Caprivi Strip & Namibian wonders await! Dive into nature, culture, and ethical exploration on this 17-day adventure of a lifetime!
Embark on an extraordinary 17-day adventure travel through the breathtaking landscapes and rich cultural heritage of Namibia! Your journey commences in the lively city of Windhoek, where a sturdy 4x4 eagerly awaits your arrival, signaling the beginning of an epic road trip adventure. After acquainting yourself with Windhoek's vibrant atmosphere, set your sights on the majestic Erongo Mountains. Here, the Rock Painting Lodge serves as your sanctuary for a night, surrounded by captivating ancient artistry etched into the stone.
From the Erongo Mountains, your expedition continues to the renowned Damaraland's Twyfelfontein (desert plains'), designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, where millennia-old rock engravings adorn the landscape. Following an enriching stay, journey deeper into the heart of Namibia's wilderness, immersing yourself in the pristine ecosystems and sacred Bushmen relics of the Ohorongo Game Reserve for two nights.
As your road trip adventure unfolds, the sprawling landscapes of the Caprivi Strip beckon, offering a mesmerizing tapestry of natural wonders and cultural encounters. At the Mahangu Safari Lodge, situated along the tranquil banks of the Okavango River, immerse yourself in the region's rich avian and aquatic life during a two-night stay. Retreat to the Nambwa Tented Camp, nestled amidst the verdant canopy, for a serene and magical respite.
Each destination along this captivating journey offers a new chapter in Namibia's story of natural beauty and cultural heritage, promising an unforgettable exploration of this enchanting land.
Your Namibian adventure begins with a night at the Belvedere Boutique Hotel (B&B) in Windhoek. Nestled in the quiet Ludwigsdorf area, this hotel, owned and operated by the Davin family, offers Luxury Suites with carefully curated decor and inviting outdoor relaxation areas. The hotel exudes comfort and charm, providing a pleasant starting point for your journey.
Belvedere Boutique Hotel
www.belvedere-boutiquehotel.com
76 Dr. Kwame Nkrumah Street, Windhoek
Tel +264 61 258 867
35 minutes
Upon settling into the Belvedere, you have the option to explore Windhoek's attractions. The Independence Museum's top floor offers a panoramic view of the city, providing a great starting point for your exploration. You can choose between leisurely activities at the hotel or venture into Windhoek. Consider taking a zebra-patterned truck tour with Windhoek Day Tours or explore Oshetu Market for diverse food experiences, including the adventurous option of trying mopane worms. For an elevated evening experience, visit the Hilton's rooftop sky bar with a pool, providing stunning views of the city.
Conclude your day with a cozy dinner at Belvedere, though please note that the dinner is not included in your rate. This sets the tone for a leisurely introduction to Namibia, combining comfort, exploration, and delightful culinary experiences.
Meal Inclusions: Breakfast Only
Your destination today is Ai-Aiba Lodge (B&B) within the Erongo Mountain Nature Sanctuary—a vast private reserve dedicated to preserving the region's indigenous flora and fauna. The sanctuary spans nearly 180,000 hectares, supporting the free movement of game animals. Ai-Aiba Lodge offers a Standard Room amidst captivating rock formations reminiscent of ancient volcanic remnants. The lodge provides a unique stay surrounded by the ecological richness of the area.
Ai-Aiba Lodge
www.aiaiba-namibia.com
Namibia
Tel +264 64 570 330
Today's journey takes you on a scenic drive to Namibia's Erongo region, not merely about reaching your destination but immersing yourself in the journey. As you travel northwest along the B1, B2, and C36 Freeway, gather essential supplies—fuel, food, and water—as they might not always be readily available. The Erongo mountain range, nestled between Omaruru and Karibib, boasts a rich natural heritage often overlooked by visitors. Rising 2,320 meters above sea level, this central massif, believed to be the remains of an ancient volcano, serves as a convergence point for three distinct ecosystems. Here, the desert from the Namib merges with woodlands and savannahs, creating a diverse habitat for around 200 bird species and a plethora of wildlife. The region's ancient significance is evident in countless rock paintings and engravings left behind by its earliest inhabitants.
Afternoon Guided Sundowner Walk:
Upon arrival, absorb the distinctive ambiance of the Erongo region. Later, embark on a guided sundowner walk, providing opportunities to spot oryx, zebras, and kudus. The walk culminates in breathtaking views of the Erongo Mountains.
Visit to the San Living Museum:
Alternatively, immerse yourself in a cultural experience by visiting the nearby San Living Museum, offering insights into the heritage of the region's earliest inhabitants.
Morning Guided Walk:
Tomorrow, take a morning guided walk to further explore the captivating Erongo region before continuing your drive.
Meal Inclusions: Breakfast Only
Start your day at Ai-Aiba Lodge with a hearty breakfast, ensuring you're energized for the day's adventures.
Conclude the day with a sumptuous 3-course dinner upon your return from the guided sundowner hike.
Your stay at Twyfelfontien Country Lodge (DB&B) promises a delightful treat amidst Damaraland's wild and remote terrain, boasting one of Southern Africa's most extensive rock-art engraving collections. This area, reminiscent of ancient Khoi-San cultural legacies, thrives with extraordinary flora and fauna, defying the harsh conditions with otherworldly resilience. Beyond the remarkable rock engravings, natural wonders like the Doros Crater, Burnt Mountain, Organ Pipes, Petrified Forest, and the elusive desert-adapted elephant await your discovery.
Amidst this untamed wilderness, the lodge seamlessly integrates into its surroundings while offering exceptional accommodation and facilities, a surprising luxury in this remote landscape. With its well-appointed rooms affording stunning views of the Huab Valley walls and the distant mountains, the lodge exceeds expectations despite its isolation. Indulge in the serene ambiance as you take in the desert plains' vastness from the comfort of your room, complemented by a decent-sized pool and terrace to unwind.
Twyfelfontien Country Lodge
twyfelfontein.com.na
Twyfelfontein, Namibia
Tel +264 61 374 750
Today's journey leads you northward towards the C35, offering both rugged paths and smoother tarred roads for a quicker route. However, we suggest a slight detour via the C36 towards Uis before joining the C35—a choice that not only grants you a better view of the majestic Brandberg mountain but also ensures access to amenities in the larger town of Uis, ensuring your fuel, food, and water needs are met along the way.
Meal Inclusions: Breakfast & Dinner
Tonight's dinner is a delectable treat, allowing you to savor the flavors of this unique setting amidst the untamed beauty of Damaraland.
Today's journey further delves into remote landscapes. After reaching Khorixas, take the C35 towards Kamanjab, diverting through Fransfontein village to find the Ohorongo Safari Lodge signs. Follow the 'Ohorongo' road signs for 1.5 kilometers to reach the gate, closing at sunset.
Ohorongo Game Reserve, a nonprofit organization committed to a sustainable conservation legacy in Africa for the past five decades, welcomes you for a two-night stay in the remote Namibian highlands. Spanning 40,000 hectares, this reserve may not be vast, but its wilderness offers an array of diverse elements. The reserve's focus on sustainable safari models guarantees visitors distinctive experiences on each visit. Traverse from the thorny savannah sustaining large game to a partially shaded gorge boasting a separate biome thriving with water, lichen, and life-sustaining flora.
Ohorongo's expert guides unveil the unseen, guiding you to witness the intricate details of life within this seemingly hostile terrain. From panoramic views atop granite outcrops to the minutiae of smaller lifeforms, they reveal the thriving variety of life that has persisted for over fifty millennia, despite human presence.
Originally a farmstead, Ohorongo Safari Lodge now stands as a genuine wilderness sanctuary, emphasizing comfort and tranquility amidst nature over luxury and amenities (no televisions in rooms, for instance). Your stay in one of the premium twin bungalows promises spacious suites with writing desks and private sun decks.
Ohorongo Safari Lodge
ohorongo.eco
Outjo, Namibia
Tel +264 81 147 7434
At Ohorongo, the focus shifts from merely ticking off large mammals to experiencing the wilderness through the lens of its inhabitants. Guides lead explorations into the bushveld, immersing you in the African savannah's essence, diminishing humanity's significance as nature envelops all senses. Endangered species like the black-faced impala, roan, and sable thrive here, shy yet treasured for their rarity and beauty. Encounters with these wildlife wonders, unthreatened by human presence (as hunting is strictly prohibited), offer intimate and personal wildlife experiences, where both observer and observed coexist in their natural habitat. Though sightings of desert leopards, lions, and elephants might occur if luck favors, the emphasis remains on the interaction and connection rather than mere sightings.
Meal Inclusions: Breakfast & Dinner
Enjoy included dinner on both nights as nightfall adorns the African sky with fiery sunsets, a perfect way to conclude your days in style.
Venturing northeast from the village of Fransfontein leads you to Onduri Safaris & Lodge (DLB&B), nestled on a 13,000-hectare farm between Outjo and Okaukeujo, in close proximity to Namibia's Etosha National Park. This unique lodge is situated on a partly fossilized mountain, harmoniously blending with nature's tapestry. Spanning this vast expanse, the lodge offers hunting opportunities for various large mammals and is recognized for its sustainable conservation practices, supporting the surrounding land's preservation.
Renowned for exceptional tracking expertise, Onduri stands as one of southern Africa's premier hunting environments, focusing on sustainable practices, excluding endangered species, and maintaining balanced food chains. Daily excursions into Etosha, provided for over 40 years, offer a personalized big game experience during your stay. Despite the lodge's unassuming appearance, its large, comfortable setting exudes genuine Namibian hospitality. Air-conditioned rooms with balconies offer splendid mountain views, complemented by included dinners.
Onduri Safaris & Lodge
ondurisafaris.com
Outjo, Namibia
Tel +264 81 127 2137
Arriving at Onduri on day 6 after a relatively short drive allows for a suggested walking tour or game drive on the farm, teeming with diverse wildlife like giraffes, elands, kudus, and more.
On day 7, embark on a trip to Etosha National Park, conveniently an hour's drive from Onduri. Etosha, translating to 'great white place', hosts an array of wildlife, comprising over 114 mammal and 340 bird species. Once an ancient inland sea, the park's vast pan now offers mirage-inducing landscapes. Though the pan no longer fills with summer rains, it attracts flamingos and diverse birdlife. The park's varied vegetation sustains numerous plains game and shelters endangered species like black rhinos, black-faced Impalas, and tsessebes.
If time permits, Onduri offers access to an OvaHimba settlement nearby—a chance to observe the last semi-nomadic people of Namibia. Renowned for their intricate hairstyles and traditional adornments, the OvaHimba women perform various tasks, employing red powder, handmade jewelry, and red mud as part of their distinct attire. Their lifestyle revolves around sacred ancestral fires, livestock, and family dwellings, symbolizing the rich heritage and reverence for their ancestry.
Meal Inclusions: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Day 8 marks your journey deep into Etosha, tracing the southern side of the expansive Pan itself. Depending on the accessibility of the smaller northern road, your park exploration may entail exiting the western gate and reentering from the north. Expect approximately 5 hours from Anderson Gate to Von Lindequist Gate and an additional hour along the B1 to reach Etosha King Nehale (B&B), your two-night retreat.
The lodge, owned by the Gondwana Collection, commemorates Nehale Mpingana, an esteemed figure in Namibian history. The lodge's unique design, reminiscent of a nguni bull's horns, houses spacious chalets tastefully adorned with Oshiwambo cultural elements, each boasting its own plunge pool.
Etosha King Nehale
store.gondwana-collection.com/accommodation/etosha-king-nehale
Etosha National Park, Namibia
Tel +264 61 427 200
6 hours
Today's focus lies on a self-guided safari journey past Etosha's scenic waterholes, including Sueda and Salvadora, renowned for their panoramic views over the pan and ideal for cheetah sightings. Rietfontein, a popular lion hang-out, invites interaction with park rangers for possible wildlife encounters and updates on recent sightings.
Etosha King Nehale offers easy access to the park's waterholes like Andoni, Tsumcor, Groot Okevi, and Klein Okevi for self-driving adventures or a serene visit to Ontalelo Outpost, exclusively accessible to King Nehale's guests. This lodge seamlessly combines Etosha's natural wonders with the vibrant Aawambo culture, represented by eight Owambo communities sharing language, lifestyle, and traditions.
The evening spectacle unfolds with a breathtaking sunset visible from the dining area and verandah, enhanced by a large boma featuring a fireplace and sand circle—a homage to Oshiwambo homestead gathering spaces.
Day 9 commences with a half-day guided drive into the park aboard a 9-seater vehicle, promising an intimate wildlife experience complemented by included refreshments.
Meal Inclusions: Breakfast Only
On Day 10, you embark on the longest journey of this expedition, venturing into the Caprivi Strip. While the route may seem less direct, it's advisable to pass through Grootfontein, a hub for fuel, food, and water supplies to fuel your journey.
Situated at the western end of the Caprivi Strip, Bwabwata National Park remains an often-overlooked gem. Fed by the Cubango River, this park houses an array of wildlife, with integrated park management involving locals who live within its boundaries. Verdant and diverse, the park features four forest biomes and an abundance of birdlife, attracting migratory elephants, antelopes, predators like lions and leopards, creating a unique ecosystem.
Your two-night abode, Mahangu Safari Lodge (DB&B), offers a different experience from recent luxury stays, focusing on comfort and a homely atmosphere. Alongside stunning game viewing, Mahangu provides fishing opportunities in the Cubango River, trips to Popa Falls, and guided activities including sunset river cruises and game drives at affordable rates.
The lodge, offering safari tents and a main lodge with dining, lounge, bar, and a sparkling pool overlooking the river, welcomes you with dinner and breakfast as part of your stay, with lunch available at an additional cost. The riverside sunset decks are perfect for unwinding after a day amidst nature's wilderness. The lodge's sustainable management system aligns with local communities' efforts to conserve the Cubango-Okavango River Basin, a vital lifeline for numerous plants, wildlife, and over a million people in the Kavango Region of Namibia.
Mahangu Safari Lodge
www.mahangu.com.na
Namibia
Tel +264 66 259 037
The Caprivi Strip's historical legacy stems from Leo von Caprivi's land negotiation in 1890, securing access to the Zambezi River for Germany. Despite its lushness and abundant waterways, the area has been a constant source of contention, hosting several small but rich national parks along its four major rivers, including the Zambezi. Different from the arid Namibian landscape, this region teems with life, boasting large trees, wildlife like elephants and hippos, and diverse bird species, resembling an extension of the greater Okavango ecosystem.
The road here is less traversed by tourists, offering a different African experience with pastoral communities and diverse wildlife. Sudden, intense thunderstorms may arise, so it's best to remain cautious and patient during these occurrences.
Dinner and breakfast are included as part of your stay at Mahangu Safari Lodge, with lunch available at an additional cost. The riverside sunset decks provide the perfect setting for unwinding after a day amidst nature's wilderness.
Today’s journey takes you on one of the most exciting routes of your adventure, heading east along the primary truck road through the Caprivi Strip. For refueling, there's a stop just after Mahangu at Divundu, along the B8 highway.
Your next two nights will be spent at Nambwa Tented Lodge (DB&B), nestled atop ancient elephant migratory routes amidst towering tree canopies. Part of the African Monarch consortium, founded by Dusty Rogers in 2013, Nambwa emerged after a fortuitous meeting with Chief Mayuni, coupled with years of community engagement. The lodge stands within Bwabwata National Park, occupying a special place with each 'room' resembling a vast tree-house (at 110sqm), boasting expansive decks offering stunning park views. Mornings here, sipping your tea or coffee delivered to your deck by your guide, are simply enchanting.
While deliberately excluding internet in the rooms, the lodge's central area, connected to the rooms via timber walkways, houses a magnificent viewing deck where open-air dining unfolds against the backdrop of the floodplains below. Nighttime sounds under your 'room' often come from wildlife seeking refuge. Dinner is included in your stay.
Nambwa Tented Lodge
www.africanmonarchlodges.com
Namibia
Tel +264 61 400 510
Engage in a guided bushwalk with Nambwa’s knowledgeable guides, passionate about sharing ancestral stories intertwined with local flora's medicinal uses. The Sijwa Project Tour, accessed by a boat cruise from the lodge to Sijwa Island, introduces the sustainable project aiming to protect natural resources while fostering the local community’s growth through a biodiverse economy. Guests actively participate in creative workshops, including crafting jewelry with recycled materials, and contribute to the indigenous tree nursery to offset carbon emissions.
A boat cruise, arguably the ideal mode of travel here, offers a versatile experience— whether a serene water encounter or an opportunity for game viewing. Guides navigate through papyrus islands, reed floodplains, allowing close encounters with hippos, crocodiles, diverse birdlife, resembling the Okavango Delta's waterways but with fewer visitors.
Meal Inclusions: Breakfast & Dinner
Today’s route retraces your steps westward, following the path that initially led you to Nambwa. If a refill is needed, travel east on the B8 from Nambwa to Kongola, where a Shell station awaits. Alternatively, Divundu near Mahangu, roughly midway to Hakusembe, offers refueling options.
Your destination, Hakusembe River Lodge (B&B), rests on Namibia’s border with Angola, nestled along the Kavango’s banks. Contrasting the Caprivi Strip lodgings, this property boasts a more hotel-like ambiance, featuring a spacious pool and surrounding terrace, ideal for refreshing after the road. The rooms are generously sized, offering exceptional showers, and the staff is notably welcoming.
Hakusembe River Lodge
store.gondwana-collection.com/accommodation/hakusembe-river-lodge
Hakusembe River Road, Rundu, Namibia
Tel +264 61 427 200
While Hakusembe isn't primarily known for big game, the nearby river remains high during your visit, promising rewarding experiences like birdwatching cruises or fishing expeditions.
Tonight, you'll be accommodated in one of the bungalows, with dinner not included in your room rate.
Should an angling or birdwatching excursion feel too extensive for a single night, consider a leisurely stroll to the nearby Mbunza cultural village or embark on an adventure aboard the Hakusembe River Queen.
Meal Inclusions: Breakfast Only
Today’s journey proves to be the most straightforward drive, with the majority spent on paved roads. You’re bound for Ghaub Lodge (DB&B), an ex-mission church in Ghaub, now beautifully restored and where you’ll be spending the night. Nestled amidst the rugged Otavi mountains, Ghaub Lodge is an oasis featuring rustic farm walls, towering palm trees, dense bush, and lush lawns surrounding meticulously refurbished historic buildings. Spanning 120 square kilometers, Ghaub accommodates a nature reserve teeming with wildlife, remarkable rock engravings, a 19th-century mission station, and a farm cultivating livestock and vegetables.
Ghaub Lodge
www.ghaub-namibia.com
Otavi Mountains, Namibia
Tel +264 67 240 188
The nearby Ghaub Cave is quite remarkable, stretching over 2.5 kilometers and reaching depths of approximately 40 meters underground, much of it remaining unexplored due to freshwater flooding. While not the longest or deepest in Namibia, the cave is an intriguing site, connected to the Dragon’s Breath cave, a vast underground lake discovered by chance in 1986. The cave, featuring a type of catfish sustained by organic matter from above, was even highlighted in Blue Planet. Its resemblance to Frank Herbert’s depiction of the fictional dry planet Arakas with an underground lake in ‘Dune’ is fascinating.
Consider joining a Rhino drive (afternoon, 2-3 hrs) through the mountainous 30 square kilometers reserve, home to various game including giraffes, oryx, impalas, and more. White rhinos and elephants are often spotted, accompanied by unique ancestral rock engravings. Joining the ‘Rhino Patrol’ trackers on foot offers an in-depth understanding of rhino behavior, offering a chance for a close encounter, albeit demanding a fair fitness level.
Don’t miss the opportunity to visit the Hoba Meteorite site, a few miles from Ghaub, discovered accidentally by a farmer in the 1920s. This sixty-ton iron cuboid is the largest meteorite found and landed without creating a significant crater, fascinatingly linked to science fiction works like ‘2001: A Space Odyssey’. If an adventurous day feels overwhelming, a leisurely stroll through Ghaub’s gardens with marked trails and diverse birdlife is a relaxing alternative.
Meal Inclusions: Breakfast & Dinner
Today’s drive from Ghaub to Okonjima offers another pleasantly easy journey. Should you need it, fuel is available at Otavi along the way, saving you from backtracking to Grootfontein. Tonight's stay is at the family-operated Okonjima Lodge, nestled at the base of the sandstone Omboroko Mountains amid Acacia thornveld in a malaria-free zone.
At Okonjima Lodge, you'll be treated to a stay in one of the spacious chalets, featuring expansive glass panels and canvas windows offering unrestricted views of the savannah, providing an authentic African bush experience. Dinner is included in your room rate.
Okonjima Lodge
okonjima.com
Okonjima Game Reserve, Namibia
Tel +264 67 314 000
Upon arrival, you might find it hard to believe you’re near a major capital city. Okonjima Nature Reserve offers various accommodation options, emphasizing not just conservation but also active research, primarily funded by the accommodations themselves. Engage in sustaining leopard, brown hyena, and pangolin populations through the Carnivore Care Centre, providing an opportunity to witness these species in the wild, some of which are radio-collared for research purposes.
You’ll have the chance to delve into The AfriCat Foundation, established in 1991 to contribute significantly to predator conservation in Namibia's natural habitat. The foundation conducts research and educational projects across the country.
Activities here require advance booking. Consider partaking in morning game drives led by experienced guides and ending the day with sunset game drives through the acacia thicket in search of elusive leopards.
A plethora of activities awaits at Okonjima: embark on a Night Drive or spend hours with a ranger at a Night Hide for the chance to spot bat-eared foxes, aardwolf, owls, honey badgers, and porcupines. Opt for Rhino Tracking, Pangolin Tracking, Leopard Tracking, or the Endangered Species Nature Drive focusing on hyenas, rhinos, and foxes.
On the last day of your African journey, you can seize the morning with a game drive or another activity at Okonjima before breakfast. The journey ahead traces along Namibia's well-kept B1 road, allowing you the entire day to make your way towards Windhoek. Upon arrival, it's time to return the car and catch your flight back home.
We'll eagerly await your return for the next exciting adventure. Safe travels!
Meal Inclusions: Breakfast & Dinner
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Where It All Began is committed to crafting active adventures that not only thrill but also preserve the natural wonders and cultural heritage of Southern Africa.
Our mission is to provide sustainable adventure travel experiences that connect travellers with off the beaten track experiences in this diverse region through cycling, hiking, sailing, diving, off-roading and other low-emission methods of travel.
Through responsible tourism practices, we aim to leave a positive impact on local communities and ecosystems, ensuring that future generations can continue to explore and cherish the places where it all began.
Our logo is an image of a skull found in the Rising Star Cave System in Gauteng, South Africa in 2013. It was named ‘homo naledi’, meaning ‘human of the stars’.
The cave system has so far given rise to the remains of over 15 individuals, making it the largest hominid fossil remains site ever discovered.
Travelling to Southern Africa is truly a return to the source of humankind, to Where It All Began.