the itinerary - Bophelo Tours & Safaris

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NEW AFRICAN FRONTIERS
NAMIBIA
9 DAY – NAMIBIAN PANORAMA
SAFARI TYPE:
DURATION:
Fly-In Safari
9 Days / 8 Nights
ROUTING HIGHLIGHTS:
Windhoek - Namib Naukluft Park – NamibRand Nature Reserve – Sossusvlei – Swakopmund Etosha National Park – Onguma Private Game Reserve - Windhoek
Guests on this Fly-In Safari will be treated to the highlights of a classical Namibian Safari,
including the diversity of the Namib Desert with its towering dunes at Sossusvlei,
mountainous terrain and grassy plains, the desolation of the southern Skeleton Coast,
Namibia’s premier coastal holiday town of Swakopmund, and the game rich Etosha National
Park.
ITINERARY:
Day 1
Windhoek
On arrival at the Windhoek International Airport you will be welcomed by a company
representative and transferred to Namibia’s capital city, Windhoek.
Windhoek is often described as a city with a “continental” atmosphere due to its architecture
(historical buildings dating back to the German colonial rule), cuisine, culture, dress and
educational institutions.
Windhoek portrays the colour, sounds and tempo of a modern African city with its displays of
African drums and woodcarvings on the pavements, which contrast with the elegant shops
offering sophisticated Swakara garments and Namibian gemstones. Sidewalk cafes offering
Namibian style breakfasts (Fruhschoppen) which can be enjoyed with a glass of sparkling
wine or locally brewed draught beer. In addition to steak houses and coffee bars serving
snacks, the city has a wide range of a la carte restaurants offering German, French,
Taiwanese, Portuguese, Italian, African and Chinese cuisine.
Accommodation: Heinitzburg Hotel
Dinner this evening can either be at the hotels luxurious Leo’s Restaurant or at a local
restaurant.
When Count von Schwerin commissioned the castle Heinitzburg for his fiancé, Margarethe
von Heintz in 1914, love was his inspiration, elegance was his achievement. Today his
inspiration has been preserved and complimented to combine luxury and charm. All of the
rooms feature the most magnificent views of Windhoek and surrounding Khomas Hochland
Mountains. A full continental breakfast is served in a choice of settings. Outdoors in the
garden café overlooking the city and Khomas Hochland or indoors in the richly finished
Aschernborn Room located in the old castle. Centrally located, the Hotel Heinitzburg is a short
2-minute drive from the city centre. All the rooms are en-suite with air conditioning,
television, telephone and a mini bar. A swimming pool is also on the premises.
Day 2, Day 3 & Day 4
Namib Naukluft Park – NamibRand Nature Reserve - Sossusvlei
After a leisurely breakfast you will be met by a company representative and transferred to the
local Windhoek, Eros Airport and assisted onto your charter flight. Departure by light aircraft
for your charter flight on route to the Namib Desert and the Sossusvlei Mountain Lodge. The
Namibia - Fly-In Safari
Namibian Panorama
NEW AFRICAN FRONTIERS
Email: Info@NewAfricanFrontiers.com Website: www.NewAfricanFrontiers.com
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NEW AFRICAN FRONTIERS
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approximate flying time is 1 hour 15 min. Midday arrival at the Sossusvlei Mountain Lodge
with some time at leisure after lunch.
Accommodation: Sossusvlei Mountain Lodge
While in the area activities include an early morning excursion in safari vehicles to the Namib
Naukluft Park to the famed Namib Sand Sea and to the magnificent Sossusvlei dunes.
Departure is before dawn to appreciate the breathtaking desert colours as the sun rises. Once
in the desert optional excursions are conducted on foot to photograph the dune landscape
and the desert ecology or to climb some of the highest known dunes in the world. A light
breakfast is served under the spreading Camel Thorn acacia trees (Acacia eriloba) before
returning to the lodge by midday. Afternoon activities conducted on the Namib Rand Nature
Reserve include nature drive excursions in safari vehicles, guided walking safaris or a thrilling
drive over the dunes in ATV’s (All Terrain Vehicles).
The Sossusvlei Mountain Lodge is set at the foot of ancient mountains spanning the northern
reaches of the Namib Rand Nature Reserve and overlooks an expansive grassy plain, leading
into an undulating sea of red sand dunes. Accommodation is in luxury air-conditioned desert
villas, constructed from the natural mountain rock, each with en-suite bathrooms. The raised
bedroom leads down to the lounge and out onto the private covered patio and sun patio. A
snug fireplace for those cold winter nights completes your desert hide-away. The main lodge,
with its breathtaking views features an elegant lounge, dining room, reference library,
cocktail bar, expansive veranda and upstairs viewing deck with a computerized stargazing
telescope. Explore this precious sanctuary on scenic drives in open safari vehicles, all terrain
vehicles or on foot, participating in day excursions to the nearby Sossusvlei or enjoy an
optional hot air balloon flight. The essence of the experience lies in the ever changing colours
and majestic hues of the desert by day, in the billion stars bedazzling its endless night skies –
the arid immensity and the grandeur of it all cannot but touch your soul and be etched into
your mind forever.
An optional extra ballooning safari can be reserved to provide an unforgettable sunrise over
the Namib Desert.
Day 5 & Day 6
Swakopmund
After a leisurely breakfast continue via private charter flight crossing the Namib Sand Sea on
route to the coastal town of Swakopmund. This route includes a scenic flight along the
“Skeleton Coast” viewing the “Edward Bohlen (1909)” and “Shaunee (1976)” shipwrecks and
the Sandwich Harbour wetland. On arrival in Swakopmund you will be met by a company
representative and transferred to your local hotel.
The following two days will be spent in Namibia’s premier coastal resort town, Swakopmund.
Founded in 1892 during the period of German colonial rule it served as the territory’s main
harbour for years. Today this quaint town nestled between desert and ocean is enhanced by
lush green lawns, palm trees and carefully tended gardens. There is a good selection of
restaurants and coffee shops selling traditional German cakes and pastries.
Accommodation: Swakopmund Hotel
The Swakopmund Hotel is a four-star luxury establishment built in and around the impeccably
restored historical station building at Swakopmund. This stylish up market hotel complex is
undoubtedly Swakopmund’s most splendid facility. From the light and airy hotel foyer to the
90 spacious bedroom units and two Presidential Suites, all with en-suite facilities. Guests are
hosted in luxurious surroundings with a winning combination of the friendly hospitality for
which Namibia is renowned.
Namibia - Fly-In Safari
Namibian Panorama
NEW AFRICAN FRONTIERS
Email: Info@NewAfricanFrontiers.com Website: www.NewAfricanFrontiers.com
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While in Swakopmund a guided half-day excursion will be conducted onto the gravel plains of
the Namib Naukluft Park. This area is renowned for its diversity in landscapes, including the
“Moon Landscape” formation and “Lichen Fields” and Namibia’s prehistoric plant species, the
Welwitschia mirabilis.
Day 7
Etosha National Park – Onguma Game Reserve
After a leisurely breakfast continue via private charter flight on route towards the eastern
boundary of the Etosha National Park. Midday arrival at the lodge.
Accommodation: Onguma Tented Camp
Situated on the eastern side of Etosha Park and bordering Fisher’s pan, Onguma Game
Reserve will afford you the opportunity of experiencing Africa in all her beauty and diversity.
The reserve covers an area of 20 000ha and incorporates ecological substrata such as
savannah, bushveld, omuramba and dry pan. Age-old and well-worn migration routes, once
used by elephant and buffalo wander through Onguma’s three dry riverbeds. Onguma reserve
boasts over thirty different animal species. Plains game roam freely and predators although
not easy to spot are nevertheless common residents of the area.
Onguma also became part of an innovative custodianship project relating to the black rhino.
Six black rhino were darted in Etosha National park and shipped to the reserve. Here they are
protected and monitored. The joyful news is that the first calf was born on Onguma in
October 2002. More than 300 bird species can be viewed at Onguma. The reserve boasts the
biggest breeding colony of white-backed vultures in Namibia. During the summer months
Onguma becomes a bird-watchers paradise with thousands of species migrating to wetlands
created by the seasonal rains and ephemeral river systems. This part of Namibia has been
identified as one of the key bird watching sites in Southern Africa.
Day 8
Etosha National Park – Onguma Game Reserve
The day is spent exploring Etosha National Park, one of the world's pre-eminent wildlife
areas. At the turn of the century the governor of then German South West Africa proclaimed
an area of nearly 100000 square kilometres as a game reserve - until modern times, the
largest reserve on earth. Present day Etosha National Park was pared down due to political
considerations in the 1960's and is now a modest but still very impressive 23175 square
kilometres in extent. A vast area on Namibia's central plateau, a haven for 93 mammal
species and 340 bird species, the park's focal point is the Etosha Pan - a flat saline desert,
130 km long by 50km at its widest in the eastern sector of the park.
The Pan itself is believed to have originated over 12 million years ago as a shallow lake fed
by the Kunene River. Subsequent climatic and tectonic changes have since lowered the water
level so that the pan only holds water for a brief period each year - it teems with flamingos
and pelicans in the summer. The saline and mineral residues together with moisture from
perennial springs attract an immense number and variety of game and birds from mid March
into November just before the new wet season starts.
Etosha is known for its endemic species of impala, the black faced variety and is said to have
the tallest elephants in Africa, measuring up to 4m at the shoulder. The park is also well
recognised as being one of the last wild sanctuaries of the endangered black rhino.
Overnight: Onguma Tented Camp
Day 9
Windhoek
After a leisurely breakfast you will be transferred to the airfield for your return charter flight
to the Windhoek International Airport where you will connect with your regional or
international scheduled departure.
Namibia - Fly-In Safari
Namibian Panorama
NEW AFRICAN FRONTIERS
Email: Info@NewAfricanFrontiers.com Website: www.NewAfricanFrontiers.com
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NEW AFRICAN FRONTIERS
NAMIBIA
TOUR SUMMARY:
DAYS
1
2,
3,
4
5
&
6
ACCOMMODATION
Heinitzburg Hotel
Sossusvlei
Mountain Lodge
Swakopmund
Hotel
REGION
DAILY ACTIVITIES &
HIGHLIGHTS
Windhoek
Windhoek City Tour
Shopping
Namib Naukluft Park –
NamibRand Private
Nature Reserve
Scenic Flight over
the Khomas
Hochland
Sunset Nature Drive
& Lodge Activities
Ballooning over the
Namib Desert
Sesriem & Sossusvlei
Excursion
Namib Desert Nature
Drives
Quad Bike Dune
Excursions
Astronomy
Skeleton Coast Swakopmund
Scenic Flight over
Conception Bay &
Namib Naukluft
Desert Excursion
Various Action
Adventure Activities
Marine Cruises
Birding
Game Drives &
Lodge Activities
Etosha National Park
Game Drive
Birding
Nature Walks
7
&
8
Onguma Tented
Camp
Etosha National Park –
Onguma Private Game
Reserve
9
Return to
Windhoek
Windhoek
Namibia - Fly-In Safari
Namibian Panorama
NEW AFRICAN FRONTIERS
Email: Info@NewAfricanFrontiers.com Website: www.NewAfricanFrontiers.com
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