6 minute read

Wonders of Namibia

This is Africa, but not as you know it. Characterised by ethereal red dunes and wondrous wildlife, Namibia has to be seen to be believed.

Sossusvlei Salt Pan

Oryx Cheetah, Namib Desert Etosha National Park

Available Oct 2022, Jan to June & Sept to Nov 2023 Fly from (flight upgrades available). Prices from

• Heathrow £3,075 (UK connecting flights available – call us for details) Personalise your holiday

• Dolphin and Seal Cruise (half day) – from £65 • Morning game drive in Etosha (half day) – from £89 • Sundowner Drive (two hours) – from £32 • Sunrise Walk (two hours) – from £29 Room for Sole Use from £481

Please note: *In 2022 you will stay at Camelthorn Kalahari Lodge on nights 2-3, Desert Hills Lodge on nights 4-5, Twyfeltfontein Adventure Camp on night 8 and at Okutala Etosha Lodge on nights 9-11. Twyfelfontein

Etosha National Park Outjo Okahandja

Swakopmund

Sesriem Windhoek

Hoachanas

Namibia

Deadvlei Sossusvlei

• Discover a completely different Africa • Explore the vast Kalahari Desert on a bushman walk • Full-day tour taking in the surreal landscapes of Sossusvlei and Deadvlei • Discover colonial Swakopmund • Entry to the Damara Living Museum • A guided tour of Twyfelfontein’s ancient rock carvings and the stunning Burnt Mountain • Visit the famous Petrified Forest • Enjoy a full-day safari into Etosha National

Park, Namibia’s largest • Optional seal and dolphin-spotting boat trip and half-day Etosha safari • 11 nights’ carefully chosen bed and breakfast accommodation, plus two nights on the aircraft • 24 meals, including 11 breakfasts, two lunches and 11 evening meals • Return flights to Windhoek, with coach travel and transfers throughout • Fully escorted by a friendly, experienced tour manager

Resembling scenes from Salvador Dalí paintings, Namibia’s wide-open spaces and otherworldly landscapes are a photographer’s dream, so be sure to pack your camera for this extraordinary journey. Travel through the vast Kalahari Desert to ethereal Sossusvlei and colonial Swakopmund, then head into Damaraland to discover ancient cultures and a petrified forest. A visit to pristine Etosha, Namibia’s largest national park, completes a wonderful adventure.

Your Hotels

Namib Desert

Day One – Fly to Namibia Overnight flight from the UK to Namibia. Day Two – Arrival Meet your guide at Windhoek airport for the scenic transfer to the Camelthorn Kalahari Lodge, your home for the next two nights, stopping for lunch en route. Upon arrival at the lodge, rest, relax and settle into your new surroundings. Day Three – Bushman walk Join your tour manager for a gentle walk into the surrounding bush, as you learn about Namibian hunter-gatherers. Day Four – Transfer to We Kebi Safari Lodge Make the scenic transfer to the We Kebi Safari Lodge located in the NamibRand Nature Reserve. Day Five – Sossusvlei and Deadvlei tour Join your tour manager for an included excursion to striking Sossusvlei and Deadvlei, two of Namibia’s most iconic sights. Sossusvlei is a sweeping salt plan, characterised by large red sand dunes, whilst Deadvlei provides one of Namibia’s most enduring images: the dark silhouettes of trees rising from the white salt pans, framed by the red dunes. Day Six – Transfer to Swakopmund Check out this morning and transfer to Swakopmund, stopping at remote Solitaire en route. Pass the Tropic of Cancer, marked by a simple road sign near Solitaire, which is home to the last petrol station and shop between Sossusvlei and Walvis Bay, a distance of nearly 150 miles! The moonlike landscape around Solitaire is dotted with welwitschia, a huge plant endemic to the area that can live over 1,000 years. Upon arrival in coastal Swakopmund, check in at the Desert Breeze Lodge for a two-night stay, and enjoy the rest of the day at leisure. Day Seven – Guided tour of Swakopmund and optional boat trip Established by German colonists in the late-19th century, Swakopmund is a fascinating seaside city, with a collection of half-timbered German houses and fortified sea walls. The tour will take in the city’s landmarks, including the lighthouse and centre. This afternoon, why not join the optional boat trip from Walvis Bay? With luck, you’ll see some seals and dolphins, whilst enjoying fresh oysters and champagne! Day Eight – Twyfelfontein rock carvings, Burnt Mountain and the Damara Living Museum Check out this morning and transfer to Twyfelfontien, home to a stunning collection of over 2,500 UNESCO-protected ancient rock engravings thought to be the largest on the African continent. A guided tour will bring these fascinating engravings to life. The tour continues to Burnt Mountain, a 7-mile ridge formed 80 million years ago by a volcanic eruption. Coloured a wonderful patchwork of red, brown and purple, Burnt Mountain is a striking contrast to the surrounding hills. The tour continues to the nearby Organ Pipes, a rock formation of vertical basalt columns that were formed around 150 million years ago. Continue to the Twyfelfontein Adventure Camp for an overnight stay, calling at the Damara Living Museum en route, which showcases the culture of the Damara people, one of the oldest groups living in Namibia. Day Nine – Petrified Forest Journey to Etosha today, stopping en route at the stunning Petrified Forest, a collection of 280-millionyear-old petrified tree trunks. Scientists believe these trunks were washed down a river from further up the continent when one of the Ice Ages ended, causing a huge flood. After the tour, continue to the Okutala Etosha Lodge, your home for the next three nights. Day 10 – Etosha National Park safari Join your tour manager for an undoubted highlight of the tour today, a full-day safari in Etosha National Park, Namibia’s largest wildlife sanctuary. Lions, giraffes, elephants and many other animals roam the magnificent park freely, along with over 340 species of bird. Enjoy an included picnic lunch in the park, before continuing your safari this afternoon. Day 11 – At leisure or optional game drive Enjoy a day at leisure today or join the optional game drive into Etosha National Park. Day 12 – Okahandja Mbangura craft market Check out and transfer to the four-star Midgard Country Estate for your final evening in Namibia. En route, call at the Okahandja Mbangura woodcarving and craft market, where local artisans will share a unique insight into their profession. This evening, reflect on a fascinating holiday as you enjoy an included farewell dinner. Day 13 – Departure Transfer to the airport for your return flight. Day 14 – Arrival in the UK Arrive early in the morning after an wonderous wildlife experience.

Desert Quiver Camp

Suricate Kalahari Tented Lodge, Intu Afrika Kalahari Game Reserve nights 1–3

Set atop a red sand dune, overlooking the Auob wetlands, this camp of 12 tents provides an unparalleled safari adventure. Desert Quiver Camp, Sesriem nights 4–5

The 24 uniquely designed self-catering accommodation units are ringed by granite outcrops. The units each encompass a bedroom, en-suite bathroom, with a shower, a kitchenette, a fridge, along with a covered patio area, seating area and barbecue facilities.

Desert Breeze Lodge

Desert Breeze Lodge, Swakopmund nights 6–7

Positioned in the heart of the Namib Desert, a collection of 12 en-suite, colourful bungalows backed by sand dunes and interspersed with basalt sculptures. Damara Mopane Lodge, Damaraland night 8

A semi-circle of 60 chalets linked by pathways and centred around an outdoor swimming pool. Each airy chalet has a small garden, brimming with vegetables.

Midgard Country Estate

Taleni Etosha Village, Etosha South nights 9–11

Near the gates of Etosha National Park Okaukuejo, this rustic lodge includes 45 airconditioned, en-suite safari-style cabins, with private balconies. Midgard Country Estate, Okahandja night 12

An old farmstead enclosed by verdant countryside landscapes with polished accommodation. Guestrooms are sleek in design with comfortable furnishings, air conditioning, safes, tea/coffee-making facilities, hairdryers, TVs, and Wi-Fi.