Best of Namibia
Plus 4 nights in Mauritius

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*Fully escorted from Australia
Guaranteed SINGLE room throughout
Departing  Australia 20 October, 2009

Wedged between the Kalahari and the chilly South Atlantic, Namibia has deserts, seascapes, bushwalking and boundlessness.

Although not as well known as some of its African neighbours, Namibia is a gem for those in search of the wilderness. Blessed with rich natural resources, a solid modern infrastructure and diverse traditional cultures Namibia is a large, and sparsely populated country on Africa's south-west coast, which has enjoyed more than a decade of stability since achieving Independence on 21 March 1990.

With its pleasantly warm and dry climate, clean air, good water and an unspoilt coast, vast untouched scenery and nature conservation areas, and excellent infrastructure, Namibia is healthy by nature and sheer bliss for body and soul. It is in fact one of the few countries in Africa where tourists do not have to worry unduly about  picking up health problems!

With 2 nights in Mauritius en-route to Namibia and 2 nights again on the return journey,  this trip is a perfect combination of magnificent scenery, comfortable adventure, game viewing and blissful relaxation.

Day 1  20 October, 2009  Australia - Mauritius  Depart from Melbourne or Sydney with Air Mauritius.  Accommodation: Mauritius 2 nights (Le Preskil or similar)

Day 2  21 October, 2009  Mauritius (B, D)    Le Preskil Beach Resort is ideally situated on a natural private peninsula along the South East Coast of Mauritius Island at La Pointe Jerome, nearby the historical village of Mahebourg and only 15 kilometres from the International Airport. With its typically Creole architecture, Le Preskil is truly a haven of peace spread over 3.5 hectares of luxuriant tropical garden and three idyllic beaches of white sand. The resort borders a lagoon which offers an exceptional stretch of unique clear blue water which leads to the astonishing marine park of Blue bay and offers a magnificent view over Isle aux Aigrettes where nests a unique bird sanctuary.

Day 3  22 October, 2009  Mauritius - Johannesburg - Windhoek   (B) Our flight with Air Mauritius departs at 9am this morning and we'll travel to Johannesburg before transferring to our South African Airways flight to Windhoek, Namibia.  Remainder of day is at leisure.   Accommodation:  Olive Grove (or similar) Windhoek overnight
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Day 4  23 October, 2009   (B,L,D)   Windhoek - Onguma/Etosha   After breakfast this morning, we'll transfer to Windhoek Airport  and depart on our charter flight to the Etosha National Park. From the Mokuti airstrip you transfer to the luxury Onguma Tented camp. The Camp is only eight kilometers from the Von Lindquist Gate on the eastern outskirts of the Etosha National Park. Originally part of the greater Etosha Game Reserve, Onguma is one of Namibia’s best-kept secrets. Join an afternoon game drive. Onguma Tented Camp is a beguiling mixture of sophistication and relaxation, of elegance and the earth. It is this intriguing combination and attention to detail that makes Onguma Tented Camp, the latest in Visions of Africa's up-market portfolio of camps, the ultimate in safari chic. In the local Herero language, Onguma means, "the place you don't want to leave." With a stunning main building and seven tents providing private, exclusive accommodation, Onguma Tented Camp, certainly lives up to its name.  An atmosphere of elegant dining prevails, complimented by the daily activities taking place around the watering hole, approximately 60 metres away. The surrounding nature lends itself to long lazy afternoons, spent relaxing on the sofas in the lounge, watching the animals go. And when things heat up, all that is required is a gentle stroll to the rim flow pool. Sit and relax in the flowing waters while enjoying an ice cold cooler. Alternatively if more strenuous activity is required, then relaxing on your patio and reading a good book should provide you with all the exercise you may need.   Onguma also became part of an innovative custodianship project relating to the black rhino. Six black rhino were darted in Etosha National park and shipped to the reserve. Here they are protected and monitored. More than 300 bird species can be viewed at Onguma. The reserve boasts the biggest breeding colony of white-backed vultures in Namibia. During the summer months Onguma becomes a bird-watchers paradise with thousands of species migrating to wetlands created by the seasonal rains and ephemeral river systems. This part of Namibia has been identified as one of the key bird watching sites in Southern Africa.

Day 5  24 October, 2009 (B,L,D)   Onguma/Etosha  After a leisurely breakfast, drive into the park for excellent game viewing. You are scheduled to spend the whole day around the game driving in the park, with a picnic lunch     The Etosha National Park is one of the largest game parks in Africa covering an area of 22 270km², while the Etosha Pan (the word “Etosha” means “large white area”)covers an area of 5 140km².The Etosha National Park has over 114 mammal species, 350 bird species and 21 vegetation types. The most common plains game species encountered include; Burchell’s Zebra, Springbok, Black– Faced Impala, Blue Wildebeest, Gemsbok (Oryx Antelope), Giraffe and Red Hartebeest. The Etosha National Park also boasts healthy populations of Lion, Elephant and Black Rhino.

Day 6 25 October, 2009  (B,L,D)    Onguma - Epupa  After breakfast you fly to the Epupa falls area where the Epupa Camp awaits. Epupa Camp offers guided tours to one of the Himba temporary villages. Learn about the sacred fire, the twin that stayed behind, the holy oxen and how a day is spent in Africa by people who have no calendars. Epupa Camp works closely with the local community to provide them with access to development opportunities and direct benefits through tourism.    Situated east of the Epupa Falls on the banks of the Kunene River, in north-west Namibia is Epupa Camp. It is a small luxury tented camp that offers you a relaxing, yet exhilarating, few days of personalized service, excellent food and the seclusion of a lush riverine wilderness.  With its waving palms, spectacular sunsets and perennially flowing waters, the Epupa area offers much to see, experience and do. Exciting geological and archaeological sites can be seen in the area. Bird life in this riverine paradise is rich and varied, with some species endemic to the Kunene River environs.  

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Day 7  26 October, 2009  (B,L,D)   Epupa   Another exiting day with the opportunity to do any of the activities offered by the lodge, including hiking trails, river rafting, birding, or simply relaxing with a sundowner.Of the few nomadic tribes left in this world, one is found in Namibia. The Ochre People or Himba, tall, graceful and lovely, who follow the seasonal rains as their ancestors have done since time out of mind, live in Kaokoland. We offer our guests a special introduction to the Himba people by means of a guided tour to one of their temporary villages. Learn about the sacred fire, the twin that stayed behind, the holy oxen and how a day is spent in Africa by people who do not need calendars. There are many questions regarding this unique people’s lifestyle. Our guides will introduce guests to the people in the village and show them how they live their daily lives. Photography is allowed after a customary request. To return the goodwill, we supply them with foodstuff such as maize meal, salt and sugar. Guests will also be taken to Himba graves and told about their customs regarding the dead.


Day 8  27 October,2009  (B,L,D)   Epupa - Damaraland/Twyfelfontein   After breakfast at leisure, depart for Damaraland where you land at noon. Mowani Mountain Camp is set in the Twyfelfontein Conservancy between the Ugab and Huab Rivers. Gujided nature walk included.     From the moment you arrive at Mowani, you will be spoiled with the services and attention of the excellent staff, who will go out of their way to make your stay as unique and enjoyable as humanly possible. Mowani Mountain Camp consists of 12 luxury tents, all with en-suite facilities, decorated beautifully in East African style. The luxury tents are a great source of relaxation. Comfortably hidden in your own private hide-away, you will be pampered by crisp white linen, en-suite bathrooms, and of course your own wooden deck offering an open view of the wonderful Damara landscape.   There are plenty of ways to relax at Mowani Mountain Camp. Discover the pool deck, lodged between the boulders where you can soak up the sun whilst enjoying a refreshing drink and admiring breathtaking views. Adventures and activities available at Mowani include guided nature drives in search of the elusive desert elephant and hiking through magnificent scenery.   Staying at Mowani Mountain Camp, a traveller can easily join in an excursion to explore the historical site of Twyfelfontein. T wyfelfontein is a rare example of Bushmen engravings and paintings occurring at the same site. This wonderful archeological site offers more than 2,500 engravings as well as various paintings, and is probably the finest example of rock engravings in Southern Africa.

Day 9   28 October, 2009   (B,L,D)   Damaraland/Twyfelfontein   Explore more of Damaraland todeay.  A morning guided walk and afternoon excursion to Twyfelfontein, Organ Pipes and Burnt Mountain.  Damaraland is one of the most scenic areas in Namibia, prehistoric water courses with open plains and grassland, massive granite koppies and distant mountains create the landscape. Game species include desert elephant, black rhino, ostrich and springbok.

Day 10   29 October, 2009  (B,D)  Twyfelfontein  -  Swakopmund  After breakfast we depart to Namib Rand Nature Reserve and our accommodation at Wolvedans Dune Lodge.    Positioned on the edge of a 250-metre high dune, the Dune Camp sleeps a maximum of 12 guests in a totally unspoilt setting. Guests stay in comfortable tents, which are pitched on wooden platforms.  A spacious deck, allowing for safe sleep-outs under the stars and a private bathroom make for a rather civilized camping experience. The lapa is comprised of a lounge, dining area and an open-plan kitchen, which allows guests to chat to the chef while he prepares a sumptious dinner. The sundowner deck with its fireplace is the central meeting point of the camp, making for a cosy and relaxed ambience.

Day 11  30 October,2009  (B,D)   Swakopmund   After breakfast, depart on a day-safari on the NamibRand Nature Reserve with a delicious picnic lunch served en-route. Absorb the unique NamibRand Nature Reserve landscape during your excursions by Land Rover through the dunes, endless grassy plains and along mystical mountain formations.  Return to the Lodge for lunch and a siesta during the midday heat. At 4pm, enjoy coffee and cake before joining everyone for sundowners on the deck preceding dinner.  Game species found in the Reserve include gemsbok, mountain and plains zebra, springbok, red hartebeest, bat-eared fox, spotted hyena, cape fox and african wildcat. The rocky areas are inhibited by kudu, klipspringer, baboon and leopard, while the dunes harbor a rich and diverse micro-fauna. Over a hundred species of birds have been recorded.


Day 12   31 October, 2009 (B)  Etosha  -  Windhoek - Johannesburg  -  Mauritius   Board your charter flight back to Windhoek Hosea Kutako International Airport in time for our overnight flight to Mauritius.   Accommodation:  Merville Beach Resort (or similar) 2 nights

Day 13  01 November, 2009  (B,D)  Mauritius  Merville Beach is situated in Grand Bay, on the north coast of Mauritius where traditions and colours blend harmoniously together to create a cosmopolitan atmosphere. Our hotel is only a few minutes walk away from the holiday village filled with numerous restaurants, boutiques and entertainment. The north coast is famous for its exceptionally mild climate and its continuous sunny days.  Mauritius and its people is like taking a journey into some of the most fascinating and refined ancestral traditions ever. The legacies of those who, for the past 400 years, have settled on its shores, where Europe meets India, China and Africa in a frenzy of colours, scents and savours. Strolling through the streets, it is not unusual to find yourself in a little China after alleys filled with the scent of saffron, of cinnamon, reminiscent of India. Alongside, churches with a medieval architecture are remembrances of the European heritage of the island. Hence shopping can become a very interesting or enticing experience, with the variety of products, their diverse origins and the quality of the craftsmanship.

Day 14  02 November, 2009  Mauritius - Australia  Morning at leisure before we transfer to the airport for overnight flight to Australia

Day 15  03 November, 2009  Arrive Australia

 Tour includes   $ AU11450:

• Return economy class air travel ex Melbourne to Mauritius

• 4 night's first class accommodation in Mauritius

• 9 night's first class accommodation in Namibia

• Return economy class air travel Mauritius to Johannesburg

• Return economy class air travel Johnnesburg to Windhoek

• Services of a tour escort from Adelaide

• • Transport in 3 x Light Aircrafts (Cessna 210) as quoted with 10 kg baggage allowance per person and SOFT bags only)
  • Including landing fees for the tour as mentioned.
  • Accommodation on basis as per itinerary above
  • Meals as per itinerary above
  • Tourism Levy
  • Entrance fees for Tours & Parks stated
  • Activities as stated
  • Transfers to Hotel /Lodges as stated
  • Porterage at the Lodges

Tour cost excludes:

•  Airport , fuel and air ticket taxes

• Passport and visa fees

• Travel insurance

• Meals not specified

• Optional extra excursions and activities

• Items of a personal nature
  
  
   Please note that the above prices are based on rates and tariffs currently available to us and may change due to fluctuating exchange rates or any other factors beyond our control.