June 4 – 15, 2012

Namibia is soul-stirring. Orange sand dunes rising 1,000 feet high against a cobalt sky. Ocean-washed coastal deserts. Sun-baked inland plains that look like cracked puzzles.

• Fly between destinations, maximizing time and revealing stunning views.
• Explore wildlife-rich Etosha National Park.
• Track rhinoceros on foot in a rhino sanctuary and get a "behind the scenes" look at efforts to conserve cheetahs and leopards.
• Travel in a group of just eight participants.

Trip Itinerary

The dates below do not include travel time to and from the destination. Please consult our tour operator, Natural Habitat Adventures, to discuss your best flight options.

Monday, June 4, 2012: Windhoek, Namibia
Arrive in Windhoek and transfer to an intimate, contemporary boutique hotel set among olive trees and mountain vistas in a peaceful district of this former colonial capital. Olive Grove (D)

Tuesday & Wednesday, June 5 & 6: Little Kulala / Sossusvlei, Namib Desert
Depart by light aircraft in morning and head to your lodge, a luxury desert retreat within the private, 90,000-acre Kulala Wilderness Reserve at the edge of Namibia’s great sand sea. The word namib in the Nama language means “vast,” an apt name for this ancient arid expanse. Morning safari drives take you into the towering sand mountains of Sossusvlei, the shape-shifting, ochre colored dunes in the Namib Desert’s center. 

Framed by intense blue skies, these dunes are the world’s tallest. Inside are diamonds, tucked into the sand mountains by currents, waves and wind. Surprisingly, these dunes are home to a host of desert species, including oryx and ostrich, springbok and gemsbok, aardwolf and bat-eared fox. Discover the desert’s subtle magic on short walks and safari drives. Little Kulala offers some of the most arresting vistas in all of Africa and is duly famed for its peach sunsets and unmatched stargazing. A balloon safari – a chance to float silently above the desert at sunrise, followed by a champagne breakfast – is offered at an additional cost. Little Kulala Lodge (B,L,D)

Thursday, June 7 through Saturday, June 9: Desert Rhino Camp
Fly north along Namibia’s Skeleton Coast, where the dried bones of wrecked ships lay half-buried on beaches battered by fierce Atlantic storms. Your destination, Desert Rhino Camp, lies inland, in the heart of the private, 1 million-acre Palmwag Concession. Few safari locales can offer the level of privacy and isolation found here. This desert reserve has a number of freshwater springs that support healthy populations of wildlife including the camp’s namesake, the rare desert-adapted black rhino, which you’ll spend time tracking. You’ll also find desert-adapted elephants, endemic Hartmann’s mountain zebras, giraffes, oryxes, springbok and greater kudu. Namibia’s second-largest predator population thrives here, with more than 100 lions, cheetahs, leopards and hyenas. Birds are also abundant, including a number of southern African endemics. Desert Rhino Camp (B,L,D)

Sunday, June 10 through Tuesday, June 12: Ongava Wildlife Reserve / Etosha National Park
Transfer by light aircraft to your camp on the border of Etosha National Park. The Etosha Salt Pan is the remnant of a huge lake that existed two million years ago. Bare and dry today, the depression offers Namibia’s best wildlife viewing, with elephants, black and white rhinos, lions, leopards, cheetahs, giraffes, zebras, wildebeest, hartebeest, springbok, oryx, kudu and the diminutive dik-dik drawn to life-sustaining waterholes. Birds are abundant, and you may see ostriches and raptors. You’ll stay on the private Ongava Reserve adjacent to the park and far from any other accommodations. From camp, go guided walks and night drives on the reserve, and venture into the park itself during the day. Ongava Tented Camp (B,L,D)

Wednesday & Thursday, June 13 & 14: Okonjima AfriCat Project
Fly to Okonjima Guest Farm, home to the AfriCat Foundation, a former recipient of the WWF Green Trust Awarrd for its commitment to researching and rehabilitating Namibia’s threatened wild cat population. This on-site project offers a superb educational experience as well as a chance to capture amazing photos during unusually close encounters with these regal carnivores. In addition, some 300 bird species are present, a delight for birdwatchers and photographers alike. On a walk along the Bushman Trail, learn about the traditional lifestyle of this age-old culture. Other activities include radio-tracking rehabilitated cheetahs, nightly wild leopard feeds, wildlife drives and nature trails. Okonjima Villa (B,L,D)

Friday, June 15: Windhoek / Home
Drive back to Windhoek today to meet homeward flights. (B)