Footloose Adventure Travel: [Country and trip]

Footloose itineraries - Best of Namibia

BEST OF NAMIBIA

A 15 day day tour to the best Namibia has to offer, from the Fish River Canyon in the far south to Etosha Game Park in the north.

This self drive trip is offered at three levels - luxury, standard and camping. The itinerary below shows the standard accommodation.

Day 1: Rivendell Guest House, Windhoek, breakfast included
Land at Windhoek International Airport today where you will collect your hire car and drive to the city centre. A representative of ATI will meet you at Rivendell to go through your itinerary and hand over your map & vouchers. Rivendell Guest House is located in a quiet suburb close to the city centre. Relax around the swimming pool or lounge area, and maybe take the afternoon to explore the shops and restaurants of the city. Facilities include TV lounge, swimming pool, self-catering kitchen & small bar.

Day 2: Kirpotib Guest Farm, dinner & breakfast included
This charming guest farm is the home of African Kirikara weaving and you will have the opportunity to see the workings of this local industry first hand on a guided tour around the working farm. The guest rooms are beautifully decorated and set in quiet gardens planted with indigenous trees and overlooking the wide open plains of the Kalahari. Enjoy delicious farm cooking, excellent hospitality and a relaxing night in this tranquil corner of Namibia. A guided tour of the farm workshops, and a farm drive are included in your stay, and additional optional activities are available. These include a visit to the Anin embroidery project, a private reserve drive or a visit to a private observatory. Approx. 2.5 hours drive.

Day 3: Anib Lodge, Kalahari, dinner & breakfast included
Anib is a pretty air conditioned lodge, situated on the edge of the Kalahari Desert and the perfect place from which to explore and experience the rare beauty of this region. The lodge offers walking 2-hour game drives and great sunset opportunities on their private 10,000ha reserve, followed by a gourmet meal in their intimate restaurant. Approx. 2 hours drive.

Day 4: Canon Roadhouse, Fish River Canyon, dinner & breakfast included
Travel via the B4 to Seeheim and then the C12 to Canon Roadhouse, situated at the northern end of Fish River Canyon and close to the many viewpoints over this magnificent landmark, one of the largest canyons in the world. If time allows, visit the viewpoints at Hobas and take a short walk along the Canyon edge to watch the spectacular sunset. Canon Roadhouse is a small and friendly lodge with a bar, restaurant and swimming pool, enjoy the relaxed atmosphere and excellent Italian flavour of the restaurant tonight. Approx. 6 hours drive.

Days 5&6: Klein Aus Vista, dinner & breakfast included
Klein Aus is a beautifully positioned private farm located on the edge of the Namib Desert with spectacular views from the boulder strewn hillsides across wide open plains. You will stay in the unique stone chalets set into the hillside. There are self-guided walks that can be taken on the farm, optional nature drives, or you may decide to just relax in the peaceful surroundings.

You may like to drive to Luderitz for the day where you could enjoy an optional boat cruise (this can be booked through Luderitz tours & safaris who have an office on the high street), or a drive out to Diaz Point where you may see some of the many bird species that can be found here. Nearby is the ghost town of Kolmanskop, abandoned to the desert when the diamond mining became unfeasible in this area. Here you may like to take a local guide to show you the fascinating buildings, still standing in the windblown dunes. At present these guided trips operate at 09h30 and 11h00 Monday to Saturday or 10h00 on Sundays. Tickets can be purchased from Luderitz Tours & Safaris on Bismark Street. Return to Klein Aus this afternoon. Approx. 3.5 hours drive.

Days 7&8: Desert Homestead, dinner & breakfast included
Desert Homestead is a beautifully decorated and friendly establishment with a bar, restaurant and pool and optional horse riding or nature drives within this spectacular area can be arranged. The lodge is designed in a rustic, farm style and is located just 27km from the entrance to Sesriem & Sossusvlei. Enjoy home cooked meals and friendly service.

On the morning of day 7 you can wake early and drive into the National Park area of Sesriem and onwards towards Sossusvlei, around 70km from the Park entrance. The entrance opens at sunrise and this is the best time of day to see the dunes. You will need to pay National Park entry fees of N$80 per person & N$10 per vehicle per day.

The last section of the road into Sossusvlei is 4x4 area only and you can either leave your vehicle at the car park and proceed either on foot (a beautiful walk), or take the shuttle which usually runs between here and Sossusvlei which is 5km away. The shuttle costs approximately N$100 per person return. The desert can be extremely hot in the middle of the day, so please remember plenty of water, a hat and good walking shoes! Enjoy the amazing scenery of the desert, and maybe take a short walk to Deadvlei, a bizarre collection of ancient camelthorn trees, or climb the nearby dunes. Return to Sesriem and perhaps take a look at Sesriem Canyon before returning to the lodge. Approx. 5 hours drive.

Days 9&10 - Cornerstone Guest House, Swakopmund -
Cornerstone is located on the corner of Rhode Allee and Hendrik Witbooi, at number 40 Hendrik Witbooi.

Cornerstone Guesthouse is a small, private and peaceful bed and breakfast an easy walk away from the sea and the town centre of Swakopmund on Namibia's fascinating Skeleton Coast. Occupying a quiet corner of Swakopmund's old town near the marine museum and the old brewery, Cornerstone Guesthouse offers the charm and intimacy of a family-run B&B combined with the modern amenities of a luxury hotel. Within a few minutes from the guest house you can walk to beaches, cafés, restaurants, lively pubs, Swakopmund tourist attractions and a variety of interesting shops and markets. All rooms have en suite bathrooms with large solar-assisted showers and modern fittings.

They offer an inclusive breakfast with a fresh selection of fruits, juices, yoghurts, breads, preserves and eggs and bacon cooked to order. Wash that all down with their freshly brewed coffee or your choice of tea and you'll be ready to explore the attractions of Swakopmund and the Skeleton Coast.

Days 9&10: Sea Breeze Guest House, Swakopmund, breakfast included
Drive onwards to the coast this morning on the C19 & C14, via Solitaire where petrol is available. This road is all gravel until you reach Walvis Bay, and the mountain passes are quite steep so, again, please drive very carefully! You may like to stop at Walvis Bay to see the famous lagoon, a wetland of international importance and home to many bird species including greater flamingos.

Swakopmund itself is a fascinating and intriguing resort town, complete with German half wooden architecture, monuments, historic buildings, well maintained gardens and palm lined avenues, coffee bars and great seafood restaurants. The weather is unpredictable. Temperatures rarely drop below 15C and rainfall is practically zero, the town is subjected to 9 months of morning fogs each year. These damp and grey conditions often result in cool temperatures persisting the whole day, but this mist band, stretching up to 30km inland, gives water and life to the deserts plants & animals giving rise to 80 types of lichen and ancient Welwitschia plants. The many ingenious adaptations to water collection, like the Tok-Tokki beetle which condenses vapour on its raised back, make for fascinating walks and drives in the 'Moon Landscape' or 'Welwitschia Drive', located close to the town.

In addition, there are many adventure activities such as sand boarding, tandem parachuting, fishing & quad biking which can be arranged prior to arrival. We can also recommend some excellent day trips including the marine sanctuary of Sandwich Harbour, a unique environment comprising towering dunes, a freshwater lagoon and the wild Atlantic Ocean. Alternatively, a half day boat cruise from Walvis Bay may offer the opportunity to see dolphins, fur seals and many species of marine birds.

Please ask us for advice on restaurants, the more popular ones should be booked in advance and we are happy to do this for you. Sea Breeze is a quiet friendly guest house located on the beach front, just outside the town centre. The individually decorated rooms add a personal touch to your base for exploring Namibia's favourite coastal town. Enjoy excellent breakfasts and a relaxing time overlooking the Atlantic Ocean. Approx. 5 hours drive.

Day 11: Twyfelfontein Country Lodge, dinner & breakfast included
Continue your journey this morning, driving towards Damaraland. The scenery changes slowly today from wide, open gravel plains to the mountainous region of Damaraland. Perhaps take a detour to visit the fur seal colony of Cape Cross which opens each day at 10am. You will drive past the Brandberg, Namibia's highest mountain, and onwards to the dry Huab River. Look out for the rare desert elephant along your drive.

You will arrive at Twyfelfontein Country Lodge this afternoon. The lodge has a scenic bar and restaurant overlooking the dry, boulder strewn plains and you may enjoy relaxing around the swimming pool this afternoon. Alternatively you could take part in the optional nature drive searching for desert elephant, or perhaps hire a mountain bike to explore the nearby area. Maybe make an excursion to the Twyfelfontein rock etchings and paintings today, a local guide will escort you around the ancient hillsides which are open for guests between 08:00 and 17:00. This area is covered in numerous fascinating examples of San rock art and is well worth a visit where a local guide will explain the area to you. The 'Burnt Mountain', an interesting area of volcanic rock, is also close by as are the dolomite 'organ pipes'. Approx. 4.5 hours drive.

Day 12: Okaukuejo rest camp, Etosha, breakfast included
Make your way further north via Khorixas & Outjo to Etosha National Park. Etosha in general offers excellent game viewing opportunities by either day while simply driving or by night from floodlit waterholes.

The Park is dominated by the vast Etosha salt pan, and many water holes exist, joined by a network of well maintained gravel roads to enable visitors the best chances of seeing the many inhabitants of Namibia's premier wildlife reserve. Species present in the Park include lion, leopard, cheetah, elephant, rhino, giraffe & zebra in addition to many antelope and bird species.

You will need to pay park entry fees of N$80 per person per day and N$10 per vehicle. These unfortunately cannot be paid in advance. The National Park rest camps can be visited for lunch, a swim or simply a quick break, each camp having a restaurant, small shop & petrol station. Care should be taken to be inside the main Park gates and also back in your rest camp before sunset when the Park gates close. Approx. 3.5 hours drive.

Day 13 - Onguma Bush Camp
To reach Onguma from the Namutoni (Von Lindequist) gate of Etosha, drive out of the Park and turn immediately left, following the Onguma markers for 9km to the lodge.

This quiet and well positioned lodge offers six air-conditioned thatched bungalows, one family room, a campsite, swimming pool and open restaurant. The bird life in this area is outstanding with over 300 species having been recorded. The farm is also home to the largest breeding colony of white-backed vulture in Namibia.

Etosha in general offers excellent game viewing opportunities while simply driving. The Park is dominated by the vast Etosha salt pan, and many water holes exist, joined by a network of well maintained gravel roads to enable visitors the best chances of seeing the many inhabitants of Namibia's premier wildlife reserve. Species present in the Park include lion, leopard, cheetah, elephant, rhino, giraffe & zebra in addition to many antelope and bird species. You will need to pay park entry fees of approximately N$80 per person per day and N$10 per vehicle. These unfortunately cannot be paid in advance. Okaukuejo & Halali rest camps can be visited for lunch, a swim or simply a quick break, each camp having a restaurant, small shop & petrol station. Care should be taken to be outside the Park before sunset when the gates close.

Day 14: Okonjima Main Camp, dinner & breakfast included
Drive to Okonjima today and arrive in time for lunch, or for the afternoon activities which begin at 15:00 in winter or 16:00 in summer. Petrol can be purchased on the way at Okahandja where there is also an extensive craft market. Okonjima is home to the Africat foundation which works with farmers and the public to conserve the big cat species of Namibia. The unique optional activities here include lion viewing, nature walks, cheetah & leopard tracking, and bushman walks. After dinner you will also be offered the opportunity to visit a night hide where many nocturnal animals, including porcupine, honey badger and leopard are frequently sighted. Accommodation at Main Camp is in a garden room. Approx. 3.5 hours drive.

Day 15: Fly out of Windhoek
Make your way back to Windhoek Airport today in time to connect with your return flight. Approx. 4 hours drive.

Includes:
4X4 hire, 3* accommodation, meals and activities as stated plus maps, 24-hour support and instruction.

Namibia can be visited at any time of the year. June - September is the coolest and driest period

4X4 hire, Standard accommodation is shown - luxury is a higher quality and full camping equipment is provided for that option, meals and activities as stated plus maps, 24-hour support and instruction.

Meals in the cities, alcoholic beverages, taxes, trips, extras, laundry service, additional tours, insurance, airline tickets (where applicable), sleeping bags, hiking boots and personal clothing and equipment.