ITINERARY
IF YOU ARRIVE ON THE DAY OF THE TOURS DEPARTURE (FOR NORTHBOUND TOURS ONLY), PLEASE ENSURE THAT THIS ARRIVAL IN WINDHOEK IS NO LATER THAN 09H30. WE RECOMMEND A NIGHT PRIOR TO THE TOUR BEGINNING TO BE ENJOYED IN THE NAMIBIAN CAPITAL, WINDHOEK.
Days 1 & 2: Kulala Wilderness Camp, Sossusvlei
From Windhoek, travel by vehicle approximately 380km to Kulala Wilderness Camp, enjoying awe-inspiring views of the mountains and the desert floor - on a clear day you can see the fog banks of the Skeleton Coast. En-route, we enjoy a lunch close to the Khomas Hochland escarpment, reaching onto sweeping vistas below.
One of the most enduring impressions of this area is the early morning light on the sea of vivid orange dunes of Sossusvlei, some as high as 300 metres. Afternoon activities include nature walks, drives to scenic viewpoints and marvelling at the unique Namib fauna and flora in the private Kulala Wilderness Reserve.
Kulala Wilderness Camp lies at the foot of a mountain facing west to catch the majestic Namibian sunsets. It comprises 9 tents on elevated wooden decks which are linked to the main dining room, bar, reception area and swimming pool by pathways. The interiors are simple yet stylish and each tent has 220V lighting and an en-suite bathroom with solar-heated water. There is a fully stocked bar and traditional 3-course dinners are served. At night, lanterns light up the main area. On the edge of the oldest desert in the world, wildlife here is sparse but fascinating. Sightings of animals such as springbok, gemsbok, ostrich, bat-eared fox and aardwolf are exciting in these rugged conditions.
Day 3: Hansa Hotel, Swakopmund
Travel by road north-west via the Kuiseb Canyon with its dark, craggy canyons and via a moon-like landscape of flat gravel plains (with stops along the way that include viewing the extraordinary Welwitschia plants). We arrive at the grand Hansa Hotel in Swakopmund in the late afternoon, allowing the time to explore this quaint town on foot.
The grand three-star Hansa Hotel forms part of Swakopmund's architectural culture and dates back to 1905; it is said to be one of the oldest buildings in the town. It is ideally situated in the centre of Swakopmund within easy walking distance of town and the beach. The luxury of the hotel, its excellent cuisine and friendly service are well known and appreciated countrywide and overseas.
Days 5 & 6: Damaraland Camp, Damaraland
Travel approximately 280km, partly up the legendary Skeleton Coast (named for the numerous shipwrecks the treacherous shores have claimed over the years) to the Cape Cross seal colony with thousands of Cape fur seals. From here we drive the back roads through the game productive Ugab riverbed, travelling north past the Brandberg Mountain - the second largest monolith on earth - to Damaraland Camp.
Damaraland is a land of stark desert beauty. 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 canyons, providing sustenance to the flora and fauna of the region. Rare succulent plants abound in this harsh countryside. Our activities include explorations on foot, by mountain bike or 4x4 vehicles, viewing springbok, gemsbok and ostrich, and tracking the unique desert-adapted elephant.
On the way through this area, we are treated to some remote petrified forests and experience the Gai As spring with its archaeological stone circles. This all-day excursion with lunch en-route, ends with our arrival at Damaraland Camp.
Damaraland Camp accommodates guests in 10 comfortable tented rooms, with en-suite facilities including flush toilets and showers with hot and cold running water. (Laundry facilities are limited due to the low rainfall in the area). The dining room and pub are combined under canvas, and an open fire is enjoyed on calm evenings. A lovely feature of the camp is its unique rock pool.
Days 6 & 7: Ongava Tented Camp, Etosha National Park
We depart Damaraland Camp and drive into the Huab riverbed to search for desert-adapted elephants, before heading in a north easterly direction to Etosha National Park, where we experience the pinnacle of game viewing - but accommodated in the privacy of an exclusive bush camp situated on an extensive private game reserve, Ongava, just on the outside of Etosha.
Activities include day and night drives, walks and hides. Within Etosha we visit numerous perennial springs and pans, encountering a myriad of differing species.
Ongava Tented Camp comprises 10 large comfortable walk-in tents, 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. There is also a small pool in which to cool off during the heat of the day.
Days 8 & 9: Xigera Mokoro Trails, Okavango Delta
Enjoy a scenic air charter over dramatic desert landscapes to the shimmering wilderness of the Xigera concession in the heart of the Okavango Delta. This flight includes some border crossings, therefore we have to make stops in Grootfontein, Namibia and also Maun, Botswana to clear immigration formalities.
There is no better way to experience the Okavango than to travel through it by mokoro, walking and camping out on a vegetated island - all essential elements of the Xigera Mokoro Trails experience. The experience is aimed at exposing the permanently flooded inner Delta, in the serene waterways and on the islands of trees and bush. Our guest tents are smaller dome tents here than the rest of the safari. Key to the experience is mobility, therefore bedrolls are on the ground and a battery-powered lamp provides light.
Activities include mokoro and walking safaris, which enable up-close encounters with the excellent diversity of birdlife (including Pel's Fishing Owl), frogs and a myriad of game species, some specially adapted to water, such as the rare sitatunga and the familiar red lechwe. Walking activities vary in length and duration through the seasons, especially in the months when the Okavango is at peak flood where they become shorter (June, July and August) as more islands become flooded.
Days 10 & 11: Ketumetse Trails Camp, North-eastern Okavango Delta
We depart this morning by aircraft to our superb Ketumetse Trails Camp, situated in an exclusive concession. Ketumetse is located in the south-western sector of the Selinda private concession, in the seasonally flooded portion of the Okavango Delta where it joins into the Selinda Spillway.
Our exclusive Discoverer campsite has been erected prior to our arrival in the wildlife-rich seasonal plains region under large shade trees, affording some views of the floodplain in cool comfort.
Activities concentrate around the bushy and wooded islands, open plains and the flooded and dry channels surrounding the camp. In this area seasonal congregations of wildlife (especially in the late afternoons) make for a great experience on game drives, night drives and nature walks on the private concession.
Day 12 & 13: Linyanti Discoverer Camp, Linyanti region
After a light breakfast, we drive north eastwards to the private Linyanti Concession; arriving at our private Discoverer camp, which is elegantly set up under African ebony and knobthorn acacia trees overlooking panoramic vistas of the Linyanti Swamps. This can be an all-day game drive/ transfer, with lunch en-route at a shady place en-route. This game/ transfer drive is specifically designed to gain an intimate view of the "Stolen River" as well as enjoying a part of the Selinda Spillway and its rich floodplains.
The landscape of the Linyanti varies from floodplains to open dry land savannah and forested habitat with sweeping views, creating a paradise for a high diversity of wildlife and bird species. Activities include game drives in the private northern sector of the concession, exploring a range of habitats, from riverbanks to scrub and forest, which reveal a myriad of wildlife en-route to slake their thirst from the river. The seldom-seen sitatunga can also be spotted in the waterways, as well as rare plains game, such as roan and sable antelope and of course their predators, the lion and leopard - with the endangered wild dog as an incredible bonus.
There's also a game drive to a private area for lunch, then a siesta in hammocks and the possibility of an afternoon canoe trip, before returning to camp at dusk. (This activity is not always possible, as it is dependent on whether there are hippo pods moving in and out of the areas in which we canoe.)
To complete the experience, in the rain season and on the third day we can possibly enjoy a full-day activity to the Savute Channel, with lunch at a scenic setting under a shade tree. The spectacular but seasonal (rain dependant) zebra migration moves between Linyanti and the Savute Marsh between end November and March, the area also boasting an impressive diversity of mammals, including large elephant herds. When undertaken and during the correct season, this day is specifically tailored to enjoy the seasonal and migratory movements of wildlife, although sighting the zebra migration is not guaranteed.
Day 14: Chobe River boat cruise, Chobe National Park and The River Club, Zambia
After a short morning drive and breakfast, we depart by light aircraft to the northern Chobe region of Chobe National Park. This area is famous for its vast herds of elephants in the dry season and other unique species such as the elusive puku and Chobe bushbuck that move to the river in the hottest hours of the day. Enjoy a lunch on the boat cruise in a catamaran-style shaded boat.
We leave Botswana and enter Zambia by way of the Kazungula border, a point where the four countries of Botswana, Zambia, Zimbabwe and Namibia meet, arriving in the late afternoon at The River Club, in Livingstone.
The lodge is situated 18 kilometers upstream from Victoria Falls. The camp has a distinct Edwardian flavor and guests here have the opportunity to enjoy the sights and sounds of the Zambezi River in a peaceful and tranquil setting away from the crowds. The Zambezi National Park is located just across the river, and elephants can often be seen on the riverbank. A rich bird life is also found in the area. Hippos are regularly sighted (and heard) along the river's edge.
Ten luxurious, thatched chalets overlook the Zambezi River, and have en-suite facilities including a bath, shower, toilet and basin. All the rooms have fans. The rooms are all completely open in the front giving guests the best possible views of the Zambezi. The main dining room and lounge also has an interesting library.
Day 15: Guided tour of the Victoria falls and transfer to Livingstone Airport
The Victoria Falls is one of the Seven Natural Wonders of the World and is arguably the greatest waterfall in the world. Our epic Exploration meets a fitting end with a guided tour to the Victoria Falls, ending with a transfer to the airport.
