Etosha National Park & Himba People Safari
Trip Dates: August 28 – September 6, 2012 8 participants – Guided photo safari
*Dates are flexible when reserved exclusively for family/group needs
Duration: 10 days, 9 nights
Photo Safari Investment
The investment for this all-inclusive, exclusive guided photo safari to Namibia is USD $ 6,500 based on 2 people sharing.
- USD $6,500 guided photo safari (find scheduled dates above)
*The Safari is limited to 8 people. It is open to the public until it is filled or reserved exclusively for your own group of friends or family.
What is Included
- Park entrance fees
- Vehicle – Guide
- Optimal photographic opportunities to expand your portfolio
- meals (Breakfast, lunch, dinner)
- Non-alcoholic beverages
- Game drives at Etosha and Huab Lodge
- Airport transfer shuttle services
We have tailored the traditional safari to meet the requirements of a photographer. There will only be 3 people in each of our private vehicles at Etosha National Park giving you a chance to utilize the guide and tracker system to its fullest.
What do you need to cover?
- International flights.
- Tips – In Etosha I recommend $20 per day per person, $10 to your guide, $5 to the tracker, and $5 to the staff, when it applies.
- Any additional accommodation /safari services outside of the itinerary
- Personal purchases
- Travel Insurance – The camps require that you have comprehensive travel insurance with medical coverage. I sell Travel Guard and can assist with a policy or you are welcome to secure your own.
- Health Precautions – I recommend a visit to a travel clinic. This itinerary does not cross into malarial areas.
Booking process:
If you are interested in booking this incredible safari, then please contact Jeremy at jermibia@wildsafariafrica.com. Space is limited for the specified departure, so booking early is essential.
Once you are ready to commit, I will put you in touch with our dedicated safari planner. They will deal with the payment process, in addition to any or reservation or flight assistance you may require.
Handled by a dedicated safari planner.
Our safari planner is Jeremy Allen from Wild Safari Africa. Once in his capable hands, he will act as your main contact for payment and any scheduling.
Jeremy will be able to extend your safari, book your international airfare and any overnight stays that you may require.
Early Booking Special
If you book prior to January 31st 2012, you will receive a $250 discount per person off the quoted price.
Days 2, 3, 4, 5 – Etosha National Park
In 2007, Etosha celebrated its first 100 years of existence and continues to be one of Africa’s best game parks. Viewing Africa’s large game populations against the Etosha Pan backdrop is like no other experience found in Africa.
The Etosha Pan, the parks definitive feature, is an immense, shallow depression of some 5,000 km² of dry, white sun beaten mud. Mirages shimmer in the distance while game animals stride across the desolate lands looking completely out of place.
Throughout most of the year the area is dry, giving rise to the name ‘the Great White Place of Dry Water.’ When the rains begin, the oshanas in Owamboland drain into the pan, creating an important breeding ground for flamingos. Like that of the Okavango Delta, the life giving power of water is incredibly apparent with the onset of rains. The pan quickly becomes a vast lake teeming with grasses and wild flowers, while elephants gracefully stride through. There are a total of 114 species of mammals, including the rare and endangered black rhino, cheetah, and black-faced impala. The only animals that are not found in Etosha are the hippo and crocodile. Almost every other animal can be found roaming the park. There are also about 340 different species of birds including the ostrich and secretary birds.
The best places to see game during the dry season is at one of the parks thirty something waterholes. During the rainy season the animals are hidden behind the dense vegetation and congregate around natural depressions and puddles only present during this season. Nevertheless, it is almost guaranteed to see lion, plains game, giraffe, and other big cats when visiting Etosha. The leopard is a rarity, and if you are extremely lucky you may even witness a predator kill.
Waterholes
Etosha Park hosts several different types of waterholes. Small lakes, depressions, and pans quickly fill during the rainy season and make water available in all areas of the park. During these months, sightings of animals decrease significantly, simply because they are not forced to drink at only a few selected waterholes. Although during the dry months, waterholes are a busy place for all animals, thus increasing your chances to see more types of species. There are five different types of waterholes found in Etosha.
Natural shallow depressions, known in the area as pans, easily collect water during the rainy season. During these months water dependent animals have plenty of opportunity to drink at waterholes at Etosha Park. These waterholes begin to fill as early as October and will completely dry by June. Occasionally depressions will be deep enough to come in contact with the natural water table, called water table springs. They vary from year to year, depending on the amount of rain fall. Animals have been known to dig these depressions deeper to find water, proving to be both successful and crafty.
Natural contact springs are numerous throughout the park. A contact spring happens when water seeps out of layers of rock, and are entirely reliant on the rainy season to keep them active. During drought years, these springs (waterholes at Etosha) dry and become nonexistent.
Artesian springs are formed when pressure within the underlying rock forces water to the surface. During the rainy season the water finds a way into the underlying rock, where porous rocks are cramped between impermeable rocks. The impermeable rocks keep the pressure high, and when the water is abundant it finds a way to the surface thus creating an artesian spring.
Artificial waterholes have been created and maintained by the park services. This is done by drilling a borehole at select locations. These waterholes at Etosha Park receive water from deep within the ground and are propelled to the surface by wind, diesel, and solar power.
Days 6, 7 – Kaokoland, Home of the Himba People
Nestled in the low-lying surrounding hills, Opuwo is an Otjihereo word meaning ‘the end.’ This small frontier town grew out of nothing when the South African Defense Force established a military base in order to launch expeditions into the surrounding area. Today, Opuwo is the gateway to Kaokoland and home to the mysterious Himba people who have maintained their original identity and culture for centuries. Himba congregate in town, walking from surrounding villages, often for many kilometers, to replenish supplies and trade goods. Some Himba have even made Opuwo their permanent home, leaving their traditional nomadic lifestyle behind in hopes for a more centralized life based on a money economy. Many make small incomes with selling their crafts and jewelry, in addition to charging tourists for taking their photo. Walking through town, it is easy to see the influence the outside world has had on the people. Himba men often dress in a mix between their traditional ’skirts’ topped with a western shirt and ball cap. The dusty town with flocks of people and the fresh scent of the Himba women’s ochre, beautifully decorated in their traditional animal skin-wear, take you back in time to a world that is sadly, slowly fading away. Although the Himba elders are determined not to deter away from tradition, it is the school children who are challenging tradition with Western dress and modern amenities. Herero are also very prevalent and the two groups create a community that is something special.
Days 8, 9, 10 – Huab Lodge, Tracking Desert Elephant
It was once thought the elephant found in Kaokoland, the elusive desert elephant, were of a different species. Its longer legs, bigger feet, and incredible ability to withstand periods of drought all gave valid reasons to think so. Today, however, it is not considered a different species, rather regarded as only ‘desert adapted.’ The herds in this area remain separate from other elephant herds in Namibia and only appear to have longer legs and bigger feet because they eat less than elephants living in more food abundant areas such as Etosha National Park, the Caprivi, and Chobe region in Botswana.
The desert elephant are truly incredible survivalists, claiming a three-thousand square kilometer range and regularly traveling up to two hundred kilometers in search of water. They only drink every three or four days, compared with elephant in Etosha drinking one-hundred to two-hundred liters of water a day. They also seem to be more environmentally conscience than other elephants. Unlike other elephants, the desert adapted elephant rarely knock over trees, break branches, or tear away bark, as if knowing if they do so their food will be less than what it was before.
They are commonly roaming the dry riverbeds of the westward flowing Huab, Hoanib, Hoarusib, and Khumib rivers. It is along these riverbeds the animals find the occasional spring fed waterhole and most of their nutrient rich foods: mopane bark, tamarisk, reeds, and the pods, bark, and leaves of the ana tree. On a typical day, desert elephants travel up to sixty kilometers over rocky, difficult terrain between feeding areas and waterholes. When water is truly scarce, as in times of drought, they dig holes, commonly known as gorras, in the dry riverbeds. Water seeps up from below the surface creating a much needed water source for themselves, and other animals in the area.
Your Itinerary in Detail
Day 1 – Arrive Windhoek
Olive Grove is a boutique establishment, located near the city centre in a quiet and peaceful area. Its popularity makes for this to be one of the most sought after places of accommodation in all of Windhoek. Each room caters for every need even for the most astute traveler –the guesthouse motto, simplicity and elegance.
The inside lounge has comfortable chairs and a welcoming fireplace. Guests are free to use their computer to email and upload photographs from their digital camera. The bar offers a large selection of drinks and beverages to choose from – beer, wine, and cool drinks.
The open-air lounge, spa bath, plunge pool and tranquil garden, all invite the visitor to unwind and relax, either under a warm Namibian afternoon or a beautiful, star-lit sky.
Receive professional services and therapies from Olive Grove’s wellness room, designed to de-stress and recuperate guests whether after a long flight to country or and the end of a thrilling adventurous holiday, the resident therapist will rejuvenate and invigorate all who seek their “magical” powers –hot stone treatments, Swedish messages, facials, manicures, reflexology, and much more balanced induced treatments!
Each room has remote controlled air-conditioning, direct dial telephones, multi-channel satellite television, tea/coffee making facilities, a mini-bar, snack bar and a private wall-mounted safe. One of Olive Grove’s main features is the large veranda in front of every room, with tables and chairs for ‘al fresco’ dining.
Residents of the guesthouse can enjoy lunch or dinner on the verandah, and meals can be complemented with a hand-picked selection of fine South African wines.
Day 2-5: Okaukuejo Camp at Etosha National Park
Okaukuejo is 114kms north of Outjo on the C38. This road leads you right to Etosha Park’s Andersson’s Gate – and from here it is only a few ‘game viewing’ kilometers to Okaukuejo. It is the oldest tourist camp in Etosha and it currently functions as the administrative hub of the park as well as being home to the Etosha Ecological Institute. It is situated at the western end of the Etosha Pan.
The main attraction of this camp is that it overlooks a permanent waterhole, which is floodlit at night. Here a wide diversity of wildlife congregates and interacts. The spectacle starts at dawn, with animals coming in large numbers to quench their thirst. The excitement continues throughout the day and deep into the night. In the early evenings, it is not uncommon to have black rhinoceros, elephant and lion, all drinking at the same time.
There is a bar, shop, swimming pool and a kiosk. The restaurant provides a choice of a buffet or ‘a la carte’ menus.
Okaukuejo is the main area of tourist activity inside Etosha, but visitors can also choose to stay at either Halali, Namutoni or Onkoshi Camp. All four of these camps are operated by Namibia Wildlife Resorts and have the advantage of being inside the Etosha National Park. Alternatively, you might like to enquire about several other private lodges around Etosha.
Join one of the morning, afternoon or night game drives (nigh drives not included in investment) around Etosha. Game viewing is best done in the cool of the early morning or late afternoon.
Day 6-7: Opuwo Country Hotel, Kaokoland
Opuwo Country Hotel is situated on a hilltop, north-west of the bustling town of Opuwo. It overlooks the surrounding valleys and mountains and is an ideal base to explore Kaokoland. The hotel was officially opened by His Excellency, Hifikipunyu Pohamba on the 25th August 2005.
Opuwo is the gateway to Namibia’s Kaokoveld region. This remote area, south of the Kunene river, is home to the Himba; people who have kept their ethnic individuality and culture, whilst surviving in the seclusion of Kaokoland.
The hotel has a dining room, bar, lounge, wine cellar, curio shop, patio and swimming pool. Breakfast, lunch and dinner are normally served buffet style, but guests are welcome to order from the ‘a la carte’ menu if they prefer. Snacks can be ordered throughout the day.
Accommodation is in 28 luxury or 12 standard rooms. They all have en-suite bathrooms and air-conditioning. Each room is overshadowed by the majestic, thatched main building.
Activities include a guided excursion to an authentic Himba village, Epupa Falls trip, pioneer track hikes, and rural self-drive trips can also be arranged.
Opuwo Country Hotel was awarded the Hospitality Association of Namibia’s annual Award of Excellence in Silver for the year 2007/08.
Namibian cuisine, rich culture, magnificent views, beautiful surroundings and outstanding hospitality, will remain with their guests for years to come.
Day 8-10: Tracking Desert Adapted Elephant at Huab Lodge
Huab Lodge began as an idea to generate funds to save the desert-dwelling elephant from being harassed and shot. The original farmland was in a small area called Monte Carlo, which boasts stunning views, bisected by the mostly dry Huab River.
The Huab Conservation Trust was set up to protect the habitat of the desert elephant and other animals originally found in the area, from ever-expanding human activities. The Trust is actively bringing back the wildlife, which belongs on the banks of the river.
The lodge was erected on a special site just down river from the old rest camp, where the Germans built the so-called German Bath in the late 1800′s. Despite its size, the unique main building blends well into its surroundings. The irregular thatch roof mirrors a mountain on the opposite bank. The stone and thatch bungalows spread along the elevated north bank of the river, ensuring a private and magnificent view – even from the shower!
The main building at Huab Lodge has an enormous thatch roof with open sides, giving their guests the impression of being on the outside, but well in the shade! There is a cozy seating arrangement, with a well-assorted reference library, not to mention a photographic collection of Haub Lodge’s guests. A permanent coffee and tea bar is laid out here.
The long dining table and some other tables and chairs are made of heavy Rhodesian Teak sleepers. The easy chairs have colourful handmade cushions. Natural rock islands protrude into this area and have been decorated with somewhat rather curious details. A small curio shop and the bar fill up the remaining space.
Meals are enjoyed with the hosts at the family table, an ideal situation to make friends and exchange opinions and stories. In true Huab Lodge tradition, a variety of some less well-known South Africa wines are presented ceremoniously each evening for guests to appreciate and enjoy.
Accommodation is in 8 spacious, stone and thatch bungalows, sleeping a maximum of 16 guests. They all have a large private patio, and include a separate en-suite toilet, two hand-wash basins with mirrors. Even the shower has a view! Each room has two king size beds, and large windows enable an abundance of natural light to stream inside. The view across to the Huab River from here is wonderful. Tea and coffee making facilities are set out. Mosquito nets, a ceiling fan, and a torch are also on hand, as well as biologically degradable soaps and shampoo.
The 24hr, 220v power supply comes from the silent solar energy plant concealed on the hill.
Use of the swimming pool with its decorative island is recommended, and you can also enjoy a wallow in the thermal spring, which contains soothing and healing minerals.. The temperature fluctuates around 37 to 39 degrees Centigrade, and the pool is shaded by an attractive thatch roof. There is a cool plunge-pool next to the thermal spring. A secluded bird-bath makes this a prime spot for birders.
Huab Lodge has an aroma therapist who offers reflexology and aromatherapy massages in the privacy of the bungalow or at the thermal spring. These treatments have proved extremely popular with their guests since its inclusion.
Activities include morning and afternoon game drives and early morning guided walks.
Day 10: Windhoek
One night at Olive Grove Guesthouse and end tour.
There is a paramount need in Africa. We at Wild Safari Africa support a number of sustainable causes helping the people in the countries we visit. For every client who visits Africa with us, we donate US$25 to Empower Women in Africa, Inc.