Namibia: need suggestions for a 14 days itinerary

Old Jan 17th, 2006, 05:16 AM
  #21  
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Hi Adee

We are from Tuscany, Italy.
As far as I have learned from this forum temperature in Namibia should be cooler just at night in June but pleasant during the day and on top high season will start July 1st so for June, still low season prices apply.
Yes, I would love to see the falls, too.
Our first trip to Africa was in January 1997 but as our first hciuld was just 20 months old we remained on the Garden Route from Cape Town to Port Elizabeth, so no parks or game viewing. Then after a lot of trips around the other continents we are now planning back to come to Africa and this will be just the next of many other trips. So probably Vic Falls can wait a little bit !
It seems you also did not fix all flights yet, right ?
Anyway it will be nice to read again both our trip report posts in July !

Have a wonderful trip !
fabio
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Old Jan 17th, 2006, 05:33 AM
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Fabio, I just got back from Tuscany -- I was in Florence at the end of December. I hadn't seen snow before in Florence, and the roofs really were beautiful covered in snow.
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Old Jan 17th, 2006, 05:39 AM
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Fabio,

We do have our flights and lodging. You probably need to arrange lodging - especially in Etosha - as soon as possible. We had wanted to spend two nights at Okaukuejo, but couldn't - so we're spending as extra night at Halali. Our dates weren't very flexible, though. I look forward to hearing more of your plans as you finalize them. I think planning trips is so much fun - you learn so much, and I'm always interested in hearing what other people are doing.

Yes - I look forward to reading your trip report also!

Adee
 
Old Jan 17th, 2006, 06:03 AM
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Michael

I am in Florence right now, where I have my job.
Snow is quite unusual in Tuscany. I missed it at the end of december as we were in southern Spain 26th to 1st Jan!

Adee

Yes you are right, but my wife has not fix her holiday leave yet, which depends on some shifts with other colleagues. We expect a final statement within this week.
I think we might fly from FLR June 12th late evening via FRA to JNB and 13th onto WDH. Return flight would be 28th from WDH again via JNB so now it makes 15 nights total.


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Old Jan 17th, 2006, 06:11 AM
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Fabio, if Okaukuejo and Namutoni are booked, you may need a night or two at Halali, which isn't as nice, but its the middle camp and in prime game viewing area (I saw my only cheetah in Etosha around Halali). The camps are all close enough that it really doesn't matter that much where you stay, but the waterhole at Okaukuejo makes it the best, in my view. The waterhole at Halali gets some action (lots of elephant and rhino when I was there).
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Old Jan 17th, 2006, 06:20 AM
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thanks

We will consider at ast option to stay in Halali just as base for overnight but then rounding around the park until dusk
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Old Jan 17th, 2006, 06:34 AM
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does any of you suggest or recommend having a satellite phone rented for emergencies in remote and isolated areas for safety reasons, driving with children ?
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Old Jan 17th, 2006, 09:30 AM
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Fabio - We're planning to. Someone early in my planning/posting suggested it. I think the person did a lot more back-country type things, but it seems like a good idea.
 
Old Jan 17th, 2006, 10:50 AM
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Where you are going, there should be a little traffic minimum. So, I don't think you will need a sat phone. Maybe check on cell phone coverage and rent one at the airport.
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Old Jan 18th, 2006, 01:22 AM
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thank you

I am not sure my cell phone will have the signal, or maybe yest at the airport or in towns but not in the middle of nowhere !!

Any idea about average rental costs for a sat one and where to get it ? at car rental company at the airport ? or ?
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Old Jan 18th, 2006, 05:13 AM
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When I was checking out prices for car rentals I ran across this company:
http://www.ascocarhire.com. On their site they say that they have sat phones for rent, but I don't know if all car companies would.
 
Old Jan 18th, 2006, 05:17 AM
  #32  
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We're using Cardboard Box for our travel arrangements (http://www.namibian.org/travel/car/sat_phone.html) and they offer and advise using sal phones - for what it's worth.
 
Old Jan 18th, 2006, 05:24 AM
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I never used cell or satellite in Namibia. Cell coverage is spotty. For the areas you plan to go I can't see a reason for it. If you were planning to do some off-roading in remote areas, then a satellite might make sense.

As for Etosha, we skipped staying at Halali on our trip in 2003 but passed through and read in the sightings book (there was one at each of the 3 areas, be sure to check them out for tips on where to see wildlife) that people had been seeing a leopard drink at Halali every evening. So you never know.
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Old Jan 18th, 2006, 06:00 AM
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I would also like to give a recommendation for Cardboard Box. I worked with them on my trip to Namibia in August 2002, and they were great and persistent -- they got me into lodges in Etosha as space became available b/c when I initially booked, many lodges were full.
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Old Jan 18th, 2006, 06:46 AM
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Another recommendation for Cardboard Box, who we used when planning and reserving our honeymoon in Namibia last year. They were excellent and reliable - nothing was too much trouble, and they also gave us a lot of helpful advice on travel in Namibia in general.
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Old Jan 18th, 2006, 11:28 AM
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Fabio twelve days starting in Windhoek,
First eat dinner at Joe's, in Windhoek, reccomend Hilltop hotel.Two nights
Two nights sossusvlei
Two nights Swakopmund beach lodge fantastic people.
Two nights Twefelfontein
Two nights Okaukuejo
one night Namatoni
last night in Windhoek, you will probably get in fairly late, 5 hour drive from Namatoni. I have been to Namibia at least 10 times my favorite country.
cheers
gary
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Old Jan 18th, 2006, 11:49 AM
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If you do decide to get a sat phone, may I suggest that you also get a list of phone numbers to call in case of an emergency?

I ran into some travelers in South America once who had brought cell phones for emergencies, and then realized they didn't know who to call. Does Namibia have an auto club?
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Old Jan 23rd, 2006, 08:19 PM
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Fabio,

There have been heavy rains at Sossusvlei and the road in is 4x4 at the moment:

http://www.namibian.com.na/2006/Janu...6FF607DF4.html

George
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Old Jan 27th, 2006, 11:01 AM
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thank you George.
Hope in june I wont't have such troubles !!
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Old Apr 21st, 2006, 10:40 AM
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We made it !! After several weeks we have now the lodging confirmation for Etosha Okaukuejo and Namutoni. This is more or less our fInal plan but need your suggestions whether r not it is a bit too much:

Option 1

1. Windhoek
2. Kalahari Desert, stop on the way south
3. Fish River Canyon
4. Fish River Canyon
5. Aus, stop on the way to Sossusvlei
6. Sossusvlei
7. Sossusvlei
8. Swakopmund
9. Swakopmund
10. Damaraland, stop on the way to Etosha
11. Etosha Okaukuejo already fixed
12. Etosha Okaukuejo already fixed
13. Etosha Namutoni already fixed
14. open
15. Windhoek

Option 2
cut Fish River Canyon ad stay longer in central-north areas

1. Windhoek
2. Kalahari Desert
3. Kalahari Desert
4. Sossusvlei
5. Sossusvlei
6. Swakopmund
7. Swakopmund
8. Damaraland
9. Damaraland
10. open
11. Etosha Okaukuejo already fixed
12. Etosha Okaukuejo already fixed
13. Etosha Namutoni already fixed
14. open
15. Windhoek

need your suggestions also how to fill the open nights !!
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