This carefully crafted itinerary combines thrilling wildlife encounters and desert adventure with remote luxury lodges that are sure to maximize your celestial safari.
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Ker & Downey® Africa > Trips > 12 day Stargazing Desert Safari in Namibia
Home to the sole International Dark Sky Reserve in Africa, Namibia’s clear desert skies offer an otherworldly stargazing experience. This carefully crafted itinerary combines thrilling wildlife encounters and desert adventure with remote luxury lodges that are sure to maximize your celestial safari. You will visit five breathtaking destinations including Zannier Private Reserve, Onguma Game Reserve, Damaraland, Sosssusvlei and the ancient Namib Desert. Your days are bound to be thrilling, however, your nights under the Milky Way will make this trip one of the books. Revel in the beauty of an impossibly starry sky alongside a resident astronomer at a state of the art observatory, watch an old time classic at an open-air cinema, and fall asleep under the stars atop a custom built Land Cruiser in Namibia’s pristine wilderness.
Your Stargazing Desert Safari in Namibia starts on arrival at Hosea Kutako Airport where you will be transferred to the luxurious Zannier Omaanda Lodge. Located on the eastern outskirts of Windhoek, in the private Zannier Reserve, you can enjoy a perfectly tailored safari experience that suits your unique interests. Explore the reserve on conservation focused safari game drives, track rhino, elephant and big cats alongside your expert guide, or visit the meerkat clan at sunrise to witness their antics in the wild. After exhilarating days on the reserve, you can return to the lodge for a delicious culinary affair and savour dishes prepared using fresh local produce.
Wake up and enjoy a refreshing breakfast in Zannier’s tranquil wilderness, before meeting your guide for your transfer to Windhoek airport. Today, you will journey by private aircraft to Namibia’s premier safari destination, Etosha National Park. On touch down, a lodge representative will meet you and transfer you to Onguma The Fort in Onguma Game Reserve. You can enjoy time at leisure at this exclusive lodge while soaking up views of an active floodlit waterhole and the Etosha Salt Pans. Bordering Etosha National Park, Onguma The Fort gives you direct access to this world-class safari destination. Your time here can be enjoyed on morning and sunset game drives in both the private reserve and in Etosha. If you’re feeling adventurous, we recommend joining an armed guide on an exhilarating walking safari. A highlight of your time here will be a sleepout experience on Onguma’s Dream Cruiser. Custom built onto a landcruiser, this unique experience invites guests to spend a romantic night in the wilderness under the awe-inspiring Namibian night sky.
This unique Moroccan-inspired lodge is located on the border of Etosha National Park in Onguma Game Reserve. The lodge consists of 11 luxurious suites that overlook an active waterhole and the breathtaking Etosha pans. Each suite is fitted with a fireplace, outdoor shower and private deck.
Discover Etosha National Park and Onguma Game Reserve on guided morning and sunset game drives, or get active on a walking safari alongside an armed guide. A highlight of your time here will be a unique sleep out experience on Onguma’s Dream Cruiser where you can fall asleep under a blanket of stars in Namibia’s wilderness.
Your journey continues to Damaraland – a region known for its impressive rock formations, ancient river terraces and desert adapted wildlife. Your guide will meet you at Onguma The Fort and transfer you to the local airstrip for your private light aircraft flight to Damaraland. Make sure to take in the sights from above as you fly over Namibia’s breath-taking landscapes. On touch down, a guide will meet you and transfer you to Onduli Ridge. Hidden between granite boulders, this luxury camp offers a remote escape in the heart of Damaraland. Enjoy guided nature drives in search of desert-adapted elephants and rhino or pull on your walking shoes for a guided bush walk. A highlight of your time here will be a private 4×4 excursion to the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Twyfelfontein where you can witness ancient rock engravings. In the evening, be sure to roll your starbed out onto your private deck and drift off under a blanket of stars.
Hidden between granite boulders that make up the Damaraland landscape, Onduli Ridge is situated in a private concession and offers an exclusive desert escape. The lodge features only six suites that overlook an active waterhole and are each fitted with a star bed and private terrace. Guests can also enjoy the lodge’s swimming pool, spacious lounge, bar and dining area.
Discover desert-adapted elephant and rhino on daily game drives and nature walks alongside expert guides and venture further afield to the historic Twyfelfontein to witness ancient San Bushman rock engravings. In the evening, roll your starbed out onto your private deck and drift off under a blanket of stars.
Today, you will board a private light aircraft flight and make your way to Sossusvlei – home to some of the tallest sand dunes and dramatic desert landscapes in the world. Upon arrival at the Sossusvlei Desert Lodge private airstrip, you will be welcomed by your guide and transferred to the lodge. Set against the backdrop of Sossusvlei Private Desert Reserve, the luxurious Sossusvlei Desert Lodge offers guests a secluded retreat on the border of an International Dark Sky Reserve, so you are guaranteed a stargazing extravaganza. During your stay you can enjoy time at leisure and the lodge’s infinity pool and explore the world’s oldest desert on specialist led 4×4 drives, guided desert walks and quad bike tours. You will also have the opportunity to visit Namib Naukluft National Park, as well as take in this otherworldly landscape from above on a scenic helicopter flight (available from September to June). In the evening, make your way to the world-class Observatory, complete with a Celestron CPC 1100 GPS computerised telescope, and discover Namibia’s night sky alongside the lodge’s resident astronomer.
Located in the Sossusvlei Private Desert Reserve, on the border of an International Dark Sky Reserve, Sossusvlei Desert Lodge features 10 luxurious stone and glass suites fitted with a living room, large retractable skylight, shaded veranda and a private plunge pool that overlooks the desert vista. The main guest area includes a bar, sitting room, walk-in cellar and interactive kitchen, as well as a sunrise fitness centre and spa.
Discover the oldest living desert in the world on a scenic helicopter flight and guided excursions to the Sossusvlei, specialist-led 4×4 drives and walks and world-class stargazing each night with the resident astronomer. Activities include a living dunes experience, desert people experience, desert rock experience, big dune walk and you can use the e-bikes and do self-guided hiking.
The final stop on your Stargazing Desert Safari in Namibia takes you to the southernmost part of the ancient Namib Desert. On touch down, a camp representative will meet you and transfer you to Zannier Sonop. Located in a private reserve, this opulent tented camp is set on top of granite boulders and overlooks 13,800 acres of untouched wilderness. Discover this region on morning and sunset nature drives, unique horse riding excursions in the desert and expertly guided desert walks. When the night sky is at its most dazzling, you can make your way to the observation deck for a stargazing experience par excellence or snuggle up on a lounge chair at the camp’s open-air cinema. Your time here includes an incredible 4 course outdoor dining experience on top of one of nearby dunes.
Located in the ancient Namib Desert, the remote and opulent Sonop features 10 tented suites that overlook 13,800 acres of untouched wilderness. The luxurious lodge harks back to the glamor of 1920s safari camps and offers a world-class spa, gym, heated outdoor infinity pool and cigar lounge. Guests can make use of the numerous telescopes available at the main lodge for a stargazing experience beyond compare.
Your time at Sonop can be enjoyed on morning and sunset nature drives, unique horse riding excursions in the desert and expertly guided desert walks. Other activities include desert dining, yoga classes and e-bike rides. In the evening, you can make your way to the observation deck for a stargazing experience par excellence or snuggle up on a lounge chair at the camp’s open-air cinema. Night walks are also available on request.
Day 12 marks the final day of your Stargazing Desert Safari in Namibia. After a refreshing breakfast overlooking the pristine wilderness, you will board a scheduled light aircraft flight back to Windhoek airport for your onward journey home.
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