7 Day Northern Namibia and Skeleton Coast Camping Safari

Overview

Day by day itinerary

1. 1Mount Etjo Game Reserve⌄

   We meet all together for brief pre-departure talk at Chameleon Headquarters before departing Windhoek.

   We stop briefly at the Okahandja Wood carving markets. Woodcarvers from all over Namibia, who practice their ancient skill, come here to sell their goods. This is the perfect opportunity to practice your haggling skills all while supporting the local community.

   Our next stop Mount Etjo Game Reserve, who’s mission has been to make significant contributions to conservation, at the same time trying to ensure the survival of Namibia’s black and white Rhino`s in their natural habit. We aim to arrive at camp before lunch, giving us ample time to set up camp and enjoy lunch before we join the afternoon activity. This afternoon you have an game drive on the reserve looking for some of the rhino`s that was saved by the hard work of Mount Etjo Rhino Trust . We end our, afternoon game drive on the reserve while enjoying a Namibian sunset.

   Meals: Lunch: Picnic style lunch · Dinner: A different dish each night – curries, pasta, braai (BBQ), stirfries etc

   Overnight: Overnight camping at Mount Etjo campsite

2. 2Etosha National Park⌄

   We depart from camp after a leisurely breakfast and stop briefly at Otjiwarongo, a small town north of Mount Etjo to gather some fresh supplies, before continuing on to Etosha National Park, one of Southern Africa’s premier wildlife areas.

   Upon entering the gate, we start our search for wildlife. We enjoy a short game drive through to Okaukuejo, where we set up our camp and enjoy a delicious lunch, before heading out on an afternoon game drive. Etosha is unlike any other, and our game drives take us from waterhole to waterhole in search of predators as well as plains game, birds and if we are lucky, even reptiles. We return to camp just before sunset, and whilst dinner is cooking, we have the chance to visit the excellent floodlit waterhole where rhino, elephant, giraffe, lion and hyena are frequent visitors. Dinner is prepared by our guide over an open fire.

   Meals: Breakfast: Varieties of cereal, yoghurt or seasonal Fruits, toast with a choice of toppings, tea/coffee · Lunch: Picnic style lunch · Dinner: A different dish each night – curries, pasta, braai (BBQ), stirfries etc

   Overnight: Overnight camping at Okaukuejo campsite

3. 3Etosha National Park⌄

   We start our first game drive at sunrise, to catch many of the predators still active, visiting various waterholes, making our way across the park, where we enjoy breakfast at one of the (fenced) picnic spots within the park.

   We make our way across the park to Halali, the central camp, where we can take a dip in the pool, visit the waterhole and enjoy lunch.

   After lunch we continue our journey arriving at the Etosha Pan “great white place” where we can get out of the vehicle and experience this 4500 sq km “saline desert” before continuing our game drive back to Okaukuejo to look for the Big 4.

   We arrive at camp by sunset and can enjoy our last night camping in Etosha, and a visit to the waterhole after dinner is highly recommended.

   Meals: Breakfast: Varieties of cereal, yoghurt or seasonal Fruits, toast with a choice of toppings, tea/coffee · Lunch: Cold meats and fresh salads with bread rolls or soup and bread in winter · Dinner: A different dish each night – curries, pasta, braai (BBQ), stirfries etc

   Overnight: Overnight camping at Okaukuejo campsite

4. 4Palmwag Campsite, Kunene Region⌄

   Another early start where we can take in a spectacular sunrise whilst having breakfast and enjoy a final game drive as we exit the park.

   After a short drive we arrive at the Otjikandero Himba Village. The Himba people are one of the last tribes in Namibia who still embrace their traditional culture and customs and during a guided tour around the village we will have the chance to not only gain an in-depth insight into the Himba way of life, but to get to know the Himba people to share a little of our own culture with them.

   After our visit to the Himba village we continue to the Palmwag Campsite. Here we set up camp and have a leisurely afternoon watching the sunset and hopefully spot a Desert Elephant. Dinner is prepared by our guide over an open fire.

   Meals: Breakfast: Varieties of cereal, yoghurt or seasonal fruits, toast with a choice of toppings, tea/coffee · Lunch: Picnic style lunch · Dinner: A different dish each night – curries, pasta, braai (BBQ), stirfries etc

   Overnight: Overnight camping at Palmwag campsite

5. 5Spitzkoppe Damaraland⌄

   Today our adventure today takes us all the way to the Atlantic Ocean and our final destination at Cape Cross. We travel westwards through to the Skeleton Coast, where we enter the Skeleton Coast National Park. The coast line itself is a very hostile but a fascinating area known for its numerous shipwrecks over the years, all victims of the thick fog, unpredictable currents and rough seas.

   We arrive at Cape Cross mid-afternoon. The reserve is home to one of the world’s largest breeding colony of Cape fur seals and during breeding season (November-December) up to a 200 000+ seals can be spotted basking on the beach, certainly a sight and smell to behold.

   Known as the “Matterhorn of Namibia,” Spitzkoppe is a breathtaking granite mountain range rising dramatically from the desert floor. Camping here offers a unique experience under vast star-filled skies, surrounded by striking rock formations. The campsites are rustic but well-situated, blending naturally into the landscape, with stunning sunrise and sunset views. It’s an ideal spot for photography, stargazing, hiking, and soaking in Namibia’s raw natural beauty.

   Meals: Breakfast: Varieties of cereal, yoghurt or seasonal Fruits, toast with a choice of toppings, tea/coffee · Lunch: Picnic style lunch · Dinner: A different dish each night – curries, pasta, braai (BBQ), stirfries etc

   Overnight: Overnight camping at Cape Cross campsite

6. 6Swakopmund on the Skeleton Coast⌄

   We pack up camp, enjoy breakfast overlooking Spitzkoppe raw beauty and heading back to the coast.

   We continue travelling back to the coast, stopping to view the Zeila Shipwreck, one of the latest victims of the Skeleton Coast from as recent as 2007.

   We arrive in Swakopmund early afternoon and have plenty of time to explore this quaint little town on foot, or join one of the optional activities on offer from skydiving to quad biking and more. Dinner tonight is at own expense in one of Swakopmund’s excellent restaurants and our guide will be happy to make recommendations or bookings depending on what we feel like.

   Meals: Breakfast: Varieties of cereal, yoghurt or seasonal Fruits, toast with a choice of toppings, tea/coffee

   Overnight: Overnight in twin share rooms at Hotel A La Mer

7. 7Windhoek⌄

   We depart Swakopmund around 10am this morning and head south through to Walvis Bay where we visit the famous Walvis Bay Lagoon. The lagoon is a well known feeding site to a collection of water birds, most impressively the greater and lesser known flamingos.

   From Walvis bay, we start the journey back to Windhoek. As we travel back we will see the Spitzkoppe in the distance, Namibia's very own matterhorn. Spitzkoppe is home to a population of Damara people that make their living from the small scale mining of semi-precious stones. Time permitting we can stop at their small crystal market and have the chance to learn more about how they mine, and what treasures can be found in the mountain. We arrive back in Windhoek late afternoon returning to Chameleon Backpackers. Those staying elsewhere will be dropped at their accommodation.

   Meals: Breakfast: Variety of cereals, yoghurt, fruit, toast and cooked breakfast. Tea/coffee & juice. · Lunch: Picnic Style Lunch