Desert Giants Classic Safari

Fly to Windhoek, the capital of Namibia, by your own arrangement. We pick you up at the airport and provide a short transfer to your hotel.

Accommodation: Auas City Hotel or similar
Meals: Dinner

We travel by mini bus, via the towns of Otjiwarongo and Outjo, to the Etosha Safari Lodge (or similar accommodation) which is situated just outside of the iconic Etosha National Park.

Accommodation: Etosha Safari Lodge or similar
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch en-route, Dinner

After breakfast, we enter the Etosha National Park in an open safari vehicle, ideal for game viewing photography. Etosha is home to a remarkable array of animals, including lion, elephant, leopard, giraffe, cheetah, hyena, springbok, two kinds of zebra, eland and many more species of wildlife. In this dry landscape, animals often congregate at the park's numerous waterholes, offering excellent opportunities to view them up close.

We return to the lodge in the late afternoon for sundowners on the deck.

Accommodation: Ongava Lodge or similar
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

We depart after breakfast in a 4x4 transfer vehicle to once again enter the Etosha National Park. We stop for lunch at the famous Okaukuejo Rest Camp, known for its abundance of animals. From there, we travel off the main tourist routes, to explore the western sections of Etosha. In the afternoon we exit the park at Galton Gate, and enter into the wild Hobatere Conservancy.

Hobatere: Exclusive mobile tented camp – set up for you.
Meals: Breakfast, Full board including a sundowner drink overlooking the waterhole.

We depart after breakfast and travel through spectacular landscapes into the Kunene Region past Otjokavare, Ondjombojomakongo, and Otjerunda.
Our destination is Opuwo Country Lodge located on the top of a hill with spectacular views from the pool edge over Kaokoland - land of the Himba people.

Hobatere: Exclusive mobile tented camp – set up for you.
Meals: Dinner. Breakfast & Lunch the next day.

Spend the morning at your leisure - visit the city of Opuwo or relax by the scenic pool.
After lunch, we journey along gravel roads and through dry riverbeds to the Himba village of Ongongo, a place seldom visited by travelers from abroad. Here, you'll share in a rare and authentic cultural encounter as we are welcomed by Chief Veimba Muharukua and introduced to his community.
Our mobile tented camp is relocated to Ongongo and once again welcomes us with sundowner drinks and hot showers.
The evening is spent conversing with the friendly and hospitable Himbas around their campfires – an unforgettable experience under the stars.

Hobatere: Exclusive mobile tented camp.
Meals: Full board

After enjoying breakfast at the camp, we explore the surrounding area where we are likely to encounter wildlife, including a family of elephants which resides in the forest.
In the afternoon, we visit the Ongongo primary school where we might be lucky enough to catch a soccer game at the school sports grounds. We will participate in daily village life and watch the Himba ladies proudly perform their traditional dance.

Ongongo: Exclusive mobile tented camp.
Meals: Full board

Today, after breakfast, we will enjoy a full day of adventurous sightseeing. Our 4x4 vehicle will follow the Hoanib river deep into the vast Ongongo Conservancy with its spectacular mountains and valleys. You will hear stories of how the Himba and lion, leopard, elephant, rhino, giraffe, zebra and the majestic kudu antelope have adapted to survive in harmony in this environment.
We make a pit stop at ‘Willys bar and minimarket’ which is virtually situated in the middle of nowhere, as if taken out of a movie.
We finally arrive at Okarumbu, also called ‘Elephant valley’, where our mobile tented camp is already in place.
Welcome drinks have never tasted so good. Enjoy hot showers and dinner under the stars.

Okarumbu: Exclusive mobile tented camp.
Meals: Full board

We depart after breakfast to the nearby Himba mine where red ocre has been collected for generations. Visit the cave to hear how it is used by the Himba girls for their spectacular coiffures and more.
Afterwards we head to the village of Sesfontein where will will stop at Fort Sesfontein Lodge for lunch.
The Germans built the fort in 1896 to serve as a control base against poaching, weapon smuggling and the cattle plague. Today it is a lodge with a pool and restaurant.
From Sesfontein, we journey to Warmequelle, where you can take a cool dip in spectacular natural springs.
We then travel through areas inhabited by prides of desert lions, via the Anabeb Conservancy and Palmwag Concession. In this arid landscape where rhinos and elephants roam freely, we come across a luxury oasis, Palmwag Lodge, where we will spend the night.

Accommodation: Palmwag Lodge
Meals: Full board

At sunrise, we join the rangers of ‘Save the Rhino Trust’ (SRT) to track black rhino on foot in a barren, Mars-like mountain landscape!
SRT works tirelessly to protect the world's last, free-roaming population of black rhinos, covering an area of 25,000 km². SRT's trackers come from local communities and possess an in-depth knowledge of rhinos and their surroundings.
Afterwards, we descend into the valleys of the dry Huab river in search of the majestic desert elephants.
At the end of the day, we return to our mobile tented camp, set beneath huge Ana trees in the Huab wilderness. Our final evening will be spent around the campfire watching as the huge grey bodies of these wild giants glide soundlessly past our camp in search of much needed water.

Huab Wilderness: Exclusive mobile tented camp
Meals: Full board

We enjoy a last breakfast in the wild and leave the Huab river and its elephants with heavy hearts. This is Namibia at its best.
The countryside changes as we drive via the towns of Khorixas, Outjo and Otjiwarongo to our grand final destination – the high end Otjiwa Game Farm.
Their newest section, with five cottages built on top of a hill, is the ideal place to unwind in luxurious surroundings and reflect on a fantastic journey.

Accommodation: Otjiwa Lodge
Meals: Full board

We travel the 4 hours back to Windhoek in a comfortable luxury minibus. In the afternoon, enjoy the chance to explore local shops and collect unique souvenirs.
We conclude the day with a farewell dinner.

Accommodation: Auas City Hotel
Meals: Dinner & Breakfast

On your final day, we will transfer you to Hosea Kutako International Airport. Flights are by your own arrangement.