Their contact details are:
Suricate Tours & Safaris
Tel: +264 (0)61 248 551Fax: +264 (0)61 229 168
P.O. Box 97158
Windhoek
Namibia
Namibia & South Africa 02 – 22.07.2014 Self-drive safari
Family
This is the general plan.
- Windhoek surrounds
- Otjiwarongo surrounds
- Etosha National Park
- Twyfelfontein
- Swakopmund and surrounds
- Sesriem / Sossusvlei
- Namtib Biosphere Reserve
- Lüderitz and surrounds
- Fish River Canyon
- Noordoewer surrounds
- Springbok surrounds
- Cape Town
02.07.2014: Arrival and drive to Elegant Farmstead Upon arrival at the Hosea Kutako International Airport you will pick up your rental vehicle and drive the +-40km to Windhoek. From here you will continue to the Elegant Farmstead, which is situated just outside Windhoek. The rest of the day is at leisure and could be used to either relax on the farmstead or take part in an optional activity (not included in the price).
Overnight: Elegant Farmstead including breakfast (Family room) Travelling Distance = +-111km (+- 1 ½ hours travelling time)
03.07.2014: Frans Indongo Lodge After breakfast you will drive via Okahandja (where you can stop over at the Kavango Woodcarver's markets) to the Frans Indongo Lodge. On your way north to the Frans Indogo Lodge, you have the opportunity to visit the Cheetah Conservation Fund (at own expense). Here you have time to visit the Visitors and Education Centre, where you learn more about the Cheetahs in Namibia. You can also witness a cheetah feed, which on weekends is at noon. (For more information, please see http://www.cheetah.org/?nd=visiting_ccf_namibia)
Overnight: Frans Indongo Lodge including breakfast (1 x double + 1 x triple room) Travelling Distance = +-272km (+-3 ½ hours travelling time)
04.07.2014: Mushara Bush Camp Today you will be heading to the Etosha National Park. After you checked in at the Mushara Bush Camp, you can spend the rest of the day at own leisure. You can either take part in one of the activities offered by the camp (at own expense) or explore the Etosha National Park on your own. Return to the Mushara Bush Camp in the late afternoon.
Etosha National Park Etosha was declared a game reserve by the German colonial administration back in 1907 and covers an area of more than 22 000 km². At a stage it covered a vast area of 93 240 km² and was the largest game reserve in the world. For various political reasons, the park was progressively diminished in size until by 1975 it had been reduced to its current size. In its centre lies a vast saltpan surrounded by grass and thorn savannah, Mopane bushland in the west and dry forest in the north-east. About two million years ago, this area was an enormous lake, fed by the Kunene River. However the lake slowly dried up because over time, the river changed its course. Today the pan is a shallow depression and has an approximate size of 5000 km². Of the 114 mammals species found in the park, several are rare and endangered, such as the black Rhino and cheetah. Etosha’s current population of +- 600 Black Rhinos represents one of the few growing populations in the world. The National Park has three Rest camps Okaukuejo, Halali and Namutoni. These all have restaurants, stores and swimming pools. The main entrance to the park is called the Andersson Gate at Okaukuejo in the south and the Von Lindequist Gate in the east near Namutoni.
Overnight: Mushara Bush Camp including dinner & breakfast (2 x double tent + 1 sleeper couch) Travelling Distance = +-235km (+-3 hours travelling time)
05 & 06.07.2014: Etosha Safari Lodge In the morning you drive through the park and visit various waterholes, where you can relax and watch the animals as they drink and play. Etosha is famous for excellent game viewing and game, such as giraffe, impala, springbok, zebra and wildebeest can be seen in vast numbers. Your accommodation is once again just outside the park.
Overnight: Etosha Safari Lodge including breakfast (1 x double + 1 x triple room) Travelling Distance = +-196km (depends on the speed and how much time you spend in the park)
07.07.2014: Twyfelfontein Country Lodge The road today will take you via Outjo to your next destination. The rock art at Twyfelfontein is an exceptional group of paintings due to the enormous amount concentrated in a small area. The animals of the region are each represented and many with their spoor too. This is believed to aid tracking of animals that are good to eat or, indeed, dangerous and to be avoided. Afterwards you could also visit the burnt mountain and organ pipes. Mentioned excursions are not included in the price.
Overnight: Twyfelfontein Country Lodge including breakfast (2 x double rooms – 1 child shares with parents) Travelling Distance = +-316km (+-4 hours travelling time)
08.07.2014: Secret Garden Guesthouse Depart the lodge and drive to Swakopmund. You will arrive in Swakopmund in the afternoon and check in at the Secret Garden Guesthouse, situated near the Swakopmund city centre and walking distance from the beach. The rest of the day can be spent relaxing or exploring this small coastal holiday town. Alternatively you could visit one of the several restaurants and enjoy some fresh seafood (not included).
Swakopmund Swakopmund was of major importance as a harbour during the German colonial era even though the water at the coast is actually too shallow and the bay is unprotected. But Lüderitz was too far away and the seaport of Walvis Bay was in British possession in those days. On 4 August 1892 the crew of a gunboat named Hyena erected two beacons on a large dune, probably in the vicinity of the present lighthouse. This is regarded as the founding date of Swakopmund. The first settlers were 120 Schutztruppe with equipment and 40 settlers who offloaded from the Marie Woermann using four landing boats. The settlers had to build caves on the beach to protect themselves against hostile weather. Before a breakwater was built in 1898, which later became known as the Mole, all offloading was done with special boats The 325 metre long wooden jetty was only completed in 1905 and it was in 1914 replaced by a more solid iron construction. Swakopmund became the gate to South-West Africa and the entire supply for the colony was wound up through this little Town. The narrow-rail train to Windhoek started operations in 1902 while at the same time, the station was built. It was completely restored some years ago and has become an entertainment centre, a casino and a luxury hotel. It is one of the best preserved examples of German colonial architecture in the world. The appearance of the town, with its 47 500 inhabitants, is characterised by numerous colonial buildings with the Woermann House from 1905 as its landmark. The former trading house in Bismarck Street with its 25 metre high Tower and its courtyard bordered by arcades today houses the city library and an art gallery. Swakopmund is a popular seaside resort with a slightly nostalgic atmosphere, many tourist attractions and a pleasant climate in summer.
Overnight: Secret Garden Guesthouse including breakfast (1 x double+ 1 x triple room) Travelling Distance = +-340km (+-4 ¼ hours travelling time)
09 & 10.07.2014: Swakopmund and surrounds On these days you have the opportunity to explore Swakopmund, Walvis Bay and the surrounding area. We suggest that you visit the Moon landscape, Welwitscha Plains (please note that you need a permit for this, which is available at Namib i in Swakopmund) or take part in one of the many alternative activities such as:
Tandem Sky diving Quad Biking Sand Boarding Ballooning Paragliding Seal & Dolphin Boat Cruise in Walvis Bay Scenic flights
(Prices on request!)
Overnight: Secret Garden Guesthouse including breakfast
11.07.2014: Desert Homestead From Swakopmund continue southwards via Ghaub Pass and Solitaire to the Desert Homestead. After arriving at the lodge you can either relax or take part in the alternative activities offered. Alternatively you can visit the Sesriem Canyon. The Tsauchab River has dug a 30m deep gorge into the rock formations. The name Sesriem comes from the first colonialists that cut six leather strings from Oryx skin in order to retrieve water in buckets out of the river below. The activities mentioned are at own expense.
Overnight: Desert Homestead including breakfast (1 x double+ 1 x triple room) Travelling Distance = +-362km (+-4 ½ hours travelling time)
12.07.2014: Namib Naukluft Park & Sossusvlei An early morning rise will be rewarded by the sight of an amazing play of colours over the spectacular dunes at Sossusvlei. At the 2x4 parking you will have to engage the four wheel drive of your vehicle and drive the last few kilometres to the parking area of the dead vlei. With the combi you would need to make use of the shuttle service offered at an extra cost. From here it is about a 15 minute walk along the dunes to most probably Namibia’s most photographed Dunes! Here you will also have the opportunity to explore the area and then maybe climb the “Big Daddy” dune for an overwhelming sight of the dynamic and living desert.
Overnight: Desert Homestead including breakfast (1 x double+ 1 x triple room)
13.07.2014: Namtib Desert Lodge After breakfast you will take a short drive to the Namtib Biosphere Reserve in the Tiras Mountains. Here you will have the opportunity to some breath-taking views of some fascinating landscape. Oryx, springbok, kudu, klipspringer as well as the scarce steenbok can be found in this area. Discover the fauna and flora on one of the hiking trails offered (at own expense).
Overnight: Farm Namtib including breakfast (1 x family+ 1 x single room) Travelling Distance = +-185km (+-2 ½ hours travelling time)
14 & 15.07.2014: Lüderitz Nest Hotel Depart the lodge and continue to Aus, where there's the possibility to see some desert adapted horses, which are believed to left here by the Germans in the first world war. From here you drive further to Lüderitz. After check-in the rest of the day is at leisure. On the next day you have the opportunity to visit the ghost town Kolmanskop that was left to the hands of the relentless and unforgiving desert, after the diamonds ran out and the town was abandoned. Activities mentioned are at own expense.
Overnight: Lüderitz Nest Hotel including breakfast (1 x double+ 1 x triple room) Travelling Distance = +-250km (+-3 ¼ hours travelling time)
16.07.2014: Canon Village The trip continues further into the south of Namibia, to the Canon Village. Upon arrival the rest of the day is at leisure and could already be used to explore the area.
Overnight: Canon Village including breakfast (1 x double+ 1 x triple room) Travelling Distance = +-455km (+-5 ½ hours travelling time)
17.07.2014: Norotshama Resort The next morning you can visit the Fish River Canyon, which is situated along the lower reaches of the Fish River, is one of the most impressive natural beauties in Namibia. With a depth of up to 530 metres, the Fish River Canyon is the second largest canyon in the world, only to be beaten by the Grand Canyon in America. Thereafter you continue to the Norotshama Resort.
Overnight: Norotshama Resort including breakfast (1 x family chalet) Travelling Distance = +-135km (+-1 ¾ hours travelling time)
18 & 19.07.2014: Naries Namakwa Resort Today you leave Namibia and make your way to the Noordoewer border post only 50km. After clearing customs at the South African/Namibian border, make your way onto Springbok. Today explore Springbok and the surrounding area. For a good nine months of every year Namaqualand area is a dry and barren semi-desert stretching for almost 1000km up the west coast of South Africa, covering an area of 440,000km². But all that changes dramatically in spring, when after a short rainy season, the wide open plains are covered in glorious carpets of brightly coloured wildflowers.
Overnight: Naries Namakwa Retreat on a self-catering basis (1 x family self-catering chalet) Travelling Distance = +-171km (+-2 ¼ hours travelling time)
20.07.2014: The Commodore Hotel Depart the retreat and continue to The Commodore Hotel, situated in Cape Town. The rest of the day is at leisure and can be used to explore Cape Town. Visit the V&A Waterfront or the Two Oceans aquarium or simply relax at the pool of the hotel with some refreshments. Activities are at own expense.
Overnight: The Commodore Hotel including breakfast (1 x double + 1 x triple room) Travelling Distance = +-565km (+-7 hours travelling time)
21.07.2014: The Commodore Hotel Another day spent in Cape Town. There are so many things to do and see in Cape Town that it is hard to make a choice! Here is an example of how you could spend today (all at own expense):
After breakfast you could catch the open-top double decker bus for a city tour. Hop off to join a cable car ride up the Table Mountain for some amazing views. Thereafter you could visit the District Six Museum and stop to have a bite to eat at the V&A Waterfront. In the evening you could enjoy a sundowner drink on the Camps Bay strip or a dinner in one of the many restaurants on Long Street in the centre of Cape Town.
Overnight: The Commodore Hotel including breakfast (1 x double + 1 x triple room)
22.07.2014: Depart Depart the hotel and drive to the Cape Town International Airport, in time for your flight back home or onwards flight. The tour ends here.
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