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Journey to the Caprivi

Purple-banded sunbird, Caprivi

Click on the name of the hotel or lodge for details.

12 days from £2450

excluding international flights

DAY 1 - Depart UK.

Recommended flight from London: British Airways from London Heathrow via Johannesburg (see below). If you are travelling from a country other than the UK we would be happy to give you guidance on your flight options.

DAY 2 - Arrival in Windhoek. Drive to Okonjima.

On arrival in Namibia's capital you will receive your rental vehicle and complete the formalities before beginning your journey. This morning you will drive into the unspoilt beauty of the Omboroko mountains, part of the well-known Waterberg Plateau. En route you can make a brief stop at Okahandja, the administrative centre for the Herero people, and also a focal point for woodcarvers from all over northern Namibia; you can view the artisans practising their ancient skills at the Woodcarvers' Market next to the main road. You should reach Okonjima in the early afternoon.
Meals included: Lunch, dinner.

DAY 3 - Okonjima.

A full day at Okonjima. Okonjima is home to the Africat Foundation, a non-profit organisation committed to long-term conservation of Namibia's large carnivores, especially cheetahs and leopards. Leopards are frequently seen, giving you the opportunity to observe these magnificent predators from a hide or radio-tracked from the game-viewing vehicles. The Cheetah Project offers you valuable insight into the welfare work of the Africat Foundation. The area is excellent for birdwatching, with more than 250 species having been identified, including Namibian endemics - Carp's Black Tit, Hartlaub's Francolin and the Damara Rock Runner.
Meals included: Full breakfast, lunch, dinner.

DAYS 4 AND 5 - Etosha.

Travel to Mushara Outpost, situated only eight kilometres from the Von Lindequist Gate on the eastern outskirts of Etosha National Park – 22,270 square kilometres of countryside ranging from dense bush to barren plains. Spend your days visiting the numerous waterholes and subterranean springs at the Etosha Pan – known as the "Place of Dry Water" – which attracts a diversity of animals including springbok, zebra, gnu, giraffe, kudu and elephant. Etosha also contains endangered black rhino and unusual species like the blackfaced impala, a larger and darker species found only in southwestern Angola and northwest Namibia. Birdlife is absolutely wonderful at Etosha; those to look for in particular are the ground hornbill, the yellow-billed hornbill, and the lilac-breasted roller, whose underwings when they take off in pursuit of an insect give a blinding flash of electric blue. Eagle and vultures cruise high in the warm air currents or perch on branches with beady eyes alert.
Meals included: Full breakfast, dinner each day.

DAY 6 - Drive via Grootfontein to Kavango.

Drive via the German colonial-style town of Grootfontein into the heavily wooded and gently rolling Kavango region, to reach your lodge on the Kavango River close to the border with Angola. You should have time to take an optional boat cruise on the river or try your hand at Tigerfishing.
Meals included: Full breakfast, dinner.

DAYS 7 AND 8 - Into the Caprivi Strip.

Head into the narrow and remote Caprivi Strip in Namibia's far northeast. Less known than other areas of the country, this region nevertheless has much to offer and your first destination is the Ndhovu Safari Lodge, located next to the excellent Mahango National Park and close to the Popa Falls (left). Activities at the lodge include sundowner cruises, fishing excursions, village tours and games drives. The Mahango Game Reserve is just 2 kilometres away and offers excellent opportunities to view elephant, buffalo, red lechwe and sable antelope in typical riverine and swampland habitat. The terrace overlooking the river is the perfect spot for a relaxing sundowner at the end of a busy day.
Meals included: Full breakfast, dinner each day.

DAY 9 - Continue to the Kwando River.

Your journey continues eastwards to your next lodge, located on an island in the Kwando River. The Kwando is a permanent water source which nourishes delicate ecosystems and sustains varied game and birdlife. The lodge is a haven for relaxation and privacy in style and comfort.
Meals included: Full breakfast, lunch, dinner.

DAY 10 - Susuwe Island. Bwabwata National Park.

At Susuwe game drives are conducted in open 4x4 vehicles in the Bwabwata National Park. Game sightings in this cradle of rivers could include vast herds of roaming elephant and buffalo, lion, hippo (left), leopard, sable, roan, lechwe and puku. A night drive at Susuwe offers an even closer insight into the mysteries of the African bush.
Meals included: Full breakfast, lunch, dinner.

DAY 11 - Return to Windhoek.

Drive to Katima Mulilo Airport and return your rental vehicle before taking the flight to Windhoek Eros Airport, where you will be met and transferred to your hotel. The rest of the day is free to explore Namibia's capital and maybe do some last-minute shopping for souvenirs before you are taken back to the international airport for your homeward flight.
Meals included: Full breakfast.

DAY 12 - Arrive UK.

Morning arrival the UK.

International Flights

We recommend the services of British Airways from London Heathrow toJohannesburg, with an onward connection to Windhoek on Comair. Currenttimings (subject to possible change) are as follows:
Heathrow/Johannesburg. Depart at 21.15; arrive Johannesburg at 07.00 (next day)
Johannesburg/Windhoek. Depart at 12.00; arrive Windhoek at 12.55
Windhoek/Johannesburg. Depart at 14.00; arrive Johannesburg at 16.50
Johannesburg/Heathrow. Depart at 20.15; arrive Heathrow at 06.20 (next day)

Namibia: Journey to the Caprivi (Tour Reference: WDNA002)
2010 Departures
Price per person based on a minimum of two persons travelling together:

Single Room Supplement on request.

The price includes:

• Scheduled flight from Katima Mulilo to Windhoek, including airport taxes
• Hotel and lodge accommodation as listed above in twin-bedded rooms with ensuite facilities.
• 9 full breakfasts, 4 lunches and 9 dinners as shown in the itinerary.
• 10 days' car rental (Group B - e.g. Toyota Corolla) including Delivery and Collection, unlimited kilometres, Super Collision Damage Waiver (SCDW), Super Theft Loss Waiver (STLW), Europ Assist, VAT, Airport Surcharge, National and regional maps, Stamp Duty and Tourist Information. Upgrades are available to other vehicles.
• Private transfers in Windhoek (days 11 and 12).
• Games drives organised by the lodges where you share the transportation with other guests.
• All sightseeing and gameviewing as shown, including guiding and entrance fees.

Not included in the price:

• International flights (see our recommendation above). We are happy to discuss the flights with you and give you further guidance.
• International airport taxes.
• Rental Deposit (N$1000 or approximately £90), Contract Fee (N$35 or approximately £3.20) and one way fee for journey of more than 100km (N$746 or approximately £68). These charges are paid direct to the car hire company in Namibia.
• Tipping. We will be pleased to give guidance in this often sensitive matter

A deposit of £250 per person is required at the time of booking. The balance of the price for your travel arrangements must be paid at least 8 weeks before your departure date.