ULTIMATE AFRICA SAFARIS
Namibia Safari
Accommodations Damaraland Camp - Damaraland Camp is a rare venture which integrates communities, the environment and wildlife on a sustainable basis and is rated the most successful eco-tourism venture in Namibia. Damaraland Camp is comprised of 9 large comfortable walk in tents with en suite facilities and roomy verandahs. There is a swimming pool built into the rock. Guests at Damaraland Camp may enjoy nature walks and drives into the desert in search of the rare and endangered desert elephant (85% of guests spending two nights see desert elephant) and black rhino. Other wildlife in the area includes kudu, oryx, and springbok. Star gazing is "par excellence" with crystal clear night skies. Heinitzberg Castle, Windhoek - Commissioned by Count von Schwerin for his fiancé, Margarethe von Heinitz in 1914, Heinitzburg is now an enchanting castle hotel overlooking Windhoek. Heinitzburg combines 19th century European charm with modern comforts. Completed in 1996 in the style of the old castle, the hotel has ten spacious, generously appointed en suite rooms. What makes Heinitzburg special is the elegant design, from four poster beds and Italian ceramic tiles to custom fitting and specially created, hand-made wooden furnishings. The Raith family has long been associated with a tradition of excellent hospitality and cuisine. It is no surprise than that Heinitzburg is the venue for special, private occasions. Available on advanced reservation, gourmet menus are individually prepared for your party, according to your specific desires. Centrally located, Hotel Heinitzburg is a two-minute drive from the city center. Hilltop House, Windhoek - Hilltop House was built in 1958. Oregon pine decks and commanding views over Windhoek add appeal to this wonderful pension. It is a comfortable bed and breakfast establishment, catering to discerning travelers. Enjoy a delicious breakfast in the comfort of your room, delivered on a tray with your complimentary local newspaper. Each room has wonderful views of the city extending to the mountains in the far distance. The rooms are tastefully decorated in an African-colonial theme, with comfort being the uppermost concern. An en-suite bathroom with his and her washbasins, showers and toilet are standard for each room. A mini-bar stocked with a selection of drinks, air-conditioner, tea and coffee- making facilities, and television are available in each room. The lounge offers a small library and a sparkling pool is available. The house is only a few minutes away from town, where shops and a local market await you. Hilltop House has 5 double rooms and 1 single room. Kulala Desert Lodge and Little Kulala Lodge, Sossusvlei - Situated on a 21,000 hectare private concession bordering the Namib Naukluft Park, Kulala Desert Lodge offers magnificent views of the Sossusvlei dunes as well as spectacular mountain scenery. Guests at Kulala Desert Lodge are accommodated in 12 thatch and canvas chalets with en suite facilities. Little Kulala has 8 rooms. They are set on wooden platforms to provide maximum cooling. Mattresses can be moved to a rooftop platform to sleep under the stars! The main lodge has a lounge, dining area, pub, and plunge pool. Activities here include drives to the dunes at Sossusvlei, day and night wildlife viewing from 4x4 vehicles, and walks to explore the incredible scenery and desert wildlife. A sunrise hot air balloon safari can be arranged at extra cost - a truly unique experience floating silently above the magnificent sand dunes! Kulala Tented Camp, Sossusvlei - Situated within the same 21,000 hectare private concession bordering the Namib Naukluft Park as Kulala Desert Lodge and Little Kulala, Kulala Tented Camp has been built at the foot of a mountain facing west with great sunset views. The camp consists of six Meru-style tents with en suite bathrooms with showers. The interiors are simple yet comfortable and have solar powered 12V lighting and overhead fans. The main dining area, pub and reception are built from stout timber and canvas with thatch roofing. In addition to a pool there is a fully stocked bar, and traditional three course meals are served at dinner. At night, lanterns light the main area. On the edge of the oldest desert in the world, this is not a wildlife rich area, however guests may see springbok, gemsbok (oryx) and ostrich who manage to survive in these harsh conditions. Night drives using spotlights often encounter small mammals such as aardwolf, bat eared fox, hares and sometimes spotted hyenas. Activities include excursions to Sossusvlei as well as guided walks and nature drives. A sunrise hot air balloon safari can be arranged at extra cost - a truly unique experience floating silently above the magnificent sand dunes! Little Ongava Lodge, Etosha - Located within the 66,000 hectare Ongava Game Reserve on Etosha's southern boundary guests are accommodated in 3 air conditioned suites, each with its own plunge pool, and sala. Mornings are usually spent on wildlife viewing drives within the Etosha National Park. During the afternoons and evenings guests may enjoy professionally guided walks, sitting at hides, and night drives within the Ongava Reserve - activities not possible within Etosha. The Ongava Reserve is home to both black and white rhino (tracking rhino on foot is a highlight), elephant, lion, springbok, gemsbok, hartebeest, leopard, cheetah and many more species. Ongava Lodge, Etosha - Located within the 66,000 hectare Ongava Game Reserve on Etosha's southern boundary guests are accommodated in 10 chalets built out of rock and thatch. The lodge also has a pool. Mornings are usually spent on wildlife viewing drives within the Etosha National Park. During the afternoons and evenings guests may enjoy professionally guided walks, sitting at hides, and night drives within the Ongava Reserve - activities not possible within Etosha. The Ongava Reserve is home to both black and white rhino (tracking rhino on foot is a highlight), elephant, lion, springbok, gemsbok, hartebeest, leopard, cheetah and many more species. Ongava Tented Camp, Etosha - Located within the 66,000 hectare Ongava Game Reserve on Etosha's southern boundary guests are accommodated in 6 tented rooms with en suite facilities. The camp also has a pool. Mornings are usually spent on wildlife viewing drives within the Etosha National Park. During the afternoons and evenings guests may enjoy professionally guided walks, sitting at hides, and night drives within the Ongava Reserve - activities not possible within Etosha. The Ongava Reserve is home to both black and white rhino (tracking rhino on foot is a highlight), elephant, lion, springbok, gemsbok, hartebeest, leopard, cheetah and many more species. Okonjima Guest House - Situated in the Omboroko Mountains which make up the western reaches of the Waterberg formation. Okonjima is a private nature sanctuary which is owned and operated by the Hanssen family. Activities here center around bird watching, walks and learning about the AFRICATS project that they have started. For the keen photographer there are excellent opportunities to photograph cheetah and leopard, as well as several other species. Guests are accommodated in comfortable bungalows with en suite facilities. Palmwag Rhino Camp, Damaraland - Palmwag Rhino Camp is a mobile camp run in conjunction with the "Save the Rhino Trust" in the private Palmwag area of rugged northern Damaraland. The camp offers a brilliant insight into the ecology and conservation of this incredible area and at the same time contributes directly to the Trust and ultimately the sustainability of this vulnerable area and its wildlife. The area is massive - over 450,000 hectares. The luxury tented mobile camp can be easily moved if local wildlife movements deem it necessary. The camp has 4 large “meru” tents with en-suite facilities including bucket showers with hot water on call. Guests will have the rare pleasure of exploring this wild and remote area in the company of the dedicated conservationists together with local trackers. There are large populations of Hartman’s mountain zebra, giraffe, oryx, springbok and kudu. The predator population is the largest outside of the Etosha National Park with over 100 lions, cheetah, leopard, brown and spotted hyena. Bird life is prolific and diverse with most of Namibia’s endemics present. This concession supports a healthy population of desert adapted black rhino and elephants. Camp activities include tracking rhino on foot or by vehicle, night drives and full day outings (with a picnic lunch) on the concession. Serra Cafema - Serra Cafema Camp is located in the extreme north-west of Namibia and has to be the most remote camp in southern Africa (the Okavango Delta in Botswana is closer to Windhoek than Serra Cafema is to Windhoek!). The camp's Portuguese name comes from the mountains to the north that dominate the skyline. This region is home to the Himba people who are some of the last true nomadic people in Africa. The Kunene River is the only permanent source of water and the river creates a lush oasis along it's banks surrounded by rugged mountains and sand dunes. Under big, shady Albida trees guests will find a small, rustic and peaceful camp with all the comforts in fully furnished Meru tents with en-suite bathroom facilities. The camp's seven tents are raised off the ground. The camp has a small swimming pool, dining room and bar. The camp is located just inland from the Atlantic Ocean and the Skeleton Coast. The cool winds that blow from the Atlantic help to keep the camp cool even in summer. Activities include trips to the Hartmann Valley, to the south of the camp, where guests may view herds of springbok. Ostrich and even leopard may also be seen. Traversing the sand dunes in open 4x4 vehicles and boating on the Kunene River are on offer. On the boat trips, one can watch Kunene crocodiles basking the river banks, while looking out for southern Africa's rarest bird, the Cinderella waxbill. Walking trails in the remote mountain and river valleys are also possible. Cafema is often visited by Ovahimba families who live in the nearby vicinity giving guests the chance to learn about the Himba's lifestyle and traditions in their territory on their terms. One can visit the different Himba outposts in the region and be welcomed - without feeling as though one is an intruder. Skeleton Coast Camp - The Skeleton Coast is one of the world's most remote locations - and stunningly beautiful! Situated on a 600,000 acre private area of parkland Skeleton Coast Camp accommodates up to 12 guests in six luxury tented rooms with en suite facilities. From soaring sand dunes that roar, to vast pastel colored plains, to gaping canyons, and towering mountains, to seal colonies and shipwrecks this area is astounding! Desert wildlife includes the rare desert elephant, Cape fur seals, gemsbok, brown hyena, jackal, ostrich and occasionally even cheetah. Activities include day long trips into the park (with picnic lunches). Outside the park guests may enjoy visiting authentic Himba settlements for an incredible cultural experience. Sossusvlei Mountain Lodge - Situated in the heart of the Namib Desert on the Vreemdelingspoort Farm, guests are accommodated in ten suites. The air-conditioned and spacious suites are designed to capture the splendor and solitude of the desert. Spaced well apart, each suite is a private haven with a shaded deck overlooking the far horizons of the Namib Desert. The split-level suites are located at the foot of a mountain overlooking a grass plain leading into a sea of red sand dunes. Each suite is equipped for the climatic extremes of the desert. There is a fireplace in the split-level lounge for winter evenings. For the hot desert days, there are showers in the ensuite, glass-encased bathroom. There are also outdoor showers for starlit bathing. Cradled against ancient mountains, Sossusvlei Mountain lodge's décor embraces muted hues of ochre, umber and ivory. An expansive star-viewing window above the bed is every child-at-heart's dream come true. The rooms are equipped with personal compact telescopes for wildlife or star-spotting, a service-intercom to the main lodge and a CD system. The split-level main lodge is a dramatic structure of glass and stone curves. Walls have become windows, or fold away completely, engaging the vast desert vistas. The swimming pool is fed by an underground spring, emerging from deep within the desert. There is something deliciously contradictory about floating in a pool in the middle of the world's oldest desert. On winter evenings, guests can select wine from the walk-in wine cellar before wandering through to the fire-lit bar. After relaxing, drink in hand, in the main lounge and terrace, or in the upper lounge and viewing deck, you may browse through the curio shop or library. Sossusvlei Mountain Lodge's own observatory houses the most powerful electronic telescope in Namibia outside the National Observatory, allowing for breathtaking clarity during stargazing. In the airy dining room, you can enjoy delectable African cuisine, prepared by a first-class Namibian chef. In the cool of morning and evening, resident naturalists will take you in four-wheel drive open vehicles to explore the open grass plains, fossilized sand dunes and orange sand dune belts of the NamibRand Nature Reserve. Guided walks are available or you may explore on your own along marked walking trails. From the height of a hot-air balloon ride, the view of the red dunes and seas of dune grass is unparalleled. This bird's-eye view of the desert is a once-in-a-lifetime experience. Hot-air ballooning over the Namib is an optional extra (weather permitting). More exciting optional extras are a guided 4x4 excursion to Sossusvlei, site of the highest sand dunes on earth. You may also choose to go on guided 4x4 excursions to Sesriem Canyon or the famous Sossusvlei pans, resting place of the Tsauchab River. Excursions on ATVs (automatic, all-terrain, four-wheel motorcycles) are also available. Sossusvlei Wilderness Camp - Sossusvlei Wilderness Camp is situated 20 kilometers from Sesriem, the Park’s entrance to the Sossusvlei dunes. Huge towering dunes rise dramatically, more than 1,000 feet above the surrounding plains at Sossusvlei. The camp’s location provides access to Sossusvlei, yet also offers privacy and exclusivity. The 9 superbly appointed bungalows, each with its own pool, have been built just below the top of a mountain, using rock, brick, timber and thatch and provide a cool refuge from the desert. Activities here are conducted in 4x4 vehicles and include safaris down to the very end of the Tsauchab River and to the heart of Sossusvlei for wonderful dune scenes. Breakfasts are often served under the spreading camel-thorn acacias in Sossusvlei returning to camp via the Sesriem Canyon. This is not a wildlife rich area however you may find springbok, gemsbok (oryx), ostrich and the occasional aardvark. A sunrise hot air balloon safari can be arranged at extra cost - a truly unique experience floating silently above the magnificent sand dunes! Wolwedans Dune Lodge, NamibRand Nature Reserve - Once the hunting ground of the spotted hyena, Wolwedans takes its name from the African for "where the wolves dance". Nestled amidst the dunes in the heart of NamibRand Nature Reserve, which boasts some of Namibia's most dramatic and beautiful desert scenery, Wolwedans provides the perfect base from which to explore vast stretches of the NamibRand Reserve. The entire lodge is constructed on wooden platforms and overlooks panoramic vistas in all directions, capturing the ambience of the desert in an intimate and memorable way. The lodge provides the ambiance of a tented camp, but gives the comfort / protection of a permanent building. Guests at Dune Lodge are accommodated in 8 spacious chalets furnished with queen size beds, bedside tables, a suitcase rack, a coffee table and two comfortable chairs. Each chalet has a private, spacious verandah, en-suite bathroom, and solar lighting. The central lapa (main lodge) area consists of a bar / lounge, a sundowner deck with fireplace, a reception area and an open plan kitchen integrated into the dining area, all opening out onto a verandah with a superb view of the surroundings. Accompanied by experienced guides, visitors are introduced to the many facets of NamibRand Nature Reserve's unique desert habitat with its manifold fauna and flora - on foot, in 4x4 vehicles, or from the air in a hot air balloon (at extra cost). Return to Ultimate Africa's Main Safari Lodge and Camp Page Links to other pages: ULTIMATE AFRICA
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