Kaokoveld | Damaraland | Namibia

"This tour provides adventurous travellers with a panorama of remote wilderness places, memorable wildlife encounters, diverse cultural highlights, ancient geological formations, and wonderful photographic opportunities!"

Kaokoveld Desert Elephants and Himba Tour

Tour highlights:

• Solitude of the 'Khowarib Schlucht' - an ancient gorge - with its 'dust holes'
• Epupa Falls on the Kunene River
• Visit to a Himba village, with insight into their culture and traditions
• Crossing Van Zyl's Pass - a rugged and steeply-descending route through the mountains
• Spectacular Marienfluss Valley with its grasslands situated between high mountain ranges
• Varied scenery, including the Hartmann's Valley, Purros and Amspoort areas
• Secluded campsites and bush-camps
• Sightings of desert-adapted elephants and giraffe of the Kaokoveld
• Hardy antelope and birdlife
• Rock engravings and geological formations of the Twyfelfontein area

This adventure is for anyone who is interested in an unrivalled wilderness, cultural and driving experience. This may be one of the last opportunities to experience the untouched beauty of Namibia's arid north-west region... Read about our May 2007 tour to the Kaokoveld with Getaway Magazine and eight readers in the August edition of the magazine.

Situated in the northwest region of Namibia, the Kaokoveld (now known as the Kunene Region) is one of Africa's great wilderness areas, and an expedition to its more remote areas requires careful thought, planning and preparation.

The Kaokoveld consists of Damaraland and Kaokoland. The southern areas of Damaraland (around Twyfelfontein) are accessible to normal 2WD vehicles. As we move further northwards, population densities decrease and the terrain becomes progressively more challenging. As we move north from Warmquelle, into the mopane woodlands beyond Opuwo and on to Epupa Falls, then west into the remote reaches of Kaokoland, well-equipped and self-sufficient 4WD vehicles are essential.

This expedition-style tour traverses the domain of the desert-dwelling elephants and giraffe, free-ranging black rhino, and the fascinating pastoral-nomadic Himba people. Twyfelfontein in the south, with its petroglyphs, is a further attraction. But it is the solitude and unrivalled wilderness atmosphere of this remote and starkly beautiful region that calls to the adventurer and explorer in each of us!

Important notes:

• Malaria area, therefore anti-malarial prophylaxis strongly advised
• Passports are required for entry to Namibia. Depending on nationality, visas may be required
• A single soft bag (maximum 60 litre volume) plus small day-pack only is permitted
• A canvas ground tent with groundsheet, mosquito netting and flysheet is provided, together with a camp-bed and foam mattress
• Bring your own sleeping bag and pillow, or ask us to provide these freshly-laundered items for you at a nominal charge
• Breakfast, snack-lunch and dinner is provided daily
• Soft drinks and bottled water included

Check our tour schedule for set departure tour dates, or contact us with your preferred travel dates, and for further information.

Nothing can prepare you for the sheer vastness and solitude of travel in Kaokoland. To try and capture the essence of this experience is not really possible with mere words and images - you have to go there yourself. And we cannot more highly recommend the excellent tour offered by Navigators - it is by far the best wilderness tour we've ever done, and the ideal introduction to a region that will forever live on in our memories. We promise to return...

Jenny Donkin & Mark Reese

This is not an area to tackle on your own. The best decision we made was to travel with Navigators - Chris is a professional and competent guide, and his knowledge of the region is excellent. Our window into the simple world of the Himba was a deeply moving and humbling experience for us all. It was also a bonus to encounter the remarkable elephants, giraffe and other wildlife that survive in this harsh wilderness!

Lionel & Theresa Moorcroft

Tour Information

Tour cost includes:

• Transport in 4x4 vehicle with tour guide
• Accommodation & camping costs
• Camping equipment
• Meals as specified in itinerary (provided on request)
• Bottled water & soft drinks
• Guided tour to Himba village

Fitness level:

Guests should be reasonably fit to cope with the climatic, travelling, camping and walking elements of the tour

Essentials:

Light-weight clothing, warm jacket or jersey, light rain jacket, wide-brimmed hat, sunblock, open shoes, sturdy closed shoes (eg. hiking boots)

Recommended:

Sunglasses, binoculars, camera equipment, anti-bug spray

Distance:

3,000 km Windhoek to Kaokoveld and return to Windhoek