Simply Namibia
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Trip Highlights
· Interaction with the remote OvaHimba people during your volunteer project
· Safari in Etosha National Park,
· Breathtaking Skeleton Coast
· Quaint Swakopmund
· The towering Sossusvlei dunes
Your ''Taste of Volunteering'' Project
Your volunteer project is with the OvaHimba people in North western Namibia. Opuwo is the “capital city” in this remote part of Kaokoland. Opuwo is situated about 700km northwest of Windhoek, and 250 km from the Etosha National Park. You will primarily be helping with building traditional homesteads (mud huts) or painting projects. Another area where your assistance might be required is assisting with fixing water wells or with helping look after cattle..
Trip Summary
From Windhoek you gain insights into San culture before three incredible days spotting game in the world renowned Etosha National Park. You then head further north, until we get to Opuwo, the Capital of the Kaokoland. For the next 4 days you will help with various volunteer projects in the OvaHimba community, such as helping build simple clay houses. You then experience the rugged beauty of Damaraland and the Skeleton Coast. And on to Swakopmund, where you can choose from a range of activities. The towering sand dunes of Sossusvlei are our next stop – prepare to be amazed! At your rest camp, you can choose horse riding or just enjoy some sundowner drinks, before finishing up back in Windhoek the following day.
Trip Description
Day 1 ARRIVAL WINDHOEK AIRPORT [Hotel/Guesthouse or similar - - D]
You will be met at the airport and transferred to the departure point hotel. You can book (and pay for) on arrival an optional ½ day Katutura Township tour with local guide (13h30-17h30). Rest of day (un-guided) at leisure to recover from the flight and have a welcome dinner at a restaurant.
Day 2 Aabadi Bush Camp [chalets/huts - BLD]
Our journey will start with visiting Aabadi Bush Camp, driving for about 2 hours. We will have a stopover at the woodcarvers market in Okahandja, before proceeding to Aabadi and arrive in time for lunch. Join by a San family in the afternoon, the hike in the bush will take us through the property, were you will have an opportunity of getting a very close experience of how nature can provide in our daily needs and much more. This is a very intimate encounter of the San culture and should provide you with a true exchange of their way of life.
Day 3 - 5 Etosha National Park (Camping – B, L D)
We drive through the mid central part of Namibia on our way to the Okaukuejo gate, our entrance to the world renowned Etosha National Park. An afternoon, two full days and an evening of superb game-viewing. Middays are very hot and will be spend at the pool side. Days in the park will be marked by early rises and late afternoons for game drives. You will camp just outside the park each night.
Day 6 - 10 Kaokoland [Camping – B, L D]
Just after breakfast we leave Etosha through the Western Gate. This part of the Park is mainly reserve for research purposes and boasts rare species such as sable and the roan. We are heading further up north, until we get to Opuwo, the Capital of the Kaokoland. We will stop for a restaurant dinner at the Opuwo Country Lodge and camp at the lodge. Dinner is at your own expense. The next 4 days will see us helping with the volunteer projects in the OvaHimba community.
Day 11 Damaraland – Fort Sesfontein [Camping – B, L D]
After working hard at the volunteer projects, we will have a very relaxing day
At Fort Sesfontein. Here you can pay a small fee, and leave with the camp staff in a 4WD vehicle in search of desert elephants in the Huanib River.
Day 12 Damaraland – Aba-huab/Mowani [Camping - B, L D]
This part of Namibia is one of the most beautiful. Rugged with fascinating geological features. We are headed for Damaraland and will camp at Mowani.
No activities for the afternoon, just relaxing by the campfire. Those of you interested in wanting to know more about the area can book an afternoon game-drive. Who knows you might encounter desert elephants!
Day 13 - 14 Swakopmund [chalets Bx2 - -]
No rush at all as we will be heading for the coast, we will visit the seal colony at Cape Cross before arriving in Swakopmund. On arrival, the afternoon will be free for everybody, just remember that we will go out in the evening as a group to some restaurant were you can spoil yourself at your choice of seafood. You might be spending the next day, doing one or the other activity being offered in Swakopmund, such as sand boarding, kayaking with seals or quad biking. It is always best to discuss your choice of activity with your guide the night before and he can help you arrange for bookings and pick up.
Again we will be together for our last night in Swakopmund at a different restaurant for a last taste of seafood.
Day 15 Sossusvlei [Camping B, L D]
Our first stop is Walvis Bay to see if we can spot some flamingo. This day will take us through landscapes that justify Namibia’s description as the land of wide open spaces. The journey will take you through canyons as we close in on our destination. We will have lunch either on the road or at Solitaire, before arriving at Sossusvlei. In the afternoon we will visit Elim Dune for a sunset experience. We then go back to Sesriem, our camp for the night.
Day 16 Sossusvlei - Garies Rest Camp [chalets B, L D]
This day is not an easy one, as we have to leave our camp VERY EARLY for a drive to Dune 45. The idea behind this early rise is to get to the top of the dune, and see the sun rising for the day. We will not be the only people wanting to have this experience, there are always so many people rushing for this. Back from the dune, we will have breakfast, and drive further to do a 5 km walk in the desert to Sossusvlei. Those of you who don’t wan to walk can pay a small fee (optional) and take a “desert taxi”. Back at camp for lunch, and we leave for our camp site for the night.
When we arrive at Garies Rest Camp, we will have a ‘sundowner’ drink in the late afternoon. Those of you who can ride horses can do so or just play in the pool to recuperate from the long desert walk. After dinner you can settle in for the night’s entertainment.
Day 17 Tour ends (B, L)
You can sleep late. Really you can. The only thing left for us today is to get up slowly, eat breakfast. Relax, take a breather, and walk a bit on your own. Come back, take down your tent. Help us load it in the car and slowly we head back to Windhoek, where you safari will end. We will be back between 14h00 and 16h00 in Windhoek. Of course we will have lunch on the road!
NB: Please allow an additional US$100 for meals not included and US$100 for optional activities such as quad bike dune rides, dolphin cruises, sand boarding and so forth.
For a full trip description in PDF format, click here (you will need Adobe Acrobat Reader).
Extension Trips
Extension: Exclusive Etosha
Extension: Sublime Sossusvlei
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