Group Size: Maximum 10 people

Type of Safari: Semi-participation Lodge Safari

Accommodation: Accommodation will be camping and there will not be options to upgrade to accommodation. There will be few or no facilities that have not been brought along with us.

Includes: Use of full camping equipment (except sleeping bags), 11 breakfasts, 10 lunches, 11 dinners, coffee/tea with the meals, transport on the tour,  activities as per itinerary & an English-speaking guide.

Excludes: All excursions not mentioned in the program, bottled water, soft drinks and alcoholic beverages, laundry, international and domestic flights, visas and travel insurance, personal items. (Flights from/to Ondangwa can be arranged by Jenman African Safaris)

12- day Small group camping tour through Southern Angola. Why not have a real back to nature 4x4 safari and enjoy adventurous days of exploring a unique country?  Enjoy everything from its incredible scenery, friendly Himba people to an exhilarating beach drive with just enough space between the dunes & the raging ocean for you!  Angola is a very diverse country with an ever changing landscape & challenging conditions, yet it produces a feeling of peace and excitement as the country moves away from its past at a rapid rate.
 

Day 1: Ondangwa, Ruacana. Our trip begins with a flight into Ondangwa Airport in Namibia. We will continue through to Ruacana with our guides, stopping in Oshakati for last minute purchases. Ondangwa and Oshakati have almost grown into one during the past years. There you find modern shopping centres, banks and hotels. Their African character is preserved by the numerous stands and road-side kitchens lining the streets and by the markets which offer anything that the heart might desire – whether colourful cloth or a goat’s head. Oshakati is the administrative centre of the Oshana Region. [D]

Day 2: Ruacana to Angola. We take things slowly today & ease into the trip & border formalities. Along the way, we will enjoy a visit to the Ruacana Falls & start to learn about the flora & fauna of Southern Angola. The Ruacana Falls are located on the border of Namibia and Angola & are mostly controlled by a dam upstream. The Ruacana falls provide fresh water to the northern part of Namibia and the southern part of Angola. They are a valuable source of hydroelectric power and a main attraction of Namibia. They are about 120 m deep and 700 m wide, but these days water gushes over the falls only after particularly good rains, when the sluice gates have to be opened. Otherwise the water is fed through the turbines of the hydroelectric power station. [BLD]

Day 3: Transit to Riverbed Bush camp. Today we will have an interesting drive with plenty of time to stop & see the many Himba people who live in the area.  These nomadic people of Angola are completely untouched by modern society & live with very little. We will also pass a major stand of enormous Baobab trees. With some imagination – and compared to the prevailing vegetation dominated by bush and grass – this patch could be called a ‘forest’. This  Baobab Forest is home to many Prehistoric stones, left untouched on the ground by the villagers ancestors. [BLD]

Day 4: Transit to Open Plains Bush camp. Today is a long & slow drive with some exciting 4x4 driving.  The scenery changes dramatically from Mopane forests to large open plains.  There are more opportunities to experience time with Himba people & look at some interesting rock formations. [BLD]

Day 5: Foz do Cunene. We start our final day towards the coast, stopping to explore the hundreds of Welwitchia’s lining our route.  The desert changes face today from rocky landscapes, to an endless sandy desert. For anglers and non-anglers alike, the outstanding drive through the Parque National du Iona is sufficient reason to visit Foz do Cunene.  The scenery is similar to the Koako Veld (a famous area in Northern Namibia) and is quite magnificent to pass through. [BLD]

Day 6: Beach Drive. One of the highlights of this tour is the exhilarating 230km drive up the beach.  Driving on the beach is a unique experience not permitted in most countries, and it makes this specific journey hugely exciting.  The drive can only be done at Spring tide, as the coast is bordered by high dunes which fall precipitously into the sea.  Join us in our excitement as we squeeze the vehicles between the ocean waves & enormous sand dunes!

Behind the dunes are a number of green oases, and near the southern end of Baia dos Tigres, there are vast lagoons teeming with fish and birds such as Pelicans and Flamingos.On our way to Flamingo lodge, we pass by two shipwrecks, one a quite recent addition to the coastline.   Finally making our way to the evening campsite, we stop by Lake Arco – a hidden treasure located within a canyon, & we relax by the waters & watch the birdlife.  [BLD]

Day 7: Flamingo Lodge. We use today to relax & explore the fascinating area around Flamingo Lodge.  The fishing on this coastline is legendary – perhaps try your luck on catching the big one! We take a drive into the nearby canyon to hike & explore – hopefully seeing some families of Black-backed Jackals along the way. Our accommodation is located in the middle of 70 km of uninhabited coast which supports virtually untouched fish populations and a highly diverse desert landscapes containing some areas of special beauty. Indulge yourself with a day of fishing, snorkeling, or just leisuring on the beach, enjoying the open space and clear blue skies. [BLD]

Day 8: Lubango, Leba Pass. Today we head for the city of Lubango & marvel at the breathtaking Leba pass that winds its way up the mountain to a height of 1845 meters above sea level. Lubango is set in a lush tropical valley guarded by the statue of Christ built high above on the cliffs overlooking the city.  Rich in colonial architecture, and mixed with the confusion of Africa, Lubango has many bars and restaurants that offer interesting variety with rich Portuguese heritage. We also visit the Statue of Christ, which towers over the city keeping watch night & day.  This statue is only one of three in the world and is a replica of the one in Rio de Janeiro – one of the few remaining signs of hope and peace. [BLD]

Day 9: Lubango, Tunda Vala. We spend the day at leisure enjoying the beautiful surroundings & clean mountain air.  Take a hike to the waterfall where you can take a dip, and enjoy sundowners at the top of the Tunda Vala escarpment.  TundaVala is a must see in the city of Lubango.  This volcanic fissure climbs to 2600m (8528 ft) above sea level and offers breathtaking views from the edge of the escarpment over rolling hills  well above the clouds. [BLD]

Day 10: Cahama, Otchinjau. Today we start the drive south heading for Cahama  where we can explore the abandoned tanks and military vehicles left from the war; and we continue on to our evening campsite near Otchinjau. [BLD]

Day 11: Transit to Ondangwa. Continue the drive south reaching the border for a final lakeside lunch in Angola. After the border formalities, we drive to Ondangwa, arriving in time for hot showers & a lodge dinner. [BLD]

Day 12: Ondangwa. Say goodbye to your fellow Angolan travellers as you fly from Ondangwa to Windhoek airport, & continue your journey home. [B]

OPTIONAL DAYS: 13, 14 and 15: Etosha National Park

Day 13: Ondangwa - Etosha National Park. We make our way to Etosha National Park, through the North gate, arriving to Namutoni Camp.  After a rest and a swim during the hottest part of the day, we will go on an afternoon game drive through the park.

Day 14: Etosha National Park. We enjoy a morning and afternoon game drive in the park, and the luxuries of hot showers!

Day 15: Etosha National Park - Windhoek. An early morning departure will take us back to Windhoek, where you can cath a flight to your onward destination, or stay for a few days, at your leisure.