Day 1: |
Depart UK for evening flight to Windhoek. |
Day 2: |
Upon arrival in Windhoek, you will be met by your tour guide and transferred to your central accommodation. Take a tour of Windhoek visiting sites such as the Rider Memorial, the Old Fort, the Parliament Building (also known as the "Ink Palace"), the Lutheran Church, the Railway Station and many more. Drive to Katutura, the largest township next to the city with its interesting mix of culture and history. Return to Windhoek for dinner at a local restaurant. |
Day 3: |
Follow the scenic Gamsberg Pass with its awe-inspiring views of Gamsberg Mountain through the Khomas Hochland, in the middle of the Central Plateau. This mountain is composed of granite and sandstone and bears a strong resemblance to Table Mountain. Continue through the northern part of the Namib en route to Swakopmund, Namibia’s premier holiday resort. View the unique Welwitschia Mirabilis plant, which age 1000 years and see the bizarre Moon Landscape, one of Namibia’s most interesting geological formations created by the Swakop River. Spend three nights in Swakopmund. |
Day 4: |
Enjoy a stunning drive along the Atlantic coast towards Walvis Bay, a fishing town and key harbour. Visit the lagoon with its overwhelming abundance of seabirds including flamingo and also the wetland, which is of international importance as a reserve for migratory birds in Africa. You’ll also see the curious pink-coloured salt pans, which recover more than 180 000 tons of salt a year by evaporation. Return to Swakopmund for time leisure. |
Day 5: |
Take an optional cruise from Walvis Bay or join a guided tour of the Swakopmund Township. In the afternoon take a desert ecology tour before time at leisure to enjoy the delights of Swakopmund. |
Day 6: |
Drive north along the coast towards Cape Cross, home to between 80 000 and 150 000 Cape Fur Seals. Cape Cross is also of historical interest, as it was here that the first European set foot on Namibian soil. Back track to the sleepy town of Henties Bay, before heading inland towards Khorixas. The town is ideally situated for exploring northern Damaraland and the Kaokoveld. This area is rich in rock art sites and geologically very important for Namibia. It is hard to imagine animals living in this harsh environment, yet steenbok, springbok, and gemsbok inhabit these plains, along with elephant, black rhino and ground squirrel. Overnight in Khorixas. |
Day 7: |
Visit the Organ Pipes, a mass of perpendicular dolerite pillars formed some 120 million years ago and from where you have an excellent view of Burnt Mountain. Continue to the petrified forest of Damaraland where a number of recumbent and broken petrified tree trunks, some up to 30m long, are scattered over the open area and estimated to date back over 200 million years. Journey to Etosha National Park for a two-night stay. |
Day 8: |
Enjoy a full day of exploring the National Park participating in game drives and visits to various water holes, where you can watch the wildlife in its natural environment. |
Day 9: |
Making an early start drive via the small town of Outjo on to Otjiwarongo, the cheetah capital of the world. Continue to the small, pleasant town of Okahandja, home of the Herero people whose colourful headgear was inspired by the dresses of the German colonials at the time. Visit the Kavango Woodcarvers market, where it is possible to purchase some locally made items. Drive to Windhoek airport for your return flight to the UK. |
Day 10: |
Return to UK early morning. |