The Ultimate Namibia Family Safari!
Namibia
Sossusvlei, Damaraland and The Skeleton Coast
A safari to Africa is filled with intrigue, mystery and adventure. After so many months of lockdown and travel restrictions we are finally seeing an end to the Covid pandemic and the terrible travel restrictions that have had such a severe impact on the world. We all need a break so why not embark on the ultimate Namibia family safari?
Vacation deprivation is a real thing and people all over the world are yearning to travel now that the Covid pandemic is abating. What better gift could you give your family and children then a safari to Africa and some of the oldest deserts, dunes and wildlife the world has to offer? The un-spoilt wilderness, wide open spaces, incredible night skies filled with stars and fascinating wildlife living in harmony with ancient cultures will leave you and your family amazed and wanting more.
Step away from your normal, leave the wired world behind and immerse yourself in simplicity. Reconnect with the simplicity of simply living and breathing in environments that have been untouched since the dawn of time. The ultimate family safari to Namibia will fascinate your children with the natural world, it’s wildlife and her tribes of Himba that are able to survive in such stark environments. Namibia is the ultimate family safari destination being malaria free and one of the most unique safari destinations in Africa.
African Safari Experts has brought together three camps that all provide different experiences yet all offer the following facilities: a dedicated private vehicle for families, family suites, professional child minders to ensure you as parents get some time to yourselves, meal menu’s for children, a library and some fun activities for children to keep them entertained between game drives. Really, what more could you want? All that at no extra cost! The staff and guides are amazing with children, teaching them bush craft, tracking animals, how to bake bread, the wonders of the night skies as they fall asleep and giving you, the parents, the time to relax and reconnect to each other.
For this safari you can fly directly into Windhoek’s Hosea Kutako International Airport, this safari can be combined with South Africa, Botswana or Zambia. Considering the distances involved we would advise you to make the most of your time in Africa and missing out on the Victoria Falls would be silly considering how close you are to them. This Natural Wonder of the World is also a World Heritage Site and neither you nor your children will EVER forget witnessing the mighty Zambezi River waters plunging 120 meters into the Batoka Gorge. We can assist you with a variety of accommodation options in either Livingstone (Zambia) or Victoria Falls (Zimbabwe).
A suggested itinerary would be to enjoy your Namibia family safari and then fly to Livingstone or Victoria Falls – depending on flights. Personally we prefer Livingstone for the vibe and the greater variety of accommodation options available for families. A lodge on the banks of the Zambezi River is hard to beat and this type of accommodation is not easily available in Zimbabwe.
If you are really into experiencing Africa then include Botswana for prolific wildlife sightings in the Okavango Delta and take a light aircraft straight into the Delta. Some of the best family safari lodges in the Okavango Delta include Shinde Camp for their child centric Young Explorer’s experience over three days situated in a remote corner of the Okavango, Kanana Camp or Seba Delta Camp. All these camps will provide an incredible immersion into the wildlife of yet another World Heritage Site and the magic of the natural world.
This combination of desert in Namibia, the Victoria Falls and the lush Okavango Delta is the ultimate trio for a once in a lifetime experience of Africa. The order in which you do these can be tailored to your specific needs so get in touch with the safari experts and we’ll design your perfect family safari to Africa.
For now, lets explore these three incredible Namibia camps that make for the ultimate Namibia family safari.
Little Kulala
Little Kulala has recently been renovated and lies within the 27 000 acre Kulala Wilderness Reserve. Access is easiest with a small private aircraft transfer from Windhoek airport or by helicopter. This lodge has a wide variety of activities available yet is also excellent for the sensation of space, peace and tranquility. The lodge has its own exclusive use gate into Sossusvlei where you can climb the worlds oldest and highest sand dunes. Hot air balloon safaris can be booked through the lodge – an experience we highly recommend (for children 7 years and older).
Wildlife which can be seen include Ostrich, Bat Eared Foxes, Springbok, Black Backed Jackal, Gemsbok, Porcupine and possibly Hyena. Star gazing into the night skies here will blow you away. Never before will you have seen such a display of constellations, stars and the Milky Way.
For the parents there is a wellness spa while the chefs teach pizza making to your children, or, for the slightly older children, photographic lessons with the in-camp provided Olympus camera units.
Damaraland Camp
Damaraland Camp is known for its mountain ranges and their changing colors in the afternoon sun. The mountains morph from rust to purple as the sun sets and create a magnificent backdrop to this location. Situated in the plains of the Huab River Valley set out on a game drive searching for desert adapted Elephants, Black Rhino and Lions. Giraffe, Zebra, Gemsbok and other smaller antelope species are also quite prolific.
Damaraland Camp lies within the Torra Conservancy and is one of the driest, most desolate regions in all of Africa. In this arid environment the ceaseless processes of life revolve around harnessing the near non-existent water. The wildlife here have been able to do this in the most economical way possible. This scrub landscape is not able to support vast, concentrated herds of wildlife. It does however support an assortment of desert-adapted species around the camp.
The Torra Conservancy supports rare desert-adapted Elephant and some Black Rhino. Gemsbok (Oryx), Kudu, Springbok, Hartman’s Mountain Zebra, Southern Giraffe, Lion, Cheetah, and Spotted and Brown Hyena also live in the area. Birding is excellent with over 240 species recorded.
Visits to the local farms in the area are an excellent “teaching moment” for children as they learn about a farmers way of life in the area and how they manage human wildlife conflict. This is an inspiring lesson in conservation tourism. Other activities include family safari nature walks and drives, guided night walks in search of Scorpions with an Ultraviolet light and trips to Twyfelfontein (“Doubtful Fountain”) to see the ancient San rock art. There is the Damaraland “Living Museum”, photographic lessons, special bush breakfasts and fireside boma evenings. Of course the star gazing is incomparable.
Hoanib Skeleton Coast Camp
Hoanib Skeleton Coast Camp is within the true Namib Desert. This area is home to a rich diversity of wildlife. The Kaokoveld has the best viewing of desert-adapted wildlife and access to vast, remote and isolated wilderness. Despite the barren landscape and seemingly lack of water many elephant thrive here along with giraffe, lion and brown hyena. Various antelope have been seen including Oryx, Springbok and small Steenbok.
In stark contrast to the rugged mountains and valleys inland the Skeleton Coast hosts Cape fur seals in their thousands. This seal colony attracts black-backed jackals and brown hyena. Interactions between the seals, jackal and hyena are fascinating to watch. Birds are equally diverse, with regular endemics like Rüppell’s korhaan, Benguela long-billed lark and lark-like bunting. Near the the coast the bird community changes drastically and sightings of rare sea birds are quite common. Jaegers and Skuas are often observed around the seal colonies.
The cold Benguela Current runs up the coast of Africa here and when the cold sea air meets the warm desert winds a moisture rich fog forms providing welcome water vapor that sustains myriad life forms. Guided drives along the coast will reveal the old “Strandloper” or ‘beach walker” way of life where the San people could find many things to eat at low tide or that simply got washed up onto the beach.
Back at camp the water hole there is sometimes the only water for many miles and so attracts many animals providing your family with some fantastic arm chair game viewing. There is also a swimming pool for cooling off and for the children to play around in. The Olympus photo hub and complimentary camera gear will allow you to hone your skills and get the best possible images on your family safari.
Read our Country Information for travel advice to Namibia.
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To get the most from your family safari we would advise a minimum of three nights at each camp, more if possible. This assists in your relaxation, getting the best experience from each camp, prevents you from spending too much of your holiday on travel between destinations and ensures your family an immersive travel experience.
If you plan to combine this with Victoria Falls and the Okavango Delta then allow for at least 4 days at a lodge on the Zambezi River. The Falls are worth at least two visits and if possible view them from both the Zambia and Zimbabwe sides to get the most of this incredible feat of nature. A $50 KAZA Visa will also keep the cost down so make sure you buy one on arrival at either Victoria Falls or Livingstone Airport.
Accommodation in Livingstone, here are some suggestions….
The Batoka Gorge cannot be fully appreciated from the ground so a flight by helicopter over the Falls is well worth the money invested – and completely safe! There are many, many activities in and around both Livingstone (Zambia) and Victoria Falls (Zimbabwe) and we can book some, many or a few for you as you desire.
We pride ourselves in designing seamless and exceptionally crafted safari experiences. This means that from the moment you land in Africa, to the time of your departure, every facet of your experience will be perfectly arranged. Sit back, relax and let an expert safari specialist take care of all the details.
It’s your holiday after all, sweating the details is our job and we love it!
Pierre
CEO
African Safari Experts