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The seven day Southern Swing has been designed to give you a short but comprehensive safari around the main highlights of Southern Namibia. You will visit the weird Quiver Trees, the mighty Fish River Canyon and the vital water artery of the Orange River. The beautiful mountains at Klein Aus Vista, the tiny fishing centre of Luderitz and you will travel up through the stark and tortured beauty of the Southern Namib. The trip closes with two nights at Sesriem and Sossusvlei where you will stroll among the world’s highest sand dunes, in the world’s oldest desert, before returning to Windhoek
Guaranteed departures every Friday of the year, with a minimum of two people. 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 with the participation limited to only helping with the tents. Collection time is between 07:30 & 08:00 from anywhere within the Windhoek city limits.
| This safari can also be combined with our 7 day Northern Adventure to make the very comprehensive 14 day Namibian Experience Safari. 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 8 day Delta and Falls Safari. |
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Price per person:
N$ 6,300
no single supplement
From April 2010 until end of March 2011
N$ 7,500
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- Maximum group size is 14 travellers
- Transport for up to 8 people will be in a minibus. For more than 8 a specially converted safari truck will be used.
- Itinerary is assisted comfortable camping with participation limited to only helping with the tents
- Guaranteed departures every Friday of the year, all year
- Please note that all our trips going to Sossusvlei, camp outside of the Namib Naukluft Park. We do not stay at Sesriem Campsite but at Agama Camp which is 48 kms from the main entrance gate to the dunes. This means that you will arrive at the main gate on sunrise and drive through the dune field as the sun is coming up. This drive is stunning and one of the best ways to see the dune field with the early morning light casting its shadows and light onto the sand. You will not be on top of a dune to see the sun rise. Please don’t hesitate to contact us if you have questions on this.
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Safaris include |
Safaris exclude |
All transport
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Sleeping bag (can be hired) |
| 3 Meals a day (unless differently specified) |
Personal travel insurance |
| Tap drinking water |
Alcoholic beverages |
| Tea & coffee in camp |
Soft drinks |
| All camping equipment |
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| Park entrance fees |
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| Camping fees |
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| Professional guide |
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| Camp Assistant |
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| Pick up & drop off from accommodation in Windhoek |
Useful to bring with you:
Towel, torch, water bottle, hat. |
Safari Tour Overview
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Day |
Destinations |
Accommodation |
Meals |
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1 |
Quiver Tree forest |
Camping |
L, D |
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2 |
Orange River |
Bush Camping |
B, L, D |
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3 |
Aus/Namib Desert |
Camping |
B, L, D |
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4 |
Aus/Namib Desert |
Camping |
B, D |
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5 |
Namib Desert |
Camping |
B, L, D |
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6 |
Namib Desert - Sossusvlei - Namib Desert |
Camping |
B, L, D |
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7 |
Return to Windhoek |
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B, L |
Safari Tour Details
Day 1
We start our long journey south on the main B1 highway,
travelling through the thin strip of Kalahari Desert that
protrudes onto the eastern side of Namibia. Stopping at small
towns along the way including Rehoboth, traditional home of
the Baster people, we aim to arrive at the Quiver Tree Forest
in the middle afternoon. Located just north of the southern
centre of Keetmanshoop, (officially the sunniest town in the
world), we make camp and have time to explore the area on
foot.
Quiver trees are not in fact trees, they are a type of aloe,
(Aloe Dichotoma), so called because the branches fork "dictomously".
These weird looking plants dot the landscape in this part
of the world and are locally common, however they are one
of the world's rarest flora species.
Driving time: approx. 6.5hrs (500 km)
Overnight: Quiver Tree forest.Communal ablutions /
camping.Lunch and Dinner.
Day
2
Before leaving the Keetmanshoop area we visit another
local site of interest this morning, the Giants Playground",
an area filled with massively eroded dolorite rocks that are
precariously balanced in tottering towers. After a short stop
in Keetmanshoop itself we continue south, leaving the main
road far behind us and join the extensive network of gravel
roads that unite rural Namibia.
Arriving at Fish River Canyon, the second largest canyon
in the world, in the early afternoon, we drive to the main
look out where the views of need to be seen to be believed.
We can see the river sparkling in the sunlight far below us,
and can barely imagine how many millennia it took for the
forces of erosion to carve such a magnificent vista.
Driving still further south, we travel all the way to the
southern border with South Africa, the mighty Orange River.
Coming from the arid desert regions that have formed the landscape
for most of our journey, it is an amazing sight to see green
vegetation and bright ribbon of flowing water appear out of
seemingly no-where.
Driving time: approx. 4,5hrs (400 km)
Overnight: Orange River. Rustic ablutions / camping.Breakfast,
Lunch and Dinner.
Day 3
An easy drive this morning so we have a leisurely start.
There is time for a dip in the cool waters of the Orange,
(very cold waters in the winter time). Our road follows the
scenic course of the river for the first part of the day's
journey before heading back into the desert and the beautiful
landscapes that Namibian has to offer.
Our route takes us past the zinc mines of Rosh Pinah where
we will take a short break before arriving at our destination,
the tiny town of Aus in the middle to late afternoon. We sleep
tonight at Kline Aus Vista, a private reserve, beautifully
located in the Aus Mountain Range, (Huib-Hoch-Plateau region).
There is time to explore this stunning area on foot and to
find a lofty perch in the mountains to watch the sun slip
over the western horizon.
Driving time: approx. 3.5hrs (200 km).
Overnight: Klein Aus.Communal ablutions / camping
Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner.
Day 4
We
are up with the dawn this morning for the short drive to Luderitz,
we travel on the main road and keep a sharp look out for the
unique Namib wild horses. These horses are the only feral
horses in Namibia and have, very unusually, become adapted
to an existence with very limited water. Where they originated
from is un-clear, some people think they are the descendants
of the horses used by the German cavalry during the First
World War. Another theory is that they originally came from
a horse farm that used to be run by a German Barron, (von
Wolff), in the very early colonial days.
We arrive in Luderitz in time to join an optional extra excursion,
a trip on an old wooden sailing ship, "The Sedina".
We take a cruise around Luderitz bay and, weather permitting,
to Halifax Island to see the Jackass Penguins. If the weather
conditions are suitable we turn off the engines come back
to Luderitz under sail.
Straight after the Sedina trip we drive out to Kolmanskop,
a desert ghost town about 20 km out of Luderitz. It was built
in the 1920's during the diamond rush and was abandoned when
bigger and better diamonds were found further along the coast.
The area is still abandoned and the desert has encroached
over the entire town, giving an eerie feeling and real meaning
to the word "ghost".
Lunch today is not included in the programme, this is to
allow everybody as much flexibility with their time as possible
and to give us the opportunity to sample some of the excellent
local cafes.
During the middle of the day there is time to explore Luderitz
Town with its traditional German architecture and later we
will take a drive out to Diaz Point to see the bird life,
hopefully a few seals and the stone cross replica, originally
erected by the Portuguese mariner Bartholomew Diaz.
Returning to Klein Aus Vista in the late afternoon, the road
takes us through the "forbidden Zone" so named because
in years gone by, the alluvial diamonds found in Namibia were
simply scattered across the desert and we again have time
to enjoy sunset over the mountains.
N.B: The "Sedina" excursion is subject to availability
and, if undertaken, will be for the clients own risk and expense.
Driving time: approx. 3hrs (240 km).
Overnight: Klein Aus.Communal ablutions / camping.Breakfast
and Dinner. (Lunch in Luderitz or Kolmanskop at own expense.)
Day 5
Turning north, we once again head deep into the ancient
southern Namib, travelling on small gravel roads and passing
some tiny rural communities along the way. The scenery is
harsh, and sometimes forbidding. The process of erosion in
these areas is well advanced and we pass time rounded "koppies"
arid terrain and outcrops of tortured rock.
Traversing this bleak yet beautiful landscape, the terrain begins to change and we cross some open grass savannah and farmlands before the terrain begins to give way to the immense Naukluft Mountains of the Namib. We aim to arrive at our camp during the late afternoon and watch the colours glow and change on distant mountains to the east.
Driving time: approx. 5hrs. (350 km).
Overnight: Namib Desert. Communal ablutions / camping.Breakfast,
Lunch and Dinner.
Day 6
A pre dawn start is essential this morning as we want to catch the soft light of the sunrise on the desert as we drive in. We will arrive at the entrance to the dunes on sunrise and then travel through the dune field as the sun is coming up. The light casts strong contrasts of colour on the edges of the dunes and offers stunning views from the dry river bed you travel through.
We reach Sossusvlei itself by walking the last 5 km through the dunes. The walk is like nothing else, enjoying the changing light and coolness of the morning. Ancient mineral pans, stunted camel thorn trees and the chance of seeing a gemsbok or maybe an ostrich make the photo opportunities perfect.
We spend the morning in and around Sossusvlei, also visiting
"dune 45", and as the day wears on we return to
Sesriem for lunch and to escape the heat of the afternoon.
As the day cools off in the late afternoon we will take a
short excursion to the Sesriem Canyon.
Driving time: approx. 2hrs (150 km).
Overnight: Namib Desert - Sossusvlei - Namib Desert. Communal ablutions /camping. Breakfast,
Lunch and Dinner.
Day 7
After breakfast we begin our journey, over the mountains
and along scenic roads, back to Windhoek. We will travel over
the Naukluft Mountains and also the Khomas Hochland Range,
through beautiful mountain passes on our way back to civilization.
We are due back into the city around 16:00 and you will be
dropped off at your accommodation on our return.
Driving time: approx. 5,5hrs (350 km)
Overnight: Breakfast and Lunch.
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