Guests arrive at Windhoek Hosea Kutako airport where I will collect them and take them to the guest farm Kiripotib, www.kirikara.com (in all cases alternative accommodation of a comparable standard will be used in case any the first choice accommodation is fully booked) so that they can relax and catch up on some sleep, after the long flight.
Spend a second day here, looking at the fascinating Karakul carpet weaving and jewellery workshop on the farm.
Visit the excellent Anin embroidery workshop on a nearby farm en route to the highly commended guest farm Bagatelle ( www.bagatelle.com ) where guests will spend the night.
Travel down as far as the Twee Rivieren rest camp in the Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park, where you should be able to see plenty of game in this fascinating desert park, including possibly lions, cheetahs, hyenas, jackals, bat-eared foxes etc.
The Kalahari Gemsbok National Park, home to the Kalahari Lion, was established in 1931 to protect migratory game, such as the gemsbok, springbok, eland and blue wildebeest, in the sparsely vegetated, dry riverbed, red sand dune and camel thorn tree Kalahari landscape.
The Kalahari Gemsbok National Park and the Gemsbok National Park in Botswana, with a total area of 3.6 million hectares were officially joined as one park in February 2000 and renamed the Kgalagadi Transfrontier National Park. The Park offers excellent game viewing opportunities, because the sparse vegetation and camel thorn trees that provide shade for the Kalahari lion, leopards, buck and other animals are mainly concentrated around the dry river beds of the Nossob and Auob rivers, which also serve as the roads in the Park. Do have a look at the website
Travel on to one of the many small and remote camps, viewing game en route. Spend the night in another camp.
Travel on to another camp, again viewing game en route. Spend the night in yet another camp.
Leave for the Fish River Canyon, and spend the night at the Canon Lodge - www.gondwanapark.com or one of the other lodges in that area
Visit the impressive Fish River Canyon, south-west of the village of Keetmanshoop. Although it is only a third as big as the magnificent Grand Canyon, it is the second largest canyon in the world and certainly worth having a look at, especially in the early morning or late afternoon. Stay over night at one of the excellent guest farms in the vicinity. Depending on where you are staying, you can also choose to go on a most interesting flight over the Fish River Canyon and the very rugged area lying between the Fish River Canyon and the Orange River, now part of the Huns Mountains/Fish River/Richtersveld Transfrontier Consevation Area (optional extra).
We leave after breakfast and travel via the seemingly endless and fascinating Namib desert to the small harbour town of Luderitz, where extensive diamond deposits were discovered early in the 20th century, resulting in a huge diamond rush. Luderitz is known for its old-world charm and distinctively German colonial architecture. There is much that visitors to Luderitz can do: i.e.
- Visit Kolmanskop, Namibia's famous diamond ghost town, 10km east of Luderitz in the Sperrgebiet, where diamonds were mined from 1908 until the 1940's whereafter it died a slow death
- Go on a day trip into the forbidden Diamond Area to view the huge rock arch known as the Bogenfels (a permit has to be obtained several weeks in advance to enter this area so please contact us ASAP to arrange this if you wish to go there),
- Undertake a boat trip to nearby Halifax island to look at the small resident African penguin colony or visit the Dias peninsula where the Portugese explorer Bartolomeu Dias, planted a stone cross in 1488 during his explorations of the African coast
Spend the two nights in a private guest house (or hotel), whichever you prefer).
Return to the little village of Aus from where we travel northwards on a particularly interesting road running between the desert to the west and the escarpment to the east, as afar as the excellent Wolwedans Dunes Lodge, www.wolwedans.com situated on NamibRand Game Reserve, which is the largest private game reserve in Namibia (approximately 170 000ha).
This is one of the best lodges in the country and guests will be able to spend the day travelling around the reserve in an open safari vehicle, enjoying the unique desert environment. Here too they can go on a wonderful flight over the Namib Desert, which will give them a very different view of the magnificent scenery. There are other good lodges and guest farms in the same vicinity if Wolwedans is too up-market.
Leave early to visit the magnificent dunes at Sossusvlei and Sesriem canyon. Spend the night at a good guest farm close to Sossusvlei.
Leave for Windhoek and book into an excellent private guest house such as Hotel-Pension Palmquell - www.palmquell.com
Depending upon the time your flight departs, you can either spend the time relaxing or if there is enough time, visit the Namibia Craft Centre or some of the other local shops and go for a light lunch. You will be fetched and taken to the airport to be in time for your flight home to share with your friends memories and experiences of a magnificent holiday.
(The websites of some of the lodges are included to give you an idea of the variety and quality you can expect).
The price of the tour will depend upon the number of guests and will be forwarded to you with pleasure upon request. It will include the following : All transport in an air-conditioned Combi fitted with a fridge; driver/guide with extensive experience; all accommodation; all meals; refreshments; water in the vehicle; entrance fees plus 15% VAT, Only tips, laundry and alcohol / drinks at the table are excluded, otherwise the only extra money you have to bring is what you wish to spend on yourselves.
We try at all times to provide top quality service so that you may have a holiday to remember.
We look forward to being of service to you and your friends.
Bon Voyage