Day 1: Desert Whisper Gondwana Collection Namibia, Sossusvlei
Sossusvlei
Located in the scenic Namib-Naukluft National Park, Sossusvlei is where you will find the iconic red sand dunes of the Namib. The clear blue skies contrast with the giant red dunes to make this one of the most scenic natural wonders of Africa and a photographer’s heaven. This awe-inspiring destination is possibly Namibia’s premier attraction, with its unique dunes rising to almost 400 metres – making them some of the highest in the world. These iconic dunes come alive in morning and evening light and draw photography enthusiasts from around the globe. Sossusvlei is home to a variety of desert wildlife including oryx, springbok, ostrich and a variety of reptiles. Visitors can climb ‘Big Daddy’, one of Sossusvlei’s tallest dunes; explore Deadvlei, a white, salt, claypan dotted with ancient trees; or for the more extravagant, scenic flights and hot air ballooning are on offer, followed by a once-in-a-lifetime champagne breakfast amidst these majestic dunes.

Day Itinerary
Collection time is between 08:00 and 08:30 from anywhere in Windhoek. Windhoek is surrounded by mountains and we have to pass over both the Eros Mountains and the Khomas Hochland Range. As we travel through this splendid landscape, we drop down from the central plateau to grassy desert savannah. We stop at Solitaire for petrol and perhaps also afternoon tea before we continue to our lodge. We aim to arrive during the early afternoon.

There will be an afternoon sundowner drive.

Overnight: Desert Whisper Gondwana Collection Namibia

Have you ever heard the whispering voice of the Namib Desert? In this escape to blissful and luxurious solitude, silence and whispering wind is all you will hear. Catering to 2 guests at a time, this fully inclusive experience is a couple’s ideal getaway.

Location: Approximately 60km north of Sesriem on the C19

Full Board Plus – Dinner, Bed, Breakfast, Lunch and Activities
Included – Lunch and Dinner. Afternoon sundowner drive

Day 2: Desert Whisper Gondwana Collection Namibia, Sossusvlei
Day Itinerary
At sunrise the gates of the Namib Naukluft Park open and you make your way into the Sossusvlei area. If you are early and fit enough, you can even climb one of the dunes and enjoy the impressive view of the entire landscape. You will drive with the 4×4 vehicle to the Sossusvlei, which is a dry clay pan that only fills with water in years with a lot of rain. Thereafter you will continue to the Sesriem Canyon, formed by the Tsauchab River over millions of years. Later we will continue back to our lodge.
Activities
Morning – Dune 45 + Dead Vlei + Sossusvlei
Afternoon – Sesriem Canyon

Dune 45
Named for its location 45 kilometres past the town of Sesriem, Dune 45 is renowned for its elegant shape, which – along with its position close to the road – have earned it the distinction of ‘most photographed dune in the world’. If you’re not keen for the strenuous hike to the top of Big Daddy, Dune 45 is a more forgiving alternative, standing at only 80 metres and
featuring a much gentler gradient.

Dead Vlei
This ancient clay pan was once an oasis, studded with acacias and fed by a river that suddenly changed course, leaving the earth to dry up along with the trees it previously supported. So dry were the climatic conditions that the trees never decomposed – instead they were entirely leached of moisture so that today, 900 years later, they remain as desiccated, blackened sentinels dotting the pan’s cracked surface. Surrounded by the red-pink dunes of the Namibia Desert, they create a surreal spectacle that is a photographer’s dream.

Sossusvlei
Located in the scenic Namib-Naukluft National Park, Sossusvlei is where you will find the iconic red sand dunes of the Namib. The clear blue skies contrast with the giant red dunes to make this one of the most scenic natural wonders of Africa and a photographer’s heaven. This awe-inspiring destination is possibly Namibia’s premier attraction, with its unique dunes rising to almost 400 metres – making them some of the highest in the world. These iconic dunes come alive in morning and evening light and draw photography enthusiasts from around the globe. Sossusvlei is home to a variety of desert wildlife including oryx, springbok, ostrich and a variety of reptiles. Visitors can climb ‘Big Daddy’, one of Sossusvlei’s tallest dunes; explore Deadvlei, a white, salt, claypan dotted with ancient trees; or for the more extravagant, scenic flights and hot air ballooning are on offer, followed by a once-in-a-lifetime champagne breakfast amidst these majestic dunes.

Sesriem Canyon
Sesriem Canyon, a deep chasm carved through the rocks by water, is a striking natural feature of the area that is best explored on foot. Stony walls rise up sharply on both sides of the canyon, while birds roost in its crags and lizards dart along the ledges. The canyon’s name was coined when early settlers used it as a water source, using six lengths of leather (‘ses riem – six thongs) tied together to lower buckets into the water at the base of canyon.

Full Board Plus – Dinner, Bed, Breakfast, Lunch and Activities
Included – Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner + Park fees + Excursions with your guide (Dead Vlei, Dune 45, Sesriem Canyon Hike and Sossusvlei)

Day 3: Strand Hotel Swakopmund, Swakopmund
Swakopmund
Set along Namibia’s spectacularly scenic coast, the seaside town of Swakopmund is known for its wide-open avenues, colonial architecture, and its surrounding otherworldly desert terrain. Founded in 1892 as the main harbour for German South-West Africa, Swakopmund is often described as being more German than Germany. Now a seaside resort town, Swakopmund is the capital of the Skeleton Coast tourism area and has plenty to keep visitors happy. The quirky mix of German and Namibian influences, adventure options, laid-back atmosphere and cool sea breeze make it a very popular Namibian destination. Visitors can look forward to a number of exciting activities including: quad biking, horse riding, paragliding, fishing, sightseeing and fascinating desert tours.

Day Itinerary
Early morning hot air balloon flight over the Namib desert and ending with a champaign breakfast.
Namibia is a land of contrasts. Today we will move from desert to sea, crossing the Tropic of Capricorn and traversing the Gaub and Kuiseb passes. As we climb out the dry riverbed at the bottom of Kuiseb Canyon, a spectacular desert landscape will unfold before us. We will stop over in Walvis Bay to enjoy the sight of flamingos and other birds in the lagoon and visit the salt works. Then we will continue to Swakopmund. This town is still home to many descendants of the late colonists and state officials of the German colonial era. Beautiful old German colonial buildings, cafés where you can enjoy not only the German hospitality, but also famous German cakes are found in the town centre. Dinner will be at a local restaurant and is included in the tour. We overnight in a hotel in Swakopmund.

Overnight: Strand Hotel Swakopmund

With its extensive, unique and creatively entertaining Restaurants, Bars, Deli, Lobby-Lounge, Sea Facing Terraces, Beach Kiosk and state of the art Conference & Banqueting Centre, all set on the Mole, a historic and iconic site surrounded by Ocean on three sides, the Strand Hotel Swakopmund is a social epicentre and destination in itself for all visitors to and residents of Swakopmund.
Its architectural inspiration finds its roots deep in Namibian-German history and reflects this in a tasteful contemporary manner. The interiors are residential in nature, and the brief to all designers involved was to create a non-hotel, hotel. One as charming and welcoming as the town it is located in. Simply very warm and comfortable, and as they say in German: “gemütlich” providing a genuine “sense-of-place” atmosphere adding to any Namibian visit.
Arriving at the Strand is a dramatic experience as one passes through its 13m high and 9m wide Ocean View Atrium which travels right through the Hotel offering sea views at either end. Off this Atrium Lobby is Reception, consisting of three individual desks and an inviting open fireplace which rounds off the residential feel and warm welcome.

Activities
Morning – Tropic of Capricorn
Lunch – Walvis Bay Lagoon
Morning – Namib Sky Balloon Safaris

Tropic of Capricorn
Located just South of Walvis Bay in Solitaire, is the approximate latitude of the Tropic of Capricorn at 23.5 degrees South. The Tropic of Capricorn is one of the 5 major circles of latitude and the southernmost point of latitude from where the sun can be seen directly overhead. This point of latitude runs through many other countries such as Brazil, Mozambique and Australia to name a few.

Walvis Bay Lagoon
Walvis Bay’s calm natural lagoon is a twitcher’s paradise, teeming with roughly 50 species of seabirds, including vivid flocks of flamingos, bulky-billed pelicans and glossy black cormorants. It’s also a popular spot for windsurfing, kitesurfing and kayaking, while the promenade stretching for three kilometres along the water’s edge is a great place for a scenic stroll.

Namib Sky Balloon Safaris
Situated in the heart of the Namib Naukluft Park, Sossusvlei, one of the most fascinating landscapes in Namibia, is a photographer’s dream. Gigantic orange dunes, dramatic shadows, undulating plains and Rocky Mountains create a magical kaleidoscope of colours and shapes.
To the east, Namib Rand Nature Reserve vast sandy plains are surrounded by towering granite mountains and rolling dunes.
Here, in the oldest desert on the planet, amazingly adapted animals and plants come together to form one of the most visually stunning ecosystems in the world. And truly the best way to experience the heart of the Namib desert is with a hot air balloon safari.
Watching the spectacular sunrise over this magnificent landscape from a silent hot air balloon is the experience of a lifetime, never to be forgotten
At landing, you come back to earth with an “Out of Africa” style Champagne breakfast set up in the middle of nowhere.
Your pilot will present you with a flight certificate before you take a leisurely nature drive back to the pick-up point.

Full Board Plus – Dinner, Bed, Breakfast, Lunch and Activities
Included – Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner + Morning Hot air balloon + Tropic of Capricorn + Walvis Bay Lagoon

Day 4: Strand Hotel Swakopmund, Swakopmund
Day Itinerary
In the morning we will visit the vast seal colony at Cape Cross, north of Swakopmund. Here you are able to get up close to thousands of wild Cape fur seals and observe them in their natural environment. Swakopmund is a charming seaside town characterized by German colonial architecture, palm-lined streets, great restaurants, plenty of shops and beautiful beaches. You will be free to explore this town for the rest of the day. It offers plenty to do including a good museum and aquarium. Various optional activities can also be arranged. These include a boat tour (with oysters and champagne), scenic flights and micro-light flights over the desert, fishing trips (either from the beach or a boat), quad-biking in the desert, sandboarding and skydiving. Your guide will discuss all your options and offer to make pre-bookings. Note that all extra activities in Swakopmund are subject to availability and are made at the client’s own risk and expense.
Activities
Morning – Cape Cross Seal Colony

Cape Cross Seal Colony
This colony of Cape Fur Seals is one of the largest in the world, home to approximately 80 000 to 100 000 of these so-called ‘seals’, which are in fact a species of sea lion. Day trips to the colony are offered and the seals can be viewed from a walkway at a distance of roughly 200 metres.

Full Board Plus – Dinner, Bed, Breakfast, Lunch and Activities
Included – Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner + Entrance fees + Seal Colony excursion with your guide

Day 5: End of Itinerary
Day Itinerary
Today’s journey takes you back to the starting point of your tour, Windhoek, where you will arrive between 2pm and 3pm. On the way there you can stop in Okahandja to buy some hand-carved souvenirs, baskets and jewellery at the big handcraft market. You will be dropped off at your accommodation in Windhoek.

Included – Breakfast and Lunch + Transfer back to Windhoek

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