Day 1
DEPART
Depart the USA to Johannesburg, South Africa (or other flight arrangements).

Day 2
JOHANNESBURG
Upon arrival in the late afternoon you are met and transferred to your hotel situated just 35 minutes from the Johannesburg Airport in the leafy, cosmopolitan suburb of Rosebank.

Days 3-5
NAMIB RAND NATURE RESERVE
On the morning of Day 3, transfer to the airport to board your flight to Windhoek, Namibia. Upon arrival you are met and chartered to your camp situated in the heart of the NamibRand Nature Reserve which boasts some of Namibia's most dramatic and beautiful desert scenery. This beautiful lodge is the perfect base to discover this unique and diverse desert habitat. During your stay, tour the magnificent 80-million-year-old desert by open landcruiser. You may see large game species such as oryx antelope, springbok, ostrich and mountain zebra as well as smaller desert creatures such as jackal, bat-eared fox and a rich variety of birds.

The Lodge is constructed on wooden platforms and overlooks panoramic vistas in all directions. Each accommodation has its own private verandah and en-suite bathroom facilities. Breathtaking views and the location amidst the endless sea of dunes have earned this fabulous lodge the reputation of being one of the most attractive and unique safari camps in Southern Africa.

Days 6-7
NAMIB NAUKLUFT NATIONAL PARK
On the morning of Day 6, transfer by vehicle to your luxury lodge which lies in the heart of the Namib Desert and in a private reserve bordering the Namib Naukluft National Park. The camp offers magnificent views of the famous red dunes of Sossusvlei. During your stay explore the magnificent Sossuvlei Dunes which is a huge dried up clay pan with some of the highest sand dunes in the world (300 meters/984 feet). This part of the Namib Desert is a photographer's paradise best viewed at sunrise when the colors of the dunes come alive with shadows creating striking contrasts. Often gemsbok or springbok are seen wandering in the area in search of grazing and water.

You will also take morning and evening game drives in the private reserve, experiencing the desert scenery and its unique fauna and flora. The game you see is dramatized by the contrast between the desert and animals like springbok, gemsbok (oryx) and ostrich who manage to survive in these harsh conditions.

Accommodation is in the form of thatched and canvas chalets on elevated decks. Each features a private bathroom and wrap-around veranda with an enticing plunge pool to escape the heat. A staircase leads to a private rooftop stargazing platform. This provides the perfect setting to spend the whole night or just an evening watching shooting stars blaze across the Milky Way. There is no better way to experience the infinity of space.

Days 8-10
SKELETON COAST
On the morning of Day 8 you are met by your pilot and flown low over the magnificent Skeleton Coast via Conception Bay. The flight includes (weather permitting) an aerial view of the famous Eduard Bohlen shipwreck at Conception Bay. After landing and refueling at Swakopmund, continue with a low-level flight north along the Skeleton Coast past the seal colony at Cape Cross and on to your luxury camp.

The camp is located just inland from the Atlantic Ocean and the Skeleton Coast and the cool winds that blow from the Atlantic help keep the camp cool even during the summer. Under big, shady Albida trees you find a small, rustic and peaceful camp with fully furnished Meru tents featuring attached bathroom facilities. The camp lies on the banks of the Kunene River which forms the border with neighboring Angola to the north and is the only permanent water source in the area.

The camp shares this region with the wonderful Himba people who are some of the last true nomads in Africa. The Himba are noted for their exotic dress and physical beauty and continue to live a traditional, semi-nomadic lifestyle. There are very few places where you can interact with these elegant unique people in their own environment, and this is one of them.

During your time here take in breath-taking landscapes in the Hartmann Valley with herds of springbok, ostrich and even leopard. Traverse sand dunes on four-wheel drive vehicle safaris and float along the Kunene River where you have the opportunity to fish and witness the Kunene crocodiles basking along the river banks. If lucky, you will spot Southern Africa's rarest bird, the Cinderella waxbill which inhabits the reed banks.

Walking through trails in the remote mountain and river valleys is always a highlight.

Days 11-13
ETOSHA NATIONAL PARK
On the morning of Day 11 charter by private plane to your luxury lodge set in a private game reserve which adjoins Etosha National Park. This elegant lodge is considered Namibia's most luxurious safari facility. All chalets are first-class, featuring thatch roofs, stone walls and floors with attached bathrooms, air conditioning, a mini bar and spectacular views.

Etosha National Park is one of Africa's most spectacular wildlife sanctuaries is famous for the massive dried salt pan and diverse range of semi-desert ecology and wildlife. It is home to large populations of rhino, cheetah, leopard, oryx, springbok, giraffe, the largest lions in Africa and many other species seen in the acacia and mopane woodland.

During the day, take a safari into the Etosha National Park in four-wheel drive vehicles to visit some of the favorite waterholes and view the incredible wildlife. In the early evenings you venture out with spotlights to look for seldom seen nocturnal species such as carocol, porcupine, genet, leopard and more. You may also spend a day in the private concession area (where the lodge is situated) where you may have the chance track the resident black and white rhino on foot with a professional tracker.

Day 14
WINDHOEK / JOHANNESBURG
In the early afternoon fly back to Windhoek International Airport. Here you board your flight to Johannesburg and homeward.

NOTE: This is just one example of many custom itineraries we can do for you in this diverse country.

GENERAL INFORMATION

There are no set departure dates for this trip. Please contact EXPLORE as to the time you would like to travel and we can book this itinerary or another customized itinerary for you.

Tour Includes:
All ground transport upon landing in Africa; all air charters in Africa; accommodation; all meals throughout except dinner in Johannesburg; most laundry throughout; all game drives; park fees.

Tour Excludes:
Intercontinental airfare; all commercial internal African air; medical immunizations; passport fees; accident/baggage/cancellation insurance; individual transfers; dinner in Johannesburg; excursions deviating from the scheduled tour; excess baggage charges; medical expenses; airport departure fees and taxes when departing Namibia - 75 Namibian Dollars (about $12.00 US); all gratuities; telephone or fax charges; room service; and other items of a purely personal nature.

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