Compare Namibia self-drive family safari by Audley Travel vs Namibia to Victoria Falls Explorer by World Luxury Cruise Vacations
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| Trip |
5 | Excellent
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5 | Excellent
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| Duration | 15 days | 15 days |
| Price From | $ 3,360 | $ 2,584 |
| Price Per Day | $ 224 | $ 172 |
| Highlights |
N/A
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| Trip Style | Private guided tour | Small group tour |
| Lodging Level | Standard | Standard |
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| Countries Visited | ||
| Cities and Attractions |
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| Flights & Transport | Ground transport included | Ground transport included |
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| Meals Included | N/A |
14 Breakfasts, 11 Lunches, 11 Dinners |
| Description |
Namibia is completely different to any other African safari destination. Much of its wildlife has adapted to its dry desert landscape, including elephant and lion. It has the world’s highest dunes, where barking geckos, cartwheeling spiders and quick-tongued chameleons scuttle across sun-baked sand. And, it has a long coastline where you can kayak with seals and see the skeletal remains of ships sent awry by thick coastal fog. Our Africa specialists have explored the country in-depth, from Sossusvlei to the Skeleton Coast, and can help you plan a holiday to Namibia tailored to your interests. |
This adventure offers an abundance of scenic, wildlife and cultural attractions. In the Namib Desert, we walk the highest sand dunes of the world! Stand in awe of this surreal landscape among these high photogenic red dunes. From here we make our way to view the flamingos in Walvis Bay before exploring the German seaside town of Swakopmund. Game drives in Etosha National Park allow for a fruitful search of a plethora of wildlife. Next we venture into the Caprivi Strip and the wondrous Okavango Delta, and also enjoy a sunset game viewing cruise on the Chobe River. The journey concludes with the unforgettable sight of Victoria Falls. Experience this exciting route on a comfortable, fully serviced camping safari! |
Day 1 : International outbound flight
Today you begin your journey by boarding your international outbound flight to Windhoek.
Day 2 : Windhoek
On arrival at Windhoek Airport you will be met and driven to your hotel. Here our ground agent will meet with you, run through your trip, hand over your mobile phone, cool box and driving directions. They will also be present whilst your hire car is delivered to answer any questions you may have.
Day 3 : Naukluft Mountains
You will drive into the Naukluft Mountains this morning to the Corona Guest Farm. Corona has lots of space for children to play and you can enjoy a short nature walk if you choose.
Day 4 : Sossusvlei
You will continue your journey on to Sossusvlei today. Here you'll stay in the relaxed and family friendly Desert Quiver Camp. You can explore under your own steam this afternoon or take a guided nature drive before relaxing with a swim back at the camp and a BBQ on your patio under the stars.
Day 5 : Sossusvlei
Spend today climbing the sand dunes at Sossusvlei - you can slide down them and enjoy just playing in the sand!
Day 6 : Swakopmund
Today you'll set off for Swakopmund. Walvis Bay is a good place to stop and stretch your legs and there are flamingos and often pelicans to see in the lagoon. Depending on what time you arrive into Swakopmund you might want to spend the afternoon on the beach, at the aquarium or exploring the town.
Day 7 : Swakopmund
Today you could do a kayak trip to Pelican Point where there are hundreds of seals that play around your kayaks. If your children are too young for kayaking there are some excellent boat trips to view the seals as well as other wildlife such as pelicans, flamingos and dolphins. Another alternative is the Living Desert Tour which shows children lizards, geckos and more in the desert.
Day 8 : Damaraland
Drive north into Damaraland today keeping your eyes out for wildlife along the road. Spend the afternoon relaxing at Twyfelfontein which has a large pool to enjoy or you could explore and see some of the nearby rock engravings on the short walking trail nearby.
Day 9 : Damaraland
This morning you could visit the rock carvings if you didn't manage to get there yesterday or spend time exploring more of the area, visiting the burnt mountain and organ pipes, or taking a day trip from the lodge in search of desert adapted elephant.
Day 10 : Etosha National Park
This morning you will head out for Etosha and Okaukuejo Rest Camp. The rondavels here are close to the waterhole and are great for families. There is a good sized pool and the camp is fenced so well suited to children. In the centre of camp is a floodlit waterhole, surrounded by benches where you can sit and spot game throughout the day and into the night.
Day 11 : Etosha National Park
A full day to explore Etosha in your own car. We provide you with a map of the park and you can choose which waterholes to head for and how long you'd like to go game viewing for. Returning to camp in the middle of the day you can enjoy a buffet lunch, picnic or BBQ and spend some time in the pool before setting out for another game drive.
Day 12 : Etosha National Park
Another day of game viewing. If you like you can set off for Halali and stop there to stretch your legs, have lunch and use their pool before heading back to Okaukuejo.
Day 13 : Windhoek
You will drive south to Windhoek today, perhaps stopping at the Okahanja Craft Market where there is a huge variety of wood carving and other curio on offer! Your car will be collected this evening from your accommodation.
Day 14 : International return flight
This morning a driver will take you to Windhoek International Airport for your onward flights.
Day 15 : International return flight
Arrive home today to complete your journey.
Day 1: Windhoek
On arrival this afternoon in Windhoek, you have free time to explore the capital city of Namibia. Overnight Hotel Safari (or similar accommodation).
Day 2-3: Sesriem / Sossusvlei (approx 370 kms - 90 kms tarmac & 280 kms gravel/5 hrs drive)
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
We will be met at 10:00hrs in the reception area of the hotel for our transfer to Sesriem. Note that this transfer is operated by a local Namibian transfer service and is unescorted. Our journey takes us south through ever changing scenery to our campsite located on the edge of the Namib Desert, considered by many geologists to be one of the world's oldest deserts. The following morning is an early departure driving 70 kms (1 hr one-way), stopping in the dune belt to witness the changing colours of the world’s highest sand dunes. We undertake a 5km walk to Sossusvlei and Deadvlei. The name "Sossusvlei" is of mixed origin, and roughly means "dead end marsh". Sossusvlei owes this name to the fact that it is a drainage basin without outflows for the ephemeral Tsauchab River. The pan holds rainwater to form a lake and due to the high clay content of the ground, water is retained for long periods of time. Deadvlei is another clay pan, about 2 km from Sossusvlei. A notable feature of Deadvlei is that it used to be an oasis with several acacia trees. The pan is thus punctuated by blackened, dead acacia trees, in vivid contrast to the shiny white of the salty floor of the pan and the intense orange of the dunes. This creates a particularly fascinating and surrealistic landscape, that appears in uncountable pictures and that has been used as a setting for films and videos. In the afternoon we enjoy a short hike through the Sesriem Canyon, which is a natural canyon carved by the Tsauchab river in the local sedimentary rock, about a kilometre long and up to 30 metres deep. A portion of the canyon permanently contains water, which many animals use.
Day 4: Swakopmund (approx 380 kms/6 hrs drive)
Meals: Breakfast & Lunch
Today we travel through the Kuiseb canyon, site of the famous book by Henno Martin, The Sheltering Desert before we stop off at Walvis Bay to view the flamingos (seasonal). The Walvis Bay wetlands - the lagoon, mudflats, shoreline and salt works - constitute the single most important coastal wetland in southern Africa for migratory birds. The wetland therefore serves mainly as a dry-season and drought refuge for migrating species like the Greater and Lesser Flamingos, Plover, Grebe and African Black Oystercatcher. We arrive in Swakopmund, a quaint beach town with a strong German influence and with a sizable part of its population still German-speaking today. Founded in 1892 as the main harbour for German South-West Africa, Swakopmund is German for "Mouth of the Swakop" as it is at the mouth of the Swakop River. We spend the afternoon and following day exploring this German colonial town or enjoying one of the numerous optional excursions (at own risk and own expense). Overnight in a local guesthouse.
Day 5: Spitzkoppe (approx 150 kms - 125 kms tarmac & 25 kms gravel/2 hrs drive)
Meals: Breakfast & Dinner
Leaving Swakopmund after lunch we set up camp among the boulders of the Spitzkoppe Mountains. The afternoon is free to explore the stunning surrounding area on foot. Northeast of Swakopmund is the stark grandeur of The Spitzkoppe (sharp head), one of Namibia's most recognizable landmarks. The summit of this imposing granite rock formation (1,728m) was first scaled only in 1946, and its shape has inspired its nickname, The Matterhorn of Africa. The spectacular setting of our remote bushcamp is sure to leave a lasting impression.
Day 6-7: Etosha National Park (approx 530 kms/9 hrs drive)
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
We enter Etosha via the Western corridor and travel through the park to Okakeujo Restcamp. The Park was first established in 1907, when Namibia was a German colony known as South West Africa. At the time, the park's original 100,000 km² made it the largest game reserve in the world. Due to political changes since its original establishment, the park is now slightly less than a quarter of its original area, but still remains a very large and significant area in which wildlife is protected. This Park is one of the most important reserves and game sanctuaries in Africa with thousands of wild animals such as blue wildebeest, springbok, zebra, kudu, giraffe, cheetah, leopard, lion and elephant making this area their home. Floodlit waterholes at Okakeujo & Namutoni Restcamps attract an abundance of animals throughout the evening, providing us with many amazing wildlife sightings. We enjoy early morning and late afternoon game drives (approx 150 kms drive/12 hrs including lunch). Overnight Okakeujo & Namutoni Restcamps inside Etosha.
Day 8: Kavango River - Rundu (approx 420 kms/6 hrs drive)
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
After a morning game drive we exit Etosha and travel to Rundu on the banks of the Kavango River. Our camp is set amongst the lush vegetation overlooking the Kavango River.
Day 9-10: Okavango Delta (approx 300 kms/5 hrs drive)
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Continuing into the Caprivi we cross into Botswana and travel by road to our campsite on the edge of the Okavango Delta. The following day we do mokoro and boat excursions in the back channels of the Nxamasire area of the Delta. Game walks are also done on the smaller islands in the area subject to water levels of the delta.
Day 11: Kwando River (approx 310 kms/6 hrs drive)
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Departing the Delta by boat we return to our vehicle and we cross back into Namibia. Driving through the Caprivi we set up camp on the banks of the Kwando River.
Day 12-13: Chobe River (approx 230 kms/5 hrs drive)
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Continuing through the Caprivi we cross into Botswana and travel through the Chobe National Park setting up camp on the banks of the Chobe River. Chobe is famous for its beautiful scenery, magnificent sunsets and abundance of wildlife and birdlife. The following day we relax on a game viewing cruise on the Chobe River. A morning game drive in Chobe National Park is optional (at your own expense).
Day 14: Victoria Falls (approx 90 kms/3 hrs drive)
Meals: Breakfast
We travel across the Zimbabwean border to Victoria Falls, without doubt one of the greatest and most spectacular sights in Africa. Mosi-oa-Tunya National Park (otherwise known as Victoria Falls) is a UNESCO world heritage site. The Park covers 66 km2 from the Songwe Gorge below the falls in a northwest arc along about 20 km of the Zambian riverbank. Two countries - Zambia and Zimbabwe, share the magnificent falls. Nothing can compare to viewing the awesome power of 'The Smoke that thunders" for the first time. There will be plenty of opportunity to view the Falls 'up close and personal' by traversing the many walkways in and around the rain forest that surrounds the many view points (entrance fee own account). In the wet season, be sure to wear a raincoat as the spray can give you a thorough drenching! Victoria Falls is also the "adventure capital" of Southern Africa and there are many optional activities on offer to whet your appetite. These range from game drives in the nearby national park, scenic micro light or helicopter flights, or for the more adventurous white water rafting or bungi jumping. Victoria Falls also has many markets where you can browse for African curios. All lunches, dinners and optional activities will be at your own expense. Overnight Sprayview Lodge (or similar).
Day 15: Victoria Falls, trip concludes
Meals: Breakfast
Our tour ends today after breakfast.
