Namibia Under Canvas

Date: Set departures April – November (10 days)
Host: Local expert guides
Cost: Starting from CA$5,559 per person sharing
Trip Type: Hosted Small Groups, African Safaris

The Under Canvas camps are designed to offer a true “back to nature” experience with the emphasis being on the experiential aspect of safaris, to go back to the roots of safari, to touch, to smell, to feel and to experience the wild, with one’s feet firmly in the dust that covers Africa. This is an experience that is exclusive in the real sense of the word, as well as being very much away from the pressures of ‘normal’ life!

Highlights

• Travel with one of Namibia’s most reputable and well-known naturalist guides.
• Visit the world renowned AfriCat Foundation and learn more about conservation initiatives involving Africa’s large cats.
• Sleep under canvas in the tree tops overlooking one of the most productive waterholes on the Onguma Private Game Reserve.
• Memorable and exciting guided game drives within the renowned Etosha National Park, from the vantage point of a specially modified, air conditioned 4×4 with pop tops.
• Explore the Damaraland region whilst staying at the exclusive-use //Huab Under Canvas.
• Search for desert adapted elephant in ephemeral river systems.
• Track for the endangered black rhino in conjunction with Save the Rhino Trust.
• Visit and explore Namibia’s central coastal region with canyons, dunes and lagoons.
• Explore the private Namib Tsaris Conservancy on exploratory nature drives and guided walks whilst staying in the exclusive-use Sossus Under Canvas.
• Climb some of the world’s highest free-standing sand dunes at Sossusvlei and enjoy a magic box picnic in the Namib Naukluft Park afterwards.
• Enjoy spectacular star gazing of the Milky Way on the Namib Tsaris Conservancy.
• Enjoy refreshing moments in desert pools on the Namib Tsaris Conservancy.

Trip Itinerary

Day 1

This morning you will be picked up by your private guide and set off on your journey to Onguma Tree Tops where you will visit the Okonjima’s AfriCat Day Centre. Okonjima is home to the AfriCat Foundation, a wildlife sanctuary which focuses on the research and rehabilitation of Africa's big cats, especially injured or captured leopard and cheetah. You will arrive in time to embark on an exciting and informative game drive and tour of the centre. Here you will learn about the function and vision of the AfriCat Foundation and will also get to meet some of the Foundation’s special captive carnivore ambassadors. Continue your journey further north arriving at Onguma in the late afternoon. You will have time to freshen up and relax before dinner and the official safari briefing with your guide.

Our camp is located on the Onguma Game Reserve, adjacent to the Eastern side of Etosha National Park. It is a small and intimate camp, especially designed for those travellers who would like to truly experience the bush in all its raw splendour. This Camp is built on wooden stilts amongst the tree tops with full views over one of the most beautiful watering holes on the Reserve.

Day 2

Today is full of exciting game viewing within the eastern section of Etosha National Park, with the option to go on across towards Halali or to concentrate on the areas closer to Namutoni and north to Fischer’s Pan. You also have the option to return to camp for lunch, or spend the entire day in the park to maximize your game viewing experience.

 Day 3

Another morning dedicated to memorable game drives within the eastern section of Etosha National Park with your guide. You return to camp for lunch and an early afternoon rest, spending your final afternoon on a shared game drive with a local guide on the private Onguma Game Reserve, culminating in a sundowner overlooking Fischer’s Pan. You then return after sunset with enough time to freshen up and enjoy your final ‘safari dinner’ overlooking the camp’s floodlit waterhole.

Day 4

This morning after breakfast you will continue your safari to the heart of Namibia, Damaraland, traveling through farmlands and the small towns of Tsumeb, Otavi, Outjo and Khorixas.

Damaraland is typified by displays of colour, magnificent table topped mountains, rock formations and bizarre-looking vegetation. The present-day landscape has been formed by the erosion of wind, water and geological forces which have formed rolling hills, dunes, gravel plains and ancient river terraces. It is the variety and loneliness of the area as well as the scenic splendour which will reward and astound you, giving one an authentic understanding of the word 'wilderness'.

You in time to enjoy fireside sundowners at your exclusive camp. Please note that today is a long day of travelling, rewarded with another 3 night stay at your next camp.

Day 5

Today you will spend an exciting and memorable morning out rhino tracking with the assistance of local trackers. It is worth noting that these black rhino form part of one of the only free-roaming black rhino populations in Africa and tracking animals in an unfenced and uninhibited environment is an absolute privilege. You will return to camp for a freshly prepared lunch and with time to relax at camp during the heat of the day. Later in the afternoon you head out again for a scenic nature drive or walk to explore this vast and astounding ecosystem.

Huab Under Canvas works together with the Save the Rhino Trust (SRT) - an NGO that has been has been instrumental in the preservation of the rare, endangered, desert adapted black rhino. Having barely survived the slaughter in many parts of Africa during the '80s and '90s, the black rhino population of Namibia increased substantially since the formation of SRT.

Day 6

Today you continue your adventures exploring Damaraland, enjoying the freedom to discover the fascinating landscapes with your private naturalist guide both by vehicle and on foot. Damaraland is a surprising refuge for desert adapted wildlife that may include elephant, giraffe, oryx, springbok and even some predators such as lion. However, as with any wildlife sightings in Namibia, this depends on many factors including seasonality so specific sightings are never guaranteed. The wildlife roams large tracks of unfenced desert landscapes and finding game can be challenging, but this is all part of the adventure of exploring this wild untouched gem of Namibia. Today’s focus will be largely on tracking the elusive desert adapted elephants in the ephemeral river systems, an activity which will mean spending most of the day out. Your guide will take along a delicious picnic lunch and you will return to camp in the late afternoon.

Day 7

After an early breakfast and departure the drive today takes you south past Namibia’s highest mountain, the Brandberg which peaks at 2,573 m above sea level, and west to meet the coast at Henties Bay. You then continue south to the coastal town of Swakopmund where you can enjoy the pleasant seaside location and cooler coastal air for the night. You stay on the eastern outskirts of the town, overlooking the Swakop River valley and desolate desert dune landscapes. Tonight includes dinner at a popular restaurant which specializes in locally harvested fresh seafood as well as other local and international dishes.

Day 8

After an early breakfast you depart on a fascinating drive which takes you south-east through awesome and ever-changing desert landscapes via the impressive Gaub and Kuiseb canyons to meet the dunes at the settlement of Solitaire. A picnic lunch will be had en route and you will continue onto the Namib Tsaris Conservancy, where you will spend your final two nights of your safari at the exclusive camp.

NOTE: As an alternative to the drive from Swakopmund to Sossusvlei you may like to take a scenic light aircraft flight over Sossusvlei and along the Diamond Coast (optional extra at additional cost), allowing you a bird’s eye view over the Sandwich Harbour and salt pans, the Namib Sea Sand, abandoned mining camps and two shipwrecks,. Your guide will drive to meet up with you in Sossusvlei later in the day.

Day 9

This morning you will need to rise early for a magical excursion with your guide in the Namib Naukluft National Park, to enter the park at sunrise and capture the dunes whilst the light is soft and shadows accentuate the towering shapes and curves. This area boasts some of the highest free-standing sand dunes in the world and your guide will give you an insight on the formation of the Namib Desert and its myriad of fascinating creatures and plants that have adapted to survive these harsh environs. Once you have explored Sossusvlei, Deadvlei and surrounding dune fields to your heart’s content you can enjoy a relaxed picnic brunch in the shade of a camel thorn tree.

You will return to camp for a late freshly prepared lunch and with time to relax at camp during the heat of the day. Later in the afternoon you head out again for a scenic nature drive or walk to explore this vast and astounding ecosystem and to enjoy a magnificent final safari sundowner.

Day 10

After a leisurely breakfast this morning you will depart from Sossusvlei and return to Windhoek, driving northeast up the Great Escarpment and through the scenic Khomas Hochland highlands.

Upon your arrival in Windhoek you will be transferred to the airport or your overnight accommodation of choice (accommodation not included).

Not sure that 10 days is enough in this incredible area? Contact one of our experienced Custom Travel Advisors to arrange extensions before or after the safari, designed to match your interests.

Inclusions

• Accommodation and all meals
• Transportation in a luxury air-conditioned safari vehicle.
• Services of a registered and experienced naturalist English-speaking safari guide.
• Local drinks at meals (this includes water, soft drinks, beers and table wine).
• Onguma afternoon property drive in open game viewer with camp guide.

Exclusions

• International airline tickets
• Return transfers to/from the Windhoek airport
• Gratuities to local staff
• Entry visa to Namibia
• Premium imported wines, spririts and champagne
• Travel insurance (strongly recommended)
• Items of a personal nature (ex. scenic flights, etc.)
• Any increases due to circumstances beyond our control (ie. park fee increases, fuel surcharges)

Trip Route

Scheduled Departures

Guaranteed Departures (Minimum 2 guests / Maximum 7 guests)

• 02 – 11 April 2020
• 07 -16 May 2020
• 28 May – 06 June 2020
• 16 – 25 July 2020
• 13- 22 August 2020
• 20- 29 August 2020
• 24 September – 02 October 2020
• 01 – 10 October 2020
• 08 – 17 October 2020
• 22 – 31 October 2020

These dates don’t work for you? Contact us about making it a custom safari.

Cost

Starting / Ending Windhoek:

Low Season (starting in April, May, June & November)

• CA$ 5,559 per person sharing
• CA$ 1,166 single supplement

High Season (starting in July, September & October)

• CA$ 6,090 per person sharing
• CA$ 1,174 single supplement

All quoted prices and itinerary effective at time of publication (Aug 15, 19). Itinerary is subject to change due to improvements or changes in local conditions. All payments are non-refundable once received. Please consider insurance.