Email Phil Atkinson | 65+ years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
A wonderful few weeks in an extraordinary country. We will be back as much more to see
We booked very late really, early August but our tour organiser, Lilly of Great Explorations Namibia, pulled out all the stops to ensure we had our agreed car and accommodation which was great. Time is always an issue with trips as there is way too much to see so compromise has to be part of the trip. I have written this in the order that we drove around Namibia rather than by favourites.
The weather we experienced was varied, it was still winter so cold at night and in the morning inland but temperatures hitting 30C+ by mid morning. We felt safe everywhere although you need to be sensible and follow the same precautions you would at home or any other European City that I have been to.
We started with a quick overnight stay on the edge of the Kalahari, a great introduction. Even from that first night, we had sightings of assorted antelope, baboon, huge numbers of birds which was great.
We then drove across to Sesriem in the Namib desert. An interesting introduction to Namibia’s roads but great fun too. During our stay at Sesriem we had a early morning hot air balloon flight over the mountains and dunes, it was absolutely amazing, well worth the cost. We also walked on the dunes and visited Deadvlei, an unreal and almost spiritual location, early morning is best as it gets very hot later.
Our next stopover was Swakopmund, much cooler as it’s by the Atlantic. Great town, lots to see, very good restaurants and opportunities for many experiences. We did a 4x4 trip across the dunes to Sandwich Harbour, it was a combination of history, eco awareness and some amazing driving between the dunes and the sea as well as hurtling up and down them too. Surprised at the extent of the wildlife we saw on the trip too. A kayak trip around Pelican Point was ace, mobbed by curious Cape Fur seals and overseen by flamingoes and pelicans.
After a few days we drove up to Twyfelfontein through some eerily awesome scenery. We started by driving north along the Skeleton Coast with its shipwrecks and dunes then up into the high mountains through an area a bit like Monument Valley in my mind. Again, despite the barren nature of the countryside we saw lots of antelope, Oryx in particular, elephants, giraffe and birds aplenty. We had time to chill here, do some walking and exercise as well as go on a game drive along the Huab river to find desert adapted giraffe and elephants, which we did. There is a lot of art and history in this area along with odd geological features.
We then had a few days south of Etosha which were great. Plenty of game, great food, friendly locals and great views to enjoy. The bird life, especially birds of prey, was almost overwhelming and we saw zebra, elephant and giraffe regularly plus all of the local antelope including kudu, springbok, oryx to name but a few.
Etosha National Park was the highlight though. Self driving whilst viewing lion, giraffe, elephant, white and black rhino, and a multitude of plains game was amazing. We saw, at close quarters, a herd of 25 elephant walking across the road just metres from our car bonnet, two black rhino, a cheetah and her cubs as well as lions feeding on baby rhino. The bird life was prolific, many that I had never seen in my life. This whole experience was further boosted by night time visits to the floodlit waterholes at Okaukuejo and Halali, both within the Etosha NP. Staying in the park was fantastic as you could be on the road by around 7:00am until 7:00pm if you so desired. We spent four days in and around the park, amazing and relatively inexpensive.
On the way back to Windhoek we spent a few days at Okonjima Plains Camp, home of the Africat Foundation. We learnt about the problems of the overlaps between man and wildlife and also about the educational work being done with local people, fascinating. Also saw some more cheetah and had a very close encounter with a leopard, magnificent, before going for some self guided walks in the bush.
On top of all of that it was fascinating to learn about the history and customs of the different tribes in Namibia, the ecology of the place and last but not least, spend time in some of the most amazing and varied countryside that I have ever seen. One of the best trips of my life during which we drove over 3,000km in 17 days over dirt and gravel roads but it was a fantastic experience, capped by nice people, good food, beer and wine and just a great feeling.
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Email Pauline | 65+ years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Spectacular
We choose to visit Southern Namibia including the Kalahari Desert, Fish River Canyon, Kolemanskop, Luderitz, the colossal dunes of Sossusvlei. Swakopmund, Spitzkoppe and Windhoek. Each destination offered great scenery, wildlife, beautiful landscapes and wonderful experiences. Our private guided tour was expertly organized by Indigo Safaris of London. We had the best and most personable driver/guide assigned by their Namibian partner agency Namvic.
Email Dharmendra | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Spectacular landscapes, desert and empty roads
Spectacular landscapes, desert and empty roads
Definitely recommend as landscapes change when you move around
Seen plenty of orynx
lovely tour and great itinerary
PT
Email Pedro A. E. Duarte | 65+ years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Namíbia Is the most civilized country and also one of the most beatifull from the ones i know.
Namibia is a country with very beautiful landscapes.
It is also a country with excellent natural parks where we can observe its abundant fauna and flora.
all this in a country with a very friendly, civilized and welcoming population.
Email Deeksha Rathi | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Epic landscape and lovely people
We did an 11 day wildlife, dunes and canyons trip, booked by Indigo safaris and organised locally by Chameleon safaris.
From the time we landed to the time we left, we saw amazing landscapes - it’s really a breathtaking variety of dunes, mountains, desert, canyons, and coast. I’d recommend Namibia highly just for the landscapes.
For wildlife, the drive up to Etosha national park is smooth. There are lots of gravely paths inside and out of Etosha (be ready for the “African massage”), but with a decent vehicle and a good driver, it’s all fine. In Etosha, we spotted lots of birds, rhinos, giraffes, ostrich, zebras and also a pack of lions and hyena from a distance, but really wildlife spotting is a game of time and patience (and this was our safari taster and so we have nothing to compare it with). Our guide Tinashe was excellent though in trying to make sure we see as many different animals in the two days of game driving in Etosha as possible. Also, we didn’t go in the peak season.
Everywhere we went, the places where we were staying were super comfortable, including the camping bits (it was a mix of lodges and camps) and the people. I’m a vegetarian, but still could find enough options in super markets for me.
There was no sense of the place being over touristy or people hounding tourists. It was more of a sense of appreciation of tourists for their contribution to the economy (of course you have to be a responsible tourist and appreciate that you are in the wild - in pure nature and not a park). So all in all the experience was very enjoyable, refreshing and peaceful.
beautiful country with friendly, helpful people
As a veteran traveller I highly recommend Namibia. The services are topnotch and up to date and everyone I met was friendly, efficient and helpful.
ES
Email Aimme Mendez | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
The best experience I ever had!
We never thought to find such an amazing country and wonderful people. We have been driving around the country and everywhere it was different landscape and things to discover. Either Etosha, the desert or the coast, everywhere is unique and beautiful. The experience of being watching the wild animals in their own environment is unforgettable. We definitely will come back and stay longer!
65+ years of age | Experience level: over 5 safaris
The most amazingly beautiful soulfull country
We loved everything about our trip. Our Travel Agent did us proud. We experienced tented camps, bnb, lodges, etosha accommodation. It was the best holiday ever.
Email Edmund de Swardt | 65+ years of age | Experience level: over 5 safaris
Namibia is a country with beautiful varied scenery and friendly people
Namibia is a country with wide open spaces and stunning scenery. We had a most enjoyable trip organised and driven by Nature Travel Namibia. The variety from the Namib desert to the wildlife of Etosha was most impressive. All the accommodation was clean, and staff were friendly and helpful. I can highly recommend this safari.
Email Alison Craig | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
A phographer’s dream - landscapes, animals, and wonderful people in abundance.
I wax part of a small group of keen amateur photographers on a self drive camping trip starting at Fish River Canyon and then travelling North via Sesriem, The Dedvlei desert , sand dunes and on to Twfelfontein where the absolute , hands down , best ever experience was had with Twyfelfontein Desert Elephand Drives and Safari. The campsite is in a great location and had the newest and cleanest shower facilities, of the trip. 4x4 safari adapted vehicles were used to drive us along sandy river beds profuse with flowers and views of hills in the distance. Charles and his small team have an intimate knowledge of the elusive desert adapted elephants who live there and took us to meet the families of elephants who were relaxed despite our presence - we got so close - within touching distance and had hours of pleasure watching them and taking numerous photographs. The tour climates in a short drive to a plateau with 360 panoramic views all around us.
Whatever else you do in Namibia do not miss this - Etosha was wonderful .. but not nearly as intimate and moving as the Twfelfontein experience. Thank you to the wonderful team for sharing their love of the animals and their knowledge with us.Have a look at photos on instagram - twyfelfonteinelephantdrives.
