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2010 is the year when all eyes turn to Africa to watch football. This is a favourite sport amongst the population of Namibia and the locals enjoy watching and playing the sport whenever the opportunity arises. The guide for this football safari is Orlando Haraseb - the former captain of the Namibia's national football team, the Brave Warriors.
Orlando has a terrific following in Namibia, and is often well-known wherever he goes. The atmosphere in Namibia during this special time will be palatable and travelling with Orlando will augment guests experiences of Namibian culture - really get them down to grassroots level. Not only is he a great footballer, but Orlando has, for over five years, been an enthusiastic and knowledgeable guide for visitors. We're very proud to offer him to lead this safari - where he can show guests his country, pointing out some of Namibia's most spectacular highlights, offer incredible insights to the local cultures and showcase great projects promoting football in the rural areas.
Day 1 - Flight to Namibia
Check in at Heathrow for a scheduled overnight flight from London, via Frankfurt, to Windhoek with Air Namibia.
Includes dinner on the flight.
Day 2 - Namib-Naukluft Park
After arriving in Namibia during early morning and checking through customs, you will be met by your safari guide, Orlando Haraseb. As soon as you land in Africa the atmosphere created by the Football World Cup, a great sporting event, will be evident. All nations surrounding South Africa will be making the most of a time they are proud to be part of. Orlando is the former captain of Namibia's national football team, the Brave Warriors. He is popular throughout the country and will be even more sought out as people turn their attention to football - it will really be a special treat for travellers caught up in this mood.
When everyone is ready and after a short stop in Windhoek to stock up on refreshments, you and your safari group will head southwest out of the city and over the Auas Mountains and Khomas Hochland Highlands. You'll travel along a varied and interesting route, noticing the environment, flora and fauna change considerably as you pass. Stop for a picnic lunch at the top of the escarpment overlooking stunning views, before descending down a mountain pass and on to the Namib Desert's flat, coastal desert plain. After a quick break at the little hamlet of Solitaire for fuel and possibly a cup of tea and cake at the café, you continue onto your accommodation; a comfortable lodge situated on the edge of Namibia's great desert.
Windhoek to Desert lodge: approx. 5˝ hours (300km)
Includes breakfast on the flight, lunch and dinner.
Day 3 - Namib-Naukluft Park
A pre-dawn start takes you to Sossusvlei, home to some of the world's highest dunes and spectacular scenery. It's important to get amongst the desert dunes in the early morning to experience the colours change and deepen as the sun rises. This is the best time for photography when the shifting, contrasting patterns of light and shadow on these dunes offer countless picture opportunities. The experience is always enthralling, and the view from the top, if you have the energy to climb, is spectacular. Spend time walking through the lesser-known corners of Dead Vlei and Sossusvlei with your guide, Orlando, as he points out plants and animals. Dead Vlei is an ancient mineral pan filled with stunted camelthorn trees giving it an ethereal quality, whilst the occasional gemsbok, springbok or ostrich might cross the dunes nearby. After lunch in the desert, and a pause to explore the dramatic rock formations at Sesriem Canyon, you'll return to your lodge.
In the afternoon you'll probably turn your attention to football. Local Namibians love football, it's the real national sport, and the staff working at the safari lodges in this remote area of Namibia have formed their own amateur football league. There may be the chance to watch a local match, or more likely, the chance to view one of the days Football World Cup matches being shown on television. Whatever game is on is probably going to be watched by members of the staff as well as yourselves, and there's no better way to make new friends than to watch such a feel good sport together. Alternatively, an afternoon nature drive on the lodge's own scenic desert reserve may be possible.
Desert lodge to Sesriem to desert lodge: approx. 3 hours (260km)
Includes breakfast, lunch and dinner.
Day 4 - Swakopmund
Take an early breakfast before getting on the move again and driving across the Namib Desert's gravel plains, through the deeply incised Gaub and Kuiseb passes and on to the coastal town of Walvis Bay. Stop for lunch overlooking the town's marine lagoon which usually has a good number of feeding flamingos, pelicans and other water birds. From here it's only a short drive to the pleasant old German seaside town of Swakopmund, where you can relax at your guesthouse. Dinner on this night of your Namibia football safari is for your own account giving you the chance to try out one of the town's many excellent restaurants; the seafood served here is particularly good!
Desert lodge to Swakopmund: approx. 5 hours (310km)
Includes breakfast and lunch.
Day 5 - Swakopmund
There is a wide choice of things to do during your morning in Swakopmund. The town is a major centre for active pursuits and adrenaline activities: for example dune-boarding, quad-biking, scenic flights and tandem sky-diving. Orlando will discuss these and many other options with you (costs are payable locally and activities undertaken at your own risk), and help you make any bookings. Alternatively, you can just relax and explore the town with its art galleries, markets, museums, shops and aquarium.
During the afternoon there is likely to be an arranged football match in the local township of Mondesa. The suburb was established in the early 1950's to provide housing for locals working in Swakopmund. It is now a vibrant, friendly community full of characters who love to welcome visitors and who will be eager to share their favourite sport with you. As part of this football safari, we will make a donation of prize money for the winning team and a smaller donation to the losing team in order to help support the sport in Namibia. As things don't always work as planned in Africa; in the unlikely event that it is not possible to watch a live football match, arrangements will be made for the group to watch whichever World Cup match is showing on that particular day. Lunch and dinner are at your own expense to give the flexibility to allow you to enjoy all the activities available today.
Includes breakfast.
Day 6 - Brandberg
Departing Swakopmund you travel north along the Atlantic coast to Cape Cross Reserve where you can usually get close to a breeding colony for thousands of Cape fur seals. After enjoying time with these gregarious creatures, you head inland across a forbidding stretch of empty and flat desert before reaching the town of Uis. There used to be a busy, thriving community here, based around a large tin mine; but about 15 years ago the mine closed and now it's a much quieter, sleepy spot.
Uis is where your guide, Orlando, went to school and so he has strong ties. Orlando hopes to be able to visit the school with the safari group and show you where he learnt his own football skills as a young boy.
Swakopmund to Brandberg: approx. 4˝ hours (290km)
Includes breakfast, lunch and dinner.
Day 7 - Damaraland
After breakfast and during the cool of the morning, you will take a relatively easy, 90-minute walk to see the renowned 'White Lady' rock painting on the side of Brandberg, the highest mountain in Namibia. Attributed to the Bushman artists, the painting is believed by some to be more than 20,000 years old, and is well worth a visit.
Back in the vehicle it's approximately a two-and-a-half-hour drive to reach Twyfelfontein, a UNESCO World Heritage site of rock engravings created by the talented artisans of ancient peoples. After a walk around this amazing valley, and a spot of lunch, you travel deeper into Damaraland, through picturesque scenery to your accommodation at a comfortable lodge. In the afternoon, there is usually time to join a drive into the surrounding area before sunset.
Brandberg to Damaraland: approx. 6 hours (315km)
Includes breakfast, lunch and dinner.
Day 8 - Damaraland
Not too far away is Orlando's home village, and its nearby here that Orlando has begun setting up a Football Academy. His aim is to give back something to the game and community that he loves. The school will take on around 25 students at a time. These will be enthusiastic youngsters with some football talent and who are considering a career in the sport. Your day will be spent visiting the new academy and the students based there. The amazing atmosphere generated in Africa by the Football World Cup will have reached this remote Namibian community and it won't take much to encourage an impromptu football game joined by Orlando and any travellers who have the energy. Part of your day will also be spent exploring any of the other more scenic sights in the area as you travel between the Football Academy and your safari lodge. As part of this football safari to Namibia, part of your trip cost will be contributed towards the academy to help Orlando in his endeavor.
Includes breakfast, lunch and dinner.
Day 9 - Etosha National Park
Depart early and drive east to your accommodation in Etosha National Park's southern region. You aim to arrive at your lodge in time for a late lunch before you take your first game drive into the park. Etosha is Namibia's renowned wildlife safari destination and you will spend time here driving around spotting animal and bird species or stopping to watch wildlife action at waterholes. You'll return to the lodge in time for a cool drink just before sunset.
Damaraland to southern Etosha: approx. 4 hours (350km)
Includes breakfast, lunch and dinner.
Day 10 - Etosha National Park
Another early start for a quick cup of coffee and breakfast before you head into Etosha for an early game drive. This is best time to view wildlife as they are much more active during the cool of the morning. Etosha Pan is an amazing sight even without the game: an enormous shallow depression coated with silvery-white crystals. It is said to have been the centre of an enormous super-lake, though it's now dry and only fills with rain water in exceptionally wet seasons. A string of waterholes around the Pan's southern perimeter, where you focus your game drives, attract large concentrations of wildlife, especially in the dry season. Head back to your lodge for lunch and in time to relax by the pool during the heat of the day.
During the afternoon we hope to arrange a spontaneous football match with the amateur Etosha league formed by local lodge staff in the area. If that doesn't come about there may be the choice of watching the day's Football World Cup matches on television or returning into Etosha National Park for an afternoon game drive.
Game drives.
Includes breakfast, lunch and dinner.
Day 11 - Flight to London
Enjoy a slightly more leisurely breakfast before driving south, back to Windhoek. There may be enough time to visit the craft markets in Okahandja or Windhoek for last minute souvenirs on the way. Arrive back in the city with a little time to freshen up before transferring to the airport to check in for your flight home. It will be sad to leave Namibia but we hope the safari will have left you with a feeling that you've been part of a very special time in Africa, a time that you shared with the local people.
Etosha to Windhoek: approx. approx. 5˝ hours (410km)
Includes breakfast and lunch. Dinner is on the flight.
Day 12 - Arrive in London
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