Experience Wildlife: Namibia

Depart home for an overnight flight to Namibia.

Welcome to Namibia! Upon arrival at the Hosea Kutako International Airport, after clearing customs and immigration, you will be greeted by a Holbrook representative. Transfer approximately 25 miles into Windhoek. Namibia's capital reflects a blend of African and European influences. On Independence Avenue, the city's main thoroughfare, well-preserved German colonial buildings stand side-by-side with modern architectural styles, and you can see executives in business suits alongside Herero women in traditional Victorian dress. Check in (2pm) at your hotel with time to rest from your long journey. This evening, meet your naturalist guide, who will accompany you for the duration of your program. Receive a comprehensive briefing as well as an introduction to Namibia. Dinner tonight is at the hotel with your guide.

This morning after breakfast, check out and depart Windhoek. Travel southwest by safari vehicle through the scenic Khomas Hochland highlands before heading down the Great Escarpment into the Namib Desert below. Stop for a picnic lunch at a scenic location along the way. Arrive in the mid-afternoon at Dead Valley Lodge, where you will spend the next two days exploring the remarkable sights of the Namib Desert, considered the oldest desert in the world. Relax and soak in the scenic and tranquil surroundings at the lodge, or if desired, your guide can take you on a scenic sundowner drive in the nearby area.

Rise early for a magical excursion to Sossusvlei within Namib-Naukluft National Park, one of the largest conservation areas in Africa. Sossusvlei is a large, white, salt-and-clay pan that contrasts with the red dunes that surround it. This area boasts some of the highest free-standing sand dunes in the world, reaching up over 1,000 feet. Enter the park gates at sunrise to capture the dunes while the light is soft and shadows accentuate their towering shapes and curves. Your guide will explain the history and formation of the Namib Desert and talk about the fascinating creatures and plants that have adapted to survive in these harsh conditions. Explore the dune fields, with time to enjoy a relaxed picnic breakfast in the shade of a camel thorn tree. On your way back to the hotel, stop to view Sesriem Canyon, a narrow gorge about a mile long and 98 feet deep that was formed 2 million years ago by the Tsauchab River. The canyon provides an excellent visual history of the area's geology. Also be on the lookout for bird life such as Pied Crows, Lanner Falcons, and Lappet-faced Vultures. After lunch at the hotel, enjoy the rest of the afternoon at leisure, with the option to head out on another nature drive with your guide later in the day.

The drive today takes you northwest through the awesome and ever-changing desert landscapes of Namib-Naukluft National Park, including the impressive Gaub and Kuiseb canyons. Arrive at the port town of Walvis Bay, where you have the option to visit the lagoon, known for its impressive bird life. In the summer months, the lagoon provides a feeding ground for up to 150,000 birds representing over 150 recorded species, including flamingos, pelicans, gulls, and cormorants. Continue north to Swakopmund, where you can enjoy the pleasant seaside location and cooler coastal air. Swakopmund resembles a small, German coastal resort town, with a variety of shops, restaurants, museums, craft centers, and galleries. Enjoy the rest of the afternoon at leisure to relax at the hotel or explore the town and wander along the waterfront on foot. Although the sea is normally cold for swimming, there are pleasant beaches, and the cooler climate is usually refreshing after being in the desert. Dinner this evening will be at one of the popular restaurants in town with your guide.

This morning is at leisure; relax at the hotel, explore the town, or take part in one of the many adventure activities available in and around Swakopmund and Walvis Bay (at additional cost-it is advisable to pre-book activities to avoid disappointment). Some options include sand boarding, a marine cruise on the Walvis Bay Lagoon and outer harbor, sea kayaking off Pelican Point, scenic flights, camel rides, and a "Living Desert" excursion to the Namib coastal dune belt. Later, meet up with your guide for lunch in town. This afternoon, take a fascinating township tour to learn about life in the township, as well as the customs and traditions of some of Namibia's different cultures. You will also get to meet residents, visit local markets and shebeens (taverns), and try out some traditional food at dinner, which will be set up to emulate a "home-style" occasion.

Today after a very early breakfast, set off on your journey north toward Etosha National Park. A picnic lunch will be provided at a scenic location en route; arrival will be in the late afternoon.

Today's journey takes you through the breadth of Etosha National Park as you travel east. Stop along the way for game sightings at selected waterholes, such as Goas, which is normally particularly good for game viewing. Etosha, which was declared a game reserve by the German colonial administration back in 1907, covers an area of 8,600 square miles and consists of grassland, woodland, and savanna. Almost all African game species are represented here, including the "Big Five"-elephant, rhino, Cape buffalo, lion, and leopard. Other highlights include giraffes, zebras, wildebeests, antelopes, hyenas, honey badgers, warthogs, and more than 340 bird species. You will have to leave the park before sunset in order to reach your next destination, the Onguma Tented Camp.

Today is available for a full day of exciting game viewing within the eastern and northern sections of Etosha National Park from the comfort of your specially modified 4x4 safari vehicle. After discussion with your guide, you can either opt to go into the park in the morning and the afternoon, returning to the lodge for lunch and an early afternoon rest; or you can head west across the park to spend more time in the area around Halali; or you can focus on the northern areas around Fischer's Pan and the Andoni Plains if you prefer.

Today, bid Etosha farewell and begin the journey to reach the Cheetah Conservation Fund and the very comfortable Cheetah View EcoLodge. CCF is a Namibian non-profit incorporated association dedicated to the long-term survival of the cheetah and its ecosystems. This is a wonderful highlight with which to conclude your safari. Later this afternoon you will be taken on a sundowner game drive through CCF's own "Little Serengeti," a picturesque open plain spanning 113,668 acres. This very important area of land, which forms part of the Waterberg Conservancy, is home to many free-ranging game species such as oryx, eland, red hartebeest, springbok, steenbok, duiker, warthog, jackals, and many more.

This morning, get together for an orientation to the CCF program and learn about its mission and vision. Start early to watch the Cheetah Run, which is when the non-releasable resident cheetahs get their daily exercise. The cheetah is the world's fastest land animal and Africa's most endangered cat. Uniquely adapted for speed, the cheetah is capable of reaching speeds greater than 68 miles per hour in just over three seconds, and at top speed their stride is 23 feet long. With its long legs and very slender body, the cheetah is quite different from all other cats and is the only member of its genus, Acinonyx. The cheetah's unique morphology and physiology allow it to attain the extreme speeds for which it is famous, and it's often referred to as the greyhound of cats. Continue the day with a visit to the Cheetah Museum, clinic, and goat creamery, as well as an informative presentation on the cheetah, dogs, and livestock that live at the main center. This afternoon, embark on a game drive, take part in discussions about the importance of predators in ecosystems, play team-building games, and take guided nature walks.

This morning, travel to Erindi Reserve, where the cheetahs that have been cared for at CCF are released in the wild. Your destination is the Old Traders Lodge, located in the heart of the expansive Erindi Game Reserve. Arrive with time to settle in and freshen up before lunch, and this afternoon, you will be treated to your first game drive on the private Erindi Reserve. While at the lodge, keep your camera nearby as you walk to and from your suites-guests are likely to spot some friendly, free-roaming locals (four-legged) on their way to one of two watering holes within the Old Traders Camp. You will have an afternoon game drive.

Today is dedicated to exciting and memorable game viewing on the private Erindi Game Reserve. Head out on a game drive in the early morning, returning to the lodge for lunch and an afternoon rest before heading out again later in the afternoon. You will also have time in between activities to relax and enjoy your room, or lounge by the pool amidst your idyllic bush surroundings. The private Erindi Game Reserve is situated in the triangle between Okahandja, Otjiwarongo and Omaruru and comprises of over 172,973 acres of pristine wilderness, presenting an amazing array of diverse landscapes, from golden savannah to dense bush with mountains, natural waterholes, grasslands, and pans. The reserve supports more than 12,000 head of game including lion, rhino, as well as elephant along with large numbers of antelope and other "plains game." In addition to the species one might normally expect to find, there are hippo and crocodile in the dam in front of the lodge as well as waterbuck on the reserve. There is also a pack of wild dog, which can often be seen during a stay in the reserve.

This morning, you will be transferred to the Windhoek International Airport for your flight(s) home.

Welcome home!