Fly to Sossusvlei

Flight:   Windhoek – Sossusvlei              1 hour & 10 minutes

• You will be met on arrival by our representative to hand over your travel documents
• Meet your pilot and check in for your flight and briefing before taking to the Namibian skies
• Private charter flight from Windhoek to Sossusvlei flying over the Namib Naukluft Mountain Range
• Road transfer to the lodge on arrival
• 1 x Sundowner drive included for the day of arrival
• Wake up early for breakfast (Day 2) and then head to the entrance to Sossusvlei, the Sesriem Gate
• Spend the whole day in the beautiful Sossusvlei area, exploring the highlights with the lodge guide: Sossusvlei, Dead Vlei, Dune 45, Big Daddy, Elim Dune and the Sesriem Canyon
• Return to the lodge for lunch (optional extra) and spend the remainder of the day at your own leisure

Dinner and overnight at Desert Homestead Lodge (Standard), Little Kulala Lodge (Superior) or Hoodia Desert Lodge (Luxury)

Sossusvlei

The sand dunes of Sossusvlei in the Namib Desert are often referred to as the highest dunes in the world. Various arguments are laid out to support this claim, but all miss the point, which is that Sossusvlei is surely one of the most spectacular sights in Namibia. Located in the Namib Naukluft park, the largest conservation area in Africa, and fourth largest in the world – the sand dunes at Sossusvlei are just one excellent reason to visit Namibia.

The best time to view Sossusvlei is close to sunrise and sunset; the colours are strong and constantly changing, allowing for wonderful photographic opportunities. The midday heat is intense and best spent in the shade.

‘Vlei’ is the Afrikaans word for a shallow depression filled with water (well, a depression that might sometimes be filled with water!), and the name ‘Sossusvlei’ should strictly only be applied to the pan that lies at the place where the dunes close in, preventing the waters of the Tsauchab River from flowing any further – that is, on the rare occasions that the river does flow as far as this. During exceptional rainy seasons, Sossusvlei may fill with water, causing Namibians to flock there to witness the grand sight, but normally it is bone dry. This particular ‘vlei’ is actually a more-or-less circular, hard-surfaced depression that is almost entirely surrounded by sharp-edged dunes, beyond which lies a formidable sea of rolling sand, stretching in unbroken immensity all the way to the coast. However, the name ‘Sossusvlei’ nowdays applies to the whole area – an area that encompasses the great plain of the Tsauchab River together with the red dunes that march along like giant sentinels to south and north of the plain.

The second attraction of the area is Sesriem Canyon, which is only a few kilometres from the campsite, the entrance gate, and main Nature Conservation office. The canyon derives its name from the fact that early Afrikaner trekkers had to use six (‘ses’) leather thongs (a thong is a ‘riem’) so that their buckets could reach the water far below. The canyon begins as an almost imperceptible but nevertheless deep cleft in level, stony ground, and then widens until it finally flattens out onto the plain. Because it is so deep and sheltered, it often holds water well into the dry season – an invigorating sight in such a barren and stark environment.

Climbing to the top of Big Mama, as it is known to the locals, is well worth every bead of sweat. Catch your breath, take a drink and try to avoid camera shake before capturing some unique moments in your life. From the top you can see Naravlei; so-called because of the countless cucumber-like melons growing around the edge of the pan. The Nara plant is a vital source of nourishment for many desert creatures, including man. Cessna Pan is to the east and the rocky ridges of Witberg have proved to be a valuable landmark for adventurers over the years. Dead Vlei is at the foot of Big Mama. Its’ dead camelthorn trees, some over 800 years old, stand helplessly as photographers worldwide attempt to capture that unique, ageless desert shot. Out of view from the 2×4 car park, tucked behind a dune, is Hiddenvlei. Many species of bird shelter here on both dead and live camelthorn trees. For most of the year all 3 vleis are little more than huge hollows in the ground with no water whatsoever.

The belief that nothing could survive in temperatures that surpass 40ºC during the day and fall to below freezing at night is a real one. Water is scarce but life still manages to exist under the sand. Tiny tracks at the base of Sossusvlei’s dunes give the game away. A fine example is the toktokkie beetle, one of over 200 species of tenebrionid living in the Namib Desert. Whilst under the surface they communicate between sexes by tapping their abdomens on the ground. The shovel-snouted lizard is another sub-sand survivor, a reptile that has the ability to store water in its body. Other desert-dwelling creatures drink droplets of the desert’s periodic fog or lick minute tear-drops of water trickling down rocks and plants. Others simply burrow a channel in the sand, an action that will allow them to accumulate moisture such as Grant’s golden mole. This amazing little rodent spends almost its entire life under the sand and as a result of this evolutionary adaptation, has no need for eyes.

You are more likely to see or be shown larger tracks though. Black-backed jackal, a notorious scavenger, springbok and ostrich tip-toe across the dunes frequently. Gemsbok (oryx) last for weeks without drinking water. Moisture is not allowed to leave the body and therefore they stop sweating. Some unique moments in your life can be small ones as well.

Dinner and overnight at Desert Homestead Lodge (Standard), Little Kulala Lodge (Superior) or Hoodia Desert Lodge (Luxury)

Fly to Damaraland

Flight:   Sossusvlei – Swakopmund        1 hour & 30 minutes (scenic) – refuel (30 minutes) Swakopmund – Damaraland                 50 minutes

• Road transfer to airstrip for departure flight
• Private charter scenic flight along the Skeleton Coast to Swakopmund to refuel

Highlights: Sossusvlei, sand dunes, old diamond mines, shipwrecks, Langewand & Sandwich Harbour

• Private charter flight from Swakopmund to Damaraland
• Road transfer to the lodge on arrival
• 2 night package includes:
  – All meals
  – 1 x Nature drive to search for the desert adapted elephants and other wildlife in the dry riverbed and surrounding areas
  – 1 x Guided Twyfelfontein excursion to view the Twyfelfontein Rock Engravings, Organ Pipes and Burnt Mountain

Dinner and overnight at Camp Kipwe (Standard), Mowani Mountain Camp (Superior/Luxury)

Damaraland

Damaraland is the remote area of northwestern Namibia that adjoins the Skeleton Coast, whose naturally fluctuating supplies of food and water govern the cyclical movements of rare and endangered wildlife such as the desert elephant.

Other species such as black rhino, gemsbok (oryx), kudu, springbok have also come to terms with this unforgiving environment, and even lion and cheetah have adapted to some degree and are occasionally seen in the area

Keen birders will not be disappointed, as there is a chance of seeing the endemic Monteiros’ hornbill, Ruppell’s parrot, white-tailed shrike, rockrunner and Herero chat, as well as the wide variety of raptors that make the area their home. The crystal-clear night skies make star gazing in Damaraland a fabulous experience, and the Brandberg Mountain provides a spectacular backdrop.

A visit to this area of Namibia will undoubtedly evoke feelings of privilege, peace and humility, in the face of such a timeless, ancient land.  

Dinner and overnight at Camp Kipwe (Standard), Mowani Mountain Camp (Superior/Luxury)

Fly to Kaokoland

Flight:   Damaraland – Kaokoland           1 hour

• Road transfer to airstrip for departure flight
• Private charter flight from Damaraland to Kaokoland
• Road transfer to the lodge on arrival
• 1 x Full day elephant drive included to search for the desert adapted elephants in the Hoanib River area

Dinner and overnight at Khowarib Lodge (Standard), Serra Cafema Camp (Superior) or Okahirongo Elephant Lodge (Luxury)

Kaokoland

If you like extreme terrain, hidden valleys and rare, exotic culture then the Kaokoland, also called Kaokoveld, in northern Namibia is the place to go. This remote, sparsely populated land the size of Switzerland lies between the Skeleton Coast Park and the Kunene River on the Angolan border. It has a unique beauty with outstanding mountain scenery.

A wild frontier indeed, the seclusion of the Kaokoland is the reason the semi-nomadic Himba Tribe can continue with their traditional way of life. The beautiful women and children of this tribe are unusual and striking with their red ochre coloured skin, intricate hairstyles and handmade jewellery.The Kaokoveld in Namibia is also home to amazing flora and fauna, including the desert dwelling Elephant, Rhino, Giraffe and Lion. In this region in northern Namibia you can experience cultural interaction with the Himba and track African wildlife on advanced 4×4 trails and fascinating Kaokoland fly-in tours.

Near Epupa Falls in northern Namibia you can enjoy sundowner river cruises, bird-watching, scenic hikes or go river rafting and canoeing on guided adventures, although you’ll have to keep a look out for crocodiles!

Dinner and overnight at Khowarib Lodge (Standard), Serra Cafema Camp (Superior) or Okahirongo Elephant Lodge (Luxury)

Fly to Etosha National Park

Flight:   Kaokoland – Etosha                  1 hour & 40 minutes

• Road transfer to airstrip for departure flight
• Private charter flight from Kaokoland to Etosha National Park (east)
• Road transfer to the lodge on arrival
• 2 x PM guided game drives included
• 2 x AM guided game drives included
• Etosha is one of Africa’s great game parks. With 114 species of mammal and 340 species of birds you are sure to see a great variety of wildlife on your safari

Dinner and overnight at Mushara Bush Camp (Standard), Onguma The Fort (Superior) or Mushara Outpost (Luxury)

Etosha National Park

Dinner and overnight at Mushara Bush Camp (Standard), Onguma The Fort (Superior) or Mushara Outpost (Luxury)

Fly to Windhoek

Flight:   Etosha – Tsumeb                      1 hour & 20 minutes – refuel (30 minutes)              Tsumeb – Windhoek                               20 minutes

• After your morning activity as included, you will road transfer to the airstrip for your departure flight.
• Private charter flight from Etosha to Tsumeb to refuel and then on to Windhoek International Airport. Keeping in mind that you need to be at the airport 2 hours prior to your international departure flight time.

End of Tour