Day 1: Olive Grove, Windhoek, Namibia

Arrive at Windhoek International Airport where you will be met by a representative who will transfer you to Windhoek, the capital city of Namibia.

Windhoek is situated in Namibia’s central highlands and is surrounded by clusters of hills and the impressive Auas and Eros Mountains. The city is often described as a city with a “continental” atmosphere. This can be ascribed to the diversity of architecture, historical buildings dating back to German colonial rule, as well as to its cuisine, culture, dress and educational institutions. At the same time Windhoek has the “colour”, sounds and tempo of a modern African city.

Olive Grove is an upmarket establishment situated close to the city centre in a quite, peaceful area. One of Olive Grove’s main features is the large veranda in front of every room, with tables and chairs for al fresco dining. The open-air lounge, spa bath, plunge pool and tranquil garden all invite the visitor to unwind and relax under Namibia’s open skies.

Day 2: Kalahari Anib Lodge, Mariental, Namibia

Enjoy breakfast at Olive Grove before you will be picked up again for your transfer to a car hire office in order to collect your rental vehicle. You will drive along the B1 via Rehoboth to Mariental. Turn left onto the C20 and follow this road for about 30 km before you will see the turn off to the lodge.

In the midst of the red dunes of the Kalahari in eastern Namibia, Kalahari Anib Lodge rises like a plush green oasis: the restaurant and chalets are arranged around a shaded courtyard with a large swimming pool. There are rooms available for tour groups and for individual travellers. Optionally join a drive through Gondwana Kalahari Park at sunrise or around sunset, spend time watching vultures and marabou storks at the feeding place for carrion birds, or explore the Kalahari on foot by following one of our hiking trails.

Days 3 & 4: Grand View Lodge, Fish River Canyon, Namibia

Leave Anib Lodge, drive back to Mariental and continue South along the B1 towards Keetmanshoop. Turn onto the B4 here towards Seeheim. Continue on this road past Seeheim for another 28 km before you turn off left onto the D463. A further 90 km before you will reach the Grand View Lodge. This Lodge consists of double en suite chalets, situated on the rim of the canyon. Views from the chalets are stunning, as each guest can see the canyon from his bedroom. The location is on the west side of the Fish River Canyon, overlooking the main view point.

The restaurant building has a veranda on the rim, with a 180 degree view into the canyon and towards the mountains of Ai-Ais. The sunsets from this viewpoint is magnificent, as the views are towards the east, where the color changes on the canyon walls can be experienced to the maximum. The dining room and bar offers relaxation in a unique setting. The set dinner menus include a 3 course meal, all prepared from the kitchen by a trained cook. Enjoy a full day at leisure in this beautiful area. A hiking trip will be enjoyed into the Canyon with lunch being served here.

Days 5 & 6: Klein-Aus Vista campsite, Aus, Namibia

Follow the same route back to the B4 as this is the best road and turn left towards Aus. At Klein-Aus Vista where the Aus Mountain escarpment meets desert plains and dunes, encounter the ultimate hiking experience, horse trails and guided Desert Horse viewing excursions. Optional guided tours are conducted into an exclusive concession in the Namib-Naukluft Park, which hosts attractions such as the Namib Feral Horses, the red Koichab Dune belt, an ancient camel-thorn tree forest and an extinct volcanic mountain. Klein-Aus Vista offer a camping area with outstanding amenities and great setting.

Spend the day by optionally enjoying some of the many activities offered by the lodge or alternatively visit the harbour town of Luderitz. Optionally also make a stop at the Ghost town of Kolmanskop. On a Sunday only one tour of Kolmanskop is offered at 10h00. The coastal town of Lüderitz is a small enclave within the Sperrgebiet (restricted Diamond Area) and is an impressive collection of historical German-style buildings, which were erected during the diamond rush. The most striking is Goerke Haus, a former magistrate's residency built in 1909.

Days 7 & 8: Betesda campsite, Sossusvlei, Namibia

Leave Aus and follow the C13 to Helmeringhausen. From here continue along the C27 past Betta filling station to the turn off onto the D845. Turn right here, drive for a further 14 km before turning off left again onto the C19. Follow the C19 for only 6 km before you need to turn right onto the D854. Only a few km before you will see the turn off to Betesda.

Betesda is situated on beautiful farmland near Sossusvlei. Betesda Rest Camp offers rooms which were built with flat rocks from the mountains of Betesda. To further your experience with nature, guides can take you horse riding on the farm between the koppies and mountains to experience the breathtaking views of the Namib (optional).

For the most spectacular sunsets ever your host will take you on an optional Sossusvlei sun downer cruise in an open land rover at the edge of the mountains, where you can experience the vast plains spread out in front of you like a blanket. See how the magnificent mountains tower up to the clear blue sky. View herds of Gemsbok with their calves grazing in the plains or climbing the nearby koppies.

Optionally visit the Sossusvlei area where you will be able to view and climb some of the highest dunes in the world, some of which measures up to 325 m from its base. Optionally also visit the Sesriem Canyon where the erosion of many centuries has incised a narrow gorge about 1 km in length. At the foot of the gorge, which plunges down 30-40 metres, are pools that become replenished after good rains. Sesriem derives its name from the time when early pioneers tied six lengths of rawhide thongs together to draw water from these pools.

Days 9 & 10: Rossmund Lodge, Swakopmund, Namibia

Follow the C19 to Solitaire and from here continue on the C14 to WalvisBay. Optionally make a stop at the Lagoon before driving the last 30 km along the coastline of Swakopmund. Swakopmund is much loved because of its old-world charm and relaxed atmosphere. Founded in 1892 during the period of German colonial rule, it served as the territory’s main harbour for many years.

Today’s lush green lawns palm trees and carefully tended and colorful public gardens enhance this curious desert town, hedged by desert and sea. Swakopmund has several excellent restaurants, pubs and discos and a few nightclubs. A special feature of the town is its jewelry shops, which offers pieces ranging from contemporary African to continental designs. Art and craft shops offer local products, while street vendors sell Namibian rural art. Here you will spend the night at the Rossmund Lodge. Rossmund Lodge is situated on the northern banks of the Swakop River, approximately 7 km outside the coastal town of Swakopmund on the B2 towards Usakos.

The Lodge forms part of the present 18-hole Rossmund Golf Course, which is uniquely situated in the Namib Desert, and is one of five of its kind in the world. The Lodge is beautifully situated with 360º vistas of the fairways, desert and a backdrop of awesome sand dunes. Its location beyond the coastal mist belt permits its guests to enjoy an abundance of good weather, together with all golfers may stroll freely around the course within touching distance of herds of free-roaming springbok and enjoy identifying, the varieties of bird species.

There are en-suite double rooms with satellite television, piped music or DVD movies on request. Other features include telephone, mini bar / fridge, coffee / tea facilities, air conditioning and fireplace. Each suite commands a beautiful view across the driving range and fairways with desert and dunes forming an impressive backdrop.

Day 11: Cape Cross Lodge, Skeleton Coast, Namibia

Depart Swakopmund north along the C34 to HentiesBay. Continue along the coast for about 70 km past HentiesBay before you will reach Cape Cross. Cape Cross Lodge lies literally meters from the Atlantic Ocean, on Namibia’s awesome Skeleton Coast alongside the biggest Cape fur seal colony in the world. On the upper deck are eight en-suite rooms, all with a private balcony offering a superb view to the west over a huge bay. On the lower deck are the reception area, curio shop, pub and lounge with fireplaces, quirky wine cellar, modern kitchen, two dining areas and a full-length outer deck overlooking the beach.

Days 12 & 13: Aba-Huab campsite, Twyfelfontein area, Namibia

From Cape Cross drive back to HentiesBay and follow the C35 towards Uis. From Uis follow the C35 for a further 70 km towards Khorixas before turning off left onto the D2612 leading towards the Twyfelfontein area. You will find the Aba-Huab campsite on your right when you turn in at Twyfelfontein.

A mere 15-minute-drive from Twyfelfontein, one of Namibia's most important national heritage sites, Aba-Huab Campsite is the ideal base from which to explore this world-famous area of ancient rock engravings. The campsite also offers a number of activities other than viewing rock art. Enjoy walks in the Aba-Huab riverbed and on the fringe of the Namib for some game watching - you might even see Namib Desert Elephant stroll past...
The restaurant and bar are fully licensed. Traditional dishes of the Dama people will be prepared for you on request.

The Aba-Huab management will also be happy to arrange performances of traditional singing and dancing for the culturally-minded.
The total capacity of Aba-Huab Campsite is up to 120 guests. Various campsites equipped with fireplaces, tables, benches and running water are scattered along the seasonal Aba-Huab River. There are four ablution blocks with hot showers and flush-toilets. Two of the blocks are built in a style which blends into nature.

Spend a day exploring the Twyfelfontein area as well as the Burnt Mountain and Organ Pipes. Twyfelfontein (meaning doubtful fountain) resembles a massive, open-air art gallery where numerous Namibian Bushman paintings can be viewed. South of Twyfelfontein is the Burnt Mountain, a panorama of desolation with coloured rocks contrasting vividly against the grey-black surroundings. The Organ Pipes, a mass of basalt slabs in a ravine gouged out by a river, is another geological curiosity in the area.

Day 14: Opuwo Country Hotel, Opuwo, Kaokoveld, Namibia

Depart and follow the C43 via Sesfontein to Opuwo. It is the gateway to the Kaokoveld region in the northwestern part of Namibia. The remote area south of the Kunene River is the home of the Himba people, who have kept their ethnic individuality and culture in the seclusion of Kaokoland.

Opuwo Country Hotel was officially opened by His Excellency, Hifikipunyu Pohamba on 25 August 2005. The hotel provides comfortable luxury accommodation with air conditioning and will be ideal base from where to explore Kaokoland. The accommodation at Opuwo Country Hotel is in luxury and standard rooms with a main dining room, bar, lounge, wine cellar, curio shop, patio and swimming pool. Optional guided excursion to an authentic Himba village can be undertaken.

Days 15 & 16: Ruacana Eha Lodge, Ruacana, Namibia

From Opuwo follow the C41 till you meet up with the C35. Turn left and continue for a further 85 km along this road before you need to turn left towards Ruacana. Ruacana Eha Lodge in Kaokoveld is a glittering oasis in the rugged landscapes of northern Namibia that offers relaxation, conferencing and a rare opportunity to come face-to-face with forgotten Africa. The word “eha” describes a piece of jewelry worn by the Himba, but it also means “home”. Few people have explored the Kaokoveld, yet all who have seen it, talk of its amazing beauty.

Here, one can meet one of the few remaining semi-nomadic tribes, the Himbas. One can also discover the marvelous ways in which nature has adapted to the harsh desert and semi-desert environments. The landscapes of Kaokoveld and Kunene seem so much larger than any other. Vast grass plains and dense savannahs are punctuated by huge mountains and rolling hills. But the most prominent feature of this area is the tranquil silence. The lodge has 21 rooms of which one is a family unit and the rest twin rooms. All rooms have en suite bathrooms, air conditioning, tea and coffee facilities and television. Other facilities at the lodge are a restaurant, swimming pool, lounge bar, conference room, gym, and squash court.

Spend a day at leisure or explore the area on your own. Optionally you could also enjoy some of the many activities offered by the lodge. The following activities are offered: Visit to a Himba village; Sundowners; Scenic drives; Guided walks; Visit to the Ruacana Falls (Please note that the flow of the Ruacana Falls depends on the level of the river and the needs of the power station); Visit to the Hydroelectric Power Station.

Days 17 & 18: Namutoni Resort, Etosha National Park, Namibia

Enjoy breakfast before continuing to the Etosha National Park. Follow the C46 to Oshakati and from here follow the B1 for a further 175 km. Turn right onto the C38 towards Etosha. Situated at the eastern entrance of the Etosha National Park is Namutoni Resort, centred around an old German fort built in 1903 and converted into tourist accommodation in Etosha in the late fifties. Extensive renovations in the early eighties included a shop and restaurant complex, and 24 additional accommodation units, ensuring that the resort has all the necessary modern amenities. At sunrise and sunset bugle calls accompany the hoisting and lowering of the Namibian Flag. A floodlit waterhole next to the fort allows for comfortable game viewing at night.

The park consist of 22 270 km of saline desert, Savannah and woodlands and is one of the largest game parks in Africa. Its definitive feature is the Etosha Pan, a vast, shallow depression of approximately 5 000 km. Of the 114 mammal species found in the park, several are rare and endangered, such as Black Rhino and Black-Faced Impala. The latter is endemic to North Western Namibia and South Western Angola. Etosha’s current population of approximately 300 black rhinos represents one of the few growing populations in the world. Their elephants are reputed to be of the largest in Africa, the tallest ones measuring up to 4 m at the shoulder. Their tusks, on the other hand, are relatively small, due to genetic defects and mineral deficiencies in their diet.

Day 19: Okaukuejo Resort, Etosha National Park, Namibia

The oldest and also the most popular resort in Etosha National Park – it has been in existence since the early fifties – is Okaukuejo, characterized by its thatched bungalows. Okaukuejo’s focal point is the floodlit waterhole where visitors gather at night to watch game, including black rhino, elephant, giraffe and lion, come to drink.

The resort has a newly built restaurant, bar and shop complex. Okaukeujo is the main administrative centre of the park, and houses the Etosha Ecological Institute, from where research and the conservation management are conducted.

Day 20: Waterberg Resort, Waterberg Plateau, Namibia

From Okaukuejo exit the park at the Anderson Gate and follow the C38 via Outjo to Otjiwarongo. From Otjiwarongo follow the B1 for 28 km in the direction of Okahandja before you need to turn left onto the C22 towards Waterberg. A further 41 km before you must turn left on the D2512.

The accommodation at the Waterberg Plateau Park consists of luxury chalets, smaller bungalows and a well-equipped camping area. Facilities include an information center, shop and swimming pool. The restaurant, beer garden, bar and museum are housed in the restored Rasthaus, originally built in 1908 and used as a police post for several years. Before setting out to Waterberg during the rainy season, it is advisable to telephone the park office to establish the condition of the road.

Day 21: Okonjima campsite, Okonjima, Namibia

At Okonjima, home of the Africat Foundation, guests are given a first hand glimpse of the work done by the Foundation, and here will will be able to see Cheetah, Leopard and Lion. These carnivores are researched and rehabilitated by AfriCat, as well as other game species introduced into this area.

Activities include viewing and photographing big cats, self guided trails, a guided Bushman trail and a visit to The Africat Welfare Project. Okonjima will leave you with unforgettable impressions and the welcoming staff will keep you busy from dawn till dusk.

Day 22 & 23: Vondelhof Guesthouse, Windhoek, Namibia

Follow the B1 via Okahandja to Windhoek. Vondelhof Guesthouse is a small and informal retreat offering highly-personalised service. The sparkling blue swimming pool and a verandah overlooking lush tropical gardens offer ample opportunity to relax. In order to stay in touch with the outside world, a computer is available in reception to e-mail and to surf on the Internet. Vondelhof is centrally located at a 5 minute walking distance of Windhoek's attractive city centre with its parks, museums, restaurants and many other attractions. Vondelhof is easily accessible from the international airport and the main roads flowing into Windhoek. Secure parking is offered on site. In addition to the delicious and well-assorted breakfast buffet, we can also provide light lunches and scrumptious dinners.

On your final day at Vondelhof Guesthouse, enjoy breakfast and some time at leisure before dropping off your rental vehicle. You will be transferred from here to Windhoek International to be there in time for your outbound flight.

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