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DAY 1: ARRIVE SWAKOPMUND Upon arrival at Swakopmund you will be transferred to the Swakopmund Hotel for a two-night stay. After settling in, the afternoon is free for you to explore the town at your leisure. Swakopmund is popular among locals and visitors alike, who find themselves charmed by the town's relaxed, old world Bavarian atmosphere. The city's restaurants serve excellent seafood. DAY 2: SWAKOPMUND Today is free for you to explore Swakopmund on your own: a visit to the seal colony of Cape Cross is an impressive site and an enjoyable way to spend the afternoon. If you wish for a guided excursion, a seal and dolphin cruise, quad biking outing, or scenic flight over the dunes can be arranged. The seal and dolphin cruise winds through Walvis Bay Harbor, Bird Island, Pelican Point and back via the lagoon, and a variety of birds such as pelicans, flamingos, and cormorants can be seen along the way. At one point in the cruise, wild seals board the boat to be fed by hand. Fresh oysters, champagne and snacks are enjoyed at the seal colony where dolphins are frequently seen around the boat. (B) DAY 3: SWAKOPMUND - SOSSUSVLEI Transfer to the airport for your light aircraft flight to the Sossusvlei Mountain Lodge for three nights. Set in the heart of the Namib Naukluft Park, the dunes at Sossusvlei are one of Namibia's most awesome sights, soaring up to 600 meters above the desert floor. The changing light on the dunes brings out an artist's palette of colors: apricot, orange, and a deep maroon. Nights are extraordinary, as the desert sky becomes a shimmering blanket of stars. (B,L,D) DAYS 4 & 5: SOSSUSVLEI Spend two full days exploring the magnificent landscape surrounding Sossusvlei. Guided nature walks and hikes provide insight into the environment and allow visitors to personally experience the wonder of the area. The nearby Naukluft Mountains are a rugged range of sheer cliffs, deep river valleys, and gentle rolling hills. Here, amid this oasis, are mountain zebra, oryx, springbok and kudu. In the world's oldest desert, flora and fauna have adapted to cope with the limitations of the stark arid land. The Sossusvlei Mountain Lodge is built into the natural rock, and maintains the rustic charm of a game lodge while sacrificing no modern amenities. There is even a high-powered computerized telescope through which both amateur and professional stargazers can view the impressive starry night sky. (B,L,D) DAY 6: SOSSUSVLEI - WINDHOEK After breakfast, transfer to your light aircraft flight to Windhoek, the capital of Namibia. Upon arrival you will be met and escorted to the Hotel Heinitzburg for an overnight stay. An independent walking tour is an excellent way to get acquainted with Windhoek. The State Museum has an interesting photo display of key historical events in the nation's history, while the State House has very good ethnological exhibits of traditional Namibian life. The Namibia Craft Center and the Nyae Nyae Foundation are both good places to find traditional crafts. (B) DAY 7: WINDHOEK - OKONJIMA Early this morning, transfer to Eros Airport for your private charter plane to Okonjima Bush Camp, your home for the next two nights. Accommodation at Okonjima is in a thatched rondavel with en suite facilities. Okonjima is nestled into the Omboroko Mountains and is home to the Africat Foundation, a non-profit organization dedicated to the conservation and protection of Namibia's big cats, primarily cheetah and leopard. (B,L,D)Note that starting today you will have a private pilot and Cessna 210 plane until your arrival back to Eros Airport. DAY 8: OKONJIMA Spend a full day at Okonjima, observing the big cats of the Africat Foundation and the admirable efforts of the dedicated staff. Work done by the Africat Foundation includes radio tracking, animal welfare, and carnivore rescue, relocation, and release. Staying at Okonjima affords guests a unique opportunity to observe and interact with the beautiful animals the Africat Foundation is trying to save. Among the available activities is cheetah tracking on foot, birding, and spending a day with a guide learning about a typical day in the life of a bushman. (B,L,D) DAY 9: OKONJIMA - EPACHA Transfer by private light aircraft to Epacha Game Lodge & Spa, where you will be escorted to your thatched chalet for a two-night stay. Epacha Game Lodge is adjacent to the Etosha National Park, which covers 22,270 square kilometers of countryside ranging from dense bush to barren plains. The heart of the park is the Etosha Pan, a vast, dry, silvery-white shallow depression of shimmering mirages. Along the southern edge of the Pan, perennial springs feed waterholes that attract an abundance of mammal and bird species, resulting in rewarding game viewing. (B,L,D) DAY 10: EPACHA Two game drives will introduce you to the region of Etosha National Park. Etosha is one of southern Africa's finest parks. The lack of permanent year-round water supplies drives game to the few constant sources of water, such as the waterhole at Okakuejo, which is frequented by elephant, giraffe, black rhino, and lion. Back at Epacha, a billiards room, swimming room, spa, and library are available when you want to relax and unwind. (B,L,D) DAY 11: DEPART NAMIBIA Today you will be transferred by private light aircraft to Eros Airport, where you will transfer by road to Windhoek International Airport for your departure flight. (B) |