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28 Days/ 27 Nights: Guided Tour or Self-drive tour: Departure: every day on customer request.
HIGHLIGHTS:
Windhoek – Auob Valley/Kalahari – Fish River Canyon – Luderitz – Sossusvlei – Swakopmund – Cape Cross – Khorixas – Etosha – Caprivi – Botswana – Chobe – Victoria Falls – Nata – Maun (optional extra: Okavango Delta) – Ghanzi – Windhoek
Sossusvlei
Boat cruise with seal
Victoria Falls
Itinerary
28 Days – 27 Nights
HIGHLIGHTS:
Windhoek – Auob Valley/Kalahari – Fish River Canyon – Luderitz – Sossusvlei – Swakopmund – Cape Cross – Khorixas – Etosha – Caprivi – Botswana – Chobe – Victoria Falls – Nata – Maun (optional extra: Okavango Delta) – Ghanzi – Windhoek
Day 1: Windhoek City
Arrive Windhoek International Airport, pick up your rental car and drive to Windhoek. Windhoek is Namibia’s capital city, and its charm lies in the harmonious blend of African and European cultures and the friendliness of its people. Windhoek is a small bustling city in an airy central highlands basin surrounded by mountains at an average altitude of 1720 metres (5,590 feet). Many of Windhoek’s historical buildings date back to German colonial rule and so does much of its cuisine. (BB Windhoek) approx 40 km.
Day 2: Drive South
Depart for Mariental, situated approximately 260 kilometres south from Windhoek. It is surrounded by a sheep farming area and is near to the Hardap irrigation scheme and the Hardap Dam Resort. Ostrich farms are also found nearby. It has services such as shopping, banking and medical facilities available. Discover the mystique of one of the most unusual landscapes of Namibia – the Kalahari: parallel ridges of red sand dunes covered with golden grass, centuries old camelthorn trees which act as pillars to huge social weaver nests, herds of graceful springbok and proud oryx and an abundance of varied birdlife. (BB outside Mariental) approx 290 km
Day 3: Drive along the Auob River to the Fish River Canyon
Today your journey takes you to the Fish River Canyon. The Fish River Canyon is situated in the far south of Namibia, almost on the border with South Africa. The Canyon is huge, approximately 160 km long, 500 m deep in places and 27 km across at its widest. It is the largest canyon system in Africa and the second largest in the world after the Grand Canyon in Colorado. In early times the Fish River Canyon was a haven for the local inhabitants of Namibia. The area is extremely arid with virtually no rainfall and the river provided food and water for human and animals alike. (BB Fish River Canyon) approx. 530 km.
Day 4: Fish River Canyon & Luderitz
Enjoy a morning visit to the edge of the Fish River Canyon, with its magnificent views of the surrounds. From here proceed to Luderitz. Luderitz was named after a German merchant (from Bremen), Adolf Luderitz, who began trading operations in the harbour in 1883. Built on rocks in a small enclave within the Sperrgebiet (restricted Diamond Area) is the quaint harbour town of Luderitz with its curious array of historical German–style buildings built during the diamond rush. (BB Luderitz).approx. 410 km
Day 5: Ghost Town Kolmanskop
Namibia’s most famous ghost town, Kolmanskop, is situated in the Sperrgebiet about 10 km inland from Luderitz and was built in 1908. However, when richer diamond deposits were discovered further south, operations were moved. Within a span of 40 years, Kolmanskop lived, flourished and died. Today the ghost town’s crumbling ruins bear little resemblance to its former glory. The stately homes, their grandeur now scoured and demolished by the wind, are gradually becoming enveloped by encroaching sand dunes. (BB Luderitz)
Day 6: Travel on to Sossusvlei
Depart for Sossusvlei. This area offers fantastic photographic opportunities not only of the majestic and pristine dunes but also the unique animal and plant life. On the way you can visit the historical “Fort Duwisib”, about 170 km north of Aus. (BB Sossusvlei) approx. 520 km.
Day 7: Sossusvlei & Sesriem Canyon
Today’s journey takes you to famous Sossusvlei with its star shaped dunes, some of which measures up to 325 metres. Visit Sesriem Canyon, the name derives from the time of the first settlers when six thongs made of ox leather (Afrikaans: riem) were required to pull up buckets of water from the pool in the gorge. The Tsauchab River has cut a 50m deep gorge into the schist layers of metamorphic rock. (BB Sossusvlei).
Day 8: Kuiseb Canyon & Swakopmund
Continue to Swakopmund, Highlights on the way are the Kuiseb Canyon and the lagoon at Walvis Bay. (BB Swakopmund) approx 300 km.
Day 9: Namib Desert
Enjoy a day trip into the Namib Desert. Visit the vast gravel plains of the Namib and Namibia’s most celebrated plant, the Welwitschia mirabilis and the “Moon Valley”, an unusual view overlooking the landscape formed by the valleys of the Swakop River. (BB Swakopmund)
Day 10: Swakopmund
Day at leisure to explore the town of Swakopmund which was founded in 1892. The appearance of this charming little town is characterized by numerous colonial buildings and has a rich history. Or drive to Walvis Bay and cruise the harbour through to Bird Island (own account). (BB Swakopmund)
Day 11: Cape Cross & Damaraland
Travel northwards along the coastline to Cape Cross. Cape Cross Seal Colony is the breeding place of the Cape Fur Seals. About 80 000 to 100 000 seals inhabit Cape Cross. Continue to Damaraland. (BB Khorixas) approx. 320 km
Day 12: Twyfelfontein, Petrified Forest & Vingerklip
Visit the Petrified Forest, which is over millions of years old. Here you will find some antediluvian flood deposited giant tree-trunks, some up to 30 m long. The age of these fossil trunks is an estimated 200 million years old. The Vingerklip (finger rock) is a towering finger of limestone and rises 35m above its base. This is a remnant of a plateau formed over 15 million years ago. Continue to your lodge near Outjo. (BB outside Outjo).approx. 140 km
Day 13: Etosha
Enter the world famous Etosha National Park. The Etosha National Park consist of almost 23 000sq.km saline desert, savannah and woodlands in one of the largest parks in Africa. A total of 114 species of mammals are found in the park including the “Big Five” and rare and endangered species like the black-rhino and black-faced impala. (BB Etosha National Park) approx. 120 km to Okakuejo
Day 14: Etosha
Full day game viewing in the park. Other large game include blue wildebeest, mountain and plains zebra, hyena and lion. Cheetah and leopard complete the trio of “big cats”.
About 300 bird species occur in the park, of which about one third are migratory, including the European bee-eater and several species of waders. (BB Etosha National Park) approx. 145 km to Namutoni
Day 15: Etosha
Etosha’s definitive feature is the Etosha pan, a vast, shallow depression of approximately 5000 sq.km. For the greater part of the year the pan is a bleak expanse of white cracked mud which shimmers with mirages on most days. It is seeing vast herds of game with this eerie “great white place of dry water” as a backdrop, which makes the Etosha experience unique.
(BB Etosha National Park)
Day 16: Travel to Rundu
Travel through the fertile farming land surrounding to Grootfontein, leaving behind the commercial farms and towns. Continue to the town of Rundu. Thatched villages line the road and women tend to Mahango fields while men turn the wood of kiaat and teak trees into beautiful carvings. Rundu is the main town of the Kavango region and is situated in the North East of Namibia, next to the Okavango River and on the route to Popa Falls and the Caprivi. It has a service and filling stations as well as shopping, banking and medical facilities. (BB Rundu) approx. 415 km
Day 17: Travel on through the Caprivi strip
Today’s journey takes you through the Caprivi strip, which is a narrow strip of land in the far northeast of Namibia, about 400 kilometres long. A tarred National Road replaced the once corrugated dirt road through the Caprivi, which was hardly traversable during the rainy season. Katima Mulilo is the centre that provides for the Caprivi Strip. The small town lies at the mighty Zambezi River and has an airport, a hospital, several petrol stations, grocery stores and idyllic street markets with hand-crafted articles. (BB Katima Mulilo) approx. 511 km
Day 18: Drive to Botswana
Depart for Kasane, situated on the Chobe River in the northeast. Kasane is the administrative centre of the Chobe District and the northern entrance to the Chobe National Park. The bustling town has an airport, a hospital, several petrol stations and grocery stores. Kasane also boasts an old and dignified Boabeb tree with its own story to tell. In the early twentieth century the hollowed out centre of the tree trunk served as the local prison for many years before the current brick structure behind it was built. (BB Kasane) approx. 130 km.
Day 19: Chobe National Park
As there are no boundary fences between the Chobe National Park and Kasane; game such as Elephant and Hippo can frequently be seen wandering down the road. Chobe National Park is the second largest national park in Botswana, with a greater variety of wildlife than anywhere else in Botswana. The park boasts its uniqueness in the abundance of wildlife and the true African nature of the region. A cruise on, or drive along the Chobe River is recommended, as you will spot the bulk of the park’s animals congregate on the river’s edge. Chobe is renowned for having the highest concentration of elephants in Africa with truly impressive herds gathering during both the wet and dry season. (DBB Kasane).
Day 20: Victoria Falls
Your trip today takes you to Victoria Falls. The Victoria Falls is 1 708 meters wide, making it the largest curtain of water in the world. It drops between 90m and 107m into the Zambezi Gorge and an average of 550,000 cubic metres of water plummet over the edge every minute. The falls constitutes one of the most spectacular natural wonders of the world. The Local people call it “Mosi-oa-Tunya” — the smoke that thunders. The Falls are remarkable preserved in its natural state and inspires visitors as much today as it did David Livingstone in the 1860’s. (BB Victoria Falls) approx. 75 km.
Day 21: Victoria Falls
A number of activities can be undertaken (own account). The ‘Flight of Angels’ provides a fabulous vista of the falls, the upstream river and its many islands and for the more adventurous there is micro-lighting with stunning views of the falls. Other popular activities are Bungji jumping, White Water Rafting, Elephant Rides and lots more.
(BB Victoria Falls)
Day 22: Travel to Nata (Botswana)
After breakfast depart for Nata, a small town and the junction to the Okavango, Chobe and Francistown areas. En route visit the Nata Sanctuary. The Nata River delta feeds the Sua Pan in the Nata sanctuary and forms the breeding ground for a host of water birds including pelicans and flamingo in their thousands, transforming the shore line into a pink haze blending into the western sky. (BB Nata) approx. 375 km.
Day 23: Travel to Maun
Continue to Maun, third largest city in Botswana. It is an eclectic mix of modern buildings and native huts. Maun is the tourism capital of Botswana and the administrative centre of Ngamiland. Regular provision of almost anything can be bought and the town boasts several good shopping centres and filling stations. The name Maun is derived from the San word ‘maung’, which translates ‘the place of short reeds’. The village started in 1915 as the capital for the Tawana people. (BB Maun) approx. 310 km.
Day 24 & 25 Maun (optional visit to the Okavango Delta)
As an option: Small aircraft transfer from Maun to your camp in the Okavango Delta. Safaris by boat and dugout canoe (mokoro) are the best way to see the water areas, while games drives and night drives by vehicle are best for tracking the animals. Walks give the best feel for being in touch with nature. Wildlife “hides” offer a great way to enjoy game viewing and birding, especially during those midday siesta hours. (BB Maun)
Day 26: Travel on to Ghanzi
Ghanzi is considered as the capital of the Kalahari in „the middle of nowhere“. Ghanzi is located en route to the Trans-Kalahari Highway, about 280 km southwest of Maun and 500 km east of Windhoek. Most of the Kalahari is covered with vegetation including stunted thorn and scrub bush, trees and grasslands. The largely unchanging flat terrain is occasionally interrupted by gently descending valleys, sand dunes, large numbers of pans and, in the extreme northwest, isolated hills, such as Aha, Tsodilo, Koanaka and Gcwihaba. The fine grazing and abundant groundwater repute it to be the best beef range in the world. (BB Ghanzi) approx. 300 km
Day 27: Return to Windhoek (Namibia)
Travel to Gobabis, a busy town, standing at the centre of an important cattle farming area on the western edges of the Kalahari and forms Namibia’s gateway into Botswana. Gobabis lies about 200 kilometres east of Windhoek. It is an ideal place to use the banks, fill up with fuel or get supplies before heading to Windkoek or you can rest and enjoy a spectacular Gobabis sunset.
(BB Windhoek) approx. 530 km
Day 28
Drive to Windhoek Airport, drop off your rental car and depart for home.
This tour can be lengthened or shortened or combined with another tour.
All our Tours can be adapted to suit customer needs.
Self-drive Tour in own car or rented vehicle: (Price on request)
Further Tour information:
28 Days/ 27 Nights: Self-drive tour in rented car: Departure: every day on customer request.
Price on request:
The Itinerary can be adapted to suit customer needs.
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