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, 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 Sesriem 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, you are dwarfed on either side by huge sand dunes. At times you pass close to groves of dead 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 and jackal. At the end of the tarred road is a short, though at times bumpy ride, along a sandy track to Dead Vlei and Sossusvlei. Vlei is an Afrikaans term for a marsh or pan of water.

You now call in to the home of Gideon David – better known as Boesman 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 is our local bare-footed desert guide and also a keen farmer, and this morning we take an informative tour of his farm and its resident desert dunes. Along the way he shows us that the Namib Desert is alive and thriving with specialized animal and plant life, the great majority of it utilized in some way by the nomadic Bushmen (also collectively called the San people).

After this fascinating morning, you travel to Namibia’s barren Atlantic coastline to the quaint resort town of Swakopmund, via the stunning Gaub and Kuiseb mountain passes.

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.

From Swakopmund, you venture north-eastwards into Namibia’s savannah region and to Etosha National Park. Here, your camp’s floodlit waterhole promises some quality wildlife viewing throughout the evening and through to the early morning.

You stay two nights in Namibia’s premier national park, allowing plenty of time to visit a number of the park’s famous waterholes, which regularly affords great viewing of the park’s large herds of elephant, oryx, giraffe, wildebeest, zebra and springbok.

Accompanied by Elvis’ broad knowledge of Namibia’s wildlife, you’ll also be on the lookout for the park’s iconic ‘black’ species, such as its black-maned lions, black rhino, black-backed jackal and endemic black-faced impala.

Etosha, meaning “great white place” in the local Oshindonga native language, is dominated by the massive mineral pan from which it is named. The Etosha Pan covers around 25% of the park, and for most of the year is a large, dusty depression of salt and dry clay that only fills if the rains are heavy, and even then only holds water for a short time. However, there are a number of perennial springs along the edges of the pan that draw large concentrations of wildlife and birds.

In addition to your game drives with Elvis, this evening we also provide an evening game drive with a park ranger. Traveling in a custom-designed open-sided 4×4 safari vehicle and with a spotlight scanning the bush, you’ll be on the lookout for the park’s varied nocturnal life – both predator and prey.

Time permitting, this morning you can stop in the nation’s capital, Windhoek, and visit a local craft centre for some final souvenir shopping. Elvis then bids you farewell as he returns you to Hosea Kutako International Airport in time for an afternoon flight departure. Daily flights are available to Cape Town, Johannesburg and Frankfurt, among others. There’s also a three-weekly flight to Botswana’s Okavango Delta via the town of Maun.

NOTE: It’s also possible to spend the night in Windhoek, in which case Elvis can provide an informal afternoon tour of the city (stopover at additional cost).

During your journey, you will witness Namibia’s natural and wild beauty, be exposed to her diverse cultures and history, view her iconic wildlife and experience genuine African hospitality. Thank you for visiting Namibia on this Compass Odyssey safari.

Haese mugus (“see you soon”).

Meals:
Breakfast