Namibian Highlights Family Self–Drive

Day 1 Windhoek

Upon arrival, collect your vehicle and drive to your accommodation, here you’ll meet a tour consultant who will go through your travel plans, hand over the welcome park and answer any last–minute questions you may have. Depending on the time of your arrival you may choose to wander into the city centre, relax by the pool, perhaps join a township tour, sunset horse ride or even head out for a birding trip.

Day 2 Kalahari Anib, Kalahari Desert

This morning (after breakfast), head south onto the red dunes of the Kalahari Basin, where you’ll overnight in the midst of the Kalahari among the red sand, this fossil desert with its undulating red sand dunes and inter–dunes valleys covered in grass, shrubs and trees homes a surprising amount of game. Perhaps join an optional sun–downer drive take a short nature walk, or head out on an e–bike tour to explore further

Day 3 & 4 Canyon Roadhouse, near Fish River Canyon

Your drive takes you to the far south to lands of stark beauty, en–route you can stop at the Quiver Tree Forest and Giant’s Playground before continuing to Canyon Roadhouse. The Fish River Canyon is ranked the second largest canyon in the world and absolutely magnificent and breath–taking in its immensity, where within this spectacular chasm a canyon lies within a canyon! Take a walk along the rim, or join a guided tour

Day 5 & 6 Namib Naukluft National Park for Sossusvlei

Enjoy the stunning scenery north in this sparsely–populated and hostile region taking you towards the Namib Naukluft National Park and home to the oldest desert in the world. The following day rise early venturing into the dune fields where you can wander around on foot, climb a sand dune overlooking Sossusvlei and run or slide down the slip side – great fun for everyone! Ensure you visit nearby Dead Vlei, where the ancient and skeletal camel thorn trees stand on the white pan with the backdrop of orange sand dunes and blue sky – with this amount of sand to play in it’s guaranteed to keep children amused.

Day 7 & 8 Swakopmund

Drive through the desert to Swakopmund today, en–route perhaps stop at Walvis Bay to visit the lagoon, a protected RAMSAR wetland site. It is a short coastal drive to the historic and adventure seaside town of Swakopmund, join optional activities, perhaps take part in a marine cruise and experience the thrill of dolphins leaping out of the water along the boat and feed seals by hand and enjoy fresh oysters and champagne on the cruise – a great activity for the family. Other family–orientated activities include kayaking where seals frolic close by, sand boarding, quad biking, along with sky diving, or a desert tour where you’ll have a chance to meet the “little 5” and see how smaller critters survive in this environment

Day 9 Twyfelfontein area, Damaraland

Today drive north along the Skeleton Coast, just south of Henties Bay stop at a shipwreck close to the shore before continuing north – perhaps stop at Cape Cross Seal Colony en–route, where thousands of seals congregate on the beach before retracing your steps to Henties Bay and turning inland to the plains to Twyfelfontein, this is a very vulnerable and delicate ecosystem, renowned for some of the best examples of rock paintings and engravings in Southern Africa. There is time to relax by the pool if you explore Twyfelfontein tomorrow

Day 10 & 11 Palmwag Lodge/Campsite, Northern Damaraland

A local guide will help you explore Twyfelfontein rock etchings and explain a little of the history of the etchings and area, and you may wish to visit Living Damara Museum where the family can interact with some of the local community and learn about some of the Damara tradtions. From here, drive to Palmwag, located close to a natural oasis that attracts game such as desert elephant. The Palmwag concession is home to free–roaming game such as black rhino, mountain zebra, giraffe, lion and much more.  Join optional activities such as nature drives, rhino tracking and more.

Day 12–14 Etosha National Park – Day 12&13 Okaukuejo/Halali  Day 14 Onguma Bush Camp

Today depart for Etosha, one of the best reserves in Southern Africa and enter the park through the south at Andersons Gate – and onto Okaukuejo, renowned for its active waterhole and chance to see black rhino (dry season) and a host of other animals. The rest camps are fenced so it’s a safe environment for children and each has a swimming pool, restaurant and floodlit waterhole to sit and watch the animals come to drink – these waterholes are normally active around sunset. You can game drive around the park, visiting various waterholes and searching for the many species of game during the day, perhaps relaxing during the hottest part of the day at your rest camp. This park rarely disappoints. A final night is spent just outside the park on the east aspect and is very family–friendly.  A Sundowner drive (ideal for teenagers) or a Young Explorers Walk (perfect for the younger kids) has been included. The guided walk is a fact–filled and fun adventure and the excursion will ensure the kids find out aboute nature. Adults are welcome to join or perhaps relax on your own by the waterhole or pool

Day 15 Okonjima for AfriCat Foundation

Head south to Okonjima, home of the AfriCat Foundation, learn about the conservation of predators in Namibia and see cheetahs at close quarters – a fantastic family–friendly way to end your trip and ensure incredible memories

Day 16 Windhoek/Departure

Return to Windhoek, perhaps stop at Okahandja, for some last–minute souvenir shopping at the craft markets where you can barter come gifts before returning to Windhoek International Airport and connect with your onward flight back home. No flights prior to mid/late afternoon. End of services