NYT5Wf: Flying Safari: Sossusvlei + Skeleton Coast

SMALL GROUP TOUR

Day 1

You will be met at Windhoek Airport and transferred to your hotel.

Explore Windhoek on foot, with its charming German architecture and then relax by the swimming pool under warm blue Namibian skies.

Day 2

Early morning transfer to Eros Airport in Windhoek to board your light aircraft at 07h00 for your thrilling Flying Safari of the sand dunes of Sossusvlei and the dramatic Skeleton Coast of Namibia.

Our day starts with a spectacular flight to Sossusvlei in the Namib Naukluft Park, reputed to have the highest sand dunes in the world. After enjoying breathtaking views of the shadow-lined dunes from the air, we land at Sesriem for a Land Rover excursion into the dunes, which reach heights of 300m or more. For those inclined and fit enough to climb them, this poses a great challenge!

Returning to your plane with your pilot-guide, enjoy the spectacular sight of Kuiseb Canyon and its red dunes from the air and an aerial view of the famous Eduard Bohlen shipwreck at Conception Bay, before refuelling at Swakopmund. We continue with an exciting low-level flight north along the Skeleton Coast and past the seal colony at Cape Cross, before landing for a light picnic lunch near the beach.

After lunch we fly across the desert to the Ugab Formations, a nearly lifeless ‘moon landscape' of numerous black ridges in stark contrast to the white desert floor and proceed to Kuidas Camp in the Huab River Valley for overnight. Ancient rock engravings can be found here amongst the rocks, within walking distance of the camp.

Day 3

After breakfast, this morning we travel by Land Rover to explore the colourful red lava and yellow sandstone of the fascinating Huab River Valley and learn more about the fascinating ecological aspects of this area with its wide diversity of flora and fauna. This includes the unique Welwitschia Mirabilis, a tree that has been dwarfed by the rigours of the encroaching desert climate.

After lunch at Kuidas Camp, we continue flying along the coast to Terrace Bay in Skeleton Coast National Park, with the most prominent shipwrecks along this part of the coast being the Montrose and the Henrietta.

We land and visit the Roaring Dunes by Land Rover, which always proves to be a stimulating experience. We also visit the beach with its profusion of multi-coloured pebbles consisting of agate, lava, granite and quartz. See old bleached whale bones scattered along the beach above the high tide mark, before we return to the aircraft and fly north to Purros Camp in the Hoarusib Valley for overnight.

Day 4

Today we embark on a scenic drive along the Hoarusib Valley to visit a settlement of the nomadic Himba people. Along the way, we might be lucky enough to come across the desert-dwelling elephants that frequent this valley.

We continue flying northwards along the Skeleton Coast to the Kunene River, which marks the border between Namibia and Angola. The Kaiu Maru shipwreck and pieces from old sailing vessels lie scattered along this part of the coast.

After landing for a scenic drive by Land Rover to our lunch site, we continue driving through the mountains and dunes of the Hartmann Valley, reaching our Kunene River Camp in the late afternoon.

Day 5

Enjoy an early morning boat trip on the Kunene River today, as it flows through the scenic desert landscape.

Birdlife is prolific and you can observing many species, including aquatic birds on the perennial river, some endemic desert varieties and others that inhabit the dense surrounding riverine vegetation. If you are fortunate, you may also see some crocodiles today!

After lunch at camp we fly back to Eros Airport arriving in the late afternoon and transfer to your hotel in Windhoek.

Day 6

Transfer to Windhoek Airport for your flight home.