Southern Cross Glamping Safari

Arrival, Windhoek

On arrival at the Hosea Kutako International Airport situated just 40 kms outside Windhoek, you are met by your English-speaking Transfer Service before you proceed on the short journey to the Rental Vehicle Depot.

At the Depot you will receive a comprehensive vehicle handover with safety and operating instructions.
Thereafter you set off on the first leg of your Namibian Safari, heading towards the mountain-encircled City of Windhoek and turning off to your Lodge for the first night’s stay just outside the city limits. You are almost certain to see a variety of bird and wildlife on this short jurney already!

Arrive at the lodge, check in and relax after your long flight. Your comfortable and cool rooms, the vast deck, pool area and bar plus the spacious indoor lounge all offer space to rejuvenate and a truly incredible view. On three sides there are mountains and valleys, while the distant mountains in the west flank the city limits. At night, the city lights twinkling in the distance will compete with the bright night sky abve Windhoek – even above the largest city in the country, the stars are clearly visible and a truly awesome sight to behold.

Windhoek is considerably enhanced by stately historic buildings built in the German architectural style of the turn of the century.

One can visit the ‘Tintenpalast’ and the Christuskirche, plus all along Independence Avenue you will see the old colonial houses next to the buildings of the modern, post-independence Namibia.

Dinner, Bed and Breakfast, River Crossing Lodge

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Windhoek – Namib Desert

Breakfast precedes today‘s journey, onwards into the South and the vast and contrasting Namib Desert region. Travelling via Mariental and Maltahöhe, you reach your breathtaking destination in the Namib Naukluft Park region in the early afternoon.

Considered possibly the oldest desert in the world, the Namib was already arid at least 80 million years ago. In the south it extends into South Africa across the Orange River, while in the north it crosses the Kunene into Angola. The greater part of the Namib lies inside Namibia, where it occupies some 1500km of Atlantic coastline. In width it generally varies between 80 and 140 km, but in places reaches inland for as much as 200 km. The Namib sand dunes, some of which are 300 metres high and span 32 kilometres (20 mi) long, are the second largest in the world.

Some hours later, turn off the main gravel road onto a track hewn into the rocky ground and appearing to disappear straight into the looming mountain face. As the gradient starts to climb, you follow the now winding road over the rounded mountain slopes, until the Desert Hills Glamping Camp appears before you in a virtually barren landscape of mountains and valleys.

Your hosts will greet you, help you unload your luggage and check you in to the surprising comfort of you tented chalet ,with an unequalled view in the desert solitude. Evening sundowners while you view the incredible Namibian desert sunset will undoubtedly be memorable, before a sumptious and delicious dinner.

Dinner, Overnight, Breakfast & Lunch Desert Hills Glamping Camp

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Namib Desert

This day is yours to spend at your leisure, in appreciation of the beauty and splendour of your surroundings and this wonderful camp. Desert Hills Glamping Camp is nestled behind the mountains that flank a vast swathe of arid earth including a stretch of the Tsauchab River, plus the ever-shifting, land-altering Hebron Vault. This was an area in which for the ancient SAN people danced about their adventures together within the glow of their evening fires, surrounded by their yellowed grass huts. These resilient hunter-gatherers etched out a living on the plains and mountains where the camp rests today and the signs of ther existence can be seen in some well-hidden rock-paintings on a neighboring property.

The afternoon lends itself to a guided (optional, not included) Nature Drive on a nearby property, to observe the Southern White Rhino Project underway in this area. Observe the late afternoon Rhino feed and watching them roll in the mud pool created in front of the lodge for their pleasure. The visit culminates in a drive on the property to see the ‚family‘ Zebras and their ‚adopted‘ orphan calf, plus many other interesting animals including Jackal, Bat-Eared Foxes and numerous antelope and bird species (Optional, not included in cost.)

Finally, return to your beauiful camp for your last night in this wonderful location.

Dinner, Overnight, Breakfast & Lunch Desert Hills Glamping Camp

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Namib Desert & Sesriem

This morning after breakfast at leisure you pack your rental vehicle and bid this wonderful location farewell. Driving down the mountain in the cool air of the desert morning, you may well observe Oryx Antelope grazing on the plains or kicking up the dust with their hooves and they run from the sound of the vehicles. Your journey is short and it brings you to the Sesriem region of the Namib. Along the road you turn off to where you can see the triangular, sloping wooden pole roofs of your next location a short distance away.

Check in to Desert Quiver Camp where your spacious tented chalet offers surprising touches of comfort amidst sandy plains, next to granite outcrops. Your private patio is equipped with a barbeque facility, a fitted kitchenette with under counter fridge, 2 plate hob and a wooden bench for seating. Utility boxes with most utensils needed are available at reception and fresh food supplies can be ordered daily. You thus have the option to order a Dinner Basket from the extensive menu and prepare your own meal, grilling your meat over the fire to enjoy with slads and a variety of breads and condiments. Alternately, dinner can be enjoyed at the nearby Sossusvlei Lodge restaurant where you will also eat breakfast the following morning. Facilities at the main building of your camp include a fully stocked bar with a big screen television, a sparkling swimming pool and two communal Boma-areas which are perfect to cater for groups travelling together. A fully stocked shop, fuel and an Internet café is available at the Sossus Oasis Service Station.

In the afternoon, undertake a short drive and visit the Sesriem Canyon which you can easily climb down into on rough-hewn stone steps, to explore before you return to camp before sunset (Entrance fees not included.)

At the entrance to Sossusvlei lies the Sesriem Canyon, where centuries of erosion have incised a narrow gorge about 1 km 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 thongs together to draw water from these pools.

Dinner, Overnight & Breakfast Desert Quiver Camp

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Namib Desert – Sossusvlei – Swakopmund

Today you will rise very early for coffee/tea, before embarking on your pre-dawn journey into the sand sea of Sossusvlei. There, you have the opportunity to climb one of the highest sand dunes in the world. (Entrance fees not included.)

Sossusvlei is a beautiful dune wonderland, with towering dunes up to 300m high surrounding a huge, dried-up pan. Extending as far as the eye can see, their rich tints vary from pale apricot to vivid reds and oranges. During a good rainy season, the Tsauchab River flows into the pan and creates a haven for birds. Even during the dry season, Oryx, Springbok and Ostrich can be seen feeding off the sparse vegetation along the water course. Return to the Sossusvlei Lodge for breakfast, before you continue on you journey towards the west. The roads will take you via Solitaire and Walvis Bay to Swakopmund.

Solitaire refers to a single solitaire diamond, the other being the solitude or loneliness of the area and the two meanings combined create the image of a distinctive, precious and solitary place. This small settlement features a gas station, post office, shop and a restaurant which is widely known for its delicious apple pie. It is the perfect stop-over to break the journey between the Sesreim and Sossusvlei area, and Swakopmund or Windhoek.

Walvis Bay is Namibia’s major harbour town; it is fast developing into a sought-after haven for spending a holiday at the coast. Attractions include the lagoon with its prolific bird life, where altogether some 80 000 wading birds including flamingos and rare white pelicans can be seen. A former enclave belonging to South Africa, Walvis Bay and the offshore islands were incorporated into the Republic of Namibia on March 1, 1994. The town has a well-developed and efficient port, while its fishing harbour is the hub of Namibia’s fast-growing fishing industry.

Arrival in the afternoon after travelling along the road that passes directly between the towering sand dunes of the Namib, and the Benguela current that flows along the Namibian coastline. Check in to your Guesthouse where you can sink into cool comfort following a dusty day on sandy roads and rocky mountain passes.

Overnight and Breakfast, Namibia Nights Guesthouse

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Coastal Town Swakopmund

Enjoy a relaxing day at your leisure. In Swakopmund there are many activities to choose from, such as a Catamaran cruise in the Walvis Bay lagoon with oysters and sparkling wine served underway, the famous ‘Living Desert tour’, or a Quad Bike excursion into the dunes. Alternately, visit the Crystal Gallery to see the largest crystals in the world, or join a guided Fatbike Tour through town or into the dunes. Alternately, enjoy an optional city tour or get to know this quaint and lovely town on foot at your leisure.

Swakopmund is much loved by Namibians as a welcome respite from the inland heat. It is also popular amongst visitors for its old-world charm and relaxed atmosphere. Founded in 1892 during the period of German colonial rule, it served as the territory’s main harbour for many years. The distinct German colonial character has been well preserved and today many of the old buildings serve a useful purpose.

The Woermann House (1905) now houses an art gallery and the Woermann Tower was used in earlier times to watch ships entering the harbour. Other old interesting buildings include „Die Alte Kaserne“, the „Hohenzollern Haus” and the Railway Station Building.

As your last day at the coast draws to a close, climb the sand dunes and watch the sun set over the ocean with a view that is often coloured in brilliant hues of red and orange, and seems to stretch all the way to eternity.
Dinner in the evening can be enjoyed at any one of Swakopmund’s renowned and very popular Restaurants.

Overnight and Breakfast, Namibia Nights Guesthouse

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Swakopmund – Erongo Mountain Region

Another delicious breakfast precedes todays departure from the cooler coastal temperatures. You travel on in your rental vehicle past the fascinating Spitzkoppe Mountain area, en-route to the Erongo Mountains where you visit the Omandumba Farm and enjoy a fascinating experience with the SAN Bushmen Tribe who live here. Spend a few memorable hours with the fascinating and fun-loving SAN and learn about their way of life, partaking in activities such as jewellery making with Ostrich Egg Shell, or shooting with a bow and arrow.

Finally, you check in to the Omandumba Bush Camp for the night, arriving during the afternoon. Spacious Safari Tents with masoned, stylishly equipped bathrooms at the back of each tent ensure a comfortable stay. Each tent is furnished with a large double bed and a private terrace offering great vistas onto the breath-taking Erongo Mountains. Nature’s sounds are audible through the tent canvas, making you become one with your surrounds and perpetuating your experience of nature in Namibia. Breakfast, lunch and dinner are enjoyed together in the lounge area. Here you also find a bar and a large verandah with views over the waterhole.

Dinner, Overnight and Breakfast, Omandumba Bush Camp

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Erongo – Windhoek

Enjoy breakfast in the peaceful bush surroundings one last time, before departing. Starting off once again along the gravel roads, you will finally reconnect with the main road beytween the cast of Namibia and the Capital, continuing on Okahandja until you finally reach Windhoek once more. Once in town, you can do any last souvenir shopping in this vibrant city, time permitting.

Finally you are welcomed back to River Crossing as old friends, and the sunset-bathed deck beckons for a last sundowner in the fresh, clean air and balmy evening light. Tonight after dinner, reminisce over the memories you have made on your journey through Namibia – we hope, that they will last you for a lifetime.

Dinner, Bed and Breakfast, River Crossing Lodge

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Windhoek – Hosea Kutako International Airport, Windhoek (40 km)

Enjoy breakfast and the first hours of the early morning followed. Finally you drive out to return your rental vehicle at the Depot, then transfer to the Hosea Kutako International Airport outside Windhoek. Once there, check in for your onward-bound flight.

We hope that this will be just one of many visits to our vastly contrasting, exceptionally fascinating and beautiful land!

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