Namibian Explorer Safari - 5 Days

Guests will be met, welcomed and transferred to O R Tambo International Airport in Johannesburg for a morning flight to Windhoek. Guests are met on arrival in Windhoek and are assisted with boarding a light charter flight to Swakopmund, where the Namibia Explorer safari truly begins. Swakopmund was established in 1892 and is a quaint, picturesque seaside town with a rich history. The late afternoon is spent relaxing after the day's traveling.

Our first stop today is at ‘Bird Rock’, a guano island inhabited by over 200 000 birds. The island is one of the first examples of man’s efforts to utilize the rich natural resources in the area. The Namibian safari then makes its way to the lagoon at Walvis Bay and from there into the dune sea and south to Sandwich Harbor. Both areas have been designated as ‘wetlands of international importance’. As we travel into the dune sea, we encounter the famous towering wind-sculpted dunes of the Namib Desert. Some 40 000 birds of 34 different species have been recorded in the area during recent surveys. Take a leisurely walk along the lagoon - an official marine sanctuary - and you might be lucky enough to see seals, dolphins and even whales. The safari then makes its way back to Swakopmund, where the remainder of the day is spent at leisure.

After breakfast, guests are transferred to Swakopmund airstrip for a charter flight to Sossusvlei. Experience the haunting beauty of the Namib Desert at Sossusvlei Desert Lodge, situated in the foothills of the private NamibRand Nature Reserve. The Namib - known as ‘the living desert’ - is a world of vast open spaces, endless horizons, dramatic desert landscapes and jagged mountain heights. Led by Sossusvlei’s expert rangers and naturalists, the afternoon is devoted to exploring the desert landscape in open 4x4 vehicles.

The morning is devoted to an excursion into the famous Sossusvlei dunes - the highest in the world. The name 'Sossusvlei' applies to an area that encompasses the great plain of the Tsauchab River, along with the red dunes that appear to be marching along like giant sentinels to the south and north of the plain. After our desert excursion, we travel on to Sesriem Canyon. The canyon begins as an almost imperceptible but nevertheless deep cleft in level, stony ground and then widens until it finally flattens out onto the plain. Because it is so deep and sheltered, it often holds water well into the dry season - an invigorating sight in such a barren and stark environment. During the afternoon, we return to the lodge and after some time for relaxation, you may opt to explore the area on quad bikes (four wheelers).

A last breakfast in this desert oasis is followed by a charter flight to Windhoek and from there a connection to Johannesburg. Guests are met on arrival in Johannesburg and are transferred to any location of their choice in either Johannesburg or Pretoria. Memories of an unforgettable Namibian safari are sure to last a lifetime.