We arrived back from our first trip to Africa (Botswana and Zambia) three weeks ago and we am thinking of a trip to Namibia next August. I know I want to visit Etosha and the Skeleton Coast. Any information about Skeleton Coast Camp would be appreciated. It is very expensive and I would like to hear from someone who has been there. We are also considering going to see the dunes in Sossusvlei. My husband does not want to drive, so we would need to be either driven there or take a flight. We would prefer road transfers to keep the cost down. Is it possible to do this? Also is Damaraland a must see? We stayed at Wilderness camps in Botswana and loved them, so we are thinking of Wilderness camps in Namibia. Thanks for any info you can provide.

On my first trip to Namibia we stayed two nights at Wolwedans Dune Lodge (which we loved). We got their via a flight transfer though it is possible to drive there.

From there we arranged a road transfer to Sossusvlei for two nights. We chose the less expensive Mountain Lodge just near the park entrance which was disappointing for a number of reasons and could therefore very much have done with just one night - time to visit the famous dunes, vlei and dead vlei. I think if we'd stayed at one of the many intimate private camps there (such as one of Wilderness') we'd have been happier.

After that we had a flight transfer to Damaraland Camp (Wilderness Safaris) which we adored.

That's all we did before transfering to Botswana for a second week.

Have you looked into the Wilderness Safari's "Great Namibian Journey"? It goes to Sossusvlei, Swakopmund, Etosha, Skeleton Coast, Damaraland and Palmwag Rhino Camp -- many of the places you mentioned. I took it in May and highly recommend it. It's a wonderful trip.

There are two camps at Skeleton Coast: the Skeleton Coast Camp and the SC Research Camp. The former is more luxurious, with larger, fancier tents, and running hot water. I didn't stay there but spent a morning there and did have a look inside one of the tents and the dining area. Very nice.
The GNJ stays at the Research Camp. It is smaller and more basic, with bucket showers and sinks and simple furnishings: beds and luggage racks. But it's very comfortable - and the food was fabulous.

Thanks panecott and kavey. I am now thinking we should go back to Botswana as we had such a wonderful time. What to do, what to do! With flying to camps in Namibia I'm wondering if there would be much of a difference in price between Namibia (Wilderness camps) and Botswana (Kwando camps) in August.

I am leaving to Namibia on thursday to do "the great namibian journey" in combination with a stay at Wolwedans.

Although I am one of the biggest Botswana safari addicts (as you probably know) , I won't skip Namibia because it's such a fascinating country with a wildlife experience which is completely different from Botswana. And the scenery is just stunning.

I'll keep you informed about this trip after I am back.

Best regards,

Johan

Have a wonderful trip, Johan.

I've been very busy with family things so I haven't had time to write.

Thanks to Panecott who provided me with good information, we booked the Great Namibian Journey. We also added 2 nights at Serra Cafena; a big splurge for a big anniversary. We will be leaving very soon, Aug. 15 to meet with Wilderness Safaris in Windhoek on the 17th. I can't believe that our trip is almost here.

Raelond, we went to Botswana last year and also stayed at Wilderness Safari Camps. We were not even familiar with Namibia, but people we met who had been there just loved everything about the country. Some went on self drive holidays and others went on more organized trips. This sparked our interest which has resulted in our forthcoming trip. I will be happy to share my experiences with you when I return.

Johan, have a wonderful time. I'm sorry I am leaving before you return. I would have loved to hear any insights you would have shared. I'll read them when I get back.

I did a self drive staying at WS camps and it was a tremendous experience.

I can highly recommend each camp I stayed at as all were fabulous:

Sossousvlei Wilderness Camp
Damaraland Camp
and Little Ongava -- this is over the top luxury that we included for our honeymoon. Friends stayed at Ongava Camp and said it was terrific as well.

I wish we would have made it to Skeleton Coast Camp or Serra Cafema, we were time and money limited as we went to Mozambique too for some island time. Something left to come back for.

Posted to quickly. Molly and Johan have amazing trips! Look forward to hearing all about it.

Predatorbiologist: Thanks - Namibia has never disappointed me and will never do.

Molly: have a great trip - I'll just miss you by a day because I am arriving in Windhoek at the 17th from Skeleton Coast before heading to Wolwedans. Serra Cafema is a fantastic camp - you would have wished you could stay there a bit longer.

Best regards,

Johan

Panecott I have looked at the Great Namibian Journey and was wondering if Swakopmund is worth a visit? I was thinking we would need 3 days at Etosha rather than 2 - your thoughts. Did you find the amount of driving too much?

We were in Namibia in June. Sossusvlei is incredibly beautiful - just like all the pictures. We did a hot air balloon ride at sunrise, and also some dune-climbing. From there we went to Swakupmond for 3 nights, mainly for the colonial German architecture and history (DH) and some outdoor activites (3 teenage boys). It just happened to be the grand finale to Carnival week, so the morning we had planned to go sandboarding we spent watching a parade and then going to the party following the parade. There we were in the middle of Africa drinking beer and eating currywurst and goulash soup! We did go quadbiking and camel riding, walked on the beach, went to a very good little museum, saw two seals on the quay, and admired architecture. I had planned it as a break from sitting and looking at scenery and animals for the boys, but we all enjoyed staying there. Our hotel was The Stiltz - individual cabins up on silts (with elevated wooden walkways connecting them) at the mouth of the Swakup overlooking the Atlantic - I highly recommend it. We stopped in Damaraland for two days - stayed at Mowani Mountain Camp. We had a choice of a drive looking for desert elephants or going to see the Bushman paintings/engravings at Twyfelfontein. We had enough of driving by now, and I really wanted to see the engravings - so that's what we did. It was fascinating and we had a great guide. We drove from there to Etosha and spend two nights in park. In all we 1 full and two half days of driving within the park and two nights at two different waterholes. I would have been happy to spend more time there, but I wouldn't have given up time anywhere else we were. To be honest, we wanted more time everywhere and started talking about our next trip on the plane home!

Molly,
You are going to love Namibia and the Great Namibian Journey. If I had known about Serra Cafema I would have done the same thing you're doing. Unfortunately for me, I didn't learn about it until after I got to Namibia. Guess I'll have to go back. :-0.
Have a wonderful trip.

Raelond,
I think Swakopmund is definitely worth a visit. It's a pleasant little seaside town with very interesting architecture. And the full day's activities we had were wonderful: A boat ride on Walvis Bay, followed by lunch on the beach, then an afternoon driving on the beach at Naukluft Park to Sandwich Harbour. The highlight was a wild roller coaster ride along the dunes. If you enjoy the beach and being near the sea, it's definitely worth it.

There is a lot of driving in the Great Namibian Journey but it was never boring. Although the drives were long, the scenery is so spectacular that it's never tiresome. We had 6 people on our trip so the vehicle was very comfortable with the extra seats.

As I mentioned on another thread somewhere, I would have liked a little more time to enjoy some of the camps and would have liked an extra day at Ongava. That's the only thing I would have changed. But this trip is a wonderful introduction to Namibia. I thought it would be a once in a lifetime trip for me so I wanted to see as much as possible. But now I want to go back again and again.

Panecott,

What did you pack? Did you follow the list that Wilderness Safaris suggests? Can you recommend anything else?

Hi Molly,
One thing I recommend is a good pair of hiking shoes or boots. The WS list says sneakers will do but we did a few hikes and I really wished I'd had sturdier footwear, especially on the rocks at Twylfelfontein. I'd also take two long sleeved button down shirts instead of one as recommended by WS.I wore one everyday over a Tee. Otherwise, the WS list is a pretty good guide.
Be sure to take a scarf, gloves and a hat. We didn't have many cold nights in May but you probably will in August.
Most of the camps do laundry and you get it back the same day so you don't have to pack too much. You can also charge your batteries in your tent at all the camps except Palmwag, where the staff will do it for you. Don't forget adaptors.

Dear Panecott;

Thanks for the info. I hate to be cold, so I am going to pack a sweatshirt. I also planned to travel in a warm-up suit. I took a scarf, hat and gloves last year in Botswana in April, and I was really glad I had them

We spent nearly a month in Namibia in November 2004. Part of the time we were on a private safari thru CCAfrica. Then a 3 day flying safari with Skeleton Coast Safaris. Best part of the whole month.You can find them on the web.

My husband and I spent 10 days in Namibia around mid July (high high season)and although quite expensive, the country is a visual overload and I am already planning to go again. We spent 4 days in Etosha and then 4 days in Sossusvlei/Sesriem area and two nights in Windhoek. We hired a car and drove over 2100 km - at least 1400 of those on gravel roads - a bit nerve wracking and better undertaken with a 4X4. Accomodation in eEtosha was basic but comfortable at about $70 per night (for very little). There are restuarants in all the camps and one should spread one's trip over all three (the southern camp is by far the best). We saw a pride of 30 plus lions, the pan is a surrealistic experience. The diversity of landscape within the park is an experience in itself. Its also pretty cold early in the monring and in the evening in July/August. We stayed at the Namib Desert Lodge - about $90 per night - very comfortable, lovely staff and truly wobnderful food. But its at least two and half hours to Sossusvlei. If you can fly in - thats the way to go becuase while driving allowed us the opportunity to really see the country, it is strenuous and fairly dangerous (lots of accidents).

Namibia is expensive - food, drink, accomodation with sometimes fairly shifty standards. But if you are willing to spend about $400 per night, you can have a comfortable holiday.