Looking for a new destination for your vacations? We propose you an overview of this magnificent country, Namibia, land of wide open spaces, lunar landscapes and wild animals! A treat for your eyes...
On board your 4x4 (check your tires before leaving the rental agency) in self-drive and equipped with a map (no GPS, otherwise it would be too simple and not enough adventure), you are ready to discover this magnificent country. You will drive through breathtaking landscapes, villages lost in the middle of nowhere and go in search of the BIG 5 during your safaris in Etosha Park.
STOP n° 1
South of Windhoek begins the Kalahari Desert, the first immersion in the African bush after a day in the small, almost European capital. The desert which extends over a part of Namibia, South Africa and Botswana covers an area of 900'000 km2, you will already be impressed by these vast, colorful and so sparsely populated landscapes.
The Kalahari Red Dune Lodge is a nice address to recommend with its semi-solid tents, its terraces in camouflage mode to protect yourself from the heat and also to be as discreet as possible in order to observe a maximum of animals that would come to quench their thirst at the watering hole right in front of your room.
Stop n° 2
Next stop and not the least, the Nambi Naukluft Nationa Park & Sossusvlei. Before arriving there, you will leave the well paved roads, to finally join the tracks which you will not leave any more until Etosha. The desert road or almost crosses mountainous landscapes and the Tsaris Pass before leaving gradually the place to sand and dunes.
Sossus Dune Logde, the only lodge inside the Nambi Naukluft Nationa Park is composed of eco-friendly rooms in an African style, built with wooden frames, canvas for the walls and topped with a thatched roof. The best thing about this beautiful place is that you can access Sossusvlei and its famous dunes before sunrise (while all the other tourists living outside the Park have to wait for the gates to open after dawn!)
Sossuvlei... There are no words to describe these majestic landscapes... dunes up to 200m high and dry lakes.
Dead Vlei is a magnificent sight with its petrified, dead trees embedded in the dry lake overlooked by the huge Big Daddy Dune. Dune 45 (45km from Sesreim) is breathtakingly beautiful... To climb it at sunset, the view will be even more magnificent with its glowing colors... And if you are lucky, you will see an oryx roaming through the dunes.
STOP n° 3
On your way back from Sesreim... Don't forget to refuel in Solitaire... Yes, there is a place with this name... And it is very well named! I warned you! The road to Swakopmund is also splendid and varied... You will take the Gaub Pass and its tight and winding road, then you will start the long crossing of the desert before arriving at the Atlantic Ocean, at Walis Bay and will continue your road, invaded by the sand of the surrounding dunes, by following the coast until Swapomund.
From Swakopmund, you can make a day trip along the Skeleton Coast (boats stranded on the sand) to the north to Cape Cross... Be careful, sensitive noses should not be involved... But it would be a shame to miss this show: a huge colony of sea lions with babies, big males and their harems.
STOP n° 4
Then back inland to the Damarland, here the landscape changes completely between mountain and desert. It is much warmer than on the coast and the fog is no longer present. On the way you will meet many farmers with their cattle... and with a lot of luck wild animals in total freedom.
Dora! Nawas Lodge is a warmly welcoming address, situated in the Aba-Huab River valley with a splendid view from the roof of the main building over the Etendeka mountain and the red stone hills of Twyfelfontein. The spacious rooms allow you to shower in privacy on the balcony and take out the king-size bed to sleep under the stars with all the comforts! 2 great things to do in the area: the visit of Twyfelfonteinst one of the largest African cave art gallery registered in the UNESCO world heritage and a safari in search of desert elephants in complete freedom.
STOP n° 5
Last big step of this tour: the Etosha National Park. A 22'000km2 game reserve including the Etosha Pan. With your own rental car, a picnic lunch and enough water, go in search of the different waterholes to discover an incredible wildlife... No need to be accompanied by a ranger, the animals will come to you... herds of zebra, wildebeest, impala, oryx, elephants... Warthogs, giraffes and if you are lucky lions & rhinos! It's like coming straight out of Disney's Lion King!
Andersson's Camp is located in the Ongava Private Game Reserve next to the Andresson Gate of Etosha National Park. This camp, ideally located, is authentic with its small tents with balcony and its special shower, its outdoor lounge with view on the animals and its underground passage allowing to go in an invisible way next to the water point to see and hear the animals drinking! The highlight being to be a few centimeters away from a white rhino & a black rhino and its young drinking... MAGIC!!!
There is still a lot to see in this magical country like the Fish River Canyon, the Victoria Falls, Swakopmund, Walis Bay, the Waterberg Palteau Park, the Caprivi Strip... We will come back for sure!
• So what are you waiting for? Let yourself be tempted •