Namibia: a Sociocultural Journey
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Namibia: A Sociocultural Journey January 3 — 20, 2018 Namibia Tentative Itinerary A land of contrast and uncompromising beauty, Namibia is B=Breakfast • L=Lunch • D=Dinner • ^=In Flight regarded as one of the top adventure travel destinations in not only Africa, but also the entire world! With the highest amount of conservancies in the world, Namibia offers superb landscapes, Wednesday, January 3 excellent game viewing, and a safe country to travel around Depart US ^S ensuring it will remain at the top of everyone's "must visit" Meet Dr. Dennee at 5:30 p.m. at Chicago O’Hare Terminal 5 to destinations. It is the ONLY country in the world with increasing depart on first leg of flight to Heathrow International, London. In free roaming lion and black rhino populations. transit Namibian culture is truly unique. Influenced by colonization and now reborn from the shadows of Apartheid in 1990, what has Thursday, January 4 emerged is a true sense of unity in diversity, the coming together of Layover in London ^B, ^S at least 11 major ethnic groups, each celebrating their past while Arrive Heathrow at 10:20 a.m. Optional walking tour of working together toward the future. You will notice this in dress, London to see some of the main tourist attractions. This is an language, art, music, sport, food and religion. We will have direct optional part of the trip and will cost approximately $25 for interaction with at least four of the distinct cultures: San/Bushmen; subway (Tube) tickets, and approximately $20 for lunch in Ovambo; Himba; and Damara. the Crypt of St. Martin in the Fields. We will see Piccadilly Circus, Trafalgar Square, Houses of Parliament, Cost: $3900 - $4000 Westminster Abbey, Buckingham Palace, and other sites in § $500 deposit due April 12, 2017 (will continue to accept deposits the City Centre. The subway ride takes about an hour so we until early September 2017 or until full) will likely have about 3 to 4 hours in London before we § Space is limited to 16 students Included: return to Heathrow for our flight to Johannesburg. Depart § Round-trip flights to/from Chicago O’Hare/ Windhoek, Namibia Heathrow for Johannesburg, South Africa at 6:10 p.m. In § All ground transportation in Namibia transit § English speaking guide and camp assistant § Camps and accommodations as stated on itinerary Friday, January 5 ^B, ^L, S § Entry fees to national parks, museums, and other places of interest as stated on itinerary Arrive Jo-burg Airport § Meals per itinerary Arrival in Windhoek, Namibia § Gratuities for guides and drivers You are scheduled to depart from Johannesburg Airport at noon § All camping equipment except sleeping bag (which can be rented and will arrive in Windhoek approximately two hours later. Upon in-country) arrival and after going through customs, we will gather in the § Carthage travel insurance waiting area of the airport. You are encouraged to use the ATM at Excluded the airport to get Namibian dollars (you may also use South § Travel Medication/Doctor African Rand in Namibia, but you cannot use Namibian Dollars in § Meals en route to Namibia and returning South Africa). We will then meet our driver and depart for the § Ground transport to and from Chicago O’Hare Capital City of Windhoek. Welcome to Namibia dinner at Joe’s § Snacks and drinks including bottled water § US passport fee Beerhouse. Chameleon Guestlodge accommodation § Phone and internet service § Optional activities § Anything not mentioned in the “Included” section Saturday, January 6 Sunday, January 15 Waterburg Plateau Wildlife Reserve B, L, D Hoada Camp B, L, D After breakfast, our guide will collect you from Chameleon On our way to our evening campsite we visit a Himba Village—the Guesthouse to depart north to Waterburg Plateau Park. We enjoy tribes-people have migrated here, lifestyle and customs intact, and a roadside lunch prepared by your guide. Waterberg Plateau Park are following their traditional way-of-life in their village on a farm. is a national park in central Namibia. Upon arrival and after setting Following our visit will travel on to Hoada Community Campsite. camp, our guide will lead us on a hike up the plateau. Camping Camping Monday, January 16 Sunday & Monday January 7 & 8 Damaraland & Aba Huab Camp B, L, D Tsinsibis—Treesleeper Camp B, L, D We head into the barren landscape of Damaraland our destination We will experience Bushman singing and dancing, and learn about being a community campsite near the Aba Huab River. While here traditional hunting and gathering techniques as well as craft making. You we will visit the Damara Living Museum and Twyfelfontein, a will have a chance to purchase original crafts made by the Bushman at World Heritage listed site with ancient rock etchings. Camping the village. Camping Tuesday & Wednesday, January 17 & 18 Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, & Friday Cape Cross Seal Colony & Swakupmond B, L*, D Another leisurely drive to the coast where we will spend the next 2 January 9, 10, 11, & 12 nights, en-route we will stop to visit the Cape Cross Seal Colony Ondangwa—Oonte Orphan Centre B, L, D before continuing to Swakopmund where you can take part in Owamboland, is our next destination in the north of Namibia. We optional activities such as a sand boarding, quad biking, kayaking will be based for 3 nights at Oonte, where the group will interact and plenty more activities are available – there is something for with the children at the orphan center. In addition, we will everyone. Overnight in comfortable rooms with en-suite bathroom complete a service-learning project by building a Hope Garden at located close to the town centre (*15 January=BLD; 16 the homestead of one of the children receiving services from Oonte, January=BD—lunch on your own). Dunedin Star Guestlodge visit a local elementary school, and a museum to learn about the Accommodation colonization of this area by Finnish missionaries. Camping Wednesday, January 19 Saturday & Sunday January 13 & 14 Depart Walvis Bay B, ^L Etosha Wildlife Reserve B, L, D Breakfast at guest lodge, then you will be transferred to the airport Today we enter the magnificent Etosha National Park on arrival at in time for your flight to Johannesburg. In transit the West Gate we game drive to Okaukuejo, where we will be based for two nighst. On day two in Etosha, we will game drive Friday, January 20 before breakfast, and in the midday. After your evening meal, there Arrival Dulles — Chicago O’Hare ^B, ^L are still more chances to see Etosha's big game at the waterhole, We arrive in Chicago at 2:35. Be sure to arrange for someone to situated on the boundary of our camp and easily reachable on foot. Camping pick you up from the airport! Own bed For more information, contact Dr. Peter Dennee at [email protected] Itinerary details are subject to change NOTE: This safari experience is designed for the adventurous student, one who enjoys pitching in to help, conversing with nature, and does not mind the challenges of bush camping. Participation involves setting up and taking down your tent, chopping of veggies and assisting with other meal prep, washing dishes, assisting our guide and driver in loading and unloading of equipment, and completing a day-long service learning project building a Hope Garden for the household of one of the children receiving services from the Oonte Center for Orphans and Vulnerable Children. IMPORTANT - Whilst visiting villages and local communities we cannot guarantee activities on offer, it often depends on how they feel on the day, however, it will give you the opportunity to meet and experience life in Namibia in today’s society HEALTH PRECAUTIONS: Routine vaccines, as they are often called, such as for influenza, chickenpox (or varicella), polio, measles/mumps/rubella (MMR), and diphtheria/pertussis/tetanus (DPT), are recommended even if you do not travel. Although childhood diseases, such as measles, rarely occur in the United States, they are still common in many parts of the world. A traveler who is not vaccinated would be at risk for infection It is recommended that you consult your physician or a travel center prior to your safari departure, as there are a few health matters that require attention. Note: Your doctor or health-care provider will determine what you will need, depending on factors such as your health and immunization history, areas of the country you will be visiting, and planned activities. You can also check out the Center for Disease Control’s website for more information (http://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/destinations/namibia.htm). General recommendations for Namibia include Hepatitis A & B – Vaccines give good protection; initially two weeks from first dose and then second dose within 6-12months gives long term protection Typhoid - Recommended for all unvaccinated people traveling to or working in Southern Africa, especially if staying with friends or relatives or visiting smaller cities, villages, or rural areas where exposure might occur through food or water. Tetanus – Within 10years Malaria - Protection against malaria is highly recommended as malaria occurs in Namibia particularly in the north and east. Please check with your doctor the most appropriate malaria prophylaxis. LUGGAGE LIMITS: For safari departure the luggage limit is 20kg (45lbs) for most trips but we recommend you travelling a little lighter with approximately 12-15kg per person (25 – 33 lbs) and we recommend to carry soft bags to minimize luggage damage. Chameleon Safaris can normally organize storage of excess luggage. Please ensure that when you are packing your luggage for any flight that you do not put items of value into the main hold of the aircraft and that all valuables should be as carry-on luggage, as always anything sharp/dangerous must go into the hold luggage.