Best of Namibia

Duration: 9 days

Highlights: The unique ecology and wildlife of the south-west Namib Desert. Sightings of rare desert dwelling elephant, black rhino and giraffe, and night drives and nature walks in Ongava Private Game Reserve.

Explore Namibia with this eight night itinerary while experiencing the NamibRand Nature Reserve in the Namib Desert, Damaraland, home to Namibia’s desert-adapted elephants, Kaokaland's incredible mountain scenery and Ongava Private Game Reserve situated along the boundary of Etosha National Park.

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Itinerary

Day 1 - Sossusvlei

Depart Windhoek Airport on a shared light aircraft flight to NamibRand Nature Reserve where a representative will meet and transfer you to the lodge. 

Surrounded by the mountains and sand dunes of the Namib Desert, Sossusvlei Desert Lodge is an escape to the world as it should be. Sheer silence, total tranquility and romantic luxury. From stargazing to intimate picnics in the desert, this is an extraordinary desert wilderness.

Guest areas flow into vast desert views, as the stone and glass structure of the Lodge melts into wraparound verandas. Cool water gushes from an underground spring into the refreshing lodge pool. The suites are equipped with a star-viewing skylight, discrete music system and custom-stocked personal bar.

The afternoon is at leisure to enjoy the camp activities on offer.

Desert Drive: Be mesmerized by the stark desert on late afternoon scenic drives that continue after nightfall. Encounter an array of desert-adapted fauna and flora. As the sun sets over the horizon, toast to an intriguing day spent in the desert with a sundowner.

Overnight: Sossusvlei Desert Lodge

Meal Plan: D

Day 2 - Sossusvlei

The day is at leisure to enjoy the camp activities on offer.

Sossusvlei Excursion: This half day adventure takes you into the Namib Naukluft National Park. Traverse deep into the desert into the dunes following a dry river bed, walk to Deadvlei and climb various dunes including Big Daddy.

Desert People: Step back in time and bring to life the history of the area and its people. Follow your expert guide into the untamed Namib Desert scattered with San rock art. Explore heritage sites and gain insight into the San people.

Big Dune Walk: Enjoy this exclusive experience at &Beyond Sossusvlei Private Desert Reserve, the only private reserve featuring the iconic star dunes of Namibia. Take the time to appreciate your surrounds and tuck into a delicious picnic breakfast.

Stargazing: Sossusvlei neighbors, Africa’s first International Dark Sky Reserve, which has also been awarded Gold Tier status, declaring it an environment with little to no impact from artificial light. Get a closer look at the night sky from the sophisticated observatory with resident astronomer and state-of-the-art telescope.

Hot Air Ballooning: Gain a bird’s eye perspective over the spectacular scenery surrounding the lodge, in the company of other guests. The balloons are unable to fly over the Namib sand dunes; however, you will still be treated to awe-inspiring views.Available at an additional cost.

WILDchild Program
&Beyond’s WILDchild program, designed especially for children visiting safari lodges and camps in Africa, is filled with fun, interactive activities that offer opportunities to learn and discover new experiences and cultures. Deeply rooted in the love for the African bush, it not only creates a series of unforgettable moments for the whole family but forges strong bonds between young guests,the planet and its people.

Overnight: Sossusvlei Desert Lodge

Meal Plan: B,L,D

Day 3 - Damaraland

After breakfast you will be transferred to the airstrip for your onward shared light aircraft flight to Damaraland. On arrival a representative will meet and transfer you to the camp.

Damaraland Camp is situated in the Huab River Valley in one of the best wilderness areas in Namibia, offering endless vistas across stark plains, ancient valleys and a stunning ochre-purple mountain backdrop. Activities include nature drives and walks while further afield, ancient rock art and geological wonders dot the area.

Ten large adobe-style thatched units (including a family unit) are raised off the ground, each with a walk-in dressing area and a large deck on which to sit and contemplate the desert. The spacious public living area comprises a dining area and swimming pool. An open campfire and outdoor boma are enjoyed during calm evenings and stargazing is superb, thanks to the crystal-clear night skies.

The afternoon is at leisure to enjoy the camp activities on offer.

Morning and afternoon game drives reveal the dramatic scenery and fascinating wildlife of the region. Desert-adapted elephants are the highlight of the area, although the natural cycle of rainfall dictates the seasonal movements of wildlife along the Huab River.

Overnight: Damaraland Camp

Meal Plan: B,L,D

Day 4 - Damaraland

The day is at leisure to enjoy the camp activities on offer.

Cultural activities: Learn about the unique heritage of the local people, which include Nama-Damara, Herero, Owambo, and the displaced Riemvasmaakers of South Africa. This activity allows you to respectfully engage with these communities and it also includes a visit to the local Bergsig School.

Guided nature walks: Learn more about the ancient geological past and present of Damaraland as well as about the unique plants, birds and reptiles that have superbly adapted to this arid area.

Rock art excursions: Damaraland is world-famous for its ancient rock art; guests on stays of three nights or more can take a day drive to visit some of these remains and marvel at the artists of ages past. *On request; extra cost

Overnight: Damaraland Camp

Meal Plan: B,L,D

Day 5 - Kunene River

After breakfast you will be transferred to the airstrip for your onward shared light aircraft flight to Kaokaland. On arrival a representative will meet and transfer you to the camp.

Set under trees on the banks of the Kunene River, Serra Cafema is one of the most remote camps in southern Africa. Guests can truly disconnect, unwind and relax to the sound of rushing water, and explore one of the driest deserts in the world. Respectful interaction with the semi-nomadic Himba community, fascinating nature walks, boating (water levels permitting), and low-impact guided quad-bike excursions complete the experience.

The day is at leisure to enjoy the camp activities on offer.

Overnight: Serra Cafema Camp

Meal Plan: B,L,D

Day 6 - Kunene River

The day is at leisure to enjoy the camp activities on offer.

Visits to a Himba Community: In this isolated area, the Himba people continue their traditional semi-nomadic way of life and, when they are in the area, guests have an opportunity to learn about their lifestyle and customs

Quad Biking Excursion: Guided quad bike excursions through the fragile environs, is done with utmost care along specifically allocated pathways, so as to tread lightly on the dunes and preserve the unique and delicate habitats of this landscape.

Boating Trips on the Kunene River: Boating on the Kunene River provides guests with the opportunity to venture through the lush riverside oases. Crocodiles and waterbirds seem out of place in this surreal, lunar-like landscape.

Nature Drives and Walks in Hartmann's Valley: Informative nature drives in open Land Rovers allow guests to experience the true Namib in its unbridled glory, while walking provides unique opportunities to see the smaller denizens of the desert, from the famous fairy circles to the desert chameleon

Full-day Outing to Marienfluss Valley with a Packed Picnic Lunch: The vast expanse of the Marienfluss Valley offers a much-needed sense of space and enables new interpretation of the concept of beauty.

Overnight: Serra Cafema Camp

Meal Plan: B,L,D

Day 7 - Etosha

After breakfast you will be transferred to the airstrip for your onward shared light aircraft flight to Ongava Private Game Reserve. On arrival a representative will meet and transfer you to the camp.

Designed for privacy, luxury and an intimacy with the land, Little Ongava is arguably Namibia’s most luxurious accommodation with pristine views across the Ongava plains

Little Ongava is perched on the crest of a hill commanding magnificent vistas of the plains stretching for miles to the horizon, offering an extraordinary experience as the focal point of an Etosha journey.

This intimate camp has only three spacious suites each with its own plunge pool, en-suite bathroom, “sala”, and outdoor shower. The lounge and dining areas have wonderful views of a productive waterhole below the camp, the open deck allowing for relaxed, stylish dining under the African sky. Guests at Little Ongava share a dedicated guide and vehicle, ensuring the best possible nature experience at one of Africa’s great wildlife destinations. Day and night wildlife-viewing drives, visiting hides overlooking waterholes, walks and white rhino approaching with experienced guides can all be enjoyed exclusively on this reserve. Game drives and day trips into nearby Etosha National Park are also offered.

The day is at leisure to enjoy the camp activities on offer.

Overnight: Little Ongava

Meal Plan: B,L,D

Day 8 - Etosha

The day is at leisure to enjoy the camp activities on offer.

Game Drives on Ongava Game Reserve: Guided afternoon/evening game drives take place on the private Ongava Game Reserve. The reserve has a diverse range of wildlife and is famed for its population of rhino and lion, as well as other game such as the endemic black-faced impala. Private vehicles can be booked at an extra cost (subject to availability).

Excursions into Etosha National Park: A full- or half-day guided morning game drive in the Etosha National Park, Namibia’s prime savannah wilderness area (with a packed lunch on full day), allows you to see the massive salt-pan and perennial springs that provide the water required by the Park’s high-density big game population. Private vehicles can be booked at an extra cost (subject to availability).

Overnight: Little Ongava

Meal Plan: B,L,D

Day 9 - Day of departure

This morning can again be spent on an activity exploring the area, if time allows. You are then transferred to the airstrip for your shared light aircraft flight back to Windhoek International Airport, ensuring that you have sufficient time to check in for your ongoing international or regional flight (a 2-hour check in is required for your on-going flight as stipulated by the airlines).

Overnight:

Meal Plan: B

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