The journey starts at Windhoek International Airport at 10:30 or 15:50. If your international flight arrives late in the afternoon, you need to spend a first night in Windhoek.
Fly the first leg from Windhoek to Swakopmund via Sossusvlei, then take the 4 x 4 vehicle and drive around Brandberg via Twyfelfontein to the Damaraland area to see wild rhinos and desert adapted elephants. Your route then crosses Etosha National Park from west to east. There are flights from Eastern Etosha back to Windhoek to connect to your international flight.
Flight to Kwessi Dunes
Accommodation
Kwessi Dunes is located in the NamibRand Nature Reserve, a place of immense beauty, where red sand dunes stretch endlessly against the backdrop of the Naukluft Mountains. The lodge offers twelve comfortable, air-conditioned tent chalets, each covered by a protective thatched roof. The rooms have en-suite bathrooms with indoor & outdoor showers and a veranda with seating. Two of the chalets are family rooms with two bedrooms (1 x king-size bed and 1 x two single beds) which share a common bathroom.
The chalets have been extended towards the rear with a separate stargazer bedroom, which is open to the sky and allows a stunning view of the millions of stars, especially during new moon and cloudless nights. The NamibRand Reserve is Africa's first internationally recognized Dark Sky Reserve, which means that light pollution is absolutely minimal.
The spacious main building is protected from the sun by a striking thatched roof. Beneath is the bar, a library with a large number of books to browse through, the restaurant and various seating areas that invite you to linger. There is also a swimming pool if you need to cool down from the heat of the day.
Kwessi Dunes is located south of Sossusvlei, north of the NamibRand Nature Reserve in a private concession of about 15’000 hectares. Although the dunes of Sossusvlei are within easy reach, an early wake-up call is still required (30km to the gate of the park and from there another hour drive to the vleis).
Established in 1984 by the Brückner family, the reserve currently encompasses more than 200’000 hectares of land. The NamibRand is situated some 2 hours by car south of Sesriem and abuts the Namib Naukluft Park to the west and the Nubib Mountains to the east. Its diverse landscape includes red sand dunes, vast meadows, mountains and valleys supporting several species of animal, including zebra, oryx, springbok, kudu, giraffe and cheetah.
The west of the reserve is dominated by the bush-covered dune fields of the Namib, and the east by granite cliffs and the Nubib Mountains. It is different from the Sossusvlei and its high sand dunes, so combining the two areas offers visitors a truly comprehensive insight into the Namib region.
All Namib Rand lodges offer scenic drives and the guides are more than happy to explaind the flora and fauna of the Namib to their guests. The guides will also encourage guests to leave the vehicle and explore the Namib on foot as well. As there are only few camps in the area, excursions in the NamibRand Nature Reserve are always very private and exclusive.
On landing (wherever the wind has taken you) there is a champagne breakfast waiting for you.
Flight to Swakopmund
Travel by road to Strand Hotel
Accommodation The new Strand Hotel has set a new standard in Swakopmund. Uniquely located on the iconic and historic Swakopmund Mole and surrounded on three sides by the Southern Atlantic Ocean its 125 rooms and suites make this hotel one of the larger ones in town, but of those certainly the one with the best seaside location. All rooms have tea & coffee stations, mini-bars, hair-dryers, TV’s, free Wi-Fi Internet access, telephones and air-conditioning.
The Strand Hotel offers its residential guests and all casual visitors three exciting restaurants. The Farmhouse Deli is good for coffee, cake, sandwiches and fresh salads. The Brewer & Butcher welcomes beer and meat lovers. The Ocean Cellar caters for guests who prefer seafood, sushi, oyster and a glass of fine white wine.
The Strand Hotel is destined to become the social epicenter of Swakopmund for locals and tourists alike.
Swakopmund was the centre of German colonial rule, and relics of this chapter of its history can be found around every corner. Most noticeable of these is the long jetty, which stands witness to the German’s activities in this area and their attempt to create a usable port. Unfortunately, Swakopmund turned out to be wholly unsuitable for the task. Walvis Bay is a natural bay just 30 km south. It was occupied by the English as early as 1795, and later became a fish-processing industrial town under South African rule.
Swakopmund is charming. The old part of town is very pretty and offers several cafes, bakeries and, of course, the unavoidable beer houses. Time appears to have stood still in many parts, and it’s difficult not to keep rubbing your eyes in wonderment at the mix of German and African.
There’s a lot to do if you stay at Swakopmund: take a day trip southwards along the coast to Sandwich Harbour, hop on a boat at Walvis Bay and wait for the seals and pelicans to greet you, Kayak with seals, jump on a quad bike for a ride through the dunes, or just take a stroll along the beach and enjoy a tasty meal in one of the great restaurants. Swakopmund’s most famous landmark, the jetty, has been renovated and now boasts the appropriately named ‘Jetty 1905’ restaurant at its end.
You travel by rental vehicle to Mowani Mountain Camp
Accommodation
Mowani Mountain Camp comprises 12 charming rooms with high thatched roofs and comfortable verandas. The dome-like main roof leaves a window to the sky above the beds, stargazing from the bed so to say. The rooms are nestled between rounded boulders and blend in seamlessly with their surroundings. The room categories are defined by the quality of the view - accordingly there are 4 Superior View Rooms (No 1-4) with sunset view, 3 View Rooms (No 5-7) with view into a hidden valley and 5 Standard View Rooms (No 8-12). Some of the rooms have been extended with a canopy, under which a dome tent is placed, accommodating two children. Alternatively, these beds can be added to the room if parents prefer.
Mowani also offers a Luxury Room, a Mini Suite and the Mountain Suite with butler service, lounge and private dining area. These three rooms are larger and offer more privacy than the other rooms, but only the Mountain Suite stands out with a truly magnificent view.
The central area includes a small rock swimming pool with great views, lounge, restaurant and an extra wifi lounge. In the evening most guests visit the rock-top viewing plateau to enjoy the sunset. The sundowner drink is added to the view upon request.
Just across the road lies Camp Kipwe, Mowani‘s sister camp.
Twyfelfontein was declared a World Heritage Site in 2007 because of its significance as one of the most important sites of African rock engravings. The area is home to one of the few watering holes in the entire region, and one which the local farmers didn’t find particularly reliable: roughly translated, the name Twyfelfontein means ‘sometimes there’s water, sometime’s there isn’t’!Today, some 40’000 guests from around the globe visit the rock engravings, which has made Twyfelfontein one of Namibia’s destination hotspots and therefore quite busy – visitors can’t expect to have the rock engravings all to themselves.
This region had been familiar to its ancient residents for a long time: they gathered close to the only source of water during the dry season, carried out their rituals, and drew and carved their experiences onto and into the slabs of rock around them. The naturally occurring iron oxide in the sandstone formed a protective layer (the so-called ‘desert varnish’) over the rock engravings. This layer has slowed down the weathering process and allowed us to admire these thousands-of-years-old works of art today. Many of the engravings depict hunting scenes with giraffe, antelope, zebra, ostrich, rhino, elephant and lion – and interestingly enough, also a seal! Humans are rarely depicted. The drawings are often surrounded by geometric patterns.
To avoid contamination and vandalism, guests may only visit the area with a guide, who will highlight the most famous motifs, including the lion with a kink in its tail and the dancing kudu. The tour takes about an hour for the first motifs, and a further hour if you wish to see the rest. It is best to visit in the early morning or late afternoon in order to avoid the worst of the heat.
Accommodation
Etosha Oberland Lodge offers an ideal base for exploring Etosha National Park. The lodge is designed in a modern safari style and offers 20 tent chalets that are pleasantly private and spacious. Each guest unit has an ample bathroom, an open lounge and private seating area as well as air conditioning, fridge and coffee/tea making facilities. The required power is generated by the lodge‘s own solar system. There are also three family rooms with an extra bedroom.
The main building of Etosha Oberland Lodge is surrounded by tall mopane trees. The restaurant and its terrace offer views of the waterhole, where animals may pass by anytime. Other amenities include a swimming pool, bar and a spacious lounge area with various sofa corners where guests can relax after their safari. The curio shop exclusively offers products by artists from Namibia.
Wifi both in the main building and in the rooms.
The Etosha National Park is one of the most important nature reserves in southern Africa. It exists since 1907 and covers an area of 22,270 km². The central and eastern sections consist mainly of various silvery-white shining salt pans, which have made Etosha famous. In the dry season the park, the animals and the vehicles are covered in a whitish haze of salt dust.
On the southern shore of the huge Etosha Pan (130 x 50 km) there are several waterholes, which magically attract the animals from the surrounding area during the dry season. The three large state camps Okaukuejo, Halali and Namutoni connect Anderson's Gate in the south with the von Lindequist Gate in the east. The western part towards Galton Gate is much more wooded and less frequented by visitors, but it also offers less trails to drive around and find wildlife.
A visit to Etosha National Park requires careful planning in order to avoid disappointment. The park relies entirely on its artificial waterholes, which attract high concentrations of wildlife during the dry season. The animals leave the waterholes again when the wet season arrives, making them much more difficult to find. Etosha Pan itself can be under 10 cm of water, making it more attractive to bird lovers. Accommodation also needs to be selected carefully. The park is home to several state camps, which are usually and unfortunately not very well managed. Good accommodation can be found outside the park in private reserves, such as the Mushara and Onguma camps in the east, and more particularly, in the Ongava Private Reserve at Anderson's Gate in the south, which supports more game than the others.
Namutoni and Okaukuejo are the two main camps at the eastern von Lindequist Gate / southern entrance to Etosha at Anderson's Gate. The quieter Halali Camp is situated between the two. The camps are huge and offer chalets, camping pitches, petrol stations and large picnic areas. If you’re looking for a private experience, this is not the place for you. Most roads run between these three camps and take visitors to the various (mostly) artificial waterholes, which attract high concentrations of animals during the dry season.
The western part of Etosha opened to visitors in 2011. This part of the park is completely different to the region around the Etosha Pan; there are many more shrubs and trees and less traffic.
Accommodation
Onguma - The Fort offers twelve air-conditioned bush suites with maximum privacy, spacious bathrooms, indoor and outdoor showers and large terraces. The rugged beauty of the Etosha area and Fisher’s Pan can be enjoyed from anywhere in the camp.
With its tower and integrated antique elements, the huge main building is inspired by a combination of African, Moroccan and Indian architecture. It houses a spacious lounge, restaurant, wine cellar, swimming pool and a plunge pool. The game activities at the waterhole to the front of the lodge can be enjoyed from the pool or whilst having dinner.
Situated in the main building’s largest tower, the Sultan Suite offers a little more of everything and, of course, better views. The Honeymoon Suite is located furthest from the main building and is slightly larger than the standard suites.
The camp is unfenced, which means there is a minimum age requirement for our younger guests. Oddly, one is not allowed to walk to the rooms and transport must be called to get to the main building, even at daylight.
The Etosha National Park is one of the most important nature reserves in southern Africa. It exists since 1907 and covers an area of 22,270 km². The central and eastern sections consist mainly of various silvery-white shining salt pans, which have made Etosha famous. In the dry season the park, the animals and the vehicles are covered in a whitish haze of salt dust.
On the southern shore of the huge Etosha Pan (130 x 50 km) there are several waterholes, which magically attract the animals from the surrounding area during the dry season. The three large state camps Okaukuejo, Halali and Namutoni connect Anderson's Gate in the south with the von Lindequist Gate in the east. The western part towards Galton Gate is much more wooded and less frequented by visitors, but it also offers less trails to drive around and find wildlife.
Etosha National Park is Namibia's premier safari destination. Covering almost the same area as Switzerland, Etosha is one of the largest national parks in Africa. To the west of the park lay the silvery white salt pans and adjoining waterholes, which magically attract all kinds of wildlife during the dry season.
Accommodation
Okonjima is run by the Hanssen family. Wayne, Donna and Rosalea Hanssen bought Okonjima from their parents, Val and Rose, in 1993 and turned the farm into a well-known conservation project.
Okonjima is the home of the AfriCat Foundation, a not-for-profit organisation dedicated to the rescue and preservation of Namibia’s big cat population. It has rescued over 1000 big cats since 1993 and released 86% of them back into the wild.
Okonjima Bush Camp is located 3 km from Plains Camp (the main camp) on the edge of the game reserve. This lodge offers a greater degree of comfort and is used by us as a fly-in safari destination for guests who wish to make a stopover here and learn more about the AfriCat Foundation.
Spaced a minimum of 80 metres apart, all eight chalets offer maximum privacy and a very generous 105 m2 of living space. The chalets are built in a traditional African style with clay walls and thatched roofs. The lodge also offers a swimming pool.
Okonjima is situated about half way between Windhoek and Etosha. It boasts its own 200 km² game reserve with hyena, wild dog, zebra, wildebeest, giraffe, kudu, oryx and various other kinds of antelope.Okonjima offers the best chance of coming face to face with a cheetah or leopard. Some of the animals are fitted with tracking collars, making them easier to find – but it’s still a great experience. We’re always happy to include Okonjima on our self-drive routes.
Basic Information
Individual journey. The journey will be planned on your preferred dates.
Duration 14 nights. Min 2 guests. Minimum age 6 years. Weight limit of luggage 20 kg. Luggage in one soft bag only.
Includes all transfers from Windhoek to the hotels/camps to Windhoek
- Kwessi Dunes: Double Room. All meals, drinks (except premier brands), twice daily shared activities with one of the camp guides.
- Strand Hotel: Luxury Room. Breakfast.
- Mowani Mountain Camp: Standard Room. Dinner, breakfast. Visit the rock engravings of Twyfelfontein on your own. Includes elephant activity to find the desert adapted elephants.
- Etosha Oberland Lodge: Double Room. Dinner, breakfast. Game Drives on your own or bookable at the lodge.
- Onguma - The Fort: Bush Suite. Dinner, breakfast.
- Okonjima Bush Camp: Double Room. All meals, drinks (except premier brands), laundry service, twice daily shared activities with one of the camp guides.
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