Leopard
WELCOME TO CROWN TOURS AND SAFARIS NAMIBIA
Where else in the world can you do one tour (luxury or camping) and see two Deserts (Namib and Kalahari), Savannah (Etosha National Park), Panorama, and experience the true cultures of forgotten times – live skills of the Himba’s and Bushmen.
Day trekking program in 2009
Day 1:
Departure from your country to arrive the next day at Hosea Kutako International Airport
Day 2:
Hosea Kutako International Airport – Windhoek – Daan Viljoen Game Park
(70 km, driving on tar roads; 9km, Rooibos trail – 3 hours hiking)
You will arrive at Hosea Kutako International Airport, in the morning, where your guide will meet you. The airport is almost 40 kilometers outside Windhoek, so a short drive into the capital city of Namibia, Windhoek.
The City of Windhoek lies more or less on top of the central highland which is formed by the Khomas Hochland, the Eros and the Auas Mountains. It lies in the middle of Namibia ate the geographical position of about 22’35 south and 17’05 West and at an average altitude of about 1650 meters above see level.
A short city tour will be done of Windhoek’s most important buildings: Christus Kirche-The German Lutheran Church; Tintenpalast; Alte Feste; Reiter Standbild. This will be a 2 hour city tour before we take the road to Daan Viljoen, where we will have lunch ready for you.
In the afternoon we will do a short hike in the park, just to get the body working.
Your first dinner under the stars of Africa and time to get to know each other.
Lunch, Dinner
Camping at Daan Viljoen Game Park
Day 3:
Daan Viljoen Game Park – Windhoek – Rehoboth – Bullspoort – Naukluft Park
(295 km, 3-4 hours driving on tar and gravel roads)
After a slow start at the Daan Viljoen Game Park – stretch the legs and fresh air, we have to take the road towards Naukluft Mountain via Rehoboth via Bullspoort. If everything goes well we will be at our campsite in the Naukluft Park around early afternoon.
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Camping at Namib Naukluft Mountain
Day 4:
Naukluft Park – Naukluft Mountain – Waterkloof Trail
(17 km hiking in the Naukluft Mountain)
Waterkloof trail is a circular trail situated in the Naukluft Park. It takes about 6 to 7 hours to complete the 17-kilometer trail. It starts and ends at the office/campsite. You start by walking upstream in the Naukluft River through some beautiful gorges, often filled with rock pools after the rains. You have great scenery and the chance of seeing animals….Klipspringer as well as mountain zebra and a variety of birdlife and flora can be seen on this hike. Walking in general is easier than that of the Olive Trail. However, the distance and a steep climb or two make this one more difficult.
The ones that would like to explore a bit on there own in the afternoon after getting back at camp are welcome or you can relax while the guides prepare the dinner.
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Camping at Namib Naukluft Mountain
Day 5:
Naukluft Mountain – Camp in area of Sesriem – Sesriem Canyon
(174km, 2-3 hours of driving on gravel roads; 4 km hike in the canyon)
After we put camp up at our camping site near Sesriem area, we will drive to the Sesriem Canyon for a walk in it, towards the desert.
Sesriem Canyon:
At the entrance to Sossusvlei is Sesriem Canyon, where centuries of erosion have incised a narrow gorge about 1km in length. At the foot of the gorge, which plunges down for 30m to 40m, are deep pools of water, which become replenished after good rains. Sesriem derives its name from the time when early pioneers tied six lengths of rawhide together to draw water from these pools.
We will hike down the river for 4 km, just to keep the body working, so that tomorrow is not so hard.
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Camping in area of Sesriem
Day 6:
Camp in Sesriem Area – Sesriem – Dune 45 – Sossusvlei – Camp in Sesriem Area
Very early morning departure to Sossusvlei, the last 5 km we drive in 4×4 vehicles. We will start with Big Daddy. Then on to Sossusvlei after Dooie Vlei.
Sossusvlei:
This is a dune wonderland, with towering dunes up to 300m high surrounding a huge, dried-up pan. Dunes extend as far as the eye can see and their rich tints vary from pale apricot to vivid reds and oranges. During a good rainy season, the Tsauchab River flows into the pan, this creates a heaven for water birds. Even during the dry season, oryx, springbok and ostriches can be seen feeding off the sparse vegetation along the watercourse.
You will have the opportunity to climb the most well known dune, Dune 45, in the afternoon. We will spend the day climbing dunes and explore the desert all around us.
Brunch, Dinner
Camping in Sesriem Area
Day 7:
Camp in Sesriem Area – Solitaire – Namib Naukluft Park – Welwitchia Plains
(450 km, 6-7 hours of driving on gravel road)
We will start to make our way towards Swakopmund, with a welcome stop at Solitaire for Apple Pie, by Moase. En-route we drive through the heart of the Namib Desert. Experience the majesty and mystique of Namibia’s ‘Living Desert’, the Namib. Here, you will find bountiful sunshine, endless open spaces, and scenic beauty. Rust-red dunes are covered with golden long-stemmed grasses, and the myriad animals, birds and insects the desert supports provide endless fascination and wonder. Just before closing of today we will make a visit to the Welwitchia Mirabilis.
Welwitchia Mirabilis is a true Namib endemic and extends its range from the Kuiseb River into Namibia in Angola. There are some healthy populations on the plain outside Swakopmund, near the Swakop River.
The plants grows in washes and on gravel plains. It is protected under the Forest Ordinance. Because of its unusual taxonomic status, there are no similar-looking plants. The closest relative is a shrub of the American and Middle Eastern Deserts, Ephedra, which looks very different. The age of these plants has been another topic of great interest in the scientific world. Carbon-dating of medium-sized plants established ages of approximately 400 years, so the largest plants could quite plausible be a thousand years old.
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Camping at Namib Naukluft Park (Wild Camp)
Day 8:
Welwitchia Plains – Goanikontes Oasis – Swakopmund
(100km, 1hour driving; 12 km hike)
After break down of camp, we will drive a bit out of the river bed until there is 12 kilometers left for you to reach Goanikontes Oasis. Lunch will wait on you, before we drive via the tar road into Swakopmund. It is a beautiful landscape that you will walk on. If you fast glance on it, it looks if there is nothing there, but the moment you start to walk you can expect to see all these small plants and animals. While driving into Swakopmund you will be told about the history of the town and what to see on the way.
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner at restaurant
Swakopmund fixed accommodation
Day 9:
Swakopmund
To day is at own leisure in Swakopmund. There are many activities on offer, which you can book. E.g. flights over the Skeleton Coast/Sossusvlei etc, quad biking in the dune, intensive desert tour and many more. (All at own cost.) Remember to book in advance, the guide will tell you a bit more a few days before.
Scenic Flight: Skeleton Coast
Departing from Swakopmund, we head straight to fly over the Brandberg, Twyfelfontein and Damaraland. The flight continues along the Ugab riverbed in search for desert elephant, rhinos, giraffes and mountain zebras. Turning southbound, we fly along the Skeleton Coast, which is littered with whalebones and rust-eaten hulls of wrecked ships. The flight continues past Cape Cross seal reserve. Over 200 000 seals are to be found here. Passing Henties Bay and the salt works north of Swakopmund we fly back to Swakopmund.
Flight duration approximately 2-3 hours
Boat cruise in Walvis Bay:
08h30 – A 4 ½ hour-long boat cruise in the lagoon of Walvis Bay will put you into another world. Some pelicans and flamingos might be spotted – dolphins and seals swim along the boat, and there is the possibility of some seals jumping into the boat to be fed.
12h00 – Lunch with snacks, oysters and champagne will be served in the lagoon
Breakfast, Dinner at restaurant
Swakopmund fixed accommodation
Day 10:
Swakopmund – Henties Bay – Cape Cross – Henties Bay – Usakos
(350 km, 4-5 hours driving)
You had a day at leisure in Swakopmund, hope you enjoyed it. We depart to the northern side of Namibia all along the coast to visit the seals at Cape Cross.
Cape Cross:
The largest and best known of the 23 breeding colonies of Cape fur seals along the coast of South Africa and Namibia is the Cape Cross Seal Reserve north of Swakopmund. During the November/December breeding season, as many as 200 000 seals gather at Cape Cross. It was here that the Portuguese navigator, Diego Cao, erected a stone cross in 1486. Also at Cape Cross is a small lichen reserve where a relatively large variety of these interesting and slow-growing organisms is protected.
From Cape Cross, we will drive to a small village called Usakos, for the night.
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Usakos Camp Site
Day 11:
Usakos – Spitzkoppe – Uis – Dara-! Nawa Conservancy
(320 km, 3-4 hours driving must on gravel road; 8km climbing)
Early morning we will depart from Usakos, to reach the Spitzkoppe just at sunrise. We will spend the morning here climbing around. After lunch we will make our way to Dara-! Nawa via Uis. Here we will have a wild camp.
Spitzkoppe: The Gross Spitzkoppe together with the Pontok Mountains and the Klein Spitzkoppe represent a landmark in Namibia with a height of 1728 m.
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Camping wild
Day 12:
Dara-! Nawa Conservancy – Burn Mountain – Oral Pipes – Twyfelfontein – Aba-Huaba
(22km hiking, auto moves 45 km)
After breakfast and packing the vehicle, we will walk in Damaraland, towards the Burn Mountain.
Burn Mountain was of course never in flames, but in its formation, high temperatures played an important role. Huge amounts of basaltic magma were pushed into an adjacent layer of shale of the Ecca-Group because of the intensive Post-Karoo Volcanism in Damaraland about 125 million years ago.
If luck is on our side we can maybe see the Desert Elephant in a distance. From there on we visit the Valley of the Oral Pipes that is hidden in a small river bed.
In the Valley of Organ Pipes you can find a dolerite sill formed by magma tic events which affected large part of Damaraland about 125 million years ago. Although dolerites occur in many parts of the country, this outcrop shows something special to the visitor. The molten magma penetrated into the surrounding rock parallel to the rock layers, thus the dolerite is solidified into a group of homogeneously orientated columns which results in polygonal cross-sections, the “organ pipes”.
Then on to camp that will be in the Aba-Huaba Camp Site, the last bit we will walk next to the road.
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Aba-Huaba Camp Site
Day 13:
Aba-Huaba Camp – Twyfelfontein – Dara-! Nawa Conservancy
(15 km hike; auto moves 25km)
Early morning we pack up camp, have breakfast and start to walk to Twyfelfontein.
Twyfelfontein is world renowned for its beautiful rock engravings. The rocks tend to be eclipsed by the engravings and artwork, but they also give evidence of fascination events. It should not be overlooked that the engravings of Twyfelfontein were only made because of the extremely smooth and flat rock surface, which are of course of geological origin.
From here we will walk over a hill into the river where later in the day we will meet the auto again for the night.
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Camping wild
Day 14:
Wild Camp – Xaragus
(15 km hike; auto moves 20 km)
We will continue trekking in the Damaraland, Koakoveld towards camp Xaragus. All over hills, into rivers on our way looking for all the things that we would have missed by driving passed this beautiful nature.
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Camping at Xaragus
Day 15:
Xaragus – Petrified Forest – Khorixas – Kamanjab
(230 km, 2-3 hours driving on gravel road; 1 hour walk in Petrified Forest)
From Camp Xaragu we will drive again. Our first stop will be at the Petrified Forest.
The Petrified Forest, which was discovered in the 1940s, consists of fossil tree-trunks, which were imbedded into 270 million year-old sediments of the Ecca Group and which are visible on the surface today. These petrified plants show evidence of vast woodlands, which covered this part of Namibia a long time ago. The interested visitor might wonder whether the trees actually grew here at this arid site where they are now petrified. Geologists, however, have proved that the trees were transported by flowing water before they were deposited. Evidence for this is the lack of petrified anchoring roots. Further proof is that the trunks are lying parallel to each other.
From here we will make our way to Kamanjab, so that we can visit a Himba Village in the afternoon.
Himba Visit
Situated about 20 km outside of town, a guided tour around the village will not only give you an in depth insight into the life and ways of the last traditional tribe in Namibia, the Ova-Himba, but an amazing photographic opportunity as well.
You will experience the milking ceremony, the smoke bath, be informed on the beliefs around the holy fire, ancestors, and herbal medicine. You will also learn about the jewelry and hairstyles to imitate the status of each tribe member and their close relationship with nature, their cattle and children.
Jaco, is an Afrikaans speaking white male who was adopted into the Himba Culture by an old chief, Tjsikume Bhahona, who lives in the mountains at Ongkongo near Opuwo. He has lived with his Himba family and within the Himba Culture now for several years and speaks the language fluently.
Jaco decided to return to the farm just outside of Kamanjab where he still had herds of Nguni Cattle, goats and some sheep. Chief Tjsikume later asked Jaco if some of his people can come live on the farm to help him look after his goats and cattle. Part of the family then moved to the farm and built a traditional village to stay true to their culture.
Since then Jaco has adopted 28 children from poor and alcoholic families, unable to provide for these children and also of mothers that died due to birth complications. The income generated from these excursions, helps to sustain the tribe from day to day, buying food and supplies, medicine (if necessary), blankets and taking care of the 28 orphan children. He currently sends 5 of these children to the Kamanjab Combined School and the village is supporting their school and hostel fees.
Please take note that the orphan village is not for show nor a human zoo, you will be allowed inside these amazing peoples’ home and have a cultural exchange. Please respect their lives and ways as they would respect yours and in this way help preserve their culture, traditions, and day-to-day existence.
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Camping at Kamanjab
Day 16:
Kamanjab – Outjo – Etosha National Park
If it happened that we could not visit the Himba Village yesterday afternoon (because just a certain amount of people is allow to visit the village) then we still have the opportunity to do this in the morning.
From here the road will take us via Outjo to the Etosha National Park. But first we have to stop in Outjo to get fresh supplies for the days in Etosha National Park. We will stay inside the park, so that we have the opportunity to see the animals at the waterhole in the evenings.
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Camping at Etosha National Park
Day 17, 18:
Etosha National Park
We will do an early game drive into the park, come back for breakfast and go out again, till around lunch time. Be back in camp till later the afternoon and go out on another game drive. Hope to see a lot of animals during our drives.
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Camping at Etosha National Park
Day 19:
Etosha National Park – Outjo – Otjiwarongo – Okahandja – Windhoek
After a good breakfast, we will make our way back to the capital city, Windhoek. Before reaching it, we will stop at Okahandja at the woodcraft market. You are welcome to spend the rest of the day walking around in Windhoek.
Breakfast, Dinner at restaurant
Fixed accommodation
Day 20:
Windhoek – Hosea Kutako International Airport
Together we will have a late morning breakfast. Then you have time to spend in the city at the shops that is open on Sundays. Those of you who would like lunch it will be on your own. Then we will meet again so that we can depart in time for the airport.
Breakfast
Day 21:
Arrival back at your country
Reservations/ Enquiries: Hannelie: +264 (0) 81 260 23 40
SKYPE: hannelievanrhyn
Email Address: ctsn@iway.na
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