Windhoek - the Capitol
Windhoek shows off many facets of Namibia: a bustling metropolis, unique architecture, and kind and thoughtful people. Here you'll have some time to recover from jetlag, with a relaxed city tour one day and a unique trip to a local women's center where craftmanship meets community the following day, where you will gain insight into a township and partake in a batik workshop.
Na'ankuse Wildlife Sanctuary
You will have the rare opportunity to actively participate in the conservation and care of animals who have been orphaned, injured or human-habituated. The goal is to release animals back into the wild, and as this isn't always possible, volunteers work to with purpose to ensure a positive quality of life for them. You will experience the realities and challenges of wildlife conservation, as well as the complexities of responsible captive animal care.
GocheGanas
GocheGanas combines safari adventures with wellness treatments and luxurious downtime. This is your opportunity to pamper yourself in a beautiful Namibian environment. Two safari drives will make your heart beat a bit faster as you spot some of their 25 different game species, such as rhinoceros, kudu and zebra. And whether you book the spa or simply enjoy your beautiful chalet to write, meditate, or sketch in, this is your time to slow down and enjoy all that is around you.
Swakopmund
Founded by Germany in 1892, Swakopmund is an interesting blend of German architecture and foods, while the coastal landscapes are pure Namibia. Fog can be a constant companion here, but when the sun shines through, there is magic to behold. You can take walks along the beach, go to the lagoon to spot flamingoes, bargain with local artisans - or simply wander the town delighting all your senses. A catamaran tour of Walvis Bay will offer a wonderful counterpoint to the tour through nearby canyons and gorges.
Sossusvlei
The Namib-Naukluft National Park is the oldest desert in the world, and almost 10x the size of the Grand Canyon. Here the world's tallest sand dunes offer a spectacular backdrop for white sand pans and eerie, dead camelthorn trees. Our individual chalet accommodations are close to the Park gate, making the journey to the stunning, ever-changing, rust-colored dunes relatively quick as we walk up, around and through the iconic Big Daddy, Deadvlei, and Sossusvlei Dunes.
Life begins at the end of your comfort zone
Neale Donald Walsch
Detailed itinerary for Namibia from March 21 - April 8
Windhoek: 2 Nights: Friday, Sat, depart Sun
Na'ankuse Wildlife Sanctuary: 7 Nights: Sun, Mon, Tues, Wed, Thurs, Fri, Sat, depart Sun
Na'ankuse Wildlife Sanctuary: 7 Nights: Sun, Mon, Tues, Wed, Thurs, Fri, Sat, depart Sun
Traveling to Namibia is a journey itself, and I understand how tiring a long flight can be! Arrive on Friday and you can rest and relax at the Windhoek Luxury Suites. There is a welcome dinner Friday night at a fantastic restaurant in the complex that offers excellent Namibian cuisine, and we will have a chance to get to know one another. On Saturday we have a 3-hr city tour, and lunch is on your own. You are free to do some additional exploring throughout the rest of Saturday, and dinner is on your own. On Sunday mid-morning we will head to the township of Katutura to visit Penduka, a women's entrepreneurial village where we will take a tour of their hospitality and arts centers, enjoy a lunch by the lake, and take a class making a batik item we can take home. Later that afternoon we will head to Na'ankuse to start our volunteer service.
MEALS:All breakfasts, 1 lunch and 1 dinner included. 1 dinner, 1 lunch not included. Beverages excluded. INCLUDED ACTIVITIES: City tour and batik class at Penduka.
Na'ankuse Wildlife Sanctuary: 7 Nights: Sun, Mon, Tues, Wed, Thurs, Fri, Sat, depart Sun
Na'ankuse Wildlife Sanctuary: 7 Nights: Sun, Mon, Tues, Wed, Thurs, Fri, Sat, depart Sun
Na'ankuse Wildlife Sanctuary: 7 Nights: Sun, Mon, Tues, Wed, Thurs, Fri, Sat, depart Sun
Having gotten settled in our tents (think more glamping than scouting!) on Sunday, we start volunteering bright and early Monday morning, being slotted into our teams for the week. Each of us will likely be assigned to different groups, so you will be working with people from around the world of all ages. (Average age is around 26) There are 2 volunteer activities each day, and could include working with the K-9 anti-poaching unit, elephant tracking, perimeter fence repair, baboon walk, checking and replacing camera traps, cheetah walk, feeding carnivors to meerkats, or building a waterhole. Special group activities Saturday, with a cheetah experience followed by rhino-tracking in the afternoon. Lunch Saturday will be at the Bush Camp restaurant.
MEALS: All meals (buffet) at the main group camp are included. Saturday lunch included. All water, coffee, tea included. Sodas and alcohol extra. Meals (individually prearranged on site) at Bush Camp restaurant not included. INCLUDED ACTIVITIES: 2 volunteer activities per day included. Cheetah and rhino tracking experiences on Saturday included.
GocheGanas: 2 Nights: Sun, Mon, depart Tues
Na'ankuse Wildlife Sanctuary: 7 Nights: Sun, Mon, Tues, Wed, Thurs, Fri, Sat, depart Sun
Swakopmund: 3 Nights: Tues, Wed, Thurs, depart Fri
You have spent a week working with others and caring for animals - now it is time to relax. Just over an hour's drive away, we will arrive at this oasis of calm and rejuvenation before lunch. You will have almost 2 full days to unwind and enjoy 2 safari game drives with 25 different wildlife species on 6000 hectares. The early morning drive includes coffee and 'rusks' while the afternoon drive includes a sundowner to round off the adventure. A qualified guide assists with sharing information on fauna, flora and interesting bird species. With the abundance of game on the farm, every game drive has its highlights. A private braai - a true African barbeque - offers both a visual and tasty gourmet highlight. To round off your stay, you can book a private spa treatment at the wellness center.
MEALS: All breakfasts, 1 braai and 1 regular dinner included. 2 lunches not included. Beverages excluded. INCLUDED ACTIVITIES: Morning and late afternoon game drives, braai Activities NOT included: Guided hike, spa treatments.
Swakopmund: 3 Nights: Tues, Wed, Thurs, depart Fri
Swakopmund: 3 Nights: Tues, Wed, Thurs, depart Fri
Swakopmund: 3 Nights: Tues, Wed, Thurs, depart Fri
Private transport will collect us mid-morning for a 5-hour drive through a vast landscape to the coast. We arrive in Swakopmund and stay at historic Hansa Hotel in the heart of town. Dinner will be with the group, but before and after feel free to explore the town and beach. On Wednesday we will take a 1/2 day tour to nearby canyons and find the ancient Welwitchia Mirablilis, an endemic plant that can be 1500 years old. Weather dependent, on Thursday a catamaran tour of Walvis Bay will be a wonderful way to reconnect with the ocean and its playful seals and dolphins. Outside of the two tours, your time is your own - explore the mineral museum, buy art and crafts from artisans, wander along the beach, photograph flamingoes...its your time to create your own travel magic.
MEALS: All breakfasts, 1 light lunch on travel day, and 1 dinner included. 2 dinners, 2 lunches not included. Beverages excluded. INCLUDED ACTIVITIES: Moon Landscape tour and Walvis Bay tour.
Sossusvlei: 3 Nights: Fri, Sat, Sun, depart Mon
Swakopmund: 3 Nights: Tues, Wed, Thurs, depart Fri
Sossusvlei: 3 Nights: Fri, Sat, Sun, depart Mon
Friday we leave the coast and head to the desert. An approximate 4-hour drive with a stop for a light lunch in the unusual "town" of Solitaire, we arrive at the beautiful Sossusvlei Lodge in time for a dip in the pool and personal time before a dinner buffet like no other. Saturday will be an early start in order to watch the sun make her magic on the impossibly tall, curvaceous, red-hue dunes of the Namib-Naukluft National Park. The excursion takes us to the famous Big Daddy dune, Deadvlei and Dune 45, with a picnic lunch included. Saturday and Sunday evenings are either a Sundowner excursion to the nearby dunes, or a glorious small plane flight to the coast and back (cost not included). Sunday is a day of complete rest and relaxation.
MEALS: All breakfasts, 1 picnic lunch, and all dinners included. 2 lunches not included. Beverages excluded. INCLUDED ACTIVITIES: Dune tour and Sundowner tour. Activities NOT included: small plane flight.
Windhoek: 1 Night: Mon, depart Tuesday
Swakopmund: 3 Nights: Tues, Wed, Thurs, depart Fri
Sossusvlei: 3 Nights: Fri, Sat, Sun, depart Mon
Our longest travel day has us departing mid-morning and heading back to Windhoek. We'll arrive in the early evening at the Windhoek Luxury Suites, where we will have our farewell dinner together. Tuesday is on your own and you can go visit the art market or museums before flying home.
MEALS: Dinner and breakfast included. Lunch on last day is not included. Beverages excluded. NO INCLUDED ACTIVITIES.