Day 1: Windhoek to Okonjima
(Omboroko Campsite or similar)(300km/4h40min)

You will be picked up at your accommodation between 08:00 and 08:45 and transferred to Okonjima which is about 2.5 hours from Windhoek. Okonjima is home to the AfriCat Foundation, a conservation operation that focuses on the long term survival of Namibia's large carnivores in their natural habitat, particularly the cheetah. During the afternoon you will be taken on a tour during which you will meet some of the cheetahs that are in the Africat rehabilitation program.

Okonjima is a 22 000 ha nature reserve and AfriCat gives captive cats a chance to be released back into the wild to become completely independent hunters in a protected area.

Activity: AfriCat Foundation Excursion

Included: Lunch, Dinner, Activity

Day 2: Okonjima to Namutoni, Etosha National Park (East)
(Namutoni Campsite)(300km/5h15min)

This morning we make an early start and head off towards the Etosha National Park. We will travel via Lake Otjikoto, which is Namibia's second largest, permanent, natural lake. It is distinguished by its great depth and emerald-green waters. We will rest here and learn about the history and geology of this unusual landmark.

Having arrived at Namutoni in the park, we will set up camp and explore our surroundings. Facilities include two restaurants, a craft shop, swimming pool and viewing deck overlooking King Nehale Waterhole.

We embark on our first game drive during the cool of the afternoon. The game viewing is usually excellent with close sightings of springboks, zebras, impalas, giraffes, gemsboks and plenty of birds. If we are lucky we may also experience close encounters with elephants and lions. Back at the camp we can enjoy a glass of wine and watch a fabulous sunset from the tower of the old German fort before dinner around the campfire.

The Etosha National Park is home to over 100 mammal species, 340 bird species and 110 reptile species. Larger mammals include lion, elephant, leopard, giraffe, cheetah, hyena, springbok, zebra and eland. Animals, particularly during the dry season, are dependent on the many waterholes found in the park, and these serve as great places for game viewing. Vegetation in the park is varied, but consists mostly of mopane woodland and grassy plains.

Activities: Otjikoto Lake, Etosha Game Drive with your guide

Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner, Park Fees and Activities

Day 3: Etosha National Park (East)
(Namutoni Campsite)

This morning we embark on a game drive. Namutoni offers some of the best waterholes in the park and an opportunity to see some big game.

Etosha East is dominated by a large, white depression (the Etosha Pan), which used to be a lake. It is now a dry, dusty, clay and salt pan, but occasionally fills with water after heavy rain. This temporary water attracts thousands of wading birds, including flamingos. Springs along the edge also draw large concentrations of wildlife, including lions, elephants, rhinos and giraffes, and a variety of birdlife featuring flamingos, ostriches, eagles, hornbills and owls.

Located right on the boundary of the camp is a floodlit waterhole for “after hours” game viewing. This waterhole has been described as one of the “best game viewing opportunities in Southern Africa” and black rhino, elephant, lion and numerous species of antelope are often seen.

Activity: Morning Game Drive

Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner and Activity

Day 4: Namutoni to Okaukuejo, Etosha National Park, South
(Okaukuejo Campsite)(2hrs)

Today we will spend most of the day searching for animals, as we make our way through the game reserve towards our next rest camp. We will visit a number of waterholes and stop to view the Etosha Pan, also known as the “place of dry water”. This extensive, flat depression is about 5,000 km². Seeing large herds of game in this setting of shimmering mirages is a unique experience. We may stop at Halali (the middle camp) to have lunch, before we continue on to the southern side of the park and our camp at Okaukuejo where we will spend 2 nights.

After dinner, we recommend a visit to the floodlit waterhole as there is a good chance of seeing rhinos and lions come to drink.

Activities: Etosha Game Drive with your guide, Etosha Pan

Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner and Activities

Day 5: Okaukuejo, Etosha National Park, South
(Okaukuejo Campsite)

We will enjoy day of relaxation in Okaukuejo with a game drive either in the morning or afternoon.

Facilities at Okaukuejo include a restaurant, bar, shop, floodlit waterhole, swimming pool and kiosk.

Activity: Etosha Game Drive

Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner, Park Fees and Activity

Day 6: Okaukuejo to Palmwag
(Hoada Campsite or similar)

We start our day with a game drive before leaving the park and driving into the desert mountains of the Kaokoveld, one of the last true wildernesses of southern Africa and home of the Himba people. During the afternoon we will pay a visit to Oases village where we will meet the local inhabitants. A special guide will be available for the time we are there. The guide will translate for us and introduce us to this indigenous “tribe” of nomadic pastoralists. We will learn about their marriage customs, traditional way of life and food and will visit the “holy fire”.

Our luxury campsite is nestled among large granite boulders and mopane trees. A splash pool is available and the area offers the chance of seeing desert elephant.

Activities: Etosha Game Drive with your guide, Otjikandera Himba Village

Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner and Activities

Day 7: Palmwag
(Hoada Campsite or similar)

Today we will meet the local Damara people. You will visit authentic Damara homesteads and learn about their culture, food, traditional medicine, their approach to human wildlife conflict and more.

The rest of the day can be spent around the pool and just enjoying the area.

Palmwag is a nature reserve idyllically located along a palm-lined tributary of the Uniab River. Water is scarce in this area, so the river's presence often lures elephants closer to the camps. Animal lovers might also get a peek at leopard, lion, cheetah, mountain zebra, Angolan giraffe, rhino, springbok and kudu.

Activities: Damara Culture Tour

Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner and Activity

Day 8: Hoada Campsite to Brandberg Mountain
(Brandberg White Lady Camping or similar) (240km/3h35)

Today we will continue south into one of the most beautiful desert regions in Namibia – Damaraland. The area is known for desert elephants and, if we are lucky, we might spot a few. We will visit the Twyfelfontein UNESCO World Heritage Site which features one of the largest and most important concentrations of rock art in Africa. We will pass by the Organ Pipes, a striking rock formation of columnar basalts which resemble organ pipes.

Our campsite is situated near the Brandberg mountain, an ancient San spiritual site. Tonight we will sleep in the shadow of this giant granite monolith.

Activities: Twyfelfontein Rock Art, Organ Pipes, Burnt Mountain

Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner and Activities

Day 9: Brandberg Mountain
(Brandberg White Lady Camping or similar)

The Brandberg (Fire Mountain) Massif is Namibia's highest peak, standing at 2573 metres above sea level,and is named for the vivid shade of orange it sometimes turns at sunset. The Tsisab Ravine at its base is permeated with over 45 000 ancient San rock paintings, including the famous ‘White Lady’, said to be over 2000 years old. We will enjoy a hike to this famous painting in the morning and return just in time for lunch.

We will relax in the afternoon. Facilities include a bar, restaurant and swimming pool. In the late afternoon we will search for the desert elephants which frequent the area.

Activities: Brandberg White Lady painting hike, desert elephants

Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner and Activities

Day 10: Brandberg to Swakopmund, Skeleton Coast
(Amanpuri Travellers Lodge or similar)(260km/3h25)

We depart early to enjoy the cool of the morning. Our first stop is the small town of Uis, an old mining town and one of the best places to buy semi-precious stones for which Namibia is famous. Here rough amethyst, tourmaline and other stones can be found at bargain prices.

Having arrived at the coast we drive to Cape Cross, a vast seal colony, north of Swakopmund. Here you are able to get up close to thousands of wild Cape fur seals and observe them in their natural environment.

Tonight your guide will organise a meal at one of Swakopmund's excellent restaurants. The seafood here is superb. Participation is recommended, but not required. Dinner is not included in the price of the safari and will be on the client's own account.

Accommodation for the next two nights will be at a tranquil bed and breakfast within walking distance from shops, restaurants, beaches, dunes and other places of interest.

Activity: Cape Cross Seal Colony excursion

Included: Breakfast, Lunch and Activity

Day 11: Swakopmund to Walvis Bay to Swakopmund
(Amanpuri Travellers Lodge or similar)

Today we travel from “Coast to Coast” to visit the lagoon in Walvis Bay. It is is one of the richest and most important wetlands in southern Africa and home to many water birds including Great and Lesser Flamingos, Damara terns, pelicans and avocets. We may even spot some dolphins. We will also visit the salt works before returning to Swakopmund

Swakopmund is a charming seaside town characterised by German colonial architecture, palm-lined streets, great restaurants, plenty of shops and beautiful beaches. You will be free to explore this town for the rest of the day. It offers plenty to do including a good museum and aquarium. Various optional activities can also be arranged. These include a boat tour (with oysters and champagne), scenic flights and micro-light flights over the desert, fishing trips (either from the beach or a boat), quad-biking in the desert, desert tours, sandboarding and skydiving. Your guide will discuss all your options and offer to make pre-bookings. Note that all extra activities in Swakopmund are subject to availability and are made at the client's own expense. Lunch and dinner are also at the client's own expense today.

Activities: Walvis Bay Lagoon, Walvis Bay Salt Works

Included: Breakfast and Activities

Day 12: Swakopmund to Sesriem
(Sesriem Campsite or similar)(350km/4h45)

Today we will travel inland again. We may stop briefly in Walvis Bay to say farewell to the flamingos before climbing the mountains across the Gaub and Kuiseb passes and passing through a spectacular, almost moon-like landscape. We aim to arrive at our camp in the desert during the late afternoon.

Our campsite is shaded by ancient camelthorn trees. A swimming pool offers a place to relax and cool off and there is a bar serving cold drinks.

We will go on a short excursion to the nearby Elim Dune to enjoy the sunset and watch the colors glow and change on the mountains before going back for dinner around a campfire.

Activities: Elim Dune

Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner, Park Fees and Activity

Day 13: Sesriem and Sossusvlei
(Sesriem campsite or similar)

We make an early start so as to catch the soft light of sunrise over the desert. After passing into the Namib Naukluft Park we continue towards Sossusvlei with sand dunes rising along both sides of the road. This iconic landscape is made up of white plains and red dunes which tower majestically against a deep blue sky and are among the highest in the world. We will visit the picturesque Dead Vlei. This white clay pan lies between towering orange dunes and is dotted with the skeletal remains of hundreds of dead camelthorn trees, making it a striking vista and photographer's dream. We will stop at the famous Dune 45, a beautiful star dune which reaches over 170 metres in height. Those who feel fit enough to climb the dune will be rewarded with breathtaking views of the surrounding Namibian desert.

After breakfast we will take a desert walk in the cool of the morning, with the chance of seeing gemsbok, springbok, black-backed jackal and ostrich. We will return to our camp for lunch.

As the day begins to cool, we will enjoy a short excursion to the striking, deep chasm of Sesriem Canyon.

Activities: Dune 45, Deadvlei, Sossusvlei, Sesriem Canyon

Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner, Park Fees and Activities

Day 10: Sesriem to Windhoek
(400km/5h30)

After breakfast, we travel back to civilisation along scenic roads through the Khomas Hochland Mountain Range. We are likely to arrive in the city at around 14H00 in the afternoon whereupon you will be dropped off at your accommodation.

Included: Breakfast, Lunch