Weekly Departures, Saturdday

   This week-long trip focuses on Namibia's scenery and contemporary cultures and covers a large area overland south of the capital Windhoek. The area is dominated by the great Namib Desert and an equally exciting destination not often visited, the great Fish River Canyon. The trip also includes southern coastal cities to the west of the Namib. Outside the desert and national parks, these are Namibia's most productive farming and fishing areas and, possibly, its most scenic.

The prices include: ** A Safari Guide who stays with you throughout and manages the entire program; **Professionally-trained, English-speaking driver/guides with each vehicle; ** Meals as detailed in brackets following each day's description below; ** All entrance and museum fees in itinerary, VAT and other government taxes; ** Comprehensive pre-trip material with discount coupons for travel gear and equipment. Additional expenses not included, - Meals not included; - All beverages; - Requisite visas and other travel preparations like inoculations; - Tipping.

Contact EWT for the best international air fares and for recommendations on how to use your frequent flyer miles.

The tour starts in Windhoek. We will depart Windhoek and drive via Rehobothinto Kalahari Desert for our first overnight. Towards sunset, we will take a scenic drive in open vehicles. Dinner and overnight at Auob Lodge.  [- -d]

After breakfast, we will drive through the Kalahari Desert and visit the Quiver Tree forest near Keetmanshoop. Quiver trees are not really trees, but a type of aloe. However, they are one of the world's extremely rare flora species. We will stop in Keetmanshoop, an opportunity to enjoy lunch on own account. We then continue via Naute Dam and view Fish River Canyon's most spectacular northern fringes. Fish River is the second largest canyon in the world. Dinner and overnight at Canyon Lodge.  [b- -d]

After breakfast, we head towards the coast via Aus. We may see desert adapted horses on entering the Namib Desert. The Namib Desert is home to the highest sand dunes in the world. There is spectacular scenery on way to Luderitz, where we arrive around midday. During the afternoon, we take a scenic drive around the southern peninsula. Dinner and overnight at Nest Hotel.  [b- -d]

After breakfast, we visit Kolmanskop, a deserted diamond town with its ghost town relics which, today, is a museum. In the afternoon, we tour Duwisib Castle built by Baron Captain Heinrich von Wolf in 1909. Then we travel on towards Maltahohe. Dinner and overnight at Adventure Camp.  [b- -d]

After an early breakfast, we will visit Sossusvlei. Here we will take a scenic drive with 4x4 vehicles into the heart of the Namib-Naukluft National Park. Later in the day, we will visit Sesriem where centuries of erosion have incised a narrow gorge about I km in length. At the foot of the gorge, which plunges down 30 to 40m, are pools that become replenished after good rains. Sesriem derives its name from the time when early pioneers tied six lengths of rawhide thongs together to draw water from the pools. We then visit the village Solitaire on our way past the Namib Naukluft Mountains. Dinner and overnight at Namib Naukluft Lodge.  [b- -d]

After breakfast, we drive through Kuiseb Canyon and continue towards the coast. A packed lunch will be enjoyed along the road. Along the way, we see 'Welwitschia mirabilis', a plant that is said to live longer than 1000 years. We also visit Moon landscape, an errie landscape of red lava and yellow sandstone rock formations. We then arrive in Swakopmund, a beautiful sea village. Dinner and overnight at Hansa Hotel.  [b-l-d]

After breakfast, we visit the Walvis Bay lagoon to view seabirds and then continue inland towards the towns of Usakos and Karibib. Here we visit Henckert's Center and Herero graves and handicraft market in Okahandja. Our tour ends on arrival in Windhoek during the afternoon.  [b- -]
END OF EWT SERVICES

CM