Wild West Namibian Expedition

14 days—White Lady Painting, Bushman Rock Engravings, Palmwag, OvaHimba, Epupa Falls, Kunene River Experience, Etosha National Park.

$5200-6000 USD

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Safari summary

This is one of Africa’s true remaining wildernesses. It is the least populated part of Namibia with a density of one person per every 2 km2. It is less visited by tourists and is home to several desert adapted wildlife. During this 13-day adventure tour we will explore Namibia’s ephemeral rivers; Ugab, Huab, Aba-Haub, Uniab, Hoanib, Hoarusib. These are important for the survival of Desert Adapted Elephants, Black Rhino, Oryx, Springboks, Desert Adapted Lion, cheetah, leopard, and other animals. Special birds that are mostly near endemic to Namibia include White-tailed Shrike, Benguela Long-billed Lark, Monteiro’s Hornbill, Damara Red-billed Hornbill, Bare-cheeked Babbler, Violet Wood hoopoe, Ruppel’s Korhaan, Ruppel’s Parrot, Ludwig’s Bustard among others. We will do the OvaHimba cultural tour. A visit to the Epupa Falls and a drive along the Kunene drive is worthwhile. Birds of interest around this area include Rufous Palm-Thrush, elusive Grey Kestrel and Cinderella Waxbill. Afternoon boat cruise along in the Kunene River is a good way of waving a goodbye to the Kaokoland before we explore another less visited part of Etosha National Park: the northwestern part.

About this tour

	Tour type	Custom, tailor-made, private
	Main focus	Game drives
	Activity level	Easy activity
	Best months	All months
	Countries	Namibia
	Parks	Etosha

Fine details

Safari highlights

Bird watching—with professional guide
Cultural visits—orphanages, markets, schools
Wildlife sanctuaries

What’s included?

Accommodation
Meals
Park fees
Private vehicle and driver

What’s not included?

Alcoholic beverages
All drinks
Hot air balloons
Internal flights
International flights
Laundry
Premium alcoholic beverages
Spa treatments
Tips and gratuities
Visas

Itinerary

The Brandberg Mountain

After breakfast you will meet your guide and head to Brandberg. We will have a lunch stop along the way or upon arrival at Brandberg White-lady Lodge. This afternoon we will do a sundowner drive around the Brandberg area and explore the Ugab River. Various mammals and birds are found along the riverbed where they get food and water. The local Damara tribes named the mountain “Dâures”, which also means 'burning mountain'.

Brandberg White Lady Lodge

The Brandberg Mountain

We will visit the White Lady Rock painting after breakfast. While some archeologists in the past concluded that the lady had elements of ancient Mediterranean origin, more recent scholars argue that the painting is from indigenous people with no European links. This is a half an hour hike through the Brandberg Mountain. Local guides will take us to the painting. We will be back for lunch at the lodge. In the afternoon we will try our luck with desert adapted elephants around this area.

Brandberg White Lady Lodge

Twyfelfontein

After morning breakfast, we will make our way to Twyfelfontein area. After lunch, we will visit the Bushman Rock Engravings. This area is a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2007 and consists of over 40 000 rock engravings done by the San people 2000 years ago. We will then visit some fascinating geological formations: the Organ Pipes and the Burnt Mountain. The Organ Pipes are tall angular columns of dolorite in a most unusual formation and late afternoon light on the Burnt Mountain worth seeing.

Twyfelfontein Country Lodge

Twyfelfontein

We will explore the Aba-Huab and Huab Rivers in search for desert adapted wildlife including elephants, Black Rhino, Oryx, Springbok, Giraffe among others. After lunch we will visit the local Damara people, to learn how they foraged and hunted in the past. You have opportunity to see tools, jewelry and handmade crafts, as well as enjoying dancing, singing and traditional games.

Twyfelfontein Country Lodge

Palmwag Concession

Before heading north to our destination, we will visit the Petrified Forest after breakfast. This is a half an hour walk done by knowledgeable local guides. We will then make our way to Palmwag and we should be there for lunch. Along the way various desert adapted wildlife can be spotted. One can either walk around the lodge area or relax at the swimming pool. During late afternoon, we will then go for a sundowner drive.

Palmwag Lodge

Palmwag Concession

This will be a very early morning start to search for the Desert Adapted Black Rhino. We will be taken by local guides and Rhino Rangers. This activity involves 4 x 4 driving in a rugged terrain, and walking safari to get to the rhinos if lucky. These mammals are not in a fenced area but in an open ecosystem. This activity might take the whole day, however there is still a possibility of a late afternoon sundowner drive in our own vehicle.

Palmwag Lodge

Purros

After breakfast, we will explore the Hoanib river, which is 270km long and one of the 12 ephemeral rivers in Namibia. In addition to larger populations of many species of antelope found in the lower reaches of the Hoanib, are also a large number of Desert Adapted Elephants, Rhinos, Giraffes and also several lion prides, and smaller predators. Among other wildlife in this area, we have our chances with the Desert Adapted Lion. After lunch, we will make our way to our destination for the night.

Purros Bush Lodge

Purros

In the morning we will explore Hoarusib River, which is rich in wildlife and birds. After lunch we will visit the OvaHimba tribe and learn their fascinating culture and way of life. They are semi-nomadic pastoralists with huge herds of cattle. We will learn about the intriguing traditional life of the OvaHimba tribe, including their dress, food and craft. You will also learn about how the homestead is built, with holy fire at its heart (where all communication with ancestors takes place).

Purros Bush Lodge

Epupa Falls

We will continue our Wild West Namibia Expedition moving far northwest of the country, the Epupa Falls. We will be there around lunch time. Late afternoon we will visit the Epupa Falls on the Kunene River. The Falls are a series of cascades where the river drops a total of 60 meters over 1.5 km (a mile). It is quite a breathtaking view as has richly coloured rock walls mixed with wild fig and baobab trees, waving Makalani Palm trees spectacular sunsets and perennially flowing waters.

Omarunga Epupa Falls Camp

Kunene River

After breakfast, we will drive along the Kunene River. Nested in huge Makalani Palm trees, enjoy the beauty, peace and tranquility of this riverine habitat. We will arrive at lunch and embark on an afternoon boat cruise with hope of seeing rare birds like the Cinderella Waxbill, Grey Kestrel and Angolan Cave Chat among others.

Kunene River Lodge

Etosha North

This is a driving day. After breakfast we will continue exploring the Kunene River past a hydro-electric dam towards small town of Ruacana. We will drive past in the northern parts of Namibia which are totally the opposite of Kaokoland as they are relatively populated. We get to experience the land of the Owambo people. The land consists mainly of communal farming land and most of the inhabitants survive on subsistence farming. They are various wetlands that hosts a number of water birds.

Etosha King Nehale Lodge

Etosha North

We will explore the less visited part of the Etosha National Park. We will do the morning and afternoon game drives and look for wildlife around waterholes. This part of the park has an open grassland and dense vegetation. Etosha has around 114 mammalian species and over 350 birds.

Etosha King Nehale Lodge

Etosha South

After breakfast we will drive from the northern part to the eastern and then make our way to the southern Etosha. This will be a full day game drive in the park with a lunch stopover. We will continue visiting waterholes and adding more to our animal list. We will be wrapping up our Wild West Namibia adventure.

Etosha Safari Camp