North by Northwest Self–Drive
Safari Description:
A two–week self–drive safari covering the north of Namibia taking in the delights of Damaraland from its dramatic landscapes, free–roaming wildlife to the unique plant life. Explore the area on foot and from here continue to the far north and Epupa Falls overlooking Angola before entering Etosha National Park one of the greatest wildlife havens, with a final night at Okonjima for AfriCat Foundation – a conservation programme. This self–drive is offered as a camping as well as a variation of accommodation level from 2* through to 3* and a further upgraded accommodation version is also available – trips can be tailored for you.
Safari Highlights:
Spitzkoppe/Erongo Mountains; Damaraland for Twyfelfontein & local communities; Etendeka Mountain Lodge – excellent hiking & nature drives; Himba tribe; Epupa Falls; Etosha National Park for superb game viewing; Okonjima for AfriCat Foundation
Main Attractions:
Map & Short Itinerary:
Day 1 Chameleon Backpackers & Guesthouse
Day 2 Spitzkoppe Campsite
Day 3&4 Madisa Campsite Damaraland
Day 5&6 Etendeka Mountain Camp Palmwag
Day 7 Opuwo Lodge Campsite
Day 8&9 Omarunga Campsite Epupa Falls
Day 10 Olifantrus Campsite Etosha National Park
Day 11&12 Okaukuejo Campsite Etosha National Park
Day 13 Okonjima Campsite & AfriCat Foundation
Day 14 Return to Windhoek
Day 1 Utopia Boutique Hotel
Day 2 AiAiba Rock Painting Lodge near Erongo
Day 3&4 Camp Kipwe Damaraland
Day 5&6 Etendeka Mountain Camp Palmwag
Day 7 Opuwo Country Lodge
Day 8&9 Omarunga Lodge Epupa Falls
Day 10 Dolomite Camp Etosha National Park
Day 11&12 Okaukuejo Resort Etosha National Park
Day 13 Okonjima Plains Camp & AfriCat Foundation
Day 14 Return to Windhoek
Day 1 Olive Grove Guesthouse
Day 2 Epako Lodge Erongo Mountains
Day 3&4 Doro Nawas Damaraland
Day 5&6 Etendeka Mountain Camp Palmwag
Day 7 Opuwo Country Lodge
Day 8&9 Epupa Falls Lodge
Day 10 Dolomite Camp Etosha National Park
Day 11 Okaukuejo Resort Etosha National Park
Day 12 Ongava Lodge adjacent Etosha
Day 13 Okonjima Bush Camp & AfriCat Foundation
Day 14 Return to Windhoek/end of services.
Length | 14 days |
Safari Type | Self Drive Safari |
Price From | NAD 27333 |
Countries | Namibia |
Accommodation | Accommodation, Camping, Luxury |
Group Size | Minimum 1 people |
Single Supplement | Yes |
Please Note | Subject to availability of accommodation |
Departures | On Request |
Comfort Level:
Accommodation Comfort | |
Camping Comfort | |
Luxury Comfort |
Detailed Itinerary:
Day 1 Windhoek
Collect your vehicle and drive to your accommodation where you’ll meet a consultant and have the chance to answer any last–minute questions, the remainder of day is free. Recommend Joe’s Beer House for dinner – it’s a Namibian institution
Day 2 Spitzkoppe/Erongo
Amid strange granite formations on the outskirts of an ancient volcano, flanked by the Namib Desert to the west and mixed–woodland savannah to the east, the Erongo Mountain region form a rare confluence of ecosystems that give rise to remarkable biodiversity, including a vast array of plant, reptile, mammal and bird species that are endemic to Namibia. Enjoy walks and the chance to see ancient Bushman paintings or even meet with a local Bushman community
Day 3–4 Damaraland
Today drive through to central Damaraland, home to free–roaming desert elephants often found wandering around the dry riverbeds in winter months. Whilst here, it is worth a visit to the nearby Living Damara Museum and learn a little of the local Damara culture supporting a community project or visit Twyfelfontein where thousands of ancient rock engravings and paintings are hidden in the hillsides.
Day 5–6 Etendeka Mountain Camp, Damaraland
This wonderful lodge is located in northern Damaraland where your experience with nature is second–to–none. The focus lies on exploring the area by foot and in open vehicles on game drives where you may be lucky to see black rhino or desert–adapted elephants, along with other free–roaming wildlife and nature walks to quartz fields. The hosts enable you to fully appreciate this wonderful wild and rugged location and it’s a firm favourite with visitors
Day 7 Opuwo, Kaokoveld
Depart for the dusty town of Opuwo, the gateway to the Kunene region in the north–western part of Namibia. The remote area south of the Kunene River is the home of the Himba people, who have kept their ethnic individuality and culture in the seclusion of Kaokoland.
Day 8–9 Epupa Falls, Kunene
Continue to the most northerly point – the Kunene River creates the border between Namibia and Angola and where the water provides a much–needed relief to man and animal alike, casting a palm–lined oasis through the desert landscape. Although Epupa Falls are certainly not the biggest or highest in Africa, they do have their own signature when it comes to a seasonal waterfall, luring visitors to a series of cascades, where the Kunene River drops just 60m over a distance of about 1.5km. They subsequently divide into a mass of channels that form a myriad of rock pools and the region attracts many species of birds in a unique desert setting.
Day 10 Etosha National Park
Onward to Etosha, one of the best game reserves in Africa, entering the park through the western gate and the next days are spent exploring this wildlife haven.
Day 11 Etosha National Park
Game drive to Okaukuejo, the main rest camp of Etosha and famed for its floodlit waterhole where during the dry season hordes of game come to drink – watch out for herds of elephants, black rhino, predators such as lion and hyena and plains game.
Day 12 Etosha National Park
A final night in Etosha, explore more of this incredible park where terrain varies from open plains to bush and woodland finding some of the wildlife that criss–cross tracks en–route to waterholes where they congregate
Day 12 Ongava Lodge, Ongava Private Game Reserve (for Superior/Luxury version)
For the upgraded/luxury version of the trip, a night is spent on Ongava Private Game Reserve, adjacent to Etosha and one of the best lodges in the country, perhaps take part in a game drive on the reserve where white and black rhino and huge pride of lion are found. There’s also species such as waterbuck not found in the national park, and the chance to join a nocturnal drive to see animals not spotted during the day.
Day 13 Okonjima Nature Reserve
Onward to Okonjima – this afternoon you’ll have close encounters with large predators such as cheetah or leopard and get some excellent photo opportunities. A highly recommended option
Day 14 Departure
If time permits, you may consider joining a further activity at Okonjima (own expense), then continue to Windhoek, perhaps stop at Okahandja, for some last–minute souvenir shopping at the craft markets where you can barter some gifts before returning to city. Drop off your vehicle and connect with your onward flight. End of services. No flights prior to mid–afternoon (later if joining activity)