11 Day Southern Adventurer
Visit to the red dunes of the Kalahari Desert and learn how the desert flora and fauna adapt to the harsh conditions of the Kalahari Desert. A short visit to the Quiver Tree Forest near the town of Keetmanshoop is worth your time.
Available in Guided & Self-Drive Tours
The name Quiver Tree refers to the Bushmen’s ancient custom of hollowing out the tree’s branches, and using them as quivers in which to carry their hunting arrows. COntinue to the Fish River Canyon. the world second largest canyon,It took hundreds of millions of years to evolve into its current shape and is161km long and up to 27km wide. The depth varies from 457m to 549m. Drive Through the Namib Desert to the small settlement of Aus, and the desert-adapted feral horses. From here proceed to Sossusvlei. A large clay pan, surrounded by massive dune fields.
Tour Plan
This safari is offered in standard accommodation and camping versions. If you prefer luxury accommodation please inquire.
Included
* Accommodation / Campsite and activities as set out in itinerary
* Car rental as indicated
* Meals as stated in itinerary
* VAT: Tourism levy
* Welcome Pack
Excluded
* International and other flights;
* Visas
* Fuel
* Additional meals and optional activities;
* Personal insurance; tips/gratuities;
* Items of a personal nature;
* Entry fees to parks and places of interest;
* Extras for car hire as indicated below
Standard Inclusions for car rental- these might vary depending on the car rental - All vehicles on zero excess
* Kilometres
* Premium cover
* Contract fee
* Tyre & glass damage
* Airport transfers
* 1-2 spare tyres
* Unlimited additional drivers
Standard exclusions for car rental- these might vary depending on the car rental - All vehicles on zero excess
One-way drop-off fees
Additional equipment
Fines & fine handling fee
Lost key call-out fee
Fuel
From 2019 proposed park entry fees: N$250/person/day; N$100/child under 16 years and N$50/vehicle day – subject to change – please note that visitors must be in rest camps or outside the park – gates open/close at sunrise/sunset
Extra for Camping vehicle inclusions for car rental- these might vary depending on the car rental - All vehicles on zero excess
* Standard Camping Equipment (2-4 pax)
* Rooftop Tent OR Ground Tent
Please inquire for the details list of camping equipment.
Day 1: Destination: Kalahari Namibia
Spreading across Botswana, South Africa and Namibia, the Kalahari meaning ‘the great thirst’ is an exceptionally beautiful living desert. The landscape is characterized by a large semi-arid sandy savannah draped over a gently rolling inland sea of sand covering most of Botswana and large parts of Namibia and South Africa. It is also the last bastion of the indigenous San people with the modern world having enveloped all the other areas they once roamed. The Namibian portion is made up of red sands covered in thin, wispy, mostly golden grass and dotted with acacia trees and wide-ranging wildlife including gemsbok, impala, jackals and cheetah.
Accommodation: Kalahari Anib Lodge Gondwana Collection Namibia
Description
Property Facilities
24-hour Security, Bar, Eco Friendly, Internet Access (Complimentary), Internet Access (Paid), Laundry Service (Available), Mobile Connectivity, Pool, Restaurant, Secure Parking
Room Facilities
Air Conditioning, Hair Dryer, Heater, Laundry Service (Available), Mosquito Nets, Safe, Shower, Tea / Coffee, Verandah
Your Stay
1 Night Bed and Breakfast
Experiences: KALAHARI ANIB LODGE GONDWANA COLLECTION NAMIBIA • KALAHARI NAMIBIA
Day Notes
Day 2: Destination: Fish River Canyon
River Canyon measures a whopping 160 kilometres in length, at times 27 kilometres in width and 550 metres in depth. The awe-inspiring natural beauty of this ancient geological marvel draws visitors from around the globe. For those looking for adventure, the intense 85 kilometre Fish River Hiking Trail through1.5 billion years of geological history will definitely thrill avid adventure enthusiasts, and for visitors looking to relax, head over to the canyon’s southern end to enjoy a soak in the mineral waters of the renowned hot springs of Ai-Ais, or take in the spectacularly scenic views from Hobas Restcamp as well as numerous other viewpoints along its rim. Other popular activities include: scenic chartered flights, horse riding, nature drives and seasonal kayaking.
Accommodation: Fish River Lodge
Description
Property Facilities
Bar, Eco Friendly, Malaria Free, Mobile Connectivity, Pool, Restaurant, Secure Parking
Room Facilities
En-Suite, Fan, Outside Shower, Safe, Shower, Verandah
Your Stay
2 Nights Bed and Breakfast
Experiences: FISH RIVER LODGE • FISH RIVER CANYON
Day Notes
Canyon Rim Walks
Canyon Sundowner Drive
Canyon Rim to River Hike (New)
Day 4: Destination: Aus
Perched above the plains of the Namib Desert in the rocky Aus Mountains, the small village of Aus lies at the heart of phenomenal botanic diversity. Aus serves as an excellent base from which to see the area’s major attraction: the feral horses of the Namib Desert, which run wild and free in the sparsely vegetated plains. The best place for viewings is at the water trough at Garub, which lies just twenty kilometres away from Aus. Visitors can gain insight into the Succulent Karoo by visiting beautiful Gondwana Sperrgebiet Rand Park, home to the most biodiverse desert in the world. Don’t miss the opportunity to camp under the famously clear Namibian night sky and experience the desert landscape on horseback.
Accommodation: Klein-Aus Vista Desert Horse Inn Gondwana Collection Namibia
Description Where the subtle colours of the grassy Pro-Namib merge with Namib sands in a lovers’ embrace, you’ll find Klein Aus Vista. Surrounded by the rocky Aus hills, Desert Horse Inn is an attractive base for a sojourn in south-western Namibia en route to the famed dunes of Sossusvlei. Location: 2 km west of Aussm on the B4 (Aus/Wild Horses/Kolmanskuppe/Lüderitz) Property Facilities 24-hour Security, Bar, Eco Friendly, Internet Access (Complimentary), Internet Access (Paid), Laundry Service (Available), Mobile Connectivity, Pool, Restaurant, Secure Parking Room Facilities En-Suite, Fan, Fridge, Heater, Laundry Service (Available), Safe, Shower, Tea / Coffee, Verandah
Your Stay
2 Nights Bed and Breakfast
Experiences: KLEIN-AUS VISTA DESERT HORSE INN GONDWANA COLLECTION NAMIBIA • AUS
Kolmanskop
Diaz Point Coffee Shop
Day Notes
Day 6: Destination: NamibRand Nature Reserve
Spanning an area of 172,200 hectares and encompassing four distinct ecosystems, the NamibRand Reserve of southern Namibia is among the largest privately owned game parks in Southern Africa. Founded to conserve the unique environment and wildlife species of the Namib Desert, the park’s mix of dunes, mountains, rocky outcrops, sandy flats, and gravel plains provides habitats for a diversity of mammals, including hyenas, jackals, foxes, antelopes, and various wild cats. A plethora of bird species, reptiles, insects, and frogs also have their home here, alongside an array of plant species. Discover the mysterious ‘fairy circles’, unexplained bare patches in the sand, or enjoy a night of sublime stargazing – having been named Africa’s first International Dark Sky Reserve, it is one of the least light-polluted areas in the world.
Accommodation: Namibrand Family Hideout
NAMIBRAND NATURE RESERVE
Your Stay
2 Nights Self Catering
Description
Experiences: NAMIBRAND FAMILY HIDEOUT • NAMIBRAND NATURE RESERVE
Day Notes
Day 8: Destination: Sesriem
As there is no accommodation at Sossusvlei, visitors to this desert wilderness are likely to end up staying at Sesriem, 65 kilometres away, where camps and lodges serve as a base from which to explore the dunes. Sesriem Canyon, a deep chasm carved through the rocks by water, is a striking natural feature of the area that is best explored on foot. Stony walls rise up sharply on both sides of the canyon, while birds roost in its crags and lizards dart along the ledges. The canyon’s name was coined when early settlers used it as a water source, using six lengths of leather (‘ses riem – six thongs) tied together to lower buckets into the water at the base of canyon.)
Accommodation: Desert Camp
Description
Property Facilities
Bar, Barbeque Facilities, Communal Dining, Eco Friendly, Meal on Request, Pool, Secure Parking
Room Facilities
Air Conditioning, Cooking Facilities, Disabled Rooms, En-Suite, Fridge, Safe, Shower, Verandah
Experiences: DESERT CAMP • SESRIEM
Dead Vlei This ancient clay pan was once an oasis, studded with acacias and fed by a river that suddenly changed course, leaving the earth to dry up along with the trees it previously supported. So dry were the climatic conditions that the trees never decomposed – instead they were entirely leached of moisture so that today, 900 years later, they remain as desiccated, blackened sentinels dotting the pan’s cracked surface. Surrounded by the red-pink dunes of the Namibia Desert, they create a surreal spectacle that is a photographer’s dream. Sesriem Canyon Sesriem Canyon is a captivating natural wonder located in the heart of the Namib Desert in Namibia. Carved over millions of years by the Tsauchab River, this narrow gorge is a testament to the power of erosion. The name Sesriem comes from the Afrikaans and Dutch words for six leather straps, which early pioneers used tied together to draw water from the deep pools within the canyon. Sesriem Canyon is not only a geological marvel but also a haven for unique desert flora and fauna, making it a popular stop for tourists exploring the surreal landscapes of the Namib Desert. Dune 45 Named for its location 45 kilometres past the town of Sesriem, Dune 45 is renowned for its elegant shape, which – along with its position close to the road – have earned it the distinction of ‘most photographed dune in the world’. If you’re not keen for the strenuous hike to the top of Big Daddy, Dune 45 is a more forgiving alternative, standing at only 80 metres and featuring a much gentler gradient.
Day Notes
Experiences: DESERT CAMP • SESRIEM
Dead Vlei This ancient clay pan was once an oasis, studded with acacias and fed by a river that suddenly changed course, leaving the earth to dry up along with the trees it previously supported. So dry were the climatic conditions that the trees never decomposed – instead they were entirely leached of moisture so that today, 900 years later, they remain as desiccated, blackened sentinels dotting the pan’s cracked surface. Surrounded by the red-pink dunes of the Namibia Desert, they create a surreal spectacle that is a photographer’s dream. Sesriem Canyon Sesriem Canyon is a captivating natural wonder located in the heart of the Namib Desert in Namibia. Carved over millions of years by the Tsauchab River, this narrow gorge is a testament to the power of erosion. The name Sesriem comes from the Afrikaans and Dutch words for six leather straps, which early pioneers used tied together to draw water from the deep pools within the canyon. Sesriem Canyon is not only a geological marvel but also a haven for unique desert flora and fauna, making it a popular stop for tourists exploring the surreal landscapes of the Namib Desert. Dune 45 Named for its location 45 kilometres past the town of Sesriem, Dune 45 is renowned for its elegant shape, which – along with its position close to the road – have earned it the distinction of ‘most photographed dune in the world’. If you’re not keen for the strenuous hike to the top of Big Daddy, Dune 45 is a more forgiving alternative, standing at only 80 metres and featuring a much gentler gradient.
Day Notes
Day 10: Windhoek
Situated in Central Namibia, the cosmopolitan city of Windhoek serves as the capital of the country. It is home to an international airport and a plethora of restaurants, shops, entertainment venues and accommodation options. The city is clean, safe and well-organised, with a colonial legacy that is reflected in its many German eateries and shops, and the widespread use of the German language. Windhoek has an interesting mix of historical architecture and modern buildings, many of which are worth a look, including the Alte Feste an old fort, the 1896 Christuskirche Christ Church, and the more contemporary Supreme Court.
Accommodation: Town Lodge Windhoek
Description
Experiences: TOWN LODGE WINDHOEK • WINDHOEK
Day Notes
Day 11: End of Itinerary
Day Notes
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