From high desert dunes to vast claypans and rugged coastline, Namibia's landscapes are nothing short of extraordinary. A walk around the skeletal trees of Deadvlei and the red dunes of Sossusvlei is a surreal experience that makes you feel like you are stepping foot on another planet. A visit to the Living Museum of Damara, on the other hand, takes us on a different type of journey - a journey back in time. Here we will get the chance to glipse into the lost culture of the Damara - the oldest inhabitants of Namibia. The ancient rock engravings in Twyfelfontein take us even further back in time and reveal what life was like for people here 6000 years ago. To wrap up the tour, we are embarking on a game drive in one of Africa's largest game parks - Etosha National Park, where we will have the rare opportunity to spot the resident desert-adapted elephants. We run this tour also as a private tour for small groups of 6-7 p.
Itinerary:
Day 1. Windhoek – Solitaire/Sesriem
Arrival in the capital city Windhoek on the Lufthansa or Qatar flight. After a short rest we drive to our lodge in Solitaire (3.5 hours). On the way to our camp we will make a short stop at Solitaire - a small desert town with less than 100 citizens that looks more like a movie set than a real settlement. The settlement cosists of petrol station, a shop, a chapel and a bakery, which according to some travellers and locals alike, sells "the best apple pie in Namibia". What draws the attention of the travellers most, however, are the numerous abandoned wrecked cars lying around. Some rare vintage models can be seen here as well. -/-/-
Day 2. Solitaire – Sesriem - Deadvlei
We start our day early with a visit to Sossusvlei. Literally translated, its name means "dead-end marsh" and is used to describe the salt and clay pan at the end of the Tsauchab River. Just as astonishing are the red-orange dunes that surround the salt pan. These so called" star-shaped" dunes are among the tallest ones on Namibia, with some reaching a heigh of over 300m. Here you will have the opportunity to climb Dune 45 - one of the most photographed places in the region and enjoy a spectacular panorama views of the desert landscape. After a short breakfast break, we are heading towards Deadvlei - another clay pan that has become a symbol of the Namibian scenery. The contrast between the white clay, the dark trees, the orange sand dunes and the clear blue sky creates one of the most colourful and alien looking lanscapes on the planet. The landscape is completed by two of the highest dunes of the Namib desert - "Big Daddy" and "Crazy Dune". On the way back to our hotel, we will stop to explore the Sesriem Canyon - a scenic gorge carved by the Tsauchab River millions of years ago. B/-/-
Day 3. Solitaire - Walvis Bay - Swakopmund
An exciting journey awaits us today while me make our way towards the coastal town of Swakompund. Continuing further, we will drive through the Tropic of Capricon before reaching Swakombund on the Skeleton Coast. If it is the right season, we can also stop by the nature sanctuary of Walvis Bay, where se can see the famous pink flamingos and hundreds of other migraroty birds. Upon arrival in Swakombun, we will take a short break for lunch before heading out on a short walking tour around the city. B/-/-
Day 4. Swakopmund
We start the day with some free time to explore the city on your own - take a walk on the beach, visit some of its historical sights or wander around the local markers. In the afternoon, we will take a trip to Cape Cross - one of the largest setllements of Cape fur seals in the world. Here we will learn more about this curious species and have the opportunity to walk around and take pictures of them. Here we will also see an intiguing memorial dedicated to the event that gave the cape its name. The first European to set foot on the cape was the Portuguese explorer Diogo Cao in the 15th century. Back then Portuguese explorers used to claim newfound territories for Portugal by putting up an enscribed stone cross, salled padrão. Later, during colonial times, Germany took possession of the cross and it has been since held in a museum in Berlin. Nowadays, there are two crosses that can be seen now on the coast - both replicas of the original, one erected in the 19th century and the other in the 20th. Overnight in a hotel in Swakopmund. B/-/-
Day 5. Swakopmund - Damaraland
Today we are heading towards the mountainous region of Damaraland and will get to enjoy the beautiful landscapes along the way. Due to the harsh weather conditions ( high temperatures and scarce rainfalls) the area is one of the least populated ones in Namibia. For tourists, however, it offers a myriad of exciting sights and activities - from Namibia's highest peak Königstein (2573m.), the ancient rock paintings in Twyfelfontein and the desert elephants that roam the area. B/-/-
Day 6 . Damaraland - Kamanjab
We will start with a visit to the the Twyfelfontein Heritage Site where we will see the hundreds of exceptional Bushmen rock engravings. The engravings and paintings are believed to date back to over 6000 years ago and were the first Namibian site to become part of UNESCO's world heritage list in 2007. After that, we will visit the Living Museum of Damara. Damara were the indigenous people that lived here and after whom the whole region is named. However, do not expect to see glassed in artefacts in this museum. The idea of the project is to show you the traditional Damara culture and the workers at the museum represent the daily life and special rituals of the Damara. B/-/-
Day 7. Kamanjab - Etosha National Park
On the way to Kamanjab we visit a Himba village which is charatacterized by the small, round huts, made of wood and covered with cow dung. The himba houses come in small groups. Sometimes the whole Himba village is surrounded by a fence and it can contain a smaller one for goats that live with the tribe. Himba tribe managed to avoid too much outside influence and preserve the traditional lifestyle.
We will stay overnight at Mopane Village Lodge, just 15 km from the Anderson Gate of Etosha National Park. B/-/-
Day 8. Full day in Etosha National Park
Etosha National Park is one of Africa's largest game parks. Тhe main characteristic of the park is the Etosha salt pan, that covers over 20% of its territory. The main place to watch game animals are the permanent waterholes, formed south of the pan, where hundreds of animals gather. We will enter the park through Andersons gate and drive almost 100 km through the park to King Nehale Gate to the North and spotting some of the park's most famous animals like black rhino, Burchell’s zebra, black-faced impala, roan antelope, blue wildebeest and some of the 340 bird species that call the park home. Overnight hotel in Omuthiya. B/-/-
Day 9: Omuthiya – Windhoek
After breakfast drive we back to Windhoek. The trip will take 6-7 hours. Hotel overnight. B/-/-
Day 10. Departure
Free time in Windhoek. Some of the places of interest are the Christuskirche - a German Lutheran church that has become a symbol of the city, the parliament building - Tintenpalast and Namibia Craft Centre Transfer to the airport for departure. B/-/-
tour leader from Penguin Travel (at min. 10 people)
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