Etosha National Park
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P R O G NAMIBIA EXPLORER SOSSUSVLEI - SWAKOPMUND - R ETOSHA NATIONAL PARK - A WATERBERG REGION M AUGUST 25 TO SEPTEMBER 03 2016 10 DAYS/ 9 NIGHTS Price & Conditions Namibia Explorer Dates: 10 days/9 nights tour August 25 2016 until September 03 2016 Arrival Airport : Windhoek International Departure Airport: Windhoek International PRICE PER PERSON BASED ON DOUBLE OCCUPANCY AND MINIMUM OF 25 PARTICIPANTS $ 2029.00 Single Supplement: $ 329.00 YOUR PACKAGE INCLUDES 8 nights lodging including tax and service fees at the following hotels: 2 Nights in Sossusvlei at the Sossusvlei Lodge 2 Nights in Swakopmund at The Delight Swakopund 3 Nights in Etosha National Park at the Etosha Safari Lodge 1 Night in the Waterberg Region at the Okonjima Plains Camp All ground transfers with qualified guide Full Board Entrance fees when noted on the program Alpine Adventures escort YOUR PACKAGE DOESN’T INCLUDE Gratuities to guides, restaurant staff or drivers Porterage Transfers where not noted Optional activities Personal expenses Optional group flights + extensions Travel insurance: 6 % of total trip cost Things to know: Tour activity level is medium. Bring comfortable clothing and shoes (expect sand to be flying around when in the desert) Group schedules and activities subject to change at any time. Group meals are pre-chosen. We can accommodate allergies and intolerances only. Valid US Passport expiring no less than six months after departure required. For other nationalities, check with consulate. Group airline seats cannot be assigned in advance. Special requests taken under consideration. Airline group rate allows mileage accrual at a modified rate. Airline tickets nonrefundable after issued. Penalty for changes. Luggage restrictions may apply to 1 checked bag and 1 carry on. Please review hotels on their websites and tripadvisor.com prior to booking A LIST OF OPTIONAL ACTIVITIES SUCH AS HOT AIR BALOON, QUAD RENTALS, SCENIC FLIGHTS BY HELICOPTER WILL BE SENT OVER CLOSER TO TRAVEL TIME FOR PRE REGISTRATION VIRTUAL ITINERARY: An Interactive View of the Trip Click here to view your Virtual Itinerary ITINERARY OVERVIEW Day 1- Wednesday, August 25 2016: Departure from your hometown. Day 2– Thursday, August 26 2016: Arrival at Windhoek International and private transfer to Sossusvlei Lodge with stops in Solitaire and Sesriem. Day 3- Friday, August 27 2016: Discover the dunes, canyons and valleys of Soussusvlei, Sesriem and Namib-Naukjluft National Park. Overnight at Sossusvlei Lodge. Day 4– Saturday, August 28 2016: Drive to Swakopmund with a stop in Solitaire. Pass by local land formations and vegetation on your way to the coast. Overnight at The Delight Swakopmund. Day 5– Sunday, August 29 2016: Day trip to Sandwich Harbour by boat. Enjoy views of Walvis Bay and ride in 4x4s to see the desert. Overight in Swakopmund. Day 6– Monday, August 30 2016: Drive to Okaukeujo and arrive at Etosha Safari Lodge in the National Park. Stop for Lunch at Ombinda Country Lodge. Day 7– Tuesday, August 31 2016: Full day of game drives at Okaukeujo Camp and Halali Camp. Overnight at Etosha Safari Lodge. Day 8 – Wednesday, September 01 2016: Several Drives at Halali Camp. Visit the limestone hills and observe the various wildlife. Overnight at Etosha Safari Lodge Day 9 – Thursday, September 02 2016: Leave Etosha National Park and head to the Waterberg Region. Depart on a leopard viewing. Overnight at Okonjima Plains Camp Day 10- Friday, September 03 2016: Leave Okonjima to Windhoek. Pass through Okahandja, a town specializing in wooden products. Arrive at Windhoek International for flight check-in. END OF SERVICES GROUP FLIGHT INFORMATION Roundtrip JFK-WDH (1 stop JNB) starting at $1825 incl. tax on South African Airways With optional 3 nights Cape Town extension $1865 incl. tax on South African Airways A NOTE ABOUT NAMIBIA Namibia is a relatively new country, having gained its independence in March of 1990, and lies just west of South Africa. Despite its geographical proximity to South Africa, the Namib landscape and culture are much different than that of its neighbor. Having a blend of ocean scenery and desert land, with different animal and plant life thriving in these ecosystems, visiting Namibia is an entirely unique experience than that of the South African bush. From sand dunes to rock formations, vast Atlantic coastlines, to watering holes in the middle of the desert, Namibia is sure to amaze any visitors. In this trip, you will visit the main highlights of Namibia, with lodging ranging from rustic game reserves in the desert, to modern hotels in small towns. Whether you’re a seasoned traveler, or someone seeking to visit someplace new, Namibia will satisfy, excite, and delight just about everyone. DETAILED ITINERARY Thursday, August 2016: Sossusvlei Lodge, Sossusvlei Day Notes Arrival at Windhoek airport where you will be welcomed by your guide. Drive to Solitaire via the Khomas Hochland. Lunch. Drive to Sesriem. Dinner at the Lodge. Sossusvlei Sossusvlei is where you will find the iconic red sand dunes of Namibia. The clear blue skies contrast with the giant red sand dunes to make this one of the natural wonders of Africa and a photographer’s heaven. Aside from the attractions at Sossusvlei - Dune 45, Hiddenvlei, Big Daddy and Deadvlei - other attractions in the area include the Sesriem Canyon and Namib-Naukluft National Park, where the mountains of the Namib meet its plains. Overnight: Sossusvlei Lodge View iBrochure Situated at the Entrance Gate to the Namib Naukluft Park, Sossusvlei Lodge offers direct access to the towering red sand dunes, the famous pan of Sossusvlei, the scorched black trees of Dead Vlei and the breath-taking Sesriem Canyon. The 45 individual luxurious accommodation units at Sossusvlei Lodge are carefully laid out to perfectly blend in with the magnificent natural environment. Each fully air-conditioned unit has a patio, en-suite bathroom with shower and a spacious bedroom under canvas with adobe-style plaster walls to give the visitor a distinctive sense of being close to nature. Experience the true hospitality with thoughtful touch of attentive staff to contribute to a truly memorable experience. Facilities include a sparkling pool, bar, beer garden and an al fresco terrace where one can enjoy exquisite food, award- winning wines and magnificent views of the floodlit waterhole. Included: Full Board Friday, August 27 2016: Sossusvlei Lodge, Sossusvlei Day Notes Breakfast. The visit of Sossusvlei and Tchausab Valley will allow you to discover the central Namib and its giant dunes. Sossusvlei is the terminus of a river which, thousand years ago, flowed into the Atlantic. Now, the rain has disappeared and the river doesn’t have the strength to reach the Ocean anymore. Thus, dunes which were pushed by the wind have progressively covered the valley. On certain years, the river reaches the bottom of the dunes and forms a lake at Sossusvlei. Discover Dead Vlei, a dry lake in the middle of the dunes, a magical place, where only a few dead trees still remain. At Sossusvlei you will discover the highest dunes in the world (over 300 meters) in the oldest desert on earth. The Namib is also the kingdom of the Oryx, an antelope that has adapted to the harsh desert climate. Lunch at the Sossusvlei Lodge. Sesriem is the gate of the southern section of Namib-Naukluft National Park. It was a vital place for Nama, Herero and Damara peoples. The canyon was formed by the Tsauchab River, which has eroded a gorge of 50 m deep. Sesriem means '6 ropes", which were the amount of ropes needed to bring up the buckets of water. The presence of a permanent source aroused covetousness of these peoples. Now, mainly occupied by birds, the source and the canyon are places for sightseeing. Dinner at the Lodge. Activities Sossusvlei Sesriem Namib-Naukluft National Park Sossusvlei Sossusvlei is where you will find the iconic red sand dunes of the Namib. The clear blue skies contrast with the giant red sand dunes to make this one of the natural wonders of Africa and a photographer’s heaven. Aside from the attractions at Sossusvlei - Dune 45, Hiddenvlei, Big Daddy and Deadvlei - other attractions in the area include the Sesriem Canyon and Namib-Naukluft National Park, where the mountains of the Namib meet its plains. Sesriem Sesriem Canyon, a deep chasm carved through the rocks by water, is a striking natural feature of the area that is best explored on foot. Stony walls rise up sharply on both sides of the canyon, while birds roost in its crags and lizards dart along the ledges. The canyon’s name was coined when early settlers used it as a water source, using six lengths of leather (‘ses riem – six thongs) tied together to lower buckets into the water at the base of canyon.) Namib-Naukluft National Park Stretching across the pink-orange sands of the Namib Desert and the Naukluft Mountains to the east, the Namib- Naukluft National Park is Africa’s biggest wildlife reserve. Despite the unforgiving conditions it is inhabited by a plethora of desert-adapted animals, including reptiles, buck, hyenas, jackals and insects. Included Full Board Saturday, August 28 2016: The Delight Swakopmund, Swakopmund Notes Breakfast. Drive to Solitaire Lunch. On your way to the coast, you will pass through the Gaub Pass and Kuiseb Pass, geological formation of schist strata through which the Kuiseb River has carved an impressive canyon. This river is the dividing line between the endless rocky plains of the north and the sand dunes that end near the Orange River. You will cross the Tropic of the Capricorn in between the two passes. Discover the Welwitschia Mirabilis, botanical curiosity which is found almost exclusively in areas of fog in the Namib Desert.