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Itinerary of the Magical South Tour

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Day 1
Arrival at Windhoek International Airport. We will meet you at the airport, advise you on security and exchanging money and take you to your accommodation in a peaceful suburb of the capitol. Here you will find some time to relax and freshen up. Windhoek, being the capitol of Namibia is by far the biggest city in this country and shows a great mix of culture, development and history. A thorough city tour takes us through all the historical, colonial, modern and other interesting parts of Windhoek. Shopping in Windhoek is great and you will have enough time to fill your bags with arts and crafts. Lunch and dinner are enjoyed in the centre of this multicultural city. Since Windhoek has many good restaurants, mostly with German character, it is really worth our while dining in town.

Exclusive: 1 Night Haus Sonneneck
Standard: 1 Night Haus Sonneneck
Tented Safari: 1 Night Haus Sonneneck
Accommodation and Breakfast (Dinner in town, guided, on own account)

Day 2, 3 and 4
A scenic drive through the central highlands, locally called the “Khomas Highland”, opens up the wide geological variety found in Namibia. Most of southern Namibia is covered by enormous sandstone layers, ripped through by basaltic ridges and decorated by bulbous granite outcrops. As soon as we reach the western escarpment, the desert literally drops out before our eyes. After a very early rise we head for Sossusvlei, cradle of the highest dunes worldwide, a true must see for every traveller. As the sun appears from behind, the breathtaking beauty of red dunes unfold before our eyes. The conglomerate of geology appears like a giant carving in sand, soil and rock, decorated by monstrous trees and desert adapted plant life. The Sossusvlei, being a pan, or depression at the dead end of the Tsauchab River, is considered a floral paradise surrounded by up to 300m high dunes. A walk through the numerous Vleis will give us a good idea of interesting adaptations all these organisms have developed to survive the dry circumstances of the Namib Desert. The spectacular view from above the dunes definitely makes the tiresome walk worthwhile. Not far of we hike through the deep and narrow Sesriem canyon, imagining years and years of continuous deposition and erosion. The area is a true eye-opener and most people long to see it again and capture maybe one more perfect shot of this desert so beautiful. A geological fault zone runs through the centre of Namibia, creating the Damara orogenic belt. The Naukluft Mountains, consisting of high folded and shifted dolomite, granite and various Tufa formations, are on our agenda today. We explore this interesting range on foot. While giving the impression of a harsh, dry and unfriendly environment, the Naukluft hides many idyllic spots to be discovered. The area is laden with birdlife and interesting plants. Late afternoon: To find a vineyard in this dry land seems absolutely surreal, but at Neuras we are about to discover much more than good wine and warm hospitality. After a guided tour through this small but very special estate, we set out on a short hike to experience the remote untouched wilderness, along with some rare birds and plants found here. (We do not visit this farm on the camping safari).

Note: Since we stay inside the Park in the Exclusive and Tented Safari Version, we are allowed to drive into the dunes about an hour before sunrise. This option is absolutely fantastic for photographers.

Exclusive: 2 Nights Sossus Dunes Lodge and 1 Night Vineyard in the pro-Namib
Standard: 1 Night Rostock Ritz Lodge and 2 Nights Vineyard in the pro-Namib
Tented Safari: 2 Nights tented Camp in Namib National Park and 1 Night tented Camp in Naukluft National Park
Dinner, Accommodation and Breakfast

Day 5 and 6
Nomtsas, an old family farm of the Voigts family, German descendents in their fifth generation, reflects a typical Namibian cattle and game farm. You will find yourself being treated and entertained with true Namibian hospitality. Nomtsas boosts a private game area of over 20 000 ha. Idealism and a great love to Nature drove Heino Voigts to give back to nature what his forefathers took – space. We will do various game drives on the lookout for giraffe, various antelope, warthog and a great variety of semi-desert birdlife. Red sediment runs through vast stretches of barren land, sown together by linear oasis, ephemeral rivers, which provide food and shelter for game one would never expect to find here.

Exclusive: 2 Nights Nomtsas Guest farm
Standard: 2 Nights Nomtsas Guest farm
Tented Safari: 2 Nights Nomtsas Guest farm
Full board
Game drives included

Day 7, 8 and 9
We set of on a long drive south to discover the barren beauty and very rare and endemic plant and birdlife the Namib Desert holds. En route to the Atlantic Ocean, we find a small population of desert horses, descendents of German military horses and nowadays considered controversial survivors of the desert… Why anyone would build a town on the southern rocky shore of the Atlantic Ocean remains a mystery. Germany occupied Namibia in the early 1980’s and although the southern Namibian shoreline holds no water and is constantly beaten by cold winds and sandstorms, a little town called Lüderitzbucht was build. Diamonds had been discovered on a later stage, turning this little village into a well known destination. Lüderitz has way more to offer than colonial buildings and good fish in its numerous restaurants. On a boat trip to Halifax Island we come very close to hundreds of African penguin, black Oystercatchers and other seabirds. Dolphins keep all photographers on their toes and the vast variety of seabirds nearly constantly keeps our binoculars glued to our eyes. To discover the great biodiversity this harsh environment actually does sustain comes as a great surprise to many a visitor. We also take a drive along the various bays up to Diaz Point and pay a visit to a Kolmanskop, a ghoast-town previously inhabited by German diamond diggers.

With special permission and a local guide we set out into the restricted Diamond area, locally called the “Sperrgebiet”. In my opinion this remains one of most untouched and pristine wilderness areas left on our planet. The drive itself is spectacular already and we regularly stop to find the most interesting succulents, many of those so rare, that they haven’t even been documented yet. Birders will be delighted to spot Barlow’s lark, a Namibian endemic only found here. The main attraction of the Sperrgebiet is without any doubt the majestic “Bogenfels”. This rock arch protrudes deep into the stormy Atlantic Ocean and remains a breathtaking highlight on our trip.

Exclusive: 2 Nights Lüderitz Nest Hotel
Standard: 2 Nights Hotel Seaview zum Sperrgebiet
Tented Safari: 2 Nights Hotel Seaview zum Sperrgebiet
Accommodation and Breakfast (Dinner in town, guided, on own account)
Boat trip to Halifax Island

Exclusive: 1 Night Klein Aus Vista
Standard: 1 Night Klein Aus Vista
Tented Safari: 1 Night tented Camp in Klein Aus Vista
Dinner, Accommodation and Breakfast

Day 10 and 11
We take you even further south, way of the normal route taken by the usual tourist. Southern Namibia falls into a very different climatic zone than the usual tropical and subtropical region. All local plants and animals have adapted to utilise the irregular bouts of winter rain. The Irregularity of rainfall and extended periods of droughts have forced all life to adapt one phenomenon – to save water wisely and to utilise water while available. These circumstances are the reason a great number of succulents have developed here. The scenic drive along the Orange River remains one of my favourite routes in Africa. It seems as if every corner holds a new surprise and with the geology changing constantly, the route promises an even better view of this fascinating landscape with every turn we take. Rare plants in the area include various species of Pachypodium, Aloe, Hoodia and Euphorbia.

“Something terrible must have happened to the earth” a young boy said when he saw the Fish River Canyon for the first time, as it really seems as if the earth has been ripped apart to form this deep gorge, known as the Fish River Canyon. The Fish River forms 20% of Namibia’s surface drainage and has eaten away at the sand stone and gneiss layers to form the second largest canyon in the world. Since we traveled on both sides of the Canyon, you will be able to get a complete overview of the area.

Exclusive: 1 Night Amica Guesthouse in Rosh Pinah
Accommodation and Breakfast (Dinner in town, guided, on own account)
1 Night Canyon Lodge
Dinner, Accommodation and Breakfast
Standard: 1 Night Amica Guesthouse in Rosh Pinah
Accommodation and Breakfast (Dinner in town, guided, on own account)
1 Night Canyon Roadhouse
Dinner, Accommodation and Breakfast
Tented Safari: 1 Night Amica Guesthouse in Rosh Pinah
Accommodation and Breakfast (Dinner in town, guided, on own account)
1 Night tented Camp at the Fish River National Park camping site
Dinner, Accommodation and Breakfast

Day 12 and 13
Augrabies, “The place of noise”. The Orange River falls down an impressive 60 meters to find its way through the great granite fault that runs through this landscape, creating a steep gorge. The thundering noise of water falling into a deep pool and the eerie screams of swifts, Ibis and rock hyrax create a tranquil and relaxing atmosphere. A short hike will take us up “moon rock” and other lookout points. Birding is excellent here and a few Giraffe and Antelope provide ideal photographic opportunities in these picturesque surroundings.

Exclusive: 2 Nights Vergelegen Guest House
Standard: 2 Nights Vergelegen Guest House
Tented Safari: 2 Nights Tented Camp in Augrabies Falls National Park
Dinner, Accommodation and Breakfast

Day 14 and 15
Red linear dunes interrupted by vast pans of white salt, yellow grass on red soil, monstrous Camelthorn trees providing needed shade for various antelope… The Kalahari is all that, but yet also so much more. This is the place to stop expecting big game and to start opening your eyes. The park is renowned for excellent bird, especially raptor, sightings. Rats and mice provide ample food for a large variety of raptors, like the minute Pygmy falcon, which utilises the nests of Sociable weavers. In the Kgalagadi Transfrontierpark it is important to take time to enjoy the behaviour of various antelope and smaller creatures. Often a long game drive along the Auob and Nossob riverbeds will be rewarded by sightings of lion, cheetah or even leopard, although Wildebeest, Ostrich, Springbok, Steenbok and even Eland keep entertaining its visitors. Night drives are offered by the game wardens of the park and are not to be missed.

Exclusive and Standard: 1 Night Twee Rivieren Bungalow and 1 Night Mata Mata Bungalow
Accommodation only. Meals are on own account, we will prepare our own food though.
Tented Safari: 2 Nights Tented Camp in the Park

Day 16 and 17
Entering Namibia again, we follow a very far route North. The road takes us through and along the linear Kalahari Dunes until we reach the central Namibian Highland with its dense Acacia shrub surroundings. The Lodge provides for ample relaxation and short guided walks.

Exclusive: 2 Nights Eningu Clayhouse Lodge
Standard: 2 Nights Eningu Clayhouse Lodge
Tented Safari: 2 Nights Eningu Clayhouse Lodge
Dinner, Accommodation and Breakfast

Day 18
Arrival in Windhoek at Lunchtime. The centre of town offers great shopping possibilities, all within walking distance. You have more than enough time to have a look around and do some shopping at the various arts and crafts. Our last Dinner will be enjoyed in town at any restaurant of your personal choice.

Exclusive: 1 Night Haus Sonneneck
Standard: 1 Night Haus Sonneneck
Tented Safari: 1 Night Haus Sonneneck
Accommodation and Breakfast (Dinner in town, guided, on own account)

Day 19 Transfer to Windhoek International Airport. Time to say Good bye.

Please note:
Due to logistical booking problems that might occur, we reserve the right to change the itinerary with short notice.

Inclusive:
• Transfer and Transport as stated in itinerary
• Accommodation as stated in itinerary
• Meals as stated in itinerary
• Entrance fees as stated in itinerary
• Fully trained and certified English, German and Afrikaans speaking guide.

Exclusive:
• Personal expenses
• Drinks and Tips
• International and National Flights
• Visas

2008 - Price per Person (15% VAT included) with an occupancy of:

Please take Note: the first pre-payment is only due 45 days before departure. Payments can all be deposited into a secure account in Germany.
Please find a forex calculator here