POPULAR SHORT CAMPING SAFARIS  - IDEAL FOR SELF DRIVE TOURISTS

Some clients fly in especially for long safaris. Others, mostly self-drive tourists, would like to build in a short, guided adventure trip into their normal itinerary while visiting north-western Namibia. They can safely leave their hired vehicle at Kamanjab or at a nearby lodge of their choice and then go on with Dieter in 4x4 vehicles to reach the desert elephant rivers within a few hours. Or for the more adventurous, they can follow him in their hired 4x4 vehicle.

Once in these dry rivers, we can slowly drive down beautiful, white-sanded riverbeds and valleys with an amazing variety of flora and fauna. Huge shady trees and bushes, with the occasional open water places, provide an ideal habitat and food supply for the elephant and other animals such as giraffe, springbok, oryx, ostriches and many more.

Dieter Risser is a fully registered and qualified tour guide with a NATH Elephant Diploma and can tell you much about these incredible desert-adapted animals; read tell-tale footprints and point out favourite food sources. He loves and respects these amazing giants, the Ondjamba, and he knows out of experience how to approach them without disturbing or stressing them in their natural habitat. We overnight in safe places and enjoy a campfire in the bush - an adventure pure!

Your best chance to see the elephant would be in the Hoanib river from the open waters at Dubis, past the gorge and down-river into an amazing canyon. Dieter knows the important dominant bulls and matriarch cows by name. If enough time is allowed, the nearby Obias valley and Giribis plains with its unexplained Fairy Circles is well worth a visit.

Or to drive further north to the scenic mountain valley of the Hoarusib river with several open water places frequented by elephant (including visitors from the Hoanib). The OMBONDE river and Khowaribschlucht canyon area has less elephant, but makes up with its spectacular landscape and lots of game. The HUAB river is another good place to visit, especially later on in the year. Dieter follows the movement of the elephant and can advise you where best to go at a given time.

                   Huab valley

Khowaribschlucht canyon

Combinations are possible with HIMBA (1 day), WESTERN ETOSHA (2 days), and EPUPA (3 days).

KAOKOLAND SAFARIS

KAOKOLAND 8 NIGHTS/ 9 DAYS - CAN BE SHORTENED LEAVING OUT EG. MARIENFLUSS - OR EXTENDED FOR LESS DRIVING PER DAY.

DAY 1 :

Early in the morning we leave from your lodge near Kamanjab via Opuwo to the Kaokoland and Epupa Falls. We camp or lodge under tall Makalani palms in the Omarunga Camp on the banks of the Kunene river.

Omarunga Camp on the banks of the Kunene river.

Walk along the river bank

DAY 2 :

Today we walk along the river bank, go birding, and photograph the beautiful Epupa Falls. We can recommend a short visit to the Himba village of Maria. We can find a crocodile –safe pool to swim in or just relax in this little paradise. After a sundowner on a hill overlooking the falls, we return to Omarunga Camp to overnight.

DAY 3 :

We depart early for a long drive via Opuwo into Western Kaokoland. We visit a large Himba village and learn more about their ancient traditions. We then head west to bush camp in a dry riverbed near Etanga, we pitch our tents and admire the African star night.

       Himba women

Epupa Falls

Day 4 :

Today we drive down the seldom used, but very scenic Otjihaa Pass, an alternative to the legendary van Zyl’s Pass, through a beautiful valley with Baobab trees and numerous Himba villages. Again we bush camp in nature pure overlooking a beautiful valley.

Otjihaapass

    Fairy circles in Marienfluss valley

DAY 5 :

We follow the road over the Red Drum Pass and enter the famous Marienfluss valley with its unexplained ‘Fairy Circles’ until we reach the rustic campsite on the banks of the Kunene river. In the afternoon we can visit the scenic rapids and high mountain ranges.

Rapids on the Kunene in the Marienfluss valley

DAY 6 :

We head back towards Orupembe and follow an off-the-beaten-track down the Khumib valley enjoying its vast untouched splendour of the Etendeka mountain range. We will also see some huts of nomad Himba. We bush camp in the scenic mountains near by.

Two seasons between the mountains to reach the Hoarusib river valley.

Elephant in my camp at the Puros Campsite.

Khumib valley

DAY 7:

From here we follow a track down to the Hoarusib river valley, hopefully, we find the desert elephants in this remote spectacular paradise –my favourite place to be!
We overnight at the Puros camp site. In the afternoon we go on a leisurely drive to the Hoarusib Canyon where flowing water attracts the elephants.

       Hoarusib river valley

DAY 8 :

On the way to the Hoanib we cross the amazing Giribis plains - again we see fairy circles and maybe lots of game like Springbok and Oryx as we drive down the Obias valley. We camp just before the Hoanib river confluence. In the afternoon we will drive slowly down the Hoanib river in search of desert elephants and desert giraffe.

Fairy circles in the Giribis plain

DAY 9 :

Today we drive up the Hoanib via Dubis to Sesfontein. From there we go through the picturesque Khowarib Canyon where we can swim in rapids and pools. We drive up the Ombonde dry riverbed in search of desert elephant and other game. You will be back at your lodge in the late afternoon.

Ombonde dry riverbed

THE DAMARALAND TOUR TAKES FIVE TO SIX DAYS.

CAMPING SAFARIS INCLUDE COSTS such as 4x4 vehicle, fuel, tour guide fees, complete camping equipment, three meals per day, refreshments, beer, wine, gin and tonic and camping fees plus VAT tax.

For more information and prices please contact us here.

CONTACT US FOR QUOTATIONS AND ITINERARIES TAILOR MADE ESPECIALLY FOR YOU.

All photos and sketches © Risser Family.