NAMIBIA TOUR 2015 13 Nights/ 14 Days Guided Tour On this guided tour you will experience the diversity of Namibia s habitats and landscapes. Despite being considered a desert country, the occurrence and seasonal abundance of game in certain desert environments only serves to prove how adaptable the flora and fauna in these regions are. Namibia has been referred to as the land between two deserts and this tour includes visits to parts of Central and Northern Namibia in particular Damaraland and Kaokoland. You will also visit and view game within one of Namibia s best conservation areas - the renowned Etosha National Park. Your visit will also include an in- depth experience at the Cheetah Conservation Fund project close to the Waterberg National Park and you will have the opportunity to meet and learn about the rich culture of the Himba Tribe. ************************************************** Day 1 9 June 2015 Depart JFK South African Airways #204 11:15AM to JNB Day 1 10June 2015 On arrival at the Windhoek Airport you will be greeted by your tourleader and driver for the duration of your tour. We will proceed to Namibia s capital city, Windhoek where we overnight. Windhoek is often described as a city with a continental atmosphere due to its architecture (historical buildings dating back to the German colonial rule), cuisine, culture, dress and educational institutions. Windhoek portrays the colour, sounds and tempo of a modern African city with its displays of African drums and woodcarvings on the pavements, which contrast with the elegant shops offering sophisticated Swakara garments and Namibian gemstones. Sidewalk cafes offering Namibian style breakfasts (Fruhschoppen), which can be enjoyed with a glass of sparkling wine or locally brewed draught beer. In addition to steak houses and coffee bars serving snacks, the city has a wide range of a la carte restaurants offering German, French, Taiwanese, Portuguese, Italian, African and Chinese cuisine.. Overnight accommodation will be at the Safari Hotel on a bed & breakfast basis. (All other meals for your own account). Windhoek International Airport Windhoek = ± 1Hr
Day 2 11 June 2015 From Windhoek your journey continues Northwards past the town of Okahandja, Otjiwarongo and onwards to Kamanjab within the Damaraland region. Today we have a long drive ahead of us so we will have an early start to allow for ample stops on the way and if time allows there will be opportunity to go for a walk on the property. Your overnight accommodation will be at THE OPPIKOPIE RESTCAMP where a hot shower and beautiful campsite awaits you. (All meals provided). Windhoek Oppikoppie Restcamp = ± 7.5 Hrs Day 3 12 June 2015 Departing from Kamanjab, today s journey continues in a northerly direction along the eastern boundary of Etosha National Park to reach the small town of Opuwo in Kaokoland. Relax in the swimming pool overlooking the Kaokoveld. Opuwo, meaning "finished" or "up to here and no further" Opuwo is the gateway to the Kaokoveld, the small town is the administrative hub of the Kunene Region. It has a few shops, filling station, school and houses. Opuwo Country Lodge is situated on a hilltop just outside of town providing luxury and standard accommodation with air conditioning, swimming pool, bar and restaurant, and camping sites, your ideal base from where to explore Kaokoland.
Your overnight accommodation will be at OPUWO COUNTRY LODGE campsite (All meals provided). Oppikoppie Opuwo = ± 4 Hrs Day 4 13 June 2015 Today we will visit a traditional Himba village and you will be able to experience firsthand how the proud Himba People live. Our local guide will inform us on the local traditions and customs as it is importnatthat we respect their way of life. We will also visit the Oritjotjombo School to deliver some much needed educational material and to meet some of the teachers and children. The Himba (singular: Omuhimba, plural: Ovahimba) are indigenous peoples of about 20,000 to 50,000 people living in northern Namibia, in the Kunene region (Kaokoland) and on the other side of the Kunene River in Angola. There are also few groups left of the Ovatwa, which also belong to the Himba people, but are hunters and gatherers. Himba are mostly a semi- nomadic, pastoral people, closely related to the Herero, and speak Otjihimba, that is similar to the Herero language Overnight again in the relative luxury of the campsite in Opuwo compared to the lifestyle of the Himba People (All meals provided)
Himba Village and School visit = ± 5Hrs Day 5 14 June 2015 We travel in a Southernly direction today and pass the town of Kamanjab to our overnight stop at Otjitongwe. Don t be alarmed to see some cheetahs on the front yard of the owners residence as these are their guard dogs so to speak. We will experience a feeding session for the cheetahs they have on the property and you might have some photo opportunities with these magnificent animals depending on their mood Overnight accommodation at OTJITONGWE campsite (All meals provided). Opuwo to Otjitongwe Farm = ± 5Hrs Day 6,7,8 15 to 17 June 2015 Departing from Otjitongwe we continue towards the small town of Outjo and onwards to Etosha National Park where we arrive just after lunchtime. During the next few days we will be exploring the Park in search of the big and small animals that call this area their home. Expect some early morning starts as this is the best time of day to see the nocturnal animals as well as the others. Enjoy your time at camp in the swimming pool or relax at the flood- lit waterhole at night. In the heart of the park is the Etosha Pan, meaning "place of dry water", an extensive, flat depression of about 5 000 sq km. This great, white expanse is a place of shimmering mirages, and seeing large herds of game in this setting makes Etosha a unique experience in Africa. The Etosha National Park has over 114 mammal species, 350 bird species and 21 types of vegetation. The most common plains game species encountered include Burchell s Zebra, Springbok, Black Faced Impala, Blue Wildebeest, Gemsbok / Oryx antelope, Giraffe and Red Hartebeest. The Etosha National Park also boasts healthy populations of Lion, Elephant and Black Rhino.
Overnight accommodation will be at the OKAUKEUJO RESORT / SIMILAR campsite. (All meals provided) Otjitongwe Farm to Etosha = ± 4Hrs Day 9 to 12-18 to 21 June 2015 Etosha to CCF Projct = ± 4Hrs Cheetah Conservation Fund Curriculum Thursday June 18 14:00-15:00 Settle in at Lightfoot Camp: Camp Introduction, Rules, Waiver Liability Forms and Room Allocations 15:00-16:00 Introductions & ice breaker game 16:00-17:00 Sensory Nature Lesson- sounds & textures 17:00-18:00 Down Time 18:00-19:00 Dinner 19:00-19:30 Insect ID 7:00-7:45 8:00-9:00 9:00-10:00 10:00-11:00 11:00-12:00 12:00-13:00 13:00-14:00 14:00-14:30 14:30-16:00 16:30-18:00: 18:30-19:30 8:00-8:45 9:00-10:30 10:30-12:00 12:00-13:00 Friday June 19th Breakfast Watch Cheetah Run CCF intro tour- DVD & Museum Livestock Guarding Dogs & Goat Kraal Talk/Creamery Genetics lesson & DNA matching game Lunch Species ID & how to do a field count Center feeding of cheetahs Predator ID Lesson & Kill ID Activity Game drive in the big field Dinner Saturday June 20 th Breakfast Trail Tour Camera trap lesson & working groups- have students break up into groups to positively id giraffe, leopard, and cheetahs by their markings and compare their techniques and how difficult they thought it was. Lunch
13:00-14:00 14:00-16:00 16:00-18:00 18:00-19:00 8:00-8:45 9:00-11:00 11:00-12:00 12:00-13:00 13:00-14:00 14:00-16:00 16:00-18:00 18:30-19:30 Ethogram discussion & planning 1/2 of the group participates in field tracking, other ½ of group participate in scat detection/playtrees- groups will switch tomorrow Trail maintenance- service project Dinner Sunday June 21 st Breakfast Ethogram Study & discuss findings Tour of Veterinary Clinic Lunch Bird ID & making of a field journal 1/2 of the group participates in field tracking, other ½ of group participate in scat detection/playtrees- groups will switch tomorrow Trail maintenance- service project Dinner Monday June 22 nd 7:00-7:45 Breakfast 8:00-9:00 Clean up, pack & load vehicle 9:00 Depart CCF Overnight accommodation will be at the CCF Project (All meals provided) Day 13 22 June 2015 After breakfast we return to Windhoek via the small town of Okahandja. Okahandja is one of Namibia s oldest established settlements and is the administrative centre of the Herero- speaking people. Many of the former Herero leaders are buried here and an annual procession through the town to the Herero graves commemorate those who died during the wars against the Nama and Germans. At Okahandja, we will visit the open- air wood carving market. Overnight accommodation will be at the Safari Hotel on a bed & breakfast basis. (Dinner for your own account). CCF Project to Windhoek = ± 4Hrs Day 14 23 June 2015 Today is your last day in Windhoek and depending on your flight schedule there might be time to visit the centre of town. We will ensure you are on time at the airport for your deparure flight. Depart Windhoek at 11:15AM on South African Airways #075 to JNB connecting to SA #203 to JFK arriving 0640 on June 24 Windhoek to Windhoek International Airport = ± 1Hrs... The above rate Includes: Accommodation and meals as described
Scheduled excursions and activities as described 8 Transport and services of a professional driver for the duration of the tour in a 24 seater overland vehicle Tourleader serices for the duration of the tour All airport transfers for the group Gamedrives in own vehicle in Etosha National Park Entrance Fees for Etosha National Park Visit to a Himba Kraal and facilitation fee for local guide Visit to local school in Opuwo district Prica also includes free participation for two chaperones (Accommodation, Entrance Fees and included meals) The above price Excludes: Any items of a personal nature i.e. telephone and laundry Any items mentioned as optional or extra Additional meals and beverages Additional Activities Personal Travel & baggage Insurance Visa applications Gratuities, portages and tips Change of Itinerary whilst on tour Anything not included in the Itinerary