Credit: Francois Maresquier

Land in Windhoek, and transfer to your accommodation at Rivendell Guest House, located in a quiet suburb close to the city centre. Stay in a family room with en-suite bathroom facilities. Explore the shops and restaurants of the city or stay behind in the guest house and spend some time with our loving Boer Bull, Tessa. Breakfast included.

You will be met by your guide in the morning. Drive north to Waterberg Plateau Park this morning, a journey of around 3.5 hours. This lush, sandstone plateau rises out of the surrounding plains, the freshwater springs filter through the sandstone giving rise to lush vegetation which sustains a healthy wildlife population. The rest camp has chalets where you will stay, a beautiful spring fed swimming pool, restaurant and small shop. Self-guided hiking trails wind up to the top of the plateau, and optional game drives are available on the plateau. These hikes are very easy going and perfect for children wishing to explore the area. Breakfast, lunch & dinner included.

You will stay in Etosha for this night, undertaking self guided game drives and staying at Okaukuejo in the southern area of the Park. This rest camp offers the same facilities as Namutoni. Each rest camp offers a swimming pool and small snack shop which is perfect for little breaks for the kids. Breakfast, lunch & dinner included.

You will drive south today, out of the Park and towards Damaraland. You may like to take a look at the Petrified Forest before reaching the lodge, a bizarre collection of largely intact gymnosperm trees that were preserved and transformed into stone by anaerobic conditions. Drive back to the beautiful Vingerklip Lodge. The drive should take approximately 4 hours, maybe take an excursion to the Twyfelfontein rock etchings and paintings this afternoon. This area is covered in numerous fascinating examples of San rock art and is well worth a visit where a local guide will explain the area to visitors. Keen eyes may be rewarded with a Desert Elephant sighting, so keep you eyes open! Breakfast, lunch & dinner included.

Set off this morning for the dunes of the Namib Desert, near to Sesriem and Sossusvlei. The drive should take approximately 5 hours and you will arrive at Desert Homestead this afternoon. This lodge is a beautifully decorated and friendly establishment with a bar, restaurant and pool, optional horse riding or nature drives within this spectacular area can be arranged. The lodge is designed in a rustic, farm style and is located just 27km from the entrance to Sesriem & Sossusvlei. Enjoy home cooked meals and friendly service. Wake early on the morning of day 9 to drive the 70km through the dune fields to Sossusvlei. Most of this road is on tar, the last 5km are sandy 4x4 roads. This may be a long day for the children, so we recommend taking with plenty of water and snacks. Remember to ask your guide to point out the roaring dunes, these are the best to slide down on!

You have a drive of approximately 5 hours today to reach Klein Aus Vista, a beautiful private farm located on the edge of the Namib Desert with spectacular views from the boulder strewn hillsides across wide open plains. You will stay the new chalets next to the converted farmhouse where the restaurant and bar are located. There are easy self-guided walks that can be taken on the farm - a perfect setting to play Cowboys & Indians, or you can just relax in the beautiful surroundings. You may also like to take a drive to the coastal town of Lüderitz on Day 11. Here you can visit the ghost town of Kolmanskop or take an optional boat trip from the harbour to Halifax Island where you may see some of the many bird and marine mammal species of this area. Breakfast, lunch & dinner included.

Drive northwards this morning to Anib Lodge, located approximately 5 hours drive from Canon Roadhouse. In the midst of the red dunes of the Kalahari in eastern Namibia the Kalahari Anib Lodge rises like a plush green oasis, the restaurant and chalets are arranged around a shaded courtyard with a large swimming pool. The Kalahari in this area is notable for green acacias and yellow grass on the red sand which extend over hundreds of kilometres of the Gondwana Kalahari Park, an area of 100 km². Animals like springbok, gemsbok and ostrich as well as jackal, hare and porcupine inhabit the dunes and dune valleys of the Kalahari Desert so keep your eyes open should you take part in a game drive. The area is also home to the Kori bustard, the largest flying bird of all, and of huge colonies of weaver birds' nests taking up whole trees. Breakfast, lunch & dinner included.

Return to Windhoek today, a drive of approximately 3.5 hours, in time to connect with your onward flight. Please note that departure should be after 14h00.