Namibian Discovery

Day 1 Depart London Heathrow
At Heathrow, relax in the executive lounge, where you’ll be met by your Tour Manager before your flight to Windhoek via Johannesburg.

Day 2 Windhoek
Arriving into the small, pleasant capital city of Windhoek this morning, you’ll enjoy a tour which takes in the old fort, the Tintenpalast Parliament buildings and Christuskirche, the German Lutheran church founded in 1910. Overnight at the Windhoek Country Club hotel and this evening meet your fellow travellers for welcome drinks and dinner.

Meals: Dinner.

Day 3 Windhoek to Erindi Game Reserve
This morning’s journey on the main highway heading north will reveal for the first time the endless horizons of Namibia, the big skies and distant mountains. You’ll stop en route at the Okavango Woodcarvers Market where you can bargain for authentic and well crafted carvings. Continuing into the rolling central hills you will arrive at the Erindi Private Game Reserve where you’ll stay for 2 nights. Settle into your stylish lodge set within typical African savannah, mountainous bushlands and natural waterholes and this afternoon you will be taken out by jeep to look for Africa’s big game. The evening is a beautiful time to be in the wilderness as the light softly fades and the wildlife becomes active. Maybe you’ll choose to order a sundowner drink to complete the experience.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner.

Day 4 Erindi Game Reserve
An early morning game drive will reveal Namibia in the morning light when the varied bird life in particular is most active. On a second game drive in the afternoon you can look species you might not have seen already, perhaps some big cats or hippos in the waterholes, and between the drives you can unwind on the deck in the classic comfort of the lodge.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner.

Day 5 Erindi to Etosha National Park
Today’s journey will bring you to the remarkable Etosha National Park and the Kempinski Mokuti Lodge, located next to the gates of the national park, with beautiful, well tended gardens where antelopes wander and brightly coloured birds fly. This evening you will be taken on a game drive into Etosha. This vast flat white salt pan is one of the most unusual and unexpected wildlife reserves in the world. The abundance of wildlife is breathtaking in this arid region, with herds of springbok and zebra attracted by the waterholes. Lions can be spotted on the fringes and the world’s largest bird, the ostrich, is also a common sight.

Meals: Breakfast, Dinner.

Day 6 Etosha National Park
Today you’ll travel across Etosha from west to east, taking in the sheer size and scenery of this vast area. You will be rewarded with one of the greatest wildlife spectacles of Southern Africa as you encounter the varied wildlife on your journey. Make sure your camera is at hand to capture sightings of elephant, giraffe, impala and possibly some big game including lion. You’ll arrive at the Etosha Safari Lodge, outside the western entrance to the park in an area of green savannah bushland, for some time for relaxation and dinner.

Meals: Breakfast, Dinner.

Day 7 Etosha to Damaraland
This morning you’ll be able to experience a last visit to Etosha. This will be followed by a stunning drive south into Damaraland, a region of lonely hills, remote settlements and stark beauty. Stop at the Petrified Forest where huge trees, approximately 200,000 years old have been perfectly preserved. You’ll arrive at the enchanting Vingerklip Lodge for a 2 night stay. Relax on the veranda with far reaching views of the valley as the evening light casts an amber glow on the hills, and the stars in the clear night skies are revealed in all their glory.

Meals: Breakfast, Dinner.

Day 8 Damaraland
This morning you’ll travel to Twyfelfontein to view the rock engravings that date from the late Stone Age and are up to six thousand years old. You’ll be able to see them up close, in an environment that has barely changed since the figures of animals including giraffe, ostrich and early elephant were first painted. You’ll then visit the Damara Living Museum, to learn about the fascinating indigenous culture of the area and contribute to the preservation of the Damara culture. Great importance is attached to representing the ancient culture as authentically as possible. This afternoon you can relax back at the lodge.

Meals: Breakfast, Dinner.

Day 9 Damaraland to Swakopmund
You will experience one of the world’s most dramatic journeys today with a drive down the Skeleton Coast, named from the days when whaling fleets used to wash up huge whale bones which were bleached in the desert sands. It is also a coastline that has seen many shipwrecks over the centuries and one can imagine the desolation in being washed up in this unforgiving area, where desert and ocean stretches as far as the eye can see. On the journey you’ll stop at the Cape Cross Seal Reserve and see the large colony of Cape fur seals. Later in the afternoon you’ll see the welcoming sight of the resort of Swakopmund, where you will have a short tour of the city before arriving at the Swakopmund Boutique Hotel for 3 nights.

Meals: Breakfast, Dinner.

Day 10 Swakopmund
On a morning catamaran cruise from the small town of Walvis Bay, you will head around the bay past the oyster platforms to Pelican Point to see the pelicans around the lighthouse as well as other marine life. You may see numerous seals in the waters and if lucky, schools of dolphins or perhaps even the rare sighting of a Southern Right whale or two.

Meals: Breakfast, Dinner.

Day 11 Swakopmund
Today is at leisure and Swakopmund is a pleasant town in which to explore and unwind. There are several choices for further activities which take advantage of Swakopmund’s location between the ocean and the desert, including the optional Living Desert tour at extra cost. With its guided 4 x 4 adventure, this is a wonderful opportunity to study the interesting geology of the desert and surprising wildlife.

Meals: Breakfast, Dinner.

Day 12 Swakopmund to Sossusvlei
This morning you’ll say goodbye to the coast and head inland, where the town gives way to the wilderness and very soon the huge dunes of the ancient Namib Desert come into view. Depending on conditions you may be able to see examples of the amazing weltwitschia miribalis plant which can live in the desert for over a thousand years. Arrive at Sossusvlei Lodge for 2 nights where you’ll enjoy beautiful large permanent canvas rooms, each with their own ensuite bathroom and patio. After some time to settle in, optional nature walks, sundowner drives and stargazing are available through the lodge at extra cost.

Meals: Breakfast, Dinner.

Day 13 Sossusvlei
An unforgettable day awaits today as you enter the Namib Naukluft National Park, within the 80 million year old desert, and see the highest sand dunes in the world at Sossusvlei. Witness the ever changing light and contrast of colours, a delight for photographers in particular. You can walk on the large dunes nicknamed ‘Big Daddy’ and ‘Big Mamma’ and you’ll see the remarkable pan of the Dead Vlei where dead camelthorn trees up to 80 years’ old stand amid the bright white pan, encircled by orange dunes. Continue to the Sesriem Canyon, which appears as if from nowhere and is a kilometre long and up to 40 metres deep.

Meals: Breakfast, Dinner.

Day 14 Sossusvlei to Windhoek
Your journey reaches full circle today as you arrive back in Windhoek, with a journey through the dry Karoo shrublands of central Namibia, past the towns of Solitaire and Rehoboth. Overnight at the Windhoek Country Club Hotel. After time to relax you are invited to a farewell dinner to share your memories of your extraordinary journey.

Meals: Breakfast, Dinner.

Day 15 Depart Windhoek
This morning you will have some free time for last minute shopping before your overnight flight to London via Johannesburg.

Meals: Breakfast.

Day 16 Arrive London Heathrow
Arrive in London this morning, possibly with the Namib Desert sand still on your shoes.

Tour includes:

Maximum group size: 25
JOD Tour Manager throughout
Local expert guides in resort
All flights specified
London airport executive lounge
Welcome drinks party
Inspirational sightseeing programme
Hotel luggage porterage service
13 breakfast, 2 lunches, 13 dinners

On a Journey of Distinction, you are not merely a bystander. They believe that the wonders, customs and cultures you experience will live on in the core of your being. They even go so far as to say that one of their holidays will change your life forever.

Their combination of Tour Managers and Local Guides is what makes Journey of Distinction so distinctive. When you’re embarking on a voyage of discovery, it’s reassuring to know that a seasoned traveller is with you every step of the way; planning, organising, checking details and offering their advice and support. Their groups all depart from the UK, and no one joins us along the way, so you have the reassuring constancy of always knowing your travelling companions.

Our Opinion
“Limited to just 25 travellers per departure, every Journeys of Distinction escorted tour has an intimate, personal feel that makes for a more enjoyable experience.”