Travel to Namibia: In the Footsteps of Giants

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In the Footsteps of Giants

			DAYS: 9 GRADE: III, Rocky Terrain, Hot Climate define PRICE: $4695 per person HIGHLIGHTS: Tracking Desert Rhino and Elephant Traveling with Save the Rhino Trust Researchers Walking in Namibia Spectacular Scenery Desert-adapted wildlife ACCOMMODATIONS: Hotels/Lodges Wilderness Camp MEALS: As noted  [B-Breakfast, L-Lunch,   D-Dinner] Prices, Departure Dates and Included Services Send to a Friend Print this Itinerary

In one of the most ancient deserts in the world, track the rare black rhino and desert elephant through the Kaokoland and Damaraland regions of northwest Namibia on foot alongside researchers from the Save the Rhino Trust. The rhinos represent a rare conservation success story thanks to the Trust, sharing this protected habitat with elephant, giraffe, zebra, and plants including thousand year old welwitschias. Our gear is transported by camel caravan on the segment of the journey that is completely inaccessible to vehicles. Be prepared to walk some rocky, mountainous terrain. Overnights while tracking the animals are in mobile and permanent tented camps. A portion of the funds generated from this trip are donated to the Save the Rhino Trust.

Note: This trip departs on request only with a minimum of four people and a maximum of eight.

DAY 1 :  ARRIVE IN NAMIBIA
On arrival in Windhoek, you will be transferred by road into town where you have the rest of the day and evening free to explore some of Windhoeks highlights. Your accommodations tonight are at Hilltop House, our favorite guesthouse in Windhoek. The original house dates back to around 1915 and has been converted to contain six beautifully decorated rooms that offer views of the Klein Windhoek valley, extending to the mountains in the distance. Relax at the pool or set off on an easy walk into town to explore or have dinner at one of the many popular restaurants. Overnight at Hilltop House. [B]

	Save the Rhino Trust is working to save the critically endangered Black (Hook-Lipped) Rhinoceros.

DAY 2 :  PALMWAG LODGE
Early this morning fly from Windhoek airport for your light aircraft flight to Palmwag Lodge. Enjoy lunch and meet the rest of your group as your guide, Gary Booth, delivers a full briefing on the tour ahead. Palmwag Lodge is ideally situated for exploring the landscapes and wildlife of Kloakoland and Damaraland. Relax in your private thatched bungalow or take a dip in the swimming pool cleverly situated under shady palms. Feast your eyes on the southern night sky as you ponder the adventure ahead. Overnight at Palmwag Lodge. [BLD] *photo courtesy of Dana Allen

DAY 3 :  AUB RIVER, PALMWAG CONCESSION
After an early breakfast, set out on a game drive in our 4WD vehicles in search of giraffe, zebra, gemsbok and many other wild animal species found in the area. Heading north, we arrive at Mbakondja Camel Camp to meet the Save the Rhino Camel team. Once introductions to the team and our fleet of camels are complete, we all set out for the Aub River, where our intimate campsite awaits. As we begin tracking and hopefully viewing the desert-adapted elephant and black rhino (the latter a rare subspecies of rhino), your guides reveal the sheer magnificence of nature's survival strategies in this arid environment, concentrating on a variety of topics that include birds, insects, medicinal uses of plants and wildlife behavioral patterns. Overnight at our private Adventure Camp. [BLD]

You will be accompanied on this exploration by researchers, staff, and pack camels.

DAY 4 :  BARAB RIVER
A delicious bush breakfast is prepared for us before we continue our journey as part of the camel train towards the Barab River. We track the elusive desert giants through a series of hills, rocky landscapes and diverse geology. After even a little rain, the gravel plains are covered in long golden grasses that ripple in the wind. The landscapes alone are breathtaking but cannot compare to the thrill of detecting tracks the size of dinner plates. Using our newly acquired tracking skills, we note the direction of the toes and determine how fast the herd is moving by measuring the distance between the fore and hind feet. The Palmwag Concession in which we are tracking is a private reserve in north-west Namibia, offering us exclusivity in this pristine and unspoiled habitat. Overnight at our private Adventure Camp. [BLD] *photo courtesy of Llyod Camp

DAY 5 :  KUDU SPRINGS
Ride out further west through the Okomutati Springs to Kudu Springs, an area almost inaccessible to vehicles. Surrounded by pristine wilderness, few places can offer such a complete sense of remoteness. Traveling via stark, craggy canyons, we penetrate the extraordinary lunar landscape of the desert and the Welwitshia, one of the largest and strangest plants known to science. The Welwitshia has the longest life span of any plant, up to 1,000 years, and is more like a tree that sends a taproot like a trunk 60 feet underground to draw water from old riverbeds under the sand. Overnight at our private Adventure Camp. [BLD]

	Desert adapted elephants use dust baths to coat their skin as protection from the sun and insects.

DAY 6 :  HUNKAB SPRING
Wake to watch the sunrise over the desert landscape as the earth turns to pastel shades with the sun's first rays. Even the plants glisten with moisture gathered from the night's cool air. Although the desert dwelling elephants are not a separate sub species they are unique in how they have adapted to their extremely harsh environment. The secret of their survival in these arid regions is an intimate knowledge of their limited food and water resources. Permanent water sources being the key, we make our way today to Hunkab Spring. This popular drinking point for Kaokoland's wildlife attracts not only the elephants and rhino but also springbok, oryx, and ostrich. Overnight at our private Adventure Camp. [BLD] *photo courtesy of Mike Meyers

DAYS 7-8 :  HOANIB CAMP, KAOKOLAND
Enjoy another beautiful sunrise and bush breakfast before we bid farewell to our Save the Rhino Trust trackers. Set out by open safari vehicle on a game drive from Hunkab, traveling through the concession to the ephemeral river of the Hoanib Valley. Here, in an area seemingly parched and desolate, we enter one of Namibia's richest desert adapted wildlife areas. Our accommodations at the Hoanib Camp are large walk-in meru-style tents with attached private bathrooms featuring flush toilets and gravity fed showers. The camp is situated close to the Hoanib River, an ideal location for setting out on game walks, rhino tracking, game drives and night drives into the valley. Two nights at our Haonib Discoverer Camp. [BLD]

DAY 9 :  DEPARTURE
Set out on an early morning game drive before boarding a charter flight back to Palmwag Lodge in time for lunch and a dip in the pool before we bid farewell to the rest of the group and head back to Windhoek to fly back home or continue your travels in Southern Africa with one of our great extensions to Cape Town, Botswana or even the Victoria Falls. [BL]

Note: Please note that international flights do not allow same day connections to Namibia so you will need to allow 2 days to get to Windhoek to begin your adventure.

Questions? Ask Our Program Directors.

. C o n t a c t Julia Nesbitt 1(800)345-4453