11 DAY TOUR NAMIBIAN TOUR

Day 1 Fetch you from the airport and take you to a good guest house, Casa Piccolo (tel. no. +264 61 221155) in Windhoek. The rest of the day is yours to relax and catch up on some sleep, especially if you have been on the long flight, or if you are up to it, go on a sight seeing tour of Windhoek.  Go out to dinner in the evening to one of the many good restaurants in town. There are several excellent craft operations in the Windhoek area (including the Namibia Craft Centre) and it would be very easy to go and visit these, because then you would be able to see the craft people at work i.e. carving beautiful wooden picture frames; the embroidering of exquisite Hardanger table cloths (work now done by some of the local women, which is hardly practiced in Norway anymore where it originated from) etc.  Namibia is well known for its excellent German jewellers, who make some of the most beautiful jewellery imaginable, both traditional and contemporary, and both Windhoek and Swakopmund have several outstanding jewelers as well as some excellent leather merchants (including a workshop where visitors can have coats etc. made to order).   Do bear in mind that our overseas visitors can get the 15% VAT refunded on items bought, provided they obtain a tax invoice from the seller and can show the articles at the airport when they apply for the tax refund (be sure to get to the airport a bit earlier).  

Day 3 This morning you will be taken on a Living Desert Excursion www.living-desert-adventures.com excursion to discover what all lives in the Namib Desert..  This is a wonderful experience and most people are totally amazed at the variety and amount of living creatures to be found in the desert. The afternoon is yours to do as you wish.  There is plenty to do and see in Swakopmund, because it is a very charming little late 19th century “German” town, set on the desert coast of Africa and everything is within easy walking distance. Namibia is well known for its excellent German jewellers, who make some of the most beautiful jewellery imaginable, both traditional and contemporary, and both Windhoek and Swakopmund have several outstanding jewelers as well as some excellent leather merchants (including a workshop where visitors can have coats etc. made to order).   Do bear in mind that our overseas visitors can get the 15% VAT refunded on items bought, provided they obtain a tax invoice from the seller and can show the articles at the airport when they apply for the tax refund (be sure to get to the airport a bit earlier). Yet another option to consider is to undertake a mid-afternoon flight across the Namib Desert down to Sossusvlei, and from there across to the cold Atlantic coast where desert and ocean meet and then back again along the coast to look at some of the shipwrecks and seabirds to be found here.  One has no idea of how large and how spectacularly beautiful the desert is, and such a flight helps to put everything into perspective.  Do please bear in mind that the flight should be reserved in advance, especially during the peak tourist season (optional extra).    Spend another night at the Secret Garden Guesthouse and have dinner at a different restaurant.  

Day 5 After an early morning game drive (returning for breakfast and looking at the game at the camp waterhole - if it has not rained in the area), we will continue travelling eastwards, viewing game on the plains and at various waterholes, en route to Halali Rest Camp, where we will be spending the second night in the ENP. The afternoon will again be spent game viewing and we will return to the camp because all guests have to be back before sunset.  Here too you can choose to go on a night drive (optional extra).  

Day 7 From Onguma we will travel to the town of Rundu which is situated on the Kavango River (which feeds the Okavango Swamps) and from there we will continue for 200km along the river until we reach either Nunda River Lodge or Mahangu Safari Lodge, www.mahangu.com, depending where we can get accommodation.  Both lodges are situated on the banks of the Kavango River in the lush region of the Caprivi in the north-east of Namibia.  It is an ideal base to explore this area as it is close to both Popa Falls and the “old” Mahango National Park. Activities include game drives into the park, boat cruises on the Kavango, fishing, Mokoro (home made canoe) trips and guided walks to a nearby traditional village.  See http://www.namibia-travel.net/travelguide/northern-namibia/caprivi.html .  

Day 9 Shortly after breakfast we will all get on Dan’s boat (a double hulled catamaran) and he will then take us on a fascinating boat excursion on the Kwando – Floodplain Special. We will depart Mavunje camp mid-morning and cruise down to Njazanga Island past Bwabwata National Park, participating in game viewing/fishing/birding/ swimming including a full lunch on the river with drinks. Dan knows this area like the back of his hand and I am very sure that you will love it.  To watch the elephants as well as some of the other game such as buffalo, lechwe, giraffe and maybe even see lions (if we are lucky) strolling about contentedly 20-30m away from the safety of the boat is something to cherish and the bird life is also very prolific and quite spectacular.  Arrive at the island mid-afternoon to pitch camp and after snacks and refreshments either walk on the island or go for an afternoon game cruise or both (your choice).  Tonight you will have dinner on the island prepared on an open fire inc. wines and local beer.  Dan will make sure that everybody is safe as there are wild animals around, and that is why he has pre-selected islands that he uses for the overnight camping.   

Victoria Falls

Day 12 If you missed visiting the Falls yesterday afternoon, then you can do so this morning and then spend the rest of the morning looking around town, before I will have to take you to the Victoria Falls International Airport in time for your flight back home.  All flight arrangements are for you to make. This is a fairly expensive tour, but the all our guests who have done it, thought it was well worth it, but it is for you to decide.  The price of the tour will depend upon the number of guests and will be forwarded to you with pleasure upon request.    It will include the following:  All transport in an air-conditioned vehicle fitted with a fridge; all meals; all accommodation; refreshments & water in the vehicle; Park entrance fees; plus compulsory 15% VAT and driver/guide with extensive experience.  Only tips, laundry and alcohol / drinks at the table and optional extras are excluded. We try at all times to provide top quality service so that you may have a holiday to remember and we look forward to being of service to you and your friends.