WOFFORD COLLEGE
January 92008
Depart Atlanta overnight on aircraft (South African Airways)
January 102008
Arrive Windhoek No meals included at this time
Windhoek International Airport – Windhoek City (40km) (hotel)
You will be collected from Windhoek International Airport and transferred to the Safari Hotel in Windhoek. The rest of the day at leisure in Windhoek.
No meals included.
January 112008
Windhoek – Sand dune desert (350 km) (BLD) (camping) Driving time about 5 hours
We travel out over the Eros Mountains and along scenic roads, on our way south-west to the desert. We also pass over part of the Naukluft Mountains the Khomas Hochland range on our journey today and head down from Namibia’s central plateau by way of the beautiful Remhoogte Pass.
Coming out of the mountains we reach open plains and from here it is only a short distance to our next stop, the tiny town of Solitaire. We will stop here for some refreshments before continuing on through desert scenery. We cross some open grass savannah and farmlands before the terrain begins to give way to the immense red sand dune desert of the Namib.
We aim to arrive at our camp during the late afternoon, in time to watch the colours on distant mountains to the east, glow and change.
January 12 2008
Camp - Sossusvlei – Camp (150km) (BLD) (camping)
A pre-dawn start to see the sunrise in the dunes, we drive a further into the desert and have our breakfast as the colours grow across the landscape.
To reach Sossusvlei itself we walk for the last 5 km through the dunes. The walk is like nothing else, in the cool of the morning, with soft sunlight just beginning to play over the dunes creating a sharp light and shadow contrast across the whole desert. Ancient mineral pans, stunted camel horn trees and the chance of seeing a gemsbok or maybe an ostrich make the photo opportunities perfect.
We spend the morning in and around Sossusvlei, also visiting “dune 45”, and as the day wears on we return to Sesriem for lunch and to escape the heat of the afternoon. As the day cools off in the late afternoon we will take a short excursion to the Sesriem Canyon.
January 132008
Sand dune desert – Swakopmund, Skeleton Coast (350 km) (chalet) (BL) Driving time about 5 hours
An early start today, we are heading north-west to the seaside town of Swakopmund located on the Skeleton Coast. Leaving the dune fields far behind us we are soon back into the mountain desert.
We cross the Tropic of Capricorn and traverse both the Gaub and the Kuiseb passes, driving down to the dry river bed at the bottom of the canyon before climbing up the other side, watching the spectacular desert landscape unfold before us.
From the mountains we cross the desolate Namib gravel plains before reaching the coastal sand dunes at the port town of Walvis Bay. We will stop to see the ocean and there will be time to visit the flamingos and other bird life in the Walvis Bay lagoon before continuing the short drive into Swakopmund.
Dinner tonight is for the clients own account in a local restaurant.
January 14 2008
Swakopmund (B) (chalet)
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 microlight 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 & dinner are not included in the price of the safari and will be for the client’s own account
January 152008
Swakopmund – Twyfelfontien, Damaraland (540 km) (BLD) (camping)
Leaving town we head north, following the rugged Skeleton Coast to the small town of Henties Bay. After a short stop here, we continue on to the Cape Cross Reserve. Here there can be as many as 100 000 Cape Fur Seals basking on the rocks and cavorting in the “boiling” Atlantic waters.
We turn east and inland from here heading into one of the most beautiful desert areas in Namibia, Damaraland. The scenery is some of the best in Namibia, open grasslands studded with massive granite koppies create the feeling of being surrounded by mountains. We are well into desert elephant and black rhino country and other game such as springbok, ostrich and gemsbok are often seen.
We aim to arrive in the early afternoon and have time to relax in the shade before making a late afternoon excursion to Twyfelfontien itself. Here a local guide will introduce us to the ancient Bushman rock engravings or petroglyphs. We also make a visit to another geological site in the area called the Organ Pipes.
January 16 2008
Twyfelfontien –Etosha (350 km) (BLD) (camping) Driving time around 6 hours
Still travelling through beautiful Damaraland, we head for the Capital of the region, the small town of Khorixas. En-route we will make a short stop at the Petrified Forest geological site where a local guide will take us around the area and explain the origin and history of the petrified logs we can see lying in the desert.
Passing through Khorixas we will then head Outjo, another small desert town where we will stop for fuel and fresh supplies.
Etosha is now close, we complete the final leg to the park and aim to have time to relax before heading out into the park for our first game drive in the cool of the late afternoon.
January 17 2008
Okaukuejo, Etosha - Namutoni, Etosha (BLD) (camping)
A full day's game driving. We again leave early to enjoy the cool morning air. We game drive our way through Etosha to Halali camp, situated in the middle of the park. Along the way we visit several waterholes and are afforded splendid views of the massive Etosha Pan.
The game viewing is usually excellent and we have the chance to tick off a few new species that are not normally seen on the Okaukuejo side of the park. We stop at Halali for a rest and a leisurely lunch. There is also time to visit the Halali waterhole and to make use of the swimming pool and bar facilities before continuing on our way and game driving down to the Namutoni region of the park.
January 18 2008
Namutoni – Rundu (400 km) (BLD) (camping) Driving time around 6 hours
A long drive today, we head north along the main road, passing small towns and rural communities along the way and there are several opportunities to stop and look at some of the local arts and crafts for sale along the roadside. We are travelling into the Kavango region, populated by the “River People” their curios and art reflect this, carvings of canoes being in abundant supply.
The road will bring us to the Okavango River and the small town of Rundu where we will make a short stop before, turning for a short way, east and on to our campsite, in the grounds of a lodge and right on the banks of the river.
This is the main channel of the Okavango River travelling on its journey from the Angolan highlands, through what is known as the “the pan handle” into Botswana and on to waters end, the Okavango Delta.
January 19 2008
Rundu – Okavango Delta, Botswana (350 km) (BL) (camping) Driving time around 6 hours
We head out into the Caprivi Strip, a long, narrow territory with Botswana to our right and the Okavango to our left. The Caprivi region receives more rainfall than most other parts of Namibia and the landscape here is much more forested than we have previously seen.
We make time to take a short game drive in Mahango Game Reserve, a small but excellent park right on the edge of the Okavango River. We game drive our way through the park and have the chance to spot rarely seen Namibian species such as roan and the majestic sable antelope.
From here it is only a short drive to the Botswana Border and after completing the border formalities and passing through the pan handle, we carry on to our destination, the Okavango Delta.
We see our first glimpse of the crystal waters through the lush vegetation and we make our camp on the banks of a pristine African lagoon.
January 20 2008
Okavango Delta (BLD) (camping)
We are in the territory of the River People, so this morning we leave our vehicle behind and travel in a more appropriate fashion, first by motor-boat and then by traditional mokoro (dugout canoe), deep into the Delta.
Mokoro’s will be our main form of transport for the next days.
These amazing traditional craft are perfectly designed for the narrow waterways of the Okavango and allow us to travel further into the Delta than if we were using more modern forms of transport. Mokoro’s carry three people, two seated passengers and one driver. The driver stands in the rear of the canoe, (a real feat of balance), and uses a long wooden pole to propel and steer the mokoro through the twisting channels. It really is the only way to travel.
We are fully self sufficient and make our camps on the river banks and islands, under huge indigenous trees, sharing the environment with the local people and the local fauna of Africa. The Okavango is a wildlife paradise and we will look for game from both our mokoro’s and on bush walks guided by local specialist guides, our polers.
NB: The bathroom facilities in the Okavango Delta can be best described as rustic. There is plenty of water but it is used, straight from the river, (well boiled first). There is no electricity and we will enjoy bucket showers and basic toilet facilities. These conditions will prevail for the day on the islands.
January 21 2008
Okavango Delta (BLD) (camping)
The way of life of the Okavango River people has remained largely un-changed for hundreds of years. It is a totally no-stress environment in a pure wilderness setting.
We are heading back to our first camp today, gliding across the crystal waters, home to an amazing variety of bird life. There is the chance to add crocodiles and even a hippopotamus to our list of creatures seen before making our final Okavango camp amongst the lush riverine bush.
We will transfer back to camp in the motorboats and aim to be back on the lagoon, with full facilities by the early afternoon. We enjoy a final night beside the unparalled Okavango Waters.
January 22 2008
Okavango Delta – Ghanzi, Kalahari Desert (350 km) (BLD) (camping) Driving time around 5 hours
Leaving the Okavango Wilderness behind, we begin the final sections of our journey. After the wetlands of the last few days, the contrast of the desert regions where we are now headed is striking. We are into the Kalahari “bush Veldt”, a landscape of thorn scrub and stunted acacia trees as we use the Trans Kalahari Highway to traverse one of the world’s most formidable deserts.
We aim to arrive in the town of Ghanzi, located in the centre of cattle farming Botswana during the middle afternoon. Ghanzi is located almost in the middle of the Kalahari Desert and was almost unknown before the Trans Kalahari Highway was completed. The camp tonight is managed in conjunction with a Bushman community and the evening will see an introduction to their lifestyle and culture. This may involve dancing around the fire and passengers are invited to participate.
January 23 2008
Ghanzi – Windhoek (400 km) (BL) Driving time around 6 hours
The cool early morning will be used for a educational walk with the bushmen, learning about their techniques and tricks to survive in the harsh Kalahari climate.
This is followed by another long drive today. We swap the Kalahari for the world’s oldest, the Namib, making a final border crossing and entering back into Namibia.
We are still on the Trans Kalahari Highway and this vital link takes us first to the small town of Gobabis, one of the main livestock farming centres of Namibia, and then on to Windhoek, Namibia’s Capital City.
We aim to arrive in the middle afternoon and you will be dropped off at your accommodation.
Dinner tonight is for the clients own account in a local restaurant.
January 24 2008
Windhoek City - Windhoek International Airport 40km (B)
You will be collected from your accommodation and transferred to Windhoek International Airport in time for your flight.
Notes on the itinerary
It is strongly recommended that you purchase comprehensive personal travel insurance before you embark on your safari. Travel insurance is for your own protection and we consider it to be an essential part of modern international travel.
Transport will be in a specially converted “Pop Top” safari vehicle for improved game viewing
The style of safari is limited participation, you will be asked to assist put up and take down your own tent, however there will be a camp assistant to complete all the other campsite chores. Your tour guide will do all the shopping, cooking and day-to-day organization of the safari. Unless otherwise specified, all safaris will be conducted in English
Safaris include: Safaris exclude:
1. All transport 1. Sleeping bag (can be hired)