Serviced Camping Safari in Namibia

THIRSTLAND JOURNEY SAFARI
13 nights & 14 days namibia pioneer safari, discovering namibia's best

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Namibia Desert Safari - Serviced camping safari, suitable for reasonably fit people; involves some hiking and rugged conditions. This safari travels with a maximum of seven guests in an air-conditioned 4x4 safari vehicle, and accompanied by an expert safari guide throughout. All meals – from lunch on day one, to lunch on day thirteen – are included. A reasonable amount of bottled water, local wine, beer and soft drinks are included on camping nights. Window seat guaranteed throughout.

DAY 1:  WINDOEK
Upon arrival at Windhoek International airport you will be transferred by road to Olive Grove Guest house for dinner and overnight stay.

DAY 2: WATERBERG PLATEAU
After breakfast you will meet your safari guide in the foyer of the Olive Grove Guest House at 08h00. After your guide has briefed you, embark on your safari through Kalahari bush savanna where you will have the chance of seeing several antelope species. Travel off the beaten track towards the Waterberg Plateau, a geological curiosity, supported by walls of steep, red sandstone. Our exclusive campsite is situated in one of the gorges, home to one of Africa’s dwarf antelope species, the Damara Dik-dik. After lunch, enjoy an afternoon walk along the top of the plateau where you may encounter one of Namibia’s endemic bird species, the white tailed shrike.

The Waterberg is one of the few areas in southern Africa where you could encounter four different species of hornbill. The Waterberg Plateau Park was established as a sanctuary for some of Namibia’s endangered mammal species such as the black and white rhino.
Enjoy a sundowner, made special by the sounds of the African bush: baboons settling into a shelter for the night, rock hyrax warning each other against danger and later the haunting call of nightjars and owls.  A delicious dinner will be served under the canopy of indigenous trees surrounding our campsite, while getting your first glimpse of the magnificent southern night skies. 

DAY 3: ETOSHA
After breakfast, continue your journey to our exclusive campsite in the private Fischer's Pan Game Reserve bordering on the world renowned Etosha National Park. On route pass through the small town of Tsumeb, a place rich in interesting mining history. Our campsite is adjacent to the eastern edge of Etosha

National Park. During the afternoon, enjoy your first exploratory game-drive into the eastern Namutoni Region of the Etosha National Park – one of the world's great conservation areas. This afternoon, you are most likely to get a good sighting of one of this region’s endemic antelope: the black faced impala.

DAY 4: ETOSHA
Depart on an early game-drive into Etosha to further explore the eastern side of the park where numerous waterholes and subterranean springs attract an amazing diversity of wildlife. Excellent game-viewing occurs when prides of lion dominate the water resources. Depending on game sightings and movements, you could spend the day in the Park or return to your camp for a freshly prepared lunch and a siesta.

DAY 5: ETOSHA
Today’s departure from our private campsite takes us through the Etosha National Park following the southern boundary of the pan, stopping on route for lunch at one of the rest camps. A full day's game-drive will afford you the opportunity to visit several permanent waterholes abundant with game. Overnight at the Okaukuejo Rest Camp, from where you will have access all evening to a safe viewpoint, at the floodlit waterhole, where black rhino and other nocturnal prowlers are likely to make your game viewing experience worthwhile .
 
DAYS 6, 7: DAMARALAND
After breakfast departure from the park continuing in a westerly direction towards the northern Damaraland Region. Stop for lunch in the Kamanjab area, before crossing over the Grootberg Mountain Pass.  Watch the scenery changing drastically, as you approach the arid semi desert pro-Namib region. 
Once on the Etendeka Consession your days will be spent exploring the ancient volcanic landscape of this truly unique area, searching for hidden waterholes. Nights will be spent in our exclusive expedition camp. This area is home to many uniquely desert adapted flora and fauna species. The desert adapted elephants roam at will, mostly following the linear oases of the ephemeral rivers of the northwest.  This is also the refuge of the last population of free ranging black rhino in the world. Your guide will also introduce you to  members of Namibia’s semi-nomadic pastural tribe, the Ova- Himba. Kaokoland is home to the Himba; a nomadic tribe with a way of life that has remained unchanged for centuries. They can be seen wandering with their herds of goats and cattle from watering hole to watering hole. Clad only with a loincloth, the Himba's paint their bodies with an ochre-red pigment, which protects their skin from the sun. Here we will visit a traditional Himba homestead far off the beaten track and accessible only by our safari vehicles.

Day 8:
Departing from Etendeka, follow the winding desert road southwards, as it takes you to your campsite amongst the granite boulders of Southern Damaraland. This area between the Ugab and Huab Rivers in Southern Damaraland is a vast and unspoiled wilderness. The area boasts magnificent desert scenery,  fascinating geological formations and extensive archaeological sites.

While in the Twyfelfontein area  excursions will be conducted to visit the Twyfelfontein Heritage Site  Engravings, one of the richest areas of rock engravings and Bushmen (San) paintings in Namibia, and the geological formations of the “ Burnt Mountain” and the dolomite columns known as the “Organ Pipes”.

DAYS 9 & 10: SWAKOPMUND
Today’s journey continues through ever changing landscapes into the Namib Desert, before continuing along the Atlantic coastline to Cape Cross – home to more than 80 000 Cape Fur Seals – where the Portuguese seafarer Diego Cao became the first European to set foot on Namibian soil in 1486.
No safari in Namibia is complete without a visit to the quaint coastal town of Swakopmund, where the following two nights will be spent at the Intermezzo Guesthouse – conveniently situated near the beach and within walking distance of the museum and shops. Enjoy some of the town's exciting optional activities such as quad biking, camel riding, dune boarding, or an early  morning dolphin cruise  or sea kayaking from Walvis Bay traveling around Pelican Point.

DAY 11, 12, 13: NAMIB NAUKLUFT
Continue to the Namib-Naukluft, Namibia’s largest National Park, which offers a surprising variety of landscapes and ecosystems ranging from Sossusvlei’s monumental sand dunes to vast quartzite gravel plains, and the rugged Naukluft Mountains along the eastern edge of the Desert. Visit the awe-inspiring dunes of Sossusvlei – the highest dunes in the worlds, many of which are in excess of 300m high. Spend the afternoon climbing and exploring these fascinating dunes and pans before leaving the area for our exclusive pristine campsite in the Naukluft Mountains.

NAMIB NAUKLUFT MOUNTAINS 
The Naukluft Mountains offer a surprising contrast to the surrounding area. Enjoy guided excursions in the area with hiking trails to the plateau, quiver trees and exceptional vistas across the desert plains and over the  Namib “ Sand Sea”. Optional activities include horse riding at a nearby Guest Farm.

DAY 14: SAFARI TERMINATES
After a leisurely breakfast, you will return to Windhoek where your safari terminates in the late afternoon.

END OF SAFARI

UNIQUE FEATURES OF THIS SAFARI:
• An adventure safari incorporating activities (game-drives/ walks) and culture (ancient and modern)
• A mixture of wild camping and camping at exclusive safari locations
• Views/ landscapes
• Peace/ tranquillity – soul food
• Vast night skies
• Maximum 7 guests - guaranteed window seat

Cost:
please contact us for the latest rates
please contact us for the latest rates

Included:
• nine nights fully serviced wilderness camping (all meals, local wine, beer, soft drinks and mineral water included)
• One bungalow and three hotel overnights (meals included)
• Extraordinary game viewing in air-conditioned 4x4 safari vehicles
• Guide, chef and one camp/backup staff
• Maximum seven guests – guaranteed window seat

Excluded:
International & regional airfare, airport taxes, drinks in Swakopmund, visa costs, excursions/entrances in Swakopmund, gratuities and personal expenses, comprehensive travel insurance.

Age limits: The upper age limit for this safari is 70 years, however, guests between the age of 70 and 75 years may be accepted provided that they produce a medical certificate stating that they are fit to travel. Minimum age limit is 12 years.

Private departures are possible, subject to vehicle and guide availability.

Activities:
- Exclusive camping
- Game drives
- Scenic beauty
- Nature walks
- Visit the Cape Cross Seal Colony
- Climb the highest dunes in the world
- Swim in natural rock pools (in the summer)
- Many optional activities in Swakopmund

Best season:
Namibia offers exceptional wildlife and scenery all year round. It is important to take note that certain seasons are ideal for special interest travelers:
- Birding is best during the summer months (Nov - April) because of the greater variety of species to be found.
- Botanical season is from December to May when most plants are in flower.
- Photography is excellent in August and September with cloud build-up in the afternoon that offers spectacular scenes.

Map of safari route:



Extend your stay: to a safari lodge at Etosha or Sossusvlei

Cost of extension:
Contact us for a detailed quote for this lodge extension.

Extend your safari:
to Botswana

to the Victoria Falls

Contact us for a detailed quote on these extensions.

Combining the Thirstland Journey with Botswana or Victoria Falls, offers a diverse and memorable experience.

Term and conditions: Please read our terms and conditions for more information on how to book, travel insurance, cancellation fees, baggage and other important subjects.


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