A Grand Tour of Namibia

Day 1 Fly overnight from London Gatwick to Windhoek.

Day 2 On arrival a tour of Windhoek includes the Christuskirche, Alte Feste and the Tintenpalast. Overnight at the 4-star Safari Court Hotel in Windhoek.

Day 3 Drive via Rehoboth, home of the Baster community, to the margins of the Kalahari Desert (5 hrs). After a nature drive overnight at the 3-star Auob Lodge, near Gochas.

Day 4 Continue southwards towards the Fish River Canyon (5 hrs) for a nature drive. Overnight at the 3-star Vogelstrausskluft Country Lodge.

Day 5A visit to the ghost town of Kolmanskop with its open air museum followed by a short tour of Luderitz (5 hrs). Overnight at the 4-star Nest Hotel.

Day 6 Travel via the desolate towns of Aus and Helmeringhausen towards Maltahöhe for a performance by the Daweb Cultural Group. Continue to the 3-star Solitaire Lodge or the 4-star Hammerstein Lodge for a two-night stay (7 hrs).

Day 7 An early morning drive to the gate of the Namib section of the National Park. A 4x4 shuttle transfer takes you the last 4 kilometres into the actual ‘vlei’ (a clay pan) surrounded by some of the oldest dunes of the world. The short hike to the Dead Vlei is well worth the effort since tree stumps older than 1000 years create an eerie atmosphere on the white coloured ground. Also visit the Sesriem Canyon. Return to the lodge in time for an optional game/sundowner drive on the property.

Day 8 Travel north via the spectacular cuttings of the Kuiseb and Gaub canyons to the coastal resort of Swakopmund. En route visit the bizarre Moon Valley landscape and view the intriguing botanical oddity Welwitschia mirabilis, some of which species are more than 2000 years old (6 hrs). Two nights at the 2-star Strand Hotel†.

Day 9 A day at leisure with the option of a cruise from nearby Walvis Bay.

Day 10 Travel northwards along the coast to Hentie’s Bay before travelling inland into Damaraland. Overnight at the 2-star iGowati Lodge in Damaraland (6½ hrs).

Day 11 Morning sightseeing of Twyfelfontein, the rock art sites and fascinating Organ Pipes and Petrified Forest. Late afternoon arrival at the 3-star Etosha Gateway Lodge (5 hrs) for an overnight stay.

Day 12 A full-day game drive in the Etosha National Park. Continue to the 4-star Mokuti Lodge for a two-night stay.

Day 13 A further full day of game driving in the park.

Day 14 Travel via Lake Otjikoto and Otjiwarongo to the 4-star Okonjima Main Camp (5 hrs) for an overnight stay. Optional afternoon activities. On departures Feb 15, Jun 20, Aug 29 and Oct 24, 2008 the night is spent at the 3-star Otjibamba Lodge which lies within its own private 220ha. game ranch near Otjiwarongo.

Day 15After an optional morning activity visit the Kavango woodcarvers open market in Okahandja, home of the Herero people. Overnight at the 3-star Okapuka Ranch, a typical Namibian game lodge, near Windhoek (4 hrs).

Day 16Transfer to the airport for the overnight return flight.

Day 17Arrive London.