Deep South, Coast & Damaraland

15 days—Quiver Forest, Fish River Canyon, Ai Ais Richtersveld, Sperrghebiet, Kolmanskop Ghost Town, Sossu, Skeleton Coast, Damaraland, Kaokoland

$9000-11500 USD

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Safari summary

This is a photographer's dream tour. It combines scenery of unique biomes in Namibia and scarce desert adapted wildlife that are unique to the country. The main highlights include the Quiver Tree Forest, the Giant's Playground, Fish River Canyon, a drive along the Orange River, Luderitz, Ghost Town of Kolmanskop, Sossusvlei, Skeleton Coast National Park, Damaraland and part of Kaokoland. Most destination are unique to Namibia.

About this tour

	Tour type	Custom, tailor-made, private
	Main focus	Game drives
	Activity level	Moderate activity
	Best months	All months
	Countries	Namibia
	Parks	Ai-Ais/Richtersveld Namib-Naukluft

Fine details

Safari highlights

Walking safari—with armed guard
Hot air balloons
Photography safari—with professional guide

What’s included?

Accommodation
Airport transfers
Meals
Park fees
Private vehicle and driver

What’s not included?

Alcoholic beverages
All drinks
Internal flights
International flights
Laundry
Premium alcoholic beverages
Spa treatments
Tips and gratuities
Visas

Itinerary

Arrival- Windhoek

Welcome to Namibia! You will be transferred from the airport to the capital city of Namibia, Windhoek. Your hotel is in the city center. Take a stroll in the city at your own pace or a city tour with your guide. We will host you for dinner at one of the renowned restaurants. Your guide will brief you on what the tour entails on the next days.

Hilton Hotel, Hilton Garden Inn Hotel

Quiver Forest & Giant's Playground

We will drive to the deep south of Namibia to the Quiver Tree Forest and the Giants Playgrounds. A late afternoon photography is worth it at the Quiver Forest. The Quiver Forest is a dense stand of Aloe dichotoma trees. These trees occur in southern Namibia and northern Cape, but a few places are so many together. After dinner, night photography at the Quiver Tree is possible. The sky can be quite beautiful with the quiver trees.

Quiver Forest Camp

Fish River Canyon

Ai-Ais/Richtersveld

An early morning will see us going to the Giant's Playgrounds. The Giant’s Playground consists of marvelous balancing dolerite (black granite) rocks. One would think they were put there by humans! Let us take advantage of the early morning light shining on these sites. After breakfast we will make our way to Gondwana Canyon Park around the Fish River Canyon area. We will embark on an afternoon nature drive around this 112 100-hectare private reserve.

Canyon Lodge, Canyon Village

Fish River Canyon

Ai-Ais/Richtersveld

Today, we will visit the Fish River Canyon. Its dimensions are enormous: 161 km long, up to 26 km wide and 505 meters deep. The Fish River Canyon is seen as the most significant canyon in Africa and second-largest canyon on earth - after the Grand Canyon in the US. It was formed 342 million years ago. The ancient continent of Gondwana disintegrated 121 million years ago, the Fish River started to dig deep into the ground and create its system of gorges.

Canyon Lodge, Canyon Village

Lüderitz & Ghost Town of Kolmanskop

After breakfast, we will make our way to Luderitz. This a scenic drive along the Orange River, which borders South Africa and Namibia. The Orange River has some parts that are not accessible, especially on the South African side, making it a perfect wilderness destination. As a surprise in this rather dry habitat, is a settlement at Aussenkehr, with greenery in form of wine grapes.

Lüderitz Nest Hotel

Lüderitz & Ghost Town of Kolmanskop

Today we have a full day special permit to the Ghost Town of Kolmanskop. After becoming one of the richest towns in Africa during a diamond boom in 1910, hordes of diamond seekers and adventurers settled in the area. Within two years at a rapid speed an unparalleled town development took place; within a few years Kolmanskop became the richest town of Africa and one of the richest towns worldwide. We will do morning and afternoon photography sessions.

Lüderitz Nest Hotel

Sossusvlei

Namib-Naukluft

After breakfast, we will make our way to Sossusvlei past Aus where we have chances of encountering Wild Horses. The origin of the Namib Desert horse is unclear, though several theories have been put forward. Genetic tests have been performed, although none to date have completely verified their origin. This is a driving day as we explore almost empty gravel roads of Namibia going past private nature reserves and farms.

Sossusvlei Lodge, Dead Valley Lodge, Le Mirage

Sossusvlei

Namib-Naukluft

Today, we will explore the red sand dunes of Sossusvlei, the Dead Vlei and the Sesriem Canyon. This area is characterized by high sand dunes in different shades of orange - the color an indication of a high concentration of iron, after being exposed to the process of oxidation over many years. These dunes are among the highest in the world; many of them higher than 200 meters, the highest being the one nicknamed Big Daddy, about 325 meters high. Photography is magnificent here.

Sossusvlei Lodge, Dead Valley Lodge, Le Mirage

The Namibian Atlantic Coast

Before leaving for the coast, you will embark on a hot air balloon safari. The views are simply incredible, and the sand dunes seem to go on forever. This excursion starts very early in the morning and ends between 10 and 11 am with a champagne breakfast in the midst of sand dunes in Sossusvlei. We go past Kuiseb Bird Sanctuary for waterbirds photography. We will proceed to overnight in Swakopmund and dine in one of the finest restaurants in the city.

Swakop Luxury Suites, Swakop Plaza Hotel

The Namibian Atlantic Coast

Today we, will do the catamaran tour in the morning and the living desert tour in the afternoon. During the Catamaran tour, you might get entertained by Cape Fur Seals and Pelicans on the cruise. Depending on the time of the year and luck one might encounter Whales, Dolphins, Leatherback turtle and Seals. During the Living Desert Tour, you might see the Shovel-nosed Lizard, Namib Sand Gecko, Namaqua Chameleon, Namib Desert Sidewinding Adder and the Cartwheeling Spider (“Dancing White Lady”).

Swakop Luxury Suites, Swakop Plaza Hotel

Palmwag via Skeleton Coast Park

We will drive along the coast; visit the cape fur seals at Cape Cross before entering the Skeleton Coast National Park. The is a 16,845 km2 (6,504 sq mi) park located in northwest Namibia, and has the most inaccessible shores, dotted with shipwrecks. Wildlife here includes Oryx, Springbok, Black-backed Jackal, Ostrich, Brown Hyaena, Desert Adapted Elephant, Black Rhino and Lion. Because of the harshness of the area, these animals do not occur in huge numbers and not very easily spotted.

Palmwag Lodge, Grootberg Lodge

Palmwag Concession

Today at Palmwag Concession, we will embark on a Desert Adapted Black Rhino on foot. This activity involves 4 x 4 driving in a rugged terrain, and walking safari to get to the rhinos if lucky. These mammals are not in a fenced area but in an open ecosystem. This activity might take the whole day, however there is still a possibility of a late afternoon sundowner drive in our own vehicle.

Palmwag Lodge, Grootberg Lodge

Desert Adapted Lions- Hoanib River

After breakfast, we will drive towards the desert into one of the most important conservation ephemeral rivers in Namibia, the Hoanib River. Being 270 km in length, the Hoanib River goes all the way to the sea and borders northern Damaraland and Kaokoland. There are thriving populations of desert Adapted Elephants, Oryx, Steenbok, Springbok, Black-backed Jackals, Small spotted Genets, Southern giraffe subs. angolensis among others.

Sesfontein Lodge, Sesfontein Guesthouse

Desert Adapted Lions- Hoanib River

Today, we will do a full day game drive in search of desert-adapted wildlife. As far as conservation is concerned, we will learn more about Desert Adapted Lion Conservation. With approximately 120 of their kind left, Desert Adapted Lions are a rare group of carnivores that have adapted to survive in one of the harshest, most unforgiving landscapes on earth. However, with luck, one might see them. This will be our main focus during this game drive.

Sesfontein Lodge, Sesfontein Guesthouse