Route: Windhoek –
Sossusvlei - Skeleton Coast – Kaokoland - Etosha national Park -
Windhoek
SKELETON COAST
SAFARI COMBINED WITH SOSSUSVLEI AND THE ETOSHA NATIONAL PARK - A
five day safari leaving Windhoek at 07h00 in the morning with a flight
to Sossusvlei which is reputed to have the highest sand dunes in the
world; from there following the Skeleton Coast via Conception Bay to
the Huab Valley during the first day.
The second day continues up the
coast as far as the Hoarusib Valley and the third day as far as the
Kunene River, being the northern border of Namibia.
On the fourth day
a flight to one of the lodges outside the Etosha National Park from
where the park is visited on the fifth day. The safari ends in
Windhoek, arriving just before sunset on the fifth day.
Tour
Information:
Duration:
5 Days & 4 Nights
Departure Days:
Daily on request
Departure Location:
Windhoek - Namibia
Tour Ends:
Windhoek - Namibia
Transport:
Light fixed wing aircraft
ITINERARY:
DAY 1:
We meet at Eros Airport, Windhoek at 07h00 for an early morning
flight to Sossusvlei in the Namib Naukluft Park. Sossusvlei is reputed
to have the highest dunes in the world. The view of the shadow-lined
dunes from the air is well worth seeing. We land at Sesriem from where
we undertake an excursion by vehicle into the dunes.
The dunes reach
heights of 300m and more, for those inclined and fit enough to climb
them. We return to the aircraft and fly along the coast via Conception
Bay towards Swakopmund. The flight includes (weather permitting) an
aerial view of the famous Eduard Bohlen shipwreck at Conception Bay.
After landing and refueling at Swakopmund, we continue with a
low-level flight north along the Skeleton Coast over the seal colony
at Cape Cross.
Thereafter we fly east, over the desert, to the Ugab
formations–a nearly lifeless ‘moon landscape' of numerous black
ridges that stand out in stark contrast to the white desert
floor–before landing at Kuidas camp in the Huab Valley, Damaraland,
where we stay for the night.
Amongst the rocks within walking distance
of the camp are ancient rock engravings. Your pilot-guide will arrange
for a light picnic lunch to be served en route during the day's
itinerary.
DAY 2:
After breakfast we depart by Landrover to explore the colourful
red lava and yellow sandstone of the Huab River formations and to be
introduced to the ecological aspects of this environment with its wide
diversity of flora and fauna.
This includes the Welwitschia mirabilis,
a tree that has been dwarfed by the rigors of the desert climate. We
have lunch at Kuidas camp before flying along the coast to Terrace Bay
in the Skeleton Coast Park. The most prominent shipwrecks along this
part of the coast are the Montrose and Henrietta, still relatively
intact.
At the coast we access the roaring dunes by Landrover, which
always proves to be a stimulating experience. We also visit the beach
with its profusion of multi-coloured pebbles consisting of agate,
lava, granite and others. Interesting to see are old bleached whale
bones scattered along the beach above the high tide mark.
We return to
the aircraft and continue north to our Purros camp in the Hoarusib
Valley in Kaokoland, where we stay for the night.
DAY 3:
After breakfast a scenic drive along the Hoarusib Valley to visit
a settlement of the nomadic Himba people. We might be lucky enough to
come across the desert-dwelling elephant which frequent this valley.
A
planned encounter is unfortunately not possible. From here we continue
north along the Skeleton Coast by aircraft to the Kunene River on the
Angolan border. The Kaiu Maru shipwreck and pieces from old sailing
vessels lie scattered along this part of the coast.
From the airfield
we take a scenic drive by Landrover to our favourite lunch site. After
lunch we continue through the mountains and dunes of the Hartmann
Valley which extends to the Kunene River, reaching our Kunene River
camp in the late afternoon, where we spend the night.
DAY 4:
An early morning boat trip on the Kunene River as it flows through
scenic desert landscape, observing bird life and possibly some
crocodiles. Birds vary from aquatic species on the perennial waters,
to endemic desert varieties and those which inhabit dense riverine
vegetation.
After lunch at the camp, we fly directly from the Kunene
River to the eastern side of the Etosha National Park, where we spend
the night at a lodge just outside the park.
DAY 5:
After breakfast we drive/fly into the park for a game drive by
vehicle. Springs provide numerous drinking places for the animals,
which congregate in spectacular numbers especially during the dry
season (June to December).
Animals such as lion and steenbok may be
found in specific home ranges, while others such as springbok, eland,
zebra, wildebeest and elephant wander all over browsing or in search
of better grazing.
Our flight back to Windhoek commences in the
afternoon to ensure that we land before dark.
END OF SERVICES
TOUR INFORMATION:
Pick-up & Drop-off
It is more advantageous for participants on the safari to start
from Windhoek. The pick-up of passengers in the southern Namib Desert
at places such as Namib-Naukluft Lodge, NamibRand and Sossusvlei is
possible without detracting significantly from the safari.
The pick-up
of passengers from Swakopmund without the introductory part of the
safari is possible for Safari type A only. The pick-up of passengers
in the northern part of Namibia from places such as the Etosha
National Park, however, would detract considerably from the safari and
is therefore not an option.
The drop-off of passengers after a Skeleton Coast Safari to places in
northern Namibia such as the Etosha National Park or even Swakopmund
can be arranged at special request. Drop-off at places in the southern
parts of Namibia is not possible due to lack of daylight flying hours.
Change of plan
The safaris are conducted in an exceptionally beautiful and
interesting environment, but the terrain is generally wild,
undeveloped and sometimes even rough. It is far from civilization and
there is no infrastructure and few roads.
Because of our longstanding
knowledge and experience of the terrain, the weather and other
conditions in these areas, and because the safety of our guests and
their maximum enjoyment are priorities,
WE AT ALL TIMES RESERVE THE RIGHT TO CHANGE WITHIN REASON A ITINERARY AND/OR ITS SEQUENCE SO AS TO ADAPT TO WEATHER CONDITIONS, OTHER
CONSIDERATIONS AND CIRCUMSTANCES WHICH MAY ARISE.
