The first thing you need to know about this trip is that you will be spending a long time in the back of a Land Cruiser getting an 'African Massage'. So what do you get in return First, some wonderful, mind boggling and ever changing scenery. And second, the opportunity to see some of Africa's most iconic (and rarest ) animals in their isolated and extreme home. On our trip these included Desert Elephants, Rhino, and Desert Lions (walking past our camp and interrupting dinner, would you believe). Even if we hadn't seen these rarities there would still have been more than enough to make for an excellent trip - the best of half a dozen or so we've made to southern Africa. Fancy going beyond the usual Then give it a go! Excellent.
I've done many group trips as well as a lot of independent travel but this was simply one of my best travel experiences. A fantastic group and wonderful leader team obviously helped but even without those this is an amazing country with spectacular vistas, ever surprising and wonderful wildlife and all under the bluest of blue skies. There is some amazing variety from the dry salt pans to the mountainous shifting dunes, huge landscapes that reach past the horizon, the strange charm of the coast and Swakopmund, the ever smiling people, the ease of travel, the facilities at the campsites and the wildlife...seeing the waterhole in the Etosha camp for the first time was a hairs on the back of the neck moment.
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.