As seen on
Tribes, wildlife, deserts & dunes
Namibia
From
This trip supports
- Overview
- Itinerary
- Esential info
- Packing list
Grade:
Entry Level
Type:
Wildlife
Transfers
Duration:
12 Nights
4 - 8
Group size
Leaders
Tour Highlights
- Dunes of Sossusvlei
- Rhino Tracking at Desert Rhino Camp - track the last free-roaming black rhino population
- Swakopmund
- Meet local farmers and discuss the challenges they face living with free-roaming wildlife
- Meet the EHRA (Elephant-Human Relations Aid) team and join the daily patrol
- Hoanib River
- Observe desert-adapted wildlife
- Sesfontein
Day 1: Arrival into Windhoek
Transfer
Dinner
Upon arriving at Windhoek Airport, you will be escorted to your scheduled flight to Keerweder Airstrip.
Upon reaching Keerweder, you will be greeted and transferred to Sossusvlei Lodge, where you will spend the next two nights.
Overnight: Desert Quiver Camp
Day 2: Sesriem
Transfer
Breakfast
Lunch
Dinner
Camping
Today, we will depart very early for Namib Naukluft Park to witness one of Namibia’s most breathtaking attractions: Sossusvlei and the world's highest dunes. We will also visit the nearby Deadvlei, a dried-out natural water pan where the stark, dead acacia trees rise dramatically against the clear blue sky.
Overnight: Desert Quiver Camp
Day 3: Swakopmund
Flights
Transfer
Breakfast
Guest house
Today, you will fly from NamibRand to Swakopmund, where you will meet your local guide for the remainder of the journey.
This charming desert town, with its old-world allure and relaxed atmosphere, is beautifully framed by both desert and sea. Its lush green lawns and palm trees add to its unique appeal.
Overnight: Knysna Log-Inn Hotel, The Graywood Organic Stay
Day 4: Brandberg
Transfer
Breakfast
Dinner
Camping
Depart from Swakopmund and head north along the Atlantic Coast.
Your first stop will be the lichen fields near Wlotzka’s Baken, followed by visits to Henties Bay and Uis, culminating at Ozondjou Trails.
After settling into your tents, we will set out to meet a local farmer who will provide insights into farming in the area, and the challenges they face in their daily lives farming with free-roaming wildlife. We will then visit a village school and finish the afternoon with a short walk and sundowners before returning to camp for dinner and an overnight stay.
Overnight: Ozondjou Trails
Day 5: Brandberg - Elephant Tracking
Transfer
Wildlife
Breakfast
Lunch
Dinner
Camping
After breakfast, we embark on a day excursion through the Ugab River and surrounding area. Joining the EHRA team on their daily patrol, we will search for desert elephants and study their behavior.
Depending on the weather, the drive will be conducted in either a closed or open 4x4 game drive vehicle, following the tracks of the elephants which usually migrate through the dry riverbed.
This excursion also offers a chance to encounter typical plains game. A delicious cold picnic lunch will be served during the trip. We will return to camp in the late afternoon for dinner and an overnight stay.
Overnight: Ozondjou Trails
Day 6: Palmwag
Transfer
Wildlife
Breakfast
Lunch
Dinner
Camping
We make our way into the Palmwag Concession today, where you spend 2 nights at Desert Rhino Camp. The highlight of this stay is the rhino tracking activity.
Overnight: Wilderness Desert Rhino Camp
Day 7: Palmwag
Wildlife
Breakfast
Lunch
Dinner
Camping
Activities at Desert Rhino Camp.
Overnight: Wilderness Desert Rhino Camp
Day 8: Safari
Transfer
Wildlife
Breakfast
Packed Lunch
Dinner
Camping
This safari begins in the Palmwag area, leading into the expansive 5,000 square kilometer private Concession Area of Palmwag Lodge. The breathtaking, mountainous landscape, abundant with wildlife such as springbok, oryx, kudu, ostrich, jackal, zebra, giraffe, hyena, and occasionally lion, leopard, and cheetah, offers excellent opportunities for wildlife photography in this vast, untouched wilderness. With some luck, you may encounter the endangered black rhino (Diceros bicornis) and the renowned desert elephant, both roaming the area in complete freedom.
The trail continues through game-rich valleys and riverbeds, passing through gorges and springs as we search for fresh tracks of black rhinos or desert elephants. If fortunate, we will follow our guide on foot for a few kilometers, hoping for the spellbinding experience of observing these magnificent creatures in their natural habitat.
Depending on game activity, the camp will be set up in the wild at the Hunkab spring area. Enjoy a refreshing drink while the guide prepares a meal over an open fire, allowing you to absorb the day's experiences.
Overnight: Mobile Safari
Day 9: Hoanib River
Transfer
Breakfast
Lunch
Dinner
Camping
After breakfast enjoy a short hike for a brief inspection of the night’s game activities around camp.
The journey continues into the upper Mudorib River with a good chance of encountering black rhino or desert elephant in this dry and harsh desert environment.
Arrive in the Hoanib River, a dry river bed densely overgrown with nutritious acacia trees providing the necessary fodder for the desert adapted elephant.
Optimal chances to encounter one of the breeding herds of these giant creatures during the following game viewing drives through the valleys and side arms of this unique natural paradise.
Overnight: Mobile Safari
Day 10: Hoanib River
Transfer
Wildlife
Breakfast
Lunch
Dinner
Camping
After an early breakfast we will spend a relaxing day exploring the Hoanib River Valley, before we return to our campsite from last night.
Today will present good opportunities to encounter plains game, desert-adapted lions and elephant.
Overnight: Mobile Safari
Day 11: Brandberg
Transfer
Breakfast
Dinner
Lodge
Start of the return journey via Sesfontein and a local Himba village. Brief visit at the village of Sesfontein and its fort, a previous Schutztruppe outpost of the former German colonial time and its six natural springs providing the village with fresh water.
The tour ends back close to Uis later this afternoon.
Overnight: White Lady Lodge
Day 12: Windhoek
Transfer
Breakfast
Guest house
The return journey to Windhoek commences today with an arrival in the late afternoon.
Overnight: The Elegant Guesthouse
Day 13: Departure
Transfer
Breakfast
After breakfast and some leisure time (depending on flight departure time) your guide will transfer you to Windhoek Airport. Here you bid farewell to Namibia!
Adventure Optional Extras
Single Room Supplement
Plant an additional 15 trees for your adventure
Carbon Compensation is not the perfect solution, and it is important to first reduce our carbon emissions as much as we can, yet trees remain an excellent natural technology to sequester carbon dioxide from the atmosphere to slow global warming.
For every client and guide who attends a YellowWood Adventure, we donate £30 to our partner charity WeForest to plant 15 trees to (over) compensate for the carbon footprint of the tour.
We also invite our clients to match this with an optional additional £30 for another 15 trees to be planted to help compensate for the carbon footprint of their international flights.
WeForest run many tree planting and tree maintenance projects such as this seedling nursery in the Amhara region of Ethiopia, the Amazon Rainforest in Brazil and many other projects in other countries including Zambia, Malawi, Tanzania & India.
Click Here to find out more about their amazing projects around the world.
Not Included
- International flights & airport taxes
- Insurance (compulsory)
- Alcoholic drinks
Contents
Accommodation
We fully believe in, and practice Responsible Tourism, using local hotels, owned and run by locals. We put time and effort into building our relationship with them to ensure you have a great trip.
We choose hotels based on cleanliness, comfort, safety, proximity to our route (to avoid unnecessary extra road travel), and a warm client welcome, as well as reliability in their service to us. Some hotels will be basic, in modern buildings or in town centres. Wherever we can, we will choose smaller more characterful, individual hotels, but in areas where tourism is still developing, this may not be available. An aspect of our adventures is to escape the ‘trappings’ of modern Western lifestyles and to experience new things which are exciting and memorable, and reflects the countries we are visiting.
This is adventure travel and on occasion, the advertised services at a hotel (eg wifi, hot showers, or continuous power) may not be functional on our arrival. This tends to occur in the smaller, more remote hotels. Very rarely a hotel lets us down and we are required to find alternative suitable accommodation that might not be our first choice. This trip involves a range of guesthouses, eco safari lodges and camps.
We will provide you with an accurate list of accommodations, with contact information to leave with relatives, prior to departure on your adventure.
Unless you have booked a single room (where they are available) and paid the single room supplement for those nights, you will be sharing a twin room with another client (of the same gender).
Solo travellers
If you are a solo traveller, please note you may encounter a single room supplement fee if you occupy a room with multiple beds. Hotels typically price their rooms based on double or twin occupancy and do not lower rates for single occupancy, especially on this adventure as a lot of the accommodation is in lodges. However, if you're open to sharing a room and we can successfully pair you with another solo traveller of the same sex, no supplement fee will be applied. Please note that we match people up on a first-come, first-served basis, and while we strive to accommodate everyone, we cannot guarantee availability. You can inform us if you would like to be matched with another traveller when you book and complete your advanced passenger information form.
Guiding & Your Group
Supporting you on your holiday will be an experienced, local, English speaking Namibian guide with a good knowledge of the areas visited, and the wildlife that might be encountered. T
We work closely with our Namibian Tour Operator partners both before and during your adventure to ensure that they understand your needs and the standard that YellowWood Adventures expects. We believe that it is a very important positive aspect of Responsible Tourism, to employ the expertise of local suppliers, as well as offering you a much more informative and authentic experience.
Your Group
Your group will be any number from our minimum group size of 4, up to a maximum of 8 clients. This number works really well with the ratio of guides, and ensures the optimum level of service to you during your adventure.
We get clients booking alone, as couples and in small groups of friends. If you have a group of friends or family who are interested in having their own customised trip, then please let us know and we can cost it for you.
Am I fit enough?
This adventure is all about exploring the stunning National Parks of Western Uganda on foot, by road or by boat.
To get the most of out of this adventure, you need to be in good physical health, and enjoy walking as a way of exploring an area. Due to the potential conditions whilst tracking Gorillas, you need to be an experienced hiker used to walking on uneven surfaces, on gradients that will be steep at times, and in conditions that may be muddy and rainy. You will be carrying a day pack and bottle of water, packed lunch and spare clothing when tracking.
Waterproof walking boots are more appropriate for this trip than walking shoes or hard and heavy walking boots. Please see our packing list for more information.
Please note that you need to have an open mind to adventure travel, and experiencing different cultures to your own, first hand.
Health
For general information on health issues in Uganda, please see the general information on Uganda, however, for this specific adventure, the following points are worth separate consideration.
Yellow Fever
Under International Health Regulations (2005), a certificate of yellow fever vaccination is required from all travellers aged 1 year or over.
You must have your Yellow Fever Certificate before applying for your Uganda e-visa.
Yellow fever is a viral infection transmitted by mosquitoes which predominantly feed between dawn and dusk, but may also bite at night, especially in the jungle environment. Symptoms may be absent or mild, but can be much more severe.
For more information please see here: Yellow Fever - Uganda
Malaria
Malaria is a potentially serious parasitic infection transmitted through the bite of an infected mosquito. In humans the disease is caused by five different species of the Plasmodium parasite. Malaria is widely distributed throughout tropical regions of the world including in parts of Africa, Asia, Central and South America, the Caribbean, the Middle East and Oceania. Malaria is preventable and curable if diagnosed and treated promptly.
Choice of malaria prevention tablets depends on the malaria species common in the area to be visited and whether there is resistance to any of the available drugs. Certain drugs may not be suitable for certain individuals due to existing medical problems or interactions with their regular medication.
For more information please see here: Malaria - Uganda
Altitude
The highest altitude that you will be experiencing is at around 3669m which can be difficult for people coming from lower altitudes.
While we do our best to create an itinerary that allows for some time for acclimatising, altitude affects everyone differently, and to varying degrees. If you experience any of the following symptoms during this adventure, make sure to inform your guide and they will support you in descending to a lower altitude as soon as possible.
• Headache
• Fatigue or weakness
• Dizziness or lightheadedness
• Nausea or vomiting
• Excessive shortness of breath
• Persistent rapid pulse
• Peripheral oedema (swelling of feet, hands or face)
Travel
Airport & Arrival and Departure Info
Your YellowWood adventure starts at the airport in Windhoek on the start day of the trip.
Included in the cost of your adventure is a group transfer to and from the airport.
Group transfers are only available on the official start and end dates of the trip. Arriving or departing on any other days means group transfers will not be included. If you plan to arrive before or after the adventure dates and need assistance with transfers or accommodation, please add these services when booking, or contact us directly to make the arrangements.
Once you have made a booking, you will be prompted to complete a travel information form where you can provide us with your exact flight times and details. This will enable us to organise your private transfers accordingly. Please note that private transfers may be subject to availability.
You are also welcome to book your travel independently, and we will provide clear instructions on how to meet the group at the designated time and location at the start of your trip.
Finding flights
Flights are not included in the cost of your holiday, and whilst we are happy to help advise you, responsibility for booking the correct flights rests with you. We recommend that you use a comparison tool such as www.momondo.co.uk or www.skyscanner.net when searching for flights. We will send you a Flight Information Sheet with further pointers on which flights to book for your adventure.
Foreign Travel Advice
For the latest travel advice from the Foreign Commonwealth & Development Office including security and local laws, plus passport and visa information, check www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice. As the situation in our destination countries can change, please do ensure you check regularly before your adventure. We also receive notifications direct from the FCO so we are always aware of the ‘status’ in our destination countries.
E Visa
A single entry visa is required to enter Uganda. Applications can be done online via the link:
Insurance
Holiday insurance is essential for all Yellow Wood Adventures. Unfortunately, anyone without insurance is not able to take part in the holiday, so please make sure you arrange cover. We recommend arranging your insurance cover when you book so that if you have problems during the run up to your holiday, and need to cancel, you are covered.
YellowWood partners with battleface as a travel insurance provider. Click here for a quote.
battleface insurance is provided in the UK by battleface Insurance Services Limited, a UK insurance intermediary authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority. Details provided on this webpage are for information only. Terms, conditions, exclusions, and limitations apply. Always read the description of cover contained within your policy to ensure it is suitable for your needs.
Prior to the holiday, we will ask you to send us details of your insurer, policy number, 24 hour emergency assistance contact details and the name, address, and telephone numbers of your NOK or persons to be notified in the event of an emergency.
You must ensure the travel insurance you purchase provides you with suitable cover for the entirety of your trip. Your travel insurance must include cover in the event that you have to cancel for a reason outside your control prior to departure, for any medical expenses you may incur whilst away (including repatriation in the case of medical need) and for the activities which you may participate in during your trip.
General Information on Namibia
For information on Uganda, such as climate, weather, language, social norms, food & drink etc, please have a read of our Country specific information.
Gorilla Permits
To make sure you can go gorilla trekking during your adventure, there's an extra fee of $800 per person for the gorilla permit. This fee isn't included in the initial adventure cost and needs to be added on as an extra when you book. The permits are issued by the UWA on a first-come, first-served basis. So, it's essential to book your holiday well in advance to ensure we can secure a permit for you.
Your £1,500 deposit includes a downpayment of £650 or $800 for your adventure. This downpayment is set aside to buy your permit once your departure is confirmed.
Chimpanzee and monkey permits
The cost of your adventure is inclusive of the Chimpanzee and monkey permits which is $230 in total please note the Gorilla Permits are separate to this.
Please take into consideration the time of year when you are travelling before making your final packing decisions.
Please bring a full first aid kit and any prescription medication with you. Consult your doctor regarding advice around inoculations and the prevention of disease contraction.
Receive a 15% discount off Water-to-Go filtration water-bottles to help reduce plastic waste.
Compulsory
- US$ or £GB to exchange for local currency
- Passport & Insurance Documents
- Debit card (limited access to ATMs)
- First aid kit: paracetamol, anti-diarrhoea tables, rehydration sachets, antihistamine cream, ibuprofen cream, thermometer & blister kit (eg plasters & zinc oxide tape).
- Quality Insect repellent
- Prescription medication & antibiotics such as Azithromycin to stop serious traveller's diarrhoea
- Flannel & Towel (ideally quick drying travel towel)
- Washbag & usual contents - small travel bottles please! Biodegradable multi purpose soap can be used for washing clothes & self.
- Toilet kit: toilet roll, wet wipes & ziplock bags for carrying paper out. Biodegradable wet wipe brands: Cannymum, Close Pop & Travel Buddy
- Fully charged power pack
Items for Tracking/Safari
- Waterproof walking boots (for ankle support) - already broken in!
- Sunglasses & high factor sun cream
- Sun hat or baseball cap
Clothing
- Suitable clothes/pjs for sleeping in (consider need to nip out of tent for wee in the night!). Thermal base layers are ideal when camping & also useful if you get cold weather.
- Light clothes for day time - long & short sleeved tops.
- Waterproof trousers for trekking / camping.
- Walking trousers for trekking / camping. Soft shell fabric is ideal.
- Warm jacket & fleece - even in the summer temperatures can be sub zero at night. Down or synthetic insulated jacket & light fleece recommended.
- Shorts for warmer days
- Flips, sandals or trainers for around camp
- Lightweight waterproofs
Optional
- Camera & charging cables / plug
- Phone & charging cables / plug
- Power Adaptor
- Ear plugs (in case sharing with a snorer!)
- Head torch & batteries / charger
- Swimming Costume
This trip supports
Need a little help?
All adventures can be tailored as private bespoke trips.
Please contact us for more information:
+44 207 846 0197
Related Adventures
Booking Process
Select dates: Choose the dates for your adventure and consider adding any extra adventures or add-ons to enhance your experience.
Check the box to agree to our Terms & Conditions.
Make Booking: Click on "Make Booking." If you're booking more than 56 days before your adventure, you'll be redirected to secure WorldPay to make your deposit. If it's 56 days or less before your adventure, you'll need to make full payment. Rest assured, your money is held securely by the Travel Trust Association.
Your booking will show as 'pending' in your YellowWood online account.
Confirmation: We'll be in touch as soon as possible to confirm your booking or discuss any availability limitations. Please refrain from booking transport or flights until we've emailed you to confirm your booking. (Note: Receipt of your booking form is not confirmation.)
Making payment: Once your booking is confirmed, we'll change the status of your final invoice from 'Pending Approval' to 'Outstanding,' indicating that it's ready for payment online.
You will receive a reminder email for your final payment 56 days before the departure date.
Feel free to contact us with any questions about your adventure or booking, we're here to help!
Grading
To help you choose the right adventure for you, we have given each itinerary a grading that relates to the level of Walking / Trekking you will experience during the trip. This grading can be found on the Yellow map on the adventure page of the website.
All of our trips involve a level of general activity so are designed for people who are in good health, enjoy the outdoors, and have a taste for adventure and some level of fitness. As will be clear from our destinations, the climate (and altitude) may be different to that which you are used to, so please take this into consideration when choosing the most suitable holiday.
Please read our Adventure Itinerary & Essential Information for more information and don't hesitate to contact us if you would like to chat through whether you have found a suitable adventure for you.
Grade 1-3: Entry Level
You need to be in good physical health to enjoy your active holiday, but you don’t need to be an experienced hiker. These itineraries offer a mix of sightseeing and easier walking for around 2-4hrs a day, with the emphasis on sights and cultural experiences.
Walks will be well marked or on defined pathways, and often around sites of interest. The expected amount of descent/ascent will depend on the landscapes of the destination, but will not exceed 400m/day, and will often be much less. Walks are at low altitude (below 3000m).
You will not be required to carry more than a day sack with water and essentials. Ensure you are aware of the weather conditions likely in the destination you are visiting and have a pair of comfortable and worn in walking shoes/boots.
Grades 4-6: Intermediate
You need to have a good level of fitness and be a regular walker for these adventures, with ideally some trekking experience. You can expect to be walking for 3-6 hours per day, not including rest stops, normally on good trail paths but with some uneven surfaces at times.
You will not be required to carry more than a day sack. You may be walking in more challenging temperatures. You will generally be walking at low altitude (below 3000m) but may walk at altitudes up to 4000m. The amount of ascent could be up to 800m in a day but will frequently be less. You may walk on consecutive days.
Ensure you are aware of the weather conditions likely in the destination you are visiting and have suitable clothing for this adventure.
Grades 7-9: Challenging
You need to have a good level of fitness with previous experience of trekking. Extra training before your trip will ensure that you get the most out of your adventure. Areas will be remote and terrain uneven.
Expect to walk for 5 – 8 hours a day, not including breaks, with some very steep ascents and descents. You will be walking at altitude (over 3000m but not higher than 5000m).
Ensure you are aware of the weather conditions likely in the destination you are visiting and have suitable equipment/clothing for this adventure (see the packing list for your adventure).
Please check individual itineraries for details of what you will need to be carrying with you.
Get in touch
CLICK HERE to schedule a call online with YellowWood Founder Sam McManus.
Or call us directly 24/7 on: