Best of Namibia

DAY 1: SOSSUSVLEI DESERT LODGE

Depart Windhoek Airport on a shared light aircraft flight to NamibRand Nature Reserve where a representative will meet and transfer you to the lodge.

Surrounded by the mountains and sand dunes of the Namib Desert, Sossusvlei Desert Lodge is an escape to the world as it should be. Sheer silence, total tranquility and romantic luxury. From stargazing to intimate picnics in the desert, this is an extraordinary desert wilderness.

Guest areas flow into vast desert views, as the stone and glass structure of the Lodge melts into wraparound verandas. Cool water gushes from an underground spring into the refreshing lodge pool. The ten stone and glass desert villas blend the grandeur and solitude of the Namib with sophisticated elegance and comfort. Massive windows open up onto the endless vistas, framed in the background by the ever-changing colours of the dunes. Each air conditioned suite is furnished to complement the majestic hues of the desert and features a private veranda, split-level bedroom and living room with fireplace, en suite glass-encased bathroom and outdoor shower. The suites are equipped with a star-viewing skylight, discrete music system and custom-stocked personal bar.

The afternoon is at leisure to enjoy the camp activities on offer.

(Dinner and overnight at Sossusvlei Desert Lodge. – Full-board (D)

DAY 2: SOSSUSVLEI DESERT LODGE

The day is at leisure to enjoy the camp activities on offer.

Quad Bike Excursions: Set out on a quad bike trail through the dunes, led by an experienced guide. Enjoy the solitude and majesty of the desert as the trail winds over the dunes and rocky outcrops. As the day winds to a close, stop to enjoy a chilled sundowner as a dazzle of stars slowly comes to full, blazing life in the velvety night sky.

Nature Drives: Set off on a scenic drive to the fascinating petrified dunes, a frozen landscape of endless undulating waves or choose to explore the massive boulders of Bushman’s Koppies, haphazardly strewn one on top of the other like a giant’s building blocks. Stop to admire the thousand hues of a desert sunset before returning to the lodge in the evening. Scenic drives offer an opportunity to encounter a variety of desert-adapted animals such as gemsbok, zebra, springbok, bat-eared fox, aardwolf, caracal and jackal.

Star Gazing: The lodge’s observatory provides the ideal place to gaze in awe at the wonders of the clear desert sky, with the resident astronomer on hand to point out the brightest and most beautiful constellations.

(All meals and overnight at Sossusvlei Desert Lodge. (B/L/D)

DAY 3: MOWANI MOUNTAIN CAMP

After breakfast you will be transferred to the airstrip for your onward shared light aircraft flight to Damaraland. On arrival a representative will meet and transfer you to the camp.

Secluded amongst the boulders, Mowani Mountain Camp's guest rooms are a testament to the surroundings, where a sense of elegance and earthiness prevails. Winner of an architectural eco-design award in Germany, the organic nature of the design is felt through the camp. Colours, textures and comforts envelope you, while the vaulted cathedral like thatched ceilings are Africa’s way of paying homage to nature. Mowani offers 13 en-suite rooms with views across the valley or hill top vistas and 2 luxury suites, with open-air bathrooms, a spacious lounge and deck for enjoying meals in peaceful seclusion.

The afternoon is at leisure to enjoy the camp activities on offer.

(All meals and overnight at Mowani Mountain Camp. (B/L/D)

DAY 4: MOWANI MOUNTAIN CAMP

The day is at leisure to enjoy the camp activities on offer.

Climb into an open-air vehicle and experience the rush of Africa. Mowani’s local guides share with their guests an intimate knowledge and respect for the land that they have built up over a lifetime. With new insight into local traditions, you will come to fully appreciate the geology, botany and wildlife of the area. Local villagers are welcoming and keen to share their experiences. Visits to Twyfelfontein with its wealth of ancient rock engravings, and the wonders of the Organ Pipes are within easy driving distance. On Dune drives explore the area with your knowledgeable guide - searching for the rare desert adapted Elephants. Nature walks in the areas surrounding the camp to explore the smaller details of the bush up close and personal. Lounging by the pool, or relaxing on your private deck is also a wonderful ways to enjoy the spectacular surroundings.

(All meals and overnight at Mowani Mountain Camp. (B/L/D)

DAY 5: SERRA CAFEMA

After breakfast you will be transferred to the airstrip for your onward shared light aircraft flight to Kaokaland. On arrival a representative will meet and transfer you to the camp.

Serra Cafema is located in the extreme north-west of Namibia on the banks of the Kunene River in the Hartmann's Valley. Serra Cafema is an intimate, peaceful camp inspired by the area’s Himba people, with a unique mix of rustic and luxury elements, and nestled amoungst shady albida trees.

Accommodation consists of eight riverside wood, canvas and thatched villas on spacious, elevated decks blended smoothly into the picturesque surroundings. Each tent has an en suite bathroom, ceiling fan and mosquito nets. One of these rooms is an intimate, luxurious honeymoon villa with exceptional views, while another accommodates a family. The Ozonganda, or main area, comprises indoor and outdoor dining areas, sunken lounge, library, curio shop and swimming pool, all sharing views of the Kunene River.

The day is at leisure to enjoy the camp activities on offer.

(All meals and overnight at Serra Cafema. (B/L/D)

DAY 6: SERRA CAFEMA

The day is at leisure to enjoy the camp activities on offer.

Informative nature drives in open Land Rovers allow guests to experience the true Namib in its unbridled glory, while walking provides unique opportunities to see the smaller denizens of the desert, from the famous fairy circles to the desert chameleon. Guided quad bike excursions through the fragile environs, is done with utmost care along specifically allocated pathways, so as to tread lightly on the dunes and preserve the unique and delicate habitats of this landscape. In this isolated area, the Himba people continue their traditional semi-nomadic way of life and, when they are in the area, guests have an opportunity to learn about their lifestyle and customs. Boating on the Kunene River (water levels permitting) provides our guests with the opportunity to venture through the lush riverside oases. Crocodiles and waterbirds seem out of place in this surreal, lunar-like landscape.

(All meals and overnight at Serra Cafema. (B/L/D)

DAY 7: LITTLE ONGAVA

After breakfast you will be transferred to the airstrip for your onward shared light aircraft flight to Ongava Private Game Reserve. On arrival a representative will meet and transfer you to the camp.

Little Ongava is perched on the crest of a hill commanding magnificent vistas of the plains stretching for miles to the horizon, offering an extraordinary experience as the focal point of an Etosha journey.

This intimate camp has only three spacious suites each with its own plunge pool, en suite bathroom and outdoor shower. The lounge and dining areas have wonderful views of a productive waterhole below the camp, the open deck allowing for relaxed, stylish dining under the African sky.

The day is at leisure to enjoy the camp activities on offer.

(All meals and overnight at Little Ongava. (B/L/D)

DAY 8: LITTLE ONGAVA

The day is at leisure to enjoy the camp activities on offer.

Guests at Little Ongava share a dedicated guide and vehicle, ensuring the best possible nature experience at one of Africa's great wildlife destinations. Day and night wildlife-viewing drives, visiting hides overlooking waterholes, walks and rhino tracking with experienced guides can all be enjoyed exclusively on this reserve. Game drives and day trips into nearby Etosha National Park are also offered.

(All meals and overnight at Little Ongava. (B/L/D)

DAY 8: DAY OF DEPARTURE

After a morning breakfast we all depart

END OF SERVICE.