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This guided eco-safari to Namibia combines upscale travel with a thoughtful itinerary that allows you to travel with a purpose, experience wildlife preservation and connect with the local culture.
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Ker & Downey® Africa > Trips > 13 day Responsible Safari to Namibia
This guided eco-safari to Namibia combines upscale travel with a thoughtful itinerary that allows you to travel with a purpose, experience wildlife preservation and connect with the local culture.
On arrival for the start of your safari in Namibia, at the Hosea Kutako International Airport in Windhoek, you will be welcomed by an experienced local guide, who will accompany you for your safari in Namibia. After you have collected your luggage, you will leave the airport and begin the scenic drive towards Windhoek, the capital city of Namibia and onto the Okonjima Nature Reserve. This renowned natural space is recognized as one of the premier destinations to experience large carnivores and other endangered species like aardvark, pangolin and brown hyena in the wild as well as to get a deeper insight into Namibian conservation initiatives.
Your stay at Okonjima will be spent exploring the diverse wildlife on scheduled morning and afternoon activities including leopard tracking, guided nature drives, scenic walking trails or a visit to the AfriCat Foundation Carnivore Care and Information Center. With an abundance of animal and bird life and spectacular scenery, Okonjima is a photographer and wildlife lover’s paradise.
This 22,000 hectare private nature reserve is a wildlife haven with a primary focus on carnivore conservation and environmental education. The luxurious rooms are spaced out ensuring utmost privacy and each comes with a large verandah overlooking the grassy plains.
We highly recommend a visit to the Africat Foundation that is based on Okonjima Nature Reserve. This reserve is dedicated to conserving wildlife and the foundation focuses on rare and endangered species including leopard and brown hyenas. A stay at Okonjima provides an excellent opportunity to view wild leopards.
After your morning safari activity and breakfast, you will check out and continue with your dedicated guide to the Etosha National Park via the small towns of Otjiwarongo and Outjo. Many of the towns in Namibia have a story to tell and Outjo is renowned for its bakery. Established in 1947, the “Outjo Bakery” still holds true to its roots of German heritage, serving up delicious freshly baked goods daily. Enjoy a stop and a delicious bite here before continuing with your adventure towards the central Andersons entrance gate to the Etosha National Park. Proclaimed as a protected area in 1907, your journey over the next few days will cover parts of Etosha still protected through joint conservation and community management. Etosha offers the iconic image of a safari. It is home to a diverse array of wild animals and is the very epitome of an oasis teeming with life beneath the African sun. Evenings can be spent at the floodlit waterhole famous for sightings of black rhino and other wildlife.
Today you will move to the western region of the Etosha National Park. This section of the park was off-limits to general tourists until 2014 and has only recently become accessible for guests to enjoy the scenery and 15-plus waterholes in the area. While it may be open to travelers, there is still much less traffic in this region.
Your overnight lodge is in a private 8808-hectare concession bordering Etosha and is home to a rich diversity of wildlife. The Hobatere Lodge is a joint venture initiative with the local Khoadi/Hoas community. The lodge makes donations for every predator sighting with guests to the Namibian Lion Trust which funds compensation for local stock losses through predation.
Activities include safari game drives in open-air vehicles with knowledgeable rangers. Night drives are also on offer to search for elusive nocturnal animals, such as bat-eared fox, aardwolf and genet. The increase of wildlife in this area has seen an increase in the number of predator species. Great activities are included for a safari in Namibia.
After your morning activity and breakfast, you will be transported from the open savanna of the Etosha National Park to the dramatic semi-desert landscapes of the Pro-Namib Region. These arid plains set against the Etendeka basalt lava flows and flat top mountains are full of hidden gems. 12 000 ha have been set aside by the #Khoadi //Hoas community for conservation and tourism. The lodge is a landmark in the Namibian tourism industry as its revenue streams provide direct benefits to the community. This extends from employment, to the continuous monitoring of wildlife thanks to the cooperation of Grootberg guides and the Save the Rhino Trust.
Perched on the rim of the Etendeka Plateau, Grootberg Lodge stands sentinel over the Klip River Valley, situated halfway between Etosha and Swakopmund. It comprises 16 chalets, including 2 family chalets, and is the first lodge in the region exclusively owned by a conservancy which is a proud international case study of sustainable conservation efforts. The perfect lodge for a safari in Namibia itinerary.
Partake in a sundowner game drive or a Damara Cultural Tour. You will visit authentic homesteads to gain insight into their origins, cultures, traditions and their approach to human-wildlife conflict as part of farming in harsh desert conditions. Other activities on offer include the popular tracking of desert elephants, the moringa guided walk, and rhino tracking in an open 4×4 game vehicle.
In the morning, you will check out of Grootberg Lodge and enjoy a morning safari game drive in the Ugab River en route to your next destination. From here, you will join the Elephant-Human Relations Aid (EHRA) team in their daily patrol work searching for desert elephants and studying their behavior. The drive is conducted in a game drive vehicle and follows the tracks of the elephants, usually found in the dry river systems. EHRA’s mission is to implement practical solutions that help combat elephant – human conflict which exists due to competition for resources like food and water. They are helping to build relationships between local communities and free roaming desert elephants by building protective walls around water points, educating communities on conflict mitigation tactics and through the continuous monitoring of different elephant herds. You will return to camp in the late afternoon.
This sustainable camp comprises 9 comfortable tents, each with an en-suite shower, wash basin and flush toilet. The main area consists of a mess tent with lounge area, dining table, that leads out to an outside sitting area at the firepit with a view over the Ugab River.
On the elephant drive you will have the opportunity to encounter other plains game like zebra, kudu, oryx, springbok, ostrich and giraffe. A picnic-style lunch will be arranged. You will also visit a local school, and embark on a guided tour with a local farmer who will share insights into the challenges of farming in the desert.
After a hearty breakfast at the tented camp, you will leave Damaraland and continue via the Brandberg Massif (Namibia’s highest mountain) and the small mining town of Uis towards the Atlantic Coast. En route you will have the opportunity to visit the Cape Cross Seal Reserve – a reserve occupying a remote headland on Namibia’s Skeleton Coast, home to one of the largest Cape fur seal colonies in the world. You will continue south through crystalized salt pans and small fishing villages before arriving in Swakopmund.
Better known as Namibia’s playground, the idyllic town of Swakopmund is wedged between the sweltering Namib Desert and the cold Atlantic Ocean and enjoys a distinct German architecture and atmosphere. Nearby attractions include the Moon Valley and Welwitschia Plains. From here, you will continue south to the harbor town of Walvis Bay.
Ideally located on the lagoon with sweeping views from the terrace and lounge, The Oyster Box Guesthouse offers 12 rooms of classic comfort and exceptional service. The guesthouse is located within walking distance of the marina and a diverse selection of restaurants.
Enjoy breakfast while taking in the sweeping views across the lagoon and the cool sea breeze. After check out, your guide will take you on an adventure to the iconic Namib Desert. Traveling further south you will arrive at Sesriem – the gateway to the Namib-Naukluft Park and famous Sossusvlei sand dunes. If time permits, we can include an afternoon excursion to the nearby Sesriem Canyon – an 18-million-year-old gorge eroded into the conglomerate floor of the seasonal Tsauchab River.
This lodge is only the second to be located inside the national park at Sossusvlei. Soak up breathtaking views from your luxury tented chalet’s private patio. Most guests will spot the Oryx antelope who frequents in the early mornings or late afternoons right in front of the lodge.
Enjoy an early morning drive to explore Sossusvlei, the iconic salt and clay pan surrounded by high red dunes. The dunes in this region of the Namib are some of the highest in the world, and provide photographic enthusiasts with extraordinary images in the morning light. From Sossusvlei, you will visit Dead Vlei – a surreal white clay pan surrounded by monumental dunes and dotted with age-old Camelthorn Trees. During the afternoon a visit to a unique part of the Namib Desert will reveal why it is referred to as the “oldest desert in the world”. Your last night in Namibia will be spent on the crest of a 20 million year old fossilized dune. As the ultimate finale your bed can be wheeled onto the secluded deck of your room for a night under a starlit Namibian sky. The Dune Star experience is a one-night once-in-a-lifetime Namib Desert opportunity.
This eco-friendly camp has nine spacious cabins leading out onto a deck overlooking the crest of ancient sand dunes. You will be provided with a 4-course dinner, pre-dinner drinks and a snack platter before retiring to your bed under a blanket of millions of stars. Enjoy the scenery and tranquility while spotting the wandering giraffes or Oryx in the valley below.
Visits to Sossuvlei are especially memorable as this region is one of the best known attractions in Southern Africa. It is an absolute dream to visit with a camera to capture the ever-changing light on the sand dunes. This desert playground of a prehistoric river bed combined with five-million year old sand is a truly awesome sight to behold.
The final day of your 13 day safari in Namibia adventure ends with an early morning walk in the dunes followed by a scrumptious breakfast in the main dining area at the lodge. You will then set off for your return to the city of Windhoek. Your tour ends at the Hosea Kutako International Airport where you will begin for your onward journey home.
Like what you see? Each and every trip we create at Ker & Downey® Africa is tailored to suit you. Get in touch with our LuxVenture® Designers who can create something unique, just for you!
Head office:
7 Bree Street, 6th Floor, Touchstone House, Cape Town, South Africa
+27 (0)21 201 2484
[email protected]
United Kingdom: Sportsman Farm, St Michaels, Tenterden, Kent
Ker & Downey® Africa is compliant with COVID-19 Industry Protocols.
Head office: 7 Bree Street, 6th Floor, Touchstone House, Cape Town, South Africa
+27 (0)21 201 2484
[email protected]
United Kingdom: Sportsman Farm, St Michaels, Tenterden, Kent
Ker & Downey® Africa is compliant with COVID-19 Industry Protocols.
