Springbok self-drive
Created specifically with keen walkers in mind, this self-drive safari starts with
2 nights in the
Fish River Canyon;
3 nights at the edge of the desert, overlooking the
Sperrgebiet, the forbidden diamond-mining zone before exploring the
Namib Desert on foot with a knowledgeable guide, sleeping out under the stars. Later you can mix bird-watching with walking through the impressive
Erongo Mountains and on the lush
Waterberg Plateau.
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Starting from London, your scheduled South African Airways overnight flight will take you, via Johannesburg to Windhoek, where you land around midday. |
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On arrival at the airport, pick up your hire car and drive for 45 minutes to the city where you can spend the afternoon exploring the town centre or simply relax at the comfortable |
| The Elegant Guesthouse (bed & breakfast) |
After breakfast, drive for around 3½ hours into the southern Kalahari. Spend the afternoon exploring the red Kalahari sand dunes on an optional nature drive. Keep a look out for the family of meerkats that live in the vicinity of… |
| Bagatelle Kalahari Game Ranch (half board) |
After breakfast, drive further south to the town of Keetmanshoop, along excellent tar roads. Perhaps stop to take a break at Quiver Tree Forest before continuing on to the Fish River Canyon. Your destination is the eastern side of the canyon and quirky |
| Canyon Lodge (half board) |
After a 3-hour drive to the tiny outpost of Aus, you'll reach the desert reserve of Klein Aus Vista. This area's scenery is stunning: beautiful mountains and vast desert plains. It's a place to be active: hike around the mountains, search for wild desert horses, drive yourself to Luderitz, or take a guided 4WD trip into a remote southern part of the Namib-Naukluft National Park. |
| Eagle's Nest (half board) |
On your route north to Naukluft, stop after 2½ hours' drive to overnight at one of the area's excellent guest farms – where you can learn a lot about Namibian life, do some exploration and enjoy walks in their own private areas. One of our favourite options here is… |
| Sinclair Guest Farm (half board) |
It's only a 2-hour drive to the NamibRand Nature Reserve, where you'll meet your guide before setting out into the desert. Meander through low dunes or rest under a camelthorn tree to watch a herd of gemsbok walk by. Explore the desert environs with an expert guide and sleep on a camp bed under the stars on the … |
| Tok Tokkie Trails (full board & activities) |
Finish the walking trail, return to your car about midday, for a drive of about 3 hours. You head north beside the amazing apricot dunes of the Namib, cross the Namib-Naukluft National Park, pass the tiny desert outpost of Solitaire (where the café's apple crumble is legendary!) and then gradually enter the golden grasslands near the welcoming … |
| Rostock Ritz (bed & breakfast) |
It's a long but beautiful drive today – about 5 hours through some of Namibia's most scenic back-roads and up into the Erongo Mountains. These rugged granite mountains are home to endless birdlife, including some of Namibia's endemic species. It is a beautiful spot to explore their many walking trails on your own or with a guide. Your base here is |
| Erongo Wilderness Lodge (half board) |
Drive for 3 hours today – virtually all on easy tarmac roads! Go right across Namibia's Central Highlands, the country's hilly spine, to the Waterberg Plateau, a unique flat-topped plateau with stunning scenery. It's largely made of sandstone, often sculpted into amazing shapes, and dotted with freshwater springs. Enjoy good walks whilst based at … |
| Waterberg Camp (bed & breakfast) |
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It's a little over 4 hours' drive back to Windhoek Airport, perhaps stopping at Okahandja craft market for any last-minute curios. Arrive at the airport in good time to drop off your rental car and then connect to your scheduled overnight flight back to the UK, via Johannesburg with South African Airways – after a stunning safari to Namibia. |
| From |
To |
Cost |
| 1-Jan-2010 |
16-Mar-2010 |
£3,022 |
| 17-Mar-2010 |
31-Mar-2010 |
£2,892 |
| 1-Apr-2010 |
14-Jun-2010 |
£2,917 |
| 15-Jun-2010 |
17-Sep-2010 |
£2,958 |
| 18-Sep-2010 |
15-Nov-2010 |
£3,048 |
| 16-Nov-2010 |
15-Dec-2010 |
£3,155 |
Notes:
• Upgrades to larger hired cars are easy to arrange; ask us for details.
• The prices shown are per person sharing; call us for single person supplements. |
This itinerary includes:• Economy flights to and from London, plus UK and Namibian airport departure taxes.
• All your meals and activities as specified.
• A
Group C/B hire car for the duration of your trip, to be picked up and dropped off at Windhoek Airport.
• The hire vehicle is covered by the car hire company's Super Cover insurance. Please note that this is only valid for drivers who are aged over 25 years. This covers unlimited mileage, theft, personal accident insurance and almost all damages.(Alternative insurance arrangements are possible for others, although this alters the price of the itinerary slightly.)
• A comprehensive pack of maps and information covering the places that you'll be visiting.
• See the individual lodges for precise inclusions & exclusions
• A complementary copy of the
Bradt Travel Guide to Namibia.
This itinerary excludes:• Petrol for your hire car.
• The hire vehicle is covered by the car hire company's Super Cover insurance. This cover excludes under-carriage, sand and water damage.
• Park fees to any national parks.
• Tips and gratuities (which are optional).
• See the individual lodges for precise inclusions & exclusions.
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