10 Days – Swakopmund, Sossusvlei, Aus, Fish River Canyon, Quiver Tree Forest & Naankuse Guided Safaris

This morning after an early wake – up call you will meet at the lobby where you will have coffee/tea and rusk. You will set off for Sossusvlei Excursion the road to Namib Naukluft Park. The Earlier you leave to join the queue to the entrance for Sossusvlei the better. You stand the chance to capture the dunes whilst the light is soft and the shadows accentuate the towering shapes and the curves of the dunes. After the most awesome experience by climbing the highest dune called big daddy at Sossuvlei. Once you explored Sossusvlei and Deadvlei and surroundings dune fields. You will enjoy a relaxed picnic brunch in the shade of a camelthorn tree. You return to the lodge in the earlier afternoon in time for late lunch. The late afternoon can be spent to visit Sesriem Canyon afterwards if you haven’t visit the previous day. The rest of the day is spent at your leisure.
Sossusvlei:
Conservation area with restricted entrance and movement in the area. Entrance fees to be paid upon entry. Sossusvlei is located in the southern part of the Namib Desert, in the Namib – Naukluft Park of Namibia, a prime destination in Namibia that showcases mammoth sand dunes up 325m in height. Sossusvlei is a salt and clay pan surrounded by high red dunes. The name “Sossusvlei” is often used in an extended meaning to refer to the surrounding area, which is one of the major visitor attractions of Namibia.

Overnight at: Sossus Dune Lodge Meal Basis: Lunch, Dinner, Breakfast + PM Nature Drive

Today after earlier wake-up call and having a nice scrumptious breakfast you are heading east but we will soon turn south again to complete our traverse of Namibia’s southern region, to Fish River Canyon located in the /Ai-/Ais Richtersveldt Transfrontier National Park. Upon arrival you meet with your guide will accompanying you with the local guide for half day fish river canyon excursion. You enter the park at the Hobas gate and from there it is only a short drive to the main lookout point over the Fish River Canyon. Your guide will help you navigate throughout the gorge from the upper part to the canyon below. Due to the temperatures down in the gorge you will return to the Lodge for your Light Lunch. It is hard to leave such an impressive sight but your journey but you still continue onwards to Quiver Tree Forest. You arrive late afternoon at your overnight camp at the Quiver Tree Forest Camp. Afternoon is spent on exploring the Quiver Tree Forest and Giant Play Ground. You return to the camp and the dinner is prepared on the open fire. You are at your leisure enjoying some cold refreshments and snack whilst they busy preparing the dinner
Fish River Canyon:
The Fish River Canyon, is located in a dry, arid of south Namibia. It is the largest canyon in Africa, as well as the second most visited tourist attraction in Namibia. It features a gigantic ravine, in total about 160 kilometres long up to 27km wide and in places almost 550 meters deep. Therefore, the best time for hiking is between May – September. Because of the temperatures which drops during that period.

Quiver Tree Camp & Giant Play Ground:
The Quiver Tree Forest (Kokerboom Woud in Afrikaans) is a forest and tourist attraction of southern Namibia. It is located about 14 km north-east of Keetmanshoop, on the road to Koës, on the Gariganus farm. It comprises about 250 specimens of Aloidendron dichotomum, a species that is also locally known as the quiver tree (Afrikaans: kokerboom) because San people traditionally used its branches to make quivers. The forest is spontaneous; the tallest quiver trees are two to three centuries old. The forest was declared a national monument of Namibia in 1995. The quiver tree is also known for looking upside down because the “leaves” look somewhat similar to roots. This tree has a long history of beliefs that it will bring good luck to anybody that worships a tree and nurtures it. Since diamonds are very rich in Namibia, people say that if one of these trees is dug up, one will get diamonds in their lifetime, but since these trees are blessed nobody wants to dig them up.
Near the forest, there is another site of natural interest (itself a tourist attraction) for its geology, the Giant’s Playground, a vast pile of large dolerite rocks.

Quiver Tree Forest Camp: Quivertree Forest Rest Camp is set on an active working farm. The units are self-catering. There are not a’ la Carte restaurant facilities available, but food can be served from the farm kitchen for clients that book in advance for dinner, bed and breakfast. If you are into photography, Quivertree Rest Camp will inspire you. The semi desert landscape and beautiful star-studded night sky are a sight to behold. The name Quivertree was derived from a specific species of aloe that is also locally known as the “quiver tree” because the bushmen used its branches to make quivers for their arrows.
Quivertree Rest Camp offers a choice of accommodation. There are 2 guest houses with a lounge with minibar, fully equipped kitchen, 2 x bedrooms with single beds, 1 x bedroom with a double bed. The houses have a shower and toilet and the units are air conditioned. There are also 9 x self-catering igloo bungalows. 8 of these bungalows can accommodate 3 people and 1 is a family room fitted with 1 x double bed and 3 single beds. All units have a shower, toilet and are air conditioned. Lastly, but not the least, there are camp sites equipped with barbeque facilities. Ablution blocks have hot showers, toilets and electricity.
Overnight at: Quiver Tree Forest Camp Meal Basis: Lunch, Dinner, Breakfast+ PM Nature Drive

After having most tasty breakfast at Elegant Guesthouse your guide will meet you at the lobby. You head the road to the South/east towards the Kalahari Desert to Kalahari Anib Lodge. You arrive at the lodge in time for lunch. The late afternoon is spent on nature drive in an open game drive vehicle to explore the breath taking air and the red dunes. You return to the lodge after the sundowner for dinner.
Kalahari Desert:
Kalahari Desert, large basin like plain of the interior plateau of Southern Africa. It occupies almost all of Botswana, the eastern third of Namibia, and the northern most part of Northern Cape province in South Africa.
Kalahari Anib Lodge:
Kalahari Anib Lodge is situated in the Kalahari Desert on the Eastern fringes of Namibia, the Red sands of the Kalahari beckon. Easily accessible 30 km from Mariental, This Kalahari Anib Lodge is a good overnight stop if travelling between Windhoek and the south or continuing to the Kgalagadi. There’s nothing like feeling the good earth underfoot, so stretch legs on the trails around the lodge. Keeping eyes open for springbok, zebra and wildebeest and take the chance to breathe in the character and energy of this distinctive area, feeling closet to the land.
Explore the Gondwana Kalahari Park on the sunset drive and celebrate life atop Kalahari dune. Drink in the beauty of the Kalahari where Gemsbok flourish and sociable weavers build gargantuan nests atop of camelthorn trees. The optimum time to experience the Kalahari colors is when the sun dips in the late afternoon and lights up the sand as if glowing from an inner fire. Don’t miss this time of the day when the Earth seems to pause for Kalahari magic. Providing an oasis in the desert for groups, individual travelers and campers, Kalahari Anib Lodge is relaxed and down to earth stopover for a taste of Kalahari.
Overnight at: Kalahari Anib Lodge Meal Basis: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner + PM Nature Drive