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The Trip

Unfortunately, this trip has been cancelled. If you have questions, please contact us.

Namibia is a rugged and timeless land that offers a myriad of experiences and impressions, and where modern ideas intersect with age-old customs and beliefs. This trip offers drama, diversity, and contrast at every turn. We will enjoy wildlife viewing at one of Africa’s premier parks; search for desert-adapted elephant and rhino in remote and pristine areas; view 30,000 year-old prehistoric rock carvings in a great outdoor rock gallery; visit with a tribe of nomadic people and stay at a "big cat" sanctuary. Throughout all of these experiences will be woven the thread of conservation and caring for the environment. We’ll visit with some of the foremost scientists and environmental researchers in the country and learn about the work that has put Namibia at the forefront of conservation in Africa.

A dedicated conservation-oriented safari guide will accompany us throughout this journey to enhance our enjoyment and knowledge of this unique country. A contribution, included in the cost of this safari, will be made to each organization that we visit, thus helping to ensure that this safari directly contributes to the success of Namibian conservation.

The country is approximately four times the size of Great Britain, but with a diverse population of a mere two million people, one of the lowest densities in the world. It is situated on the Atlantic west coast of Africa. Its neighbors are South Africa, Botswana to the east and Angola in the north.

Because of the inhospitable coastline, Namibia was not discovered by European powers until the end of the 19th century when it was colonized by Germany. After WW11 and Germany’s surrender, the country came under the apartheid rule of South Africa. A struggle for independence ensued. Finally, in 1990 Namibia became a free and independent country. To date, it has a record of peace, stability, and unity for all of its people.

Itinerary

Day 1: Upon arrival at Windhoek International Airport, you will be greeted by our safari guide and transported to accommodations at a comfortable and modern guesthouse. The remainder of the day can be at leisure. The first meal of the trip will be lunch and our welcome dinner this evening will be at one of Windhoek’s fine restaurants.

Day 2: We depart after breakfast and head north to Etosha National Park. This is a vast park that is more than 20,000 square kilometers in area, of which 5,000 km. is saline depressions or "pans." The name itself means "Great White Place of Dry Water" referring to the pans. The Park boasts some 114 mammal and over 340 bird species. After lunch we will meet with one of the scientists who will give us a "behind the scenes" look at conservation and research in what is Namibia’s most popular wildlife destination.

Day 3: A full day of exciting game drives awaits us. Wildlife that we may see includes elephant, lion, giraffe, eland, wildebeest, rhino, leopard, cheetah, and much more. In the evenings we can relax by a floodlit waterhole, where game comes and goes throughout the night.

Day 4: Today we head for the western part of Etosha National Park, which has some of the highest numbers of wildlife because this area was closed to visitors until recently and was used for research and rehabilitation of game. We will stay in a lovely camp-lodge nestled amid rocky dolomite outcrops. In Namibia "camp" usually refers to smaller facilities that are built in an environmentally conscious way. Our twin accommodations will be thatched en suite private chalets offering dramatic and panoramic landscape views, with interiors designed to harmonize with the natural surroundings. While at this camp it will be possible to go on an optional guided night drive for an additional cost.

Day 5: We’ll enjoy another day of game drives within this diverse section of the Park, with additional time to relax and soak in the peaceful bush surroundings and watch game come and go from nearby waterholes.

Day 6: We depart and travel into the heart of Damaraland. En route we will visit a settlement of the semi-nomadic Himba people. They are one of the last traditional peoples of Namibia and we will learn about the customs, tradition, and beliefs of this proud nation. The women, especially, are noted for their unusual sculptural beauty, enhanced by intricate hairstyles and traditional ornaments.

For the next two nights we will stay at the only wholly owned community lodge in the country, an example of changing times when it comes to business ownership. The lodge is perched within a pristine wilderness area on the rim of a plateau and offers unsurpassed views over the valley below. Each of our en suite rock and thatch chalets gazes out over the gorge to where black eagles hunt, below the level of private decks. This afternoon we will have a guided walk along the top of the breathtaking plateau and learn more about this unique community project. Within this area we can expect to see desert adapted elephant, black rhino, giraffe, kudu, oryx, and lion.

Day 7: Another exciting safari day as we head west to the Save the Rhino Trust (SRT) headquarters. We will spend the morning with the Director of Research at SRT, gaining a first-hand perspective of conservation in rural communal areas. The afternoon will be spent visiting SRT trackers and community game guards in the field. We may even see a black rhino. These are the only rhinoceros in Africa that are internationally recognized as a "desert group." Once widespread in the subcontinent, they are now an endangered species.

Day 8: This morning we head south, deeper into the picturesque region of Damaraland, searching for desert-adapted wildlife along the way. Our next camp-lodge is situated among giant granite boulders, a short distance from the riverbed where desert-adapted elephants often cross. We’ll enjoy leisure time, a nature walk, a swim in the pool, and fantastic views.

Day 9: Today we spend a captivating full day in the field. We start off with an exciting excursion along the ephemeral Aba Huab and Huab river valleys to explore this remarkable region and search for game. In the aftenoon we will visit the geological site of Twyfelfontein which holds 2,500 rock engravings that depict wildlife, animal spoor, and abstract motifs. This is one of Namibia’s key national monuments and has recently become a UNESCO World Heritage site. We’ll also visit Burnt Mountain, a hill that has a fantastic range of colors at dawn and dusk, and the Organ Pipes, an ancient geological curiosity that occurred 125 million years ago.

Day 10: The route today takes us along dry riverbeds toward the highlands to the Africat Foundation, a wildlife sanctuary that focuses on the research and rehabilitation of Africa’s big cats, especially leopard and cheetah. Close encounters with cheetah and leopard are an unforgettable highlight. Activities include tracking cheetah, leopard, hyena, and wild dog; time at a night hide or a night drive where nocturnal animals such as caracal, porcupine and honey badger may be seen. We will also have a "back stage" pass to a South African television documentary about cheetahs and may meet some of the animal personalities of this popular series.

Our accommodations will be the delightful Bush camp, a wonderful highlight with which to conclude our safari. Each en suite chalet offers complete privacy and great views, so that one can watch life in the bush while relaxing in comfort.

Day 11: After a final excursion and breakfast we will depart in the late morning for Windhoek. Along the way we will stop at the picturesque and historic town of Okahandja, a place of great significance to the Herero people. It is also an important center for woodcarvers who practice their ancient skills at the wood and thatch woodcarver’s market. We will stop here for a look and an opportunity to shop. We should arrive at Windhoek by the late afternoon and will check into our original guest house. Tonight's farewell dinner will be at a well-known restaurant.

Day 12: This morning can be spent exploring Windhoek, visiting the Craft Center, or doing some last-minute shopping before being transferred to the Windhoek International Airport. Lunch will be the last meal of the trip.

Getting There

South African Airways operates direct flights between Atlanta and Johannesburg, South Africa, code sharing with Delta Airlines. These flights connect with numerous regional flights to Windhoek. Alternatively, many travelers from the U.S. approach southern Africa using connections via Europe, joining Air Namibia’s flights in Frankfurt, or traveling on one of the many carriers servicing Johannesburg, and then connecting through to Windhoek. Given the duration of these flights, travelers often include a few days in Europe as they transit. The classified section of the New York Times has a good section on discount flight specialists.

The trip leader can also refer you to a qualified Africa travel specialist who can assist you with flight reservations.

Accommodations and Food

Accommodations are on a double-occupancy basis. A roommate will be provided for solo travelers. The accommodations have all been chosen with care to give you a varied and comfortable Namibian/African experience. Many of our camps will offer private two-person chalets made of thatch and wood or canvas with interiors designed to blend into the natural surroundings. Most will be smaller unique facilities that cater to fewer guests and offer the comforts of real beds, showers, and flush toilets. Many will be situated in spectacular surroundings. The camp at Etosha is the only large facility on the itinerary. It has been chosen because it has the best waterhole in Etosha and offers a superb game-viewing experience. We will have two-bed rooms in chalets that are extremely close to the waterhole -- an ideal and prime location. Single supplements may be available for an extra cost. Check with the trip leader.

The food in Namibia is quite European and is excellent. The variety of vegetables is large and one can get just about anything. There is usually a fair amount of meat on the menu (venison, beef, mutton, pork, and chicken), and the portions are always well balanced. Vegetarians can be accommodated. Vegans can also be served. Sometimes this is a bit more difficult, but possible most of the time. Please inform the trip leader of dietary needs and preferences. We will have breakfasts and evening meals at our lodge/camp. Lunches, while traveling between destinations, will be served picnic-style at a scenic location en route, or at a local restaurant.

Mineral water will be available in the vehicles at all times. There will also be water available for purchase at all of our camps and lodges. It is important to remain well hydrated by drinking at least 2-3 liters of water per day.

Trip Difficulty

This trip is suitable for anyone over the age of 12 who is in reasonably good mental and physical health, gets regular exercise, enjoys adventure and learning, and doesn’t mind some fairly long drives on occasion. We will travel on good roads as well as on some unpaved and bumpy byways. This is not a strenuous trip; it can be classified as leisurely to moderate in activity since we will be "on the go" throughout most days.

Temperatures in June may range in the 80s to 90s during the day and fall to near freezing at night, so it’s important to be prepared for these fluctuations.

Equipment and Clothing

The trip leader will send an equipment/clothing list to all who sign up for this trip. Good quality binoculars for each individual are a necessity. Good camera equipment with which you are familiar is also important if you wish to take fine pictures.

References

• Bradt, Chris, The Bradt Tavel Guide.
• Whiting, Sharri, Namibia: Culture Shock.
• Jacobsohn, Margaret and Beverley and Peter Pickford, Nomads of Namibia.
• Bristow, David and Julian Harrison, Fodor’s African Safari.
• Marais, Chris and Julienne du Toit, A Drink of DRY Land.
• Martin, Heno, The Sheltering Desert.
• James, Sara and Ginger Mauney, The Best of Friends.

The trip leader will send further reading material and website information.

Conservation

Namibia is the first country in Africa to incorporate protection of the environment into its constitution. Almost 40% of its land is now protected by the government. Its successful "conservancy movement" has engaged a quarter-million rural residents (one in every four) and brought about remarkable increases in wildlife and income generation. (Conservancies are clearly defined tracts of land, registered with the government, where local communities manage their local resources through a democratically elected committee and approved management plans). Furthermore, Namibia is the only country in Africa where the endangered black rhino, of which Namibia has the largest population in the world, are being translocated out of national parks into conservancies. In addition, Namibia not only has the largest population of cheetah in the world (50% of the global population), but it is the only country in Africa where free-roaming lion populations are increasing, and the instances of poaching have decreased dramatically.

Trip Price

This trip requires a $200 per-person deposit. An additional payment of $300 per person is due six months prior to trip departure. International trip prices are subject to change and are based on double-occupancy or group accommodations as described above. Single rooms may not be available or may cost more than the listed price. If you have any questions regarding double occupancy, please contact the trip leader.

See the How to Apply for an Outing section for more details on registering for this trip and details about our Reservation and Cancellation Policy.

The payment of a deposit does not confirm you as a member on the trip. Participants must be approved by the trip leader. After signing up for this trip, you will be sent a confirmation packet containing approval materials (Participant Approval Questionnaire, Medical Form, Liability Release Form). Each applicant (including those on the waitlist) must fill out these forms and promptly mail them to the trip leader. The leader will review the approval materials and notify you of your acceptance in a timely manner.

The Sierra Club accurately and fairly budgets and prices our trips. However, unforeseen costs such as devaluation of the dollar compared to other currencies and fuel surcharges assessed by our international providers may necessitate adjustment in trip price. We will make every effort to mitigate and absorb these fees. If a price increase is necessary, however, you will have 14 days after announcement to cancel without penalty.

Staff

Ruth Dyche is one of Sierra Club’s premier leaders. She has lead water trips in North America and in the South Pacific as well as many trips to China and other destinations. Africa, however, has captured her heart and she has returned frequently, leading trips to east, west, and southern Africa. Namibia is one of her favorite destinations. Her personal involvement began years ago when, as a young nurse, she worked at a remote mission hospital in Zambia for an adventure-filled year. Ruth loves the challenge of planning great trips, meeting new people and sharing with them her enthusiasm for the countries she visits.

E-mail: dyche2747@sbcglobal.net

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General Notes About Sierra Club Trips

• Carbon Offsets
• Electronic Devices
• Equipment
• How to Apply for a Trip
• Leader Gratuities
• Liability Release and Assumption of Risk
• Medical Issues
• Non-discrimination Statement
• Participant Approval
• Reservation and Cancellation Policy
• Seller of Travel Disclosure
• Travel Insurance
• Trip Feedback