NAMIBIA “Kaokoland”

THIS IS A DRAFT ITINERARY PREPARED SPECIFICALLY FOR THIS SITE: IT IS THE FIRST STEP FROM WHICH TO CREATE A TAILOR-MADE TRIP TO MEET THE SPECIFIC REQUIREMENTS OF EACH CUSTOMER.

A MORE SPECIFIC DRAFT CAN BE DRAFTED AND SENT UPON REQUEST.

ACCOMMODATIONS, DURATION OF THE TRIP, EXTENSIONS AND COMBINATIONS WITH OTHER PLACES (WITHIN THE SAME COUNTRY OR IN DIFFERENT COUNTRIES) CAN BE DETERMINED TOGETHER WITH KALAHARI AND MODIFIED ACCORDING TO YOUR DESIRES

This is a journey of great emotions, of particular places, very different from each other, full of colours and scents. The sun heats the white sand, where elegant and majestic elephants, leave their footprints heading towards the waterholes and the immense acacias. From the most remote corner of the Desert, through canyons and broad valleys, you will reach the Atlantic Ocean to stop at a fisherman’s restaurant where the sand dunes plunge into the ocean. Reaching the by going along the Skeleton Coast to find refuge in its grand red rocks. Crossing the immense Kaokoland in the most west part, amongst elephants and lions. This is not a cheap trip, since the choice of accommodation is exclusive, but allows those who choose it to live strong emotions and experience the true Namibian Africa.

ITINERARY “KAOKOLAND”

The trip starts at Windhoek

Kalahari has its main office in Windhoek. Upon arrival in customers are greeted with a warm "welcome" with offering of cake with tea / coffee and a "briefing" before the departure. This briefing is very important to go over point by point before the journey, for clarifications regarding any doubts one might have and

to provide the latest information necessary for travel self-drive. Meeting clients upon their arrival in Africa is a tradition that Kalahari has always kept over the years making it part of its working philosophy especially in a country where the itineraries expected are self-drive.

Day 1 Windhoek Arrival at Windhoek and meeting with Kalahari Namibia, and with the rented car you will directly enter into a contract. Start of ground services. Accommodation on bed and breakfast basis in a very central hotel.

Day 2 & 3 Namib Desert in the Namib Rand

Departure with your car to the Namibian mountain range that longitudinally crosses all the country.

You will arrive in the Namib Rand, a private reserve about 50km south of Sossusvlei where mass tourism does not arrive. Unique and exclusive accommodations. Each banda is positioned on the dunes with an amazing view of the desert. There are various choices of tented camps and open lodges. The Namib Rand is located within the Namib Desert, on the red fire dunes, where herds of oryx graze. Here you can make wonderful excursions in open 4x4 vehicles, accompanied by experienced rangers.

Day 4 & 5 Swakopmund or Walvis Bay

You will leave in the morning to cross the beautiful area of the canyon, up to the Moon Valley and Swakopmund. Free afternoon around the lagoon, meeting point at the restaurant to enjoy freshly caught shrimps and oysters, served directly from the pot with spectacular seafood sauces (suggested by Kalahari.)

Accommodation on bed and breakfast at an elegant and comfortable hotel at Swakopmund. Or, in a sophisticated lodge in Walvis Bay overlooking the lagoon dotted with pink flamingos. Excellent restaurants. Recommended to those who wish to add the excursion at the lagoon like the cruise and 4x4 with ranger !

Kalahari suggests a cruise in Catamaran and an excursion in the desert with the ranger in 4x4 vehicle.

Completely different emotions from anything ever seen before. Champagne-coloured sand, a high erg that throws itself directly into the ocean waves. An incredible sight. Wonderful walks along the beach of the Atlantic Ocean, and back along the shore waiting for the retreat of the waves.

A pleasant cruise in the lagoon of Walvis Bay amongst the dolphins, flamingos, pelicans, cormorants, gulls and seals that jump into the boat. Sometimes, depending on period of time, you can meet penguins, whales and sea turtles. A good snack; oysters and champagne on the boat. The boat crosses all of the lagoon.

You will continue the tour by 4x4 vehicles across the bay on a strip of sand where seals like to sunbathe. In a gymkhana in the dunes you will get to Sandwich Harbor. For those who enjoy walking, you can walk along the coast on the beautiful stretch of beach before returning to the car to Swakopmund. Lunch on the dunes. All day dedicated to the beautiful wild coast of Namibia.

Day 6 Skeleton Coast up to Damarland You will go through a part of the Skeleton Coast, with a stop at Cape Cross and visit to the 100,000 seals that dive into the waves of the Atlantic. There are two options; you can drive along the Skeleton Coast up to the Terracebay junction or enter the territory of Damaraland covering all of it until you arrive up to the lodge. You will find yourself in the area of the cave paintings, where once the Sun population taught hunting and survival by sketching it on the rock. Time for a splendid walk between graffiti and paintings.

Accommodation in a beautiful intimate lodge, hidden among huge round boulders of red granite. Beautiful sunsets, with breakfast and dinner.

Kalahari suggests the excursions to the elephants of the desert with the lodge. The excursion to the elephants in the Damaraland area lasts only half day. (This excursion is more complete if you arrive in Kaokoland adding two more days to the trip because it lasts almost a whole day, with a picnic lunch along the way following the desert elephants. An unforgettable experience to follow their footprints along the dry and sandy rivers between small green oasis where these animals find their natural sources).

Day 7, 8 & 9 Kaokoland

You will leave Damaraland to advance in the rugged expanses of Kaokoland. Immediately you feel a different kind of Africa, wilder, more abandoned. The brilliance of the colours of the north is impressing due to the great contrast with all that is left behind. The sand sometimes white and sometimes black alternates to the remotest oasis of palm trees. Here the colours acquire light colours: from white to beige to ochre. You are on the route of the desert elephants crossing immense dry and sandy rivers. Once in Sesfontein, the accommodation is in a beautiful tented camp along a river loved by elephants. The choice to dwell in this area is for the environment and for the beautiful excursions in search of the desert elephants, where often one can encounter many families.

Excursions always accompanied by experienced rangers in 4x4 vehicles. During the excursion to the elephants, a "picnic" lunch is served amid the unique landscapes of Kaokoland. These are among the best excursions that you can do in the area, they pass between "gorges" and narrow passages until arriving in large dry rivers, the most important of which is the . An unforgettable experience to follow their footprints along the wide sandy paths, between small green oasis, where these large animals find natural sources to quench their thirst.

Kalahari recommends stopping three nights at this lodge to be able to dedicate sufficient time to this beautiful corner of Namibia. This may include various excursions: a whole day dedicated to the research of the elephants, a game drive and an expedition in search of the Himba villages, still natural and off the beaten track. A full day excursion in search of rhinos with a "picnic" lunch. The rhino is an animal which very difficult to encounter, but the hike leads in several areas usually expanding experience of the place.

EVEN MORE TO THE NORTH: Leaving the car at Twyfelfontain, flight to Purros: a valley further north, in a wild and little explored area. One of the most beautiful and fascinating lodges in Namibia. The atmosphere is refined and elegant and its incredible position makes it a very privileged place. Broad, dry, white sandy rivers and palm trees form the backdrop to the paths traced by the desert elephants. Excursions are included in 4x4 open vehicles with ranger for the search for these particular pachyderms. The area is also populated by gazelles, zebras, oryx, giraffes, rhinos and big cats. A natural park without barrier. The trips are within the white desert and often you will go down so deep in the gorge that you will feel the cool breeze of the Skeleton Coast!

For those who have many more days (a higher budget) it is suggested to have an extension of two days at the border with . It starts from Purros with the jeep of the lodge and ranger. Just for the purpose to enjoy to the maximum this territory, you will cross it completely by road; the ride lasts about six hours on the slopes which are not difficult. The path is not completely flat, sometimes the slopes are steep climbs or rocky hills. You will cross the territory of the desert elephants and of the who are not accustomed to passing tourists. You will stop along the way for lunch which is served at a point from which to observe this infinite landscape. You will arrive in the area of the Kunene, in Marienfluss.

A lush green strip forms the border between Namibia and Angola. Only crocodiles and hippos can sometimes be near the riverbanks. The lodge is located on the waters of the Kunene River, which opens into the Atlantic Ocean from Angola. Accommodation in a beautiful chalets open air African. Full board basis and excursions with rangers. Day dedicated to excursions by boat and by jeep.

Day 10 Palmwag Lodge/Epacha Game Lodge and Spa

Leaving Sesfontein in the morning we return to the south, accommodation along the way to approach Etosha Park. It could be one of the mythical places of Namibia because until a few years ago it was the only place to eat and meet for anyone traveling to the north of the country. Alternatively, you can choose a lodge closer to the park in order to be ready for the next morning to start the safari. In this case, the lodge is situated in a private reserve not far from the entrance of Etosha Park. This accommodation is great because it allows you to have time available the following day to visit the park. Dinner and breakfast included.

Day 11

Early morning departure to reach the Etosha Park, entering from the west gate and you will have all the time for a day of safari with your own car. The park is simple and touristic, and you can cross it without problems. The route is well marked. This day takes you through the entire park to have a global view of the place. The accommodation is located at east exit. You will go around through most of the park to arrive for the sunset in the Onguma Reserve. The environment, however, is very interesting for this immense Pan center that attracts many animals. Accommodation in elegant tented camp or lodge with dinner and breakfast. Safari in own privacy.

Kalahari suggests: For those animal lovers it is recommended to combine a safari in the beautiful National Park of Madikwe in with an intercontinental flight that goes from Johannesburg, or, in Namibia, arrive up to Caprivi or in the Okavango Delta in Botswana.

Day 12 Return to Windhoek, and departure to Europa Return to Windhoek. Drop off the rented car at the airport with full fuel in tankl. End of ground services.

The beauty of creating a tailor made travel experience is that of being able to choose the accommodation and to have direct contact with those who can provide all the information and advice they need to meet your specific request. Namibia offers many alternatives, not only with regards to luxury, but also for the great range of places of different atmosphere, able to give a more interesting touch, sporty, exciting, adventurous or reserved to your own holiday. It is important not to choose all the lodges belonging to the same owner so you have different emotions during the dinners, the welcome, the experience of the lodge.

Kalahari adds to its travel documents some detailed maps indicating alternative routes such as the beautiful track along the Naukluft to cross from Sossuvslei to Swakopmund

Kalahari does not recommend long journeys with cars like the Corolla 1.3 or 1.6. For your own safety, we recommend to travel in 4x4 or minibus given that they are original and not modified. Please remember that the lease of the car is between the customer and the rental- car directly. Kalahari is only involved in booking the requested vehicle as per the quote and including the daily cost and unlimited KM with basic insurance, as is usually done in Namibia.

The vehicles: Kalahari has agreements for years with international trusted car-rentals. We do not rely on private operators and improvised managers. Despite our 40 years in Africa, we prefer to keep our work as a tour operator and not offer direct car rental services. This allows us to have up to date choices and get the best rates and often new cars. They always suggest to us non-modified cars but amended as required by the parent company such as Toyota, Ford, Nissan, Mitsubishi or similar. The best solution remains the 4x4 double - cab. More stable than any car, takes up to 5 people. Mostly used for groups of more than four people are especially the VW or Toyota Quantum minibus used by all operators in both tourism as well as in private business. They have an ongoing maintenance, spare parts are easy to find almost everywhere, easy to drive, comfortable and easy to handle. Each rented vehicle from Kalahari has regular maintenance agreed between the parent company authorized car-rental. Kalahari never recommends cars not approved by the parent company!

KALAHARI

Africa Headquarters: Namibia - P.O. Box 21508 [email protected] Europe branch: Malta [email protected] – www.africaxposure.com

PRIVATE: per viaggi stra-ordinari lungo rotte sconosciute al turismo dei più, all’insegna della privacy, del relax e di ogni più stravagante esigenza Kalahari “Haute Couture” (KHC): [email protected] Web: www.kalaharinafrica.com - www.kalaharihc.com