SAN AFRICA NAMIBIAN & ANGOLAN SAFARI, TRIBES, LANDSCAPE AND WILDLIFE EXCURSION – 13 DAY TOUR

Take the path less travelled with our 13 day safari getaway. Voyage into the remote and isolated wilderness of Southern Africa, and explore the stunning and unique beauty of that can only be found here. Uncover the nomadic existence of the age old, native tribes as they survive and thrive in the harshly, unforgiving landscape, uncaring about trivial things like country borders, as they follow their nomadic livestock wherever the rain falls. This safaris is for those who want to walk on the path less trodden and roam in remote lands that have barely felt the kiss of human habitants. Prepare yourself to follow paths that are only formed by the animals, the sun and the wind. Sleep under the stars like our ancestors did, and get the chance to meet the reclusive Himba tribe, who have removed themselves from the advancing modern world, and live as their ancestors have for millennia.

Minimum Persons on tour 5, for smaller groups we have price on request.

Price:
Per person sharing USD3890 & Single USD5100  – 8 persons maximum

Departure: Every second Wednesday of August and September 2019 – please consult us for the departure dates.

Prices valid until 30 September 2020

DAY 1 PENSION CASA AFRICANA, WINDHOEK

When we arrive at Hosea Kutako Airport, we will be picked up then transferred to Pension Casa Africana before we begin our adventure. When we arrive we can relax or explore until 18:00, where we will meet our fellow travellers and our personal guides, who will help us uncover the wilderness of Southern Africa.

DAY 2 KAMANJAB, OPPI KOPPI

We begin the day with an appetizing breakfast, before we embark on the first stage of our journey. Our first stop, a place called Kamanjab, located in the North-western tip of Namibia. Next we take a small break from the rigors of the road and savour a leisurely picnic while we refuel and resupply at Otjiwarongo.

After lunch, we continue onwards to Kamanjab, a small quaint town in the middle of the arid Namibia. When we arrive we can relax and avail ourselves of the swimming pool for a refreshing dip, or explore the camping grounds where we will spend the evening.

We will conduct dinner around a roaring fire, under the night sky and with food that will be served personally by the guides. Afterwards we will have a choice of comfortable twin or double dome tents in which to spend the night.

DAY 3 RUACANA LODGE, HIMBA

Come morning after an unhurried breakfast we continue our journey to the small rural town of Ruacana that is found on the border of Angola, on the river Kunene. Ruacana is renowned for the stunningly beautiful Ruacana Falls and is also home to the Himba people. These semi nomadic wanderers are far removed from the modern world and as such, borders have little meaning to them as they roam across the landscape.

Before we reach the town of Ruacana, we must first journey through several outlying villages to arrive in Opuwo, meaning “it’s enough” in the local Himba tongue. Opuwo is our gateway into the Kaokoveld region, the homeland of the Ova-Himba people.

When we arrive at Opuwo village we then have a rare opportunity to immerse ourselves into the daily lives of the Ova-Himba people. To explore their traditional culture and get a rare glimpse into one of the last traditional tribes that roam the Namibian landscape.

After lunch we bid goodbye to the Ova-Himba people and start towards our final destination for the day, Ruacana. Afterwards we prepare for camp, and relax around the campfire as our guides prepare dinner for the evening. We can then unwind and enjoy the night time orchestra of Namibia’s wilds, as we retire for the night in our luxurious twin or double domed tents.

DAY 4 ANGOLA, HIMBA

We leave the lands of the Ova-Himba behind as we venture forth, past Namibia’s borders and cross onwards to the borders of Angola. From here our journey will be an extended series of stop offs in which we have the opportunity to enhance our knowledge with the wandering nomadic Himba tribes that populate the area. These nomadic people subsist off very little and as such, remain untouched as the outside world changes.

We prepare for some rough travelling, as we drive through some grueling, harsh terrain. Our estimated travel distances for these regions will slow down to around 100 kilometers a day and may vary due to seasonal road conditions. Come evening, the guides will ensure we are comfortable before we settle in for dinner.

DAY 5-7 IONA NATIONAL PARK

Prepare to experience some exciting off road terrain 4X4 driving as we start the next leg of our journey. From here our terrain changes from the lush Mopani forests to the open, flat plains as we make our way through Iona National Park.

This stage of our journey will let us meet other unique Angolan tribes such as the Mucubali, Mucawana; Kimbundu and Muimba and other scattered Himba tribes. In our travels we will also pass breath-taking natural rock formations that have stood the test of time for thousands of years, as we drive past the rugged landscape of the Iona National Park.

When we reach the heart of the Iona National Park on the seventh day of our journey, we will stop in the abandoned, Portuguese ghost town of Espinheira. Come evening we will have a chance to unwind while our guides prepare dinner, before we retire for the evening.

DAY 8 FLAMINGO, NAMIB DESERT

On the next leg of our journey we leave behind the dry grasslands of the Iona plains and head towards the coast. Our destination, the hidden oasis of Lake Arco, named after its two towering sandstone arches. This canyon oasis is a paradise for an array of birdlife from raptors, weavers to other aquatic bird species, whose numbers vary depending on the yearly rainfall. We can wander the sandy pathways that wind along the shoreline covered in lush vegetation around Lake Arco.

To finish off the day we savour a luxuriating, hot shower to help relax and unwind from the day’s exploration and then sit down for dinner at the local camp restaurant as we enjoy the cool refreshing Atlantic breeze

DAY 9 LUBANGO HOTEL

We begin our travels by heading to the city of Lubango, the capital city of the Angolan province of HuÍla.  As we make our way to the capital, we can marvel at the unforgettable tropical views of the Leba Pass from altitudes of 1845 metres above sea level.

The city of Lubango with its lush tropical valley has its own guardian, a statue of Christ that stands sentinel overlooking the city from the cliffs. The statue was built as a replica of the “Cristo Redentor” in Rio de Janeiro.  The Lubango’s statue is one of three replicas in the entire world that were created to represent peace and hope in the world.

After we pay homage to the Guardian statue of Lubango, we make our way to the TundaVala to enjoy a leisurely afternoon. If we wish, there is an additional option to hike to one of the waterfalls in the region and bathe in their crystal clear waters or climb up to the TundaVala escapements for spectacular sundowners that overlooks the stunning panoramic of tropical forest that stretch all the way to the town of Bibala in the north. The TundaVala Escapement vista also gives an unrivalled view of volcanic fissures that climb to an elevation of 2600m with rolling hills that rival the clouds in height, make the vista a truly memorable one.

DAY 10 ARNOT GUESTHOUSE, ONDANGWA

On day 10 of our journey, we make our way back to the borders of Namibia after an early breakfast. Our next destination, Lubango, where will admire the rich colonial architecture that is a blend of African aesthetics and Portuguese heritage.

After our stop, we head off to the along the road to Cahama, to view the last vestiges of the war as we drive past abandoned tanks and military vehicles, remnants of the last war.

Towards the late afternoon will cross the border of Namibia and leave behind this rich cultural landscape and head towards the Arnot Guesthouse for the evening

DAY 11 ETOSHA, NAMUTONI CAMP

Our next destination is the Etosha National Park, located in north-western Namibia. When we arrive at the northern gate entrance, we will have a leisurely day of wildlife viewing in this 20,000 square meter nature reserve, overflowing with local Namibian flora and fauna.

After our game drive we will set up camp and prepare for another outdoor supper cooked under the Namibian night sky.

DAY 12 WATERBERG PLATEAU PARK

We begin the day with an early morning game drive to catch the local wildlife before the heat of the Namibian sun. Afterwards we hike our way to the Waterberg Plateau, with its iconic brick red sandstone façade that rises some 420 metres. This untouched natural formation has supported the surrounding Namibian savannah to create an ideal sanctuary for the local wildlife. Officially the Waterberg Plateau became a protected nature reserve in 1972.

DAY 13 WINDHOEK/AIRPORT

After our final breakfast at the lodge, we bid goodbye to the wild lands of Namibia and make our way to the Windhoek Airport for the final stage of our journey.

Please note that the itinerary listed above is a guideline designed to be adhered to as closely as possible. Whilst we attempt to follow this guide, your journey’s circumstances may alter depending on factors like, weather/road conditions and seasonal daylight hours. Please also note the overnight stops may also vary depending on availability of accommodation.

The price includes:
– All accommodation costs in the mentioned Lodges, Hotels or similar one
– Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner (B/L/D) on all locations, except Swakpopmund
– All costs for explicit as included mentioned activities, as  local game driving, safari boat trips and Kayaking
– All local taxes,tolls and fees
– All entrance fees in NP and planned tribe villages
– Water on the bus during driving.
– VISA costs are not included, but are only to Zimbabwe (recently 30 US$) and Angola applicable.
– There will be an opportunity to buy in local Supermarkets extra food (sweets,fruits) or drinks (soda,beer,wine) and cool it on board (acc to available space)