|
Features Of This Safari
Private charters between camps minimize travel time and provide a bird’s-eye view of the immense landscape. Diverse activities enhance in-depth experience of the landscape, including dolphin cruise, seafood lunch and quad biking. Seamless experience with one expert pilot-guide leading throughout. Small group size ensures that special interests are satisfied. Enormous concessions and private camps combine with advantages of nearby National Parks.
Days 1 and 2 - Namib
Desert - Sossusvlei Wilderness Camp
The safari departs from Eros Airport (Windhoek) by light aircraft (all light aircraft transfers have a strict luggage restriction of 12kg per person in a soft bag including camera equipment and hand luggage) for Sossusvlei Wilderness Camp, approximately an hour's flight away. We will be departing in the late morning. Activities are conducted in 4x4 vehicles and include a safari down to the very end of the Tsauchab River and to the heart of Sossusvlei for wonderful dune scenes. Optional early morning ballooning can be arranged at extra cost. (This must be booked in advance). Late afternoons are time to explore the reserve around the camp. Sossusvlei Wilderness Camp is located in one of the most remarkable sites in the Namib Desert. The camp is situated on a 21 000 hectare private reserve, 20 kilometres from Sesriem, the Park's entrance to the Sossusvlei dunes. Huge towering dunes rise dramatically, more than 1000 feet above the surrounding plains at Sossusvlei itself. The camp's location provides easy access to Sossusvlei, yet also offers privacy and exclusivity. The camp has been built near the top of a mountain, using rock, brick, timber and thatch and provides a comfortable refuge from the desert. We have 9 guest rooms, each with its own private plunge pool. The bedrooms are well appointed and offer comfort and atmosphere with wonderful views onto the desert plains below. The en-suite bathrooms have both hot and cold running water, showers and flush toilets. The main living area is under thatch with an outdoor deck for dinner under the stars. Activities centre round early morning excursions in 4x4 vehicles to the magnificent Sossusvlei dunes and the "vlei" itself. Wonderful desert breakfasts are served under camel-thorn acacias surrounded by the dunes. Afternoon nature drive or walking activities are enjoyed on the property where guests can spend time taking in the desert scenery and its unique fauna and flora. Incredible ballooning safaris over the Namib are optional and at additional cost
Days 3 and 4 - Skeleton
Coast, Swakopmund - Damaraland
We depart by light aircraft and fly over the dunes of the Namib and Sossusvlei to gain a different perspective of the area from the air. We continue westwards to Meob Bay on the Atlantic Ocean and then fly up the Skeleton Coast. The flight offers spectacular desert and Skeleton Coast scenery, where the dunes and the desert meet the Atlantic Ocean. Our flight takes us over the site of the Eduard Bolen shipwreck, past Conception Bay and the wreck site of the Shaunee, around Sandwich Harbour and its famous lagoon, the flamingoes at Walvis Bay and on to Swakopmund. Here we are met and transferred to Walvis Bay for a wonderful boat trip out to sea where there are frequently good sightings of dolphins, seals and sometimes even penguins and whales.
In the afternoon we depart from Swakopmund, for a scenic flight further up the Skeleton Coast, and past the Cape Cross Seal Colony before we turn east and fly up the Huab River to Damaraland Camp for two nights. Highlights of the stay of Damaraland Camp are nature excursions into the rocky desert in search of the rare and endangered desert Elephant and Rhino. We are in an area where the chances of encountering the desert Elephants are high.
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 pub 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. Days 5 and 6 - Etosha
- Ongava Lodge or Tented Camp
Fly by light aircraft from Damaraland to Ongava Lodge or Ongava Tented Camp for two nights. Etosha, covering an area of 22,000 square kilometres, offers excellent game viewing opportunities. Our game drive activities will focus mainly within Etosha in the mornings. In the afternoon and evening we have the opportunity to enjoy walks, hides and night drives within the private Ongava Reserve, activities not possible within Etosha. Lion, Leopard, Elephant White Rhino and Black Rhino as well as all the plains game can be seen here. Tracking Rhino on foot is one of Ongava's highlights.
Ongava Tented Camp is situated along the southern boundary of Etosha National Park in the 30 000-hectare, privately owned Ongava Game Reserve. The small tented camp is built in a different sector of the reserve to Ongava Lodge. Accommodation comprises eight large comfortable walk-in tents (but can be sold as nine tents on request), each with en-suite facilities, including flush toilet and a hot shower. All meals are enjoyed in the thatched dining area that overlooks an active waterhole. Two additional twin tents were added in July 2004. The camp also has a small pool. Activities include game drives into the Okaukuejo area of Etosha where Lion, Elephant, Cheetah, Gemsbok, Springbok, and Hartebeest can be seen at many of the waterholes in the Park. In addition, night drives, hides and walks are offered on the private reserve. Ongava has resident White Rhino and Black Rhino, allowing guests staying at Ongava the unique opportunity to see both of these charismatic species.
Day 7 - Back to Windhoek
Depart Ongava Lodge for flight back to Windhoek.
Some itineraries may run in reverse. |
