Experience the Best of Namibia in Exclusive Comfort.

Transcription

1 Travel costs: 6.395,- per person. Plus the return flights KLM Amsterdam - Johannesburg, and SAA Jo burg - Windhoek (estimated at 1.275,- p.p.) Based on 10 people, sharing luxury tents/rooms for two. Note: with 8 participants it will be 6.945,- sharing. Two weeks, with departure from Schiphol on Friday 14 June and back in Holland on Friday 28 June Organisation and facilitation (free of charge) by Boudewijn Hoogeweegen. Inclusive of nearly everything: All accommodation, meals and all normal drinks (coffee, tea, water, soft drinks, beers, house wines, and local spirits). All activities described. A private chartered plane and pilot in Namibia, for 2 weeks. All transfers by car. All Park and Conservancy Fees. Emergency Evacuation coverage in case of... And even all tips. Exclusive only of: Costs of personal health and travel insurances, preventive vaccinations and malaria prophylaxes. Luxury alcoholic drinks, like champagne, vintage wines and imported spirits. All items of a personal nature (like laundry and souvenirs). For additional information: Boudewijn Hoogeweegen boudewijn@terracasta.com August 2012 Experience the Best of Namibia in Exclusive Comfort. This beautiful, enormous and scarcely populated country in the southwest of Africa, is mostly known for its self-drive safari s. But this implies many hours of (sometimes rather monotonous) driving nearly every day. Based on my extensive discovery trip through Namibia this year, I have decided that the best way to experience the very best of what Namibia has to offer, is by flying to all our destinations in our own private plane, and staying in the most comfortable small lodges and camps, carefully selected by me (and exclusive, or nearly exclusive for our little group). I truly believe there is no better way to experience Namibia!!! 1. Okonjima, home of the Africat Foundation Track leopards by car and cheetahs on foot. And relax in the very comfortable Okonjima Bush Camp. 2. Mushara Outpost and game rich Etosha Explore Etosha, Namibia s leading big game destination, from Mushara Outpost, an oasis of comfort and hospitality. 3. Etendeka in Damaraland Experience a beautifully rugged private concession. A sanctuary for black rhino, desert elephant, lion and mountain zebra. 4. Villa Margherita in Swakopmund Enjoy a very special villa in a very unusual town in Africa. See seals, pelicans, dolphins and possibly whales from a private boat on Walvis Bay lagoon, with oysters and fish braai on the beach. 5. Scenic flight over Sossusvlei See the infamous Skeleton Coast and the enormous red dunes of Sossusvlei close up and in comfort from the air. 6. Wolwedans Dune Camp in the Namib desert Explore the Namib desert of the NamibRand Nature Reserve from the comforts of the most famous camp in Namibia. 7. The Olive - all-suite Boutique hotel in Windhoek Relax the final day in superb comfort and dine like a king!

2 Day 1 KLM to Johannesburg and Southern Sun Airport Hotel We assemble at Schiphol at 07:20 hours to check-in our luggage (in a soft bag maximum 15 kg) for the direct KLM flight to Johannesburg. Departure at with arrival at the Johannesburg airport around hours (in summer it is the same time as in Holland, so no jet lag). Note: When flying to Africa, I vastly prefer to fly during the day and then sleep in a real bed. Rather than fly with Air Namibia during the night (plus all the hassle of switching planes and terminals at Frankfurt Airport) and being dead tired at the beginning of a perfect safari! We collect our luggage (so we are certain it has also arrived!). After customs (no visa necessary) we take a short 500 meter walk (with our luggage trolleys) from the arrival hall to the opposite Southern Sun Hotel. Here a comfortable room awaits us. We will have a welcome in Africa drink in the bar and retire for our first night in Africa on this trip. (Although from the airport location and international hotel ambiance it does not as yet feel like real Africa). Day 2-3 Okonjima and the Africat Foundation Around 07:00 we assemble for breakfast and at 08:00 we walk with our luggage trolleys the 500 meter back to the departure hall, to check-in for the direct SA flight to Windhoek (the capital of Namibia). Departing 09:30 hours and arriving at Windhoek International Airport at 10:30 hours. In Namibia in June it is one hour earlier as in Holland. We go through passport control (no visa required, but they insist on a clean page in your passport for the stamps), and collect our luggage. Toni Hart, my ground handler in Namibia, will be waiting to welcome us and to bring us to our private chartered plane and pilot for the coming two weeks (a 12 seats Cessna C208 Caravan). Before lunch we will land at the airstrip of Okonjima, home of the Africat Foundation. This sanctuary of 220 km² is nestled in the Omboroko Mountains halfway between Windhoek and Etosha. Namibia is home to the world s largest wild/free-ranging cheetah population; the majority of this country s cheetahs and leopards can be found on approximately 7000 commercial farms. These large carnivores occasionally prey upon the livestock that roam unprotected in the bush. As a result, carnivores are often regarded as vermin by the livestock and game-farming community and are deliberately trapped and/or killed. Africat is a unique non-profit organisation, whose goal is the long-term preservation of Namibia s large carnivores. They come and rescue the trapped predators, research them and release them again in protected game reserves. Today this foundation is the World s largest cheetah and leopard rescue and release Programme. We will be able to observe some of their fascinating work and learn about the broader issues of predator conservation. Okonjima is a family-run business of Wayne, Donna and Rosalea Hanssen, who co-own and also live on the property. They bought the cattle farm from their parents in 1993, turning it into this conservation project. I selected to stay in the luxury Bush Camp (3 km s from Main Camp on the edge of the wilderness area). The only nine cottages under thatched room, with earthy ochre walls and 180 khaki green canvas paneling (which can be rolled up for a spectacular view of the bushveldt), enjoy complete and exclusive privacy. Each cottage has a pleasant bathroom en-suite. Here (or in the cosy lounge, or at the swimming pool) we will relax in between our safari activities. 2

3 Our primary activity while at Okonjima will be the tracking leopard from a game drive vehicle and the tracking of cheetahs on foot. There will be plenty of photographic opportunities, and the experience of watching these big cats in close proximity is one that few people ever forget. We will stay two nights at Okonjima Bush Camp and after breakfast on the third day, our pilot and private Cessna Caravan will fly us to our next destination. All these flights are great opportunities to study the spectacular and varied landscapes of Namibia from the air (from not too high). Day 4-6 Mushara Outpost on the edge of Etosha National Park Well before lunch we will land on the Mokuti airstrip near the family owned Mushara collection. The owners Marc and Mariza Pampe have created an oasis of old fashioned hospitality, with warm, friendly and personalized service, just 10 km from the Von Lindequist Gate of the world-famous Etosha National Park. (Our pilot will stay with us at Mushara and will entertain us at dinner with his knowledge about Namibia). The Mushara collection contains the Main Lodge, the child-friendly Bush Camp, two private Villa s (for two), and the exclusive Outpost. I have selected the latter for our stay of three nights. Mushara Outpost s main house is styled like an old farm house with high walls, corrugated iron roof and a large wrap-around veranda facing northeast to take advantage of shade. The ambiance is similar to that of a well lived-in house: friendly and extremely comfortable with a light feel to it. There are only eight tents, custom-made from wood and canvas, nestled on the banks of an ancient dry riverbed. Each tent is mounted on a wooden deck, 1½ m. above the ground, providing a different perspective of the bush. The large glass windows from floor to ceiling and the sliding glass doors are covered with fly-screen, to allow for plenty of air circulation during the night. The open plan bathroom sports a ceiling, two large windows and a separate, enclosed toilet. The shower cubicle is glass from top to bottom. You can unzip the external canvas cover (as far as you are comfortable with) and your time in the shower takes on a new dimension. The furnishing of the tent is comfortable and has a light feel to it. A mini-bar, coffee station, safe deposit box, telephone, mosquito net, sockets for charging storage batteries, hair drier and air conditioning are standard. Whether you enjoy the privacy of your veranda or the comfort of your tent, the tranquility of the bush is guaranteed. 3

4 The first afternoon at Mushara we will enjoy our camp: the culinary meals and the comforts of our tents, the main house and the swimming pool. Then the next two days we will be exploring Etosha National Park, with the top safari-guides of Mushara and their special safari-vehicles. Etosha, proclaimed in 1907, is one of Southern Africa s finest and most important game reserves. The park covers an area of km² (larger the Holland) and is home to dozens of mammal and reptile species, several amphibian species, more than 300 bird species and even one species of fish. The km² salt pan, the largest of its kind in Africa, is the centre piece of the park. The pan s shimmering white crust of salt crystals extends as far as the eye can see. Great numbers of plains game such as zebra, kudu, oryx, wildebeest, giraffe, springbok, impala and eland abound on the grasslands, while elephants can also be seen in large herds. Lions dominate the predator food chain and cleverly use the waterholes as hunting grounds, while smaller predators like the blackbacked jackal trot about seemingly oblivious to the presence of humans. Since every animal needs water there is constant coming and going at the waterholes. Traffic rules are simple: the stronger one always has the right of way. The diversity of species drinking at the same time can be staggering. This is the place to watch Namibia s greatest daily wildlife dramas unfold. On our game drives we will experience fascinating perspectives of the abundant and varied wildlife in Etosha. The safari-vehicles are spacious and comfortable and offer 360 degree unobstructed views from elevated seats. Our guides receive up-to-date information on game movements and therefore have a high success rate for spotting game. On these two days we will take picnic lunches with us, so we can enjoy lunch while watching game at a nice spot in Etosha. After these two game-drives, we will return to our African Outpost at sunset. For drinks at the camp-fire, possibly a nice shower in our comfortable tent, followed by a sumptuous culinary dinner in the main house. On the last morning here we (including our pilot) are brought again to our Cessna Caravan at the Mushara airstrip to fly to our next destination in spectacular Damaraland. From the air we will be able to see the enormous salt pan of Etosha in its true dimension! Day 7-8 Etendeka Mountain Camp in northern Damaraland The secluded Etendeka Mountain Camp is located on a private concession of about 400 km² in the foothills of the Grootberg massif. In a stunning scenery set amidst the ancient Etendeka lava flows of northern Damaraland. Here the ancient basalt has been slowly eroded over millennia, leaving scattered boulders lying upon dramatic flat-topped mountains. Experienced guides will be waiting at the airstrip to drive us in open 4WD safari vehicles about 18 km through the spectacular landscape to camp. This very eco-friendly camp has only ten tents with en-suite bathrooms. We will arrive with our lunch ready to be served in the main dining tent. 4

5 After the luxury of our previous camps, the emphasis here is on nature. Extensive use is made of solar power throughout, both in the kitchen and the ensuite bathrooms, as well as for general electricity requirements. Necessary comforts have not been overlooked though, and these include flush toilets, hot-and-cold running water and the stunning openair bucket shower. Simple, fresh, wholesome meals are prepared, either on solar or on open fires, and enjoyed under African skies. Desert adapted wildlife forge a precarious existence amongst the towering basalt mountains and Mopani-shaded rivers beds of the Kunene region. This apparently unforgiving landscape is actually refuge to a diverse number of plant and mammal species. Desert elephant and black rhino share boulder strewn valleys with watchful cheetah and thundering herds of oryx. Dew darkened game trails show the heavy track marks of lion and the mountain zebra they hunt. During our stay here of two nights, we will be exploring the area on foot and in open game drive vehicles with the exceptionally knowledgeable guides. This is not a fast paced safari, but rather a privileged introduction to an environment that holds many of Namibia s unique natural attractions. Day 9-10 Villa Margherita in Swakopmund on the coast of the Atlantic Ocean On day 9 we will have a relaxed breakfast and leave Etendeka around half past eleven. Then an one hour drive through the spectacular landscape back to the airstrip. Followed by the packed lunch we brought along and a 1½ hour flight with great views over Damaraland and the notorious Skeleton Coast of the Atlantic Ocean towards Swakopmund Airport. From there a 15 minute drive to Villa Margherita, our home for the next two nights. Privately owned (Claudine is Swiss) Villa Margherita, is an antique colonial villa in the heart of Swakopmund. A fusion of contemporary charm and a historic colonial building. With its only eight individually shaped and furnished rooms, most of them having a private lounge area, Villa Margherita offers the feeling of a luxury home. All rooms offer a flat screen TV, safe, hairdryer and free wireless internet connection. Personal laptops are available upon request (subject to availability). With a staff of 15 angels to fulfill almost every wish, we will be feeling utterly pampered and special. Swakopmund is a very charming German colonial little seaside village, located between the wild Atlantic Ocean and the most ancient sea of sand: the Namib Desert. The village feels like having been stuck in the time. This is a very unique place in Africa! During the rest of the afternoon we relax, maybe have a walk around Swakopmund, followed by a drink on the secluded patio of the villa and an excellent 3 course dinner in the dining room (Italian cooking). And then retire to our comfortable beds. 5

6 The next morning we are served a delightful breakfast in our villa. At 08:45 hours we are driven along the coast to Walvis Bay. En route we pass the Damara Tern breeding area, the Guano Platform (Bird Island) and enjoy a scenic drive between the magnificent dunes and the awe-inspiring Atlantic Ocean. On arrival on the Walvis Bay waterfront, we embark on our private boat for a cruise that promises exceptional viewing of the Walvis Bay international wetland bird life, such as the African black oystercatcher, petrels, shearwaters, terns and Pelicans. The Walvis Bay Lagoon offers one of the best view points where the lesser and greater flamingoes can be admired undisturbed. Our cruise takes us to the lighthouse at Pelican Point where a large colony of cape fur seals have established themselves. Here we are able to view and photograph the seals in their natural habitat. The waters around Pelican Point are also the home of such creatures as the Heaviside dolphin, a social animal that rides the bows of the boat as we explore the area for sunfish, leatherback turtles and whales (no guarantee!), which often frequent these shores. At Pelican Point we will disembark near the original Lighthouse Jetty onto the beach. Here a free form tent with a formal set-up awaits us, where we will enjoy a delicious fresh oysters and fish braai, prepared on the beach. Around 13:00 hours we will return at the waterfront and be driven back to our Villa where we will arrive around 14:30 hours. That will leave us ample time for a relaxing siesta or possibly a stroll through Swakopmund before dinner time. For drinks and dinner we are driven to The Tug restaurant. Our table overlooking the Atlantic Ocean crashing beneath us, and a delicious 3 course menu, has been reserved (such tables here must be booked weeks in advance!). The Tug is actually an old tugboat that has been raised up and moored next to the jetty. It is by many considered the best restaurant in town. Before dinner we will enjoy our sundowner on the deck outside. After dinner we are driven back for our last delightful night in the Villa. Day 11 Scenic flight over the skeleton coast and world famous Sossusvlei On the eleventh day of this trip we will have a leisurely breakfast at our Villa and are then driven again to Swakopmund Airport, where our private pilot and plane is waiting to take us on a very special scenic flight. Flying south from Swakopmund is like stepping into another world as the vast expanse of Namib Desert spreads out before us. We will fly over the virtual inaccessible marine habitat of Sandwich Harbour, a focal point for flamingoes, pelicans, cape fur seals and a variety of marine creatures. This cold water is rich in plankton and that allows for an excellent population of fish to survive here, the fish attract predators like seals, dolphins and sharks to the shallow water. As our pilot heads further south we will learn more about the maritime history of this desolate coastline, most obvious are the wrecks of the Shawney and the massive Eduard Bohlen. Both vessels fell victim to treacherous currents, thick fog and poor mapping. In the same area we will spot the remains of diamond mining camps that are dwarfed by this desert landscape and act as a reminder of the harsh existence of the hopeful prospectors. 6

7 Turning away from the coast we will fly low over the dune sea and finally reach the towering oxidized red-dunes and clay pans of the famous Sossusvlei. These very old dunes are among the highest in the world (up to 380 meters). In June we might still have some morning fog, making for mysterious sights along the way. From this point we turn slight further south over the Namib Naukluft National Park, to land on Wolwedans private airstrip in the privately owned NamibRand Nature Reserve (2.000 km²!). Day Wolwedans Dune Camp in the NamibRand desert At the airstrip we are welcomed by our guides from Wolwedans and driven in special 4x4 vehicles in about 20 minutes to our camp, from where in the coming two days we will explore the exquisite and extraordinary natural beauty of the NamibRand desert landscape. The special attraction of this reserve is the diversity of landscape. Virtually all facets of the Namib are represented here, creating a living tapestry of colours and shapes that makes it a visual utopia for artists and photographers. A quote by well-known travel writer Amy Schoemann sums it up: 'Imagine the flamboyant magnificence of the Sossusvlei dunes, the mystique and subtle beauty of the Skeleton Coast and the legendary red sands of the Kalahari synthesized into one multifaceted desert reserve and you have NamibRand! The predominant large mammals on the reserve are oryx and springbok. Other large mammals include kudu, Hartman's and Burchell's zebra, giraffe, klipspringer, steenbok, hartebeest and baboon. Predators include leopard, cheetah, spotted and brown hyena, black-backed jackal, aardwolf, bat-eared fox, Cape fox, African wildcat, caracal and genet. To date around 170 bird species have been identified and the dunes harbour a rich and diverse microfauna (work is still in progress on the inventory of rodents, reptiles, amphibians and invertebrates). I have selected to stay in Dune Camp, which - with only 6 tents - will be exclusively ours for the next two days and nights. The Wolwedans Collection has in total five elegant sites. All have been carefully located with magnificent views of the awe-inspiring desert scenery. On these km², the total amount of available beds for guests is only 44! Dune Camp is positioned on the edge of a 250-metre high dune. The tents (which have recently been entirely revamped) are pitched on wooden platforms and are comfortable and spacious including a private bathroom. A generous deck allows for safe sleep-outs under the stars, imparting a rather civilized camping experience. The main tent houses a lounge, dining area and an openplan kitchen where we can chat to the desert chef, while he prepares our lavish meals and enjoy a cold drink around the campfire on the sundowner deck. We will make scenic drives, picnics in the wild and have nature walks, with the expert Wolwedans guides who will reveal the fascinating wonders of the desert and the large and small desert dwellers perfectly adapted for survival in this harsh and unforgiving environment. 7

8 Our stay at Wolwedans in the NamibRand private nature reserve might well become two of the most pleasantly memorable days in our lives! On the last morning after breakfast, we are driven back to the airstrip. Here the Wolwedans owner Stephan Brückner might be able to give us a quick tour of the 70-strong staff village, the heart of the whole Wolwedans operation. To learn about the various impressive sustainability aspects of Wolwedans such as their organic garden, grey water system, recyclable and organic waste management, new state-of-the-art 27 kwa solar farm, and the Wolwedans Desert Academy vocational training school as well as other social initiatives. Then our pilot will fly us (our final flight with him and our private plane) in slightly over one hour to Windhoek Eros (domestic) Airport. Day 13 The Olive - all-suite Boutique Hotel in Windhoek On arrival we are met and driven (about 10 minutes) to the Olive - all-suite Boutique Hotel, for our last day and night of this very exclusive two week exploration of Namibia. This intimate hotel in a tranquil corner of Windhoek embodies the very essence of chic comfort. Simple elegance is key, from the organic rough-hewn wooden benches and side tables, through the sculpted chunk of granite that serves as a coffee table in the guest lounge, to walls clad in abstract Namibian landscapes by well-known South African photographer Micky Hoyle. The (only) seven suites are individually decorated so each reflects a different region in Namibia, and each has its own lounge area with fireplace and dining room. Wide glass doors open onto spacious decks where one can relax on a shady daybed, or take a dip in our own private plunge pool. The Olive also boasts a quality restaurant featuring a seasonal menu with inventive gourmet dishes. We will arrive in time for lunch. During the afternoon we can relax and enjoy the comforts of our suites. Early evening we are transported to the famous Heinitzburg Castle located on a hill in Windhoek. This is now a luxurious hotel, but we have come for an aperitif on the terrace overlooking the centre of Windhoek and then we will descent into their wine cellar for a private gourmet 3-course meal, accompanied by delicious South Africa wines. ( To dine like a King ). Afterwards we are driven back to The Olive for our last night in Namibia (of this trip!) in superb comfort. Day 14 To Johannesburg Airport and our KLM flight The last morning of this very special trip we will enjoy in our boutique hotel. A leisurely breakfast on the terrace, relaxing and an early but very nice lunch. Around 13:00 hours we will be driven to the international airport to catch our SAA flight to Johannesburg. We will arrive in Johannesburg slightly after 6 in the afternoon and will then check in for our direct KLM night flight back to Holland. At the airport we will have some snacks and drinks and then board our KLM plane departing at 23:20 hours. On the plane above Africa during the night we will think and hopefully also dream of all our very special experiences of the past two weeks. Note: And now the longing to go back will start! 8

9 Day 15 Back in Holland Around 10:30 hours, we will arrive at Schiphol Airport. We collect our luggage, embrace and kiss each other, and go back to our own homes (but not before a date for the reunion has been set!) Note: Now a night flight is not too bad, as we can relax and sleep in our own home. Warning: Over 90% of people who visit Namibia, want to come back to see more! Please note: This Namibia trip offers very good value for money: such a two week trip with chartered plane and similar accommodation in South Africa, would probably cost nearly twice as much! Please let me know as soon as possible if you are interested in this Terra Casta Namibia Special in June I have options for the required tents/rooms on the dates mentioned until 15 September Then I will need to confirm or release these options (as the demand for these very special camps/lodges is very great). Once I have sufficient people interested to come on this safari I will ask you for your definite commitment and Terra Casta will send an invoice. A non-refundable deposit of 30% of the travel costs is required in order to definitely book all the required accommodation and the private charter plane and pilot in Namibia. From experience I know that an extra dimension is given to such a very special safari if you are able to form your own group of 10 (or 8) participants with your friends and relations. You are free to book your own KLM return flight Amsterdam - Johannesburg. But if Terra Casta needs to book this (and the SAA) flight it also must then be paid then. It is probably most convenient (but not obligatory) if Terra Casta books the SAA return flight Johannesburg - Windhoek. Given the non-refundable deposit it is advisable to seriously consider an annulment insurance. Travel Insurance, including the costs of repatriating, is obligatory. Two months before our departure date the remainder of the travel costs must have arrived at the Terra Casta bank account in order to pay all parties in Namibia. Well in advance of departure, I will brief all participants personally about this safari and will answer all your questions. It is most effective if we then can get all participants together for this briefing. 9