namibia tour; namib desert; african safari; leopards

Leopard on the prowl

Namibia is one of Africa’s prime wildlife destinations. We view game from superb “fly-in” camps and visit the traditional Himba tribespeople. Our post-trip extension visits Okonjima for amazing leopard and cheetah tracking.

Photo by Art Wolfe / Danita Delimont Agency

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Trip Details at-a-Glance

Cost From: $6995   see pricing
Length: 15 days
Arrive: Windhoek, Namibia
Depart: Windhoek, Namibia
Lodging: 2 nights hotels, 12 nights safari camps
Meals: All meals included
Activity: Safaris, Wildlife & Natural History, Walking, Cultural Adventures
Trip Level: Gameviewing by 4WD vehicle, 3-day walking safari, 3 miles a day
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Highlights

  • Climb the towering Sossusvlei Dunes
  • Track desert-adapted elephant in Damaraland
  • Game drives in search of cheetahs, lions, elephants, rhinos
  • Fantastic leopard and cheetah encounters at Okonjima
  • World-class gameviewing at Etosha
  • Sea kayaking on the coast at Walvis Bay
  • Remote Himba villages, prehistoric rock art at Twyfelfontein
  • Welcoming, full-service bush camps


Best trip I’ve ever been on. Great job!Margaret S.—Willits CA

Choosing the Right Trip

We work hard to help you choose the right trip for you, paying attention to your individual interests, abilities, and needs. If you have questions about the level of comfort or any of the activities described in this itinerary, please contact us.
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References

We are proud to have an exceptionally high rate of repeat travelers. For more information, we would be happy to put you in touch with a client who has traveled with us.

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Resources

Cheetah tracking, desert-adapted elephants, Himba tribes, sea kayaking, sleeping under a the star-filled desert sky—this is a dream expedition to wild Namibia! With expert Trip Leader Orlando Haraseb, one of Namibia’s top guides, we track leopards and cheetahs at Okonjima then set out by 4WD to view the fascinating wildlife in Etosha National Park’s newly opened western reaches, where once only wildlife researchers could go. In Damaraland, we search for desert-adapted elephants, visit a Himba village, and hike amid the exquisite prehistoric rock art of Twyfelfontein, a World Heritage Site. After a wonderful day of sea kayaking amid whales and dolphins in Walvis Bay, we top off our journey with dune climbing at sunrise in Namib-Naukluft National Park and a 3-day walking safari across the stunning wilderness of the NamibRand Nature Reserve.

Itinerary at a Glance

For a more complete description, Download Full Trip Brochure

Days 1-2
Windhoek, Namibia / Okonjima Bush Camp / AfriCat Foundation

From Windhoek, we head to Okonjima, home to the renowned AfriCat Foundation, for amazing leopard- and cheetah- tracking by vehicle as well as visits to the cheetah rehabilitation project.

Days 3-5
Etosha National Park

We explore game-filled Etosha, including the remote western reaches of this world-class reserve, previously restricted to wildlife researchers. Etosha’s famed salt pans attract an immense variety of wildlife in a concentrated area, making for fantastic gameviewing.

Days 6-7
Damaraland / Himba Village / Twyfelfontein

In Damaraland, with its magnificent table-topped mountains, we make a special trip to remote Himba settlement where our Trip Leader’s connections with the local community help create wonderful cultural encounters. Further explorations by 4WD bring us into the land of Namibia’s rare desert-adapted elephants, and we view the remarkable rock art at Twyfelfontein.

Days 8-11
Swakopmund / Sossusvlei

From charming and historic Swakopmund, we head to the dune-lined coast at Walvis Bay, one of the most important coastal wetlands in southern Africa, to sea kayak among seals and dolphins. The next day, we head into the heart of the Namib Naukluft National Park for dune-climbing at sunrise and sunset to capture the fantastic colors of Sossusvlei in perfect light.

Days 12-15
NamibRand Nature Reserve / Tok Tokkie Trail

The perfect grand finale is our leisurely three-day trek in NamibRand, a vast private wilderness bordering Namib-Naukluft National Park. The trail offers incredible mountain views as well as sandy desert and wonderful nights amid the sand dunes under an amazing canopy of stars. We return to Windhoek on the afternoon of Day 14 and depart Day 15.

For a more complete description, Download Full Trip Brochure

What the Trip is Like

The trip is Level 2+, Easy to Moderate, according to our trip grading system. This is a camping and lodge safari with gameviewing by 4WD vehicle and nature walks. There are a few long driving days over rough roads and rugged dirt tracks. On Days 12, 13, and 14, we will be walking on desert trails (1-2 hours on Day 12, up to 7.5 hours on Day 13, up to 3 hours on Day 14 ). The walking is not particularly strenuous (and there is a backup vehicle available should you wish to cut a day’s walk short), but you will need to bring well broken-in hiking boots for these days as well as for hikes on the Sossusvlei Dunes. Although this is not a particularly rigorous trip, we still recommend that each participant undertake a preparatory program of physical conditioning (especially if you want to climb the sand dunes in Sossusvlei, which can be quite challenging). Daily walking or regular hiking, jogging, and stair-climbing are excellent preparatory exercises. Any African safari is an adventure, and the traveler to Africa should bring along flexibility, a sense of humor, curiosity about new peoples and places, and an openness to the unexpected.

Explanation of Trip Levels

 

Departures & Leaders

May 24-Jun 7, 2012  Orlando Haraseb
May 5-19, 2013
Sep 15-29, 2013

Tour Costs

Prices are for 2012
$6995 (9-12 members)
$7295 (6-8 members)
Single supplement: $480
more on pricing

Tour Cost Includes:

  • expert leadership of a Wilderness Travel Trip Leader
  • accommodations, based on double occupancy
  • welcome and farewell dinners
  • All meals included
  • park fees
  • land transportation
  • airport transfers for passengers as noted
  • baggage handling and sightseeing as noted

Tour Cost Does Not Include:

International airfare to and from Africa, any meals not specified after each itinerary day in the Full Trip Brochure, airport departure taxes, optional tipping or gratuities to leaders or staff, additional hotel nights that may be necessitated by airline schedule changes or other factors, cost of medical immunizations (if any), travel insurance, and other expenses of a personal nature (sodas, alcoholic beverages, etc.). Optional side trips and excursions are also at your own expense.

Trip Payment Schedule

At time of reservation: $500
120 days prior to departure: 20%
60 days prior to departure: Balance

Cancellation and Transfer Fee Schedule*

Minimum fee: $250
46-90 days prior to departure: 25% of tour cost
45 days or less: 100% of tour cost

*Please note that this differs from our regular catalog departures.

Orlando Haraseb


“Orlando” Petrus Haraseb is a Damara with easygoing charm along with a wide-ranging knowledge of Namibia’s natural and cultural history. A former soccer star (and one-time captain of Namibia’s national soccer team), Orlando has been a professional safari guide for over 15 years, starting as a guide at Hobatere Lodge under the mentorship of Steve Braine, one of Namibia’s top naturalists. Orlando has been featured in several publications including Conservation in Namibia, and in 2007, he was nominated for the International Wanderlust Guide of the Year Award. He is the vice chairman of the Namibian Academy for Tourism & Hospitality, the institution responsible for training safari guides.

Upcoming Trips:

Namibia Expedition, May 24-June 7, 2012