Namibia Fly-In Safari

You start your safari with a pickup from your guest house or hotel in Windhoek. You are taken to Eros Airport or met upon arrival at Windhoek/Hosea Kutako International Airport. From there, you take a light aircraft flight to the Sossusvlei area.  

The flight takes you over Namibia’s central highlands, descending past the escarpment and over the Namib Desert before landing at the Sossusvlei Lodge airstrip. Upon arrival, you meet your local guide and transfer to your lodge. You settle in and enjoy lunch before heading out on a guided sundowner drive provided by the lodge. 

Hoodia Desert Lodge: Experience the beauty and tranquility of Hoodia Desert Lodge, surrounded by majestic mountains along the Tsauchab River. A short 20-minute drive brings you to the Sesriem Gate, the entrance of the world-famous red sand dunes of Sossusvlei. Meet enthusiastic people, eager to share in your adventures, and the friendliness and personal attention of the staff make your stay memorable. Sharing knowledge about the region and its secrets, the guided tours provide an ideal introduction to the magical world of the desert.

Rise early for an excursion into Namib Naukluft National Park. You set off before sunrise to capture the dunes with soft light and dramatic shadows that highlight their towering shapes and curves. This area features some of the highest free-standing sand dunes. Your guide explains the formation of the Namib Desert and the unique adaptations of its plants and animals.  

After exploring Sossusvlei, Deadvlei, and the surrounding dune fields, you drive to "Elim Dune" for an "Out of Africa" picnic lunch under a majestic Camel Thorn Tree. You then exit the park and return to Hoodia Desert Lodge in the late afternoon. The rest of the day is yours to relax after an exhilarating morning in the dunes.

Sossusvlei: This frequently visited section of the massive 50,000 km² Namib Naukluft National Park known as Sossusvlei is famous for its towering apricot-colored sand dunes which can be reached by following the Tsauchab River valley. Sossusvlei is a clay pan set amidst these star-shaped dunes which stand up to 300 meters above the surrounding plains, ranking them among the tallest dunes on Earth. The stark white clay pan contrasts with the orange sands and marks the endpoint of the ephemeral Tsauchab River, deep within the Great Sand Sea. The river course rises south of the Naukluff Mountains in the Great Escarpment. It penetrates the sand sea for 55 km before it finally peters out at Sossusvlei, about the same distance from the Atlantic Ocean. Around 60,000 years ago, the Tsauchab River used to reach the sea, but shifting dunes eventually blocked its course. Today, the river only occasionally floods, roughly once a decade, when enough rainfall fills the pan. During these rare times, the water reflects the surrounding dunes and camel thorn trees, creating stunning mirror images.

Sossusvlei is the largest of four pans in the area. Another notable pan is Deadvlei, known for its gnarled and ghostly camel thorn trees. Deadvlei can be reached on foot after a 1 km walk over the sand. The striking dead trees, standing upright, survived until about 900 years ago when the sand sea blocked the river, preventing it from flooding the pan.

After breakfast, you are transferred back to the airstrip for a light aircraft flight north to Camp Kipwe for a two-night stay. This scenic flight includes views of the Namib Sea Sand, two shipwrecks, seal colonies along the Atlantic Ocean, abandoned diamond camps, and the Walvis Bay lagoon and salt works. Low-level flying and visibility of these attractions depend on the weather and protected land rules, such as the bird sanctuary at Sandwich Harbour.

The highlight of the flight is passing over the Eduard Bohlen, a German cargo ship that ran aground in 1909 while on its way to Table Bay from Swakopmund. Over the years, the desert encroached on the ocean, and the boat, once stranded in the water, now sits about 500 meters from the shore, making it the best-preserved shipwreck along Namibia’s Skeleton Coast.

Refuel in Swakopmund before continuing north to the Damaraland airstrip, where your private Ultimate Safaris naturalist guide meets you and accompanies you for the rest of your safari.

In the afternoon, you can join a guided excursion to visit the rock engravings at Twyfelfontein, a World Heritage Site, and explore the interesting geological sites around the lodge. Return to camp before sunset with time to freshen up before dinner. Pre-dinner drinks on Kipwe’s sundowner rock, a short stroll from the camp, offer stunning views of the surroundings at sunset.

Damaraland is known for its colorful displays, magnificent table-topped mountains, rock formations, and unusual vegetation. The landscape, shaped by erosion from wind, water, and geological forces, features rolling hills, dunes, gravel plains, and ancient river terraces. The area's variety, solitude, and scenic beauty provide a true sense of wilderness.

Twyfelfontein is located on a hillside among flat-topped red sandstone mountains. It boasts around 2,500 prehistoric engravings depicting wildlife, animal tracks, and abstract motifs, making it one of the largest and finest collections of petroglyphs in Africa. The engravings show animals like elephants, giraffes, kudus, lions, rhinoceroses, springboks, zebras, and ostriches, which once drank from a fountain at the hill's base. Some engravings feature footprints instead of hooves or paws, and the abstract motifs mainly consist of circles. Stone tools and other artifacts found at Twyfelfontein suggest that hunter-gatherers occupied the site for about 7,000 years. Today, a local guide accompanies visitors to showcase the rock art along two circular routes: one taking an hour to climb and the other 40 minutes longer. Twyfelfontein is one of Namibia’s key National Monuments and a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Camp Kipwe: Camp Kipwe is located a short drive from local attractions. Nestled among giant granite boulders near the ephemeral Aba Huab riverbed, it is a spot where desert-adapted elephants often roam. Each comfortable thatched bungalow is simple yet tastefully furnished and includes an en-suite open-air bathroom.

The camp's central area features a large alfresco dining area, bar, lounge, and reception, with a cozy fireplace nearby for evening relaxation. Guests can enjoy a refreshing swimming pool and a sunset lookout with beautiful views.

Join a 4x4 excursion after an early breakfast along the ephemeral river valleys to explore this remarkable region and search for wildlife, especially the elusive desert-adapted elephants, if they are in the area. Damaraland is home to a variety of desert-adapted animals and hidden desert treasures. You will usually return to camp for lunch and a well-deserved siesta.

In the afternoon, your guide can arrange a visit to Twyfelfontein and other nearby attractions if you haven't already been there, or you can take a walk around the local area with your guide. Alternatively, you can relax and enjoy some leisure time at the camp.

Desert Adapted Elephant: In habitats with sufficient vegetation and water, an adult elephant consumes up to 300 kg of roughage and 230 liters of water daily. African elephants, along with other large mammals like black rhinoceroses and giraffes, can be found in the desert.

Their ranges extend from river catchments in northern Kaokoveld to northern Namib. Besides the Kunene River, seven river courses north of the Ugab provide routes across the desert to the Skeleton Coast. The largest rivers are the Hoarusib, Hoanib, Huab, and Ugab. Desert-adapted elephants in Kaokoland and the Namib travel farther for water and food than any other elephants in Africa, with distances between waterholes and feeding grounds reaching up to 68 km. Their typical home range is over 2,000 km², much larger than ranges in central Africa where rainfall is higher. They walk and feed at night and rest during the day, browsing 74 of the 103 plant species in their range.

These elephants are not a separate species or subspecies but an ecotype unique to Namibia, adapted to hyper-arid conditions. The only other elephants known to survive in similar conditions are in Mali, on the southwestern edge of the Sahara Desert.

Twyfelfontein: Located on a hillside among flat-topped red sandstone mountains, features around 2,500 prehistoric engravings depicting wildlife, animal tracks, and abstract motifs. It is perhaps the largest and finest collection of petroglyphs in Africa. The engravings show animals like elephants, giraffes, kudus, lions, rhinoceroses, springboks, zebras, and ostriches, which once drank from a fountain at the bottom of the hill. Some engravings depict footprints instead of hooves or paws, and the abstract motifs mainly consist of circles.

Stone tools and other artifacts found at Twyfelfontein suggest that hunter-gatherers occupied the site for about 7,000 years. Today, a local guide accompanies visitors to showcase the rock art along two circular routes: one taking an hour to climb and the other 40 minutes longer. Twyfelfontein is one of Namibia’s key National Monuments and a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Travel to Etosha National Park today and stay at the Etosha Oberland Lodge, located just a few kilometers south of the park entrance. Depending on your arrival time, you might be able to take a short afternoon game drive into Etosha National Park (returning to the lodge by sunset), or you can relax and enjoy the surroundings of your lodge as you settle in for dinner.

Etosha Oberland Lodge: Etosha Oberland Lodge, located at the southern entrance of Etosha National Park, offers a blend of luxury and privacy. An English garden surrounds the main house, which features a restaurant, pool, bar, and a cozy lounge with a fireplace. In the evening, a 4-course menu is served.

Large mopane trees provide many private spots with fantastic views of the wide grassy plain and the waterhole. Guests can watch various wildlife while enjoying a sundowner on the restaurant terrace after a day in Etosha National Park. The lodge’s spacious guesthouses are thoughtfully integrated into the natural surroundings, offering privacy with their secluded locations. The chalets and their terraces provide unique views of the savannah. Each house, covering approximately 75 m², boasts a tasteful design and stylish decor, ensuring an unforgettable stay.

Today, enjoy an exciting morning guided game drive in Etosha National Park to see a variety of game and bird species before returning to Etosha Oberland for a late lunch. You can then relax by the refreshing swimming pool before heading out again for an afternoon game drive, returning to the park before sunset.

Alternatively, you can spend the whole day in the park. You could have lunch at the Okaukuejo rest camp waterhole or enjoy a picnic while watching wildlife at a productive waterhole. After returning, you can spend the evening game viewing at the camp’s floodlit waterhole while having dinner.

Etosha National Park: Etosha National Park, known as the "Place of Mirages," "Land of Dry Water," or the "Great White Place," covers 22,270 km², with over 5,000 km² consisting of saline depressions or "pans." The largest of these, the Etosha Pan, can be considered a saline desert. It lies in the Owambo Basin on the northwestern edge of the Namibian Kalahari Desert.

Around three million years ago, the area was part of a large, shallow lake. When the Kunene River, which fed the lake, changed its course to flow into the Atlantic Ocean, the lake dried up, leaving a series of salt pans. If the lake existed today, it would be the third largest in the world. The Etosha Pan is the largest of these pans, covering 4,760 km².

Head south from Etosha National Park after breakfast, passing through the small towns of Outjo and Otjiwarongo. Then, stop at the Okonjima AfriCat Day Centre, a fantastic highlight of your safari. Okonjima is home to the AfriCat Foundation, a wildlife sanctuary dedicated to the research and rehabilitation of Africa's wildlife. You'll arrive in time for a late morning tour of the center. Learn about the AfriCat Foundation's mission and meet some of its special captive carnivore ambassadors. Lunch is provided afterward.

Please Note: This visit does not include tracking wild cats. You do have the option to extend your safari for an additional night or two at Okonjima Bush Camp. This affords you the opportunity to get a more in-depth insight into the work being done by the AfriCat Foundation as well as enjoy a range of activities on offer by the lodge including tracking wild cats. Please discuss this extension option with your trip planner.

After the excursion, continue south to arrive in Windhoek in the late afternoon, just as the sun sets. Upon arrival, you are transferred to your chosen accommodation or Windhoek International Airport (additional transfer booking required) if you have an evening flight. Departure flights must be no earlier than 9:00 PM to allow enough time for the AfriCat visit and the journey back to Windhoek. Alternatively, a final night in Windhoek can be arranged at an additional cost. It is highly recommended that you spend a final night in Windhoek.