Activities

Detailed Namibia Budget Safari Itinerary

Day 1: Windhoek - Okonjima

Meet and greet will be at your Windhoek Hotel for the Namibia budget safari. This is by our Namibia safari tour rep between 08:00 & 08:30 am. Enjoy a short briefing on this Namibia budget safari. You will travel north, stopping at small towns along the way including Okahandja. Here you will have time to visit Namibia’s largest wood carving market. 

The market is operated on a local co-operative basis. It is one of the best places to shop for true Namibian souvenirs. Proceed north through farmland and expect to arrive at Okonjima during the middle afternoon. This allows you time to set up our camp and to relax in the shade for a while. You will then head out on to the property to take part in the afternoon’s activities. 

Okonjima is the home of the Africat Foundation. This is a specialist conservation whose operations is on the cheetah. This afternoon you will take a tour to view some of the cheetah. These animals are part of the Africat rehabilitation programme. 

Most of the animals currently living at Okonjima were rescued. They are from various desperate situations with some being orphans or caught in a trap. The aim of the rehabilitation process is to re-introduce them into the wild. 

After your educational tour you'll return to camp. It is time to prepare for dinner under the African stars. Overnight camping. (L,D)

Day 2: Okonjima - Namutoni, Etosha National Park

Your Namibia budget safari starts early today. You will continue north going through some small towns. here you will make short stops for fresh supplies and fuel. 

Proceed on to East Etosha’s Namutoni camp. Expect your Namibia budget safari to arrive in time for lunch at your camp. This affords you leisure time to rest and shake of the road travel. Later you will head into the park during the cool of the late afternoon for our first game drive. (B,L,D)

Day 3: Namutoni - Okaukejo, Etosha National Park

This will be a full day’s game driving on your Namibia budget safari. the day begins early to enjoy the cool morning air as you enjoy game drive. You will be transiting through Etosha to Halali camp, situated in the middle of the park. 

Along the way will visit several waterholes. Here you will have splendid views of the massive Etosha Pan. The game viewing is usually excellent and you got the chance to tick off a few new species. These are animals that are not easy to see on the Namutoni side of the park. 

You will make a stop at Halali for a rest and a relaxed lunch. There is time to visit the Halali waterhole and to make use of the swimming pool and bar facilities. This is before continuing on our way and game driving down to Okaukuejo. 

Okaukuejo is famous for its waterhole. This is one of the "best game viewing opportunities in Southern Africa". It is on the doorstep of your campsite while on the Namibia budget safari. Black rhino, elephant, lion and species of antelope are usually seen here. Your overnight on Namibia budget safari will be camping. (B,L,D)

Day 4: Okaukejo - Hoada Campsite, Grootberg Area

Your Namibia budget safari leaves Etosha early. You will begin the journey south with a short drive to the small town of Kamanjab. It is within this area thet your Namibia budget safari tours a Himba Village. This is the only functioning Himba community outside the far north Kaokoland of Namibia. 

These tribes-people have migrated here. But the lifestyle and customs are still intact. They are following their traditional way-of-life in their village on a farm. The exact location of the site varies as the Himba roam to a new location. You will learn about marriage customs and traditional food. Other things to learn include the mysteries of the “Holy Fire’’ religion.

From here it is a short drive on to The Hoada Community Campsite. This is among beautiful granite hills and mopane trees. The hot water system works in combination with the barbeque area. So whilst your meal is getting ready, your water will be heating up for your shower! We overnight - camping under the stars. (B,L,D)

Day 5: Hoada - Madisa Camp Twyfelfontein, Damaraland

Your Namibia budget safari heads into one of the most beautiful deserts. This is in the Damaraland region in Namibia. Yout Namibia budget safari drives west via the Grootberg Pass. You'll then take a detour to visit the ancient Bushman rock engravings at Twyfelfontein. At this location we will have a local guide to conduct us on a short tour before we set up camp for the night. Overnight camping. (B,L,D)

Day 6: Madisa - Swakopmund

another great day on your Namibia budget safari. You will leave Madisa and head deeper into the desert. Enjoy your Namibia budget safari as youpass Namibia’s highest mountain, The Brandberg, (2573 m). you will be back on the road for more beautiful Damaraland scenery. 

Your Namibia budget safari will make a stop in the small town of Uis. This is an old mining town, and one of the best places to buy semi-precious stones, for which Namibia is famous. Here, rough Amethyst, Tourmaline etc are at bargain prices. 

From here we turn west and cross the “gravel plains” on your way to the Atlantic Ocean and the Skeleton Coast. Meeting the ocean at Henties Bay, your Namibia budget safari first head north. This is along the coast to visit the seal colony at Cape Cross. At certain times of the year there can be as many as 100,000 congregating Cape Fur seals. 

The next destination is Swakopmund, following the Skeleton Coast into Namibia’s premier seaside town. The Swakopmund section of the Namibia budget safari is to allow people to relax. This is either with the group, or on their own. 

You will only have your accommodation on bed and breakfast basis. This is to allow you to plan your time here with as much flexibility as possible and not to be tied to group meal times. It also gives you the chance to sample some of the excellent local cafes and restaurants. The seafood in Swakopmund is superb.

Your guide will offer to organize a group meal in a local restaurant for this evening. Participation is recommended but by no means required. Dinner this evening in not included in the price. Overnight in twin share rooms. (B,L)

Day 7: Swakopmund

Today is a free day on your Namibia budget safari. The idea is to allow time for everybody to do their own thing. Swakopmund is a pleasant seaside town with lots of shops. this town has a good stretch of beach and an open-air curio market. 

There is a good museum and the Namibian National Marine Aquarium in Swakopmund. As an option, there are various optional activities that you can undertake. These include aeroplane and microlight flights over the desert and scenic drives. There are fishing trips both from the beach or in a boat and four-wheel motorcycle (quad bike) trips. The tips take you into the desert and over the sand dunes around Swakopmund. You can also go sand boarding trips in the dunes, skydiving and surfing. Others may take bird-watching and many other activities are available. 

Your guide will discuss all the possible options with you before you reach Swakopmund.  He will offer to make bookings in advance of your arrival. 

(N.B. All extra activities and excursions in Swakopmund are subject to availability. They will be made at the clients’ own risk and expense. Dinner this evening is not included in the price of the safari and will be for the client’s own account. Overnight in twin share rooms. (B)

Day 8: Swakopmund - Sesriem

Enough with the coast and your Namibia budget safari makes it back to the road. You will first make a stop at Walvis Bay, situated about 40 km south of Swakopmund. South of the town there is a large marine lagoon. This is home to a vast array of marine bird-life, in particular flamingos. 

You will make a short visit to the lagoon to see the birds and a short visit to Walvis Bay. We will collect any last-minute supplies before once again heading out into the desert. These part of your Namibia budget safari journey takes you across the endless Namib plains. 

The landscape changes quick and you will be into the mountain desert. Your Namibia budget safari will traverse both the Kuiseb and Gaub passes. You will be driving both times to the river beds at the bottom of the canyons. Then climb the long steep road to the top and the spectacular panoramas the mountains give us. Again, the scenery changes as we make our way down to the dune fields. 

Cross some open grass savannah and farmlands. This is before the terrain begins to give way to the immense red sand dune desert of the Namib. From here it is only a short distance to our next stop, the tiny town of Solitaire. You will be expected at the camp during the late afternoon. Be here to watch the colours glow and change on distant mountains to the east. Overnight camping under the starts. (B,L,D)

Day 9: Sesriem

This will be an early day on Namibia budget safari. Start with a pre-dawn start is essential this morning as we want to catch the soft light of the sunrise on the desert. You will pass through Sesriem, the gateway to the dunes. Drive into the heart of the dune field. To reach Sossusvlei itself you will walk the last 5 km through the dunes. 

You will enjoy the cool of the morning, with soft sunlight just beginning to play over the dunes. This creates a sharp light and shadow contrast across the whole desert, the walk is like nothing else. 

There are ancient mineral pans and stunted camel thorn trees here. You got the chance of seeing a gemsbok or maybe an ostrich make the photo opportunities perfect. You will spend the morning in and around Sossusvlei including a visit to Dune 45. As the day wears on we return to Sesriem for lunch to escape the heat of the afternoon. As the day cools off in the late afternoon, we will take a short excursion to the Sesriem Canyon. Overnight camping. (B,L,D)

Day 10: Windhoek

You will begin the day on Namibia budget safari with breakfast. This is before you start the journey over the mountains and along scenic roads, back to Windhoek. 

Make a stop at Solitaire to stretch your legs then proceed back to Windhoek. you will go via the Khomas Hochland Mountain range back to civilization. You are due back into the city around 16:00. You will have a drop off at your accommodation on our return. (B,L)

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