guided individual Tour: Miracles and 2 Deserts

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1 guided individual Tour: Miracles and 2 Deserts "If you do not know the South, you do not know Namibia" - this is the true Namibian Safari. In fact, the true beauty of Namibia is hidden in the southern detail. The south of Namibia overwhelms landscape and photography lovers, but also offers a lot of interesting wildlife and a rare beautiful flora. We spend 4 days in the deepest Kalahari to get up and close with its magnificent wildlife. High-contrast desert landscapes of the Fishriver Canyon in the deep south, the high dunes and granite formations of the Namib, the Kalahari Dune Belt and the Namibian central high plateau are complemented by a number of memorable animal experiences, rare bird watching and impressive plant discoveries. You will gamedrive through areas only we have access to, explore the highest dunes in the world and watch dolphins jumping next to a sailing boat while heading for african Penguin. You will enjoy encounters with different ethnic groups and their history, learn a lot about the Namibian history and experience a typical Namibian farm.

2 Day 1 1 night on a beautiful Lodge just outside the capitol. Bed and breakfast (dinner a la carte, at own expense) Game drive Windhoek, Game drive Arrival at Windhoek International Airport. We will meet you and advise you on exchanging money, shopping, security etc. Windhoek is the capital of Namibia and its largest city. We will start with a tour of this historically fascinating and culturally diverse city, - and yes there will be time to relax or to go shopping. That afternoon you will have your first taste of Africa when we go on a short game-drive in an open vehicle. Various species of antelope, some curious giraffe, and numerous species of birds and with luck even a white rhinoceros await you in this dry woodland and savannah.

3 Days 2 and 3 2 nights in the middle of the linear dunes of the Kalahari Dinner, bed and breakfast The lodge offers a variety of activities, including lion tracking, hiking and game drives. Kalahari - Lions and linear Dunes A scenic drive through the central highlands, locally called the Khomas Highland, opens up the wide geological variety found in Namibia. Most of southern Namibia is covered by enormous sandstone layers, ripped through by basaltic ridges and decorated by bulbous granite outcrops. The Kalahari is an endless sea of red sand, carved up by ephemeral rivers with high camethorn trees - beautiful Kgalagadi means waterless, maybe that's why only the Bushmen dared to settle there. We drive through the acacia savanna of the central plateau until we reach the various linear dune landscapes, rough limestone reefs and wide salt pans of the Kalahari. The Kalahari is a paradise for photographers with its linear dune landscapes and camel thorn forests, especially sunrises and sunrises fascinate every nature lover. Game Drives in this area will hopefully find us a few lions and other good photographic opportunities.

4 Days 4 and 5 2 nights deep inside the Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park full board all game drives / activities Kalahari - Kgalagadi Transfrontierpark / South Africa Red linear dunes interrupted by vast pans of white salt, yellow grass on red soil, monstrous Camelthorn trees providing needed shade for various antelope The Kalahari is all that, but yet also so much more. This is the place to stop expecting big game and to start opening your eyes. The park is renowned for excellent bird, especially raptor, sightings. Rats and mice provide ample food for a large variety of raptors, like the minute Pygmy falcon, which utilises the nests of Sociable weavers. In the Kgalagadi Transfrontierpark it is important to take time to enjoy the behaviour of various antelope and smaller creatures. Often a long game drive along the Auob and Nossob riverbeds will be rewarded by sightings of lion, cheetah or even leopard, although Wildebeest, Ostrich, Springbok, Steenbok and even Eland keep entertaining its visitors. Night drives are offered by the game wardens of the park and are not to be missed.

5 Days 6 and 7 2 nights Farm Nomtsas full board Game drives and hikes Nomtsas Nomtsas, an old family farm of the Voigts family, German descendents in their fifth generation, reflects a typical Namibian cattle and game farm. You will find yourself being treated and entertained with true Namibian hospitality. Nomtsas boosts a private game area of over ha. Idealism and a great love to Nature drove Heino Voigts to give back to nature what his forefathers took space. Unfortunately Heino Voigts is no longer with us, but the area belongs to us and we use it for our clients only - no other tourists We will do various game drives on the lookout for giraffe, various antelope, warthog and a great variety of semi-desert birdlife. Red sediment runs through vast stretches of barren land, sown together by linear oasis, ephemeral rivers, which provide food and shelter for game one would never expect to find here.

6 Days 8 and 9 2 nights right at the brim of the Canyon Dinner, bed and breakfast Quivertree forest, Giants playground and Fishriver Canyon Something terrible must have happened to the earth a young boy said when he saw the Fish River Canyon for the first time, as it really seems as if the earth has been ripped apart to form this deep gorge, known as the Fish River Canyon. The Fish River forms 20% of Namibia s surface drainage and has eaten away at the sand stone and gneiss layers to form the second largest canyon in the world. Since we traveled on both sides of the Canyon, you will be able to get a complete overview of the area.

7 Day 10 1 night where desert and Savannah meet. Dinner, bed and breakfast Orange River and half-man We take you even further south, way of the normal route taken by the usual tourist. Southern Namibia falls into a very different climatic zone than the usual tropical and subtropical region. All local plants and animals have adapted to utilise the irregular bouts of winter rain. The Irregularity of rainfall and extended periods of droughts have forced all life to adapt one phenomenon to save water wisely and to utilise water while available. These circumstances are the reason a great number of succulents have developed here. The scenic drive along the Orange River remains one of my favourite routes in Africa. It seems as if every corner holds a new surprise and with the geology changing constantly, the route promises an even better view of this fascinating landscape with every turn we take. Rare plants in the area include various species of Pachypodium, Aloe, Hoodia and Euphorbia.

8 Days 11 and 12 2 nights in a small charming Guesthouse in Lüderitz Bed and breakfast (dinner at own expense) Not inclusive: With special permission and a local guide we set out into the restricted Diamond area, locally called the Sperrgebiet. In my opinion this remains one of most untouched and pristine wilderness areas left on our planet. The drive itself is spectacular already and we regularly stop to find the most interesting succulents, many of those so rare, that they haven t even been documented yet. Birders will be delighted to spot Barlow s lark, a Namibian endemic only found here. The main attraction of the Sperrgebiet is without any doubt the majestic Bogenfels. This rock arch protrudes deep into the stormy Atlantic Ocean and remains a breathtaking highlight on our trip. Lüderitz, restricted Diamond area, Rock Arch We set of on a long drive south to discover the barren beauty and very rare and endemic plant and birdlife the Namib Desert holds. En route to the Atlantic Ocean, we find a small population of desert horses, descendents of German military horses and nowadays considered controversial survivors of the desert Why anyone would build a town on the southern rocky shore of the Atlantic Ocean remains a mystery. Germany occupied Namibia in the early 1980 s and although the southern Namibian shoreline holds no water and is constantly beaten by cold winds and sandstorms, a little town called Lüderitzbucht was build. Diamonds had been discovered on a later sdays, turning this little village into a well known destination. Lüderitz has way more to offer than colonial buildings and good fish in its numerous restaurants. On a boat trip to Halifax Island we come very close to hundreds of African penguin, black Oystercatchers and other seabirds. Dolphins keep all photographers on their toes and the vast variety of seabirds nearly constantly keeps our binoculars glued to our eyes. To discover the great biodiversity this harsh environment actually does sustain comes as a great surprise to many a visitor. We also take a drive along the various bays up to Diaz Point and pay a visit to a Kolmanskop, a ghoast-town previously inhabited by German diamond diggers.

9 Days 13 and 14 1 night INSIDE the Namib Naukluft Park light lunch, dinner, bed and breakfast Since we stay inside the Park, we are allowed to drive into the dunes about an hour before sunrise. This option is absolutely fantastic for photographers. 1 night NWR Naukluft Lodge dinner, bed and breakfast Dune Landscapes at Sossusvlei As soon as we reach the western escarpment, the desert literally drops out before our eyes. After a very early rise we head for Sossusvlei, cradle of the highest dunes worldwide, a true must see for every traveller. As the sun appears from behind, the breathtaking beauty of red dunes unfold before our eyes. The conglomerate of geology appears like a giant carving in sand, soil and rock, decorated by monstrous trees and desert adapted plant life. The Sossusvlei, being a pan, or depression at the dead end of the Tsauchab River, is considered a floral paradise surrounded by up to 300m high dunes. A walk through the numerous Vleis will give us a good idea of interesting adaptations all these organisms have developed to survive the dry circumstances of the Namib Desert. The spectacular view from above the dunes definitely makes the tiresome walk worthwhile. Not far of we hike through the deep and narrow Sesriem canyon, imagining years and years of continuous deposition and erosion. The area is a true eye-opener and most people long to see it again and capture maybe one more perfect shot of this desert so beautiful. A geological fault zone runs through the centre of Namibia, creating the Damara orogenic belt. The Naukluft Mountains, consisting of high folded and shifted dolomite, granite and various Tufa formations, are on our agenda today. We explore this interesting range on foot. While giving the impression of a harsh, dry and unfriendly environment, the Naukluft hides many idyllic spots to be discovered. The area is laden with birdlife and interesting plants.

10 Days 15 and 16 2 nights in a charming Hotel in Swakopmund Bed and breakfast (dinner at own expense) not inclusive: The next day is action filled starting with a Dolphin cruise on the Walfish Bay lagoon, where a champagne breakfast with oysters is served while watching seals and dolphins playing in the water. Alternatively, if anyone feels more adventurous and would like to come even closer to marine life, an allage kayak trip could be undertaken. I personally enjoy the kayak trip as one of the most in-your-face encounters with seals one could have. Desert Eco trips are offered by knowledgeable guides to find snakes, chameleons and various spiders. This is a great outing to dig deeper into what fauna and flora the desert is normally hiding from its visitors. Swakopmund On our way to the coast we head through deep canyons, the Kuiseb- and Gaub, walled by mica schist formations, cross the gravel plains of the Namib Desert, visiting the Welwitschia mirabilis and the geologically breathtaking "Moon landscape" until we reach the Atlantic Ocean at Swakopmund. The Welwitschia mirabilis could be considered as the most interesting living fossil around, being one of the oldest plants and probably the missing evolutionary link growing in the oldest desert known to mankind. With palm lined streets, seaside promenades and colonial history, Swakopmund always has been Namibia s most popular holiday destination. The museum, crystal gallery, oceanarium, various art galleries, cafes and interesting shops will catch your attention on your time off. Day 17 Transfer to Windhoek International Airport Windhoek On our way we stop over at the large woodcarvers market in Okahandja and the African craft centre in Windhoek. Transfer to Windhoek International Airport. Time to say Good bye.

11 Included - Transfer and Transport as stated in itinerary - Accommodation as stated in itinerary - Meals as stated in itinerary - Entrance fees as stated in itinerary - Fully trained and certified English, German and Afrikaans-speaking guide. Excluded - Personal expenses - Drinks - Tips/ Gratuities - International and National Flights - Visas - Travel insurance Price per person as of January 2018 Please request pricing info@leaflovesafari.com Please Note: - While we do our best to stick to the itinerary, we occasionally hit a logistical snag, and we reserve the right to change the itinerary/accommodation to ensure your safety and comfort - Prices subject to change based on exchange rate fluctuations - This is your individual safari and no other guests will be attending.

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