Namibia Explorer Jul-Aug 2019 Sat 20 Jul This morning we are flying from Sydney to Johannesburg on Qantas flight QF63 departing at 10:55am. The flying time to Johannesburg is scheduled for 14hrs 05min. We arrive into Johannesburg at 5.00pm and after clearing Customs & Immigration we transfer to our hotel. The Peermont Metcourt Suites is one of four hotels within the Emperors Palace complex. The central part of the complex offers a variety of reasonably priced restaurants, a casino and retail shops. Access to this area is a few minutes walk from the Metcourt Suites. While the Metcourt Suites serves breakfast (which is included in your tariff), other meals will need to be taken in the central complex. Overnight at Peermont Metcourt Suites, Johannesburg (B&B basis) Sun 21 Jul This morning we use the hotel shuttle to return to the airport for our South African Airways 9:30am flight (SA74) to Windhoek (Namibia). Flying time is 1hr 55min. Arrival is at 11:25am. After clearing Customs & Immigration we will be transferred to the city for our overnight stay. While in Windhoek we shall be staying at the Windhoek Country Club, a resort on the southern edge of Windhoek and well away from the hustle and bustle of the city centre.
This afternoon there is time to relax after your long journey or enjoy the facilities of the club. Dinner tonight will be taken at the Club. Overnight at Windhoek Country Club. (B&B + Dinner basis) Mon 22 Jul This morning we will depart from Windhoek and journey south to the city of Keetmanshoop. This is around 6 hours driving time. Scenic stops will be made enroute for photo opportunities. We shall take lunch at Keetmanshoop and mid-afternoon proceed to the local highlight! About 18 kilometres north of Keetmanshoop lies a spectacular and much photographed Kokerboom or quiver tree forest. The quiver tree or "Kokerboom" is indigenous to the hot and dry southern part of Namibia. The plants are succulents and can reach a height of up to 9 metres in height. They have adapted to the extreme environmental conditions by storing water in their trunks. The tree only blossoms for the first time after 20 to 30 years and can reach 300 years of age. The wood is very light and spongy inside. And because the trunk and branches can be easily hollowed out, they were used as quivers by the bushmen (San people) who formerly inhabited this area. Garas Farm is a privately owned property and the owner will allow us to stay on until sunset, when the Kokerbooms are stunning in the dusk and early evening light. We return to the lodge for dinner. Overnight at Central Lodge, Keetmanshoop. (Full Board basis)
Tue 23 Jul This morning we travel west to the coastal town on Luderitz which is around four hours from Keetmanshoop, so we will arrive in time for a late lunch. Enroute we pass through some very scenic arid areas and through a zone where wild horses roam. After lunch at Luderitz we shall explore this coastal town. Established in 1883 as a remote German outpost, the area is surrounded by diamond mine areas (restricted zones). The town has numerous historic buildings and a unique character, so lots of photo opportunities. Our stay in Luderitz will be at the Nest Hotel. Sitting on a peninsula that juts into the Harbour, nearly every room has stunning views over the water. Overnight at Nest Hotel, Luderitz (Full Board basis)
Wed 24 Jul Today is a special day as we have permits for the whole day for the abandoned mining town of Kolmanskop. Once having been home to 700 families, the buildings have stood the test of time (in an area where rain hardly falls) but the winds and sands of the Namib Desert have slowly encroached upon each dwelling and have created amazing results. We can enter the area at sunrise and leave at sunset. We will also undertake the 9.30am guided tour which will help us with familiarisation, however this is a hot and dry place so we will probably take a lunch break in Luderitz and return later in the afternoon. The public is only permitted into the area during the morning, so our special all-day permits will ensure us better photographic opportunities. Whether you want to play with HDR photography, or straight shooting, then here is the place for it. Overnight at Nest Hotel, Luderitz (Full Board basis) Thu 25 Jul This morning we depart Luderitz and travel through amazing landscapes on our way to the Sossusvlei region. Driving time will be around six hours, but numerous stops will be made on the way for photos and rest breaks.
We will be staying at Sossus Dune Lodge, a Namibia Wildlife Resorts property located inside the Namib-Naukluft Park. Built in an environmentally sensitive manner, primarily from wood, canvas and thatch, in an attractive 'afro-village' style. By being within the park, we benefit by being able to reach Sossusvlei before sunrise, and stay until after sunset. Overnight at Sossus Dune Lodge, Sossusvlei. (Full Board) Fri 26 Jul This morning we rise early to undertake a tour of the famous sand-dunes of Sossusvlei, arriving at the dunes before sunrise (and before the hordes of tourists). We will take breakfast in the dunes and return later in the morning to the lodge. The Sossusvlei, Namibia's famous highlight in the heart of the Namib Desert, is a huge clay pan, enclosed by giant sand dunes. Some of the spectacular hills of sand are, at a height of 300 metres, the highest in the world. Only after a heavy rainfall, which is a rare event in this area, does the vlei fill with water. As the clay layers hardly allow any water infiltration, a turquoise lake will remain for quite some time.
The dunes of the Namib Desert have developed over a period of many millions of years. It is thought that the vast quantities of sand were deposited into the Atlantic Ocean by the Orange River. This material was subsequently moved northwards by the Benguela Current to be dumped back onto the land by the surf. The coastal dunes developed as a result of this and were shifted further and further inland by the wind. Wind continuously reshapes the patterns of the huge dunes of the Namib desert. It timelessly forces the grains of sand on the flat windward slope upwards to the crest of the dune. Here they fall down in the wind shade. The leeward slope is therefore always considerably steeper than the windward side. While there we shall have the option to walk through the dunes to Dead Vlei. The clay pan was formed after rainfall, when the Tsauchab river flooded, creating temporary shallow pools where the abundance of water allowed camel thorn trees to grow. When the climate changed drought hit the area, and sand dunes encroached on the pan, which blocked the river from the area. The trees died as there no longer was enough water to survive. There are some species of plants remaining such as salsola and clumps of!nara, which have adapted to surviving off of the morning mist and very rare rainfall. The remaining skeletons of the trees, which are believed to be about 900 years old, are now black because the intense sun has scorched them. The wood does not decompose because it is so dry. As we are staying within the park we will be able to spend time visiting other features including the Sesriem Canyon. Since it is in the Namib Desert, the Tsauchab River carries water only during the rare times when rain falls in the Naukluft Mountains and runs off.
During these rains, the Tsauchab becomes a rapid-running, strong river within a matter of hours. As a result of the occasional rains, it has over the past two million years carved Sesriem Canyon, a kilometre long and up to 30 metre deep canyon in sedimentary rock. The name Sesriem is Afrikaans and means "six belts", since the early settlers had to attach together six belts (made of oryx hides), in order to reach buckets down into the canyon to scoop up water. The Sesriem Canyon is only two meters wide in some places, and has a portion that permanently contains water, which many animals use. Past the canyon, the Tsauchab flattens and grows broader, and is surrounded by a riparian forest as it slopes towards the Sossusvlei salt pan. Overnight at Sossus Dune Lodge, Sossusvlei. (Full Board) Sat 27 Jul This morning we depart from the dunes area and travel through the vast desert areas to the coastal town of Swakopmund. On the way we witness a very different type of desert as we pass through the Namib-Naukluft National Park, which provides stunning vistas of landscapes of huge mountain massifs and gravel plains. Swakopmund was of major importance as a harbour during the German colonial era even though the water at the coast is actually too shallow and the bay is unprotected. But Luderitz was too far away and the seaport of Walvis Bay was in British possession in those days. In August 1892, the gunship "Hyäne" under the command of Captain Curt von François, staked out a wharf north of the Swakop River mouth. A year later, 40 settlers from Germany and 120 members of the Schutztruppe were taken ashore on landing boats to embark upon an adventurous undertaking. The 325 metre long wooden jetty was only completed in 1905 and it was later replaced by a more solid iron construction. Swakopmund became the gate to South-West Africa and the entire supply for the colony was wound up through this little town. The appearance of the town, with its 30,000 inhabitants, is characterised by numerous colonial buildings with the Woermann House from 1905 as its landmark. The former trading house in Bismarck Street with its 25 metre high Damara Tower and its courtyard bordered by arcades today houses the city library.
Overnight at the Swakopmund Hotel. (B&B basis) Sun 28 Jul This morning we shall travel back down the coast to the more modern city of Walvis Bay. We shall be passing huge coastal sand-dunes, shipwrecks and around Walvis Bay itself we shall seek out the bird-life of the lagoons (which quite often includes large flocks of flamingos). This afternoon we will head east of Swakopmund into the desert areas of the Welwitschia Plains The Welwitschia is an odd ancient conifer which is wind-pollinated. They only have two leaves. This is easy to see in young plants, but the leaves get shredded by the wind into streamers in older specimens. Individual plants are either male or female, with the female plants growing cones. Various insects live on the plants, but very little else can survive here. While on this tour we will also see the moon landscape, which is can be quite spectacular in the late afternoon light. Overnight at the Swakopmund Hotel. (B&B basis)
Mon 29 Jul This morning we have a leisurely departure to initially drive north of Swakopmund to the settlement of Wlotzkasbaken. This little settlement is a contrast to the desert and coastline which surrounds it. Houses of all shapes and sizes, with some very amazing colours, are to be found here. We shall continue on to the small town of Henties Bay, with a stop on the way for a shipwreck or two, being pounded by the Atlantic Ocean This afternoon we shall visit the Seal Colony at Cape Cross. This is one of the world s largest Fur Seal colonies with an estimated 200,000 seals present. After you acclimatise to the odour you will be able to approach these animals quite closely. Foraging jackals and even hyaenas can sometimes be present, making for interesting moments as the young seal pups scamper for cover. Overnight at Cape Cross Lodge. (Full Board basis)
Tue 30 Jul This morning we will travel to the northern town of Opuwo, which is our staging point for visiting the tribal people of the north, the Himba and the Dhimba. Opuwo itself is a strange mixture of peoples and experiences. Overnight at Opuwo Country Hotel (Dinner & Breakfast) Wed 31 Jul Today we will visit Dhimba and Himba tribes people. Our local guide, will escort us to visit two of the more remote groups of local tribes people. The well-known Himba are semi-nomadic. Unlike many indigenous groups in Africa, the Himba have managed to maintain much of their traditional lifestyle, perhaps owing to the fact that the land they occupy is so harsh and unyielding that it has been rarely coveted by the colonialists and commercial farmers that have affected so many other regions of the continent. Himba women have a particularly distinctive appearance. Each morning, they cover themselves with a mixture of butter fat, red ochre and local herbs that both gives their body the smooth, reddish appearance the Himba find attractive, plus offers some protection against the desert sun. Married women wear a small headpiece made of soft skin on top of their braided and ochred hair. In addition, they often wear a heavy ornament around their necks that includes a conch shell that hangs between their breasts in the front and a metal-studded leather plate that hangs down the centre of their back. They also wear heavy metal rings around their ankles as well as other jewellery made of copper, ostrich shells or woven reeds.
Their lesser known cousins, the Dhimba, are a people who trace their roots back into neighbouring Angola. About 5,000 live in Namibia. They are similar to the Himba, but use less ochres, different adornments and create different buildings. Overnight at Opuwo Country Hotel (Full Board basis) Thu 1 Aug This morning we depart from Opuwo and travel a little way south until we reach the western entrance to the restricted western zone of Etosha National Park. Etosha is divided into two sections of similar size and until recently only the eastern section has been open to the public. In 2010 a new camp was built in the far west of the Park and guests staying at this camp can access this remote and wild, western sector. Tonight we shall be staying at Dolomite Camp, thus allowing us access over the next 24 hours to this area. Dolomite Camp sits on top of a ridge which affords it views across the surrounding plains and over some of the nearby waterholes where animals congregate. During our time here we shall explore some of the more popular waterholes frequented by wildlife, and not by tourists. (Due to the restrictions the number of tourists in the western zone should be less than 100 on any one day) Overnight at Dolomite Camp, Etosha (Full Board basis)
Fri 2 Aug This morning we continue to explore the restricted western area of Etosha before proceeding to our next Restcamp at Okaukuejo (within the eastern zone). One of the sightings in this western area might be the rare Mountain Zebra. Only found in isolated pockets in parts of Namibia and in South Africa. Etosha National Park is one of Southern Africa's finest and most important game reserves. Etosha Game Park was declared a National Park in 1907 and covering an area of 22,270 square km. It is home to 114 mammal species, 340 bird species, 110 reptile species, 16 amphibian species and surprisingly, one species of fish. Etosha, meaning "Great White Place", is dominated by a massive mineral pan. The pan is part of the Kalahari Basin, the floor of which was formed around 1000 million years ago. The Etosha Pan covers around 25% of the National Park. The perennial springs along the edges of the Etosha Pan draw large concentrations of wildlife and birds. It is these waterholes and springs that we will be exploring. At this time of year virtually the only water that wildlife has available is at these sites, and the game-viewing is therefore at its best. Okaukuejo is famous not only for the numerous very active waterholes in the surrounding area, but also that on the edge of the Restcamp there is a flood-lit waterhole where every evening wildlife congregate right in front of guests. Overnight at Okaukuejo Restcamp, Etosha (Full Board basis)
Sat 3 Aug Over the coming days in Etosha we shall spend the mornings and afternoons visiting many of the waterholes that are found along the southern edge of the great Etosha Pan. Some of these waterholes are man-made and some natural springs, but at this time of year all of the game in the region is drawn to these locations. In many instances it will be a matter of just sitting and waiting, and ever creature will come to us. Overnight at Okaukuejo Restcamp, Etosha (Full Board basis) Sun 4 Aug Today we move to the central area of the Park around Halali Restcamp. Overnight at Halali Restcamp (Full Board basis) Mon 5 Aug Today we continue eastward to our final Restcamp Namutoni. Overnight at Namutoni Restcamp (Full Board basis)
Tue 6 Aug For our final day in Etosha we have the opportunity to explore some of the best waterholes in the Park from our base at Namutoni. Overnight at Namutoni Restcamp (Full Board basis) Wed 7 Sep This morning we depart from Etosha after a morning of game viewing, and journey south for an overnight stay at Windhoek. Overnight at Windhoek Country Club. (B&B basis) Thu 8 Sep This morning we transfer to the airport for our 12:15pm flight from Windhoek to Johannesburg with South African Airways (SA75). We arrive at 2.00pm. Our connecting Qantas flight (QF64) departs at 7:10pm. Flying time is expected to be 11 hrs 50 min. Fri 9 Sep Arrival into Sydney is at 3.00pm.
Namibia Explorer Jul-Aug 2019
Namibia Explorer Jul-Aug 2019 The cost of this tour is made up of two components: (1) International Airfares Between now and the time of travel all airlines will release special fares, and it is our intention to offer these as/when they become available. Our estimate is that the economy airfares (Sydney-Johannesburg-Windhoek return) will total between A$1,700 (which is an instant purchase version available from time to time) or a normal fare from A$2,700 (including airline taxes and charges). (2) Tour cost. This tour is priced in Australian Dollars, but is based on the South African Rand (ZAR) exchange rate of AUD1:00=ZAR9.7715 (30 June 2018). Any significant variation in this rate may require a change in the tour cost at the time you pay your full and final payment. AUD $8,275.00 per person sharing. (A single supplement applies for sole use of a room: AUD $2,216.00 Note: a very limited number of single rooms are available, so sharing may be necessary) For past clients we are offering a A$275.00 early-bird discount if you book and pay your deposit before November 1 st, 2018. Note: As the number of rooms is limited we recommend booking as early as possible. The costs of the tour includes:- The complete tour as per the itinerary. Meals as specified The tour cost does not include: International Airfares identified above in component 1. Travel Insurance (we have special discounted offers for this tour) Any expenses of a personal nature (such as laundry, phone calls, personal tipping etc.) Any meals that are not specified as included in the itinerary (Note: B&B basis in Windhoek and Swakopmund) Any drinks (alcoholic or non-alcoholic) On this tour we are using two custom-built safari vehicles which have four window seats and a pop-top, therefore our group number is strictly limited and early bookings are recommended. Please note that due to the high demand for accommodation over this period we may need to substitute properties, however this will not change the itinerary as outlined.