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DAY 1, Saturday - Depart for South Africa
Depart for South Africa
DAY 2, Sunday - Arrive in Johannesburg
Arrive in Johannesburg, known as "Gauteng - the City of Gold." Today, board a shuttle transfer to your hotel
Overnight: Johannesburg
DAY 3, Monday - Windhoek and Sossusvlei in Namibia
A morning flight takes you to Windhoek in Namibia, a country that possesses some of the most stunning and untamed scenery on the planet with spectacular species of wildlife. Upon arrival, meet your Tour Manager and travel to the Namib Desert,* stopping en route in Rehoboth. After a picnic lunch, continue south to Sossusvlei, marked by towering red sand dunes, surreal landscapes, and an incredible splash of dazzling colors. Arrive at your lodge and attend an Orientation Meeting with your Tour manager, followed by dinner
*Today's route from Windhoek to the Namib Desert will cover a considerable distance.
Overnight: Sossusvlei
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
DAY 4, Tuesday - Sossusvlei Dunes, Deadvlei & Sesriem Canyon
Rise before dawn to explore the Sossusvlei area, a salt and clay pan situated in Namib-Naukluft National Park. Perhaps climb to the upper ridge of Big Daddy dune,* surrounded by dreamlike scenery and extraordinary panoramas. View star-shaped Dune 45, and walk over the dunes to reach Deadvlei.** Here, admire the majestic dunes, and see unique plants and wildlife that survive in the harsh terrain .In the afternoon, visit Sesriem Canyon, a narrow 100-foot deep gorge carved into the rock by the Tsauchab River. Later, drive to Neuras Na'ankuse Wine Estate for wine tasting before returning to the lodge
*Climbing the Big Daddy dune can be challenging.
**The walk to reach Deadvlei is an active hike.
Overnight: Sossusvlei
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
DAY 5, Wednesday - Swakopmund
Today, drive via Solitaire toward Swakopmund,* a small desert town near the Namib-Naukluft National Park. A packed lunch will be provided en route before stopping in Walvis Bay. Continue to Swakopmund, known as the adventure sports capital of Namibia. Enjoy the friendly atmosphere, lovely seaside promenades, colonial-era architecture, and sandy beaches. Tonight, dinner is at a restaurant in Swakopmund
*Today's route from Sossusvlei to Swakopmund will cover a considerable distance.
Overnight: Swakopmund
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
DAY 6, Thursday - The Living Desert
This morning, travel in a 4x4 through dry desert dunes in a barren landscape populated by geckos, chameleons, sand diving lizards, and scorpions. Your knowledgeable guides enlighten you about the plant life and minerals as you zoom through the dunes moving from the scenic eastern side through to the Atlantic Coast on the west. Spend the afternoon at leisure in Swakopmund, or join the optional Mondesa Township Tour for a glimpse into everyday life in a typical Namibian township. Dinner tonight is at a local restaurant
Optional: Mondesa Township Tour
Overnight: Swakopmund
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
DAY 7, Friday - The Himba Tribe, Damaraland
After a leisurely morning in Swakopmund, drive to Damaraland.* Along the way, visit a Himba tribe dwelling; these semi-nomadic pastoralists live in homes built of palms and mud in scattered settlements throughout the region. Learn first-hand about their history, proud culture and unique traditions. The Himbas are colorfully adorned with shells and jewelry made of iron and copper and clothes cut from goatskin, with ochre glazed skin to protect them from the harsh desert climate. Arrive at your lodge in the afternoon for time at leisure, or join the optional Desert Elephant Safari. Embark on a safari to see Namib desert elephants in the wild. Conclude the safari with a drink. This evening, dinner is at the lodge
*Today's route from Swakopmund to Damaraland will cover a considerable distance.
Optional: Desert Elephant Safari
Overnight: Damaraland
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
DAY 8, Saturday - Twyfelfontein Excursion
This morning, visit the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Twyfelfontein. These remarkable petroglyphs of wild animals including rhinos, elephants, giraffes, and zebras were created over 2,000 years ago by ancient hunter-gathers. Continue to the Organ Pipes, a distinctive section of geometric rock pillars formed by natural erosion. After lunch at the lodge, visit the Damara Living Museum to gain insight into one of the oldest traditional nations in Namibia. Tonight, dinner is at the lodge
Overnight: Damaraland
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
DAY 9, Sunday - Petrified Forest, Etosha National Park
Drive to Etosha National Park* in the vast arid space of Northern Namibia. One of the most important reserves and wildlife sanctuaries in Africa, the park is centered on the white salt Etosha Pan that dominates the landscape. En route, visit Petrified Forest, a unique site consisting of large fossilized tree trunks that are about 300 million years old. Arrive at your lodge on the outskirts of the park in time for lunch. In the afternoon embark on an open vehicle game drive. Observe the perennial springs and waterholes within the park that allow the predominant desert environment to support an incredible diversity of wildlife
*Today's route from Damaraland to Etosha National Park will cover a considerable distance.
Overnight: Etosha National Park (West)
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
DAY 10, Monday - Western Etosha National Park
Rise early this morning, and set out to explore the many waterholes along the enormous saltpan. More than 114 species of mammals survive in Etosha, including the rare black faced impala, along with over 340 species of birds. The game reserve is also home to ostrich, the world's largest bird, and the kori bustard, the heaviest flying bird on the planet. On the full day game drive, you'll look for cheetah on the vast open plains, lions lazing under the hot sun, and plenty of springbok and striking gemsbok. Relax and enjoy dinner at the lodge
Overnight: Etosha National Park (West)
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
DAY 11, Tuesday - Eastern Etosha National Park
Today, move to the Eastern side of the National Park. Enjoy game viewing en route where you may have a chance to look for endemic birds like the bare cheeked babbler and catch glimpses of elephants splashing at the water's edge. The areas with thicker vegetation are home to elephant, some of the largest in Africa the endangered black and white rhino and even leopard. Lions are camouflaged in the pale-golden color of the grasslands, while giraffes rise high above most of the dry vegetation. After stopping at a rest camp for lunch (on your own) continue to your lodge, arriving in the late afternoon
Overnight: Etosha National Park (East)
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
DAY 12, Wednesday - Cheetah Conservation Found, Windhoek
Today, continue to Ojiwarongo, for a specially arranged visit with staff at the Cheetah Conservation Fund, dedicated to save the cheetah and its ecosystem. Begin at the Education Center, providing information about the cheetah: its history, physiology, importance within the ecosystem and the efforts made by the foundation to ensure the species survival. Afterward, continue to Windhoek,* the capital of Namibia. Tonight, bid a fond farewell to your Tour Manager during dinner and share memories of your adventure in Namibia
*Today's route from Etosha National Park to Windhoek will cover a considerable distance.
Overnight: Windhoek
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
DAY 13, Thursday - Depart Namibia
After breakfast, transfer to the airport in Windhoek for your flight to Johannesburg, where you will connect to your departure flight. Please select flights that depart no earlier than 7 PM
Meals: Breakfast
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