Namibia Safaris: CCA ~ Thirstland Safari

Rates valid for departure dates starting:
High Season: 01 – 06 January / July / August / September / October / 21 – 31 December 2008
Low Season: 07 -31 January / February / March / April / May / June / November / 01 – 20 December 2008

Highlights

• Namibia off the beaten track
• An adventure safari incorporating activities (game-drives/ walks) and culture (ancient and modern)
• Wilderness camping at exclusive CC Africa safari locations
• Views/ landscapes
• Peace/ tranquillity – soul food
• Vast night skies
• Guaranteed window seat

Notes:

• Rates subject to a minimum of 2 guests travelling
• Serviced camping safari, suitable for reasonably fit people; involves some walking and rugged conditions.
• This safari travels with a maximum of 6 guests in 3 tents in an air-conditioned 4x4 safari vehicle, and accompanied by an expert CC Africa safari guide throughout.
• All meals – from dinner on day one, to lunch on day thirteen – are included.
• A reasonable amount of bottled water, local wine, beer and soft drinks are included on camping nights.
• Airport transfers at the beginning and end of the safari are also included.
• Window seat guaranteed throughout.
• The upper age limit for this safari is 70 years, however, guests between the age of 70 and 75 years may be accepted provided that they produce a medical certificate stating that they are fit to travel.
• Minimum age limit is 12 years
• As the NT safari, has to travel some distance on the last day, and we have to make provision for unforeseen delays, we cannot guarantee that we will have the group in Windhoek in time for any flight departing before 15h00 on that day.  Therefore we suggest either a later afternoon flight (if available) or an extra night in Windhoek

As conducted from / to Hosea Kutako (Windhoek) International Airport

Day 1: Windhoek
Upon arrival at the Windhoek International airport you will be transferred by road to the Olive Grove Guesthouse for dinner and your overnight stay. During the course of the evening your safari guide will provide you with a full tour briefing.
Olive Grove is an upmarket establishment situated close to the city centre in a quiet, peaceful area. There are 11 en-suite rooms all featuring multi-channel Satellite Television and remote controlled air conditioning. Whilst each room caters for the every need of the most discerning traveller, the emphasis remains one of simplicity and elegance. After all, luxury should be subtle.

Day 2: Waterberg Plateau
After breakfast you will embark on your safari through Kalahari bush savannah where you will have the chance of seeing several antelope species and an introduction to some of Namibia’s endemic birds. Travel off the beaten track towards the Waterberg Plateau, surrounded by a wall of steep, reddish-yellow cliffs. A stop for lunch will be included on route at a local farmstead before arriving at our destination during the afternoon. Our exclusive campsite is situated in one of the gorges, over looking a valley towards the Northern Kalahari basin. Enjoy a delicious dinner under the canopy of Leadwood and Acacia trees which surrounds our campsite.

Day 3: Etosha
This morning we conduct a guided nature walk along the top of the plateau where you may encounter black or white rhino and buffalo introduced into the sanctuary and learn more about some of the countries flora. After breakfast, continue your journey to our exclusive campsite in the private Fischer's Pan Game Reserve – adjacent to the eastern edge of Etosha National Park. In the afternoon, season permitting, enjoy your first exploratory game-drive in the Etosha National Park – one of the world's great conservation areas comprising 22 270 square kilometres. Visit the permanent waterholes and viewing points at the vast, grey-white Etosha Pan which covers 4 590 square kilometres of the Park.

Day 4: Etosha
Depart on an early game-drive into Etosha to further explore the eastern side of the park where numerous waterholes and subterranean springs attract large herds of animals – including springbok, zebra, gnu, giraffe, kudu, elephant and the endemic black-faced impala. Excellent game-viewing occurs when prides of lion dominate the water resources during the drier months. Depending on game sightings and movements, you will spend the day in the Park stopping for a delicious picnic lunch at one of the rest camps.

Day 5: Etosha
Depart from our private campsite and travel westwards into the Park, stopping en route for lunch at one of the rest camps. A full day's game-drive will afford you the opportunity to visit several permanent waterholes surrounding the edge of the Etosha Pan. You will arrive at the Okaukuejo Rest Camp in time for sundowners at the adjacent floodlit waterhole. Accommodation is in the Rest Camp’s chalets while after dinner game viewing at the nocturnal waterhole is a must. 

Day 6: Damaraland
Today’s journey continues in a westerly direction towards the formerly known Damaraland Region between the Huab and the Ugab river systems. Visit the rock engravings at Twyfelfontein – ancient works of rock art attributed to the San (Bushmen) – and explore seasonal riverbeds with the possibility of encountering several species of game, including the elusive desert-adapted elephant. This area marks the southern limit of the Damaraland Region with its abundant diversity of desert adapted flora and fauna. Here we camp under clear desert night skies offering great opportunities for stargazing.

Day 7 & 8: Damaraland
After breakfast, continue into Northern Damaraland which has a significant population of lion, elephant, leopard, large antelope, giraffe, Hartmann’s mountain zebra, and the last free-ranging black rhino population in the world. Discover this truly unique area for the next two days, searching for hidden waterholes and camping in its wild and untouched landscapes. During these excursions, you may even be fortunate enough to encounter a temporary settlement of the nomadic Ovahimba tribe who still live and dress according to their traditional lifestyles as herders. Excursions here are largely conducted on foot providing the opportunity to explore the ancient volcanic landscape.

Day 9: Swakopmund
Today, we depart from Damaraland entering into the Skeleton Coast National Park before continuing in a southerly direction along the coastline towards the coastal town of Swakopmund. An excursion on route will be included to the Cape Cross Seal Reserve. It is here that the Portuguese explorer Diego Cao first set foot on Namibian soil in 1486. Late afternoon arrival in Namibia’s premier coastal resort town,  Swakopmund, where you will spend the following two nights at the Intermezzo Guesthouse.

Intermezzo Guesthouse is a charming bed and breakfast nestled in a beautiful and peaceful setting. A mere two-minute walk from the beach and a convenient 25 minutes from the town centre, this guesthouse also boasts a quiet, tranquil garden, as well as a reading lounge where guests can relax.

Day 10: Swakopmund
This morning we continue to the harbour town of Walvis Bay to participate in a marine cruise excursion which travels around Pelican Point and offers the opportunity to encounter some of Namibia’s marine mammals. During the afternoon time will be available to explore Swakopmund on foot or participate in some of the exciting optional activities on offer such as quad biking, camel riding, and dune boarding.

Day 11 & 12: Namib Naukluft National Park
Continue to the Namib-Naukluft, Namibia’s largest National Park, which offers a surprising variety of landscapes and ecosystems ranging from Sossusvlei’s massive sand dunes to vast quartzite gravel plains, and the rugged Naukluft Mountains along the eastern edge of the Desert. Today’s journey leaves Swakopmund crossing the “gravel plains” of the Namib Desert and includes visits to the erosional feature of the “Moon Valley” and Namibia’s prehistoric plant species, the Welwitschia mirabilis, before crossing through the Kuiseb Canyon. After lunch at a lodge we continue to our exclusive campsite nestled on the slopes of the Naukluft Mountains. During your stay in this region visit the awe-inspiring dunes of Sossusvlei – the highest dunes in the world, many of which are in excess of 300m high. Spend the morning climbing and exploring these fascinating dunes and pans and learning more about the desert ecology of this living desert. Afternoons will also be spent conducting guided walks from our camp site in the Naukluft Mountains taking in the vast expanse of the desert landscape. For the less energetic the main area of the camp is shaded by two ancient Camelthorn trees supporting a pair of Sociable Weaver nests. Being located on a buffer zone between the Namib dune belt and the Naukluft Mountains the area supports a rich diversity of desert adapted flora and fauna.

Day 13: Departure
After a leisurely breakfast, you will return to Windhoek where your safari terminates in the late afternoon.

End of Safari

Unfortunately this itinerary is not suitable for families with children under the age of 12 years old as Under Canvas Namibia Expeditions only accept children over the age of 12 years.

Includes:

• Twin / single accommodation
• Meet and Greet
• Meals as specified
• Scheduled road transfers as specified
• Scheduled excursions and sightseeing as specified
• National Parks entrance fees
• Soft drinks, house wine, local brand spirits, local beer, teas and coffees whilst camping  (premium brands to own account)
• 2% Bed Levy in Namibia
• Emergency medical evacuation insurance

Excludes:

• Gratuities and all items of a personal nature
• Meals and drinks not specified above
• Champagne, cognacs, cellar wines, cigars and cigarettes
• Porterage
• Meals other than those specified
• Sightseeing and excursions other than those specified
• Visas (please thoroughly check requirements, for the countries being visited, prior to travel)
• Scheduled flights to and from Windhoek