Namibia is celebrated for its vast open landscapes – an abundance of space in which to bask and an infinite supply of blue skies and star-filled nights. Its immensity of space is accentuated by the fact that it is the driest country south of the Sahara. But there is life here, from one of the last true nomadic tribes on Earth, to the unique desert-adapted elephant and the bizarre Welwitchia plant.

Namibia is a country of startling contrasts that straddles two great deserts: the Namib (after which it is named) is the oldest desert on the planet, with its sea of red sand dunes towering 1,000 feet high lying unexpectedly along the Atlantic coast, while in the eastern interior lies the Kalahari, a vast and sparsely vegetated savannah that sprawls across the border into neighboring countries.

The epic landscapes boast a huge variety of wildlife in a kaleidoscope of differing environments: giraffes amble across the blinding white saltpans of Etosha National Park, gemsbok plunge headlong up impossibly steep red dunes at Sossusvlei, and seals in their many thousands colonize lonely beachheads along the Skeleton Coast. Astonishing contrasts are everywhere for the adventurous traveler to savor, enjoy and photograph.

Days spent tracking rare white rhino on foot, learning the habits of desert-adapted elephant, climbing the dunes of Sossusvlei for incredible views, and exploring the expansive salt pans of Etosha are enhanced by remote and intimate lodges, and interaction with the indigenous people that make Namibia unique among African countries.

Days 1-2: Meet by 10:00 a.m. in Windhoek, capital city of Namibia, before boarding your bush flight to Sossusvlei Wilderness Camp. Explore Sossusvlei's 1,000-foot-high red dunes on foot and by open 4 x 4 vehicle, entering the expansive park through our private entrance for the most exclusive experience possible.

Days 3-4: Board your aircraft for a scenic flight over the Namib desert to the Skeleton Coast, a desolate and unforgiving coastline known for its remnants of shipwrecks and boisterous colonies of sea lions. Continue to Damaraland Camp on our private reserve bordering the Skeleton Coast National Park, home to the unique desert-adapted elephant. Explore this remote wilderness region on foot and by vehicle.

Days 5-6: Fly to the private Ongava Game Reserve bordering the famed Etosha National Park. Explore the park's massive salt pans with its rich wildlife, including lion, elephant, cheetah, gemsbok, springbok and giraffe. Staying on our private game reserve allows us to embark on night drives and game walks, perhaps quietly observing one of the rarest of Africa's remaining large animals, the white rhino.

Day 7: Fly back to Windhoek or extend your trip.

Boundless Journeys has partnered with Wilderness Safaris, widely recognized as the best safari outfitter in Southern Africa, to offer this remarkable Namibia safari. In addition to experienced guides, first-class vehicles, and a diverse selection of camp and lodge options, Wilderness Safaris’ conservation efforts and community-mindedness are great matches for Boundless Journeys’ core philosophy.

 THE PRIVATE COLLECTION ADVANTAGE

• Independent travel at its best. With your own exclusive party of family or friends, you'll enjoy itineraries developed from our years of experience.
• Your dates, your friends. You chose your dates and traveling companions, and let us do the rest!
• Reconnect in remarkable places. What better way to celebrate important milestones than with family and friends in amazing places, with all of the details handled for you so you can simply relax and enjoy each other’s company?
• Do your own thing. Customize your journey to indulge your most amazing travel fantasies.
• Travel with Trusted Leaders in Adventure Travel. Recognized by readers of Travel + Leisure magazine as a Top 10 "World's Best Tour Operator and Safari Outfitter".

Most Convenient Airport:
For international flights into Namibia: Hosea Kutako International Airport, Windhoek, Namibia (WDH)

Meeting Time and Place:
10:00 a.m., your choice of Hosea Kutako International Airport or Eros Airport*, Windhoek, Namibia

Departure Time and Place:
1:00 p.m., your choice of Hosea Kutako International Airport or Eros Airport*, Windhoek, Namibia

*Depending on your international flight schedule and pre/post safari plans, you may be spending pre- or post-safari nights in Windhoek. If you are in Windhoek the night before your safari begins, we recommend meeting our representative at Eros Airport (15 minutes from downtown). If you are flying into Windhoek that morning from Cape Town or Johannesburg, then Hosea Kutako International Airport is a better place to meet. Likewise, if you are spending post-safari time in Windhoek, we will return you to Eros Airport; if you are departing Namibia immediately following your safari, we will return you to Hosea Kutako International Airport.

Namibia Accommodation Overview: Luxury safari camps, offering superb facilities and accommodation. All camps have en-suite bathrooms. Please note that Desert Rhino Camp may be substituted for Damaraland Camp, and Ongava Lodge for Ongava Tented Camp, depending on availability.
 
Nights 1 & 2: Little Kulala
Kulala Wilderness Reserve, Sossusvlei, Namibia
Namibia

FREE UPGRADE TO PREMIER CAMP DURING 2010! While Sossusvlei Wilderness Camp is refurbished during 2010, our guests will enjoy the comforts of Little Kulala, a luxurious desert retreat from Wilderness Safaris "Premier" camp collection, situated in the private 37,000 hectare Kulala Wilderness Reserve – the gateway to Namibia's Sand Sea with its towering red dunes and clear starry skies.

Accommodation at Little Kulala consists of 11 climate-controlled, thatched "kulalas" (the word means 'to sleep') which merge impeccably into the timeless desert landscape, with exquisite fittings and fixtures, and innovative bleached decks - each with a private plunge pool. Each kulala has a rooftop 'skybed' for romantic stargazing, with both indoor and outdoor showers.

Nights 3 & 4: Damaraland Camp
Damaraland, bordering Skeleton Coast National Park
Namibia

Situated on the northern face of the Huab River valley and looking south toward the imposing Brandberg Mountains, Damaraland Camp offers its guests endless vistas. 

This friendly camp accommodates guests in 9 comfortable tented rooms, with en-suite facilities including flush toilets and showers with hot and cold running water. The combined dining room and bar are under canvas, and an open fire is enjoyed on calm evenings. A feature of the camp is its unique rock pool. 
 
 
Nights 5 & 6: Ongava Tented Camp
Ongava Game Reserve bordering Etosha National Park
Namibia

Ongava Tented Camp is Etosha National Park's best-kept secret, tucked into a hidden valley at the foot of a dolomite hill in the privately-owned 30 000-ha Ongava Game Reserve. This camp offers private luxury, great company, delicious food and an original African wildlife experience without the crowds.

Just 12 guests are accommodated in six large, comfortable walk-in tents with en-suite facilities, including flush toilet and a hot shower. All meals are enjoyed in the main dining area under thatch, and there is a small pool as well.

DAY 1
Into the Namib Desert

Afternoon at leisure; optional quad bike excursion.

This morning by 10:00 a.m. you will meet our representative at Windhoek International Airport or Eros Airport (depending on your pre-safari plans) and depart by light aircraft on a one-hour flight to the private Kulala Wilderness Reserve bordering the world-famous red dunes of Sossusvlei. Our exclusive luxury camp, with panoramic views of the surrounding plains, is situated away from the Namib Naukluft Park's main entrance, and enjoys its own private entrance to the Sossusvlei dunes, allowing us to explore in relative solitude over the next two days. 

This afternoon is at your leisure to enjoy the amenities of the camp, or join other guests on a guided walk to introduce you to the local flora and fauna of the camp's environs. Or perhaps you'll venture out by "quad bike"  to begin exploring this magnificent landscape. Smaller and more nimble than larger safari vehicles, quad bikes offer a fun adventure into areas that would otherwise be difficult to access. Drinks at sunset ("sundowners" are a safari tradition) are followed by a sumptuous dinner showcasing the best of African bush cuisine.
Little Kulala, Private Kulala Wilderness Reserve

DAY 2
The Red Dunes of Sossusvlei

Optional dune hiking - moderate, about 2 hours.

After an early breakfast we depart camp for the interior of Sossuvlei, where towering dunes rise dramatically, some more than 1,000 feet above the surrounding plains. We plan our activities for early morning to enjoy the fine morning weather before the day gets too warm. This morning, perhaps you'll choose to challenge yourself to climb to the peak of the dunes, for epic views across a sea of sand. Or perhaps you simply enjoy photographing the native wildlife and stunning landscapes in the beautiful morning light. Desert-adapted wildlife such as ostrich, springbok and gemsbok eke out a scattered existence here. Larger predators include hyena, the almost mystical shaggy-coated scavenger. One bird, the aptly named Dune Lark, has its entire global distribution limited to this region, so dependent is it on the area's characteristic sands.

Afternoon activities are enjoyed on the property where you can spend time taking in the desert scenery with its unique fauna and flora. Smaller creatures such as bat-eared fox, black-backed jackal, porcupine, Cape fox and aardwolf can be seen as the desert air cools toward sundown.
Little Kulala, Private Kulala Wilderness Reserve

DAY 3
The Skeleton Coast

Skeleton Coast scenic flight

We say goodbye to Sossusvlei this morning, departing  by light aircraft over the Namib and Sossusvlei itself for an alternative view of the dunes from the air, before turning due west to Meob Bay on the Skeleton Coast. Aptly named the "Skeleton Coast" for its numerous shipwrecks as well as the bleached bones of large sea animals, the combination of desert and coastal scenery here is spectacular. The flight up the coast takes us over the site of the Eduard Bolen shipwreck, past Conception Bay and the wreck of the Shaunee, and over Sandwich Harbour and its famous lagoon, before landing at Swakopmund Airport.

We depart from Swakopmund for another scenic flight further up the Skeleton Coast, past the Cape Cross Seal Colony, before turning east to fly along the Huab River Valley to Damaraland Camp. We arrive at camp by early afternoon, in time for a game drive, sundowners, and another memorable dinner.
Damaraland Camp, Torra Conservancy, Kunene

DAY 4
Haub River Valley Exploration

Optional game drives (morning and evening) - about 2 hours each; optional game tracking walks - easy, about two hours; optional mountain biking - easy to moderate, about 2 hours.

Situated on the northern face of the Huab River valley and looking south toward the imposing Brandberg Mountains, Damaraland Camp offers seemingly endless vistas. Early morning mists, generated by the clash between the icy Atlantic Ocean and the warm desert air of the Skeleton Coast, drift inland along the river sand canyon, providing sustenance to the flora and fauna of the region. This comfortable and friendly camp offers walks and drives in one of the best wilderness areas in Namibia. Although wildlife is not concentrated, the camp is situated where the rare desert elephant roams, alongside gemsbok (oryx), springbok, ostrich, and other hardy desert animals. Rare succulent plants somehow manage to eke out an existence in this harsh landscape.

Our explorations today will be by 4 x 4 vehicle as well as on foot in search of the resident wildlife and to simply take in the inspiring landscape. This area also is home to some of Africa's best rock engravings, including the famous Twyfelfontein etchings. Birding is also excellent with raptors including Martial Eagle, Lappet-faced Vulture and Pale Chanting Goshawk.
Damaraland Camp, Torra Conservancy, Kunene

DAY 5
Damaraland to Etosha National Park

Morning and evening game drives - about 2 hours each.

After a final Damaraland game drive this morning, we fly by light aircraft to Ongava Tented Camp, located on a private reserve bordering the famed Etosha National Park. Highlights over the next two days will include game drives into Etosha to explore its immense white salt pans, as well as night drives, guided walks and hides on our private reserve - activities that are not available to those staying inside the national park.

A watering hole near camp offers an ideal spot for a rhino "hide", where we can quietly wait for these impressive animals to approach and observe their actions completely undisturbed. Ongava has resident white rhino, and Etosha has black rhino, allowing us the opportunity to encounter both rare species in the course of just a few days.
Ongava Tented Camp, Ongava Game Reserve bordering Etosha National Park

DAY 6
Etosha National Park and Ongava Game Reserve

Morning and evening game drives as well as optional night drives and guided walks on our private reserve.

This morning we set off on a game drive into the Okaukuejo area of Etosha where lion, elephant, cheetah, gemsbok, springbok, and hartebeest can be seen at many of the waterholes. This flat landscape is dotted with a number of large saltpans, slight depressions produced by wind action. Etosha means "great white place" and indeed its immense salt pan stretches in blinding whiteness across 5,000 square kilometers (120km east to west, and 55km from north to south). Today, a few rivers and occasional heavy summer rains can fill the pan (in good years attracting more than a million flamingos to its salty waters), but for the most part it is parched and dry. While the pan itself is extremely salty and as a result does not support much vegetation, its edges give way to a surprising variety of vegetation types: from the tall tree canopies of the tamboti and terminalia woodland in the east, to the broad swath of mopane that envelops the broader area and the open acacia-strewn plains, grasslands and dwarf shrub savannah in the west.

In the afternoon and early evening we focus on the area closer to our camp, taking the opportunity that this private reserve affords to venture off road in search of white rhino and other resident species. Tonight we enjoy a final memorable dinner with soft desert breezes and the nighttime sounds of this remarkable African landscape serenading us.
Ongava Tented Camp, Ongava Game Reserve bordering Etosha National Park

DAY 7
Return to Windhoek or begin The Skeleton Coast trip extension

After a final game drive, we depart Ongava by light air charter back to Windhoek where the safari ends at your choice of Windhoek Eros or Windhoek International Airport at about 1:00 p.m. Or, if you are extending your trip with our The Skeleton Coast trip extension, you will fly directly to Skeleton Coast Camp on the northern Skeleton Coast.

Please note that this is a typical itinerary, and actual activities may vary to take advantage of weather conditions, local events, and to allow serendipity to play a hand in your experience.  Accommodations are as outlined in the itinerary, although we reserve the right to change these should the need arise.

Through June 14, 2010:
1+ Guests: $5195 per person (single supplement applies for solo travelers)

June 15 through November 15, 2010:
1+ Guests: $5995 per person (single supplement applies for solo travelers)

• Expert naturalist guides at each camp
• Services of safari camp staff
• Alll accommodations as noted
• All meals and select alcoholic beverages
• All activities noted in the itinerary, such as daily game drives, night drives, four-wheel excursions, and tracking walks
• All internal flights round-trip from Windhoek, Namibia