On arrival into Windhoek you will be met and transferred to your hotel.
This morning you will be taken to Eros Airport for your scheduled light aircraft flight to the Sossusvlei. The scenic flight will take you over the central highlands of Namibia before descending after the escarpment and on over the Namib Desert to the Namib Rand Nature Reserve. Upon arrival you will be met by a local guide and transferred to your camp. (BLD)
Day 3 - Sossusvlei
Enter the Namib Naukluft National Park at sunrise which plays host to some of the highest freestanding sand dunes in the world. Your local guide will give you an insight into the formation of the Namib Desert and its myriad of fascinating creatures. Return to the lodge for lunch and an afternoon at leisure with the option to take a guided tour within the Reserve. (BLD)
Day 4 - Damaraland
After breakfast fly north to Damaraland over the famous Sossusvlei dunes and the great sand sea towards the coast, where possibly you will see deserted mines, shipwrecks and seal colonies. Continue to Twyfeltontein where you will meet your private naturalist guide who will accompany you for the rest of your safari. After lunch visit the rock engravings of the Burnt Mountains and the Organ Pipes. Return to the camp for sundowners drinks. (BLD)
Accommodation: 2 nights Mowani Mountain Camp.
In the heat, dust and stunning landscapes of Damaraland, there is a sanctuary – Mowani Mountain Camp. Dwarfed by massive ochre boulders, the camp is absorbed into the landscape, making it one with the shared history of life in this prehistoric land. Every soft curve or ragged edge frames the landscape in a different way, as if you are seeing for the first time, every time.
Game drives along ancient dry riverbeds reveal life that in its sparseness reminds us just how special it is. Rare, desert dwelling elephants, springbok, gemsbok and jackal roam these plains, while their images are found etched in the rocks at Twyfelfontein, Namibia’s first UNESO World Heritage site.
Relax in a sparkling pool, enjoy a sundowner, and pause, breathe in and know that this is luxury as nature intended it.
Day 5 - Damaraland
After an early breakfast you will be treated to an exciting 4X4 excursion along the Aba Huab River Valley to explore this remarkable region and to search for game, especially the elusive desert adapted elephants if they are in the area. Damaraland is home to a variety of desert adapted wildlife and hidden desert treasures. You will normally then return to camp for lunch and a well-deserved siesta. Your guide will arrange to fit in a visit to Twyfelfontein and other nearby attractions if this hasn’t already been done, or you can take a guided walk into the local area around camp. (BLD)
Day 6 - Etosha National Park
This morning you will depart early and travel north deeper into the heart of Damaraland. Enroute you will visit an extremely remote Himba village, only known to a few people. Your guide’s presence and contacts with the local community will ensure you will be welcomed as a ‘friend of a friend’ and that you will be able to spend considerable time there learning about these fascinating nomadic pastoralists. There has been virtually no modern influence on these communities, which makes for a fascinating cultural exchange. You will then continue on your journey, having a picnic lunch enroute, and arrive at Ongava Lodge in the afternoon. (BLD)
Accommodation: 2 nights Ongava Lodge.
Ongava Lodge is set on a hilltop in the Ongava game reserve. The Game Reserve borders on the southern edge of Etosha National Park. Ongava Lodge has a commanding view over the bush and of an active waterhole where the animals come down to quench their thirst.
Ongava Lodge consists of 13 chalets with one additional family room. These have all been built out of brick, rock and thatch. The en-suite bathrooms have a flush toilet, shower and double basins. All the rooms are air-conditioned to keep cool in the summer. The rooms have glass doors which lead out onto a private covered veranda overlooking the Ongava bush.
From the main area, there are great views over the waterhole. This is a fantastic area where guests can enjoy an evening meal in the main dining area or outside under the stars. The waterhole is a perfect location for tripod Photography. It is not uncommon to view some elephants or rhinos while dining. Ongava Lodge adds value to your visit. You can combine your experience with a private game reserve with a visit to the Etosha national park.
Activities at the lodge include day and night game drives and guided nature walks.
Day 7 - Estosha National Park
Today you will take an exciting morning guided game drive in the Etosha National Park, to see more of the wide variety of game and bird species found there. Return to camp for a late lunch. Late afternoon enjoy another game drive before exiting the park before sunset. Alternatively, you can choose to spend the whole day in the park with a picnic lunch. The evening can be spent game viewing at the camp’s floodlit waterhole while enjoying dinner. (BLD)
Day 8 - Windhoek
After breakfast this morning you will travel south from the Etosha National Park through the small towns of Outjo and Otjiwarongo before stopping at the Okonjima Day Centre. Here you will be treated to a short game drive and educational tour of the AfriCat Foundation in order to learn about the great work being done here with regards to the conservation of Africa’s large cats. Lunch will be enjoyed at the centre before continuing to Windhoek, stopping in Okahandja to visit the local craft market for some last minute curio shopping if time permits. (BL)
Day 9 - End of Ultimate Namibia Tour
Today you will be transferred to the airport for your onward flight. (B)