Northern Adventure Safari - 7 Days

The Northern Adventure is your chance to view exquisite feline carnivores, the wild animals of Etosha in their personal Eden, unique mountainous vistas and the elaborate carvings of Africa's eldest human inhabitants. This safari has a guaranteed departure every Friday of the year subject to passenger numbers. There is no single supplement, and the price is virtually fully inclusive of everything you will need whilst travelling with us. The style is limited participation, assisted camping and there is one accommodated night included in the itinerary, (day 6). Collection time is between 08:30 & 09:00 from anywhere within the Windhoek city limits.

Our tour departures are guaranteed to run with the following minimum numbers:
01 April 2012 – 30 June 2012: 4 passengers
01 July 2012 – 31 October 2012: 2 passengers

This safari can also be combined:
With our 7 day Southern Swing itinerary to make an unforgettable 14 Day Namibian Experience.
To make a comprehensive 10 day adventure, combine this 7 day Northern Adventure with our 3 day Sossusvlei Link.
Two of the world’s natural wonders, the Okavango Delta and the mighty Victoria Falls can also be included by combining this trip with our 10 day Delta and Falls Safari.

Additional Information
It is strongly recommended that you purchase comprehensive personal travel insurance before you embark on your safari.
Travel insurance is for your own protection and we consider it to be an essential part of modern international travel.

Maximum group size is 14 people, with a minimum of 2 / 4 participants as indicated. Transport for up to 5 people will be in a minibus and for 6 people and more in a specialised vehicle.

The style of safari is limited participation, you will be asked to assist put up and take down your own tent, however there will be a camp assistant to complete all the other campsite chores. Your tour guide will do all the shopping, cooking and day-to-day organization of the safari. Unless otherwise specified, all safaris will be conducted in English

• Day 01: Windhoek – Okonjima/Africat
  You will be collected between 08:30 & 09:00.
  
  We will travel north, stopping at small towns along the way including Okahandja, where we have time to visit Namibia’s largest wood carving market. The market is operated on a local co-operative basis and is one of the best places to shop for truly Namibian souvenirs.
  
  Continuing north, passing through farmland, we aim to arrive at Okonjima during the middle afternoon, giving us time to set up our camp and to relax in the shade for a while before heading out on to the property to take part in the afternoon’s activities.
  
  Okonjima is the home of the Africat Foundation, a specialist conservation concern that centres its operations on the African Big Cats, particularly cheetah.
  
  This afternoon you will be taken on a tour during which you will be able to meet, close-up-and-personal, some of the cheetah that are going through the Africat rehabilitation programme.
  
  Most of the animals currently living at Okonjima have been rescued from various desperate situations, being orphaned or caught in a trap, and the aim of the rehabilitation process is to attempt to re-introduce them into the wild.
  
  After our educational tour we will return to our camp and prepare for dinner under the African stars.
• Day 02: Okonjima/Africat - Namutoni / East Etosha region
  An early start and continuing north we pass through some small towns, making short stops for fresh supplies and fuel.
  
  Continuing on to our East Etosha, Namutoni region camp we again aim to arrive in time for lunch, giving us time to relax before heading into the park during the cool of the late afternoon for our first game drive.
• Day 03: East Etosha region – Okaukuejo, Etosha National Park
  A full day's game driving. We again leave early to enjoy the cool morning air as we game drive our way through Etosha to Halali camp, situated in the middle of the park. Along the way we visit several waterholes and are afforded splendid views of the massive Etosha Pan. The game viewing is usually excellent and we have the chance to tick off a few new species that are not normally seen on the Namutoni side of the park.
  
  We stop at Halali for a rest and a leisurely lunch. There is time to visit the Halali waterhole and to make use of the swimming pool and bar facilities before continuing on our way and game driving down to Okaukuejo, Etosha's main rest camp and resort where we will check in and set up camp. Originally the site of a German fort built in 1901, Okaukuejo now houses the Etosha Ecological Institute, founded in 1974; the round watchtower is a remnant of the fort.
  
  After your evening meal there are still more chances to see Etosha's big game at a floodlit waterhole, situated on the boundary of our camp and easily reachable within a minute or two on foot.
  
  The waterhole has been described as one of the "best game viewing opportunities in Southern Africa" and the ideal venue to witness peculiar animal politics. Black rhino, Africa's tallest elephants, lion and numerous species of antelope are regular visitors during the cool, dry season.
• Day 04: Okaukuejo – Kavita Lion Lodge, Kamanjab
  Leaving Etosha we begin our journey south with a relatively short drive to the small town of Kamanjab for a short stop before continuing on to Kavita Lion Lodge and Africat North.
  
  A local Otjiwarongo business has chosen to fund a project at AfriCat North - the Communal Carnivore Conservation Project. This team works with farming communities and those surrounding the Etosha National Park, assisting in carnivore management (mainly lion) and advising communal and commercial farmers on how best to protect livestock. This is the first unit of its kind in Namibia.
  
  During the afternoon we visit the project and education centre.
• Day 05: Kavita Lion Lodge – Twyfelfontein
  After an early morning start we visit a Himba Village - the only traditionally functioning Himba community outside the far north Kaokoland region of Namibia. These tribes-people have migrated here, lifestyle and customs intact, and are following their traditional way-of-life in their village on a farm, the exact location of the site varies as the Himba occasionally roam to a new location. We will learn about marriage customs, traditional food and the mysteries of the 'Holy Fire' religion.
  
  Today we head into one of the most beautiful desert regions in Namibia, Damaraland. We drive south to the capital of this region, the small town of Khorixas, and then take a detour to the west to visit the ancient Bushman rock engravings at Twyfelfontein. At this location we will have a local guide to conduct us on a short tour before we set up camp for the night.
• Day 06: Twyfelfontein – Swakopmund, Skeleton Coast
  From here we head deeper into the desert and pass Namibia’s highest mountain, The Brandberg, (2573 m) and more beautiful Damaraland scenery. We make a stop in the small town of Uis, an old mining town, and one of the best places to buy semi-precious stones, for which Namibia is famous. Here, rough Amethyst, Tourmaline etc can be found at bargain prices.
  
  From here we turn directly west and cross the gravel plains on our way to the Atlantic Ocean and the Skeleton Coast. Meeting the ocean at Henties Bay, we first head north along the coast to visit the seal colony at Cape Cross. At certain times of the year as many as 100,000 Cape Fur seals congregate.
  
  The next destination is Swakopmund, following the Skeleton Coast into Namibia's premier seaside town. We aim to arrive in the late afternoon giving us time to explore the town on foot before sunset.
  
  Tonight we take the chance to sample one of the excellent restaurants. The seafood in Swakopmund is superb. Your guide will offer to organise a group meal in a local restaurant for this evening. Participation is recommended but by no means required.
  
  Dinner is for the client’s own account.
• Day 07: Swakopmund - Windhoek
  The drive back to Windhoek today will take about 4 and a half hour. We will depart around lunch-time, giving us time to spend the morning relaxing in Swakopmund. It has many superb shops, a good stretch of beach (although the Atlantic here is quite cold) and an open-air curio market. There is also a very good museum and the Namibian National Marine Aquarium is located in Swakopmund.
  
  Alternatively, there are various optional activities that can be arranged. These include aeroplane and microlight flights over the desert, scenic drives, fishing trips (both from the beach or in a boat), four-wheel motorcycle (quad bike) trips into the desert and over the sand dunes around Swakopmund, sand boarding trips (also in the dunes), skydiving, surfing, bird-watching and many other activities are available.
  
  Your tour guide will discuss all the possible options with you before you reach Swakopmund and will offer to make bookings in advance of your arrival. (N.B. All extra activities and excursions in Swakopmund are subject to availability and are made at the client’s own risk and expense).
  
  This is the last day of our trip and after lunch we will transfer back to the capital city where you will be dropped off at your accommodation.