Desert, Coast and National Park

The Highlights of Namibia

DAY 1 Touch Down in Windhoek

Arriving into Johannesburg this morning you will connect across to a two-hour flight to Windhoek. You'll transfer on to a light aircraft flight direct to your luxury lodge in Sossusvlei. The flight will allow you your first glimpse of the breathtaking Namibian landscape below. On arrival at the bush airstrip, you will be transferred by 4x4 to your luxury desert accommodation where you can settle in for the rest of the day, ready to explore the area in the morning.

DAY 2 Sossusvlei

The dunes and desert of Sossusvlei make this arguably the most breathtaking scenery in all of Namibia. The area is a vast white salt and clay pan, flanked with towering burnt orange dunes. If it is not too hot, climb these same dunes of Sossusvlei and enjoy a 360° panorama of the desert beyond. A short hike away you'll find the eerie Dead Vlei. Its image has graced many a glossy magazine cover, with the skeletal acacia trees that dot the desiccated pan providing foreground interest. Later, drive to nearby Sesriem Canyon.

This two-mile-long gorge was originally carved by water and is one of Namibia's most impressive geological landforms. Hike on foot to experience its rugged beauty before returning to your desert lodge.

DAY 3 Transfer to Swakopmund

Your flight will deliver you to the coastal town of Swakopmund today. This isolated settlement has a Germanic feel to it, a nod to its colonial past. Settle in to your luxury guesthouse accommodation, your base for the next two nights. A well-equipped 4x4, with spare wheel just in case, will be delivered to you at the guesthouse. Your package includes first aid kit, cell phone and Medivac insurance to ensure you've no concerns about safety as you set off to explore one of Africa's most fascinating countries.

If you're keen to test out Namibia's roads, it's a relatively short drive to the nearby town of Walvis Bay. There, you could take a boat trip to Pelican Point, home to a large Cape fur seal colony as well as flamingos and the pelicans that the gave the place its name.

DAY 4 North to Damaraland and Mowani

This morning you'll drive north into the mountainous region known as Damaraland. This remote area is known for its rock art, as well as Brandberg, Namibia's highest mountain and a liberal scattering of wildlife that manage to survive in this barren landscape. Take your time so you can savour the scenic views from your car as you make your way to your comfortable lodge accommodation.

DAY 5 Etosha

This morning you'll depart from Mowani and set off in the direction of Etosha, perhaps Namibia's most famous national park where you can stay at one of our favourite private game reserve, whose accommodation overlooks the watering holes and grazing lands beyond the lodge. Alternatively, there are numerous options to stay within the park boundaries. In the winter dry season, animals crowd the small lakes that dot the vast salt pan. In summer, rainfall produces lush vegetation; this is the best time to visit if you're a keen ornithologist.

In all, over a hundred different species call Etosha home, including lions, leopards, cheetahs, wildebeests, hyenas, zebras, rhinos and elephants.

DAY 6 Onguma Private Game Reserve

A four hour drive east sees you in the vicinity of Onguma Private Game Reserve, located just outside Etosha National Park. One of the highlights of a stay here is the opportunity to spend time in its Onkolo Hide. From this privileged vantage point, you'll be able to watch unseen as animals come to drink at the watering hole, undisturbed. Later, relax and enjoy a massage in the lodge's spa - after today's long drive, it's the perfect way to unwind.

DAY 7 Drive to Okonjima Nature Reserve

Approximately four hours south of Onguma lies Okonjima Nature Reserve, home to the AfriCat Foundation. Established as a welfare organisation and a non-profit in the early 1990s, the Foundation is now a leading player in the fight to protect Namibia's wildlife. Its focus is on conserving large mammals such as leopard, hyena and most famously, cheetah. Education and research are at the heart of what Okonjima does. Settle in and then perhaps take a self-guided hiking trail to see some of the habituated wildlife on the reserve.

DAY 8 Okonjima

An important part of Okonjima's work is its rehabilitation of carnivores. Some of the cheetahs rescued by AfriCat are orphans or were rescued at a young age. As such, they aren't equipped with the hunting skills necessary for a full release back to the wild, and so they are released into the safe confines of the AfriCat reserve. Fitted with radio collars, these creatures are regularly monitored so that they are well looked after.

Join AfriCat's trained rangers on a guided walk to see these big cats up close. Though they are habituated to human contact, rangers and visitors will stay at a safe distance. Other activities on offer at Okonjima include nocturnal safaris and bushmen walks.