Namibian Tours - Tour 9

NAMIBIA THE SKELETON COAST / KGALAGADI TRANSFRONTIER PARK
16 DAYS / 15 NIGHTS
This tour goes through a malaria area.

DAY 1. UPINGTON – AI AIS/RICHTERSVELD TRANSFRONTIER PARK (345 km)
Depart to Nakop Border Post. Enter Namibia proceed via Karasburg through the vast plains of Southern Namibia to Ai-Ais, Richtersveld Transfrontier Park. This park spans some of the most spectacular scenery of the arid and desert environments in southern Africa. Bisected by the Orange River that forms the border between South Africa and Namibia, it comprises the Ai-Ais Hot springs Game Park in Namibia and the Richtersveld National Park in South Africa.

Some of the distinctive features in the area include the Ai-Ais Hot Spring and the second largest canyon in the world, the Fish River Canyon. Ai-Ais means “Burning water” One of the springs have his eye in the camp. Ai-Ais lie in the southern part of the canyon.

Drive to the Fish River Canyon via Gondwana Nature Park. This inspiring canyon measures 160km in length, up to 27km in width and reaches a depth of 550 m. Visit different viewpoints overlooking the canyon. Although the park is not known as a game park, springbok, gemsbok, red hartebeest, Hartmann’s zebra, kudu, klipspringer and ostrich survive in this harsh land.

Accommodation: Canyon Road House, Lodge / Camping
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

DAY 2. AI-AIS/RICHTERSVELD – LUDERITZ (362 km)
Depart to Lüderitz on the B4 route visit the Dias Point. There is a replica of the Cross – erect in July 1488 by Portuguese Bartolommeo Dias on his return from the Cape of Good Hope after navigating the first ship around the southern point of Africa. From this viewpoint, one has a good view of Halifax Island, home of many Cape Fur seals. Many flamingos can be seen in this area.

In 1883, Lüderitz began life as a trading post, fishing village and guano-harvesting town. The first diamonds discovered in 1909 in the nearby ghost town Kolmanskop, now sand smothered.

Accommodation: Guest House / Camping
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

DAY 3. LUDERITZ – SOSSUSVLEI (425 km)
After breakfast, we visit the Diamond Ghost Town Kolmanskop or an informative guide tour. Drive back to the B4 to Aus, stop at Garub near Aus to see the feral horses of the Namib.

We depart to Sossusvlei in the Southern part of Namibia and the most popular attraction that form part of the Namib Sand Sea World Heritage Site. This desert area had the highest sand dunes in the world, with the highest reaching 340 meters high and known as Big Daddy. Sossusvlei is a clay pan, of roughly elliptical shape, covered in the crust of salt-rich sand. The Tsauchab river flow into the pan in a good raining season. Surrounded by majestic star shape dunes with curvaceous lines. The pan and surrounding dunes are especially breathtaking in the early morning hours.
The Deadvlei that use to be an oasis with several Acacia trees is another clay pan 1 kilometer from Sossusvlei.

We visit Sesriem Canyon carved by the Tsauchabriver about a kilometer long and 30 meters deep.

Accommodation: Lodge / Sesriem camping/Chalet
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

DAY 4. SOSSUSVLEI (150 km)
Enter the Namib Naukluft Park and continue to Sossusvlei with its monumental dunes, up to 325m to 380m when measured from the base, is one of the top destinations in Namibia. The star-shaped dunes are a sought after topic for artists and photographers from by strong multi-directional winds, they are at their highest and most spectacular where the west-flowing Tsauchab River empties itself into the vlei. The Deadvlei is also to see. Hiking is optional.

Accommodation: Lodge / Sesriem camping / Chalet
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

DAY 5. SOSSUSVLEI – SWAKOPMUND (280km)
After breakfast we depart north to the Keiseb canyon, drive to Walvisbay visit dune 7.

Visit the lagoon with all the birds, drive to Swakopmund through the Dorob National park.

Accommodation: Guest House / Lodge / Camping
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

DAY 6. SWAKOPMUND
After breakfast, we visit the town with his well known beautiful German architecture the Swakopmund museum, National Marine Aquarium and crystal gallery.

Optional the living desert tour for 4 hours.

DAY 7. SWAKOPMUND – PALMWAG (380km)
Depart from Swakopmund to Palmwag through the southern part of the skeleton coast up to Torrabay from there to Springbok Water Gate to
Palmwag. Visit the ship wrecks and the Aldus Welwitchia Meribilus plant.

Accommodation: Palmwag camping/Chalet
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

DAY 8. PALMWAG
After breakfast, we do a game drive in the Uniab riverbed looking out for the Desert Elephant and other big game in the area.

Accommodation: Palmwag camping/Chalets
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner