Best of Namibia and the Okavango Delta

Transcription

1 Best of Namibia and the Okavango Delta NAMIBIA BOTSWANA SOUTH AFRICA 13 Days February 19 March 3, 2018 Windhoek, Namibia Damaraland, Namibia Sossusvlei, Namibia Etosha Southern, Namibia Okavango, Botswana Johannesburg, South Africa

2 Best of Namibia and the Okavango Delta NAMIBIA BOTSWANA SOUTH AFRICA 13 DAYS FEBRUARY 19 MARCH 3, 2018 Itinerary 19-Feb Monday Windhoek Namibia Hotel Heinitzburg 20-Feb Tuesday Damaraland Namibia Desert Rhino Camp 21-Feb Wednesday Damaraland Namibia Desert Rhino Camp 22-Feb Thursday Sossusvlei Namibia Little Kulala 23-Feb Friday Sossusvlei Namibia Little Kulala 24-Feb Saturday Etosha Southern Namibia Ongava Lodge 25-Feb Sunday Etosha Southern Namibia Ongava Lodge 26-Feb Monday Etosha Southern Namibia Ongava Lodge 27-Feb Tuesday Windhoek Namibia Hotel Heinitzburg 28-Feb Wednesday Okavango Botswana Splash - Opening June Mar Thursday Okavango Botswana Splash - Opening June Mar Friday Okavango Botswana Splash - Opening June Mar Saturday Johannesburg South Africa Depart $16,583

3 Per Person This is a sample itinerary and the price is an estimate, used for rough planning purposes only and is subject to change. Actual prices and availability must be finalized by one of our trip planners who will contact and confirm pricing with all accommodations and operators.

4 19 FEB 2018 Windhoek Start Safari: WDH Hosea Kutako International Airport Windhoek, Namibia (Arrival Location) Windhoek, Namibia Amid the shifting dunes, windswept salt pans, isolated watering holes and ocean-side oases, Windhoek is the master link that holds them all together. While it serves as the gateway to a diverse array of scenic settings, the city itself can be a charming attraction in itself. Colonial architecture and unique desert culture showcase Windhoek's place in the history of the Namib Desert. Hotel Heinitzburg The Hotel Heinitzburg offers 16 spacious, generously appointed ensuite rooms, each individually decorated, leaving no two rooms looking the same. Each room has individual air conditioning/heating unit, direct telephone, electronic safe, mini bar, and flat screen TV with satellite channels. The superior deluxe rooms have bath with integrated showers, while the deluxe rooms all have a walk-in shower. At our serene garden, you are welcome to relax in the private atmosphere while enjoying the refreshing swimming pool that is heated in the winter. The restaurant overlooks the skyline of the Windhoek, the capitol city of Namibia and varied cuisine is served ranging from local to international á la carte, a true celebration of the senses. Along with a superb view over the city and the surrounding mountains, meals, coffee and cakes from our patisserie are served throughout the day. Snacks and sundowner cocktails are also served on this viewpoint with marvelous vistas of spectacular sunsets. The pride of the house, the wine cellar, bears the largest collection of carefully selected South African vintages in Namibia. The cellar is built into the mountain rock and is the ideal meeting place for smaller groups. Accommodation, breakfast, VAT and tourism levy Air Conditioning, Cell Phone Coverage, Ensuite Bathrooms, Hairdryer, Pool, Wi-Fi Curio shop items, scenic helicopter tours, spa treatments, restaurant dining for additional meals, Windhoek City tour 20 FEB FEB 2018 Damaraland

5 Windhoek Damaraland Scheduled Light Aircraft Transfer (1 hour, 5 minutes) Damaraland, Namibia This world revolves around water. The Haub River provides the motivation for desert-adapted wildlife to pass in close proximity to the camp. Gemsbock, greater kudu and springbok come for a drink, and occassionaly attract lions, cheetahs and other hungry hunters. Even great elephants and rhinos pass in the eternal quest to quench their thirst. Visitors won't have any problems finding drinks in this area. Camps are well-equipped with water, as well as much stronger drinks. Desert Rhino Camp Desert Rhino Camp lies among rolling, rocky hills scattered with the scrubby vegetation and isolated clumps of trees of the Palmwag Concession. This region is noted for its tranquil, minimalist beauty, surprising wealth of arid-adapted wildlife and the largest free roaming black rhino population in Africa. Desert Rhino Camp functions as a collaborative effort between Wilderness Safaris and the Save the Rhino Trust (SRT) - an NGO that has been has been instrumental in the preservation of these rare, desert-adapted black rhino. Having barely survived the slaughter of '80s and '90s throughout other parts of Africa, the black rhino population has doubled since the formation of the SRT. Accommodation at Desert Rhino Camp is in the form of eight Merustyle canvas tents that sleep up to 16 guests. Raised from the ground on a wooden deck, each tent features an en-suite bathroom with a hand basin, flush toilet and shower. Beds are made up with crisp, white linen and have two dark-wood bedside tables with wicker reading lamps. An extension of the deck functions as a front veranda where guests can relax in director's chairs to take in the magnificent vistas of the surrounding desert and Etendeka Mountains. Extra duvets are available for the sometimes frosty nights. The tented dining and lounge area of Desert Rhino Camp is also raised on a wooden deck in a single, open-plan tent and has partially open sides offering panoramic views. To one side there are couches and to the other, a large, simple dining table. Evening meals are taken around the fire pit, where guests can relax and socialize. Activities at Desert Rhino Camp obviously include rhino tracking on foot or by vehicle. Other 4x4 outings are geared at exploring this vast, miraculous ecosystem with some of the most knowledgeable guides in Namibia. Palmwag Concession's freshwater springs also support healthy populations of desert-adapted elephants, Hartmann's mountain zebra, giraffe, gemsbok, springbok, kudu and predators such as lions, cheetahs, leopards, brown and spotted hyenas. Bird life is prolific and diverse with most of Namibia's endemics present. Accommodation, all meals, all house drinks (premium exported brands excluded), twice daily scheduled camp activities: rhino tracking on foot and by vehicle, off-road game viewing, guided nature walks, full day outings with picnic lunch, birding, outdoor dining, sundowners, laundry at camps which are able to provide this service, park fees, VAT

6 Ensuite Bathrooms, Laundry, Local Drinks, Pool, Recharge Facilities Premium imported brand drinks and Champagne, curio shop items, scenic helicopter tours 22 FEB FEB 2018 Sossusvlei Damaraland Sossusvlei Scheduled Light Aircraft Transfer (2 hours, 55 minutes) Sossusvlei, Namibia An ancient river used to flood the area we now call Sossusvlei: "Vlei" is the Afrikaans word for an area that floods. But in modern times, flooding rarely touches Sossusvlei since it exists in one of the world's driest corners of the earth - the Namib Desert. This dramatic desert landscape boasts of some of the world s tallest sand dunes up to 1000 feet. Huge red dunes jut into bright blue skies for miles and miles, devoid of people and towns. It's natural. The skies at night reveal stunning stars, and the feeling of pure wilderness is all around. Little Kulala Little Kulala is a luxurious desert retreat situated in the private 91,500-acre Kulala Wilderness Reserve - the gateway to Namibia's Sand Sea with its towering dunes and clear, starry skies. Accommodation at Little Kulala consists of 11 climate-controlled thatched "kulalas" (the word means 'to sleep') which merge impeccably into the timeless desert landscape, with exquisite fittings and fixtures, both indoor and outdoor showers and innovative bleached decks - each with a private plunge pool. Each kulala has a rooftop 'skybed' for romantic stargazing or sleeping out under the stars. Little Kulala features an elegant entertainment area which includes a library, wine cellar, craft boutique, lounge and dining areas. Dining under the clear Namibian skies is a highlight. The interiors have been designed to provide an all-natural and unique experience in this most beautiful environment. The extensive use of neutral colors, gorgeous textures and natural light reproduce the soothing pastel tones of the desert. Pure linens, cottons and mohair dyed with natural vegetable dyes all make for a very organic camp which takes its inspiration from its surroundings, notably from the magnificent Dead Vlei in the middle of Sossusvlei. Desert-adapted wildlife such as ostriches, springbok and gemsbok eke out an existence and are sparsely distributed around Little Kulala. Smaller creatures such as bat-eared foxes and aardwolves can be seen at night in the cool desert air. One bird, the aptly named dune lark, has its entire global distribution limited to the area, so dependent is it on the area's characteristic sands. Activities at Little Kulala start with morning guided drives to the spectacular towering dunes of Sossusvlei, through a private gate into the reserve. Sossusvlei is situated within the Namib Desert, the oldest desert in the world, which itself is part of the Namib Naukluft National Park that stretches 250 miles south of Walvis Bay and is sandwiched between the west coast and the escarpment that runs parallel more than 60 miles inland. Its huge dunes and flat valley floors make up the archetypical view of the Namib that is world famous. Guided drives and walks are also offered on

7 the private Kulala Wilderness Reserve with incredible views, desert-adapted wildlife and plants. A gameviewing hide is located about 5km from camp along the Aob river. Another option, at an extra cost, is early morning hot-air ballooning, beginning at first light. The balloon safari offers a truly unique experience to soar silently above the magnificent sand dunes and desert, with a champagne breakfast being served at your landing site. Accommodation, all meals, all house drinks (premium exported brands excluded), twice daily scheduled camp activities: nature drives through the Kulala Wilderness Reserve, walking trails, visits to Sossusvlei and Sesriem, Scorpion night walks, sundowners, outdoor dining, stargazing, laundry at camps which are able to provide this service, park fees, VAT Air Conditioning, Ensuite Bathrooms, Laundry, Local Drinks, Pool, Wi-Fi Premium imported brand drinks and Champagne, guests booked on half board basis may order lunch, hot airballoon safari, curio shop items, wine cellar, scenic helicopter tours, guided quad-biking 24 FEB FEB 2018 Etosha Southern Sossusvlei Damaraland Scheduled Light Aircraft Transfer (2 hours, 25 minutes) Damaraland Etosha Southern Scheduled Light Aircraft Transfer (25 minutes) Etosha Southern, Namibia Imagine a huge, flat salt pan stretching for miles, surrounded by dry acacia woodlands and scrub. Then add underground springs at various points around this pan that bring fresh water to Etosha year round, and draw all types of Africa's classic wildlife to these watering holes. The resulting scene you might frame with your camera includes elephant, zebra, giraffe, impala and gemsbok and springbok antelope, ostrich, and guinea fowl. In the African summer (December to March) when short showers green the dry Namibian savannah and grasslands, and clean the bright blue skies, the springbok calves and their pure white bellies dot the green landscape for miles. The pan also fills with shallow water all the way to the horizon and birds flock in, including pink flamingoes and pelicans.

8 Ongava Lodge Ongava Lodge is cleverly constructed on a small hill in the Ongava Game Reserve against the southern boundary of the Etosha National Park. From up here guests can enjoy a host of thirsty wildlife congregating around the waterhole. The Ongava Game Reserve shares a boundary with the Etosha National Park, Namibia's premier wildlife destination and one of Africa's largest game reserves. Large herds of wildlife teem around the waterholes and the endless plains offer breathtaking vistas. Accommodation at Ongava Lodge consists of 13 chalets and 1 family room, attractively built out of brick, rock and thatch. Each chalet has an en-suite bathroom with flush toilet, shower and double hand basins. Air conditioning and overhead fans keep guests cool in summer. Mosquito nets are fitted to the windows and each room features a tea/coffee station and a safe. The rooms have glass-fronted doors which lead out onto a private, covered veranda, overlooking the plains. There are impressive views of the waterhole and surrounding plains from the main lounge, bar and dining areas. Meals are either served in the main dining area under thatch or on the dining deck under the stars. Activities at Ongava Lodge revolve around day and night wildlife-viewing drives, visiting hides that overlook waterholes and walks with experienced guides. A hide at the camp waterhole provides superb photographic opportunities. The Ongava Game Reserve features all the characteristic wildlife of the area, with both desert-adapted black and white rhinos to be seen as well as lions. Game drives and daytrips into the easily accessible Okaukuejo area of Etosha National Park are rewarding, with sightings of lions, elephants, gemsbok, springbok, red hartebeest, and white and black rhinos. Guests at Ongava Lodge share a dedicated guide and Land Rover, ensuring the best possible nature experience at one of Africa's great wildlife destinations. Accommodation, meals, all house drinks (premium exported brands excluded), twice daily scheduled camp activities: game drives, night drives, off-road game viewing, game drive excursions into Etosha National Park, Rhino tracking on Ongava game reserve, nature walks, access to local research projects, outdoor dining, laundry at camps which are able to provide this service, park fees, VAT, tourism levy Air Conditioning, Ensuite Bathrooms, Hairdryer, Laundry, Local Drinks, Pool, Recharge Facilities, Wi-Fi Premium imported brand drinks and Champagne, scenic helicopter flights 27 FEB 2018 Windhoek Etosha Southern Windhoek Scheduled Light Aircraft Transfer (50 minutes) Windhoek, Namibia Amid the shifting dunes, windswept salt pans, isolated watering holes and ocean-side oases, Windhoek is the master link that holds them all together. While it serves as the gateway to a diverse array of scenic settings, the city itself can be a charming attraction in itself. Colonial architecture and unique desert culture showcase Windhoek's place in the history of the Namib Desert.

9 Hotel Heinitzburg The Hotel Heinitzburg offers 16 spacious, generously appointed ensuite rooms, each individually decorated, leaving no two rooms looking the same. Each room has individual air conditioning/heating unit, direct telephone, electronic safe, mini bar, and flat screen TV with satellite channels. The superior deluxe rooms have bath with integrated showers, while the deluxe rooms all have a walk-in shower. At our serene garden, you are welcome to relax in the private atmosphere while enjoying the refreshing swimming pool that is heated in the winter. The restaurant overlooks the skyline of the Windhoek, the capitol city of Namibia and varied cuisine is served ranging from local to international á la carte, a true celebration of the senses. Along with a superb view over the city and the surrounding mountains, meals, coffee and cakes from our patisserie are served throughout the day. Snacks and sundowner cocktails are also served on this viewpoint with marvelous vistas of spectacular sunsets. The pride of the house, the wine cellar, bears the largest collection of carefully selected South African vintages in Namibia. The cellar is built into the mountain rock and is the ideal meeting place for smaller groups. Accommodation, breakfast, VAT and tourism levy Air Conditioning, Cell Phone Coverage, Ensuite Bathrooms, Hairdryer, Pool, Wi-Fi Curio shop items, scenic helicopter tours, spa treatments, restaurant dining for additional meals, Windhoek City tour Windhoek Johannesburg Commercial Flight (2 hours) Johannesburg Maun Commercial Flight (1 hour, 45 minutes) 28 FEB MAR 2018 Okavango Maun Okavango Scheduled Light Aircraft Transfer (45 minutes) Okavango, Botswana The Okavango Delta is a safari icon, and in 2014, it was named to the UNESCO World Heritage Site list for its

10 unique habitat and remarkable wildlife densities. Its landscapes are awe-inspiring: yellow grasslands, pristine papyrus filtered rivers, ivory palm trees standing tall above the savannahs, red sunset skies punctuated by fish eagle cries and great game viewing. It is a resilient system where drainage basins in Angola capture rain water in the African summer (December to March). But because Botswana is so flat, it takes months for that water to make it down the Okavango River and flood into the Kalahari Desert. The timing is perfect - it brings water to the Kalahari during the dry season (May through October) and becomes a key attraction for wildlife at this time of year. Splash - Opening June 2018 Splash Camp is in the heart of the Okavango Delta, within the private Kwara Reserve and offers five activities: walks, game drives, fishing, boat cruises, and mokoro (canoe) rides. The intimate and recently updated camp consists of 12 rooms around a pan which attracts game year round. Rooms are en suite with a flush toilet, double sinks, an indoor and outdoor shower, and a private veranda. The main area has a plunge pool, bar, lounge, and curio shop. The Splash Enclave, a second satellite main area within the camp, is available to groups of 6-10, and includes its own plunge pool, dining area and lounge and bar. When booking the Enclave there is no minimum age restriction, making this a great option for families. Splash Camp is known for consistent sightings of predators and the private concession location means guests can go off-road and on nocturnal drives. Guests 12 years and older may enjoy mokoro (canoe) rides and guided walks. Fishing is available except January- February. Birding is excellent with visits to nearby heronries August - December. Water based activities are seasonal and subject to water levels. Accommodation with all meals and beverages, all game viewing activities: game drives, night drives, off-road game viewing, nature walks, fishing, power boating and mokoro trips, outdoor dining, daily laundry, emergency medical evacuation coverage (all guests must have their own travel and health insurance), meet & greet in and out of Maun airport in the private guests lounge if being transferred with Moremi Air Ensuite Bathrooms, Laundry, Local Drinks, Pool, Recharge Facilities Private vehicles, private guides, scenic helicopter tours, curio shop items 3 MAR 2018 Johannesburg Okavango Maun Scheduled Light Aircraft Transfer (45 minutes)

11 Scheduled Light Aircraft Transfer (45 minutes) Maun Johannesburg Commercial Flight (1 hour, 45 minutes) Johannesburg, South Africa (Departure Location) End Safari O.R. Tambo International Airport Johannesburg, South Africa Sofiatown. Joburg. Gold Reef City. This is the commercial capital of one of Africa's strongest economic engines, South Africa. Johannesburg was built on a gold mining town established in the 1800's, and you can still see the slag heaps within the city limits. If you are focused on a wildlife safari, your time should be kept to a minimum in Johannesburg. But if you have time to explore the city, it s definitely worth a stay. Feel the vibe of Soweto, for example (an acronym for South West Township), then we can organize a fun bike ride that takes you through the streets of Soweto and gives you a flavor for this colorful and energetic township.