Selfdrive Namibia Highlights

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Day 1

Met on arrival at Windhoek’s Hosea Kutako Airport by a representative of Tour d’Afrique who will hand over your travel documents, brief you on your routing and assist with any queries you may have. Collect rental vehicle. Departing Windhoek you head south towards Rehoboth, the traditional home of the Baster people. The Basters migrated north from the Cape and settled in this fertile area in the 1870’s. Their name derives from the word “bastard” and refers to their “mixed blood” (European and Khoikhoi) – far from being insulted by such a reference the Baster people are very proud of their heritage. Bidding farewell to the tar roads you turn west and head to the edge of the escarpment. En route you travel past huge cattle and sheep farms (on average in this area 12 – 15 thousand hectares in size) and encounter Camelthorn trees supporting the huge Sociable Weaver nests. These tiny birds build communal nests that can house hundreds of birds. At the edge of the escarpment you have a panoramic view down onto the desert plains with the distant dune fields glowing orange on the horizon. A stop at Solitaire (the most aptly named settlement in Namibia) reveals there is life in the Namib – in the form of hardy desert dwellers! A cup of tea, cold drink and slice of Mooses excellent apple cake goes down well … oh and fuel is available here too. Continue south to reach your overnight accommodation on the edge of the Namib Dune Sea mid afternoon.
The newly rebuilt Desert Homestead has been designed to incorporate all the features that guests loved about the original lodge, whilst enjoying the benefit of a pristine location only 32 kilometres from Sesriem. The twenty thatched chalets ensure our guests a comfortable stay and the little touches that characterize Homestead hospitality are evident. Meals can be taken in the indoor dining room complete with candles and fireplace, or alternatively on our traditional wide farm verandah, with lanterns and stars adding to the ambience. Activities include sundowner drives, guided walks, Sossusvlei and Naukluft excursions. The Homestead has become a popular destination for horse riders with more lively horses for experienced riders and a selection of peaceful mounts for beginners.
Overnight at Desert Homestead
Bed & breakfast included

Day 2

Namib Desert
An early wake up is recommended this morning to explore the dune fields of the Namib. Travel a short distance north to reach the entrance gate to Sossusvlei and drive deep into the dune fields. What appear to be mountains in the early morning light are revealed by the suns rays as towering dunes. Rising 1000 feet above the plains the dunes of the Namib are simply stunning! Early morning is the best time to explore the dunes, the soft light offers excellent photographic conditions while the rising sun creates depth and contrast. When the road ends you continue our exploration of the dunes by foot or you can utilize the services of the 4x4 shuttle (not included). Explore stark white pans, dotted with ancient dead Camelthorn trees surrounded by towering orange dunes. The Namib abounds with life. Reputedly the oldest desert in the world the level of animal, insect and plant adaptation lends credence to this claim. On the way back to the lodge you can explore the small but beautiful Sesriem canyon where the history of the ancient Tsauchab River is etched on the canyon walls.
Overnight at Desert Homestead
Bed & breakfast included

Day 3

Swakopmund
A long but interesting day today. We recommend you arrange a picnic lunch from the lodge and take the whole day to drive across the Namib to Swakopmund. The Namib is a desert of great contrast, offering dunes, rocky canyons and vast gravel plains. Travelling north you descend into the Kuiseb Canyon and cross the Tropic of Capricorn. But there is no lush vegetation out here – only shimmering plains and brooding mountains. Travelling across the Namib you may encounter hardy desert species like the oryx, springbok, ostrich and the rare Hartmanns Mountain Zebra. Curious little ground squirrels dash out of their burrows with tails flared and raised above their bodies like an umbrella, while Lappet-faced vultures circle on thermals high above the desert, their brilliant eyes constantly searching the plains. As you near the coast the temperature begins to drop. The cold Benguela current moderates the coastal temperatures and creates the life-sustaining fogs that drift inland. On the plains you find vast fields of amazing lichens and the weird and wonderful Welwitchia Mirabilis, a dwarf tree unique to the Namib Desert and which has a lifespan of up to 1500 years. Driving along the rim of the undulating Moonvalley you reach the coastal town of Swakopmund late this afternoon. Founded in 1892 during the period of German colonial rule, Swakopmund served as the territory’s main harbour for many years. Today this historical desert town, surrounded by desert and sea, is a popular destination with a Bavarian flare! (Note: a shorter route directly across the Namib to Walvis Bay is also available).
Situated a few moments from the beach in a quiet residential suburb in historic Swakopmund, Seabreeze Guest House offers 10 elegantly furnished en suite rooms. The guest house is within 20 minutes walk of the city centre and a short drive to a variety of excellent restaurants. After a day exploring the town and surrounding desert watch the sunset from the balcony while enjoying a sundowner or relax in the lounge, snuggle up in front of the roaring log fire and enjoy the company of your hosts. Facilities such as telephone, fax and laundry are available as well as off road parking and indoor braai facilities. Sea Breeze is owner managed and is well known in Namibia for its warm hospitality.
Overnight at Seabreeze Guest House
Bed & breakfast included

Day 4

Swakopmund
A full day to explore Swakopmund and the surrounding areas. The town offers good opportunities for shopping (such opportunities are rare in Namibia!) and we suggest a stroll around the town, a visit to the semi-precious stone shops, the art galleries, bookshops and the tannery, which makes our very own brand of leather shoes, locally called vellies. The small museum has a wonderful collection and concentrates on the Namib Desert and the history of Swakopmund. The two coastal towns are also the adrenaline centres of Namibia with a variety of activities on offer. Join a marine cruise on the quiet waters of Walvis Bay where you will encounter our marine life, including curios seals, endemic dolphins, pelicans and flamingoes. For the lucky few sightings of the strange Mola Mola (Sun Fish) basking in the bay is a highlight and whales (after which the bay is named) are slowly returning to these protected waters. Enjoy fresh Namibian oysters and sparking wine while watching Cape Fur seals and Dolphins frolic around the boats. Scenic flights along the coast offer a birds eye view of the desert and are the only way to view the shipwrecks in this area. For the speedsters there’s quad biking, kite surfing, dune boarding, dune ski-ing, sky-diving and para-gliding.
Overnight at Seabreeze Guest House
Bed & breakfast included

Day 5

Damaraland
This morning you travel up the desolate Skeleton Coast for a short while before turning inland. Heading across the plains you entering an area locally referred to as Damaraland. The scenery changes and the temperature once again increase as you move inland. You reach the red valley of Twyfelfontein this afternoon. This newly proclaimed world heritage site is one of the largest collections of rock engravings in southern Africa – with over 2 500 engravings recorded. The name Twyfelfontein is Afrikaans for “doubtful fountain” a reference to the small fountain located in the area. The farmer who purchased this land doubted that the fountain could produce enough water to support the variety of game depicted in the engravings. In the same area one finds the geological formations of the burnt mountain and the organ pipes.
Twyfelfontein Lodge is located five kilometres from the historic Twyfelfontein rock engravings in the Uibasen Conservancy. Other attractions in the area include the geological formations of Burnt Mountain, the Organ Pipes and the Petrified Forest. The main building houses the restaurant, lounge, bar and curio shop and a swimming pool. Accommodation consists of 57 twin-bedded rooms with en suite facilities. Activities include hot air balloon rides, scenic flights, nature walks, and guided excursions to the nearby rock art and geological formations. Interesting fauna and flora, like desert elephant and black rhino, Welwitchia mirabilis and the endemic Herero Chat are often found on day excursions.
Overnight at Twyfelfontein Lodge
Bed & breakfast included

Day 6

Etosha National Park
Departing from Twyfelfontein you head west towards Khorixas. Along the way you visit the Petrified Forest. A local guide will take you on a short, easy walk to the top of a ridge where fine examples of petrified wood can be seen. These huge logs were deposited an estimated 260 and 320 million years ago during a much wetter period. Look carefully and you can see the growth rings. Research has shown that these trees belong to the Gymnospermae family (cone-bearing plants). At the same site, scattered amongst the petrified logs are several Welwitchia mirabilis, which belong to the same family! At Khorixas you join the good quality tar roads again and it’s an easy drive up to the park. Etosha is home to 114 species of mammals including the rare and endangered black rhino and black-faced Impala. Predators include lion, leopard, cheetah and hyena. The antelope species vary from the giant eland to the diminutive Damara dik dik, while herds of dainty springbok, comical wildebeest and stately kudu are found throughout the park. A great variety of birds, insects and reptiles are also to be found. Spend the remainder of the afternoon game driving or sit at the camps water hole (flood lit for night viewing) or you can join (not included) an afternoon or night drive in open vehicles with park rangers (pre-booking essential).
At the western entrance to Etosha National Park, Okaukeujo is the park’s oldest and most popular resort. A floodlit waterhole visited by plenty of game, especially after sunset, gives Okaukeujo its special character and provides guests with hours of entertainment and the opportunity see animals such as elephant and black rhino from close by. The resort has luxury and standard bungalows, en suite rooms, and camping sites. Other facilities include a bar and restaurant complex, shop, museum, swimming pool, post office and fuel station. Please note: renovations are currently underway. These are expected to be completed by the end of 2007.
Overnight at Okaukeujo Rest Camp
Room only included

Day 7

Etosha National Park
A full day for game viewing in Etosha. With vast areas of Etosha being classified as semi-desert the park cannot support the massive herds of game found in east Africa but it has a great diversity of species and a haunting quality that few parks can match. Etosha, or “the great white place” owes its unique landscape to the Etosha pan, a vast shallow depression of approximately 5000 square kilometres. A series of waterholes along the southern edge of the pan attract game into the area. The dry season (May to December) is a particularly rewarding time for game viewing as the rain water has dried up and the game is forced to rely on the life supporting waterholes. Long lines of Zebra, Wildebeest, Kudu, Oryx and Springbok plod along ancient paths from distant grazing areas to the waterholes. Herds of Elephant drinking copious amounts and extended wallowing in the water often mean the thirsty antelope have to wait patiently till the pachyderms have finished! Then they still face the challenge of reaching the water without becoming prey to predators such as Lion and Leopard that wait at the waterholes knowing the antelope have to drink.
Overnight at Okaukeujo Rest Camp
Room only included

Day 8

Fly out
Bidding farewell to Etosha you head south via Otjiwarongo to reach Okahandja, a small town of great significance to the Herero people. Every year in August thousands of Herero’s converge at Okahandja to pay homage at the graves of their great chiefs. In 1904 a Herero uprising broke out, leading to many bloody battles against the Germans in which the Herero suffered great loss of life. On 26 August 1923 Chief Samuel Maherero was laid to rest in Okahandja and, since then this day, has been celebrated annually at Okahandja by the Herero people. The town is also an important centre for woodcarvers from the north. They practice their skills at the Mbangura Woodcarvers market next to the main road at both the entrance and exit of the town. You continue south on route B1 to reach Windhoek. Please bear in mind that the airport is located 45 kilometres east of the city. Check in for international flights is two hours before departure.