Day 1/2(25 May 2023)/3 Europe/US Windhuk, Sesriem
After our departure from Europe/ US to Windhoek (Namibia), it’s a morning arrival (25 th of May 2023) at our starting point. After a long journey there is an overnight stay planned in a great place we always stay at. On the arrival day we can get breakfast/ lunch (own budget) and go shopping for supplies en route. Dinner on this day in a very interesting spot (also own expenses). The next morning after the breakfast (included) we will be transfered to the rental point to pick up our 4x4s,. It’s tarmac and gravel road to the first of our night stops – in this case a lovely private lodge – with a very morning surprise and nice dinner prepared and served by local hosts. For those – night photographers there’s a chance of a fantastic night photo of the starry sky.
Distance: approx. 220 km (tarred, gravel). Accommodation: first night: dbl suites, second night dbl rooms of a desert lodge
DAY4 Sossusvlei, Sesriem
There’s a breakfast of course and we want to have it early. It’s not far away to our next station – famous coffee shop in Sesriem, where we will definitely buy a german style apple pie (apfelstrudel), followed by a strong coffee and some hot snacks – if you wish – for the desert drive. After this break we will go another 150 kms of gravel/tarmac/gravel road to enter the Namib Naukluft Park and reach the picturesque DeadVlei for our picnic lunch break. Sossusvlei, known as the place with the highest dunes in the world. With its changing colours and wonderful scenery it’s an area where you could easily spend a whole day. Our selfmade picnic lunch, followed by short siesta will lead us to “walking through the dunes”. We will be climbing some of them, taking impressive shots, also with old and famous Leadwood dead trees. Afterwards, it’s back to camp for the night and dinner (outsourced or own products). It’s our first night in the tents!
Distance: approx. 150 km (tarred, gravel, official sand trails). Accommodation: tents on the roofs of the cars
DAY 5 Sesriem, Walvis Bay, Swakopmund
Breakfast? Yes! But why not to take an optional hot air balloon flight over the desert and combine that with breakfast you will never forget? The flight has to take place at sunrise; pilots flying at this time avoid the hot day subsequent air currents that would limit their control over the balloon. But it’s worth it to witness the desert turning from grey to silver and then red. So far I’ve yet to meet anybody who has not been suitably impressed by such a spectacle … although the price may be an obstacle! If you have taken the flight we need you to be back at camp no later than 10:30! We’ve got a long drive to Walvis Bay. Within Walvis Bay itself we can see flocks of pelicans happily feeding near the coast. Our afternoon drive is to Swakopmund, a town where everywhere you look, you’ll find evidence of a German colony that was founded here at the beginning of the last century. For the evening we advise against sleeping on the roof as it can get pretty cool and humid, so our accommodation tonight is a three-star hotel/ guest house. I would recommend dinner at the best restaurant in the area where they serve delicious seafood. But if it’s not your thing, there’ll also be something for our burger fans and vegetarians (own expense)
Distance: approx. 350 km (gravel). Accommodation: guest house/ hotel with breakfast
DAY 6 Swakopmund and the surrounding area
Breakfast at the guest house. There’s time for some minor shopping after which you can decide – optional, of course – whether you’d like to go quad biking, kayaking where seals bask in the bay, sandboarding, skydiving, enjoying a flight over the Skeleton Coast in a small plane or relaxing with a good cup of coffee. There’s also the chance to visit Sandwich Bay by boat (depending on the tides), or taking the road in the direction of the uranium mine at Husab, the latter where you can gaze at the desert lunar landscape and the famous Welwitschia plants, commonly referred to as living fossils. It’s then back to the hotel or direct for dinner in the town (best restaurant – own expense).
Distance: depends on the activity. Accommodation: guest house with breakfast
DAY 7 Swakopmund, Cape Cross, Spitzkoppe, San people
After breakfast we leave Swakopmund (remembering to do a little shopping and refuelling on the way?). We transfer to the Cape Cross Seal Colony where – between 10:00 and 17:00 – we can find one of the largest colonies of Cape fur seals in the world (more than 100,000). Along the way we can see the stranded shipwreck. This part of Namibia, south of Angola, is called the Skeleton Coast. After visiting the seal colony we continue our drive to Spitzkoppe – the Archers National Park – like formation. After seeing it we drive towards San people. We will visit them this afternoon or tomorrow morning. Tonight’s accommodation is under the stars, lunch and dinner on our own, camp fire and watching the “falling” stars.
Distance: 300 km (saline asphalt and gravel). Accommodation: campsite, breakfast on it’s own
DAY 8 Spitzkoppe, Damaraland, Etosha Pan
After breakfast we drive towards Etosha, but we need to do a small detour to see members of the Himba, one of the last nomadic tribes in the world. More than sure – we will have a chance to see also impressive Herero tribe in garments similar to those worn by colonial Europeans. After a long day – we arrive close at Okuakuejo gates. Here, in a gated complex, we’ll spend the night in tents on the roofs of our cars. Dinner will be at our own expense.
Distance: 432 km. Accommodation: tents on the roofs of the cars
DAY 9 Etosha Park – eastern park gate
After breakfast we enter the park and we will venture between different waterholes in the Etosha Pan, located in the east of Etosha National Park. On the way we will take a lunch at the Halali station. We will depart the park in the late afternoon and drive a few kms more to a great place called Mushara – our HB accommodation for the next 3 nights. Now we do have a rule at Milesaway: after several days of long trips and so much energy and effort in the dust and mud, we expect to give our safari participants a break by staying in an interesting place at a very nice standard, where they can relax and enjoy their vacation. This does, of course, affect the rate, but you get a great park ranger, relaxation, cosy atmosphere and mouthwatering cusinine. It’s a good idea to take the opportunity and go on a morning or afternoon game drive with local ranger – they are best informed about animals movement and location. Our stay in the lodge includes three nights on a HB meal plan.
Distance: 150 km (driving through the park). Accommodation: tented lodge with HB.
DAY 10/11 Etosha Park
Breakfast and many choices of activities. You can do … nothing, you can jump into the pool, you can go on a game drive with local ranger or you can do the same with myslef and last but not least you can read a book and enjoy your time in the nature:). Every day the same.
Distance: driving in the park. Accommodation: tented lodge with HB
DAY 12 Mushara and a long drive to Windhoek
After breakfast we drive towards Windhoek via Grootfontein and Otjiwarongo. This is a long journey, but on tarred road. I usually make a break in Erindi or in Relais and Chateaux in Omaruru, but this is not necessary and builds up additional costs (we can always change it if you say I like this places: https://erindi.com/old traders-lodge./ ,https:// www.epako.com.na) When we get to Windhoek there’s a chance to do some shopping – souvenirs etc. We are back at our Luxury Suites and enjoy a last great dinner together.
Distance: ca 500 km. Accommodation: suites with breakfast
DAY 13 (5 June 2023) Windhoek, Europe, US
Breakfast, followed by a transfer to the airport – depending on our departure times. And that’s it! So I bid you farewell – it’s the end of our Namibian safari and Milesaway services – until the next adventure!
6 June 2023 Arrival Europe
