Discover Namibia - Lodges, is a well organised and good value tour, taking in the main tourist locations of mid to north Namibia. If you are prepared for some long travel days on dirt/salt roads and go with an open mind about the sights and scenes you will encounter, you will not be disappointed. It is accurately marketed as a low to moderate activity level, even the ascent of Dune 45 at Sossusvlei. Accommodation is in 2-3* lodges, all of a satisfactory standard for 1 or 2 nights, some even memorable. Transport in a specialised safari truck with a push up roof provided the opportunity to view the landscape and game in relative comfort and from a high position. The driver/guide (Ronney) and his assistant (Jonas) were first class, very knowledgeable and took excellent care of our party.
Sand, Stars, Sunsets and Safari! This was a wonderful trip for so many reasons - the adventure, the scenery, the food, the company, the organisation and the animals to name a few. Three families and two guides who had never met before the trip soon melded into a happy group. The trip starts in the desert and the early rise to climb Dune 45 was blooming' cold! However, it was worth it and Jonas' porridge soon warmed us up. Swapokmund was a short re-entry into civilisation and gave the opportunity for a variety of trips. We did the seal colony boat trip and the flight over the desert. Both great (although the latter made some passengers feel extremely queasy). The bush men drawings were really interesting and then the trip to Etosha was just wonderful - particularly sitting by the waterhole in the evening watching rhinos wander in and out. The campsites were great. The Etosha ones very busy and the others very quiet. Food cooked by Jonas was great. As another reviewer has said it's amazing to see what he could knock up on a camp fire. Stews, steaks, cakes and bread. The lodges came at welcome intervals. One was a little like a deserted military camp but the beds were comfy. That and the lunchtime food at the NWR resorts (the Etosha campsites) are the only negatives I think. The whole trip passed quickly but it felt like we'd been away from home for a month. It was wonderful mental relaxation.
The cycling was hard on gravel and sand roads in 35 degree heat with a head wind. If you are not experienced in off road this trip will feel more like a grade 4 . Saying that some of the riding was amazing. Riding on the fat boy cycles over the dunes for nearly 4 hours was amazing and should be on peoples bucket list. The wild life matched expectation , Elephants, lions, white and black Rhino,cheaters.
Camp sites were clean but basic, they were lovely sitting in the dessert watching the stars.