7 Day Northern Tour
– Swakopmund – Damaraland – Etosha South
7Days / 6 Nights
Visit the quaint coastal village of Swakopmund, nestled between desert and sea, guarantees to delight with its charming curio-shops, restaurants and not to be missed excursions for both the adventurer and more gentle nature lover alike. Rock engravings at Twyfelfontein and the wildlife haven of Etosha National Park complete this epic journey with ancient discoveries and unforgettable wildlife sightings to enjoy
| Accommodation | Destination | Basis | 2 Nights |
|---|---|---|---|
| The Delight Swakopmund Gondwana Collection | Swakopmund | B&B | 2 Nights |
| Damara Mopane Lodge Gondwana Collection | Damaraland | DB | 2 Nights |
| Etosha Safari Camp Gondwana Collection Namibia | Etosha South | DB | 2 Nights |
Key
D&B: Dinner and Breakfast
B&B: Bed and Breakfast
Pick up & Drop Off: Hotel in Windhoek
Minimum: 2 Pax
Optional Extra: Day 4– Himba Excursion: N$ 1, 200.00 per person
Included:
- Accomodation, Meals & Activities as per itinerary
- Sossusvlei Excursion & Park Fees
- Twyfelfontein & Burnt Mountain Excursion
- game Dives in Etosha as per itinerary
- Tour Guide & Vehicle & Fuel
- Water on vehicle
- Airport Transfers
Excluded:
- Flights
- Visa Fees
- Beverages
- Tips & Gratuities and Personal insurance and items of personal nature
Day 1: The Delight Swakopmund, Swakopmund
Set along Namibia’s spectacularly scenic coast, the seaside town of Swakopmund is known for its wide-open avenues, colonial architecture, and its surrounding otherworldly desert terrain. Founded in 1892 as the main harbour for German South West Africa, Swakopmund is often described as being more German than Germany. Now a seaside resort town, Swakopmund is the capital of the Skeleton Coast tourism area and has plenty to keep visitors happy. The quirky mix of German and Namibian influences, adventure options, laid-back atmosphere and cool sea breeze make it a very popular Namibian destination. Visitors can look forward to a number of exciting activities including: quad biking, horse riding, paragliding, fishing, sightseeing and fascinating desert tours.
Day Itinerary
Pick up from your accommodation in Windhoek between 08h00 and 08h30. Depart and travel via the small towns of Okahandja, Karibib and Usakos before arriving at the coastal town of Swakopmund. Unwind and refresh at the end of the day in the warm and uplifting atmosphere of the Delight hotel, before savouring some of Swakopmund’s fine cuisine.
Accommodation: The Delight, Swakopmund
Meals: Breakfast
Overnight: The Delight Swakopmund Gondwana Collection Namibia
The Delight Swakopmund is located at the corner of Theo-Ben Guriab Avenue and Nathaniel Maxuilili Street (Dorob National Park).
Amongst the town’s captivating contrasts and old traditions, Gondwana’s Delight is a fresh breeze in the desert. A refreshing, relaxing, modern, light and airy establishment to uplift and inspire. Effortless and comfortable, with the distinctively warm and welcoming Gondwana service and charm, your stay is always a memorable experience.
Basis
Bed & Breakfast
Day 2: The Delight Swakopmund, Swakopmund
The Delight’s mouth-watering breakfast feast is the very best way to start your day in Swakopmund. Stroll through the town, visit the museum, pop into coffee shops and browse the selection of African curios.
Accommodation: The Delight
Meals: Breakfast and Dinner
Optional Extra Activities: Take a scenic flight, join a living desert tour or a dolphin cruise. Swakopmund is the activity playground of Namibia. Activities range from sky-diving and sand-boarding to the more peaceful desert trips.
Optional:
- Charly Desert Tours Living Dunes Experience
- Scenic Desert Flights
- Catamaran Charters
Charly’s Desert Tours Living Dunes Experience
Charly’s Desert Tours Living Dunes Experience is an extraordinary exploration of the coastal dune belt just outside Swakopmund. To the untrained eye the dunes are just a pile of sand, however, the skilled and experienced guides will introduce visitors to a wealth of desert life. Often referred to a “Living Desert Tour”, we will track Palmetto geckos, sand diving lizards, the famous fog-basking tok-tokkie beetle, sidewinder snakes, spiders, scorpions, and chameleons. As we explore this breath-taking terrain, we will share a lot of information on origin, weather and the special adaptations of its inhabitants. This 3.5 -hour exploration will be rounded off with a short dune drive.
Our guides will pick you up from any hotel / Guesthouse in Swakopmund free of charge and we include still mineral water in all of our tours.
Scenic Desert Flights
A dramatic flight over the Namib Desert, see how the seldom present waters of the Kuiseb River stop the advance of the red sands of the Namib, experience the vastness of the magnificent dune formations as you fly south to Sossusvlei and then return along the coast passing over long gone mining settlements, lonely shipwrecks, seal colonies, colourful salt works, Windhoek Harbour and finally back to Swakopmund.
Catamaran Charters
The Catamaran Charters Team invites you aboard the 45ft Royal Cape Sailing Catamaran Silverwind, or the 60ft Simon Sailing Catamaran Silversand, or the 40ft Admiral Motorised Catamaran Silvermoon, to enjoy an adventure packed tour to Pelican Point and Walvis Bay’s beautiful bay area.
The chances of encountering dolphins, whales, turtles, seals and Mola Mola (sunfish) make the search for the marine big 5 and adventurous tour by enjoying sparkling wine, fresh oysters and other mouth-watering snacks aboard the spacious and comfortable catamarans.
Day 3: Damara Mopane Lodge, Damaraland
This vast desert landscape is known as one of the most beautiful regions in Namibia. Huge, untamed and ruggedly beautiful, Damaraland is an exceptionally scenic landscape featuring open plains, ancient valleys and spectacular rock formations. The major attractions are the sacred Spitzkoppe, the Brandberg, Twyfelfontein, Vingerklip and the otherworldly Petrified Forest. Visitors can take in the dramatic vistas, catch a glimpse of the rare desert-adapted elephant, and enjoy spectacular stargazing in crystal-clear night skies from one of the many safari camps dotting Damaraland. Other popular activities include: guided drives, nature walks and visiting the local communities. Don’t miss the opportunity to view the Damaraland’s world-famous ancient rock art.
Day Itinerary
Your journey continues along the salt coastal road northwards towards Henties Bay, before heading inland towards Damaraland via Uis and the Brandberg, Namibia’s highest mountain. Visit the ancient rock engravings at Twyfelfontein and explore the surroundings. Here, hunter-gatherer traditional healers spoke to their gods asking for healing, rain and luck for the hunt. The Organ Pipes and Burnt Mountain are other interesting sites you will visit in the area, as well as the Petrified Forest here you can view ancient fossilised tree trunks. After a full day of memorable discovery, you will continue to the comfort of Damara Mopane Lodge.
Accommodation: Damara Mopane Lodge
Meals: Breakfast & Dinner
Activities
- Twyfelfontein
- Organ Pipes
- Petrified Forest
Twyfelfontein
Set in the Kunene Region of northwestern Namibia, Twylfelfontein is a spectacularly scenic area, featuring one of the largest and most important concentrations of rock art in Africa. The name ‘Twyfelfontein’ translates to ‘Fountain of Doubt’, which refers to the perennial spring situated in the impressive Huab valley flanked by the slopes of a sandstone table mountain. It was this spring that attracted Stone Age hunters over six thousand years ago, and it was during this time that the extensive group of rock engravings and paintings were produced. Visitors can look forward to basing themselves at some wonderfully shady campsites along the Aba-Huab riverbed, while exploring over thirty different sites of these sacred records of ritual practices relating to traditional hunter-gatherer communities.
Petrified Forest
Situated approximately 50 kilometers west of the town of Khorixas, in an area of open veld, lies a large deposit of massive tree trunks that have “turned to stone” through a process of diagenesis. These petrified tree trunks are up to 34metres long, 6 metres in circumference and are approximately 260 million years old. Due to the lack of root or branch remains, it’s believed that the trees were washed down an ancient river to the site in a massive flood.
Overnight: Damara Mapone Lodge Gondwana Collection Namibia
Damara Mopane Lodge is located 20 km east of Khorixas on the C 39 (Damaraland).
Built in a labyrinth design, this innovative lodge has 55 chalets, each with its own vegetable garden. Savour the charm from your stoep where sunflowers peep over walls, refresh in the pool, visit the Twyfelfontein rock engravings 100km away and watch the sun sink into mopane woodland.
Accommodation: DamaramMopane Lodge
Meals: Breakfast & Dinner
Day 4: Damara Mopane Lodge, Damaraland
Day at leisure to relax and enjoy the tranquil surroundings of Damaraland, this vast desert landscape is known as one of the most beautiful regions in Namibia. Huge, untamed and ruggedly beautiful, Damaraland is an exceptionally scenic landscape featuring open plains, ancient valleys and spectacular rock formations.
The lodge is built in a semi-circular labyrinth design with a turquoise pool at its centre, the lodge is lovely and charming each chalet has its very own garden with fresh vegetables, sunflowers and the occasional scarecrow peeking out. Stroll up the koppie in the late afternoon to watch the sun set and appreciate the expansive view over the mopane woodland before the inviting aromas of dinner call you back to the lodge.
Accommodation: Damara Mopane Lodge
Meals: Breakfast & Dinner
Day 5: Etosha Safari Camp, Etosha South
Located just south of the boundary of Etosha National Park in northwestern Namibia, Etosha South makes up the southern region of this wild paradise. Ogava Private Game Reserve shares the southern boundary with Etosha National Park and offers an array of luxury lodges overlooking picturesque landscapes dotted with abundant wildlife. The national park can be accessed via the southern entrance at Andersson’s Gate. Visitors can catch a glimpse of a variety of wildlife including: lion, giraffe, elephant, white and black rhino, and a multitude of plains game. Popular activities include: game drives, tracking rhinos on foot, guided nature walks, or watch the sunset over this magnificent landscape.
In the heart of the country, Etosha National Park is reached via Outjo, a convenient place to stop for coffee and snacks. After checking in to Etosha Safari Camp, enjoy an afternoon drive into the national park to sit at the large Okaukuejo waterhole, which is often frequented by wildlife, or take a drive to the surrounding waterholes.
Etosha Safari Camp’s colourful Shebeen restaurant has become a highlight on travellers’ itineraries. Modelled on Namibia’s ‘shebeens’ (informal township bars) of old, it’s an enjoyable lively venue. The dinner feast is enjoyed outside in the courtyard to the sounds of the musicians strumming their guitars and singing local melodies.
Accommodation: Etosha Safari Camp
Meals: Breakfast & Dinner
Overnight: Etosha Safari Camp Gondwana Colloection Namibia
Etosha Safari Camp is located 10 km south of Andersson Gate on the C 38 (Etosha National Park).
Tap toes to an African beat in the novel Oshebeena Bar and relax at this friendly Camp, 10 kilometres from Etosha National Park. 50 chalets, shaded by mopane trees, and a grassy campsite provide a comfortable home from which to explore the abundant animal kingdom. Legendary.
Day 6: Etosha Safari Camp, Etosha South
A full day exploring Etosha National Park at leisure, visiting the many waterholes throughout the park. After experiencing the incredible and renowned wildlife sightings Etosha has to offer, return home to the easy going warmth and friendliness of Etosha Safari Camp for your final night’s stay. Guaranteed to be the perfect end to a fulfilling trip.
Accommodation: Etosha Safari Camp
Meals: Breakfast & Dinner
Activities
- Etosha Pan
Etosha Pan
Aeons ago, Etosha Pan was the bed of a vast lake; today what remains is a glittering, silvery-green salt pan that stretches across roughly 5000 square kilometres. Etosha is protected by the Etosha Pan National Park surrounded by savannah plains and woodlands supporting large herds of elephants. When dry, the pan sustains little life except for the algae that gives it its distinctive colour, and migratory birds that use it as a pit stop, but with heavy rain it becomes a shallow lake where flamingos breed, pelicans wade and feed, and a variety of mammal species come to quench their thirst, including leopards, lions, white rhinos, hunting dogs and antelopes.
Basis
Dinner & Breakfast
Day 7: End Of Itinerary
After a leisurely breakfast you will return to Windhoek via the famous woodcarvers’ market in Okahandja.
You can opt to either spend an additional night in Windhoek or continue to Hosea Kutako International Airport for the departure of your scheduled flight.
Meals: Breakfast
End Of Safari