NAMIBIA, Land Of Contrasts
Following hot on the heels of our first safari to South Africa and Swaziland, we are proud to present our second safari for 2009 in conjunction with Nature Uncut Tours.
Tour dates: 28 October 2009 to 9 November 2009
Host: Nikongear.com & Dallas Dahms
Guide & Organiser: Pepe Jones - Nature Uncut
Group size: there is space for up to 8 participants plus Pepe & Dallas on this tour. We will be traveling in the Kalahari Ferrari (either one or two vehicles) which means that each participant will have their own row of seats, allowing for unobstructed shooting from windows on both sides of the vehicle.
Namibia is truly a remarkable country from a landscape photography perspective and this tour incorporates some of its most spectacular scenery - from the dramatic dunes of the Namib Desert to the world-famous Etosha Pan, teeming with large game and remarkable birdlife.
Beginning and ending in Windhoek, this 2-week tour includes the spectacular Sossusvlei, the mysterious Swakopmund coast, some of the unique rock formations which make Namibia famous, a search for the elusive desert elephants, the world-renowned Etosha National Park as well as the Africat Foundation at Okonjima, a unique wildlife experience where we track cheetahs and leopards in their natural habitat. This tour has been especially designed for photographers and aims to capture the beauty and diversity of this incredible ‘Land of Contasts’. The tour includes an optional balloon trip over the Namib Desert!
BASIC ITINERARY |
|
| Day |
Accommodation |
| |
1 Windhoek |
Amani Lodge/ similar |
| |
2 Sesriem |
Sossus Dune Lodge |
| |
3 Sesriem |
Sossus Dune Lodge |
| |
4 Swakopmund |
Atlantic Villa/ similar |
| |
5 Swakopmund |
Atlantic Villa/ similar |
| |
6 Damaraland |
Mowani Mountain Lodge |
| |
7 Damaraland |
Mowani Mountain Lodge |
| |
8 Okonjima Game Reserve |
Okonjima Bush Camp |
| |
9 Okonjima Game Reserve |
Okonjima Bush Camp |
| |
10 Etosha National Park |
Okaukuejo Rest Camp |
| |
11 Etosha National Park |
Halali Rest Camp |
| |
12 Etosha National Park |
Namutoni Rest Camp |
|
13 Flight Home |
|
Price*: R58 800 per person sharing
(Single supplement = R4 700)
Optional Namib Balloon Trip: R3500
Click here for XE.com currency conversion
* Price includes all accommodation, meals, transport, entrance fees, listed activities and guide fees. Price excludes international flight to and from Windhoek, beverages, laundry fees, any optional activities, gratuities and items of a personal nature (such as gifts and souvenirs).
Detailed Itinerary
DAY 1: Windhoek
After arrival at Windhoek International Airport we will enjoy a brief scenic tour of Windhoek, with its interesting colonial architecture, before making our way to Amani Lodge, with its spectacular views over the Khomas Hochland. Here you will have a chance to relax and freshen up after your flight. We plan to visit the nearby Daan Viljoen Nature Reserve in the early evening, where we will do a short drive or gentle walk. Hartmann’s mountain zebra, blue wildebeest, kudu, gemsbok, springbok, klipspringer, red hartebeest, impala and eland may be seen on our drive as well as numerous bird species, including Rockrunner, Monteiro’s Hornbill, Black-cheeked Waxbill and Maccoa Duck. In the evening we will dine at the popular Joe’s Beerhouse in Windhoek, especially renowned for its excellent game and German specialities.
After an early breakfast, we will begin our drive southwards to Sesriem, gateway to the magnificent Sossusvlei area. Sesriem is situated quite far south of Windhoek and will require a rather slow drive on some gravel roads to get there. The scenery en route is rewarding, however, and will offer some good photographic opportunities. Tonight we will be staying at the Sossus Dune Lodge, where we can watch the sunset over the dunes and enjoy a sumptuous dinner in this spectacular, tranquil setting.
Day 3: Sesriem
We will get an early start today (with a packed breakfast) so that we can photograph the spectacular sunrise over the red dunes en route to Sossusvlei - nothing quite compares to seeing these dunes at sunrise, with their rich red tones contrasting with deep, dark shadows. After viewing and photographing these dunes, we will be shuttled to Sossusvlei by 4x4 where we can explore on foot the spectacular Deadvlei and Sossusvlei pans. We will return to the lodge for lunch. In the afternoon we will visit the nearby Sesriem canyon – small, but surprisingly picturesque.
This morning you have the option of being collected from the lodge ½ hour before sunset (weather permitting) to embark on a once-in-a-lifetime balloon trip over the world’s oldest desert. You will soar with the winds for approximately one hour over the dunes and mountains of the Namib, watching the sun rise and enjoying some incredible photographic opportunities! After landing, you will be given a champagne breakfast, followed by a 4x4 nature drive back to the lodge. Alternatively, if you would prefer not to participate in the balloon trip, we will make our way to Deadvlei to photograph this pan with its atmospheric dead trees at sunrise – a landscape photographer’s paradise. After our morning excursions, we will make our way north west to the Namib Coast. In the afternoon we will explore Swakopmund by foot, with its unique German architecture. Swakopmund offers some of the best-preserved examples of German colonial architecture in the world. We will dine at a renowned seafood restaurant, in a restored tug boat overlooking the sea.
Today we embark on a guided excursion to Walvis Bay Lagoon and Sandwich Harbour - key nesting sites for thousands of visiting and resident birds, including record numbers of Flamingos, Plovers, Terns and Pelicans. Our first stop is at 'Bird Rock'- a guano island inhabited by up to 200 000 birds. We then cross barren salt pans and vegetation covered hummock dunes, sheltering small groups of Springbok, Ostrich, Jackal and Brown Hyena. The journey is as dramatic as the landscape, and it soon becomes clear why Sandwich Harbour is often described as inaccessible! Spring tides and shifting sands ensure an unpredictable route, but as we approach the towering, wind-sculptured dunes at the edge of Sandwich Harbour, there is a sense of entering a different world. Here we can take a leisurely walk around the lagoon to photograph the dramatic scenery and birdlife, and we may also see seals, dolphins or possibly whales. After our return to Walvis Bay, we will dine at a local steakhouse.
After breakfast we head up the coast to Wlotzkasbaken, an unusual desert town with strange and colourful architecture. The buildings can produce some interesting photographs in the early morning. We then continue to the Cape Cross Seal Reserve (which opens at 10am), the largest breeding colony of Cape fur seals on the Southern African coast. At the peak of the breeding season (in November and December) as many as 200 000 seals can be seen here. This is also the site where Portuguese navigator Diego Cáo landed in 1486 and erected a stone cross in honour of John II of Portugal. We then continue via the Brandberg (Namibia’s highest mountain at 2570m) to Mowani Mountain Camp. Here you can soak up the sun at the pool deck (lodged between the boulders) or enjoy a refreshing drink while admiring the breathtaking views.
Today we will embark on a guided nature drive in search of the famous desert elephants. These elusive creatures are found mainly in the Kaokoland and Damaraland regions of northwest Namibia and inhabit the ancient riverbeds found here. Desert Elephants are well-adapted to living in the extreme desert conditions and move great distances between their feeding grounds and waterholes. In the afternoon we will explore the historical site of Twyfelfontein, with its numerous Bushman engravings and paintings. This wonderful archaeological site offers more than 2,500 engravings as well as various paintings, and probably presents the finest example of rock engravings in Southern Africa.
In the morning you have the option of visiting a nearby Himba village (optional activity), of particular interest to those who may wish to photograph these beautiful people. We will then make our way towards Okonjima, home to The AfriCat Foundation. This is a non-profit organisation committed to the long-term conservation of Namibia's large carnivores, especially cheetahs and leopards. Here we will have the opportunity of tracking cheetahs and leopards by foot or vehicle. These magnificent animals are generally exceptionally difficult to see in the large game parks of Southern Africa such as Etosha or Kruger National Park, so this may be a unique opportunity to see these creatures in their natural habitat. After afternoon tea, we will ‘radio-track’ Leopards from game-viewing vehicles. The leopards roam freely and catch their own prey within the 4000 ha rehabilitation area. After dinner, we will visit the nocturnal hide where we hope to spot night creatures such as porcupines, honey badgers and caracal.
Today, we embark on the San/ Bushman Trail, an easy walking trail where you will learn the art of making traditional artefacts and be taught the survival techniques of the San people. After brunch we will explore the lodge grounds, where we hope to identify some of the more than 250+ bird species in the area, including Namibian endemics such as Carp’s Black Tit, Hartlaub’s Francolin and the Damara Rock Runner. After afternoon tea we will visit the Cheetah Project, where we can photograph these incredible and endangered creatures. After dinner, we will again have the opportunity to visit the night hide.
DAY 10 - DAY 12: OKONJIMA TO ETOSHA
This morning we participate on foot in the radio-tracking of rehabilitated cheetahs. We will then make our way into Etosha National Park, one of Southern Africa's finest Game Reserves. Etosha covers an area of 22 270 km and is home to 114 mammal species and 340 bird species. Etosha, meaning "Great White Place", is dominated by a massive mineral pan, which forms part of the Kalahari Basin. The pan is generally a large dusty depression of salt and clay, which fills up only if the rains are heavy. The perennial springs along the edges of the Etosha Pan draw large concentrations of wildlife and birds. We will be spending 3 nights at Etosha (one night at each of the main camps) where we hope to see a host of large and small mammals including elephant rhino, lion, buffalo and wildebeest, as well as a number of special Namibian bird species, such as Kori Bustard, Common Ostrich, Crimson-breasted Shrike (Namibia’s national bird), Pygmy Falcon, Red-necked Falcon, raptors, vultures and owls, Double-banded Courser, Southern Pied Babbler and more. In the evenings, we can enjoy sitting at the floodlit waterholes at the camps. These waterholes attract interesting night creatures and there is a slim chance of seeing leopard at Halali.
After an early morning drive we will exit the park and make our way south. We will stop en route at Otjikoto Lake, meaning ‘deep hole’ in Herero, an elliptical sink hole with a diameter of 150m and a depth of 55m. This remarkable natural phenomenon is home to the colourful Otjikoto chichlid, an endemic fish occurring only in the Otjiikoto and Guinas Lakes. In 1915, retreating German forces dumped a large part of their weaponry in the lake, including ammunition, cannons and machine guns, much of which has been recovered. We plan to reach Windhoek in the late afternoon, where you will be transferred to the airport to catch your flight home.
Booking Information
To book your place in the safari group for this tour please send an email to dallas@nikongear.com. We will send you a booking form to complete and return to us, together with details of the tour deposit and payment terms.
About Nature Uncut
Nature Uncut Tours was established in 2006 and specialises in customised, small-group safaris with a particular focus on wildlife and photography. Based in Cape Town, Nature Uncut currently offers tours throughout South Africa, Swaziland, Namibia and Madagascar. Visiting the main tourist attractions of the region as well as selected cultural activities, their tours always include areas of superior natural beauty and interest.
Lodges have been carefully selected for quality, comfort, excellent hosts and beautiful settings, and are usually moderately luxurious i.e. 4 star. All tours are guided by qualified, THETA-registered guides with a background in natural history and or photography. Since they cater mainly for small groups, Nature Uncut will ensure that you receive an in-depth and personal tour experience. They are members of the Southern Africa Tourism Services Association (SATSA) and the Namibia Tourism Board (NTB), and all guests are protected by the SATSA financial guarantee. Nature Uncut aims to promote tourism in a responsible and ethical manner and they support responsible tourism ventures wherever possible.
Pepe Jones, owner of Nature Uncut Tours, obtained a BSc Honours degree in Environmental Science and Archaeology at the University of Cape Town in 1998. She worked as an Environmental Scientist for four years before joining a birding tour company as a guide and joint operations manager. In July 2006 she started Nature Uncut Tours, offering customised wildlife and photographic safaris in Southern Africa. She is a Professional Natural Scientist, a THETA-registered tour guide and an amateur wildlife photographer. She is passionate about nature and her tours generally focus on all aspects of the natural environment (including mammals, birdlife, geography and ecology) as well as local culture and history.
About Dallas Dahms
After spending more than a decade in banking and marketing, Dallas decided to quit the corporate world and chase a rainbow of his own making in 2001. He has worked as a freelance professional photographer since 2002 and was one of the early adopters of digital technology at the time. His career as a photographer has seen him cover much ground, starting with Super 12 rugby matches, A1 Grand Prix, live shows, corporate functions and conferences, advertising and most recently interior photography. He has also been an official United Nations photographer.
About Nikongear.com
Dallas launched the Nikongear.com website in late 2005, shortly after the launch of the Nikon D200. A natural progression of site development has been to begin offering safaris to Nikongear members. There are plans afoot to offer not only African safaris, but also trips to lands afar.
W O R K S H O P S
