This family safari and cultural adventure explores Namibia the way travelers seldom see it. We immerse ourselves in Namibia’s traditional cultures, track its desert wildlife, wander its dramatic landscapes and get in touch with the lives and heritage of ordinary Namibians. Ideal for children 7 and older.
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Tracking elephant and rhino on foot |
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The Big Five |
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Overnight in a traditional Himba village |
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Interaction with hand raised cheetahs |
Talk To a Safari Specialist today!
call (800) 405-9463
Namibia Revealed
KEY: B Breakfast L Lunch D Dinner
Please note that premium import brands are not included with beverages
Call for More Info: 800 405 9463
DAY 1 TRAVEL DAY – TO AFRICA
Your safari begins today as you board your international flight to Africa.
DAY 2 WINDHOEK
This unique family safari and cultural adventure explores Namibia the way travelers seldom see it. We immerse ourselves in Namibia’s traditional cultures, track its wonderfully adapted desert wildlife on foot like the first explorers, wander through its untouched landscapes and get in touch with the lives and heritage of ordinary Namibians.
On arrival at Hosea Hutako airport in Windhoek, Namibia we are met by our guide, Andre Blaauw. Andre was born and raised in Namibia and grew up among the Owambo people and learned their language as a child. Andre has lived and worked in Namibia all his life and his love and knowledge of all things Namibian is infectious.
After introductions, we transfer to the Olive Grove Guesthouse for the evening. Dinner will take us to Windhoek’s former apartheid township of Katatura for a taste of the local culture and cuisine. The Olive Grove Guesthouse is a small (12 rooms) upmarket lodge close to Windhoek’s city center. Each guest room has a veranda and the hotel’s open-air lounge, spa bath, plunge pool and tranquil garden all invite guests to unwind and relax.
Overnight: Olive Grove Guesthouse (B, D)
DAY 3 ERINDI PRIVATE GAME RESERVE
This morning we leave Windhoek and drive northwest to Erindi Private Game Reserve with a stop along the way at the town of Okahanja to visit a crafts market where local artist display their creations. On all our drives between destinations we make regular stops to stretch our legs, examine plants and animals and marvel at Namibia’s awesome landscape and sometimes just to chat with the locals. Healthy snacks are always available.
After settling in at the comfortable Old Trader’s Lodge we take a sunset game drive where we start learning to identify animals and birds, understand their tracks and spoor and what they teach about their lives. Everyone will get a checklist to keep track of what we see and do and Andre will run “pop quizzes” to see who has learned the most! After our game drive we have dinner overlooking the lodge’s waterhole were elephants, hippos, crocs and many other animals come to drink. Pathways wind through the lodge grounds revealing suites tucked between indigenous trees and soft green lawns. The lodge features a pool, outdoor viewing deck, bar, restaurant and lounge.
Much less visited than Etosha, its famous cousin to the north, Erindi is a conservation gem of rugged mountains, riverine thickets and golden savannahs that over the last 20 years has transformed from an area overgrazed and depleted of wildlife to a model of best-practice environmental management. Through careful land restoration and wildlife restocking programs Erindi’s 173,000 acres have become a haven for rare and endangered species including all of Africa’s Big Five – elephant, rhino, buffalo, lion, and leopard – plus wild dog, cheetah, hippo, crocs and an amazing variety of plains game and bird life.
Overnight: The Old Traders Lodge (B, D)
DAY 4 ONJOWEWE
After an early morning guided bush walk in Erindi, we continue north to Onjowewe (“house in the rocks”) near the small town of Kamanjab. This rustic bungalow (no electricity) set amid giant boulders is lit only by paraffin lamps, bamboo torches and candles that create a magical ambience. Onjowewe is within walking distance of a traditional Himba village which we will visit to learn about their culture – the milking ceremony and smoke bath, their beliefs in holy fire, their ancestors and knowledge of herbal medicine. The income from Onjowewe House supports the Otjikandero Himba Orphanage started in 1999 by Jaco Burger, a local farmer’s son who was adopted by the Himba.
While at Onjowewe we visit the Otjitotongwe Cheetah Farm, home to a non-profit organization dedicated to saving cheetahs that have been trapped by local farmers. We will have a special opportunity to interact with 3 hand raised cheetahs and watch feeding time for the adults. At the end of the day, André will lead the kids on a scavenger hunt while adults relax and enjoy the magic of the sunset.
Overnight: Onjowewe House (B, D)
DAYS 5 & 6 GROOTBERG
Today we drive west to Grootberg Lodge. Grootberg is the first lodge in Namibia 100% owned by the Damara people. The 12 room eco-lodge provides an authentic wilderness and cultural experience along with local jobs, funds for schools and clinics and scholarships to promising Damara pupils. On arrival André will guide a bush walk through the wildlife rich are around the lodge or we can go on a sunset horseback ride on the golden plains of the nearby Grootberg Plateau.
Early next morning we are off to track endangered desert adapted black rhino on foot with a specialist local guide and tracker. This is an unforgettable chance to get directly in touch with the bush in a truly pristine natural area. It is normally a full day activity with a picnic lunch in the bush. As an alternative, you can visit a local Damara settlement.
Overnight: Grootberg Lodge (B, D)
DAYS 6 & 7 KUNENE
Today we drive to the heart of the Kunene Region to explore an untamed piece of Namibia were we can feel like discoverers of 200 years ago. As we travel the sandy gravel roads we stop frequently to greet the local inhabitants – 2 legged, 4 legged, feathered or smooth – André loves them all! Our base for the next two nights is a campsite run by the local Himba community of Puros. Supporting these camps provides local people with economic opportunities and control over their own development. Our camp gives us a wonderful chance to experience the bushveld at night. Before dinner you can scout the camp perimeter for interesting wildlife or sip a sundowner and chat to the camp ranger about the latest goings-on. Kids can become “junior guides” and help to set up and break down tents, sleeping bags and all the camp’s gear. As night falls, sit around the campfire and marvel at the star spangled skies of the southern hemisphere.
Next morning we are up early to track the rare desert adapted elephant on foot through country rich with game like giraffe, springbok, ostrich, oryx and the desert lion. Tonight we have a special chance to spend the night in Puros. It is an authentic Himba community where about 60 people go about their daily lives. With the help of a local guide who speaks Himba who translate your questions for the villagers, and their questions for you. Don’t be surprised if you are welcomed as an old friend to share your dinner with the village as they happily share their meal with you.
Overnight: Mobile Tented Camp (B, L, D)
DAY 8 DAMARALAND
Today we leave Puros driving south to Mowani Mountain Camp in Damaraland with excellent chances to spot springbok, giraffe, oryx, kudu, and we if we are lucky, rhino and elephant. The land is owned by the Damara who share in the camp’s revenue. The area around the camp is an unspoiled wilderness filled with wonderful desert scenery, fascinating geological formations and wild game like springbok, giraffe, oryx, kudu and elusive desert adapted rhino and elephant. Mowani is also near the World Heritage site of Twyfelfontein which we visit with a local Damara guide who explains the extraordinary story of these 2500 rock engravings and painting, some dated to 6000 years ago.
Mowani Mountain Camp thatched dome-shaped buildings mirror the granite boulders around them. The 12 tented guest rooms are nestled among the natural surroundings to ensure minimum impact on the environment and each has a private wooden deck with superb views of the Damara landscape. The lodge is on land once owned by Andrés family and he will take us to its secret places.
Overnight: Mowani Mountain Camp (B, D)
DAYS 9 & 10 SWAKOPMUND
Today we continue southwest to the Atlantic Ocean and the town of Swakopmund. The landscape dries dramatically as we enter the Namib Desert and arrive at the rim of Namibia’s famed Skeleton Coast. Upwelling from the Atlantic’s cold Benguela Current brings food for an abundance of sea life including whales and sea lions, and provides water to the desert in the form of life giving fog that makes the southern Namib more bio-diverse than any desert in the world. To protect these environments the Namibian government has established the Namib-Skeleton National Park, creating the 8th largest protected area in the world.
Today we walk in the Namib and learn how its plants and animals have adapted to this harsh climate. We will tacks lizards and snakes across the face of the dunes, learn about the variety of dune colors and at day’s end experience a dune that “roars”. After enjoying sunset on the beach, it is time for dinner at one of Swakopmund’s outstanding restaurants. We spend our two nights here at The Stiltz, the only lodge in Swakopmund that overlooks the Atlantic Ocean, the lagoon of the Swakop River and the dunes of the Namib Desert. As its name suggests, each private bungalow is built on stilts connected by wooden walkways.
Next day we explore Swakopmund’s former apartheid townships of Mandesa and DRC (Democratic Resettlement Community). We are joined by a local guide who takes us into the lives of ordinary Namibians from tribes like the Herero, Ovambo and Damara where we can chat with residents, enter their homes and feel the pulse of these poor but vibrant communities. Local children with wide smiles will flock to our sides and unabashedly take your hand. We will visit the home of a local artist and view his unique gallery while his son teaches us the click vocabulary of the Nama- Damara people. We will also visit a medicine lady to learn about traditional herbal medicines then take a stab at preparing the local staple mahango – millet porridge.
Overnight: The Stiltz (B)
DAYS 11 & 12 SOSSUSVLEI & THE NAMIB
This afternoon we continue south through the harbor town of Walvis Bay, crossing the Tropic of Capricorn and ending at our home for the next two nights at the Desert Homestead near Namib Naukluft National Park at the entrance to Sossusvlei and the Namib Dunes.
The Desert Homestead offers simple but stylish accommodation in thatched chalets which were designed with the fragile beauty of this remarkable environment in mind. Tranquil surroundings, al fresco dining, farm fresh cuisine, refreshing dips in the pool, stunning sunsets and sunrises are the pleasures of the lodge.
Next morning we are off early for a full day at Sossusvlei. Spectacular by day and magical by night, Sossusvlei boasts the highest sand dunes in the world, some almost a 1000 feet high. Their burnt orange sands are ever changing as the wind and light constantly reshapes them. Stargazing at night is made perfect by incomparably clear skies without a trace of artificial light or pollution. We will explore these majestic dunes and nearby wonders like Deadvlei with its stark 900 year old camel thorn trees, and the surreal rock formations of Sesriem Canyon. Night brings unimaginable star gazing. Optional balloon ride approx. $360 per person.
Overnight: Desert Homestead (B, D)
DAY 14 YOUR JOURNEY ENDS
Our Namibian journey ends today as we make our way back to Windhoek airport for our flights home with stops along the way for last impressions of Namibia’s unyielding landscape. (B only)
A Magical Journey Awaits!
Talk To a Safari Specialist today!
call (800) 405-9463
Safari Cost
Cost from $8,050 per person sharing
Safari Dates Contact Rothschild Safaris for dates
INCLUDED:
Besides what is listed above, the following additional items are included in your trip price:
National parks and concession fees
Services of professional English-speaking guides and staff
Comprehensive safari preparation
EXCLUDED:
Items of personal nature
Travel insurance
Gratuities (estimate approx. $15 per person per day)
Excess baggage fees
Airport departure taxes
Passport and visa fees
International airfare (available upon request)
Additional Information
Packing list, detailed information on the country, a suggested reading list, medical information, and other pertinent travel information will be sent to you once your safari is booked.
International flights can be arranged upon request utilizing our excellent consolidator airfares.
All of our safaris can be customized to suit your specific interests, timeframe and budget.
All of our safaris can be customized to suit your specific interests, timeframe and budget.
A Magical Journey Awaits!