Namibia Northern Odyssey
8 Days
There is an astonishing amount of diversity in Namibia's dry landscapes. Flora and fauna, people and their cultures have uniquely adapted to survive in the remote, arid reaches of the country. Travel from the desert coast on a route north into the Kunene region, also known Damaraland, where you could possibly encounter desert elephants. Explore the world-famous Etosha National Park with its abundance of animal and bird life.
from NZD $3350pp
Home » 8 Day Namibia Northern Odyssey
Itinerary Highlights
- Visit the coastal town of Swakopmund with plenty of adventure activities on offer
- Ancient and traditional African culture preserved in mountain Rock Art galleries and a present-day Damara village
- Exceptional Big 5 game viewing in the picturesque African savannah around the vast, shimmering Etosha salt pan
Itinerary in Brief
- Day 1: Windhoek – Swakopmund
- Day 2: Swakopmund
- Day 3: Swakopmund – Damaraland
- Day 4: Damaraland
- Day 5: Damaraland - Etosha National Park
- Day 6: Etosha National Park
- Day 7: Etosha National Park
- Day 8: Etosha National Park - Windhoek
Tailor Made Suggestions
- Cross the border into South Africa and follow a Garden Route Self-Drive tour from Cape Town to Port Elizabeth.
- Fly direct to Zimbabwe and add on a popular short trip to Victoria Falls.
- Travel to Cape Town for its premium quality wineries and an abundant of wildlife reserves nearby.
Day 1: Windhoek - Swakopmund
A transfer brings you to the coastal town of Swakopmund, Namibia’s premier holiday seaside town. Upon your arrival in the early afternoon, you will check into your hotel where the remainder of the day will be at leisure. With its palm-lined streets and seaside promenades, Swakopmund is a popular holiday destination in Namibia. For the international traveller, Swakopmund is a bohemian mix of German architecture and African rhythms, a laid-back attitude mixed with a variety of activities. It is colourful, it is vibrant, but most of all it is pure fun.
Day 2: Swakopmund
Swakopmund is often fondly referred to as the “playground of Namibia”, it has numerous activities ranging from, adventure to exploring the fascinating features of the Namib Desert and the animals and plants that occur and survive here. There are a myriad of optional activities on offer from Swakopmund. You may choose to explore the town on own accord and enjoy the relaxed atmosphere or enjoy freshly baked pastries and coffee in any of the many cafes and coffee shops dotted around the town. Afternoon cake and coffee is taken very seriously and a delicious way to meet some of the locals. Alternatively explore the rugged, sweltering desert on a day tour, or view this awesome, environment from the air on a scenic flight.
Day 3: Swakopmund - Damaraland
eaving the foggy coast behind this morning, we make our way towards Damaraland. The journey takes us through the mining village of Uis and past the Brandberg, Namibia's highest mountain, just shy of 2 600m. We then continue further into Damaraland, one of the least populated and most geologically diverse areas in Africa. This harsh, rocky environment is home to the elusive desert elephant, the black rhino and free-roaming antelope species. Arrival at the lodge will be in the afternoon, with the remainder of the day at leisure to soak up the atmosphere of the lodge.
Day 4: Damaraland
Enjoy an early morning scenic nature drive through the wilderness area of the Otjimboyo Concession as we make our way towards the Brandberg, Namibia’s highest mountain. This is the best time to capture the perfect light of sunrise and catch the last mist engulfing the mountain. We then continue down into the dry Ugab riverbed, which we follow back towards the camp. Stopping under one of the majestic camelthorn trees we enjoy a light picnic lunch. On our drive along the meandering river we might encounter the elusive desert elephant that roam the dry riverbeds of the Damaraland, feeding on the nutritious pods of the trees lining the riverbanks. Arriving back at the camp we have enough time left to enjoy the scenery or follow one of the walking trails.
Day 5: Damaraland - Etosha National Park
During the cooler hours of the morning, we start our adventure filled day in the company of a local Damara guide, who takes us to Twyfelfontein, a UNESCO heritage site where Bushman communities engraved and painted over 2.500 pictures some 6.000 years ago! After a visit to the nearby Living Museum of the Damara, we proceed to the Petrified Forest - a geological phenomenon depicting the creation and metamorphosis of wood into stone amongst some of the oldest landmasses on Earth. Here we also see the Welwitschia mirabilis plant – the oldest living desert plant on Earth. Our onward journey takes us to the wildlife heaven of Namibia - the Etosha National Park. We check into our lodge located on the border of the Etosha National Park and can unwind after the adventure filled day alongside the pool.
Day 6: Etosha National Park
The day is devoted purely to the abundant wildlife found in the Etosha National Park, which surrounds a parched salt desert known as the Etosha Pan. The park is home to 4 of the Big Five - elephant, lion, leopard and rhino. The Park was proclaimed as Namibia's first conservation area in 1907 by the then Governor, von Lindequist. Despite the size of the Etosha National Park, only the southern edge of the pan is accessible to visitors. Game viewing in the park is primarily focussed around the waterholes, some of which are spring fed and some supplied from a borehole, ideal places to sit and watch over 114 different game species, or for an avid birder, more than 340 bird species. Popular game species such as giraffe, blue wildebeest, plains and mountain zebra, hyena, lion, leopard, antelopes such as kudu, oryx, eland, as well as some of the endangered species such as Black rhino, cheetah and the black-faced impala are all found here. An extensive network of roads link the over 30 water holes allowing visitors the opportunity of a comprehensive game viewing safari throughout the park as each different area will provide various encounters.
Day 7: Etosha National Park
Today your guide takes you on a game drive in the Etosha National Park. We may encounter animal species we have not seen the previous day and look forward to any new surprises at the different waterholes visited. The Etosha Pan dominates the park. This salt pan desert, which is nearly completely enclosed by the park and is lined by numerous watering holes, is roughly 130 km long and as wide as 50 km in places. During Etosha’s notorious dry spells the pan is a deathly place, lying parched and cracked under the molten African sun. It is claimed that game viewing is best during the dry periods as animals will then congregate closer to water. But even in the rainy season, the park remains an abundant wildlife haven. You then have the pleasure of experiencing the rebirth of life as the young foals, cubs and chicks are seen frolicking with their parents, and the sprouting new green shrubs and grasses create a pleasing green oasis. In the afternoon we travel back to our lodge, where we enjoy the rest of the evening at leisure. An optional open vehicle game drive can be booked with the lodge.
Day 8: Etosha National Park - Windhoek
After breakfast, we travel back through the centre of the country exposing bush land savannah to the capital in the centre of the country. Time permitting, en-route we may stop at the famous wood carvers market in Okahandja or the craft market in the main street in Windhoek to pick up the last few souvenirs. Windhoek is a cosmopolitan melting pot of European architecture with African culture, with a variety of excellent restaurants to choose from. You will be dropped off at your accommodation of choice, or transferred to the airport for your outward flight.
Dates | From | Special Offer |
---|---|---|
11 Oct 2024 - 18 Oct 2024 | NZD $3350pp | Contact us |
18 Oct 2024 - 25 Oct 2024 | NZD $3350pp | Contact us |
25 Oct 2024 - 01 Nov 2024 | NZD $3350pp | Contact us |
10 Nov 2024 - 17 Nov 2024 | NZD $3720pp | Contact us |
17 Nov 2024 - 24 Nov 2024 | NZD $3720pp | Contact us |
24 Nov 2024 - 01 Dec 2024 | NZD $3720pp | Contact us |
01 Dec 2024 - 08 Dec 2024 | NZD $3720pp | Contact us |
08 Dec 2024 - 15 Dec 2024 | NZD $3720pp | Contact us |
15 Dec 2024 - 22 Dec 2024 | NZD $3720pp | Contact us |
12 Jan 2025 - 19 Jan 2025 | NZD $3720pp | Contact us |
26 Jan 2025 - 02 Feb 2025 | NZD $3720pp | Contact us |
09 Feb 2025 - 16 Feb 2025 | NZD $3720pp | Contact us |
23 Feb 2025 - 02 Mar 2025 | NZD $3720pp | Contact us |
09 Mar 2025 - 16 Mar 2025 | NZD $3720pp | Contact us |
23 Mar 2025 - 30 Mar 2025 | NZD $3720pp | Contact us |
06 Apr 2025 - 13 Apr 2025 | NZD $3720pp | Contact us |
20 Apr 2025 - 27 Apr 2025 | NZD $3720pp | Contact us |
27 Apr 2025 - 04 May 2025 | NZD $3720pp | Contact us |
04 May 2025 - 11 May 2025 | NZD $3720pp | Contact us |
18 May 2025 - 25 May 2025 | NZD $3720pp | Contact us |
01 Jun 2025 - 08 Jun 2025 | NZD $3720pp | Contact us |
15 Jun 2025 - 22 Jun 2025 | NZD $3720pp | Contact us |
29 Jun 2025 - 06 Jul 2025 | NZD $3720pp | Contact us |
13 Jul 2025 - 20 Jul 2025 | NZD $3720pp | Contact us |
20 Jul 2025 - 27 Jul 2025 | NZD $3720pp | Contact us |
27 Jul 2025 - 03 Aug 2025 | NZD $3720pp | Contact us |
03 Aug 2025 - 10 Aug 2025 | NZD $3720pp | Contact us |
10 Aug 2025 - 17 Aug 2025 | NZD $3720pp | Contact us |
17 Aug 2025 - 24 Aug 2025 | NZD $3720pp | Contact us |
24 Aug 2025 - 31 Aug 2025 | NZD $3720pp | Contact us |
31 Aug 2025 - 07 Sep 2025 | NZD $3720pp | Contact us |
07 Sep 2025 - 14 Sep 2025 | NZD $3720pp | Contact us |
14 Sep 2025 - 21 Sep 2025 | NZD $3720pp | Contact us |
21 Sep 2025 - 28 Sep 2025 | NZD $3720pp | Contact us |
28 Sep 2025 - 05 Oct 2025 | NZD $3720pp | Contact us |
05 Oct 2025 - 12 Oct 2025 | NZD $3720pp | Contact us |
12 Oct 2025 - 19 Oct 2025 | NZD $3720pp | Contact us |
19 Oct 2025 - 26 Oct 2025 | NZD $3720pp | Contact us |
26 Oct 2025 - 02 Nov 2025 | NZD $3720pp | Contact us |
**Prices are per person based on twin / shared accommodation.
**Single supplements may apply
Suggested Accommodation
City | Accommodation |
---|---|
Swakopmund | Hansa Hotel or similar |
Damaraland | Ondjamba Hills or similar |
Etosha National Park | Eldorado Lodge or similar |
Etosha National Park | La Rochelle Lodge or similar |
Whats included?
- Accommodation with private facilities
- Transport
- Entrance fees
- Tours with bilingual-speaking Guide(s) (German/English)
- Excursions as specified
- Meals as specified*
What’s not included?
- Air transportation
- Passport, visa and immigration fees
- Airport taxes
- Airport transfers
- Additional hotel nights
- Optional activities
- Travel protection plan
- Alcoholic & non-alcoholic beverages
- Gratuities
- Any items not mentioned as included
Notes
This tour operates with a minimum of 2 passengers and a maximum of 20 passengers.
Lodges and camps are subject to change due to availability.
*Dinners can be included on the final price for a supplement, please ask your consultant.