Namibia Plan
August 19 - September 4, 2009
Wed 19AUG DELTA 200 OK T LV ATLANTA 810P D M ** AR JOHANNESBURG 515P# COACH Thu 03SEP NORTHWEST AIRLI OK V LV CAPE TOWN 1055P ** NES 8494* AR AMSTERDAM 1030A# *Operated by KLM ROYAL DUTCH AIRLINES As KL Flt 598
Fri 04SEP NORTHWEST AIRLI OK V LV AMSTERDAM 310P ** NES 47 AR DETROIT METRO 545P
Fri 04SEP NORTHWEST AIRLI OK V LV DETROIT METRO 720P ** NES 3561* AR AUSTIN 922P *Operated by MESABA AVIATION Trying to stay at Brown Sugar Backpackers
#4 of 29, free airport pick up, 250 R
8 ZAR (South African Rand) = $11 ZAR = $.124
Air Botswana 11:30-13:50 Transfer options to Gweta:
Puku Safaris 1500 pula Trying to get out to the Lion Park in the morning where you can pet lion cubs and feed giraffes.
6.8 BWP (pula) = $11 pula = .15 dollars
Botswana
Uncharted Africa- Planet Baobab
22-23- Ntwetwe overnight w quad bikes $227
Drive across the vast grasslands, past lonely baobab sentinels to the edge of Ntwetwe Salt pan. Along the way, your Guide will explain the
incredible adaptations of the species that are unique to the Kalahari Desert environment.
On reaching the lunar landscape of Ntwetwe Salt pan, the bigger of the two Makgadikgadi Salt pans, and after listening to a brief safety chat,
zoom off on your quad bike for a lightning tour of the archaeology, geology and zoology of the area. Quad bikes enable us to explore the vast
nothingness of the Makgadikgadi in an ecologically correct fashion leaving only a shallow track that will be washed away by summer rains.
Breathtaking views of vast expanses of sparkling salt pan extend as far as the eye can see.
Go where no man has ventured before - far across the unexplored wilderness of the vast and empty salt pans. Open the throttle; close your eyes
and travel, knowing there is nothing to crash into until you fall off the edge of the earth. Search for the stone tools that remain scattered on
the surface of the pan, while your Guide gives a comprehensive explanation of the manufacture of stone tools and the evolution of man himself.
Remember that these are not your property. Throw them back from whence they came.
Just when you think you couldn't take any more petrified, salty corpses, or stone-aged antiques, head out into the middle of absolute nowheresville
and face up to a 360-degree view of the twinkling stars of the Southern Hemisphere. Enjoy a drink before a barren and beauteous sunset followed by a
barbeque dinner cooked to perfection by your ever-talented Guide.
At the end of an action-packed day, snuggle into your bedroll under the phenomenal Makgadikgadi skies, your very own star- spangled ceiling.
Think silence, think slumber, dream baobabs…
23rd afternoon- fly to WindhoekAir Namibia 15:40-16:25 $262 (1763.30 BWP)
8 NAD = $1 Gap Adventures- Cape and Dunes Discoverer
$1599
#335392
Namibia Tourism
Articles:TravelIntelligence
The Lure of Namibia- NY Times
Video Day 1- 23rd Arrive Windhoek Arrive in Windhoek and make your way to the hotel. Attend a pre-departure group meeting with your tour leader scheduled for the evening. Windhoek was originally the centre of a Nama chief who defeated the Herero inhabitants of the region in the mid 19th century. Germany then occupied the region in 1885, where they renamed the original site Windhoek. They built a fort here that eventually spanned a town that grew under its protection.
Windhoek became the seat of colonial rule in 1892, as the capital of the colony of South-West Africa (Deutsch-Südwestafrika). During World War I,
Windhoek was captured by South African troops and became a British dominion. Until the independence of Namibia was inaugurated in 1990, Windhoek was
recognized as the capital of South West Africa as administered by the South African government.
The city of Windhoek is traditionally known by two names: Ai-Gams, from the Nama people, which literally refers to the hot springs that were once
part of Windhoek, while the second name, Otjomuise, meaning a place of steam, was given by the Herero people. Both traditional names reference the
hot springs.
***In the pedestrian area of Post Mall Street you come across a fountain, without water, which features pieces from the
famous meteorite shower of Gibeon.
***Eat dinner at Joe's Beerhouse- Bushman Sosatie, which is a shish kebab with Ostrich, Crocodile, Zebra, Kudu and Chicken pieces on.
Visit the statue of Hosea Kutako, a nationalist hero, in the gardens surrounding the Tintenpalast, the seat of the Namibian legislature, or chow
down on ostrich kebab or zebra steak at Joe’s Beerhouse before leaving on a safari into the Namibian wilderness.
City tours
AUAS CITY HOTELCentaurus St., Windhoek, Namibia
TEL: +264 61 239 768 EMAIL: acl@mweb.com.na
Has a pool, AC, wireless Wikitravel
Wiki
Estimate Travel Time: 6 Hours (including game drive in own vehicle). Leave Windhoek and head north to Etosha National Park through the Namibian countryside. Etosha in waMbo means "the great white place of dry water" or “white place of mirages” . As one of Africa’s highlights, the Etosha National Park offers a variety of wildlife and phenomenal natural beauty. Explore the pans and the park on game drives, with excellent opportunities to spot lion, giraffe, elephant, rhino, and antelope. Upon arrival in the area, in the afternoon, continue on a game drive in search of elephants, herds of antelope and lions around the waterholes. Game drives are done in our air-conditioned touring vehicle. Night/Day game drives can be done in open vehicles (optional, at extra cost). The following day, enjoy another game drive in the park. A brief animal count of Etosha National Park: 30 000 Blue Wildebeest; 25000 Springbok; 23000 Zebra; 5000 Kudu; 3000 Hartebeest; 3000 Gemsbok; 2600 Eland; 450 Giraffe; 2000 Elephant; 260 Lions; 20 Black Rhino; 325 Bird species. Etosha National Park in Namibia was first established in 1907, when Namibia was a German colony known as South West Africa. At the time, the park’s original 100,000 sq km made it the largest game reserve in the world. Due to political changes since its original establishment, the park is somewhat less than a quarter of its original size, at 22,912 sq km, but still remains a very large and significant area in which wildlife is protected. The Etosha Pan dominates the park. The salt pan desert is roughly 130 km long and in places as wide as 50 km. The salt pan is usually dry, but fills with water briefly in the summer months, when it attracts pelicans and flamingos in particular. Perennial springs attract a variety of game and birds throughout the year, including the endangered Black Rhinoceros and the endemic Black Face Impala. The name Okaukuejo is derived from oKakwiyo, meaning “place of the fertile women”. It began as a veterinary post created by the Germans during a rinderpest epidemic in 1897. In 1901 a small fort was built here as a military stronghold. Namutoni, was named after a spring found in the area. The waMbo called the spring oMutjamatund (high landmark). The name got distorted through the years. Halali, is strategically located halfway between Okaukuejo and Namutoni, and is surrounded by some of the popular water holes. The name, of German origin, is derived from the bugle call made to announce the end of a hunt. In 1903 a small fort was built at Namutoni, and it was maintained as a police outpost and customs post by the Germans. http://www.namibian.org/travel/namibia/etosha.htm
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Etosha_National_Park
http://www.namibweb.com/etosha.htm
http://www.namibia-travel.net/centralnamibia/etosha.htm
Estimate Travel Time: 2 Hours from Etosha Gate Enjoy one last morning game drive in search of the "Big 5", and begin moving south into the stony desert landscapes. *** Is it possible to stop and see the Hoba Meteorite en route? Otjiwarongo is said to mean "pretty place" or "place of fat cattle" - an apt description as the area is well known for its cattle ranching. A Rhenish mission was established here in 1891 and a German military post was established in the vicinity in 1904. *** Try to visit Cheetah Conservation Fund
Open to 5pm, 44km north of Otjiwarongo, N$115. Feeding around 2pm.
article
According to 8/10 e-mail correspondence won't be able to do an interaction. namibia-travel
Estimate Travel Time: 7.5 Hours Today we head south-west to Swakopmund where we will spend 2 nights. Here you can explore this historical town or try some of the numerous activities available, such as dune boarding and a dolphin cruise. The town Karibib is renowned for the high quality marble quarried in the area since 1904. Considered the hardest in the world, Karibib marble has been used for the wall panels in the Prime Minister’s office in Windhoek, the floors to the Parliament buildings in South Africa and at Frankfurt Airport. In July 1985, gold was discovered on the farm Navachab, 10km southwest of Karibib. Production started in 1989 from an opencast mine. The ore is of low grade, about 2-3 grams per tonne and about 750 000 tonnes is treated annually. From the town Usakos, once during the early 1900’s a large railway centre with workshops to service the locomotives on the way to the coast, we carry on to the town Karibib. The landscape north of the road is dominated by the imposing 2319 high Erongo Mountains also formed by volcanic activity some 140 million years ago and is also part of the Damara Sequence. Even from the earliest times people have been attracted to these mountains, as is evident from the wealth of rock paintings and engravings, with pottery and other relics providing evidence of more recent habitation. Looking out over the beautiful desert landscapes we begin moving east into the interior of Namibia. On this route we pass through a moon landscape and see the imposing Spitzkoppe, also known as the “Matterhorn” of Namibia in the distance. The Spitzkoppe is a well-known landmark between Usakos and the coast. Rising some 700m above the flat surrounding plains, the Gross Spitzkoppe has a height of 1728m. Immediately to the east are the Pondok Mountains, which owe their Afrikaans name to their resemblance to African huts. About 10kms west is the 1572 m high Klein Spitzkoppe. Geologically the area correlates with the Damara Sequence which dates back some 700 million years! Vast amounts of lava were extruded through the Spitzkoppe with subsequent intrusion of granitic magma forming the Spitzkoppe. Erosion has since exposed the granitic cores to form typical Inselbergs, or island mountains. Swakopmund has mind-boggling lunar landscapes, unforgettable sunsets, and bizarre prehistoric Welwitchia plants. The Topnaar people who live in the valley of the Swakop River derived the name from the mud, flotsam, and general detritus washed down during its infrequent floods, which reminded them of very loose evacuation of the bowels. In 1486 Portuguese Diego Cáo landed at what is now Swakopmund and erected a stone cross in honour of John II of Portugal. This is known as Cape Cross is more commonly known presently as a Cape Fur Seal breeding colony. Almost a full four centuries later, the area, then known as South West Africa, was under Germany control. In choosing a location for a port, German captain Curt von Francois chose this site, north of Walvis Bay (an already existing English-controlled port), at the mouth of the Swakop River, for creating an artificial harbour. A military fort was built here in 1892, which was the beginning of Swakopmund. The building of the railway began in 1895. After the First World War, Germany lost occupation and the port/harbour was automatically displaced by Walvis Bay. Namibia is well known for its desolate northern coastline called the Skeleton Coast. Along the West coast of Namibia flows the Cold Benguela Current. Also along the coastline is a very hot desert. What happens is that the cold, moist air from the sea mixes with the warm air from the desert and forms a very heavy mist. This mist over hundreds of years has caused many shipwrecks along the coast and if the sailors survived they soon perished in the unforgiving desert. It is from this, and from all the wrecks and shells of stranded ships along the coast, that the region received its name. As you approach the coastline you may see the band of mist. *** Do dune surfing
*** Quad bike Namib desert
*** Also microlight flight
*** Helicopter ride to see Skeleton Coast Scenic flights depart from Swakopmund airport. These are in light aircraft and microlight aircraft. Microlight aircraft excursions are generally short and involve a flight up and down the beach, taking in part of the dunes. Excursions in other aircraft vary in length, ranging from flights over Swakopmund, the dune sea and Sandwich Harbour to longer flights that may fly over the Skeleton Coast and the Skeleton Coast wrecks, trips to Sossusvlei and the Fish River Canyon, and visits to Kaokoland and cultural encounters in Himba Villages. Wikitravel
Good activity list
http://www.namibia-travel.net/centralnamibia/swakopmund.htm
http://www.namibia-travel.net/centralnamibia/skeletoncoast.htm
Estimate Travel Time: 5 Hours Today you will cross a few dry mountain passes, and descend into the void regions of Namib Desert. We spend our first night in the region in an area known as Solitaire, a mystical village consisting of a filling station, general dealer/coffee shop and small mechanical workshop. The following day is spent exploring the natural wonders of this bizarre environment. You will visit Sossusvlei - a clay pan, enclosed by the world’s largest sand dunes, up to 300m high. Here you will have a guided walk at the sands dunes, and some free time to enjoy them on your own. We will also make a stop at Sesriem Canyon, a small canyon typical of the area, and invisible from even a short distance away. Our second night is spent on the edge of the Namib desert, south of Sossusvlei. [The scenery for which Sossusvlei is probably best known are the dead trees against the backdrop of the dunes. These are found in Dead Vlei. The vleis are best explored in the early morning before the dune sand has heated up. Full exploration will require climbing dunes. Dead Vlei is the place made famous by numerous photographers and featured in the movie ‘The Cell’, starring Jennifer Lopez.] The name Namib is of Nama origin, with the modern spelling referring to a desert, but a particular part of the desert, specifically a large plain. The desert is classified as either extremely arid or hyper-arid, with a mean rainfall or less than 100mm of rain per year. The dune sands are primarily derived from sediments washed down the Orange River and then moved northwards by the long shore drift plus the dominant southerly quadrant winds. The winds move the sand northwards and inland, trapping it by wave action in coastal embayment. The types of dunes found are Star dunes, formed as a result of wind coming equally strong from all directions; Barchan dunes, crescent shaped and formed where wind is mainly from one direction and with a shortage of sand and the Linear dunes, which are long dunes with sharp crests that tend to lie in parallel rows. They are a result of two dominant winds in the central Namib- Southerly and easterly winds. Linear dunes form in a south to north direction. The 14km long Sesriem Canyon was formed by the Tsauchab River rising in the Naukluft and Zaris Mountains to the east, and flowing through to Sossusvlei. Walking through the canyon takes you on a journey back 10-20 million years ago when sedimentary layers of gravel and sand were deposited and cemented together by lime. The ledges are now inhabited by pigeons, raucous pied crows and chattering starlings. But look a little higher and you might see a lanner falcon or the soaring spread of a lappet faced vulture with a wingspan of 2.6m. An amazing variety of wildlife has adapted to live in this inhospitable place such as lizards that only put 2 feet down at a time and the black tok-tokkie beetle who leans forward to allow droplets of morning mist run down its body into its mouth. Close inspection of the canyon brings you to the brink of a sharp drop but there is an easily accessible path which takes you down into its depths. The Tsauchab River was an important source of water for early inhabitants and even during dry times there is water in the upper reaches, where deep clefts in the rock reduce evaporation. Explorers, transport riders, and early travellers used to lower a bucket down to collect the water and it normally took 6 lengths of thong tied together, hence the Afrikaans name “Ses” meaning six, and “Riem” meaning thong.
Wiki
Photos
Estimate Travel Time: 5.5 Hours Relax and enjoy the morning at our desert lodge, located in a beautiful area with natural wonders. Embark on a morning game drive, take a guided hike in the surrounding area, or just relax and enjoy the desert morning on a rare morning off travelling. In the afternoon, we cross the incredible south-eastern section of the Namib Desert en route to Keetmanshoop for the evening. *** Try to do sunset photography of quiver tree forest
*** Some people have seen meerkats here.
Wikihttp://www.namibia-travel.net/southnamibia/keetmanshoop.htm
Estimate Travel Time: 6 Hours including canyon visit Before departing Keetmanshoop, and time permitting, take a visit to the Quiver Tree Forest or the Giant's Playground, both unique sites and great locations for photography.
Fish River Canyon is the largest canyon in Africa, and arguably the second largest in the world. Spend some time here taking in the majestic beauty of the canyon. We'll take some time for lunch in the area, we will continue south as we slowly leave the Namib Desert behind us. At 650 kilometres in length, the Fish River is Namibia’s longest river. Its source lies in the eastern Naukluft Mountains and flows south-west of Ai-Ais into the Oranje. The canyon itself is situated along the lower reaches of the Fish River, and is one of the most impressive natural formations of southern African. It is approx 161 km long, 27km wide at its widest point and 550m deep. It is the oldest canyon in the world, formed approximately 500 million years ago, with some rocks at the bottom dating up to 2600 million years old. The canyon was formed in part by glacial movements (upper section), movement of tectonic plates, and erosion. Four wet periods, or pluvial periods, have occurred in the south-western part of Africa during the last million years, resulting in a large run-off of water, which sped erosion. The plateaus are 220m from the base of the canyon. Catfish can be found in the Fish River below, and they are known to survive the dry season by burrowing into the mud until the water returns. It’s a very slow moving and shallow river – more like a stream. Water levels are normally highest during February until April. The highest recorded temperature at the bottom of the canyon was 58 celsius. The Orange River, in the past also sometimes known as the Gariep or as the Grootrivier, is the major river of South Africa. The river was first discovered by indigenous people but only explored by Europeans in 1760 and named after the House of Orange, which was the Stadhouder of Holland between 1777 and 1779. Another account of its naming suggests that it may have been called after the supposedly orangey colour of its water, as opposed to the colour of the water of the Vaal River (‘vaal’ being Afrikaans for pale or grey). The farthest head stream of the Orange rises in the Drakensberg Mountains along the border between South Africa and Lesotho, about 193 km (120 mi) from the Indian Ocean and at an altitude of over 3000m. While in Lesotho, the river is known as the Senqu and parts of it freeze in winter, owing to the altitude there. It then runs 2200 km (1367 mi) westwards and eventually discharges into the Atlantic Ocean at Alexander Bay, forming the border of Namibia and South Africa. Orange River, in sections, is a good diamond mining area. For thousands of years silt has washed down the river and produced diamonds on its banks. These diamonds also reach the sea and with long-shore currents (going northwards) and wind and wave action, they have been known to wash up on the shorelines. Info
Estimate Travel Time: 7 Hours (depending on border crossing) Travelling from Namibia, we cross the Gariep River into South Africa. We have a good day's travel through this dry and remote portion of South Africa. In the late afternoon, we arrive at the picturesque town of Lambert's Bay on the West Coast of South Africa. Lambert's bay is known for its “Bird Island” where there are more than 25 000 Blue-eyed Gannets at certain times of the year. Penguins also gather on this island for breeding between August and October. Stroll through this lovely town stepping in and out of some of the unique artisan shops and boutiques.
Estimate Travel Time: 5.5 Hours Head inland, and at Clanwilliam we continue south with the Cedarberg Mountains in the distance. After a few hours, we approach the famous, beautiful, and cosmopolitan city of Cape Town after stopping at a wine farm along the way. Cape Town offers many different activities – something for everyone. In the afternoon enjoy one or more of the many different activities Cape Town has to offer, e.g. Table Mountain, Robben Island or spend some time shopping at the V&A Waterfront. For those having booked post-tours you also have the options of exploring Cape Point (Cape of Good Hope), embarking on a wine tour in and around Stellenbosch (45min drive), visiting the old French Huguenot town of Franschoek and surroundings (1h drive). For the not so faint hearted there are numerous adrenaline activities in the surrounding areas, from skydiving to abseiling to a Shark diving trip in Hermanus (1h drive). Or wonder through the city centre with some of the oldest buildings and gardens in South Africa (Botanical Gardens and Parliament Gardens). Do not miss the wonderful Cultural Historical Museum, Planetarium and numerous other small museums and theatres. Cape Town's name originated from the term 'Cape of Good Hope' when Bartholomew Diaz and other seafarers looked forward to the sight of Table Mountain, like an inn that promised hospitality and prosperity. The city is steeped in a rich history and is a cultural melting pot with its diverse and vibrant character being derived from Khoxisan and other African tribes from the North, and Indonesian, French, Dutch, British and German settlers. Cape Town is the third most populous city in South Africa, with over 3 million inhabitants, and is the provincial capital of the Western Cape. It is also the legislative capital of South Africa, where the National Parliament and many government offices are located. The oldest existing building in South Africa, the Castle, was built in 1666 to protect the new settlement at the Cape. Still operational as a military base, today its five imposing stone walls also house a museum with artifacts dating back to the 17th century and troops dressed in historic uniform parade on its cobbled grounds. Nearby, across the Grand Parade, stand the Drill Hall and Cape Town's Italian Renaissance-style City Hall, completed in 1905. The Slave Lodge, the second oldest building in Cape Town, has served many purposes in its nearly three centuries. Originally built as accommodation for the slaves of the Dutch East India Company, it was also Cape Town's first post office, a library and the Supreme Court. Today it is home to the SA Cultural History Museum and its displays of ceramics, toys, silver and textiles from Cape Town's past, as well as artifacts from ancient Egypt, Greece and Rome. The historic Company Gardens, established by Jan van Riebeeck in 1652 as a vegetable garden from which to supply fresh produce to passing ships, today offers city dwellers and office workers a peaceful refuge from the bustle of the city's commercial centre. A cobbled avenue, lined with oak trees, leads to the South African Museum, the South African National Gallery, the Bertram House Museum and the Jewish Museum, which is housed in the oldest synagogue in South Africa. Just beyond, South Africa's Parliament buildings stand in imposing array around the cobbles of Stal Plein ("plein” meaning "square"). Numerous other buildings of historic interest, such as Koopman de Wet House in Strand Street, Heritage Square in Bree Street, and many along the upper reaches of Long Street, are dotted throughout the city centre. Situated on the lower slopes of Signal Hill, the Bo-Kaap (literally "upper Cape") is home to many descendants of the Malay slaves brought to the Cape during the 17th century. Most of the families, which inhabit its colourful rows of houses, are devout Muslims, and the call to prayer can be heard in the narrow, cobbled streets throughout the day. The Bo-Kaap Museum portrays aspects of Cape Muslim culture. For shopping, dining and entertainment the V&A Waterfront is a hotspot for foreigners and locals alike. Still a working harbour, the Waterfront is an example of creative architecture and restoration and has become South Africa's most visited tourist attraction. The Waterfront offers over 250 shops from designer boutiques to craft stalls, a host of restaurants and coffee shops and plenty of other activities. The top of Table Mountain offers spectacular views in all directions and gives a bird's eye view of the city. The upper cable car station is situated at 1067m and the revolving cable car makes sure that your trip up and down gives you a good look in all directions. Once on top, you can follow paths to various look-out points, make use of the telescopes, and enjoy a light meal or simply a sundowner drink in the restaurant. In summer, early evening is a great time to plan your trip as the sunsets are beautiful. Regardless of the weather in the city, take a light jacket as it can often be cool on the mountain top (and sometimes the cable car may even close due to high winds). After Alcatraz in the United Stated, Robben Island (Island of Seals) is possibly the best-known prison island in the world. Having served over the centuries as a penal settlement, leper colony and lunatic asylum, its notoriety has come more recently from the fact that former President Nelson Mandela and many of his colleagues were imprisoned here during the apartheid era. Visitors can travel to the island, a world heritage site, via an organized boat tour, which departs daily from the V&A Waterfront. *** Try for a cheetah encounter
We are open 365 days a year from 10h00 to 17h00. Personal encounters with one of our ambassador cheetahs take place from 11h00 to 13h00 and 14h00 to 17h00, cat willing. Times are subject to change.
R10 entrance, R90 adult encounter, R180 cub encounter
Cheetah Outreach is situated on the Spier Wine Estate, 25 minutes drive from Cape Town (take the N2 and R310 turnoff) and five minutes from Stellenbosch.
Optionals:
NAMIBIA- SwakopmundLiving Desert Tour $60- good reviews
Quad biking (1/2/3 hrs) $30-60
Dune Sand boarding (lying/standing) $25/$35
Paragliding $80
Township tour $35
Dolphin Cruise $45
Catamaran Charters $40
Kayaking Scenic Tour $45 (min of 2 guests)
Fishing (5 hours) $60 (Shore or Boat options are available. Good catches can be expected all year round. The following species can be caught: Kabeljou, Steenbras, Barbel, Galjoen, Garrick and various sharks. Experienced skipper and guide on board. (Includes: transfer, lunch, drinks and equipment)
Skydiving (tandem) $200
Scenic Flights (over Sossusvlei or Skeleton Coast - 1.5 hour/2 hours / 2.5 hours - min 5 people) $250 Microlight scenic flights around Twyfelfontein in Damaraland? SOUTH AFRICA- Cape Town
Table Mountain cable car $15
Robben Island cruise $20
Shark cage diving $190 Lambert's Bay Area
Visit to the Bird Island $3
Official Botswana Tourism Site
"On the trail of the Lady detective"- outstanding article on the recent history of Botswana
Wikipedia
Info on "Cry of the Kalahari" authors
Film "The Gods Must Be Crazy" was set in Botswana
TV show "Meerkat Manor"
US Embassy page
