund, sand boarding trips (also in the dunes), skydiving, surfing, bird-watching and many other activities are available. Your tour guide will discuss all the possible options with you before you reach Swakopmund and will offer to make bookings in advance of your arrival. (N.B. All extra activities and excursions in Swakopmund are subject to availability and are made at the clients’ own risk and expense). Lunch and dinner today is not included in the price of the safari and will be for the client’s own account.
Recommended
Pelican Point Kayak Tour
Sandwich Harbour 4x4
Pelican Point Kayak Tour
Pelican Point stretches out into the sea, creating a sheltered bay that is ideal for kayaking, and taking a gentle paddle out to the seal colonies is a wonderful way to while away a few hours.
Sandwich Harbour 4x4
Sandwich Harbour 4x4 is a safari company based in Walvis Bay, Namibia, offering 4x4 excursions to Sandwich Harbour, Marine Dune Days, Kayak Combos and Bird Watching Activities in the Wetlands around Walvis Bay.
Included
Bed & Breakfast
Day 7: Spitzkoppe Community Rest Camp, Spitzkoppe (Fri,13March)
Spitzkoppe
Although not Namibia's highest mountains these giant granite domes with their amazing rock formations are its most famous.
Overnight: Spitzkoppe Community Rest Camp
A mountain oasis in the Namib Desert, with unique oversized boulders and secret caves, allows the visitor to camp at Spitzkoppe in complete peace and tranquility. With the majestic Namibian "Matterhorn" as backdrop, and with the next camping site kilometers away, visitors will feel as if they own the mountain.
Included
Self Catering
Day 8-10: Palmwag Campsite, Damaraland (Sat,14MarchtoMon,16March)
Damaraland
Huge, untamed and ruggedly beautiful Damaraland is an exceptionally scenic landscape of open plains and spectacular rock formations. The major attractions are Spitzkoppe, the Brandberg, Twyfelfontein, Vingerklip and the Petrified Forest.
Overnight: Palmwag Campsite
Palmwag Lodge and Camping site is situated in Palmwag near the Uniab River. The Lodge and its surroundings used to be farming land and were later developed into a hunting concession for big game. However, as popular interest in the area increased, the hunting camp was revamped into a lodge. The lodge consists of 12 thatched bungalows, 12 luxury tents and a restaurant. Guests can enjoy the walking trail or relax at the swimming pool under the palm trees. The activities offered at the lodge are guided game drives, day trips or camping safaris into the concession area of Palmwag Lodge offering guests the unique opportunity to discover and observe the diverse species of free-roaming game, amongst others, the famous desert elephant, the rare black rhino, giraffe, zebra and a variety of antelope. The small camping site consists of 7 campsites with ablution facilities.