Namibia - Rock Art & the Natural World

Today we explore the area of the Moonlandscape and the Welwitschia Plains, where we will see some amazingly desolate views as well as examples of the extraordinary millennia-old plants. On the way back, we will visit the area of the Swakop river which reaches the sea on the southern edge of Swakopmund. The area around the river mouth and the surrounding dunes are rich in both bird life and unusual plant species. In the afternoon, choose to book an optional flight over the dramatic landscape of Soussevlei or take some time to explore the charming town of Swakopmund.

Today, we drive to the Spitzkoppe range often called ‘the Matterhorn’ of Namibia, to explore their impressive granite rock formations. One of the most photographed mountains in Namibia, the Inselberg stands 1728m above sea level and can be spotted from many miles away. All around the Spitzkoppe, hundreds of paintings can be found and the rock art here describes patterns of hunter-gatherer settlements and subsistence that occurred in the area until the introduction of farming practice.

This morning we visit the “Living Museum” of the Ju/Hoansi-San (also called Bushman) at Omandumba. Here, we gain an insight into the ancient hunter- gatherer culture. After lunch, we continue to the rock shelter of Ekuta. Considered to be one of the best rock art sites in the whole region, it contains detailed depictions of animals and people carrying equipment, such as bows and arrows.

The lodge at Ai Aiba is dramatically set against imposing granite boulders in the foothills of the mountain range. Steeped in history, these ancient rock formations are the eroded remains of a volcanic complex about 130 million years old. We spend our entire day on guided walks to thoroughly explore the local rock art here.

We spend our morning in Omandumba West. The rock art in this area includes rare and valuable paintings, such as the Swarm of the Bees and Torch. After lunch, we travel to our next overnight venue and once we have checked in, we explore areas along the Ugab River, which provides water for the rare desert elephants, as well as giraffes, mountain zebras and the elusive desert-adapted black rhinoceros.

We start this morning with a visit to the famous “White Lady” rock painting on the north-eastern side of the Brandberg where the peak, which is called Königstein, is the highest point in Namibia. This area is famous for its numerous rock paintings, although many of those higher up on the mountain can be difficult to access. This afternoon, we drive on up to the Twyfelfontein area, one of the largest and most important concentrations of rock art in Africa, which was approved as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2007.

We start our day with a game drive along the Aba Huab River Valley to view the local fauna and the native wildlife. We then go on to visit Twyfelfontein Country Lodge, where we view the fascinating late Stone Age petroglyphs that depict native fauna and hunter-gatherer activities. Afterwards, we spend time exploring the large number of prehistoric rock engravings in the Twyfelfontein site, and we can also go on to visit the other local attractions of both Burnt Mountain and the Organ Pipes.

After driving to Kamanjab, we arrive at the rock art site of Peet Alberts Koppie. As the second-largest rock engraving site in Namibia, we see the giraffe – the largest engraving in Namibia. After lunch, we journey onwards to Etosha National Park.

Today offers a full day of exciting game drives in Etosha National Park as we make our way across via Okaukuejo and Halali to the eastern gate of the park beyond Namutoni. The unique feature of Etosha is a huge salt pan that can be seen from space and game sightings here are almost guaranteed.

The second day in Etosha National Park will be spent exploring the eastern side of the park. Time permitting, we may return to the area around Halali or head north to explore Fischer’s Pan.

Today we drive south to the reserve at Okonjima, famous for its AfriCat charity programme. Founded in the 1990s, the AfriCat Foundation focuses on ensuring a sustainable future for Namibia’s large carnivores, such as leopards and cheetahs, through their conservation efforts. This afternoon, we have the chance to track some of these magnificent animals.

We leave Okonjima and drive to Windhoek for our overnight flight to London via Johannesburg. We arrive in the UK on Day Sixteen.