Our local guide, Mr. Elvis Nghimutina greets you today at Windhoek’s Hosea Kutako International Airport – named in honour of one of the original opponents to South African rule after WWI – and transfers you to our nearby bush accommodation in the N/a’an ku sê Wildlife Sanctuary, where this afternoon’s “Roots of N/a’an ku sê Tour” affords close-up viewing of the sanctuary’s resident lions, leopards, wild dogs and others. During dinner, Elvis will offer a few words of wisdom to help you feel comfortable with being in Namibia, while giving a brief overview of the exciting itinerary that lay ahead.

Staying close to Windhoek tonight allows you to acclimatize and settle into a relaxed, healthy rhythm for the remainder of your safari. This can take a day or two due to the uncomfortable combination of the city’s relatively high altitude (1,660m or 5,440ft) and the long-haul flight most travelers endure to get here.

Today you are treated to a wonderful scenic drive to Sesreim and the dunes of the Namib Desert. Traveling mostly on graded, gravel roads you descend down into the Naukluft Valley and its panoramic mountain vistas. The scenery remains stunning as you approach the easternmost edge of Namibia’s famed desert dunes, where sand and savanna meet and free roaming wildlife such as springbok, oryx (also called gemsbok) and ostrich can often be seen from your lodge. Our aim is to provide plenty of time for you to soak up this harsh yet beautiful landscape. We therefore provide a stay of two nights at Sossusvlei Lodge, located at the entrance to Namib-Naukluft National Park which encompasses one of the world’s oldest and driest desert regions.

Today our guide, Elvis takes you to the desert sands overlooking the well-known and photogenic landmarks of Dune 45, Dead Vlei and Sossusvlei. Later today you explore Sesreim Canyon and can visit Elim Dune to marvel at the splendor of an African sunset.

As you travel down the valley of the Tsauchab River to Sossusvlei, you are dwarfed on either side by huge sand dunes. At times, you pass close to groves of dead camel thorn trees, testimony to a bygone era when there was much more water. During the drive you can hope to see oryx, the fabled desert antelope, as well as springbok, ostrich, bustards, jackal, bat-eared fox and hyena. At the end of the tarred road is a short, though at times bumpy, ride along a sandy track to the two iconic vleis of Dead Vlei and Sossusvlei. Vlei is an Afrikaans term for a marsh or pan of water.

You now call in to the home of Boesman, our bare-footed local desert guide and an old friend of Compass Odyssey. Married to Japanese wife Yuri and the subject of an episode of the BBC’s “New Lives In the Wild”, Boesman takes you on a fascinating private tour of his farm and its resident desert dunes, during which he explains that the Namib Desert is alive and thriving with specialised animal and plant life, the great majority of it utilised in some way by the nomadic Bushmen (also collectively called the San people). You then head for Namibia’s barren Atlantic coastline, via the stunning Gaub and Kuiseb mountain passes and the arid coastal moonscape. Reaching the Atlantic coastline by mid-afternoon, you travel north to the quaint resort town of Swakopmund where you stay for the next two nights.

This morning you travel the short distance south to Walvis Bay, where you discover this port town’s prolific bird and marine life on an entertaining and informative cruise in the bay, followed by a decadent on-board lunch of locally cultivated oysters.

Your cruise around the bay offers sightings of up to three species of dolphin – Atlantic bottlenose, Dusky, and the endemic Heavyside – as well two species of whale – Humpback and Southern-Right. The crew will also be on the lookout for Cape fur seal, Leatherback turtle, Mola mola (Sunfish) and with a bit of luck, Orca (Killer whale). Birders won’t be disappointed, with close-up viewing of pelican, cormorant, Cape gull, Caspian tern and a number of wader species.

You then embark on an afternoon’s 4×4 excursion along the coast to Sandwich Harbour – one of the most remote destinations within a country that boasts its fair share.

This morning you travel via the nation’s capital, Windhoek and can visit a local craft center for some final souvenir shopping (time permitting). Elvis then returns you to Windhoek Airport for an afternoon flight departure – daily direct flights are available to Cape Town, Johannesburg and Frankfurt among others. There are also direct flights from Walvis Bay Airport (40mins drive south of Swakopmund) to Cape Town, Johannesburg and Windhoek.

During this safari you will witness Namibia’s natural and wild beauty, be exposed to her diverse cultures and history, and experience genuine African hospitality. Thank you for visiting Namibia on this Compass Odyssey safari. ǃHaese mugus (“See you soon”).