Day 1

Arrive Windhoek where you will be met and transferred to Namutoni Lodge where we will meet you. After checking in we will set off on the first afternoon of wildlife viewing in the Namutoni area of the Etosha National Park. Alternating between the various waterholes and access points on the Etosha Pan we will observe the comings, goings, trials and tribulations of the animals in this harsh environment. This is also the area of Etosha where if lucky we may see the endangered blue crane.

Day 2

A full day wildlife viewing in the Namutoni area of the Etosha National Park, known as the "Great White Place" because of the white clay pan that covers almost a quarter of its surface. This is the area we are most likely to spot the rare Damara dik-dik, and if we are really lucky we may even see the less common white rhino. Overnight at Namutoni Lodge.

Day 3

After breakfast we depart Namutoni and spend the day wildlife viewing on route to the Halali area of the Etosha National Park, stopping at the numerous waterholes along the way to see what activity is taking place. The dry interior means that herds of giraffe, elephant, zebra, kudu, red hartebeest and black-faced impala need to make frequent journeys from the arid feeding grounds to these water holes. The draw of the water results in some good concentrated wildlife viewing. We will overnight at the air conditioned National Parks bungalows at Halali. The floodlit waterhole at Halali attracts regular rhino visitors and other nocturnal animals, and so presents an opportunity for some special night time wildlife viewing.

Day 4

A full days wildlife viewing in the Halali area of the Etosha National Park. Close by are two of the most productive waterholes in Etosha, and so we will spend most of our time between these waterholes watching the constantly changing movement of the animals. Overnight at Halali.

Day 5

Departing Halali we continue our wildlife viewing while travelling west along the edge of the Etosha Pan, a great ancient salt lake, observing the changing habitat and vegetation on route to the Okaukuejo area of the Etosha National Park. We will look out for cheetah, spotted hyena, warthog, ground squirrels and black-backed jackals as well as eland, red hartebeest, zebra, common duiker and kudu. We will overnight at the air conditioned National Parks bungalows at Okaukuejo. For those with enough energy there is the famous floodlit waterhole where you can sit up all night to view the coming and going of the animals, including rhino, elephant and lion.

Day 6

After a last morning wildlife viewing we will leave Etosha for the drive to Damaraland. Our destination in Damaraland is Etendeka Lodge, set on the rim of the Etendeka Plateau and overlooking the Klip River Valley. Accommodation is in rock and thatch chalets, each with their own private deck. The area consists of 12,000 hectares of pristine wilderness that has been set aside for conservation and tourism. In the afternoon we will enjoy a wildlife walk on the top of the Etendeka Plateau, looking out for springbok, gemsbok, Hartmann's mountain zebra and kudu and to enjoy the smaller birds, reptiles, insects and plants that exist here.

Day 7

Damaraland is also home to the nomadic Himba tribes people, and if there is a family in close proximity we will visit a nearby Himba village. The Himba people are one of the last tribes in Africa who continue to live and dress in a totally traditional way, with other cultures having made very little impression on them. The women especially are noted for their intricate hairstyles and traditional adornments, rubbing their bodies with red ochre and fat to treat and protect their skin against the harsh desert climate. Alternatively we will set off to track the elusive desert elephant both by vehicle and on foot, or for those prepared to drive over bumpy roads and trek in difficult rocky terrain there will be the opportunity to track the rare and endangered desert rhino instead. We will return to the lodge in time to enjoy the sunset over the Etendeka Plateau.

Day 8

Enjoy an early breakfast on the restaurant veranda, in order to give the chance to see the magnificent black eagles soaring around the cliffs beneath us, before departing for Twyfelfontein where we will arrive in time for lunch. In the afternoon we will take a scenic drive or walk, giving the chance to admire and photograph some of the interesting rock formations, mountainous scenery and the unusual phenomena called "fairy circles". Along the way we will spend time looking at some of the small and interesting desert creatures, such as beetles, insects, geckos and brightly coloured agamas, before enjoying yet another of Namibia's magnificent sunsets. We will overnight at Camp Twyfelfontein, a beautiful lodge with endless vistas that is built into the surrounding rock face.

Day 9

We will spend the morning visiting the famous rock engravings that form one of the largest collections of rock art in Namibia. Twyfelfontein is open air gallery and has gained status as a World Heritage site in order to preserve an almost vanished way of life. In the afternoon we will explore the surrounding area, including a visit to the "Organ Pipes" (a mass of basalt slabs in a ravine gouged out by an ancient river and a geological curiosity of the area) and the "Burnt Mountain".

Day 10

After breakfast we depart Twyfelfontein and head west. Our drive to the Skeleton Coast will take us past the Brandberg (Namibia's highest mountain) and the Messum Crater. The hills of the Messum Crater will also give us our first chance to see the fascinating Welwitschia plant, said to be around 2,000 years old. This unique plant is only found in the deserts of Namibia, which are also home to the largest lichen fields in the world. The drive will take us through beautiful but desolate scenery, from the harsh dry interior down to the ice cold Atlantic Ocean, and home to some extraordinarily adapted desert creatures. In the afternoon we will visit the Cape Cross seal colony, the biggest mainland breeding colony in the world. The Cape fur seals flourish in the cold waters of the Benguela Current, which are also responsible for causing the daily mists that drift inland carrying life-giving moisture to the desert plants and animals. The historical significance of Cape Cross is recorded on inscriptions carved into a granite cross. There is a monument erected to duplicate the cross originally placed here in 1486 by the Portuguese navigator, Diogo Cao. The black backed jackal can be seen prowling the edges of the colony by day, and by night the brown hyena is a bold predator. Overnight at Cape Cross Lodge.

Days 11

After breakfast and a stroll along the deserted Skeleton Coast shoreline we will depart for Swakopmund, a very quaint German colonial seaside town with its own particular charm. After lunch there will be the opportunity to shop in the local curio markets and visit the very interesting Swakopmund Museum (both a Natural History museum and one that gives a very good insight into the past history of Namibia and its people). Alternatively you may like to take a scenic flight along the Skeleton Coast National Park, looking out for shipwrecks and other interesting features along the coastline. For the adventurous there will be the option to try your hand at quad biking over the nearby dunes. For the next two nights we will base from The Burning Shore, an ocean-side hotel just outside of Swakopmund that is located on the beach, so offering sweeping views of the Atlantic Ocean.

Day 12

Immediately after breakfast we will set off on a full day of activities exploring the Atlantic coastline. We will start with a boat trip that will take us through Walvis Bay harbour and to a seal colony at the end of a peninsular. This is a particularly wonderful opportunity, as approaching the colony by boat gives the chance to see the seals at close quarters playing uninhibited in the sea. There will also be a good chance of watching dolphins following our wake. We will continue south from Walvis Bay along the coast to Sandwich Harbour where we will spend the rest of the day. This is an unspoilt area of sand dunes and one of the most difficult destinations to reach in Namibia. The journey back to Walvis Bay from Sandwich Harbour over the sand dunes makes for an exhilarating 4x4 off road driving experience!

Day 13

After breakfast we depart Swakopmund for the Sossusvlei and Sesriem areas of the Namib Naukluft Park where some of the largest sand dunes in the world occur. Our journey will take us to the spectacular Kuiseb Canyon and across the Gaub Pass. At first impression the desert is barren, but in fact there are many species which have adapted to this harsh desert life, such as snakes, beetles, geckos, spiders, the golden mole, the desert chameleon, gerbils, larks, the beautiful gemsbok and the Hartmann's mountain zebra. Later in the afternoon we will visit the Sesriem Canyon, formed by the Tsauchab River. We will overnight at Naukluft Dune Lodge, situated at the entrance to the Namib Naukluft Park.

Day 14

A full day in the Namib Naukluft Park, where we will see at close hand this beautiful desert scenery and its wildlife. As the day progresses experience the beauty of the constantly changing colours of some of the worlds tallest sand dunes. We will walk through the desert to visit Dead Vlei, one of the most photographed scenes in the area, and for those energetic enough there will be the opportunity to climb to the top of the highest dune in the area for a 360 degree vista of a magnificent landscape. The day will end watching the sunset over the dunes and dining under a canopy of stars.

Day 15

The day will start with a dawn balloon flight into the area of the sand dunes in order to admire the stunning desert scenery of the Namib Naukluft Park from a different perspective. After a champagne breakfast we will depart for the return to Windhoek, allowing plenty of time to stop on route to enjoy the splendid scenery. Overnight in Windhoek.

Day 16

We will transfer you to Windhoek airport in plenty of time for your onward connections.

The safari will be exclusive to you, your family and any friends you choose to accompany you - we do not mix groups unless specifically requested. Prices are fully inclusive of all accommodation, transfers, park fees, activities as per the itinerary (except for optional activities in Swakopmund) and meals. The vehicle used will be for your exclusive use and Gavin will be your personal guide throughout. International and internal domestic scheduled flights, drinks and laundry are not included. This safari can be extended by a further week to visit the impressive Fish River Canyon, Luderitz, the ghost town of Kolmanskop and the restricted diamond areas of the Sperrgebiet.