Ultimate 11 Day Namibia

This tour visits the dunes at Sossusvlei, the coastal region around Swakopmund and Walvis Bay, Damaraland, Etosha, and finishes off at the home of AfriCat where wild cats such as cheetah and leopard are rehabilitated. In terms of quality, this tour offers good value for money (unlike many accommodated trips, nearly all your meals are included in the price) with an emphasis on good guiding, service and accommodation.

Day 2 - Sossusvlei
This morning you will rise early for a magical excursion with your guide into the Namib Naukluft National Park, entering the Park gates at sunrise to capture the dunes whilst the light is soft and shadows accentuate their towering shapes and curves. This area boasts some of the highest free-standing sand dunes in the world. Your guide will give you an insight on the formation of the Namib Desert and its myriad of fascinating creatures and plants that have adapted to survive these harsh environs. After exploring the dunes, enjoy a relaxing picnic breakfast under the shade of a camel thorn tree. Return to Hoodia Desert Camp in the early afternoon for a late lunch, stopping off to view Sesriem Canyon if you haven't already done so the day before. The rest of the afternoon is at your leisure.
Overnight: Hoodia Desert Camp
Meals: Breakfast, lunch & dinner

Day 3 - Sossusvlei to Swakopmund
NOTE: Option to include a sunrise balloon flight over the Namib Naukluft National Park before you depart for Swakopmund (optional extra at additional cost).
The fascinating drive today takes you northwest through awesome and ever changing desert landscapes of the Namib Naukluft National Park, including the impressive Gaub and Kuiseb canyons. You will meet the coast at the port town of Walvis Bay and then continue north to Swakopmund where you can enjoy the pleasant seaside location and cooler coastal air for your next two nights. There will be time this afternoon to wander around town and along the waterfront on foot, before heading off for dinner at the popular Tug Restaurant by the jetty which specialises in fresh seafood.
Overnight: Centrally located guesthouse in Swakopmund
Meals: Breakfast, lunch & dinner

Day 4 - Swakopmund
After an early breakfast your guide will drive you along the scenic coastal road back to Walvis Bay for a memorable seal and dolphin cruise within the outer lagoon and harbour. This is an ideal way of seeing Cape fur seals, heaviside and bottlenose dolphins, pelicans, flamingos and a wide variety of sea birds. If you are lucky, there is also a chance of seeing whales, leatherback turtles and sunfish. During the course of the cruise snacks will be served along with local sparkling wine and fresh oysters. You will return to the jetty at roughly 12h30 after which you may like to explore Walvis Bay further before returning to Swakopmund for an afternoon at leisure. You may also like to partake in some of the many activities that Swakopmund has to offer. These include camel rides, scenic flights, quad-biking in the dunes, sky diving and more (all at extra cost).
Overnight: Centrally located guesthouse in Swakopmund
Meals: Breakfast, lunch & dinner

Day 5 - Swakopmund to Damaraland
Continue on your safari, heading northeast into the wonderful and diverse region of Damaraland. You will pass Namibia's highest mountain, the Brandberg, which peaks at 2,573 m above sea level. Damaraland is typified by displays of colour, magnificent table topped mountains, rock formations and bizarre-looking vegetation. The present day landscape has been formed by the erosion of wind, water and geological forces which have formed rolling hills, dunes, gravel plains and ancient river terraces.
If time allows this afternoon your guide will take you to visit the nearby attractions and geological sites of Twyfelfontein rock engravings (recently declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site), Burnt Mountain and the Organ Pipes - if not there is plenty of time to do so tomorrow.
Overnight: Camp Kipwe
Meals: Breakfast, lunch & dinner

Day 6 - Damaraland
After an early breakfast you will be treated to an exciting 4x4 excursion along the ephemeral Aba Huab River valley to explore this remarkable region and to search for game, including the elusive desert adapted elephants if they are in the area. Damaraland is home to a variety of desert adapted wildlife and hidden desert treasures. You will return to Camp for lunch. In the afternoon you may visit Twyfelfontein and other nearby attractions if you haven't already done so. Otherwise you can take a walk with your guide into the local area around the camp or relax and enjoy some well deserved leisure time.
Overnight: Camp Kipwe
Meals: Breakfast, lunch & dinner

Day 7 - Damaraland to Hobatere Concession
After breakfast you will depart and head northeast through northern Damaraland to reach the Hobatere Concession, stopping off to see the Petrified Forest en-route. Hobatere Concession is effectively a private game reserve, spanning 32,000 hectares along the western border of the Etosha National Park. The concession is home to a wide variety of game including lion, elephant, leopard, cheetah, eland, Hartmann's mountain zebra, gemsbok (oryx), kudu, steenbok and much more. The scenery is attractive with large open plains blending into Mopane tree woodlands and granite outcrops. The lodge owner, Steve Braine, is one of Namibia's top birders and naturalists and the concession is home to many of Namibia's near endemic birdlife, making it a sought after destination for keen birders.
You will start with an afternoon game drive followed by a night drive after dinner, both in a specially modified open 4x4 game viewing vehicle. The night drive is highly recommended as it offers a good chance of seeing nocturnal animals such as spring hares, aardvark, Cape and bat-eared foxes, aardwolf and genets.
Overnight: Hobatere Lodge
Meals: Breakfast, lunch & dinner

Day 8 - Hobatere Concession to Etosha National Park
The route today takes you from the Hobatere Concession into Etosha National Park, entering the Park through Galton Gate on the western boundary. We have a special permit which allows us through this western section of Etosha National Park, an area that is closed to ‘normal tourist traffic' for research and rehabilitation of game. You will game drive your way across the Park to arrive at Okaukuejo Restcamp in the afternoon. This evening you can relax by Okaukuejo's excellent floodlit waterhole where game comes and goes throughout the night.
Overnight: Okaukuejo Resort
Meals: Breakfast, lunch & dinner

Day 9 - Etosha National Park
Full day of exciting game viewing within Etosha National Park, on game drives with your guide and at Okaukuejo's abundant waterhole.
Overnight: Okaukuejo Resort
Meals: Breakfast, lunch & dinner

Day 10 - Etosha National Park to AfriCat Foundation (Okonjima)
Game drive your way from Okaukuejo Resort to exit Etosha National Park at Andersson Gate and then continue south to stay at Okonjima Bush Camp, located at the base of the Omboroko Mountains near Waterberg. Okonjima is home to the AfriCat Foundation, a wildlife sanctuary which focuses on the research and rehabilitation of Africa's big cats, especially injured or captured leopard and cheetah. Close encounters with leopard and cheetah are an unforgettable highlight. Activities include leopard tracking by vehicle, a visit to the cheetah welfare project and a visit to the night hide where nocturnal animals such as porcupine, caracal, honey badger, and even leopard may be seen.
Overnight: Okonjima Bush Camp
Meals: Breakfast, lunch & dinner

Day 11 - AfriCat Foundation (Okonjima) to Windhoek
You will rise early this morning for another memorable guided activity before you return to Bush Camp for a sumptuous breakfast. Depart for Windhoek in the late morning, via the town of Okahandja, to arrive back at roughly 14h00.
Meals: Breakfast