Namibia Safari Life
ACCOMMODATION: Your accommodations will be surprisingly comfortable in lodges and luxury tented camps. In both cases, your room or tent will feature local décor and en-suite bathroom facilities with toilet and shower. Some locations include air-conditioning or ceiling fans. Each locale carries its own local lore and flavor, offered with the highest level of service and care. Along with ample space for relaxing and viewing, the lodges and camps offer pools (except on the Skeleton Coast), a central lounge/bar area, and amenities (soap, shampoo and insect repellent) supplied in each guest accommodation.
ROADS: The roads within Namibia are first class by African standards with good tarred roads and an extensive network of gravel roads. Roads in Namibia are generally well maintained. However, few have shoulders or breakdown lanes. Wildlife wandering on roads can be a special driving hazard as well.
TYPICAL DAILY SCHEDULE ON SAFARI: All times are guides only for a non-traveling day. Daily schedules and activities differ in various locations based on the highlights of the specific area. Times can and do change depending on local conditions.
Damaraland Camp:
| Time | Activity |
| 5:30 am | Wake up call. |
| 6:00 | Full breakfast served |
| 6:30 am | Depart on morning activity, usually a game drive to see the desert elephant. |
| noon | Return from game drive to camp. |
| 1:00 pm | Lunch served. Free time until afternoon tea to relax or catch up on journaling or reading. |
| 3:30 pm | Afternoon tea and snacks served. |
| 4:00 pm | Depart on afternoon game drive or walk, or community visit and sundowners. |
| 7:00 pm | Return to camp. |
| 8:00 pm | Dinner is served (sit down style). |
Etosha National Park (Ongava Lodge):
| Time | Activity |
| 5:30 am | Wake up call. Full English and continental buffet breakfast |
| 6:10 | Depart for Etosha gate for morning game drive. |
| 12:30 pm | Return to lodge. |
| 1:30 pm | Lunch served. Free time until afternoon tea to relax or catch up on journaling or reading. |
| 4:00 pm | Afternoon tea and snacks served. |
| 4:30 pm | Depart on nature drive on Ongava property with sundowners. |
| 7:00 pm | Return to lodge. |
| 8:00 pm | Buffet dinner served on elevated deck overlooking floodlit waterhole. |
Sossusvlei Wilderness Camp:
| Time | Activity |
| 4:30 am | Wake up call. Early light breakfast served of juices and cereals. |
| 5:30 am | Depart for Sossusvlei Park. |
| 7:00 am | Arrive at Sossusvlei to climb dunes. Full breakfast served at foot of dunes at around 11:00 am. |
| 3:30 pm | Return to camp. |
| 5:00 pm | Afternoon tea and snacks served. |
| 5:30 pm | Depart on nature drive in Sossusvlei Wilderness property with sundowners. |
| 7:30 pm | Return to camp. |
| 8:30 pm | Buffet dinner served. |
Skeleton Coast Camp:
| Time | Activity |
| 7:00 am | Wake up call. Early breakfast served. |
| 8:00 am | Depart camp with picnic lunch for full day excursion. |
| 6:00 pm* | Return to camp |
| 7:00 pm* | Dinner served cooked on open fire. |
| *In the summer, the return to camp and dinner will be one hour later. | |
GAME DRIVES AND ACTIVITIES: For the most part, game drives will be conducted in 7-seat Land Rovers or 4x4 safari vehicles. Most are open, but some vehicles are closed, depending on the location and conditions. Nature walks are available upon request. Night game walks/drives are available in Sossusvlei and in the Ongava Reserve. Also in Sossusvlei, excursions to the dunes are included and there is an optional hot air balloon journey over the dunes available upon request (at an additional cost).
SATELLITE TELEPHONES: Telecommunications in the urban areas are easily accessible but please note that the safari lodges and camps you may be visiting could be located in very remote parts of Africa and often do not have telephones. An increasing number of guests have been bringing satellite phones along with them on safari. As most people come on safari to "get away from it all", we feel that we must set some limitations on the use of these phones when on safari. We suggest the following guidelines on the use of satellite phones:
- Please ensure the ring tone is kept at a low volume to avoid disturbing other guests.
- Please use your phone in the privacy of your room and not any of the common areas: dining room, bar/lounge area, or on any of the vehicles or on game drives.
- Phones should be used for outgoing calls and to check messages only. Incoming calls, and the loud ringing that ensues, should be curtailed.
LAUNDRY: Laundry can be done at most camps, with the exception of Damaraland, Palmwag and Skeleton Coast Camps, where there are severe water shortages. This service is complimentary at most camps but there may be a nominal charge at other establishments. The camp staff will not wash underwear, due to prevailing local traditions in the country.
ELECTRICAL POWER ON SAFARI: Most lodges and camps on safari are situated in remote areas and have to generate their own electricity, which is done in a number of ways. Each camp has a generator that runs for about 6 hours per day (3 hours in the morning and 3 in the afternoon when guests are out on activities). These generators then charge batteries located at each tented room or supply power to each guest lodge room. Typically, power will be available when you are in the lodge or camp, except for overnight. Therefore, it is imperative that you have your own flashlight handy. Electrical plug outlets are not usually available in guest rooms and therefore it is not possible to use such appliances as hairdryers or electric shavers during your stay. Solar heated water is used for showers and some lighting.
SMOKING POLICY: While on safari, there is a no-smoking policy at meals, on the vehicles, on the aircraft, and on boats (in fact anywhere where there is a fire hazard). If you are a smoker, there will be "smoke breaks" on the drives to keep you happy! Please respect this ruling.
DRINK POLICY: While on safari in Namibia, all drinks on the game drives and house-wines at dinner are included. All other drinks are excluded and will be charged to your account, to be settled upon departure from each location. The exception to this is on the Skeleton Coast safari program, where all drinks are included.
WILD ANIMALS: Many of the animals and reptiles you will see are potentially dangerous. Attacks by wild animals are rare. However, no safari in Africa can guarantee that such incidents will not occur. Please note that most camps and lodge areas are unfenced. Please make sure that you listen to and abide by the safety talks given by your guides or lodge/camp staff. Don't go wandering off on your own without a guide - even to your rooms. After retiring to your rooms at night, don't leave your rooms. If you are sensible, you will be safe.
FLASHLIGHTS As the grounds of many lodges/camps are unfenced it is essential that you bring a small flashlight (locally known as a torch) as you may encounter wild animals at night. You should also bring a spare globe as well as batteries as they are unobtainable en route.