The North of Namibia

Once you have landed safely in Namibia and gone through the passport check points, you follow the signs to the rental car counters. After you have collected your vehicle, you leave the airport and drive to The Elegant Guesthouse. Spend the rest of the day at your accommodation to rest after the long flight or visit some of Windhoek’s sights such as the National Gallery, showcasing local art, or the National Museum where you will learn interesting details about Namibia’s history. There is a variety of restaurants to choose from in Windhoek. You overnight at the Elegant Guesthouse.

After breakfast, you will drive northwest towards the small town of Omaruru which has become a centre for arts and crafts over the years. Your overnight destination is the Otjohotozu Farm in the beautiful Erongo Mountains. Join an optional game drive in the afternoon or the next morning and enjoy the warm atmosphere of a typical Namibian farm. You will spend two nights at Otjohotozu Guest Farm.

Today’s journey to Damaraland takes you past the magnificent Brandberg Mountain – the Königstein Peak (about 2,580 metres) is the highest point in Namibia and the mountain itself has over 1,000 rock art sites. Here you may want to see the famous rock painting ‘White Lady’. (Please calculate at least 3 hours for the detour to the Brandberg.) You continue towards Twyfelfontein. Your destination is the Malansrus Tented Camp, located beautifully on a branch of the Aba Huab. You have time to settle in at camp, before visiting Namibia’s only UNESCO world heritage site Twyfelfontein in the afternoon (optional). Some of the rock engravings are estimated to be 2000 years and older. In close proximity to the site, you can also visit the Damara Living Museum, getting an insight into the traditions and customs of the Damara. Back at camp, lean back and enjoy your beautiful surroundings while the day slowly comes to an end.

After breakfast, you set off to Grootberg Lodge, travelling along the stunning Grootberg Pass. Reaching the top of the pass, you will park in the lodge’s parking space to wait for a 4×4 transfer vehicle to take you further up the steep access road. The lodge is built on a plateau with breath-taking views of the Damaraland. Book a guided walk, game drive or join a rhino or elephant tracking excursion (all optional). The lodge is situated in a private concession area with game such as kudu, oryx, elephant, lion and rhino. You will overnight for two nights in a chalet at Grootberg Lodge, the first community-owned lodge in Namibia.

En route north to Opuwo, you should visit Fort Sesfontein (meaning ‘six springs’), which was built in 1896 as a checkpoint to prevent poaching and the smuggling of arms. It was abandoned in 1914, but rebuilt decades later into a lodge with restaurant. Your next stop is the district capital of the Kunene Region. Opuwo is the gateway to the Kaokoveld and the last chance to fill up with petrol. You will overnight at the Opuwo Country Hotel located on a hill outside the town.

A short drive today – up to the Kunune River. The greenery and palms along the river will feel like an oasis compared to the desert landscapes of the last few days. The Omarunga Epupa Falls Camp is on the banks of the river, beneath shady makalani palm trees and a short walk from the Epupa Falls. The lodge can arrange visits to a nearby Himba village, sundowner tours, hiking trails and rafting tours (depending on the season). The riverside location is a paradise for birders. Alternatively, you can just relax by the pool and enjoy a cool drink on the deck overlooking the river. You will stay two nights at Omarunga Epupa Falls Camp.

After breakfast, you continue and make your way east on a beautiful stretch along the Kunene River. The landscape is spectacular, and you will meet hardly any people. The green and lush riverbanks contrast the dry and arid mountains. From Ruacana you continue south along the western border of the Etosha National Park until you reach the private 8,800-hectare Hobatere Concession. Even the 15km drive across the concession towards the lodge is a highlight! Hobatere is home to different game such as giraffes, elephants, lions, and antelopes. Tomorrow, you can join a guided game drive or night game drive after dinner (optional). You spend two nights at Hobatere Lodge.

Please make sure to enquire with Omarunga about the road conditions along the Kunene, especially during rainy season. In case the road is not easily accessible, we recommend driving to Hobatere via Opuwo.

After an early start, you drive to the famous Etosha National Park and enter through the Galton Gate in the west. The western region of the park has long been off limits to self-drivers and rare animals such as black and white rhino and the black-faced impala have thrived here. You will make your way to centrally located Okaukuejo Resort and stop at waterholes along the way. Have your bird book ready as well; there are 340 bird species in Etosha. Mammals include large herds of elephants, giraffe, eland, oryx, lion and cheetah. In the late afternoon, you arrive at Okaukuejo Resort where you will spend the night in a standard room. If you want to experience the nocturnal wildlife, you can opt to join a night game drive (optional) or go to the floodlit waterhole in the camp and enjoy the ‘wild cinema’.

The large resorts in the Etosha National Park are owned by the government. They are maintained and looked after by state employees who are sometimes not as enthusiastic about their work as we wish they were. Accommodation ranges from basic chalets to standard self-catering units. There are, however, more luxurious lodges outside the park from where you will do day trips into the park. Should you be interested in this option, please let us know and we will gladly amend our offer accordingly.

When the gates open at sunrise you can be on the road to spot animals, when they are more active than during the midday hours. Cruise slowly along the vast and seemingly endless salt pan, to reach the Von Lindequist Gate before sunset. Stop at Namutoni for lunch or explore the waterholes north of Namutoni. Mushara Bush Camp is a great base to explore the eastern part of the national park. At sunset you leave the park to drive to the nearby Mushara Bush Camp where you will spend two nights in a tented chalet.

After an early breakfast, you depart for your journey south via Tsumeb and past the Waterberg Plateau. Your destination Okonjima Plains Camp is beautifully located at the foot of the Omboroko Mountains. Okonjima is so much more than just an accommodation, it is also the headquarters of the AfriCat Foundation. This conservation project cares for big cats which are being rehabilitated and released back into the wild. You will find leopards and cheetahs on the farm, but lions, caracals, and African wild dogs are also cared for. You can find out more about the work done at the rehabilitation centre as well as participate in different optional activities. In the afternoon and the next morning, you can book guided game drives in the nature reserve. You overnight in a standard room at the Okonjima Plains Camp.

After on optional morning activity, you leave Okonjima, starting your journey back to Windhoek. Stop at a big craft market in Okahandja to look for hand-carved souvenirs. During the course of the afternoon, you will arrive at the Immanuel Wilderness Lodge. Look forward to a beautiful end of your trip and a delicious dinner.

Enjoy a relaxed breakfast before you return to Windhoek, the starting point of your tour. Head to the airport to return your rental car or spend another night in the city (optional).