A safari to afford a mere glimpse of the rich history of Namibia - both human- and natural history. This journey will take you from the earliest beginning of human history in Namibia - the San or Bushman, as well as the Ova-Himba - through to the German-colonial era. Natural history is of course much older and so visible in Namibia. Starting at Namibia's International airport, traveling via a much cherished historical venue in the Khomas Hochland (our central highlands), right into the central Namib desert, and on to the Atlantic coast. Experience the natural history of the Namib on a highly rewarding Living Desert Tour.
Move into the northern Namib to view and photograph an ancient crater; a 400 year old petrified salt lagoon; some of the richest Lichen fields known, and of course, the oldest living plant specimen on earth - the Welwitschia mirabilis. Spend a night in the restored ruins of a German-colonial Fort, formerly used as an outpost, and use this "gateway" into Kaokoland to visit and meet the ochre-colored Ova-Himba. After a night at one of the most important venues in Namibian history, treat yourself to a full day in the company of the San or Bushman, now living in Bushman land. End your safari with a night in an early 19th century German castle.
Your Itinerary:
Day 1: Meet your host at Namibia's International airport and travel via Windhoek to a cherished site from our history in the Khomas Hochland (our central highlands). No activities arranged, relax from your flight and acclimatize to Namibia.
Day 2: Entire day at this venue to fully acclimatize, while joining the owners on an excursion to places of nostalgic importance in the history of Namibia, places of events that were immortalized in the book: The Sheltering Desert
Day 3: Today you leave the highlands behind and descend into the central Namib desert en-route to the Atlantic coastline, and Namibia's premier holiday town. Enjoy a picnic lunch - in the middle of nowhere. If you are seafood lovers, Swakopmund is it! Your accommodation will be in one of the very first railway stations built in Namibia - now converted into a 4-star Hotel.
Day 4: After breakfast, join one of the most informative and rewarding excursions about life adaptations over millennium in the Namib - the Living Desert Tour. Return to Swakopmund around midday, afternoon and evening at own leisure. You may wish to view the largest mineral crystal cluster ever unearthed to date.
Day 5: Because you've only had one full day in this very interesting town - very much a starting point in the western colonization of Namibia - you may enjoy a leisurely breakfast and still browse around the museums and other places of interest until lunch time. Continue your journey on a salt-surfaced road along the coast towards another venue of importance in our history, one of the bays where the Portuguese seafarers chose to plant a Padrao - a cross - at Cape Cross.
Day 6: A very special treat today as you venture into an area where very few Namibians themselves have set foot, the northern Namib and a visit to the ancient Messum Crater. This area of the Namib is crammed with natural history remnants, as well as very much alive specimens - not centuries, but millenniums old!
Day 7: An early breakfast to ensure that you do not arrive at your next destination after dark. A relatively long haul, as you enter the Skeleton Coast Park today, en-route to the last true wilderness area in Africa - the Kaokoveld. (The collective name for Damaraland and Kaokoland). You will spend the night in the restored ruins of an old German Fort, practically on the official boundary between Damaraland and Kaokoland.
Day 8: Continue into Kaokoland towards the Only town in this region. Arrive in time for lunch and maybe enjoy a siesta during the hottest part of the day. Early afternoon, join an excursion to meet the ochre-colored Ova-Himba in their traditional village. (Your guide will advise on local etiquette and customs). These were the very first nomads to settle in the area after a period of more than 300 years' total absence of human life forms.
Day 9: On the return journey south, a Cheetah conservation farm has been chosen. Not only for the opportunity to view and inter-act with a few semi-tame Cheetahs, but also to marvel at two natural history phenomena, not found anywhere else in the entire Namibia.
Day 10: Depart from the Kaokoveld today - albeit reluctantly - on a relatively short drive to another very important venue in the history of Namibia - the farm on which the surrender was signed.
Day 11: A leisurely breakfast and start to the day. En-route to your next destination, stop to view the largest, intact Meteorite found on earth to date - the Hoba Meteorite. Arrive at a small and very rustic rest camp by mid- to late afternoon. Rustic, because the small chalets were all built from local materials. On short, pleasant walks on the premises, you may encounter from the smallest antelope in Namibia - the Damara Dik-dik, to the largest antelope in the world - the Eland.
Day 12: After breakfast, you will spend the entire day in a traditional Ju/Hoansi Bushman village. These small, friendly people will demonstrate how they light a fire; make ropes and snares, jewelery, bow and arrow; and show you how to prepare and taste traditional bush food. You will learn - and may join in - to make Bushman crafts yourself. You will have the opportunity to see them singing, dancing and playing games. You could even learn a few words and a short song; throw a spear, shoot a bow and watch a traditional doctor healing a patient. It will be a day you will never forget! An experience to take you back centuries, to the first human inhabitants.
Day 13: Unfortunately, all good things must also come to an end, and today you have to return to Windhoek - a long haul! However, on arrival you will be welcomed into a room within an early 19th century German castle. Dine with the lights of Windhoek at your feet, and view the setting sun being invited into the folds of the distant Khomas Hochland on this, your last night in Namibia, Africa.
Day 14: Subject to flight departure time, you may have all morning to visit the central business district and street markets of Windhoek. Transfer to Namibia's International airport to arrive in time for your departure flight.
Please Note: If a minimum number of guests are stated, we can unfortunately Not Respond to an inquiry for less than the required minimum.
Member discount:
10% discount for InfoHub customer. Request a free gift certificate.
Notes:
Airfare is not included in the tour price.
Although this safari has no season, and can be booked from January to December, the quoted prices are only valid until 31 October 2008.
Also see tour packages in:
Africa
Namibia
Archeology/History
Cultural Journey
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