Duration : 11 days
Starts / Ends in : Windhoek
Rates: Rates on request
Highlights:

Day 01 Windhoek – Otavi Mountains
Your journey starts out with a drive to Okahandja. Visit some of the sites in the village that play an important role in the history of the Herero people whose culture centres around cattle breeding. We will visit a OvaHimba settlement once we have reached Ruacana on our journey northwards.

Nestled in a beautiful tranquil valley amidst the Otavi Mountains lies your comfortable accommodation, which serves as a base for tomorrow’s exciting encounters with the world’s oldest human race.

Day 02 Otavi Mountains/Excursion to Grashoek
After an early breakfast, you take off to the east, travelling through Grootfontein into the Kalahari Desert, the great Thirstland in which few survived apart from the Bushmen.

The entire day is spent with a San family, joining in their activities and enjoying a unique learning experience – a day never to be forgotten again! Next to crafts such as the making hunting equipment, jewellery, and traditional bush food, there will be singing, dances and games to enjoy, practicing skills at bow shooting and spear throwing, and watching the traditional doctor in action. Return to the Otavi area in the late afternoon for another overnight.

Day 03 Otavi Mountains – Etosha National Park
The next leg of your journey takes you through the mining-village of Tsumeb and the Von-Lindequist-Gate into Namibia’s renowned animal kingdom, the Etosha National Park. The remainder of the day is spent on game drives tracking down Etosha’s amazingly diverse and large wildlife population, which comprises of almost all species found in Southern Africa.

Day 04 Etosha National Park - Oshakati
Another full day is dedicated to wildlife experiences in Etosha, only interrupted by a lunchtime break at one of the rest camps. Centrally located, Oshakati Country Lodge provides a host of restaurant and relaxation facilities next to comfortable accommodation in en suite rooms.

Day 05 Oshakati – Ruacana/Kunene River OR Opuwo Country Lodge
The day starts with a short drive to Olukonda near Ondangwa and we take a walk around the interesting Nakambale Museum, housed in a former Finnish mission station, and the traditional Ndonga homestead to be found next door. Then we spend a visit to Johanna’s Homestead, where our host has created a cooperative with about 30 other women producing baskets and other items of home use. Oshiwambo language and upholding their particular traditions next to those shared across the entire nation, inhabit them. From here, proceed to Ruacana or Opuwo for Overnight.

Day 06 Kunene River / Opuwo - Hobatere
Another exciting day awaits us when visit one of the authentic Himba settlements and gain insights into their traditional life-style, their daily routines and rituals, which still follow the rules of an ancient cultural heritage.

Day 07 Hobatere - Twyfelfontein
Your journey continues on a scenic route across the Grootberg Pass and via Palmwag deeper into the remote areas of Damaraland. Rugged mountain ranges, rock-strewn plains, small traditional settlements of the Damara people and a variety of unusual natural features, amongst them the unique welwitschia mirabilis plant, compete for the traveller’s attention.

Day 08 Twyfelfontein
Your experience of the pre-historic rock engravings and paintings of Twyfelfontein begins after an early breakfast at the lodge, using the cooler morning hours to take a 2-3 hour walk with a resident guide along the slopes of a boulder-covered mountain

Day 09 Twyfelfontein – Central Namibian Coast
On the way through southern Damaraland towards the central Namibian coast, the influence of the Namib Desert becomes more tangible with every kilometre. Soon after passing in the tiny village of Uis, you reach the seemingly lifeless gravel plains of the desert that line the route all the way to Swakopmund, with the Brandberg Massif as the only obvious landmark. Your accommodation for the coming two nights is situated right on the waters’ edge, overlooking the serene Walvis Bay Lagoon and providing all modern amenities.

Day 10 Central Namibian Coast
Enjoy a full day at leisure in Walvis Bay, which is an ideal place from where to explore the countless sightseeing attractions of the coastal areas and the Namib Desert. Choices for individual activities include: walks along the lagoon and through the centre of this typical harbour town. For guests who prefer a bit more action and excitement, a selection of excursion options is on offer: Choice of optionals will be provided with full itinerary.

Day 11 Central Namibian Coast - Windhoek A half-day transfer via Usakos and Karibib takes you back to Namibia’s central highlands, arriving in Windhoek around lunchtime.

Detailed itiniary on request.

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