DAY 1: VILLA MUSHARA, ETOSHA EAST

Etosha East

In the vast arid space of Northern Namibia lies one of Southern Africa’s best loved wildlife sanctuaries.

The Etosha National Park offers excellent game viewing in one of Africa’s most accessible venues. Zebra and springbok are scattered across the endless horizon, while the many waterholes attract endangered black rhinoceros, lion, elephant and large numbers of antelope. Etosha, meaning ‘place of dry water’, encloses a huge, flat calcrete depression (or pan) of about 5000km².

The ‘Pan’ provides a great, parched, silver-white backdrop of shimmering mirages to an area of semi-arid savannah grassland and thorn scrub. The pan itself contains water only after very good rains and sometimes for only a few days each year, but is enough to stimulate the growth of blue – green algae which lures thousands of flamingos.

Directions – Windhoek City to Villa Mushara

Distance: 519.91km      Travel Time: 4:47hrs

Overnight: Villa Mushara      

The rugged harsh wilderness of Etosha combined with the exquisite accommodation and cuisine of Villa Mushara offers a stark contrast, which has been depicted in the villas through the use of opposing textures. With individuality in mind, only two exclusive villas have been designed to create an ideal retreat from the stress of modern day life, where an aura of tranquility and contemplation prevails.

Timeless appeal, shrouded by Etoshas eminent mystique. Experience the best of both worlds. Whether its your memories of relaxing in the private plunge pool or lounging in the salas that’s immersed in bush. Villa Mushara is a place that will leave you yearning for more, long after your departure.

Further Information: http://www.mushara-lodge.com/villa-mushara/

Basis

Dinner, Bed and Breakfast

DAY 2: VILLA MUSHARA, ETOSHA EAST

Day Itinerary

Are all camera batteries loaded? Good! As today we will experience the Etosha National Park and its abundant wildlife up-close and to its fullest ….. Spotted, striped, dotted, with long neck or short legs… behind each bush and corner there is something new to be revealed. For more than 100 years Zebra, Elephant, Giraffe, Oryx, Blue Wildebeest, Springbok, Kudu or a selection of other rare animals have been roaming the park in tranquillity.

The tourist vehicles that meander across the dusty gravel roads are hardly taken notice of. The animal kingdom is overwhelming! With some luck you are able to spot the more night active predator’s lion, leopard, hyena or jackal strolling through the bush savannah. But also birders are fully rewarded with hundreds of documented species.

The Etosha Pan itself is a gigantic Saltpan that, depending on the season, flickers dry and dusty during the heat of the midday or after heavy rainfalls it lures thousands of migrating birds. As soon as the sun sets peace succumbs over the park and we depart to our lodge to relax and reminiscent our day’s adventure.

Etosha Pan

Aeons ago, Etosha Pan was the bed of a vast lake; today what remains is a glittering, silvery-green salt pan that stretches across roughly 5000 square kilometres. Etosha is protected by the Etosha Pan National Park surrounded by savannah plains and woodlands supporting large herds of elephants. When dry, the pan sustains little life except for the algae that gives it its distinctive colour, and migratory birds that use it as a pit stop, but with heavy rain it becomes a shallow lake where flamingos breed, pelicans wade and feed, and a variety of mammal species come to quench their thirst, including leopards, lions, white rhinos, hunting dogs and antelopes.

Okaukuejo Water Hole

Etosha National Park boasts numerous waterholes, including both natural springs and fountains and others fed by man-made bore holes. Some of the camps in the park offer the unique experience of floodlit waterholes for night-time viewing. Overall, these various waterholes tend to offer the park’s best opportunities for both big and small game sightings, especially during the dry winter months, when more animals are drawn out of hiding to drink at the water’s edge. However, each waterhole has its own unique personality and the animals that can be spotted at certain waterholes may vary from, even from season to season.

Okaukuejo Waterhole is right next to the Okaukeujo rest camp. It is floodlit and draws black rhino almost every night as well as numerous elephants, especially between June and December. This is considered by many to be the best place in Africa to see the endangered and solitary-natured black rhino.

Basis

Dinner, Bed and Breakfast

DAY 3: OKAUKUEJO REST CAMP, ETOSHA NATIONAL PARK        

Etosha National Park

Etosha National Park is the parade ground of the beasts, a kaleidoscope of creatures bewildering character and variety. It was proclaimed as Namibia’s first conservation area in 1907 by the then Governor of German South West Africa, von Lindequist. He demarcated an area of over 100’000km², creating the largest game reserve on earth and expelling thousands of indigenous people from their traditional and ancestral dwellings to stay outside the park.

Present day Etosha National Park was pared down due to political considerations in the 1960’s by the Odendaal Plan and now covers a modest but still very impressive 22’270kms².

Despite the massive size of Etosha, only the southern edge of the pan is accessible to casual visitors. In the central and eastern region there are over 30 water holes – ideal places to sit and wait it out for an unbelievable 114 different game and over 340 different bird species.

The Etosha Pan dominates the park. The salt pan desert, which is nearly completely enclosed by the park and is lined by numerous watering holes, is roughly 130 km long and as wide as 50 km in places. During Etosha’s notorious dry spells the pan is a deathly place, lying parched and cracked under the molten African sun. At such times it is utterly barren, an austere playground for heat and wind which conjure up their characteristic atmospheric tricks.

Glassy mirages dissolve the horizon and tremble over the blindingly flat surface while graceful dust devils carry out their swirling dances over the plains. When the waters do eventually come, the pan undergoes a miraculous transformation. From a vacuous stillness it springs into living paradise awash with life. Out of the blue in their thousands come migrant flamingos, splashing the sky with plumage which eventually condenses on the horizon in undulating lines of crimson, pink and white.

Guided by an uncanny faculty for navigation they come to the pan for a short breeding season from as far as Walvis Bay – how they know of the water 500 miles north stays a mystery. Such thrills are part of the earthy encounters with nature which give Etosha and other Namibian wilderness areas a dimension which goes beyond the simpler interpretations of nature.

These sanctuaries have become sources of human well-being, where man can shake off his metropolitan afflictions and can recharge the batteries of sanity and perspective which have run down in the course of powering the locomotive of progress.

Day Itinerary

After sunrise you again travel into the park, enjoying the sight of pronking springbok and playful animals announcing the start of another glorious day. The dense stands of Mopani forests support a large variety of browsers and specialized predators such as leopards, while it offers a variety of migratory as well as non-migratory bird species safe cover and nesting sites.

Etosha East

In the vast arid space of Northern Namibia lies one of Southern Africa’s best loved wildlife sanctuaries. The Etosha National Park offers excellent game viewing in one of Africa’s most accessible venues. Zebra and springbok are scattered across the endless horizon, while the many waterholes attract endangered black rhinoceros, lion, elephant and large numbers of antelope.

Etosha, meaning ‘place of dry water’, is encloses a huge, flat calcrete depression (or pan) of about 5000km². The ‘Pan’ provides a great, parched, silver-white backdrop of shimmering mirages to an area of semi-arid savannah grassland and thorn scrub. The pan itself contains water only after very good rains and sometimes for only a few days each year, but is enough to stimulate the growth of blue – green algae which lures thousands of flamingos.

Directions – Villa Mushara to Okaukuejo Rest Camp

Distance: 152.22km     Travel Time: 2:22 hours

Overnight: Okaukuejo Rest Camp     

Famous for its floodlit waterhole Okaukuejo Rest Camp is also the administrative centre of Etosha. Most visitors travel though this camp with its characteristic stone tower and Etosha Ecological Institute is also situated within the camp. The rest camp was formerly a military outpost founded in 1901 and the tower was added in 1963.

Located in the south of Etosha National Park, Okaukuejo is only 17 km from Anderson Gate. Okaukuejo offers a wide range of accommodation as well as all the necessities such as a petrol station and a shop. The restaurant and bar offer refreshments and delicious meals, while the swimming pool offers relief on hot days. The waterhole is a hub of animal activity starting in the early hours of the morning.

Especially during winter diversity of game congregate in close proximity to the camp to quench their thirst. After sunset floodlights illuminate the waterhole. This is the best time and place to see the endangered black rhino. This archaic mammal can often be seen drinking alongside lion and elephant. The number and interaction of the animals is the major drawcard of Okaukuejo Rest Camp in Namibia.

Basis

Bed and Breakfast

DAY 4: OKAUKUEJO REST CAMP, ETOSHA NATIONAL PARK        

Full day spend in Etosha National Park with game drives.

Overnight at Okaukuejo Rest Camp

Basis

Bed and Breakfast

DAY 5: DOLOMITE CAMP, ETOSHA WEST   

Etosha West

The area and vegetation is very different to the south-eastern and eastern part of the park and the Hartmann’s Mountain Zebra can be found here. In this area and with a more undulating landscape, it makes for a very different wildlife experience. White dust and clay which makes up the Etosha Pan turns to a reddish brown soil during this time which may lead you to believe you have entered an entirely new park when you visit.

Directions – Okaukuejo Rest Camp to Dolomite Camp

Distance: 173.28km     Travel Time: 2:56 hours

Overnight: Dolomite Camp   

Dolomite Camp consists of a spacious reception, lounge, bar and restaurant area with a walkway leading to thatched, en suite chalets nestled amongst the rocky outcrops, which provide privacy with dramatic and panoramic landscape views. The Camp’s interiors are designed to harmonize the natural surroundings, characterized by weathered dolomite rock formations, Mopane, moringa trees and savannah woodland.

With no fewer than 15 waterholes in the surrounding areas, Dolomite Camp presents great wildlife viewing opportunities. Specially arranged Game drives, operated by knowledgeable guides, take you to parts of the Park previously only known to Conservationists.

Further Information: http://www.nwr.com.na/resorts/dolomite-resort

Basis

Bed and Breakfast

DAY 6: HOANIB VALLEY CAMP, KAOKOVELD

Kaokoveld

Kaokoland is a compendium of the story of the earth, the product of a quintessential performance of nature not seen elsewhere. It has moulded a landscape of its own – strong, independent and inhospitable – for loneliness breeds individuality.

It is one of the last remaining wilderness areas in Southern Africa. It is a world of incredible mountain scenery, a refuge for the rare desert dwelling elephant, black rhino and giraffe and the home of the Himba people. Although it is harsh and offers little respite at midday, the rugged landscape is especially attractive during the early morning and late afternoon when it is transformed into softly glowing pastel shades.

The topography in the south of the area is characterized by rugged mountains which are dissected by numerous watercourses, but north of the Hoarusib River the scenery is dominated by table-top hills. Still further north, the Otjihipa Mountains rise abruptly above the Namib floor to form the eastern boundary of the Marienfluss, while the west of the valley is defined by the Hartmann Mountains. The Marienfluss valley is very scenic and relatively greener than the Hartmann’s valley. Hartmann’s valley is closer to the Atlantic and yet much more arid. However, it does have a strange atmosphere when the sea mists drift inland.

One of the most spectacular landmarks of the area is the Epupa falls. Several pools at the base of the waterfall allow for (relatively) crocodile free swimming.

Day Itinerary

Located on the border of the old administrative districts of Damaraland and Kaokoland, Hoanib Valley Camp is in one of Namibia’s most remote and untouched wilderness areas. The ancient mountains, gravel plains and dunes that define the area are home to some of the country’s most elusive desert-adapted wildlife, while the camp offers an oasis of luxury for its guests.

Nestled relatively close together at the foot of a mountain, yet maintaining their individual privacy, the camp’s six luxury tented rooms are built on decks of wood, bamboo and a composite of 70% recycled material.

Directions – Dolomite Camp to Sesfontein Guesthouse

Distance: 319.3km      Travel Time: 4:37 hours

Overnight: Hoanib Valley Camp       

Located in one of the most beautiful areas of Namibia, the camp and its surrounds are truly breathtaking with many visitors feeling time spent here is a life affirming experience. The north western area, Kaokoland, is identified by its vast open desert wilderness, towering dunes and swathes of Rocky Mountains. Tucked into the backdrop are six guest tents exuding a modern safari style that reflects their surrounds in the furnishing and design.

Your days are spent exploring this spectacular area, understanding its unique geology, wildlife and culture. Home to one of the last great nomadic tribes, the iconic Himba, as well as the identifiable Herero, there is plenty of opportunity for cultural interaction. The Giraffe Conservation Foundation, with whom this is a joint venture, add a wealth of specialist knowledge to your morning and afternoon drives, searching for the desert adapted elephant, giraffe, lion, black rhino and mountain zebra. Alternatively there are few better places to spend restful time contemplating the beauty around you than from the privacy of your veranda before enjoying exceptional hosting and dining.

Basis

Full Board – Dinner, Bed, Breakfast and Lunch

DAY 7: HOANIB VALLEY CAMP , KAOKOVELD

Day Itinerary

Hoanib Valley Camp’s unique location allows for a fantastic range of activities, with other vehicles rarely seen on nature drives. In stark contrast to sightings of desert-adapted elephant in the area around Twyfelfontein, guests here will often find themselves alone with a relaxed herd of these gentle giants.

As an added bonus, the area is also home to some of Namibia’s last remaining desert lion, made famous by several documentaries, books and long-running research projects. Nature walks, usually close to camp, offer the chance to step out of the vehicle and take a walk through the wilderness with a guide – and perhaps a sundowner drink.

Basis

Full Board – Dinner, Bed, Breakfast and Lunch

DAY 8: SHIPWRECK LODGE, SKELETON COAST      

Skeleton Coast

Few places in the world can offer a lonelier and desolate scene than the barren white sandy wastes of the northern coast of Namibia. For over seven months of the year a pitiless wind lashes this arid coastal belt, cutting fretful patterns into the vast, restless dunes.

The Hottentots called it the “Soo-oo-oop-wa”, and as it blows, it may temporarily uncover the bleached bones of forgotten skeletons, which have given the northern stretch of this land the sinister name of Skeleton Coast. The coast – cruel, arid, and waterless – was long shunned by the seafarers who knew that death awaited those unfortunate enough to be wrecked on its treacherous shores.

Only the flamingos stalk its lonely shores. Only an occasional jackal pads over the cold beach, craftily waiting for a sick or weary bird to alight and rest or a young seal that has not yet learned the danger of being part of the food chain of the skeleton coast.

Paradoxically enough, as barren as the coast is, so in contrast is the ocean that pounds its shores, rich in marine life beyond all dreams. This is due to the cold Benguela current, flowing northwards from the south pole, carrying with it life sustaining nutrients and stirring up nutrient salts from the depths of the Atlantic – thus beginning the great food chain in an area seemingly lifeless.

Day Itinerary

The Bushmen called the skeleton coast the “Land God made in anger”, while Portuguese sailors once referred to it as “The Gates of Hell” which referred to the roughness of this area. The name given to the Skeleton Coast derives from the whale and seal bones that once littered the shore from the whaling industry, although now in modern times the coast harbours the skeletal remains of the shipwrecks caught by offshore rocks and fog.

With dense ocean fogs for much of the year, skeleton remains of once beautiful vessels, the skeleton coast creates a mysterious and magical place unlike anything else that captures ones imagination from the start.

Overnight: Shipwreck Lodge  

Located in the famous Skeleton Coast concession between the Hoarusib and Hoanib rivers in the Skeleton Coast National Park, Shipwreck Lodge is only 45 km from Möwe Bay.

The shipwreck-shaped chalets are nestled between the dunes with a view of the Atlantic Ocean where the cold Benguela current provides guests with a refreshing breeze. There are 8 twin or double chalets and 2 family chalets which each chalet equipped with a tea/coffee station, battery charging facilities, fireplace or wood burning stove, viewing deck, ensuite bathroom and complimentary laundry service.

The restaurant is at the heart of the lodge where guests can enjoy all their meals including sundowners on the deck. Activities for guest include sundowner drives, beach lunches, excellent fishing, a full-day excursion to Mowe Bay and the Seal Colony and a full-day excursion to the Huarusib River. Guests also get the opportunity to learn about the fauna and flora adapted to survive in these harsh conditions all from the comfort of the restaurant deck.

Basis

Fully Inclusive – Bed, All Meals, Fees and Activities

DAY 9: SHIPWRECK LODGE, SKELETON COAST      

Day Itinerary

The recently opened Shipwreck Lodge is a unique lodge on Namibia’s Skeleton Coast where architectural extravaganza meets the surreal atmosphere of the Atlantic Ocean. Guests sleep in 10 shipwreck-style bungalows, which are constructed into the dunes around an innovatively – designed lounge and restaurant in the centre of the camp.

Activities include sundowners and walks on the beach, game drives within the Skeleton Coast National Park, several 4×4 excursions including visits to shipwrecks and drives into the the Hoarusib River to track desert-adapted elephant

Basis

Fully Inclusive – Bed, All Meals, Fees and Activities

DAY 10: END OF ITINERARY   

Breakfast at the Shipwreck Lodge,later transfer for your international departure flight

Basis

Breakfast