Private/Group Tour Highlights
- Travel with one of Namibia’s top naturalist guides, renowned for their expertise.
- Visit the famous AfriCat Foundation and learn about big cat conservation.
- Enjoy thrilling game drives in Etosha National Park in a customized, air-conditioned 4x4.
- Experience nighttime game viewing at a floodlit waterhole.
- Go on a game drive in the exclusive Ongava Private Reserve.
- Explore Damaraland while staying at Camp Doros.
- Search for desert-adapted elephants in Namibia’s dry riverbeds.
- Track endangered black rhinos with Save the Rhino Trust.
- Discover Namibia’s coastal canyons, dunes, and lagoons.
- Explore Namib Tsaris Conservancy on nature drives and guided walks at Camp Sossus.
- Climb the towering sand dunes at Sossusvlei, followed by a scenic picnic in Namib Naukluft Park.
- Stargaze at the Milky Way in the Namib Tsaris Conservancy.
- Take a refreshing dip in the desert pools of Namib Tsaris Conservancy.
Tour Overview
This Namibia Under Canvas Safari offers you the opportunity to experience this magnificent and memorable country in a very personal way. You will have your own professional and experienced safari guide who will enhance your enjoyment of this unique journey by making it a fascinating and stress-free exploration of dramatic scenery.
The knowledge, experience, and character of our guides are crucial to a successful safari, which is why we ensure they are both personable and highly professional. Your Ultimate Safaris guide will have an intimate understanding of each area and camp/lodge you visit, allowing them to share local insights and highlights while adding continuity and depth to your safari. They are all well-versed in what constitutes a “True African Safari.” Not only are our guides highly qualified, but each also possesses a specific area of expertise.
Together, they have the breadth and depth of knowledge to answer questions and satisfy the interests of each of our guests. The presence and company of your Ultimate Safaris guide will turn your safari into an unforgettable experience! The Under Canvas camps are designed to offer a true “back to nature” experience, focusing on the experiential aspect of safaris. The goal is to return to the roots of safari, to touch, smell, feel, and experience the wild, with your feet firmly in the dust of Africa. This is an experience that is exclusive in the truest sense of the word, far removed from the pressures of ‘normal’ life. Some compromises are required concerning certain frills and ‘add-ons’ you might expect in a permanent tented camp or lodge, but there is still a strong emphasis on ensuring guests’ comfort. Those willing to forgo some conventional ‘necessities’ in favor of an unencumbered experience, free from buildings and all the associated paraphernalia, will drift off to sleep hearing only the noisy silence of the desert and wake up to a chorus announcing the start of a new day. This level of intimacy can only be achieved by taking guests to the most wild, remote, and private places, giving them access to areas far off the beaten path.
Inclusions
- Transportation in a luxury air-conditioned safari vehicle.
- All meals.
- Services of a registered and experienced naturalist English-speaking safari guide.
- Entrance fees and excursions as described in above itinerary.
- Mineral water on board the safari vehicle.
- Local drinks at meals (this includes water, soft drinks, beers and table wine).
- Two Ongava afternoon property drives in open game viewer with lodge guide
- Welcome pack.
Exclusions
- International flights to Namibia and airport taxes.
- Return airport transfers from Windhoek International Airport – Windhoek – Windhoek International Airport.
- Pre and post safari accommodation in Windhoek.
- Any entrance fees and excursions not included in the above itinerary such as scenic flights.
- All beverages with the exception of mineral water on board the safari vehicle.
- Laundry (laundry service available at lodges at extra cost).
- Gratuities.
- Items of personal nature (telephone expenses, curios, medicines etc).
- Entry Visa Fees.
Trip Type:
All our trips are operated on a private basis unless specified otherwise. This is only a sample itinerary; your Yampu Tour Consultant will personalize this trip for you according to your available dates, interests and type of hotels. This is your trip and we will work on making it perfect!
Tour Itinerary
Welcome to Namibia - Ongava Private Reserve
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Upon arrival, a Yampu Tours representative will meet you at Windhoek/Hosea Kutako International Airport for your transfer.
You will then depart Windhoek in your safari vehicle with your private guide and set off on your journey. On your way to the Ongava Private Reserve, you will visit Okonjima’s AfriCat Day Centre, a wonderful highlight with which to start your safari. Okonjima is home to the AfriCat Foundation, a wildlife sanctuary focusing on the research and rehabilitation of Africa's big cats, especially injured or captured leopards and cheetahs. You will arrive in time to embark on an exciting and informative game drive and tour of the center. Here you will learn about the function and vision of the AfriCat Foundation and meet some of the Foundation’s special captive carnivore ambassadors. Please note: There will be no tracking of wild cats on this visit. Should that be required, a pre-overnight extension should be booked. After the excursion, you will enjoy a light lunch before your journey continues further north. You will arrive in time for an afternoon game drive on the Ongava Game Reserve in an open game viewer with an Ongava ranger, shared with other lodge guests.
Overnight in Southern Etosha National Park. ...read less
Southern Etosha National Park
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Today, you will be treated to an exciting morning guided game drive into Etosha National Park, where you can see a wide variety of game and bird species.
There will be time to relax by the refreshing swimming pool before you head out again for an afternoon game drive into Etosha, exiting the park before sunset. Alternatively, you can opt to spend the entire day in the park, taking lunch by one of the other rest camps or having a picnic while watching the game at a particularly productive waterhole.
Once you are back (gates close at sunset), the rest of the evening can be spent game viewing at the camp’s floodlit waterhole while enjoying dinner. Etosha National Park: Etosha National Park covers 22,270 km², of which approximately 5,000 km² is made up of saline depressions or ‘pans’. The largest of these pans, the Etosha Pan, can be classified as a saline desert in its own right. The Etosha Pan lies in the Owambo Basin, on the north-western edge of the Namibian Kalahari Desert. Until three million years ago, it formed part of a huge, shallow lake that was reduced to a complex of salt pans when the major river that fed it, the Kunene, changed course and began to flow to the Atlantic instead. If the lake existed today, it would be the third-largest in the world. Etosha is the largest of the pans at 4,760 km² in extent. It is now filled with water only when sufficient rain falls to the north in Angola, inducing floods to flow southward along the Cuvelai drainage system. The park consists of grassland, woodland, and savannah. Game-viewing centers around the numerous springs and waterholes, where several different species can often be seen at one time. The park boasts some 114 mammal and over 340 bird species. Wildlife that one might see includes elephants, lions, giraffes, blue wildebeests, elands, kudus, gemsboks (oryx), zebras, rhinos, cheetahs, leopards, hyenas, honey badgers, and warthogs, as well as the endemic black-faced impala.
Overnight in Southern Etosha National Park. ...read less
Etosha National Park / Ongava Game Reserve
Another morning is dedicated to memorable game drives within the southern section of Etosha National Park with your guide. You will return to camp for lunch and an early afternoon rest, spending your final afternoon on a game drive in the private Ongava Game Reserve. You will return after sunset with enough time to freshen up and enjoy your final ‘safari dinner’ overlooking the camp’s floodlit waterhole.
Overnight in Southern Etosha National Park.
Another morning is dedicated to memorable game drives within the southern section of Etosha National Park with your guide. You will return to camp for lunch and an early afternoon rest, spending your final afternoon on a game drive in the private Ongava Game Reserve. You will return after sunset with enough time to freshen up and enjoy your final ‘safari dinner’ overlooking the camp’s floodlit waterhole.
Overnight in Southern Etosha National Park.
Southern Etosha National Park to Damaraland
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This morning, you will continue your safari to the heart of Namibia, Damaraland, traveling through farmlands and small towns.
Damaraland is typified by displays of color, magnificent table-topped mountains, rock formations, and bizarre-looking vegetation. The present-day landscape has been formed by the erosion of wind, water, and geological forces, resulting in rolling hills, dunes, gravel plains, and ancient river terraces. It is the variety and solitude of the area, as well as its scenic splendor, that will reward and astound you, providing an authentic understanding of the word 'wilderness.' You will enjoy a delicious Magic Box picnic en route and arrive in time to enjoy fireside sundowners at Camp Doros. Please note: Today is a long day of traveling, rewarded with another 3-night stay at your next camp.
Overnight in Damaraland. ...read less
Damaraland
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Today, you will spend an exciting and memorable morning out rhino tracking with the assistance of local trackers.
It is worth noting that these black rhinos form part of one of the only free-roaming black rhino populations in Africa. Tracking animals in an unfenced and uninhibited environment is an absolute privilege.
You will return to camp for a freshly prepared lunch and have time to relax at camp during the heat of the day. Later in the afternoon, you will head out again for a scenic nature drive or walk to explore this vast and astounding ecosystem. Camp Doros works together with the Save the Rhino Trust to offer incredible black rhino tracking experiences while also offering game drives and walks in this harsh but beautiful environment. Please note that only 2 vehicles can track a rhino at any one time, so there may be delays with larger groups. Damaraland is also home to the highest peak in Namibia, the Brandberg, meaning 'Fire Mountain' in Afrikaans, with its imposing cliffs basking in the late evening sun. Standing at 2,573 meters, it is also famous for the White Lady rock painting, which, along with various other art and engravings, are remnants of the San Bushmen. Damaraland is typified by displays of color, magnificent table-topped mountains, rock formations, and bizarre-looking vegetation. The variety and solitude of this area, along with its scenic splendor, will reward and astound you, giving you an authentic understanding of the word ‘wilderness.’
Overnight in Damaraland. ...read less
Damaraland
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Your morning will be spent on an exciting 4x4 excursion along the ephemeral Aba Huab River Valley to search for game, including the elusive desert-adapted elephants (if they are in the area).
This unique elephant is smaller than its Savanna cousins and has adapted to a desert environment by being able to go without water for days on end and survive on moisture from the vegetation that they eat. If you're fortunate, you might find one of the local desert elephant bulls striding along in the sandy terrain, unperturbed by the harsh conditions. You will return to camp for lunch and enjoy some time to relax during the heat of the day, before embarking on another nature drive or walk later in the afternoon.
Overnight in Damaraland. ...read less
Damaraland to Swakopmund
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The drive today takes you south past Namibia’s highest mountain, the Brandberg, down to the Skeleton Coast and on through the plains of the Namib Desert.
The landscape here transforms into endless stretches of rolling dunes that extend to the Atlantic Ocean. In the afternoon, you will reach your camp. Camp Sossus offers the perfect balance of tranquility and adventure. Camp Sossus is a wonderful location to reconnect with nature and get some much-needed rest after your long days on safari. Camp Sossus: Situated within the Namib Tsaris Conservancy, Camp Sossus is nestled in a natural amphitheater formed by granite boulders and offers ten individual, well-appointed tents, each with en suite facilities, and separate indoor and outdoor sleeping areas for your comfort. The conservancy itself is a large area, home to some of the most spectacular desert scenery in Namibia. It is an ideal location for bird watching, game drives, walking, photography, and star-gazing. Activities on offer include morning nature drives to Sossusvlei and Deadvlei, guided nature walks, and sundowner drives. This eco-friendly camp operates entirely on solar power and focuses on a minimal environmental footprint. Enjoy hearty meals prepared over an open fire, reminiscent of the early days of safari.
Overnight in Swakopmund. ...read less
Swakopmund to Namib Tsaris Conservancy, Sossusvlei
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This morning, you will rise early for an exciting excursion into the Sossusvlei dunes in Namib Naukluft Park.
Here you will have the opportunity to experience the iconic landscapes of Sossusvlei and Deadvlei with a knowledgeable guide. After your excursion, you will enjoy a picnic breakfast before returning to camp, where you will have time to relax before lunch. In the late afternoon, you will go on a nature drive to explore the Namib Tsaris Conservancy, followed by a sundowner with spectacular views of the desert. Sossusvlei is one of the most iconic landscapes in Namibia. Here, towering sand dunes of deep red color rise to form a majestic backdrop to the bleached valley floor, scattered with the skeletal remains of trees that have stood here for hundreds of years. Climbing ‘Big Daddy,’ one of the tallest dunes, is a rewarding experience, offering panoramic views of the surrounding desert. The stark beauty of Deadvlei, with its eerie petrified trees, is a photographer's paradise, and the silence of this place is deeply moving. Despite the seemingly inhospitable environment, there is life here: small beetles, lizards, and geckos have adapted to the harsh conditions. The unique fauna and flora of this area are fascinating and demonstrate nature's remarkable resilience.
Overnight in Sesriem. ...read less
Namib Tsaris Conservancy / Sossusvlei
Enjoy a relaxing day at Camp Sossus or take part in one of the many activities available.
You can choose to go on a guided nature walk to learn about the desert’s ecology or take a scenic nature drive to explore more of the Namib Tsaris Conservancy. Alternatively, you may wish to simply relax at the camp, enjoying the peaceful atmosphere and stunning views. The choice is yours.
Overnight in Sesriem.
Enjoy a relaxing day at Camp Sossus or take part in one of the many activities available.
You can choose to go on a guided nature walk to learn about the desert’s ecology or take a scenic nature drive to explore more of the Namib Tsaris Conservancy. Alternatively, you may wish to simply relax at the camp, enjoying the peaceful atmosphere and stunning views. The choice is yours.
Overnight in Sesriem.
Namib Tsaris Conservancy to Windhoek – Flight Home
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This morning you will depart from Sossusvlei and return to Windhoek, driving northeast up the Great Escarpment and through the scenic Khomas Hochland highlands. A tasty picnic lunch will again be served en route and arrival in Windhoek should be by the mid-afternoon.
Upon your arrival in Windhoek, you will be transferred the Windhoek International Airport (transfer to be booked additionally) if flying out in the evening - departure flights must be no earlier than 18h00 to allow sufficient time for the journey back to Windhoek, or a final night in Windhoek can be arranged at additional cost if required. ...read less
Etosha National Park, Namibia
Damaraland Wilderness Camp, Damaraland, Namibia
Swakopmund, Namibia
Sesriem, Namibia
Places You'll See
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Southern Etosha National Park
Southern Etosha National Park is the gateway to one of Namibia’s most famous wildlife reserves, home to a vast salt pan visible from space. This southern region is dotted with waterholes that attract a diverse range of wildlife, including elephants, lions, rhinos, and antelope, making it a prime location for game viewing. The area is characterized by savannahs and grassy plains, offering excellent opportunities for both self-drive safaris and guided tours, especially during the dry season when animals congregate around the water sources.
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Damaraland
Damaraland is a rugged and scenic region in north-central Namibia, renowned for its dramatic landscapes and rich cultural heritage. Known for its towering granite mountains, ancient rock engravings at Twyfelfontein, and the elusive desert-adapted elephants, Damaraland offers visitors a raw and untamed African wilderness experience. The region is sparsely populated, making it a haven for wildlife and a perfect destination for those interested in nature, geology, and Namibia’s indigenous history, including the traditions of the Himba people.
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Swakopmund
Revel in the heavily German influenced Swakopmund with a great assortment of activities to choose from, here in the capital of adventure. Walk along the streets taking in the German Colonial architecture while enjoying the ocean breeze. Take flight with skydiving lessons, visit elephants at the Elephant conservation, or take a trip with a friendly camel with a desert safari.
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Sesriem
Sesriem is a striking gateway to the world-renowned Namib Desert and the famous Sossusvlei dunes in Namibia. Its most notable feature is the Sesriem Canyon, a narrow gorge carved by the Tsauchab River over millions of years. Travelers often use Sesriem as a base to explore the stunning red sand dunes, especially at sunrise or sunset when the desert landscape transforms into a breathtaking array of colors. The area is rich in natural beauty, offering a sense of remoteness and tranquility, ideal for those seeking a unique desert adventure.
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Windhoek
The capital of Namibia, Windhoek, is also the largest city in the country. Learn the history and culture of the area with several stimulating museums and shops that can be visited. While here, take a trip to a wildlife conservation and visit big cats and other mammals of the region.
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Testimonials
Helen K.
Traveled April, 2016
We couldn’t recommend you or any of the services you provided for us more highly.
Every hotel /lodging you set up for us was superb and a place we would gladly rebook or advise any of our friends to book. Every driver was courteous and an excellent and safe driver—most notable in this was our Namibia guide who took us through some scary mountain roads and when questioned about his superb safe driving told us that he had actually taught for the army in difficult terrain driving!
Every guide was knowledgeable, courteous and unfailingly helpful including inventiveness about how to structure each tour so that I could participate to the maximum despite my disabilities. Every arrangement was reliable and was on time or early. The times we had to check on or change anything were reachable immediately through the phone numbers you gave us.
We couldn’t recommend you or any of the services you provided for us more highly. This was much appreciated because I was traveling with a significant handicap due to Parkinsons disease and didn’t want to be a burden or limit the opportunities of my able bodied sister.
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Michele
Traveled April, 2015
et again I find myself compelled to thank Yampu for organising another amazing holiday for me
Yet again I find myself compelled to thank Yampu for organising another amazing holiday for me! As a solo female traveller venturing to Africa for the first time I wanted a company I could trust to look after me. That is why I chose Yampu. Having had a great experience with them in Central America it seemed sensible to see if they could help me again. I gave them my brief: Scenery, animals, horse riding suitable for an experienced rider and the chance to visit a wild animal charity . As I had hoped, they delivered on each and every count & gave me the BEST guide I could have ever wished for! From airport taxi pick up to drop off I was looked after impeccably.The accommodation was perfect and the brief about animals could not have been better fulfilled .My guide was an inspiration to be around & her ability to find wild animals was verging on mystic! Her in depth knowledge and obvious passion for all things Namibian was the lynch pin of my holiday and I can’t recommend her highly enough. Yampu are genuinely able to fulfill the customised brief you give them as opposed to cobbling together existing packages….They keep in touch throughout the process and I like the way they link in with local operators & guides as opposed to trying to take complete control. I have two regrets …1.I had to leave Namibia. 2. Yampu doesn’t quite cover the whole world (yet)!
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