NAMIBIAN ADVENTURER FAMILY HOLIDAY

Itinerary

• Flight Inclusive itinerary
• Land Only itinerary

Day 1

We depart London Gatwick and fly directly to Windhoek.

Day 2

Arrive Windhoek and drive to Arebush Lodge on the outskirts of the city.

Day 3

Today we head southwest through the spectacular scenery of the Namib-Naukluft Park to Sesriem. This national park, one of the largest in the world, is home to one of the driest and oldest deserts on earth. It contains the finest desert scenery in Africa, if not in the world, with towering jagged rock formations and incredible lunar landscapes so be prepared for a few photo stops.

Day 4

Today we have a full day in the Namib Desert and get the opportunity to visit the Sossusvlei dunes, one of the great sights of Africa. We get up early to watch the early morning light over the dunes and there is then time to climb some of the highest sand dunes in the world. Alternatively just enjoy the changing colours on the towering dunes from lower down as the sun gets up. If we're lucky we may see gemsbok or ostrich among the dunes, an irresistibly photogenic scene! In the afternoon there is a visit to the Sesriem Canyon. We spend a second night at Sesriem where there is time to relax by the campsite pool.

Day 5

A long, but spectacular drive through Namib-Naukluft Park to Swakopmund, visiting Walvis Bay en-route.

Day 6

All day in and around Swakopmund - a German colonial resort town. There is time to go fishing or spend time on the beach, or alternatively just enjoy a cream tea and a seafood dinner along the front. You can also go walking among the dunes outside the town, but more exciting than this is the very popular new sport of sand boarding or quad-biking on the dunes (optional). There is also a chance to drive out to the desert, a serene and ethereal landscape with incredible colours around at sunset. Alternatively there is the opportunity to go dolphin watching or sand skiing.

Day 7

Drive towards the stark Skeleton Coast visiting the seal colony at Cape Cross. This gives a wonderful opportunity to take some close up shots of the hundreds of cape fur seals frolicking and fishing in the nearby surf. If the wind is blowing the wrong way it is not always the best place for lunch! We then continue inland to Brandberg.

Day 8

A few miles further into Damaraland bring us to Twyfelfontein. This is remarkable rocky country, which makes for spectacular driving including some ancient and well-preserved rock-paintings. We take a walk among the most extensive collection of San engravings in Southern Africa. Overnight in fixed fully furnished tents 25km from Twyfelfontein.

Day 9

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Day 10 - 12

The first day is spent with a scenic drive to Etosha. En route we will visit the Petrified Forest (three million years old) and we will get an opportunity to see the amazing Welwitschia Plants, which are claimed to be some of the oldest plants on earth and which survive in the dry desert by absorbing minute amounts of moisture from the damp coastal air. We should arrive at Etosha in time to do a late afternoon game drive before arriving at our camp at Okaukuejo, which has an excellent waterhole for viewing game at night. Our itinerary allows plenty of time to really enjoy this fabulous game park. Etosha is a huge park of mixed forest and grassland centred around a large salt pan. Etosha is home to a great variety and number of game, which is easy to find as the animals congregate at different times around the waterholes. There are waterholes near the camps, and it is not uncommon for us to spend many hours watching a gala performance of animals: wildebeest, zebra, impala, springbok, kudu, elephant, giraffe, lion and even rhino are all common sights here. Take plenty of film and lots of patience and you will be rewarded by one of the greatest game spectacles in Southern Africa. Etosha is also a good place for birds, with plenty of waterbirds on the lakes, weaverbirds and hornbills in the trees. While in Etosha we move from Okakuejo to a camp in either Namutoni and/or Halali (they both have waterholes). These camps now offer optional night drives which you can book and pay for on arrival.

Day 13

We drive five hours or so to the Waterberg Plateau, a 200 metre high gigantic flat topped plateau with bushveld on top, which is one of the more fertile areas in Namibia, very colourful especially after the rains. Here there are several walking trails, including one leading to a spectacular viewpoint near the top of the plateau for a great view.

Day 14

A drive of three hours or so brings us back to Windhoek. In the late afternoon we transfer to the airport for the flight to London. Those not travelling with the group to London will leave us during the day.

Day 15

Arrive London Gatwick.