DRIVE YOURSELF WILD IN NAMIBIA! September 6 22, 2017 Camping, self-catering, 17-day 4WD tag-along-tour. Hire vehicles, fuel, food, accommodation, camping/park fees & equipment all included! Small group nature-based wildlife safari led by an experienced local Tour Guide & personally escorted by Jeremy & Jan of Global Gypsies! You ll Love This Wild & Wonderful Safari! If you ve ever dreamed of driving through Africa independent but not alone this wild & wonderful 4WD safari is for you! Join us as we explore Namibia for the first time on an exciting, self-catered, self-drive tag-along-tour led by local experts. But here s the thing we can only take SEVEN vehicles! This magical, memorable, fun & challenging wildlife eco-safari will begin & end in Windhoek, the capital city of Namibia. For 17 days we ll see such famous attractions as Etosha National Park known for its magnificent wildlife - elephant, rhino, lion, cheetah, oryx, warthog, zebra, giraffe, wildebeest & more; visit traditional Himba & San villages, travel to the Valley of Desolation, Skeleton Coast, Sossusvlei sand dunes & numerous other iconic destinations. We ll drive hired 4x4s (dual cab Toyota Hi Lux or similar) using two-way radios for communication while travelling. We ll stay in a combination of guesthouses & campgrounds with roof-top or dome tents, foam mattresses, optional stretchers & other camping equipment provided. There is also an awesome post-tour option to spectacular Fish River Canyon in southern Namibia, the second largest canyon in the world! http://www.namibia-travel.net/travelguide/southernnamibia/fish-river-canyon.html Read on for details! You ll Be Well Looked After! The tour is a joint venture between experienced African tag-along-tour operators, Self Drive Safaris (SDS) & Global Gypsies. SDS will lead the convoy & coordinate tour planning; Jeremy & Jan of Global Gypsies will be your tour escorts (read more about your tour leaders later in this flyer). What to Bring Pack light! Bring comfortable, casual clothes & a smart outfit for special occasions. We recommend practical, neutral coloured, quick drying, non-crush safari-style clothing plus hat, swimwear, comfy shoes, day pack, lightweight rain jacket, winter jacket & some warm things in case it turns chilly (we ll give you a suggested packing list in the Pre-Departure Kit). Soft bags with wheels weighing 15 kgs or less are preferable. Bring only what you can carry yourself & that will easily fit into your vehicle. Getting There International flights are not included in the tour package. Please book your own flights to/from Windhoek on the internet or through your travel agent (approx AUD$2500 return). And here s a tip - most SAA flights go via Cape Town. Consider making a stopover there it s gorgeous! Visas, Passports & Inoculations If you re travelling on an Australian passport you won t need a visa for Namibia or South Africa. However, your passport must be valid for at least six months & have several blank pages. Check with your doctor as to which inoculations you ll need & whether or not you should take a malaria preventative. Weather Namibia has a subtropical desert climate with low rainfall, low humidity & great differences in day and night-time temperatures. September is the dry season so we would expect little or no rain with temperatures ranging from 13 C to 30 C. However, desert nights can be cold & there can be a sea mist along the coast which can make the air feel damp & chilly so be prepared!
Health, Fitness & Previous Experience A good level of health & fitness is required we may ask you to provide a medical certificate. You should also have some previous 4WD & camping experience in order to participate in this tour. Ablution Facilities When we stay in campsites with organised facilities they may be quite basic long drop toilets & bush or donkey showers. In bush camps we ll set up a toilet tent. Small personal pop-up loos for use in the tent are also available if needed. Insurance Personal travel insurance incorporating medical evacuation cover is mandatory. Basic vehicle insurance is included but we recommend taking out excess cover for an additional cost of $8 - $25 per day, depending on level selected. Passengers in the Escort Vehicle There is room for TWO passengers travelling in the escort vehicle with food, camping gear & transport provided you just need to help with the cooking! Fish River Canyon Post-Tour Option! We only recently learned about this magical place but now we really want to go there & think you will as well! Fish River Canyon is Africa s answer to the Grand Canyon - it s not to be missed! http://www.namibia-travel.net/travelguide/southernnamibia/fish-river-canyon.html This mind-blowing destination in southern Namibia is breathtakingly beautiful, remote, unspoiled & (of course!) impossibly hard to get to! So at the end of the tour, we hope to charter a 10-seater plane for a private three-day visit! The tour will include return flights from Windhoek, accommodation for two nights at stunning Fish River Lodge on the canyon rim, meals, a 4WD excursion into the canyon floor & guided walks. At AUD$1750 per person, it s not cheap - but it will be unique! We need a minimum/maximum of 8 gypsies to make it happen! Please let us know ASAP if you want to join us! Meet Your Tour Leaders! Dave van Graan Self Drive Safaris Dave will be your convoy leader & Tour Guide. Born & bred in South Africa, Dave has been guiding for more than 20 years. He has escorted dozens of expeditions in Eastern & Southern Africa & has led guided tours to over 100 national parks. As well as being a registered guide, he has written numerous articles for travel magazines and 4x4 books. He developed a tour guide training course, has trained hundreds of guides & is a registered paramedic. Fluent in his native Afrikaans & in English, Dave has a great sense of humour & wears a permanent smile. He recently achieved his personal goal of walking from Pretoria to Cape Town (around 1,500 km). His next ambition is to walk from Cape Town to Cairo! Jeremy Perks & Jan Barrie Global Gypsies Tours Jan & Jeremy will be your Australian Tour Escorts. Established in 1997, Global Gypsies offers a range of self-drive eco-adventures in outback Australia as well as escorted tours to numerous exotic overseas destinations. Jan & Jeremy have won several awards for their tours & training courses & recently published a book entitled How to Be an Award-Winning Tour Guide. Born in South Africa, Jeremy is a professional Tour Guide & former Tour Guide of the Year. He is a qualified mechanic & an experienced 4x4 driver who holds a certificate in remote area first aid. In addition, he is an accredited instructor in towing, 4WD ing & tour guide training. Prior to establishing Global Gypsies, Jeremy was the Managing Director of a major advertising agency in Johannesburg & the manager of a safari camp in Kenya s Rift Valley. He immigrated to Australia over 20 years ago. Jan is a former journalist, travel writer & communications manager who is responsible for the administration, marketing & customer relations aspects of Global Gypsies. She was born in England, has lived in Africa, America & the UK, travelled extensively & has called Australia home for over 30 years. Together, your tour leaders Dave, Jeremy & Jan will ensure that you have the time of your life on this special safari experience!
PROPOSED ITINERARY Day 1: Wednesday, September 6 Arrive Windhoek Plan your flights to arrive in Windhoek by 2:00 p.m. We ll meet you at the airport & transfer you to our accommodation. There will be a Welcome Briefing from your tour leaders at 5:00 p.m. followed by a Welcome Dinner (D) Overnight at guesthouse in Windhoek (twin/share) Note: We recommend arriving a day early & staying an extra night in Windhoek so that you re bright eyed, bushy tailed & fully recovered from your long flight! Day 2: Thursday, September 7: Collect 4x4s, go grocery shopping & pack vehicles. Lunch at own expense. After a rest in the afternoon, we enjoy dinner together at a local restaurant. Overnight at guesthouse in Windhoek (B, D) Day 3: Friday, September 8 (521 kms/bitumen) A long day s driving, mainly on bitumen. We depart after breakfast for Grootfontein & continue on to the Kalahari Desert. We stop to make lunch en-route (self-cater) & arrive at our first camp late in the afternoon. Dinner in camp that night & all subsequent nights (self-cater). Overnight at Roy s Camp (toilets/showers) (B) Day 4: Saturday, September 9 (415 kms/dirt road/bitumen) Another long day on the bitumen. We make an early start & stop to visit the San Bushmen who will share their bush skills & culture with us. Time permitting, we then head back through Grootfontein (we can top up groceries & fresh fruit & veg here) to the Hoba Meteorite, the largest in the world (lunch enroute). We continue on to our camp at the eastern edge of Etosha National Park. Overnight at Onguma Camp (en-suite facilities)
Day 5: Sunday, September 10 (150 km/dirt track) We head west through the park on an extended game drive including a large salt pan have your cameras & binoculars ready! Overnight in Okaukuejo Camp (toilet/showers/swimming pool, laundry facilities) Day 6: Monday, September 11 (Free day) Today we relax! You can sit by the waterhole & watch game all day (or night!), have a swim in the pool, read a book or explore more tracks. Overnight in Okaukuejo Camp (all facilities) Day 7: Tuesday, September 12 (378 kms/dirt track) We make an early start to the western side of Etosha on an extended game drive. Overnight at Palmwag Camp (toilets/showers) Day 8: Wednesday, September 13 (214 kms/dirt & bush tracks) Another early start so we have time to visit to a pre-school at Khowarib sponsored by Self Drive Safaris you may want to bring some small gifts. We then continue north through Sesfontein to Puros. The road is very corrugated but the scenery is spectacular! Overnight in Puros Camp (toilets/ donkey showers) Day 9: Thursday, September 14 (95 kms/firm sandy river bed, shallow water crossings) We enjoy a special morning visit with a local guide to a traditional Himba village - possibly the most dramatic tribal people you ll ever meet! Then we take a beautiful drive through the Hoarusib River an oasis in the desert & a magnet for wildlife. Overnight at bush camp near Armspoort (no facilities) Day 10: Friday, September 15 (178 kms/firm sandy river bed; bitumen) We drop into the dry Hoanib River bed, another good spot to see wildlife. We then get back onto the main road near Sesfontein and continue on to spend another night at Palmwag Camp. Overnight at Palmwag Camp (toilets/showers) Day 11: Saturday, September 16 (189 kms/dirt road; rocky bush tracks) We experience a day of incredible geological & desert scenery as we travel through the Valley of Desolation. Optional star-gazing activity tonight. Overnight at bush camp (no facilities) Day 12: Sunday, September 17 (269 kms/sand/rocky bush tracks/salt road) We meet the ocean on the infamous Skeleton Coast! We then drive through the volcanic Messum Crater where you will see ancient Welwitschia plants that can be up to 2,000 years old. We visit the Cape Cross Seal Colony and then make our way onto the quaint German seaside town of Swakopmund. Enjoy optional sundowners at a pub on the beach! Then do your own thing for the evening meal, or put on your glad rags & join Jan & Jeremy for an optional seafood dinner in town. Overnight at Meike s Guesthouse, Swakopmund http://www.meikes-guesthouse.net/english-welcome Day 13: Monday, September 18 Free day in Swakopmund. Top up your groceries, do laundry, relax, take a walk around town or, if you re feeling energetic, book such optional activities as a quad-bike nature tour, sand-boarding on the dunes or a scenic flight. Lunch & dinner at own expense. Overnight at Meike s Guesthouse, Swakopmund (B)
Day 14: Tuesday, September 19 (344 kms/bitumen/dirt road) After breakfast at our guesthouse, we drive away from the coast & head south to Sossusvlei to see the world s largest free-standing sand dunes & Sesriem Canyon. Overnight at Sossusvlei Camp (shared facilities) Day 15: Wednesday, September 20 (143 kms/bitumen/sand) We get up early to admire a spectacular sunrise over the dunes, go exploring amongst them then begin making our way back to Windhoek. Overnight at Namibgrens Camp (shared facilities) Day 16: Thursday, September 21 (160 kms) We clean up our equipment in the morning, drive to Windhoek, drop off the 4x4s & check into our guesthouse. Lunch at own expense. Special Farewell Dinner tonight don t miss it! Overnight at guesthouse in Windhoek (D) Day 17, Friday, September 22 After breakfast, you will be transferred to the airport for your flight home (B). OR join Jan & Jeremy for an optional tour to Fish River Canyon, one of the most majestic sites on the planet! http://www.namibia-travel.net/travelguide/southern-namibia/fish-river-canyon.html. COST : AUD$6250 per person (based on two persons per vehicle) (Sorry, but as we are limited to just 7 client vehicles on this safari, single supplements are not available.) Passengers in escort vehicle (TWO places only): AUD $4995 per person Included: meet & greet at airport arrival & departure transfers vehicle hire (Dual Cab Toyota Hi Lux Standard or similar) driver fees for one person accommodation in lodges/guesthouses as per itinerary (twin/share basis) camping fees entry fees to national parks & reserves San village visit and guide meals/food as per itinerary support vehicle and guide two Global Gypsies tour escorts paper map wildlife guide book roof top tent or ground tent bedding, linen, towels fridge water tank cooking & camping equipment spare tools & tyres (damaged tyres may incur additional cost) vehicle insurance (standard) fuel two-way radio in vehicle inverter lighting firewood Excluded: International airfares Optional activities e.g. quad biking, sandboarding, scenic flights, Any accommodation and/or vehicle upgrades Vehicle excess Meals other than listed on itinerary Beverages Travel & medical evacuation insurance (mandatory) Visas (if required) Vaccinations (if required) Post-tour option to Fish River Canyon Tips (we will collect a Tip Kitty of AUD$200 per person in advance & distribute it appropriately as we travel) To book your place, please complete & return the booking & payment forms which follow. For more information please contact: GLOBAL GYPSIES PTY LTD PO Box 123, Scarborough, WA. 6922. Phone: (08) 9341 6727 admin@globalgypsies.com.au www.globalgypsies.com.au
~ BOOKING FORM ~ DRIVE YOURSELF WILD IN NAMIBIA Each participant to complete a separate form please! Name (as shown in passport) : Address:. Email: Phone: Mobile: Date/Place of Birth:.. Nationality: Passport Number:.. Date of Issue: Expiry:.. Please note that the price of this tour is quoted in Australian Dollars. A non-refundable deposit of AUD$500 per person is required by June 30, 2016 to secure your tour booking. A second non-refundable payment of AUD$2000 per person is required by September 7, 2016, to secure your hire vehicle. The balance is due by May 1, 2017 (please note that late payments may result in cancellation of your hire vehicle which will prevent you from joining the tour). I WANT TO GO ON THE FISH RIVER CANYON TOUR! YES NO (NO PAYMENT REQUIRED YET) Terms & Conditions The Drive Yourself Wild in Namibia Safari is being operated & conducted by Self-Drive Safaris (SDS) under local laws, conditions hereafter called The Operators. Global Gypsies Pty Ltd of Western Australia (GG) is providing two professional Tour Escorts & assisting with marketing, customer inquiries & collection of payments. Clients are responsible for arranging their own international flights & must arrive in Windhoek, Namibia, on or before September 6, 2017. SDS/GG reserve the right to cancel the tour if there are insufficient participants (minimum/maximum 14). The initial $500 deposit is non-refundable (unless the tour is cancelled by the operators in which case all moneys will be refunded in full). Deposits are due by June 30, 2016, in order to confirm your place. A second non-refundable payment is due by September 7, 2016, to secure your hire vehicle. Balance is due on May1, 2017. Cancellations made by clients after May 1, 2017, will be subject to a 50% cancellation fee. No refunds will be made if cancellations by clients are made after June 1, 2017, or in the event that clients fail to join the tour or leave it early. We recommend taking out travel insurance to cover yourself for possible cancellations. Whilst all care is taken, SDS/GG do not accept liability for loss or damage to baggage, sickness or injury, or additional expenses caused by factors beyond their control. Clients are advised that in many countries there is no free health service & that local vehicle insurance is of limited value. Travel insurance in is mandatory & should cover most circumstances of cancellation as well as luggage loss, medical cover & medical evacuation. The client accepts that this tour is of an adventurous nature & involves an element of personal risk & that neither SDS/GG nor their agents can be held liable for any injury, damage to property or loss of life caused. The client accepts responsibility for all risks involved. Clients are required to be physically fit, have good mobility & be prepared for outdoor living conditions. They must be able to get into/out of 4WD vehicles easily, climb stairs & walk for 2kms comfortably & unassisted. Australians do not require a visa to enter Namibia or South Africa but may require a visa in order to enter, or stop over in, other African countries. It is the client s responsibility to ensure that they are in possession of valid travel documents including passports, visas, health certificates etc. SDS/GG cannot accept any liability for incorrect documentation. Clients will need to complete additional forms & supply additional paperwork in order to comply with SDS terms & conditions. Itinerary is subject to alteration without notice & is intended as a guide only. Alterations may occur due to road conditions, flooding, mechanical defect or other reasons. Any additional expenses incurred by passengers are not SDS/GG s responsibility. The operators &/or their agents & employees are unable to guarantee exact arrival & departure times, & will not be liable for failure to make connections with any other service. In the event of unforeseen circumstances, SDS/GG reserve the right to substitute different vehicles & personnel. Properties used may change, however the same or similar standard is guaranteed. Accommodation in camps & guesthouses is on a twin-share basis with single beds (double beds may be available if requested in advance but this is not guaranteed). The client agrees to comply with the laws & regulations of all the countries visited & to comply with all reasonable instructions of the Tour Leaders & Tour Escorts relating to the safety & organisation of the tour. This agreement between the client & SDS is made subject to & shall be interpreted & construed in a NSW court of law Any legal conflict with GG shall be resolved in the jurisdiction of Western Australia. Luggage to be packed in soft, pliable bags weighing a maximum of 15 kg plus a maximum of ONE piece of hand luggage per person. ALL prices are based on current 2016 costs & are subject to change if subsequently affected by African government taxes, exchange rate difference, increase in local fuel or other prices &/or any other influence beyond the control of the operators. I have read & understand the above tour conditions & agree to abide by them. I acknowledge that there are risks associated with this tour & accept that these risks are my own responsibility. Signature...... Date... PLEASE POST/EMAIL WITH YOUR PAYMENT FORM TO: GLOBAL GYPSIES, PO Box 123, Scarborough, WA, 6922. Phone: (08) 9341-6727 Email: admin@globalgypsies.com.au; Web: www.globalgypsies.com.au
~ PAYMENT FORM ~ DRIVE YOURSELF WILD IN NAMIBIA Please note that the price of this tour is quoted in Australian Dollars. A non-refundable deposit of AUD$500 per person is required by June 30, 2016 to secure your tour booking. A second non-refundable payment of AUD$2000 per person is required by September 7, 2016, to secure your hire vehicle. The balance is due by May 1, 2017. Please refer to Terms & Conditions for more details. Please also note that as tips are not included in the tour price, we will collect a Tip Kitty of AUD$200 per person in advance & distribute it appropriately as we travel. Name of Client(s):.. Please book.. places on Drive Yourself Wild in Namibia (Please tick one) : I wish to self-drive. OR I wish to travel as a passenger in the escort vehicle I wish to pay by: Credit Card:. (Please note that credit card transactions over $500 incur a 2% charge to cover bank fees). Visa. MasterCard. Amount to be deducted: $.. Card No:. Expiry date:. Name appearing on card:.... Cheque: (Please make cheques payable to GLOBAL GYPSIES PTY LTD & post to address shown below together with your booking form) EFT:.. (Please include your last name & the word Namibia on your transfer) Account Name: GLOBAL GYPSIES PTY LTD Branch (BSB): 036051 Account: 155007 Signature: Date: Please post this payment form along with your booking form to: GLOBAL GYPSIES PO Box 123, Scarborough, WA, 6922, Australia, OR scan & e-mail it to admin@globalgypsies.com.au We will then send you a receipt and other information. THANK YOU!