Overview
Covering some of the finest and most iconic areas of Namibia, the Best of Namibia Circuit is a flying safari that showcases the legendary dunes of Sossusvlei, the rugged topography of the Damaraland region with its’ desert-adapted elephant and free-roaming black rhino as well as the wildlife of Etosha National Park and surrounds. Set within private concessions, accommodation is in small luxury or tented camps, while Wilderness Air transfers guests seamlessly between destinations.
Namibia is the epitome of open space: our concessions offer an incredible 30 230 hectares (74 700 acres) per guest! It is home to diverse and unique biomes like the Namib, the oldest desert in the world, the shimmering saltpans of Etosha and equally fascinating local cultures. This journey retains the essence of Wilderness Safaris’ origins, where we sought out prime wilderness areas throughout southern Africa and channelled our passion into guiding safaris that were educational and funfilled. Continuing with this ethos, the Best of Namibia itinerary allows guests to experience the dramatic scenery that Namibia has to offer, along with its desert-adapted wildlife and clear, star-filled night skies for breathtaking stargazing. Last but not least, this safari has another wondrous facet – the opportunity to observe this vast country from the air.
Itinerary
DAYS 1 & 2: LITTLE KULALA – KULALA WILDERNESS RESERVE, SOSSUSVLEI
Depart from Windhoek by air and spend two nights exploring the Sossusvlei region, staying in the Kulala Wilderness Reserve, which provides convenient access to the splendour of the towering red dunes of the Namib. Activities at Little Kulala start with morning guided game drives to the spectacular dunes of Sossusvlei. A private gate into the Park allows for early arrival at the dunes thereby maximising photographic opportunities and scenic grandeur. Kulala Wilderness Reserve, a 40 000-hectare (98 842-acre) tract of land, is home to all forms of desert wildlife and borders the expansive Namib Naukluft Park. The Sossusvlei dunes rise dramatically more than 300 metres and are surrounded by awe-inspiring topography. Emphasis is laid on the smaller desert fauna, spectacular scenery and the incredible night sky. Larger desert-adapted wildlife such as ostrich, springbok and gemsbok flourish here with carnivores such as bat-eared fox, Cape fox, cheetah and black-backed jackal often seen.
Leaving the sandy dunes we make our make our way to the next destination - an ancient rockstrewn landscape of a previous glacial era. Enjoy a scenic flight over the Namib Desert for a different perspective of the “dune sea” and the possibility of seeing a wreck or two plus an old mining camp. After flying along a section of coastline to Swakopmund for refuelling, we head inland to northern Damaraland for two nights at either Damaraland Camp or Desert Rhino Camp.
The 352 200-hectare (870 305-acre) Torra Conservancy is a vast rocky area of rugged beauty interspersed with linear oases where spectacular topography dominate and an almost unquantifiable stillness pervades the air.
This private concession supports a diverse complement of arid-adapted wildlife, including several herds of Namibia’s acclaimed ‘desert-adapted’ elephants, and healthy numbers of Hartmann’s mountain zebra, southern giraffe, gemsbok and springbok in a landscape dotted with equally interesting flora. The conservancy, in which Damaraland Camp is situated, is the result of a highly successful partnership between Wilderness Safaris and the local Torra community that has become an inspiration for communities and conservationists throughout Africa.
Supporting the largest free-roaming population of desert-adapted black rhino in Africa, the 450 000-hectare (1 million acres) Palmwag Concession consists of rocky hills, flat-topped mountains and plains with unique flora such as the ancient welwitschia plants. The oasis-like freshwater springs support a surprising amount of life – Hartmann’s mountain zebra, giraffe, gemsbok, springbok, kudu, spotted and brown hyaena as well as some of the elusive leopard, lion and cheetah populations of north-west Namibia. The opportunity to track rhino by vehicle and on foot is one of the highlights here.
Desert Rhino Camp is run in conjunction with the Save the Rhino Trust, with a portion of the guest revenue going to the Trust.
DAYS 3 & 4: DAMARALAND CAMP – TORRA CONSERVANCY, OR DESERT RHINO CAMP – PALMWAG CONCESSION, DAMARALAND
Continue to Ongava Game Reserve on your scheduled air transfer by light aircraft for a two-night stay at either Ongava Tented Camp or Ongava Lodge. Intimate Ongava Tented Camp is hidden in west of the Reserve and overlooks a waterhole to which a plethora of wildlife congregate to drink. Ongava Lodge is scenically nestled around a rocky outcrop and overlooks the vast plains beyond plus a productive waterhole that is floodlit at night.
Ongava is a prolific 30 000-hectare (74 132-acre) private reserve bordering the acclaimed Etosha National Park. This reserve is a conservation success story and a haven for large concentrations of wildlife: notably lion, springbok, gemsbok, wildebeest, Burchell’s and Hartmann’s zebra, waterbuck, red hartebeest, eland and the largest population of the endemic black-faced impala outside Etosha. It is also known for the successful reintroduction of white and black rhino. Here one can also enjoy fantastic arid-area birding, with over 300 species recorded including 10 of Namibia’s 14 endemic species.
Staying at Ongava further provides easy access to the prime game viewing areas of western Etosha and its complimentary scenery, iconic saltpans and game-filled plains. Etosha’s dry-season game viewing rates as one of the top wildlife encounters on the planet, while in the wetter months, various game species all have their young.
Highlights of your stay here are game drives into Etosha National Park (Ongava is situated a short distance from Etosha’s Andersson Gate) as well as day and night drives, informative nature walks (including the opportunity to track white rhino on foot) and wildlife viewing hides on the exclusive Ongava Game Reserve itself.
Transfer by light aircraft to Hosea Kutako International Airport for your onward travel arrangements
DAY 7: DEPARTURE
