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Combining classic Namibian highlights with seldom-seen areas of the north where you'll be almost pioneering,
this is an excellent holiday to Namibia for free-spirited adventurers. You'll experience the spectacular
scenery of the Namib-Naukluft Park and the remarkable wildlife of Etosha, and have the chance
to raft down one of Africa's most exciting rivers. Scattered throughout are sensitive, insightful
introductions to people in a cross-section of Namibia's traditional communities: the Bushman,
Owambo, Himba and Damara people. It's a trip to get you involved; one where you can
really get to grips with Namibia and its cultures and people.
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Lichen Safari Summary:
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| Day 1 |
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Flight to Namibia |
| Day 2 |
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Windhoek, guesthouse |
| Day 3 & 4 |
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Namib-Naukluft Park, camping |
| Day 5 |
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Swakopmund, shared chalets |
| Day 6 |
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Damaraland, chalets |
| Day 7 |
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Kamanjab, camping |
| Day 8 & 9 |
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Kunene River, camping |
| Day 10 |
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Olukonda Village, camping |
| Day 11 |
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Okangororosa Village, camping |
| Day 12 |
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Tsintsabis, camping |
| Day 13, 14 & 15 |
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Etosha National Park, camping |
| Day 16 |
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Flight to London |
| Day 17 |
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Arrive in London |
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DETAILED ITINERARY:
Day 1 - Flight to Namibia
Your holiday to Namibia begins with a scheduled overnight flight from London Gatwick to Windhoek with
Air Namibia.
Day 2 - Windhoek
On arrival in Windhoek, you are transferred to a comfortable guesthouse. The afternoon is free. Relax by the
pool, or wander into town to explore. Dinner is at your own expense as there are plenty of good restaurants to
choose from. Alternatively, you can dine at the guesthouse. You will find your hosts there helpful and friendly,
and our Namibian team is easily contactable and happy to answer any queries you might have.
Day 3 - Namib-Naukluft Park
After breakfast, your guide collects you between 09.00 and 09.30 to begin your drive southwestward over the Eros
Mountains and Khomas Hochland Highlands. Pausing briefly to enjoy spectacular views over the Namib Desert, you
then wind down through the escarpment and on to the Namib's coastal plain. Unbelievably, this harsh environment
is home to many different animals and birds, which your guide helps you to see and understand. Although it almost
never rains here, thick sea mists do penetrate over 100km inland and sustain a remarkable variety of life. You'll
stop for tea, coffee and homemade apple crumble at the atmospheric little desert outpost of Solitaire, from where
it's only a short drive to your campsite at the edge of the desert. Arriving there by late afternoon, you're in
time to watch the evening colours glow and change on the distant mountains to the east.
Day 4 - Namib-Naukluft Park
Rising well before the sun, you drive into the heart of the Great Dune Sea, where the dawn light spreading on the
dunes is usually an amazing sight. You'll walk the last 5km into the dunes with your guide, who shows you the
best spots in and around Sossusvlei and Dead Vlei and points out some of the more interesting flora and fauna. At
about 300 metres, these dunes are amongst the world's highest, and there's time to climb one if you have the
energy: the views are spectacular. You travel back to Sesriem for a leisurely lunch during the heat of the day;
then, as you return to your camp, take a short diversion to explore Sesriem Canyon with its amazing rock
formations.
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Day 5 - Swakopmund
After breakfast, you break camp and then watch the desert slowly change as you travel first north and then
west. There are deeply incised canyons (the Gaub and the Kuiseb) to cross on the way to the Atlantic Ocean
and the scenery is superb. In dramatic contrast to the desert, you stop for lunch by the Walvis Bay lagoon,
where you'll often find yourself in the company of hundreds of flamingos and other waders.
Just a short drive north takes you to Swakopmund, where you stay at a restcamp in shared chalets. The
afternoon and evening are free for you to explore this pleasant town, with its art galleries and curio shops,
and perhaps take part in some of Swakopmund's many optional activities from scenic flights to quad-biking:
your guide will help you to organise and book these (they are payable locally and undertaken at your own
risk). Swakopmund also has great seafood restaurants, so dinner is at your own choice and expense, although
the group and guide will often arrange to meet up.
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Day 6 - Damaraland
Travel north along the desolate Skeleton Coast, before stopping at the Cape Cross seal colony, where tens of
thousands of fur seals congregate to breed. Then, heading inland, you'll cross a forbidding stretch of
amazingly flat and empty desert before circumnavigating the spectacular 2,573m Brandberg Massif, Namibia's
highest mountain and a National Monument. After setting up camp you make the most of the cooler afternoon air
to take a 90-minute, relatively easy hike into the mountain to view the world-famous 'White Lady' rock
painting. Attributed to the Bushman artists, it is believed by some to be more than 20,000 years old.
Day 7 - Kamanjab
Continue north through Damaraland's sandstone mountains to the outpost of Khorixas and the softer, greener
farmlands of Kamanjab. Then, close by Kamanjab, you reach your campsite, before heading out to the nearby
Himba Village where you spend the afternoon. These tribes-people have migrated here, lifestyle and customs
intact, and are following their traditional way of life in their village located on a farm. A local guide
introduces you to their alternative lifestyle, and helps you to understand their background and culture. Oase
village is the only traditionally functioning Himba community outside the far north Kaokoland region of
Namibia. The visit to this village makes an exciting inclusion to your Namibian holiday.
Day 8 - Kunene River
This morning you head to Namibia's northern border, passing more Himba villages the further north you travel.
The Himba people are, in fact, part of the Herero clan, sharing a common language and heritage. The original
people were nomadic pastoralists, settling in one area only long enough to harvest a crop before herding
their cattle and families onward in search of more fruitful pastures. Whilst globalisation has caught up with
most traditional groups in Africa, the Himba in this area of Namibia still retain many of their traditional
ways; you will see evidence of this as you pass through Kaokoland, their home region.
After a short stop in the small, dusty, frontier town of Opuwo you continue to the northernmost border of
Namibia, the remote Kunene River; you will spend the next two nights camping under lush palm forest on its
banks. The birdlife here is prolific, including palmnut vultures and endemic rarities like the rufous-tailed
palm thrush. The Kunene is one of the most remote rivers in southern Africa and certainly one of the most
beautiful: like a thin, verdantly green oasis snaking its way between dry, craggy mountains.
Day 9 - Kunene River
With a full day to enjoy this special corner of Namibia, you've a choice of great optional activities
(payable locally and undertaken at your own risk). Boat trips on this stunning river are superb; gentle
birding walks through the palm forest are easy and rewarding; there are endless tougher hiking possibilities
into the adjacent Zebra Mountains; the quad-bike trips are exhilarating; and most people try the terrific
white-water river rafting (Grade 2). If you're feeling less energetic, then the campsite is a good place to
relax and just enjoy the surroundings.
Day 10 - Olukonda Village, Owamboland
A short drive along the Kunene River leads to the small town of Ruacana before you continue east into
Owamboland where the majority of Namibia's population lives. This is totally different from the areas that
you've seen so far: it's a lively, well watered corner of Africa with many small-scale farms, but very few
visitors. Along the way you will stop to see the famous hollow baobab tree in the Ombalantu community. The
town is located at an old and long-abandoned South African military base but the baobab in question has had
a much longer history than that. Previously the tree has been used as a house, a prison and a church. Your
final destination is Olukonda Village where you set up camp near the local community. The facilities at the
campsite here are fairly rustic.
Day 11 - Okangororosa Village, Owamboland
Before leaving Olukonda Village you have time to visit the church where a there is an interesting local craft
project set up by the community. Nearby, the local Owambo people have created a traditional Owambo village
museum, to preserve their traditions and allow visitors to experience their way of life. From here it is only
a short drive to Okangororosa Village where you will set up camp near the community. There is time in the
afternoon to meet with the headman and some of the villagers and to muck in with some of their daily chores
such as bringing the livestock in to the kraal for the night.
Day 12 - Tsintsabis
Wake as the village comes to life. You have the chance to spend time at the school and converse with the
village elders before heading south to Treesleeper Camp, a community-based tourism enterprise in the
Tsintsabis area. The word 'Treesleeper' is derived from the biggest ethnic group in the village of
Tsintsabis, the Hei//omn Bushmen. When the Hei//omn still hunted in the area they competed with lions for
food and were occasionally forced to flee into the trees to escape. The camp is built around tree decks,
which make spectacular viewing platforms or a great place to erect your tent! Throughout the ages the bushmen
have used the simple act of singing and dancing for a range of purposes: whether for spiritual reasons
(praying to the bushmen god Mantis), for practical reasons (ensuring the next day's hunt was properly
sanctioned by the spirits of their ancestors), or just as a form of celebration such as welcoming the rains.
This evening the community members will treat you to a bushman-style show.
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Day 13 - Etosha National Park
After breakfast you set off to the nearby Ombili Bushman Project. The village here provides a real insight
into the San (Bushmen) of today. You learn about their history and their traditions, and how these
communities are changing to adapt to the 21st century.
Then you head for today's final destination, the fabulous Etosha National Park, where you will camp by the
eastern boundaries for the next two nights of your holiday in Namibia.
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Day 14 - Etosha National Park
You rise early to enjoy a full day of game viewing, whether following the animals between the surrounding
waterholes or else just sitting by the busiest and watching the action. The game drives around the eastern
side of Etosha are thought to be some of the best in the park due to the numerous waterholes found here. In
your search for wildlife you will cover several different types of terrain, from wooded areas to open
savannah. Arriving back at camp in the late morning you've time to relax and enjoy a leisurely lunch during
the heat of the day before embarking on a shorter game drive in the afternoon.
Day 15 - Etosha National Park
After breakfast you head west across Etosha. A vast swathe of the centre of the park consists of the enormous
Etosha Pan - a shallow depression of silvery-white salts that fills with water only in exceptionally wet
years. Normally it's bone dry, but around it are numerous perennial springs that can attract great
concentrations of wildlife. Stop in the Halali area for lunch, a rest and perhaps a swim. Then drive to your
campsite in Etosha's south western region, detouring frequently to follow the game and stopping at many of
the waterholes. You will arrive at your camp in time for a cool drink before sunset followed by a delicious
fireside dinner.
Day 16 - Windhoek/Flight to London
After breaking camp, you've a short game drive en route to the park gate. You will pause in the small town of
Outjo for coffee before continuing to Okahandja, where you can make a short stop at the terrific market: a
great place to buy last-minute curios and carvings. Arrive in Windhoek later in the afternoon, in time for a
quick freshen up before your scheduled flight to London.
Day 17 - Arrive in London
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Departures:
Cost is per person sharing, departing and returning UK
There is a single supplement of £120.
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| 09/04/08 - 25/04/08 | £1491 | | 14/05/08 - 30/05/08 | £1491 | | 11/06/08 - 27/06/08 | £1491 | | 25/06/08 - 11/07/08 | £1491 | | 09/07/08 - 25/07/08 | £1572 | | 23/07/08 - 08/08/08 | £1675 | | 06/08/08 - 22/08/08 | £1675 | | 20/08/08 - 05/09/08 | £1549 | | 10/09/08 - 26/09/08 | £1549 | | 24/09/08 - 10/10/08 | £1549 | | 08/10/08 - 24/10/08 | £1549 | | 22/10/08 - 07/11/08 | £1549 | | 12/11/08 - 28/11/08 | £1549 | | 17/12/08 - 02/01/09 | £1934 | | | |
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This itinerary can be downloaded from our Downloads Page
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