Namibia Northern Highlights Safari

Namibia Northern Highlights Safari - A 13 Day Safari - From £2,100 per person sharing

Day 1

On your arrival into Eros International Airport in Windhoek, you will be met by one of World Big Cat Safaris representatives who will assist you with your vehicle collection. They will also go over the itinerary with you and answer any questions you may have. It is a short drive to the guesthouse where you have the rest of the day at leisure.

Overnight: Elegant Guesthouse – is an upmarket guesthouse with 6 luxury ensuite double rooms. There is a guest lounge and a lovely garden with a plunge pool

Day 2

This morning after breakfast you hit the road and drive about 5 hours north to Damaraland. This afternoon why not relax around the pool that is wedged in-between the boulders offering fantastic views. You can enjoy guided game drives in search of the desert adapted elephants and black rhino.

Overnight: Mowani Mountain Camp – has 12 luxury ensuite tents hidden amongst the boulders. Each tent has a private deck with views out over the incredible Damaraland (B/D)

Day 3

Our suggestion for today is to drive to nearby Twyfelfontein which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site because of the 2000 ancient rock carvings which were created over a thousand years, all before 1000 AD. They were done by the hunter-gathers of the region and depict carvings of animals and people. This can be done on your own or as part of a tour from the lodge (a supplement is payable at the lodge for activities) so please speak to the reception to get more details.

Overnight: Mowani Mountain Camp (B/D)

Day 4

Continue further into Damaraland to the private concession of Palmwag, home to desert adapted elephant and black rhino. The drive should take about 2 ½ hours which gives you the afternoon to go on a game drive from the lodge. The desert adapted elephants are not considered a different species but are African elephants that have adapted to living in the harsh desert landscape of Damaraland and Koakoveld where they walk up to 70Km per day to find food and water. Another highlight from the lodge is to head out with one of their experienced guides and track the endangered black rhino on foot.

Overnight: Palmwag Lodge – has luxury ensuite bungalows or safari tents as well as a swimming pool, restaurant and lapa area (B/D)

Day 5

Today you have a 6 – 7 hour drive further north to the Kunene River bordering Angola in Namibia’s far north. This is a very remote area of the country and is still home to the nomadic Himba tribes who move their cattle and sheep between grazing lands. As you reach the Kunene escarpment you are greeted with a beautiful sight of the Kunene River and the palm trees that line its bank.

Overnight: Epupa Falls Lodge – has 9 Meru style safari tents with ensuite bathrooms and a private veranda overlooking the Kunene River. There is a plunge pool, lounging area and a suspension bridge leading to a small island where guests can relax (B/D)

Days 6 and 7

You have 2 full days in the remote area of Namibia to enjoy the tranquillity of it. There are things to keep you busy including visiting one of the local Himba tribes and learning more about their nomadic lifestyle. Take walks through the forests which are home to numerous birds including parrots, fish eagles, bee-eaters and many more. For the more adventurous you can go canoeing down the river. The Epupa Falls are a very beautiful set of waterfalls that are 700 metres wide and cascade about 35 meters down.

Overnight: Epupa Falls Lodge (B/D)

Day 8

This morning you leave this paradise and head back south to the Grootberg Lodge which is the first middle market lodge to be owned 100% by the conservancy. Depending on your time of arrival you may have the chance to participate in one of the activities on offer from the lodge including horse riding, rhino tracking, game walks or game drives. Alternatively relax by the pool and enjoy the views down the valley.

Overnight: Grootberg Lodge – has 12 bungalows that have been built from the local rocks. Each is ensuite and has a private deck with views down the valley (B/D)

Day 9

From Grootberg it is a 4 – 5 hour drive to the Etosha National Park home to 114 mammal species and hundreds of different birds. Etosha, which means “great white place”, is dominated by the massive pan that covers about 25% of the park. There are 114 mammal species including lion, black and white rhino, elephant, lion, leopard, cheetah, gemsbok, giraffe, springbok and much, much more.

Overnight: Okaukuejo Bush Chalet – has several ensuite chalets with easy access to the floodlit waterhole. Okaukuejo is the main camp inside the Etosha National Park and has a restaurant as well as a swimming pool for guests (B)

Day 10 and 11

You have 2 full days to go game viewing in the Etosha National Park. The best time for wildlife viewing is in the early mornings and afternoons when it is cool and the animals are most active. There are several manmade waterholes throughout the park which attracts numerous animals and birds. Fischer’s Pan is a magnet for water birds including flocks of flamingos. Most activity happens around the waterholes often attracting large herds of kudu, springbok, giraffe, wildebeest, black faced impala, oryx and elephant. These in turn attract the predators like cheetah, lion and leopard who often lie in wait around the waterholes ready for an ambush.

Overnight: Okaukuejo Bush Chalet (B)

Day 12

You can enjoy an early morning game drive in the Etosha National Park before heading south to the AfriCat Foundation which rescues lion, cheetah, leopard and wild dog from farmers who persecute them. This afternoon you will head out with the guide who will radio track some of the leopard that live inside the 4500Ha enclosure. They are semi wild and catch their own food. There is a hide that is floodlight giving you the chance to observe the nocturnal animals that some down to drink under the cover of darkness.

Overnight: Okanjima Main Camp – Standard View Room – is the old farmhouse which has been converted into 6 ensuite rooms that are close to the lapa (the gathering place), swimming pool and garden area (B/D)

Day 13

This morning you will have the chance to visit the cheetah project which gives you an insight into the welfare work of the AfriCat Foundation. After this amazing experience you need to drive the 2 ½ hours back to Windhoek and drop the car off at the rental office in time for your international flight home (B)