The journey starts at Windhoek International Airport at 10:30 or 15:10. If your international flight arrives late in the afternoon, you need to spend a first night in Windhoek.
Fly the first leg from Windhoek to Swakopmund via Sossusvlei, then take the 4 x 4 vehicle and drive around Brandberg via Twyfelfontein to the Damaraland area to see wild rhinos and desert adapted elephants. Your route then crosses Etosha National Park from west to east. There are flights from Eastern Etosha back to Windhoek to connect to your international flight.
The Sossusvlei Desert Lodge is particularly stylish, comfortable and in harmony with its dramatic and endless desert environment. The lodge is undoubtedly one of the country‘s finest lodges. The ten lavishly large suites are climate-controlled and have wide glass fronts that can be fully opened as desired. On the private veranda with pool you can easily relax and an in-door fireplace provides for cosiness in the cool winter nights.
The Star Dune Suite (267m²) is the prefect getaway for a family or a group of friends. It consists of two Suites linked by a covered walkway, with a private lounge, customised personal bars, and dining space. For families, the &Beyond team will provide a host of fun and interactive children’s activities.
The main area of the lodge is also architecturally clean, with movable glass fronts, various inviting seating areas and an interactive kitchen concept. A fine selection of wines from an impressive walk-in wine cellar completes the excellent cuisine. For sporty guests, the small gym is ideally positioned to enjoy the sunrise during yoga or a treadmill lap before breakfast.
Sossusvlei Desert Lodge is located south of Sossusvlei in the northern part of the NamibRand Nature Reserve. The area is only accessible to the guests of the lodge. Sossusvlei, one of the areas most associated with Namibia, can be visited from the lodge. It is a 26km drive to the entrance of the park and another hour's drive to Sossusvlei.
Sossusvlei is the area most associated with Namibia: Red dunes as far as the eye can see (up to 380 m high, coloured red by the clay-rich sand) and dead trees in the Vleis or pans decaying slowly at the will of the arid climate. The Vleis were created by the Tsauchab River, which probably once flowed to the Atlantic some 50 km away. The whole Sossusvlei region is quenched with water during those very rare years when a good amount of rain falls, prompting bushes and flowers to spring up everywhere.
On landing (wherever the wind has taken you) there is a champagne breakfast waiting for you.
The new Strand Hotel has set a new standard in Swakopmund. Uniquely located on the iconic and historic Swakopmund Mole and surrounded on three sides by the Southern Atlantic Ocean its 125 rooms and suites make this hotel one of the larger ones in town, but of those certainly the one with the best seaside location. All rooms have tea & coffee stations, mini-bars, hair-dryers, TV’s, free Wi-Fi Internet access, telephones and air-conditioning.
The Strand Hotel offers its residential guests and all casual visitors three exciting restaurants. The Farmhouse Deli is good for coffee, cake, sandwiches and fresh salads. The Brewer & Butcher welcomes beer and meat lovers. The Ocean Cellar caters for guests who prefer seafood, sushi, oyster and a glass of fine white wine.
The Strand Hotel is destined to become the social epicenter of Swakopmund for locals and tourists alike.
Travel by road to Mowani Mountain Camp
Mowani Mountain Camp comprises 12 charming rooms with high thatched roofs and comfortable verandas. The dome-like main roof leaves a window to the sky above the beds, stargazing from the bed so to say. The rooms are nestled between rounded boulders and blend in seamlessly with their surroundings. The room categories are defined by the quality of the view - accordingly there are 4 Superior View Rooms (No 1-4) with sunset view, 3 View Rooms (No 5-7) with view into a hidden valley and 5 Standard View Rooms (No 8-12). Some of the rooms have been extended with a canopy, under which a dome tent is placed, accommodating two children. Alternatively, these beds can be added to the room if parents prefer.
Mowani also offers a Luxury Room, a Mini Suite and the Mountain Suite with butler service, lounge and private dining area. These three rooms are larger and offer more privacy than the other rooms, but only the Mountain Suite stands out with a truly magnificent view.
The central area includes a small rock swimming pool with great views, lounge, restaurant and an extra wifi lounge. In the evening most guests visit the rock-top viewing plateau to enjoy the sunset. The sundowner drink is added to the view upon request.
Just across the road lies Camp Kipwe, Mowani‘s sister camp.
Travel by road to Damaraland Camp
Damaraland Camp offers ten thatched, adobe-style units in a modern interpretation of a traditional construction. The stylishly furnished rooms are distributed around the main building. Each is equipped with en-suite facilities and a large veranda, which comes into its own during the clear and starry desert nights. The main building is light and airy and houses a swimming pool, a bar and a lounge where guests can read, relax and unwind.
Damaraland is spectacularly beautiful, craggy and rugged with open plains. The whole landscape takes on a green hue after rain has fallen; a sight best viewed from above when arriving at the camp by air.
Travel by road to Etosha Oberland Lodge
Etosha Oberland Lodge offers an ideal base for exploring Etosha National Park. The lodge is designed in a modern safari style and offers 20 tent chalets that are pleasantly private and spacious. Each guest unit has an ample bathroom, an open lounge and private seating area as well as air conditioning, fridge and coffee/tea making facilities. The required power is generated by the lodge‘s own solar system. There are also three family rooms with an extra bedroom.
The main building of Etosha Oberland Lodge is surrounded by tall mopane trees. The restaurant and its terrace offer views of the waterhole, where animals may pass by anytime. Other amenities include a swimming pool, bar and a spacious lounge area with various sofa corners where guests can relax after their safari. The curio shop exclusively offers products by artists from Namibia.
Wifi both in the main building and in the rooms.
The Etosha National Park is one of the most important nature reserves in southern Africa. It exists since 1907 and covers an area of 22,270 km². The central and eastern sections consist mainly of various silvery-white shining salt pans, which have made Etosha famous. In the dry season the park, the animals and the vehicles are covered in a whitish haze of salt dust.
On the southern shore of the huge Etosha Pan (130 x 50 km) there are several waterholes, which magically attract the animals from the surrounding area during the dry season. The three large state camps Okaukuejo, Halali and Namutoni connect Anderson's Gate in the south with the von Lindequist Gate in the east. The western part towards Galton Gate is much more wooded and less frequented by visitors, but it also offers less trails to drive around and find wildlife.
Travel by road to Onguma Tented Camp
Intimate and luxurious, Onguma Tented Camp offers uninterrupted views of a natural waterhole (lit at night) from anywhere in the camp. With a little luck, guests will encounter giraffe, jackal, antelope, zebra, wildebeest and maybe even a rare black rhino.
The main building houses a generously sized lounge, restaurant, wine cellar and swimming pool. The camp comprises just seven bright and spacious house tents, each with its own veranda, indoor and outdoor shower, elegant tin bathtub and separate WC. The light-coloured furnishings are designed to reflect the forms and colours of Etosha’s landscape.
The camp is unfenced, which means there is a minimum age requirement for our younger guests.
Onguma Game Reserve offers three further accommodation possibilities:
Read more about Onguma - The Fort
Read more about Onguma Camp Kala
Read more about Onguma Bush Camp
The Etosha National Park is one of the most important nature reserves in southern Africa. It exists since 1907 and covers an area of 22,270 km². The central and eastern sections consist mainly of various silvery-white shining salt pans, which have made Etosha famous. In the dry season the park, the animals and the vehicles are covered in a whitish haze of salt dust.
On the southern shore of the huge Etosha Pan (130 x 50 km) there are several waterholes, which magically attract the animals from the surrounding area during the dry season. The three large state camps Okaukuejo, Halali and Namutoni connect Anderson's Gate in the south with the von Lindequist Gate in the east. The western part towards Galton Gate is much more wooded and less frequented by visitors, but it also offers less trails to drive around and find wildlife.
Etosha National Park is Namibia's premier safari destination. Covering almost the same area as Switzerland, Etosha is one of the largest national parks in Africa. To the west of the park lay the silvery white salt pans and adjoining waterholes, which magically attract all kinds of wildlife during the dry season.
Travel by road to Epako Safari Lodge
Epako offers ten rooms and accommodates a maximum of 20 guests. Set within a breathtaking 11,000 hectare private reserve which is only accessible to Epako guests, your stay at Epako will be a very private experience. The lodge was built directly on the bank of the dry riverbed of the Epako and has a slightly elevated position with a view of the riverbed and the waterhole opposite.
Epako is an elegant lodge with attentive and friendly service and we enjoyed excellent food on several visits. The ten very stylish rooms are spread over two buildings and include six deluxe rooms, two junior suites and two suites. The two buildings are based on the design of traditional farmhouses and have a large balcony leading around the house.
All rooms have en-suite bathrooms and a terrace with deck chairs. The Junior Suites also have a bathtub, outdoor shower and lounge. The Waterhole Suite and the River Suite (150m2 each) are about twice the size and have a private dining table for those guests who like to stay among themselves. The Waterhole Suite offers views and direct access to the pool and is ideal for families in combination with a Deluxe Room. The River Suite offers the greatest privacy and views of the river bend. Most of the rooms can be connected to larger units via double soundproof doors.
Wifi is available in all rooms and in the main building.
The restaurant offers local and international dishes and a good selection of wines. In the evening guests often prefer to sit outside on the large terrace and watch the illuminated waterhole while eating. If you wish, you may start the evening by the open fire with a drink. Epako also has a very impressive large pool with deckchairs and a separate spa.
The private reserve has a size of 11,000 hectares, an area larger than Paris. The dry riverbed and the large ana trees remind us of Mana Pools or the Lower Zambezi National Park. The forests are still intact and beautiful thanks to the absence of elephants.
Travel by road to Windhoek
Basic Information
Individual journey. The journey will be planned on your preferred dates.
Duration 14 nights. Min 2 guests. Minimum age 6 years. Weight limit of luggage 20 kg. Luggage in one soft bag only.
Includes all transfers from Windhoek to the hotels/camps to Windhoek
- Sossusvlei Desert Lodge: Double Room. All meals, drinks (except premier brands), laundry service, twice daily activities with one of the camp guides. Includes guided excursion to the Sossusvlei dunes and balloon flight.
- Strand Hotel: Luxury Room. Breakfast.
- Mowani Mountain Camp: View Room. Dinner, breakfast. Visit the rock engravings of Twyfelfontein on your own. Includes elephant activity to find the desert adapted elephants.
- Damaraland Camp: Double Room. All meals, drinks (except premier brands), laundry service, twice daily activities with one of the camp guides. Includes a day trip in search of the desert adapted elephants.
- Etosha Oberland Lodge: Double Room. Dinner, breakfast. Game Drives on your own or bookable at the lodge.
- Onguma Tented Camp: Double Room. All meals, drinks (except premier brands), laundry service, twice daily activities with one of the camp guides.
- Epako Safari Lodge: Deluxe Room. All meals, drinks (except premier brands), twice daily activities with one of the camp guides.
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