The Ultimate Namibia Fly In

Day 1: Arrival in Windhoek and Olive Grove Guesthouse

Upon arrival at the Hosea Kutako International Airport you will be transferred to the Olive Grove Guesthouse in Windhoek. After you have checked in the rest of the day is at your own leisure. You have time to explore Windhoek and visit the famous landmarks of Windhoek or shop in the vibrant Independence Avenue. City tours can be arranged at own cost.

Windhoek

Namibia’s capital Windhoek is often described as a city with a continental atmosphere. This can be ascribed to its architecture, cuisine, culture, dress codes and educational institutions. Windhoek combines the modern city architectural style with that of the German colonial era. Historic sites to visit in the town centre are the ‘Christuskirche’, ‘Alte Feste’ (Old Ford), ‘Tintenpalast’ (Parliament Buildings), Zoo Park, ‘Reiterdenkmal’, Museum and the Craft Centre.

With 280 000 inhabitants, Windhoek is the biggest city in the country and also the commercial centre of the country.

Overnight: Olive Grove Guesthouse including breakfast

Day 2: Flight to Kulala Desert Lodge

This safari has daily departures based on a minimum of 1 guest travelling. Depart from Eros Airport in Windhoek with a Cessna 210 or Cessna Caravan to the Sossusvlei area. After the scenic flight, you will be dropped off at the Kulala Desert Lodge in the Sossuvlei area. After a short transfer to the lodge you will have some time to relax before taking part on an afternoon game drive, where you will have the opportunity to see desert-adapted wildlife such as ostrich, springbok and gemsbok eke.

Sossusvlei

The Sossusvlei is a huge clay pan, enclosed by giant sand dunes. Some of the spectacular hills of sand are, at a height of 325 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 Dead Pan is a large ghostly expanse of dried white Clay, punctuated by Skeletons of ancient camelthorn trees, about 600 years old. 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.

The last 5 km are only negotiable with 4×4 vehicles. Should you not have one, there are 4×4 Shuttles available if you don’t want to hike there.

Overnight: Kulala Desert Lodge including all meals, local drinks and activities

Day 3: Namib Naukluft Park, Sossusvlei and Kulala Desert Lodge

Early in the morning you will be taken to the Namib Naukluft Park to see the play of colours over the dunes at sunrise. You will travel in open 4×4 vehicle with your own specially trained guide who will share all his knowledge of the area, the animals, the plant life and much more. Regular stops are made on the ±60 kilometre drive down to the vlei to gain information or take in the vistas.

At Dune 45 the more energetic have the opportunity to climb to the upper ridge of the world’s most photographed dune. Further along you can take a gradual 2,6 kilometre round-trip walk up to Dead Vlei. Spend time in Sossusvlei before returning to the lodge, in time for a light lunch.

Overnight: Kulala Desert Lodge including all meals, local drinks and activities

Day 4: Flight to the Swakopmund Boutique Hotel

After breakfast you will be transferred back to the landing strip, in time for your scenic flight to Swakopmund. Upon arrival at the Swakopmund airport you will be transferred to the Swakopmund Boutique Hotel situated in the heart of Swakopmund. The rest of the day can be used to explore this historical town and its surrounding areas at own expense.

Swakopmund

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 Lüderitz was too far away and the seaport of Walvis Bay was in British possession in those days. On 4 August 1892 the crew of a gunboat named Hyena erected two beacons on a large dune, probably in the vicinity of the present lighthouse. This is regarded as the founding date of Swakopmund. The first settlers were 120 Shutztruppe with equipment and 40 settlers who offloaded from the Marie Woermann using four landing boats. The settlers had to build caves on the beach to protect themselves against hostile weather. Before a breakwater was built in  1898, which later became known as the Mole, all offloading was done with special boats The 325 metre long wooden jetty was only completed in 1905 and it was in 1914 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 narrow-rail train to Windhoek started operations in 1902 while at the same time, the station was built. It was completely restored some years ago and has become an entertainment centre, a casino and a luxury hotel. It is one of the best preserved examples of German colonial architecture in the world.

The appearance of the town, with its 35 000 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 Tower and its courtyard bordered by arcades today houses the city library and an art gallery. Swakopmund is a popular seaside resort with a slightly nostalgic atmosphere, many tourist attractions and a pleasant climate in summer.

Overnight: Swakopmund Boutique Hotel including breakfast

Day 5: Swakopmund and surrounding area

Today you have the opportunity to explore Swakopmund, Walvis Bay and the surrounding area. We suggest that you visit the Moonlandscape, Welwitscha Plains (please note that you need a permit for this, which is available at Namib i in Swakopmund) or take part in one of the many alternative activities such as:

• Tandem Sky diving
• Quad Biking
• Sand Boarding
• Ballooning
• Paragliding
• Seal & Dolphin Boat Cruise in Walvis Bay
• Scenic flights

(Prices on request!)

Overnight: Swakopmund Boutique Hotel including breakfast

Day 6: Flight to Doro !Nawas Camp

Today you will fly along the coastline to the Doro !Nawas Camp, which is situated in the heart of the Damaraland. This is most probably the most pristine area in Africa, with home to the Desert Elephant and Black Rhino.

In the afternoon you will take part in a game drive, where you will explore the river systems of the Huab and Aba Huab. With a bit of luck you will see the desert-adapted elephant, which is found in this area.

Alternatively you can take part in an excursion to Twyfelfontein with its amazing collection of ancient rock paintings.

Overnight: Doro !Nawas Camp including all meals, local drinks and activities

Day 7: Flight to Serra Cafema in the Hartman Valley

Depart to Serra Cafema, hidden within the enormous Hartmann Valley, looking onto the Kunene River and surrounded by the lunar-like infinity of the Namib Desert, Serra Cafema is one of the most remote and surreal destinations in all Africa. Arrival in the afternoon and you have some time to relax before you have the opportunity to take part on the afternoon activity.

Overnight at Serra Cafema including all meals, local drinks and activities

Day 8: Serra Cafema

Today you have the opportunity to take part in the variety of activities offered, to explore the breathtaking landscape. These activities include informative nature drives that tread lightly on the fragile habitats and boating on the Kunene River, where crocodiles and water birds seem out of place in this moonscape environment. Walking in the remote mountain and river valleys are also a highlight as is a visit to a Himba settlement, should the nomadic people be in the area. One of the highlights of Serra Cafema is the carefully guided quad bike excursions on the dunes, which allows guests to experience a true desert and the unexplainable fairy circle phenomenon, which is best viewed in the Hartmann’s Valley.

Overnight at Serra Cafema including all meals, local drinks and activities

Day 9: Flight to Ongava Tented Camp

Your fly in safari continues to the southern border of the Etosha National Park and the private Ongava Reserve.

After a short transfer you can relax at the lodge, before departing on a game drive on the Ongava Reserve. Here you will discover a large variety of plants and vegetation, including the Mopane woodlands.

Etosha National Park

Etosha was declared a game reserve by the German colonial administration back in 1907 and covers an area of more than 22 000 km². At a stage it covered a vast area of 93 240 km² and was the largest game reserve in the world. For various political reasons, the park was progressively diminished in size until by 1975 it had been reduced to its current size.  In its centre lies a vast saltpan surrounded by grass and thorn savannah, Mopane bushland in the west and dry forest in the north-east. About two million years ago, this area was an enormous lake, fed by the Kunene River. However the lake slowly dried up because over time, the river changed its course. Today the pan is a shallow depression and has an approximate size of 5000 km².

Of the 114 mammals species found in the park, several are rare and endangered, such as the black Rhino and cheetah. Etosha’s current population of +- 600 Black Rhinos represents one of the few growing populations in the world.

The National Park has three Rest camps Okaukuejo, Halali and Namutoni. These all have restaurants, stores and swimming pools. The main entrance to the park is called the Andersson Gate at Okaukuejo in the south and the Von Lindequist Gate in the east near Namutoni.

Overnight: Ongava Tented Camp including accommodation, all meals, scheduled camp activity, park fees and all local drinks

Day 10: Etosha National Park and Ongava Tented Camp

After breakfast you will be taken on a game drive to the Etosha National Park which is one of the major sanctuaries of wildlife in Africa, exploring the animal kingdom of Etosha, which in the tribal language of the Owambo means “Place of dry water”. For the greater part of the year the Etosha Pan is a bleak expanse of white cracked mud which shimmers with mirages on most days. Seeing vast herds of game against this eerie backdrop makes the Etosha game viewing experience unique.

The afternoon once more is open for you to take part in the activities offered at the lodge, such as the night drive or a guided walk. The Ongava Reserve holds one of the largest rhino custodianships for the Namibian Government and is one of the few private game reserves in southern Africa that give one the chance to see both black and white rhino.

Overnight: Ongava Tented Camp including accommodation, all meals, twice daily scheduled camp activities, park fees and all local drinks

Day 11: Flight back to Windhoek and Olive Grove Guesthouse

In the morning you will fly back to Windhoek, where you will land on the Eros Airport. From here you will be transferred to the Olive Grove Guesthouse. The rest of the day can be spent at own leisure.

Overnight: Olive Grove Guesthouse including breakfast

Day 12: Departure

After breakfast you will be transferred to the Hosea Kutako International Airport, where you check in for the onward or homeward flight.

• Windhoek
• Kulala Reserve
• Namib Naukluft Park, Sossusvlei & Dead Vlei
• Swakopmund and surrounding area
• Damaraland & Twyfelfontein
• The Hartman Valley and Kunene River
• Etosha National park and Ongava reserve
• Windhoek

Price available on request.

Prices are nett and include VAT.

Prices include:

• 07 x overnight on a Lunch, Dinner, Bed & Breakfast basis + activities and local drinks
• 04 x overnight on a Bed & Breakfast basis
• Activities as per itinerary
• Airport transfers between Hosea Kutako International Airport and accommodation in Windhoek
• Airport transfers between Eros Airport and accommodation in Windhoek
• Airport transfers between Swakopmund / Walvis Bay airport and accommodation in Swakopmund
• Complete travelling package including information, maps, route description and vouchers

Entrance fees included:

N/A

Prices exclude:

• Activities and excursions not mentioned above
• Drinks
• Personal expenses (Telephone call, souvenirs etc)