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Desert Rhino and Elephant Expedition
Summary of Itinerary
Days 1
Palmwag Lodge, Palmwag Concession
Days 2
Aub River, Palmwag Concession
Days 3
Barab River, Palmwag Concession
Days 4
Kudu Springs, Palmwag Concession
Days 5
Hunkab Spring, Palmwag Concession
Days 6 & 7
Hoanib Camp, Kaokoland
Days 8
Air charter to Palmwag Lodge
Namibian Safaris
Desert Rhino and Elephant Expedition
7 night / 8 day Safari
Combination Discoverer Camp, lodge and serviced dome tent Adventurer camping in the Palmwag Concession.
For more than 20 years, the Save the Rhino Trust (SRT) has worked ceaselessly to protect the last free-ranging rhino population on Earth: the rare desert-adapted black rhino. In the remote, rugged Palmwag Concession, teams of local trackers use camel trains to help with the research and monitoring of this animal.
On this original and exciting Exploration, guests join the "ships of the desert" on a great adventure: an eight-day walk (little time is spent actually on the camels) deep into the heart of the Namib Desert, the oldest desert in the world, where a camel train and a team of Save the Rhino trackers take us in search of this rare and endangered species. Guests thus gain access to some of the most remote and almost inaccessible regions of the Concession.
The revenues generated by this venture are directly channelled into the critically important conservation of the rhino population of the area.
This serviced camping safari offers a unique adventure for the traveller seeking an authentic African experience and a means to join skilled rhino trackers in their conservation, research and custodian work.
Explorations remote campsites on this itinerary provide 2.4 x 2.4m dome tents, designed for comfort in remote wilderness areas. Cotton linen and bedrolls (with duvets) with a lantern complement the atmosphere in this pristine and wild area. Separate short-drop toilet and shower 'bathrooms' with old-style bucket showers create simple serviced comfort.
Adventurer camping brings the guest closer to nature, by means of lively campfires, hurricane lanterns, diverse activities and a warm atmosphere permeating the camp (and its simple comforts). Adventurer camps are specifically outfitted to create that wilderness camping feel with a clear emphasis on essential camp comforts and maximum wilderness experience.
Exclusive experienceAs the 450 000-hectare Palmwag Concession in north-west Namibia is a private reserve, exclusivity in this pristine and unspoiled area is unrivalled. All campsite allocations are for the use of Wilderness Safaris guests only, while at Palmwag Lodge we meet other independent travellers.
Guides
The entire safari is guided and hosted by a professional and passionate guide, Gary Booth, who shares in-depth knowledge with the guests, to present a seamless, well-rounded experience. In addition, the experienced Save the Rhino Trust tracker team accompanies the trip, providing comprehensive interaction and valuable experience of the positions they hold as caretakers of these magnificent animals.
Inclusions / Exclusions
Rates Include:
Game drives and activities as per itinerary
Non-alcoholic drinks
Breakfast, lunch & dinner throughout the tour.
Game or Park entrance fees and permits
Radio communication where communication lines are not available
Accommodation specified as per itinerary
Qualified professional guide
Single/double dome safari tents and safari ablution facilities.
Transport provided by tour company
Rates Exclude:
Visas and visa fees required
laundry
Anti-malarial and vaccinations
Any items bought prior and during the tour for personal use
Insurance for the full duration of the tour
Airport Tax, Departure Tax and / or Government Tax
Flight costs for specific routing
Gratuities/tips & porterage for tour guide and staff
Optional additional excursions to be paid whilst on tour - Surcharge of 10%
Itinerary
Day 1: Palmwag Lodge, Palmwag Concession [L, D]
Palms whispering in the wind and spectacular surroundings (with awe-inspiring sunsets), the home of the famous desert-adapted elephant and the rare black rhino - this is Palmwag Lodge, one of Namibia's oldest and most popular tourist locations.
The lodge offers 24 beds in 2- or 3-bed thatched bungalows, a fully licensed restaurant, swimming pool under shady palms and a small "Pool Bar".
On our arrival at Palmwag Lodge, we are welcomed by the guide to the area and receive a full briefing on the tour ahead.
Day 2: Aub River, Palmwag Concession [B, L, D]
After an early breakfast, we depart northwards by game drive to Mbakondja Camel Camp to meet the Save the Rhino Camel team.
Then we ride or walk south to the Aub River, where our Adventurer camp has been erected prior to our arrival.
In addition to the tracking and hopefully viewing of desert-adapted elephant and black rhino (the latter a rare subspecies of rhino), our guides reveal the sheer magnificence of nature's survival strategies in this arid environment, concentrating on a variety of topics from birds, insects, medicinal uses of plants and viewing general wildlife.
Days 3: Barab River, Palmwag Concession [B, L, D]
Our journey continues today with a walk to the Barab River, concentrating on the tracking of the elusive desert giants through a series of hills, rocky landscapes and diverse geology. After even a little rain, the gravel plains are covered in long golden grasses that ripple in the wind.
Day 4: Kudu Springs, Palmwag Concession [B, L, D]
After an early breakfast, we ride out further west through the Okomutati Springs to Kudu Springs. This area is almost inaccessible to vehicles, an area of pristine wilderness where the sense of remoteness is complete. En route we also have the opportunity to see extraordinary plant life including the ancient Welwitschia plants and numerous lichens.
Day 5: Hunkab Spring, Palmwag Concession [B, L, D]
Heading northwards, we move to the next popular drinking point for Kaokoland's diverse animal life, the Hunkab Spring. Fresh drinking water in the desert forms the basis for seasonal animal movements and a surprisingly diverse range of animal life can be seen here. Animals from Hartmann's mountain zebra to elephant and the endemic Ruppell's korhaan come to slake their thirst.
Day 6 & 7: Hoanib Camp, Kaokoland [B, L, D]
We stay at Hoanib Camp, and enjoy game walks, rhino tracking, game drives and night drives into the Hoanib River valley.
Our Discoverer-styled tented Hoanib Camp close to the Hoanib River is a relaxed haven from which we explore this wild land on foot, or from the comfort of one of our safari vehicles. The camp is powered by solar-powered inverter systems and there are no generators or pumps running whilst guests are in camp. There are 5 walk-in hexagonal Meru-style tents with en-suite and flush toilet and bucket shower bathrooms in a separate portion of the tent. Each tent is furnished with necessary comforts and styled with burnt orange interiors, wood and brass, effectively recreating a sense of the early explorers of Africa.
Day 8: Air charter to Palmwag Lodge [B, L]
After an early breakfast and game drive, we fly back to Palmwag Lodge, in time for a lunch and final farewell to the adventure.
Extra information
PLEASE NOTE THAT SCHEDULED DEPARTURES OF THIS EXPLORATION WILL BE DISCONTINUED IN 2008, HOWEVER PRIVATE DEPARTURES ARE WELCOMED FOR SMALL GROUPS.
TAILOR-MADE ITINERARY OPTIONS ARE ALSO AVAILABLE ON FLEXIBLE DATES, FOR GROUPS OF UP TO EIGHT GUESTS.
Limitations
Luggage allowance - 12 kg per person
Maximum group size - 8 persons
Minimum age - 12 years
Maximum age - 70 years
International and local air connection onto the safari
If arrival is planned for the day of the safari's departure, please ensure that this is with the earliest possible international flight arrival, before 10h00. Late arrivals may necessitate additional road or air transfers to Palmwag Lodge, subject to an extra cost.
International air connections leaving the safari
Please ensure that your departure flight is booked for after 15h00 from Windhoek. For earlier international departure flights, an additional transfer will be required to arrive for this connection. Extra transfers and flights are subject to extra cost. This safari ends at Palmwag Lodge, transfer flights to other destinations will need to be booked separately.
Flashlights/ torches
Please ensure that a minimum 2-D cell flashlight is brought on safari, with spare batteries. Head lamps are also useful. Flashlights are not supplied.
Camera battery charging facilities
Please note that a 12V cigarette lighter adaptor will be required (that is compatible with camera make) on this safari for charging batteries while on game drive or transfer drives. 110/ 240V outlets are available at the permanent lodges; however Linyanti Discoverer and Ketumetse Trails Camp only have 12V electricity.
Dietary requirements and special occasions: Due to remote locality of Discoverer camps, please ensure that full dietary requirements and special occasions are advised at the time of your booking confirmation.
