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Self-drive Nam & Falls
USD 7100
JAN-DEC
17 NIGHTS
Select your style
We are able to vary the price of this trip considerably, simply by swapping out the lodges that it contains. This is likely to have a very significant effect on the level of polish of the trip, but in all cases it will remain cool and authentic. Make your selection here and the lodges will automatically change in the itinerary below.
USD 13050 per person
This trip includes only the very best lodges in each location, suitable if you are looking for the ultimate polished and elegant experience.
Trip Summary
Start location : Windhoek International
Windhoek
01 : Olive Exclusive
Sossusvlei
02 : Little Kulala Lodge
03 : Little Kulala Lodge
04 : Little Kulala Lodge
Swakopmund
05 : Strand Hotel Swakop
Twyfelfontein
06 : Damaraland Camp
07 : Damaraland Camp
08 : Damaraland Camp
Etosha South
09 : Anderssons at Ongava
Etosha East
10 : Onguma Bush Camp
11 : Onguma Bush Camp
Rundu
12 : Hakusembe Lodge
Mudumu & Mamili
13 : Jackalberry Camp
14 : Jackalberry Camp
15 : Jackalberry Camp
Livingstone
End location : Livingstone Airport
Windhoek
Windhoek is the capital of Namibia and the location of the main international airport, so most visitors pass through here at least once in their trip. It is usually possible to connect through without having to overnight, but actually it is a rather relaxed and pleasant place to break a journey.
Day 1
Arrival : Windhoek International
lodge
Olive Exclusive
Olive Exclusive is located in the city of Windhoek.
The hotel is centred on an apparently modest main building.
Guest accommodation is in seven individually styled Suites.
Sossusvlei
Set in the southwest of Namibia, Sossusvlei is home to the enormous and iconic orange dunes of the Namib Desert, a truly remarkable combination of desert landscapes. Guest accommodation is in around twenty lodges of various levels, offering a good range of activities including quad-biking, ballooning and scenic flights.
Day 2 , 3 , 4
lodge
Little Kulala Lodge
Little Kulala Lodge is located in the Sossusvlei area.
The lodge is centred on a stylish main building.
Guest accommodation is in eleven very comfortable Rooms.
Activities include vehicle safari, walking safari, hiking, balloon safari, quad-biking safari and scenic flights.
Dune 45 is a popular sunrise spot on the way into Sossusvlei.
But primary goal is to be first to reach the remarkable Deadvlei.
The dunes around Sossusvlei are also very impressive.
The rocky deserts inland also provide some superb scenery.
Quad-biking is an excellent way to explore these desert landscapes.
Balloon safari is a superb by expensive paid extra.
Scenic flights range from short hops over Sossusvlei to long explorations of the Skeleton Coast, also pricey paid extras.
Swakopmund
Swakopmund is the main town on the Namibia Coast, a bizarre Germanic outpost, atmospheric and strangely appealing. Guest accommodation is in around twenty diverse hotels, offering a wide range of marine and active experiences.
Day 5
lodge
Strand Hotel Swakop
Strand Hotel Swakopmund is located in the Swakopmund area.
The hotel is contains several bar and restaurant areas.
Guest accommodation is in 125 rooms of various specifications ...
... some of which are designated as Luxury Rooms ...
... plus a much larger Presidential Suite.
Activities include various adventure activities, plus guided day trips to Sandwich Harbour and the lagoon at Walvis Bay.
The town of Swakopmund is a bizarre but interesting place to explore.
The town of Walvis Bay is a functional industrial port, but not unpleasant to explore on foot.
Walvis Bay is an excellent location for kayaking, seals, whales and dolphins.
Kayaking in the lagoon offers chances to get up close with the local seals.
The guided day trip south to Sandwich Harbour is a real treat.
Twyfelfontein
Set in the west of Namibia, Twyfelfontein is the best known and most frequently visited area in the country for desert elephants and rock-art, plus some superb hiking and geology. Guest accommodation is in half a dozen decent lodges.
Day 6 , 7 , 8
lodge
Damaraland Camp
Damaraland Camp is located in the Twyfelfontein area.
The camp is centred on a thatched main building, leading out to a swimming pool.
Guest accommodation is in nine tented Rooms with indoor bathrooms ...
... plus one Family Room with two bedrooms.
Activities include vehicle safari in search of desert elephants, balloon safari, cultural interaction and visits to some excellent rock-art and geological sites.
The day starts with a bush breakfast at sunrise.
The primary activity is vehicle safari into the green valley of the ephemeral Huab River.
The main rock-art site at Twyfelfontein can get busy, but is extraordinarily good.
The Damara Living Museum is also surprisingly relaxed and interesting.
The area is renowned for its geology, especially the extensive petrified forests.
If you are keen, there are also some fabulous remote rock-art sites to explore.
Etosha South
Etosha South is an area of very popular private reserves clustered outside the South Gate of the main park, containing a selection of reasonably good quality camps which provide a more peaceful bush environment from which to raid into the park for wildlife viewing.
Day 9
lodge
Anderssons at Ongava
Andersson's at Ongava is located on the southern side of Etosha.
The lodge is centred on a modern main building, with a research centre and hide alongside.
Guest accommodation is in eight Suite Rooms, one of which is a large Family Suite with two bedrooms, all with air-conditioning.
Each room has a screen from which you can monitor the action at the waterhole.
Activities include vehicle safari, night vehicle safari, hide visits and walking safari inside the reserve, plus vehicle safari into the adjacent national park.
The camp has an excellent hide, similar to this one at the nearby Ongava Main Lodge.
The primary activity is vehicle safari in the relative peace of the Ongava Reserve.
Rhino tracking on foot is another particular speciality on this reserve.
You can decide for yourself whether you also want to brave the traffic inside the adjacent national park.
Etosha East
Etosha East is an area of private reserves clustered outside the East Gate of the main park, containing a selection of reasonably good quality camps which provide a more peaceful bush environment from which to raid into the park for wildlife viewing.
Day 10 , 11
lodge
Onguma Bush Camp
Onguma Bush Camp is located on the eastern side of Etosha.
The camp is centred on a thatched main building overlooking a waterhole.
Guest accommodation is in 18 rooms, of which 3 are these Standard Rooms ...
... plus 3 of these Family Rondavels ...
... and several Waterhole View Rooms.
Activities are centred on vehicle safari into the main national park, plus gentle walking safari and night vehicle safari on the reserve.
The primary activity is vehicle safari into the national park.
Rundu
Set on the south bank of the Kavango River in the northeast of Namibia, Rundu is a pleasant little town which can serve as a reasonable place to overnight on the long drive up the Caprivi. Maybe even be worth two nights in a slower paced trip.
Day 12
lodge
Hakusembe Lodge
Hakusembe River Lodge is located in the Rundu area.
The lodge is centred on a large thatched main building, leading out to a swimming pool area.
Guest accommodation is in seven Bungalows ...
... plus one larger Family Bungalow with an extra bed ...
... and the larger Hakusembe Villa, for up to six guests.
Activities include motorboat trips for fishing and birding, picnic trips to islands in the river in traditional dugout canoes, water-skiing, para-gliding and knee-boarding.
The primary activity is motorboat safari along the Kavango River.
Mudumu & Mamili
Set in the extreme northeast of Namibia, Mudumu and Mamili are two small wildlife reserves which are able to offer Botswana style safari at a fraction of the price. Guest accommodation is in a handful of decent lodges, offering a good range of wet and dry safari activities.
Day 13 , 14 , 15
lodge
Jackalberry Camp
Jackalberry Tented Camp is located in the Mudumu and Mamili area.
The camp is centred on rather cool little main building, leading out to a campfire area.
Guest accommodation is in just four tents with indoor bathrooms.
Activities include vehicle safari, walking safari, motorboat safari, night vehicle safari and village visits.
The primary activity is vehicle safari in the surrounding reserve.
Night vehicle safari provides the chance to encounter the many nocturnal animals.
Motorboat safari takes place along the pretty Kwando River.
Livingstone
Set in the south of Zambia and home to the Victoria Falls, Livingstone is one of the most alluring locations in Africa, surprisingly pleasant and undeveloped. Guest accommodation is in around 20 diverse hotels and lodges, offering a very wide range of safari, active and cultural activities.
Day 16 , 17
lodge
Thorntree River Lodge
Thorntree River Lodge is located in the Livingstone area.
The lodge is centred on a funky main building, leading out to a large swimming pool and jetty.
Guest accommodation is in twelve rather glamorous tented Suites. Two pairs can be combined to make Family Suites.
Activities include visits to the Victoria Falls, vehicle safari, motorboat safari, canoe safari and white-water rafting.
A visit to the falls themselves is surprisingly interesting and impressive.
Scenic flights over the falls can be done by helicopter, light aircraft or micro-light.
The are various high adrenaline options for bungee jumping, gorge swinging and zip-lining.
The gorge below the falls is one of the best locations in the world for white-water rafting.
Motorboat safari on the languid river above the falls can be surprisingly good for wildlife.
This is also a great location for canoeing, with the "Smoke that Thunders" beyond.
Some modest vehicle safari is available in various reserves in the area.
Walking safari is also possible in some locations.
Day 18
Departure : Livingstone Airport
Alternative Trips
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Of course, your actual trip will be precisely tailor-made.
Of course, your actual trip will be precisely tailor-made.
