atravelynn

First the qualifying factors.

-Self drive is not an option. Other group itineraries would be options, whether driving or flying.

-10 days in Namibia is the max time, regardless of the itinerary.

-Departure would be late June.

-Priorities: Sand dunes, Etosha, Okonjima

-The ideal itinerary would have 3-4 nts Etosha with 1 nt at Okaukeujo; 3 nts Okonjima.

The company offering this is Natural Habitat, a very sound and reputable company that I've traveled with in the past.

June 2009
It leaves with 2 people every Saturday. With 4 people, any day.

10-day trip: $7,595

Single Supp.:
$1,595

Day 1: Windhoek, Namibia
Upon arrival, transfer to Hilltop House, our small, charming accommodation overlooking Namibia’s capital.

Days 2 & 3: Sossusvlei Sand Dunes, Namib Desert
Sossusvlei Wilderness Camp.

Days 4 & 5: Damaraland
Fly north along Namibia’s Skeleton Coast. We will stop in the port city of Swakopmund for a short boat trip (weather permitting) out of Walvis Bay to view seals and dolphins, and after a delicious seafood lunch we will continue with a flight inland to Damaraland. We look for uniquely adapted desert elephants, gemsbok (oryx), springbok, ostrich and other hardy desert animals and rare succulent plants that continue to thrive here, unhindered by serious habitat loss or mass tourism. We stay at Damaraland Camp (Doro Nawas Camp is sometimes substituted here) in large, comfortable walk-in tents shaded by acacia trees.

Days 6 & 7: Etosha National Park
that existed here two million years. We stay on the private Ongava reserve adjacent to the park and far from any other accommodations. From the lodge and camp, we take walks and night game drives on the reserve and venture into the park by day.

Days 8 & 9: Windhoek / Home or Okonjima AfriCat Project
Fly to Okonjima Guest Farm. Home to the AfriCat Foundation, allowing us unusually close encounters. Walking the Bushman Trail, we learn about the traditions of this age-old culture. Other activities include radio-tracking rehabilitated cheetahs, nightly wild leopard feeds, and game drives.

Day 10: Windhoek / Home
We drive back to Windhoek to continue homeward or on a safari extension.

Thank you

mpkp

I would be cautious booking for next year as I think we may see fewer people traveling and better deals.

When we were planning our trip, I asked for a cost breakdown. For us to do BONWINGS -- Best of Namibia Wilderness Safari and two nights at Okanjima was 90,000 rand -- for two. It does not include overnights in Windhoek or getting to and from Okanjima but that is 9,800 for two at today's exchange rates.

I know what we chose to do cost less than that. We are not with a group trip but we are on charter flights. We spend one night in Windhoek at Olive Grove. Then we fly to Soussevlei and stay at Soussevlei Wilderness Camp for 2 nights. Then we fly to Okanjima for 2 nights. We chose Desert Rhino Camo after that instead of Damaraland and then we fly to Ongava. The reason we ended up not doing BONWINGS is that Okanjima would not be able to accomodate us after it. So the order of the camps is dictated by when Okanjima was available. Scenic Air is the company that has the charter flights we will be on.

I am a little confused with your ideal itinerary since you said you wanted to see the Dunes yet the places you want to stay -- Etosha 3-4 nights; 3 nights at Okanjima -- gets you to the Dunes.

Anyway, I have looked at Scenic Air's web site and they do work directly with people to plan a fly around itinerary. We have worked with Leigh Ann at Rhino Africa and you do pay them in Rand so the favorable exchange rate right now would be helpful to you.

Hope this helps!

atravelynn

Thanks mpkp.

I think prices may drop also. The favorable Rand is also what prompted me to consider this.

Bonwings is a nice tip.

For the priorities, I figure I'll see the big sand dunes near Sossouvlei. In addition, I want to spend time in Etosha and Okonjima.

Ideally, 2-3 Sossuvlei, 4 Etosha, 3 Okonjima.

Do the charters fly on a schedule like buses or trains? If so, then can I just design my own itinerary and get taken to the airstrips or airports after a stay of x number of days?

PredatorBiologist

Lynn: it looks like they are simply booking you on Wilderness Safaris standard Best of Namibia Wing safari package and then adding on the Okonjima portion. http://www.wilderness-safaris.com/na..._namibia_wing/

You should definitely have an agent price it out for you and see how that compares to the Natural Habitat price to make sure you are not paying a big mark up.

I have stayed at Hilltop House, Sossusvlei Wilderness Camp, Damarland Camp and in the Ongava reserve but I was in Little Ongava camp. Its all great lodging and a very nice itinerary. It would be ideal to stay inside of Etosha rather than Ongava but with no vehicle and in need of a guide staying at Ongava is an easy fit for your needs.

Poppins

I use Naturefriend Safari in Namibia. They offer the Visions of Namibia fly-in Safari which is 8 days. The trip is done with a pilot guide which means that your pilot actually acts as your ranger and guide for the trip. However, they can also price a private trip for you which at last pricing works out cheaper than the Bongwing.

Their website isn't great, but contact owner Leander Borg for a price. They are very relaiable and I have personally travelled with them 3 times (besides using them for my clients for years) http://www.naturefriendsafaris.com/

skimmer

Lynn,

I would prefer staying in Wolvedans instead of a lodge near Sossusvlei for two reasons:

- not that many people around;
- I found the scenery more stunning than around Sossusvlei.

If going to Ongava (which is close to Okaukuejo)I definitely would need a private vehicle. So I can stay out throughout the day in the park itself, which has the better gameviewing.
You always can have lunch at the camps inside the park. Also it allows you to drive as far as Halali, which they don't do without the private vehicle.

It's a pity you only are able to spend 10 days there otherwise I would definitely go to Sandwich harbour (near Walvis bay) and Skeleton coast and do some serious rhino tracking on foot with Save the rhino thrust.

Best regards,

Johan

torrem

We stayed at the Hilltop House in August 2007 and liked it a lot, charming place, great managers. The only thing is that it's not in the center, so if you want to visit downtown Windhoek (which is not that interesting...) you have to take a taxi - you can also walk but the manager said it's not recommended

Jed

We flew from Capetown to Windhoek, then right away by charter to Sossusvlei.

For those with the experience, how was staying in Windhoek for the day?

Marija

We flew Chicago-DC-JNB-Windhoek on the same day(s)and then spent two nights (1 day) in Windhoek to get over the jet lag before starting our real trip. This also gave us a cushion in case anything went wrong. Windhoek is a mildly interesting city, clean, still Germanic. We enjoyed walking around without being hassled. For more details:
http://www.fodors.com/forums/threads...p;tid=35038385

Treepol

Hi Lynn,

nice itinerary, however I agree with PB who suggests having an agent price this itinerary.

Maybe you could look at booking the Okonjima sector direct or through an in-country operator? I used Elena Travel in 2005 and found that they offer good service and saved about 20% on the price quoted by African Wildlife Safaris based in Melbourne.

In order to save time and a transfer it might be an idea to ask the operator to drop you at the Okonjima gate on the way south back to Windhoek, assuming the route can accommodate this of course.

Cheers,


Pol.

mpkp

Scenic Air does have regular scheduled charters between places. I remember the issue was the order of places for us -- the agent was not sure that the charter would fly Soussevlei to Okanjima or Okanjima to Desert Rhino but it turned out not to be a problem. Most people do a circle -- Soussevlei - Damaraland - Etosha - Okanjima or the reverse and the charters accomodate this.

So the answer is yes -- you can design your own itinerary and use the charters to get there without needing to have a personal flight. Definitely consider talking with an agent who can help you with that.

Lynneb

I can't remember how it works at Etosha regarding getting in and out of the park at night but, for me, one of the highlights was the Okaukuejo waterhole at night. I don't know if you can visit it at night if you're not staying in the park.

I've spent hours at night at that waterhole (with a bottle of wine!) and although it's busy early in the evening it's incredible later on.

Lynneb

Just a thought Lynn. Why don't you contact Okonjima and ask them which tour groups use them, then you could work back from that...

Kavey

Ditto the feedback on Hilltop House. We found it comfortable, charming and the hosts very helpful. It's location wasn't a problem for us as taxi to and from Joe's Beerhouse didn't cost much.

Absolutely adored Damaraland Camp.

Don't know Doro Nawas Camp but note that it's larger, with 16 rooms as opposed to Damaraland Camp's 10.

atravelynn

Thanks for all these great suggestions. If I don't put them to use this June, I will someday!

mkhonzo

As the winter progresses the western sector of the Etosha becomes a whole lot drier and you will have to move much greater distances to see game. I would suggest that you look for a lodge on the eatsern shores of Etosha.

And I agree with skimmer on wolvedans instead of being at the vlei area, re people and more exciting scenery.

You have really elected to travel on a sausage factory tour provided by WS so not much creativity there.

tuckeg

Re:Wolwedans

A great location and fewer people than Sossusvlei but really, more beautiful than the Vlei? I've spent more than a year in the Namib Rand and love it but Dead Vlei at dawn before the crowds(except for a herd of oryx) arrive can't be beaten. Also in June, July and early August can be quite cold at night at Wolwedans (below freezing) so Dune Camp may be too chilly for some. I would spend one night there to experience a day and night living in the dunes and then have them drive you to another lodging nearer the Vlei where you can stay a night before seeing the Vlei early in the morning.

Kavey

Both our visits to Wolwedans were in June (2001 and 2004). We stayed in the lodge so were in chalets, however the bedrooms have at least one entire side, if not two completely open. Well, you could roll the canvas down and secure but waking up to those views can't be beaten! We were cold but a hot-water inside the bed and a good-quality thick duvet meant we were perfectly warm in bed. Getting out of bed to get dressed was a bit of a shock but worth it.

Sossusvlei must certainly be included but where Wolwedans wins for me is in it's isolation. There are far fewer visitors here which means having those spectacular views to yourself!

uscmolly

I debated about posting on this thread, but I would have liked to have this type of information before my trip. There's been quite a few small plane crashes in Namibia this year, enough that hiring a car and driver is appealing (not that car accidents don't happen too).

Unfortunately, we were in one of the crashes this year and I'm now paraplegic. Here's a link to an article about the multiple crashes. Just something to think about before making plans.

http://allafrica.com/stories/200809080497.html

Kavey

Uscmolly, I'm so sorry to hear that and appreciate your posting.

I would imagine that the statistical chance of being in an air accident is still lower than that of being in a road accident here in London, where I live. But I doubt statistics are of the slightest comfort to you.

I can't even begin to imagine.