Rugged mountains, deep river valleys, boulder-strewn slopes and semi-desert plains merge in the northwestern corner of Namibia to create a wild and unspoiled wilderness, the Kaokoveld. This remote area is home to the Himba who follow the same way of life as they have done for centuries. Here, too, you will find the famous desert dwelling elephants, along with black rhino, giraffe, gemsbok, springbok, kudu and even lion.

There were many great explorers who tried to tame the Kaokoveld. Old Portuguese charts show that navigators out of Lisbon sighted and named the capes of Kaokoveld, and on Cape Cross in 1486, Diego Cam landed and left a stone pillar to mark his discovery. Then there were the Arabs from Sofala who are credited with reaching the Kaokoveld coast in their dhows in 1600. Apart from the Portuguese and other unknown sea adventurers, the first white explorer in the Kaokoveld appears to be Charles John Andersson. He visited the area in the mid 1800’s and set down his impressions in these words:

“When a heavy sea-fog rests on these uncouth and rugged surfaces – and it does so very often – a place fitter to represent the infernal regions could scarcely, in searching the world round, be found. A shudder, amounting almost to fear, came over me when its frightful desolation first suddenly broke upon my view. ‘Death,’ I exclaimed, ‘would be preferable to banishment to such a country’.”

Then there were Smuts, the great elephant hunter and trader, the first white man to reach the Kunene River from the south. He blazed the first wagon trails over large parts of the Kaokoveld and on our Kaokoveld journey we will follow some of his trails north of Sesfontein.

After German occupation the Kaokoveld passed into the possession of a London company and the whole area was later sold to a Mr L Hirsch of London for nine hundred thousand Marks!

The Kaokoveld still remains as one of the last true wilderness areas in Southern Africa and on our journey through this rugged country we will follow in the footsteps of great explorers such as Axel Erriksson, Fred Green and Georg Hartmann (after whom the Hartmann mountains were named), who explored the area in the lawless days when the whole of Namibia was a “no-man’s land”. Today the Kaokoveld is communal land belonging to its original inhabitants. On this 12 day expedition we will visit all the famous Kaokoland landmarks as well as ‘n few Kaokoveld “secrets”, less well known spots not frequented by the typical tourist, beautiful and remote…

Day 0 (1 May 2011 / 3 June 2011): Mondjila Safari Camp

The adventure starts at the Mondjila Safari Camp where the group will meet their tour leader and guide. Your guide will be at the Safari Camp from 16h00 and dinner will be served at 19h30.

The Mondjila Safari Camp offers luxury en suite tents, a bar and a swimming pool. Accommodation and meals on a dinner, bed and breakfast basis are included in the tour price. The Camp is situated on the D2779, north of Outjo on the way to the Etosha National Park’s Anderson Gate. Take the C38 from Outjo and head north towards Etosha. After 70km turn right on the D2779 and follow the directions to the Camp which you’ll find approximately 3km from the turnoff on your left hand side.

Day 1 (2 May 2011 / 4 June 2011): Mondjila Safari Camp – Khowareb Schlucht

The expedition officially starts after breakfast. Following a gravel road we head for Kamanjab where there will be an opportunity to refuel and to buy last minute supplies. From Kamanjab the road continues in a north-westerly direction until it reaches the south western border of the Etosha National Park where we will turn off onto a dirt track taking us through a veterinary gate, through Baadjie (a rather large kraal) and into the Khowareb Schlucht itself. The Schlucht is a narrow gorge measuring 21 kilometers in length and because of permanent fountains we can expect to see a variety of game in the area. Our first night will be spent at a very neat community camp on the banks of the river.

Day 2 (3 May 2011 / 5 June 2011): Khowareb Schlucht - Puros

The convoy continues into the heart of the Kaokoveld, following the Hoanib Riverbed westwards towards Amspoort. On this very scenic trail in the riverbed chances are excellent to encounter our first herds of desert-adapted elephant together with other game such as giraffe, oryx, springbok and kudu. At Amspoort we’ll head north, crossing the Ganias Flats on our way to the Hoariseb River. Our camp for the night is located in the Hoariseb Riverbed close to Puros. This community camp is situated close to a natural spring and it is not unusual for herds of elephants to pass directly through the camp on their way to the spring. This well shaded campsite will be our base for the next two days from where we’ll explore the very scenic surroundings.

Day 3 (4 May 2011 / 6 June 2011): Exploring the Hoariseb Valley

Day three is the first “rest day” on our journey through Kaokoland. A leisurely day during which we’ll go on a game drive in the riverbed, keeping an eye out for the elephants and if we are lucky we might catch a glimpse of the lions that have recently made the area their home. After enjoying lunch in the river we'll return to our camp before an evening excursion to the Jan Joubert koppie for a sun-downer...

Day 4 (5 May 2011 / 7 June 2011): Puros – Etanga Bush Camp - Van Zyl’s Pass

Saying goodbye to the Hoariseb we pass through spectacular mountain scenery before reaching the Khumib Riverbed south of Orupembe. Passing through Orupembe we head further into the mountains on our way to the start of the famous Van Zyl’s Pass. We will make a bush camp as close to the start of the pass as possible and enjoy an evening under the stars with no other tourists in sight…Expect to be joined around the fire by a couple of curious Himbas, returning to their kraal at sunset - their way of welcoming us in Kaokoland...

Day 5 (6 May 2011 / 8 June 2011): Etanga Bush Camp via Van Zyl’s Pass – The Holy Mountain, Ondau

One of the “Big Days” on our journey awaits us. After breakfast we start our trek westward towards the start of the Van Zyl’s Pass. We will descend the pass slowly giving enough time to take photographs of the breathtaking views along the way. Near the bottom of the pass is a viewpoint providing a stunning view of the Marienfluss down below. The viewpoint is also the ideal place to crack open a cold beer before the final and most difficult part of the descend. At the bottom of the pass we will stop for a few minutes at the Jan Joubert memorial where you can place your stone. (Remember to bring a permanent ink marker so that you can write your name on a stone.)

After descending the Pass we follow the spectacularly scenic Marienfluss northwards before entering the Hartmann Mountains just to the north of Ondau. Our destination is a bush camp in the Hartmann Mountains where we'll discuss an exciting day around the fire.

Day 6 (7 May 2011 / 9 June 2011): Hartmann Mountains – Bush Camp, Red Drum

From our camp in the Mountains we'll head north into the spectacularly beautiful Hartmann Valley. Fairy circles and herds of Oryx dominate the scenery. Soon the track will disappear beneath the sand dunes of the Northern Namib where we'll head west towards the boundary of the Skeleton Coast Park. With the dunes on our right and the Mountains on our left we'll head south towards the Green Drum. From the Green Drum the journey continues east past the Blue and the Orange drums before stopping for a bush camp in the vicinity of the Red Drum.

Day 7 (8 May 2011 / 10 June 2011): Bush Camp, Red Drum - Opuwo

On Day 7 we’ll visit the “capital” of Kaokoland, Opuwo where we can stock up on much needed supplies. The town has ATM facilities, fuel and a supermarket.

The night will be spent at the Opuwo Country Hotel, offering grass covered campsites as well as electricity. A buffet dinner at the Country Hotel is included in your tour price.

Day 8 (9 May 2011 / 11 June 2011): Opuwo Country Hotel - Epupa

After a late breakfast we’ll travel to the Epupa Falls, our destination being the Epupa Falls Campsite. Reaching our camp early will provide enough time to explore the falls and the area beneath the falls.

Day 9 (10 May 2011 / 12 June 2011): Epupa - "The Fig Tree"

A very scenic 4x4 track takes us to another one of Kaokoland’s little secrets…after a mere 46km we’ll reach our camp for the night.

Enyandi is a special and beautiful spot nestled amongst large wild fig trees and Makalani Palms, providing stunnig views across the river into Angola. This night will prove to be one of the highlights of the tour...

Day 10 (11 May 2011 / 13 June 2011): Enyandi – Kunene River Lodge

After a hike down the river we will continue in an easterly direction, travelling via Swartboois Drift to the Kunene River Lodge. Although the track from Epupa to the Kunene River Lodge is a rocky 4x4 track, it provides for breathtaking scenery as we cross the foothills of the Zebra Mountains on our way to the lodge. We'll make a quick stop at Swartboois Drift where the Dorsland Trekkers crossed into Angola.

Day 11 (12 May 2011 / 14 June 2011): Relaxing on the river

The Kunene River Lodge offers various exciting activities such as rafting, birding, hiking and sun-downer cruises. It is also the only place where you can catch a glimpse of the Cinderella Waxbill. The tour ends after dinner on day 11.

Catering - You Choose

For all our 2011 Scheduled itineraries you will have the option to choose between a catered tour and a self-catering option for the same tour. The catered option includes all dinners on tour as well as coffee, tee and rusks in the morning. All dinners consist of at least a starter and a main course and on some occassions a dessert will also be served. The self-catering option on the Kaokoland tour includes dinners at the Mondjila Safari Camp, Opuwo Country Hotel and the Kunene River Lodge. Should you opt for the self-catering option you must provide your own cooking utensils, braai grids and other necessities to prepare your meals.