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Namibian Cultural Encounters

  • Private Journey
  • 8 days Price available upon request

Highlights of the Tour

  • A unique experience in remote and intimate luxury camps, in starkly beautiful places filled with fascinating desert-adapted wildlife.
  • Close proximity and exclusive private access to the dunes of Sossusvlei.
  • Most authentic Himba cultural experience in all of Namibia.
  • Learn about the unique heritage of the tribes of Nama-Damara, Herero, Owambo, and Riemvasmakers.
  • Finest star gazing in the remote, unpolluted endless dark skies.
       RESPONSIBLE TOURISM
  • Once farmland used for subsistence goat farming, the Kulala Wilderness Reserve had very little indigenous wildlife. In 1996 Wilderness Safaris stepped in to rehabilitate the area and today the land and its wildlife have returned to their former glory.
  • Damaraland Camp is the result of an award-winning partnership between Wilderness Safaris and the local Torra Conservancy; visits to the nearby farmstead allow guests to see this relationship in action.
  • Serra Cafema camp has a mutually-beneficial partnership with the Marienfluss Conservancy, which is owned primarily by the Himba people; the benefits include lease fees, employment and skills transfers.

Windhoek | Sossusvlei | Torra Conservancy | Marienfluss Conservancy | Windhoek

This eight-day itinerary introduces you to the diverse and captivating communities and cultures prevalent in Namibia, from the Nama-Damara Khoi descendants of Damaraland to the inscrutable and nomadic Himba, in the country’s far northern Kaokoveld. The route encompasses the Namib Sand Sea, a World Heritage Site, the otherworldly desert beauty of the Torra Conservancy and the starkly contrasting far northern river-and-desert landscapes of Namibia’s border with Angola.

Itinerary at a Glance

  • Day 1-2
    Windhoek - Sossusvlei
  • Day 3-4
    Torra Conservancy
  • Day 5-7
    Marienfluss Conservancy
  • Day 8
    Depart for home or extend your journey
Destination Information CDC Information
Day 1-2

Windhoek - Sossusvlei

You are met in Windhoek and assisted to a scheduled charter flight departing for Sossusvlei’s Geluk Airstrip. Here you are transferred to Little Kulala, a luxurious desert retreat situated in the private 27 000-hectare (67 000-acre) Kulala Wilderness Reserve – the gateway to Namibia's Sand Sea and its towering dunes and endless, star-studded skies. Nature drives and guided walks offer guests profound insights into the world’s oldest desert, the Namib. A highlight is unquestionably a visit to Sossusvlei and Dead Vlei. The world-famous Sossusvlei is an enormous clay pan flanked by world-famous sand dunes that flush red in the early morning sun. Close to Sossusvlei is Dead Vlei, another pan where water once flowed, but where now all that remains are the centuries-old skeletons of camelthorn trees reaching up out of the cracked earth.
Little Kulala. Classic Camp
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 3-4

Torra Conservancy

A scheduled Wilderness Air transfer brings you to Damaraland Camp, situated in the Torra Conservancy – an inspirational community partnership – with sensational views of the surrounding desert plains, ancient valleys, and distant peaks of the Brandberg Mountains. New technology blended with ancient construction methods has created innovative, eco-friendly luxury in the desert in the camp’s 10 elevated, adobe-style thatched units (including a family unit). Spend a morning learning about the unique heritage of the local inhabitants, whose tribes include Nama-Damara, Herero, Owambo, and the displaced Riemvasmakers of South Africa. Damaraland Camp exists thanks to a pioneering partnership with the people of this community who own and run the conservancy on which we operate. This encounter allows you to respectfully engage with local residents, and includes a visit to a local farm at either Fonteine Pos or DeRiet.
Damaraland Camp. Classic Camp
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 5-7

Marienfluss Conservancy

Fly by light aircraft to the vast Marienfluss Conservancy in the extreme north of Namibia for a three-night stay at Serra Cafema. The camp is set on the lush banks of the Kunene River in a verdant band of vegetation and is embraced by the lunar-like landscape of the Namib Desert and the Cafema mountain range to the north. Walking in the remote mountain and river valleys is a highlight, as is a visit to a Himba settlement. In this isolated area, the Himba people continue their traditional semi-nomadic way of life and, when they are in the area, guests have an opportunity to learn about their lifestyle and customs. Other activities include nature drives, boating, and exploring the dunes on a quad bike.
Serra Cafema. Classic Camp
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 8

Depart for home or extend your journey

A last morning game drive will be followed by a Wilderness Air flight returning you to Windhoek where you will connect with your onward flight.
Meals: Breakfast

Pricing Details

Price available on request. Please email info@rjourneys.com or call 1-650-384-0033.

 

 

Camps:

 

Little Kulala: A welcome oasis situated on the dry Auab riverbed in the Kulala Wilderness Reserve, Little Kulala features eleven luxury desert suites each featuring a spacious deck, sala, and private plunge pool, merges seamlessly into the timeless desert setting. A private rooftop area for romantic stargazing and sleep-outs on the bottom deck of each accommodation completes the experience. Excursions to Sossusvlei (via a gate exclusive camp vehicles), nature drives, guided nature trails, eco-sensitive guided quad bike excursions, and guided electric fat bike excursions, explore this fascinating landscape. A hot air balloon safari (at extra cost) offers an awe-inspiring experience soaring above the desert.

NOTE: Hot air ballooning closed on 25 December and 01 January, and from mid-January to mid-February.

 

Damaraland Camp: Damaraland Camp is situated in the Huab River Valley in one of the best wilderness areas in Namibia, offering endless vistas across stark plains, ancient valleys, and a stunning ochre-purple mountain backdrop. Activities include nature drives and guided nature walks while further afield, ancient rock art, and geological wonders dot the area. Accommodation consists of ten large adobe-style thatched units (including a family unit) are raised off the ground, each with a walk-in dressing area and a large deck on which to sit and contemplate the desert. The spacious public living area comprises a dining area and swimming pool. An open campfire and outdoor boma are enjoyed during calm evenings and stargazing is superb, thanks to the crystal-clear night skies.

 

Serra Cafema Camp: Set under trees on the banks of the Kunene River, Serra Cafema is one of the most remote camps in southern Africa. Guests can truly disconnect, unwind and relax to the sound of rushing water, and explore one of the driest deserts in the world. Respectful interaction with the semi-nomadic Himba community, fascinating nature walks, boating (water levels permitting), and low-impact eco-sensitive guided quad-bike excursions complete the experience. Accommodation consists of eight chalets, set on elevated decks and crafted in wood, canvas, and thatch to create a unique camp that is at one with its surroundings and celebrates the culture of the Himba people. The Ozonganda (Herero, meaning “main area”) affords spectacular views over the Kunene River.

 

 

Our Safari Journeys:

 

Choose from three categories of accommodation – Adventure, Classic, and Premier – with the exclusivity of your experience and the level of authentic, sustainable luxury indicated by the category and price.

 

However, the fully inclusive rates are not just about the level of luxury or the thread-count of the linen. They encompass elements that cannot be counted or measured, such as exclusive access to vast tracts of Africa’s best wildlife areas, creating a unique sense of seclusion, comfort, privacy, and space.

 

In turn, your presence helps us in the conservation of all these areas. Our dedicated team works together with you to design a journey that suits your budget and bucket list desires.

 

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