Namibia, Wildlife Tours

The Classic Namibia Circuit With Private Guide

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Tailor-Made Tour
13 Days
From 5979
Big Cat Safari
Photographic

Tour Introduction

13 Days from  5979 per adult. All trip details below can be tailored just for you

Designated a classic Namibia tour and rightly so, this expertly guided itinerary shows off the breathtaking beauty and diversity of the manifold landscapes to be found in Namibia, with its desert-adapted animals and flora, the towering dunes of the Namib Desert, bountiful marine life, extraordinary Damaraland and the exceptional wildlife of Etosha National Park and Okonjima.

Your private driver-cum-guide will enhance your experiences immeasurably while at the various locations, ending at the exemplary AfriCat project based at Okonjima. This makes for a fantastic all-round  tour of Namibia’s major highlights which will reveal a great deal about this beguiling and scenic southern African nation.

Full Itinerary

Price from  5979 per adult. Based on sharing double / twin rooms
Day 1
Windhoek

Met on arrival in Windhoek. There will be a short city tour if desired or alternatively transfer straight to the hotel.

Staying at Galton House. Includes Breakfast.

Day 2
Namib Desert

Guided scenic drive over the Khomas Hochland to the Namib Desert. Visit the impressive Sesriem Canyon created two million years ago by the power of the Tsauchab River.

Staying at Sossus Dune Lodge. Includes All Meals.

Day 3
Sossusvlei and Dead Vlei

Morning excursion in the dunes, with Sossusvlei and Dead Vlei. These two natural clay pans offer outstanding photographic opportunities. The moon-like landscape includes sand dunes over 300 metres high and trees over 500 years old. Optional excursions: hot air ballooning, horse riding, guided walks and sundowner drive.

Staying at Sossus Dune Lodge. Includes All Meals.

Day 4
Swakopmund

Drive via Gaub and Kuiseb canyons and welwitchias to Swakopmund. On arrival there will be time to explore this German colonial seaside town.

Staying at Cornerstone Guesthouse. Includes Breakfast.

Day 5
Walvis Bay

In the morning take the short drive to Walvis Bay. Take a catamaran cruise for dolphins, seals and other marine wildlife and then return to Swakopmund. In the afternoon there will be optional excursions such as: a scenic flight over the Namib Desert and coast (highly recommended), quad biking in the dunes, and visits to a museum.

Staying at Cornerstone Guesthouse. Includes Breakfast.

Day 6
Damaraland

Scenic drive to Damaraland past the Brandberg Mountain. Afternoon visit to the Twyfelfontein Rock Engravings (World Heritage Site). Later marvel at the Burnt Mountain and Organ Pipes.

Staying at Camp Kipwe. Includes All Meals.

Day 7
Damaraland

Morning spent in stunning Damaraland looking for desert-adapted elephant herds in the Aba-Huab River. Afternoon guided walk or relax at the lodge in beautiful surroundings.

Staying at Camp Kipwe. Includes All Meals.

Day 8
Etosha National Park

Today drive to Etosha National Park. Afternoon game viewing in the park by vehicle or enjoy animals coming to you at the camp's famous waterhole.

Staying at Okaukuejo Camp. Includes Breakfast.

Day 9
Etosha National Park

Day on safari heading east across Etosha National Park, game viewing along the way. The Etosha saltpan is a large pan formed by wind action and supports a great diversity of flora and fauna. The park is known for its large concentrations of game, particularly around waterholes, the attractive endemic race of black-faced impala and its important population of black and white rhino.

Staying at Mushara Outpost Lodge. Includes All Meals.

Day 10
Etosha National Park

Day of exciting game viewing in Etosha National Park. Some of the key species that could be seen include black rhino, elephant, lion, leopard, spotted hyena, as well as large herds of gemsbok, zebra, springbok, hartebeest and a wide selection of birds including 10 endemic species.

Staying at Mushara Outpost Lodge. Includes All Meals.

Day 11
Okonjima

Today drive to Okonjima\. Afternoon with the AfriCat project for activities such as visits to the leopard and cheetah rehabilitation projects, and later tracking of leopard, cheetah, wild dog and hyena, or guided walking of local trails.

Staying at Okonjima Bush Camp. Includes All Meals.

Day 12
Okonjima

Morning and afternoon excursions with the AfriCat team. After nightfall perhaps visit the hide for sightings of elusive nocturnal animals such as honey badgers and Cape porcupines.

Staying at Okonjima Bush Camp. Includes All Meals.

Day 13
Windhoek

There will be time for a pre-breakfast excursion with the AfriCat team from Okonjima. After breakfast return to Windhoek, and take flight back to the UK.

Includes Breakfast.

Tour Accommodation

Namibia Windhoek

Galton House

Overview

Situated at 72 Amasoniet Street in the upmarket residential area of Eros Park, Windhoek, Galton House offers quiet charm and easy comfort. Each of the eight guest rooms features a direct dial telephone, air-conditioning, satellite TV, safety deposit box, 100% cotton linen with down duvets and coffee/tea making facilities on request. The central lounge area is perfect for relaxing whilst the swimming pool and gardens offer welcome respite from the sun on hot days.

Wireless internet is available free of charge. There is a laundry service, guest lounge and full bar service, and a la carte light lunches and dinners are served daily in the restaurant with prior notice. Guests are also welcome to use the dedicated bathroom facilities for early check in or late checkout and secure on-site parking is available with remote access. Galton House is just a ten-minute drive from Windhoek city centre and within good proximity to the airport.

Swimming Pool
Yes
Air Conditioning
Yes
Rooms
8
Facilities

En suite bathroom, direct dial telephone, air-conditioning, satellite TV, safety deposit box, on-site parking, free Wi-Fi, swimming pool, restaurant and laundry service.

Optional Activities

City tours of Windhoek.

Namibia Southern Namibia

Sossus Dune Lodge

Overview

In operation since July 2007, Sossus Dune Lodge is built primarily from wood, canvas and thatch in an environmentally sensitive, attractive ‘Afro–village’ style, and provides sweeping vistas of the massive dunes to the west and has been .

At is it the only lodge situated actually within the Namib Naukluft Park, close to the Sesriem Canyon, guests benefit from being able to reach Sossusvlei before sunrise (when the gates to the park open) or to stay until after sunset (when they shut): one can be almost alone in the wilderness once the other visitors are gone. On returning to the lodge, guests can relax by the pool in the tranquillity of the Namib Desert under a spectacular African sky.

The comfortable accommodation is interlinked by elevated wooden walkways and consists of 23 well-spaced, en suite desert chalets equipped with tea stations and small fridges, and two honeymoon suites with an additional relaxation gazebo. All units offer magnificent open vistas of the surrounding landscape.

Sossus Dune Lodge provides professionally guided excursions to Sossusvlei, Sesriem Canyon and the surrounding areas, as well as sunset drives and guided walks.

Swimming Pool
Yes
Air Conditioning
No
Rooms
23
Facilities

Restaurant, swimming pool, private bathrooms with hot water showers, mini bars, mosquito nets, solar powered lighting, ceiling fans and verandahs.

Local Wildlife

Springbok and besia oryx are often seen nearby and black-backed jackals are attracted close to the lodge at dusk by the smell of food.

Optional Activities

Excursions into the Namib Naukluft Park to see the Sossusvlei and Sesriem Canyon in the early morning and late evening light.

Namibia Swakopmund

Cornerstone Guesthouse

Overview

Just a short walk from the sea and Swakopmund’s town centre is this small, private bed and breakfast guesthouse. Occupying a quiet corner of Swakopmund’s ‘old town’ near the marine museum and the old brewery, Cornerstone Guesthouse offers the charm and intimacy of a family-run bed and breakfast combined with some of the amenities of a luxury hotel.

Accommodation is in seven en suite rooms, of which five are double/twins and two are family rooms. All are spacious with smart décor and attractive tile and wood flooring, table and chairs and private modern bathrooms. Facilities include digital safes, flat screen satellite TVs, WiFi and minibars.

Within a few minutes you can walk to beaches, cafés, restaurants, lively pubs, Swakopmund tourist attractions and a variety of interesting shops and markets, making this an ideal and welcoming base.

The town resembles a small, German coastal resort, nestled between the desert and the sea, combining colonial architecture with good shops, restaurants, museums, craft centres, art galleries and cafés.

The owners of Cornerstone also rent out a three-bedroom, fully equipped self-catering apartment practically on the seafront and very close to the famous Tug restaurant. Well appointed and decorated in a modern nautical theme, the ground floor flat has a patio and small front garden with views out to sea and a secure garage behind electronic gates to the rear. If renting the apartment, guests are still welcome in the main guesthouse, a short walk away, for an inclusive breakfast each day.

Swimming Pool
No
Air Conditioning
No
Rooms
7
Facilities

Private bathrooms, digital safety deposit box, TV, mini-bar, laundry service, breakfast room and Wi-Fi Internet access.

Local Wildlife

A catamaran cruise in Walvis Bay gives the opportunity to see huge colonies of fur seals and white pelicans. The endemic Heavside’s dolphin and dusky and Atlantic bottlenose dolphins are also often spotted on the cruise. Mola mola (sunfish) and leatherback turtles are less likely but also possible sightings.

Optional Activities

Catamaran trips in Walvis Bay, sightseeing tours of Swakopmund, inland tours across the dunes to Sandwich Harbour, Tommy's excellent and amusing Living Desert tour which seeks out smaller desert adapted fauna, and visits to historical sites.

Namibia Northern Namibia

Camp Kipwe

Overview

Charming and full of character, Camp Kipwe lies in the heart of Damaraland and is ideally located for the local attractions. The camp is nestled amongst an outcrop of giant granite boulders, a stone’s throw away from the ephemeral Aba Huab riverbed, often traversed by desert adapted elephants.

Each comfortable thatched bungalow is simply yet tastefully furnished, with an en suite, open-air bathroom. In the centre of the camp lies a large alfresco dining area, bar, lounge and reception with an inviting fireplace nearby to relax beside in the evenings. A refreshing swimming pool and sunset lookout with lovely views also complement the camp.

Excursions are offered to Twyfelfontein’s boulders and slabs of red sandstone which hold some 2,500 prehistoric engravings depicting wildlife, animal spoor and abstract motifs. It was Namibia’s first UNESCO World Heritage Site and is perhaps the largest and finest collection of petroglyphs in Africa.

Geological attractions include the Burnt Mountain with its fantastic range of colours at dawn and dusk, caused by a chemical reaction that took place roughly 125 million years ago when molten lava penetrated organic shale and limestone deposits, resulting in contact metamorphism. In ordinary sunlight it is a dull black.

The Organ Pipes are another geological curiosity in the area consisting of a mass of perpendicular dolerite columns that intruded the surrounding rocks also about 125 million years ago and have since been exposed in a ravine due to river erosion.

Swimming Pool
Yes
Air Conditioning
No
Rooms
10
Facilities

Private bathrooms, restaurant, bar, lounge, swimming pool, room fans, safes, mosquito repellent, hairdryer and private veranda.

Local Wildlife

There is a population of 600 desert adapted elephants in the region, though they roam over vast areas and are not also easy to see. Other desert adapted mammals include black rhino, besia oryx, springbok, zebra, jackals and birds such as ostrich and bustards. There is also a colony of brightly coloured agama lizards around the lodge.

Optional Activities

Exploration of Damarland. Safaris in search of desert adapted elephants, and other wildlife. Excursions to Twyfelfontein, Burnt Mountain and Organ Pipes as well as exploration of the dramatic landscapes of Damaraland.

Namibia Northern Namibia

Okaukuejo Camp

Overview

Okaukuejo was the first tourist camp to open in the now world famous Etosha National Park and is famous for its floodlit waterhole where visitors can observe myriad wildlife congregating and interacting at close quarters.

There are 104 chalets at the government-run camp spread across six accommodation styles. The most luxurious accommodation is in five premier waterhole chalets that have a lounge, fridge and upstairs a large double bedroom with queen size beds, separate washbasins, private shower, wardrobe and patio with sun loungers. There are also 30 standard waterhole chalets with views of the waterhole but are smaller and lack the spacious living area. For families, there are two large self-catering chalets with room for four and a kitchenette and lounge.

Located a little further back from the main camp are twenty bush chalets that have a small living area, private bathroom and comfortable beds plus a BBQ facility. Also within the Camp are 45 double occupancy en suite rooms and two with disabled access.

There is a buffet restaurant, bar, fuelling station, curio shop, post office and viewing tower. The camp also offers two large swimming pools and a separate, shallow children’s pool.

The camp was originally established by the military in 1901 and is located just 17 km from the Andersson’s entrance to the Etosha National Park. Game drives and nature walks are available and at night the shy and endangered black rhino regularly visits the waterhole. This is actually one of the most reliable places in Africa to watch black rhinos as they are well protected in Etosha and have few other options for drinking in the immediate area.

Swimming Pool
Yes
Air Conditioning
Yes
Rooms
104
Facilities

Private bathrooms, restaurant, lounge, bar, swimming pool, curio shop, food shop, post office, viewing tower, fuel station, BBQ facility, air-conditioning, fridge and tea and coffee facilities.

Namibia Northern Namibia

The Mushara Collection

Overview

Situated between 8km and 10 km from the eastern Von Lindequist entrance to the world famous Etosha National Park, the impressive and varied Mushara collection of privately owned properties includes Mushara Outpost, Mushara Lodge, Mushara Villa and Mushara Bushcamp.

The mid-range Mushara Lodge is perfect for an overnight stop once you have arrived from the south of Etosha. The main area has a library, lounge, bar and restaurant, and there are 10 spacious chalets, one family unit, and a triple and two single rooms. One particular feature is the large swimming pool surrounded by gardens often grazed by passing warthogs.

Resembling an old farmhouse, the attractive Mushara Outpost’s open main building houses the dining room, lounge and bar and has a wraparound verandah, and an outside fire site with seating for sundowners. The accommodation is built on stilts and constructed like a traditional safari-style tent – light and airy with comfortable beds mounted off the floor on wooden decking. All of the tents have private bathrooms and glass fitted hot water showers, air-conditioning, mini-bar, safe, tea and coffee facilities and telephone: electricity power points are also available.

Villa Mushara is the choice for those seeking privacy. The two exclusive 140 square metre villas have a/c, private plunge pools and outdoor covered salas with day beds affording views of the bush. Each villa has a lounge area, small library and music system, and meals can be taken in your villa for maximum privacy.

Mushara Bushcamp is the Collection’s budget offering, particularly suitable for families. It can accommodate 32 adults and 8 children in tented rooms, and the main building is thatched with a true bush camp feel to it.

Mushara makes a good base from which to explore the eastern side of Etosha National Park. or for an overnight stopover after a day spent traversing the park and before heading off to your next location.

Swimming Pool
Yes
Air Conditioning
Yes
Facilities

The Bush Camp has dining room, lounge, bar, verandah, air-conditioning, mosquito nets, mini-bar, safety deposit box, tea and coffee-making facilities, telephones and private bathrooms. The Villas have plunge pools and open air salas with daybeds. The Outpost has tented rooms built above the ground on stilts next to the bush, and a charming main building. The Lodge's swimming pool is a strong feature and will appeal to families.

Local Wildlife

Etosha National Park is one of the greatest wildlife refuges in southern Africa. There are large concentrations of springbok, kudu, impala, gemsbok, giraffe, and elephant and there is still a reasonable population of black rhino and a smaller numbers of white rhinos. Lions and spotted hyenas are seen on most game drives and even hunting is occasionally seen. A total of 114 mammal species inhabit the park and there have 110 reptile species recorded too. The park is also superb for birding and several endemic species can be tracked down.

Optional Activities

Game drives and nature walks in Etosha National Park.

Namibia Central Namibia

Okonjima Bush & Plains Camps

Overview

The delightful accommodation at Okonjima Bush Camp consists of luxury thatched chalets, spaced widely apart for privacy in the tranquil bush surroundings, plus a main “lapa” area in the form of a camelthorn pod where meals and drinks are taken and activities commence. Each exclusive en-suite chalet is completely private and the green canvas ‘walls’ can be rolled up to give you a 180-degree view so you can watch life in the bush going on around you whilst you lie in bed and relax in total comfort.

The accommodation at the larger Plains Camp consists of 14 Standard en suite terraced rooms and 10 new View Rooms that are set further apart: all rooms overlook the savannah. Two of the View Rooms and four of the Standard Rooms can combine to make a family unit. Each unit has a verandah, a wheelchair-friendly ramp, two double beds, desk, chair, mini bar, coffee/tea facilities, ceiling fans, twin basins, twin showers, safe and internal telephone. The main building, the Barn, contains the restaurant, pool, shop and lounge.

Okonjima is home to the AfriCat Foundation, a wildlife sanctuary founded in 1991 that is dedicated to creating conservation awareness, preserving habitat, promoting environmental educational research and supporting animal welfare. Their main focus is Africa’s big cats, especially injured or captured leopards and cheetahs.

AfriCat runs the largest cheetah and leopard rescue and release programme in the world. In the last 17 years over 1000 of these predators have been rescued with over 85% being released back into the wild. Close encounters with leopard and cheetah are an unforgettable highlight here. Activities include leopard tracking by vehicle, a visit to the cheetah welfare project and a visit to the night hide where nocturnal animals such as porcupine, caracal, honey badger, eagle owl and even leopard may be seen.

Swimming Pool
Yes
Air Conditioning
No
Rooms
23
Facilities

Bush Camp: 8 luxury thatched chalets; 1 luxury honeymoon suite (two double beds next to each other). Plains Camp: 14 Standard en suite rooms and 10 new View Rooms. Other facilities include restaurant, bar, boutique shop, swimming pool,

Local Wildlife

Rehabilitated and wild carnivores - in particular cheetah and leopard - can be tracked in the reserve. Spotted hyena, African wild dog, lions and commoner plains herbivores such as impala, springbok, zebra and wildebeest. There is a hide overlooking a floodlit area where cape porcupines and honey badgers are frequently seen and caracal and leopard are also possible.

Optional Activities

Visits to the big cat rehabilitation and welfare centre, visit nearby REST (rare and endangered species trust), night excursion, tracking of wild big cats and other wildlife and bird walks.

Route Map

Departure Dates

This tour has no set departure date and can be tailored to suit your travel requirements. Contact us for more details.

Travel Information

Are International Flights Included?

No. Please contact us for a quote if required.

Best Visited:

January to January

Are you ATOL Registered?

Yes. This means we are legally able to book your international flights in conjunction with your ground arrangements so you can book with us with complete confidence. Read more about our ATOL license here.

Alan Godwin

Area Specialist

If you have any questions regarding this Tour, please feel free to contact me on +44 (0)1803 866965

This was our second visit to Namibia in just over 12 months, with Reef and Rainforest and our seventh consecutive wildlife trip with them. I think that speaks for itself. This year we were particularly keen to try and observe some desert adapted Lions. The Lions found in ‘The Namib Desert’ are genetically identical to those found in the rest of Southern Africa but have adapted to live in one of the harshest environments on earth. They number around 150 and have a huge range, and are rarely seen. They came to prominence in the outstanding documentary film ‘Vanishing Kings’. The best chance of observing members of this subset of Lions is during a stay at Hoanib Skeleton Coast Camp, although sightings cannot be guaranteed and weeks can pass by without any success. Therefore a stay at this camp was at the heart of our itinerary and we were very lucky to spend time with a Lioness and her niece who had killed an Oryx in the conservancy. The camp itself is absolutely outstanding in every respect and the location is just spectacular.

Visitors should be aware that this is not ‘The Serengeti’ and that the wildlife is quite thin on the ground. However you would have to be very unlucky not to see Elephant, Giraffe and several other species. Whilst we were out in the desert we were lucky to bump in to Dr P. Stander who has dedicated the whole of his adult life to the conservation of The Desert Lion, what a thrill. The day trip out to the coast was pretty special as well.

The rest of the itinerary worked very well and we were very pleased to have three full days in Etosha N.P. where we recorded 25 mammal species, including 32 individual Lions, observed the aftermath of 4 zebra kills, 11 Rhinoceros (both Black & White), an African Wildcat and the rarely seen in Etosha, elusive Leopard.

So a big thank you to ALL at Reef and Rainforest, another highly successful trip, you certainly delivered again.

Mr JW - Scottish Borders