7 nights - price guide in region $4000 pp

contact us for 2012 dates

For more than 20 years, the Save the Rhino Trust (SRT) has worked ceaselessly to protect the last free-ranging rhino population on Earth: the rare desert-adapted black rhino. In the remote, rugged Palmwag Concession, teams of local trackers use camel trains to help in researching and monitoring this animal. On this original and exciting Exploration, guests join these "ships of the desert" on a great adventure: an eight-day walk (little time is spent actually on the camels) across the oldest desert in the world, where a camel train and a team of Save the Rhino trackers take us deep into the heart of the Namib Desert in search of this rare and endangered species.
Another wonderful sight is that of the unique desert-adapted elephant - both these iconic animals being searched for in some of the most remote and inaccessible regions of the Concession. The revenues generated from this venture are channelled back into critically important rhino conservation projects.

Day 1: Palmwag Lodge, Palmwag Concession
Palmwag Lodge, one of Namibia's oldest and most popular eco-tourist destinations, is set in spectacular palm-studded surroundings with awe-inspiring sunsets. The area is also home to the famous desert-adapted elephant and rare black rhino. The lodge offers thatched bungalows, a lovely restaurant, swimming pool under shady palms and a small "Pool Bar". On arrival at Palmwag Lodge, you will be welcomed by your guide and will receive a full briefing on the tour ahead.

Day 2: Aub River, Palmwag Concession
After an early breakfast, depart northwards by game drive to Mbakondja Camel Camp to meet the Save the Rhino Camel team. Then ride or walk south to the Aub River, where a small Adventurer camp has been erected prior to your arrival. In addition to the tracking and hopefully viewing desert-adapted elephant and black rhino. Your guides reveal the sheer magnificence of nature's survival strategies in this arid environment, concentrating on a variety of topics from birds, insects, medicinal uses of plants and viewing general wildlife.

Day 3: Barab River, Palmwag Concession
Your journey continues today with a walk to the Barab River, concentrating on the tracking through a series of hills, rocky landscapes and diverse geology.

Day 4: Kudu Springs, Palmwag Concession
After an early breakfast, you ride out further west through the Okomutati Springs to Kudu Springs. This area is almost inaccessible to vehicles, a pristine wilderness area with a complete sense of remoteness. En route you also have the opportunity to see extraordinary plant life including the ancient Welwitschia plants and numerous lichens.

Day 5: Hunkab Spring, Palmwag Concession
Heading northwards, you move to the next popular drinking point for Kaokoland's diverse animal life, the Hunkab Spring. Fresh drinking water in the desert forms the basis for seasonal animal movements and a surprisingly diverse range of animal life can be seen here. Animals from Hartmann's mountain zebra to elephant and the endemic Ruppell's Korhaan come to drink.

Day 6 & 7: Hoanib Camp, Kaokoland
Bid farewell to the Save the Rhino Trust trackers and depart on game drive from Hunkab, travelling through the concession to the ephemeral river of the Hoanib Valley. Here, in an area seemingly parched and desolate, you enter one of Namibia's richest desert wildlife areas. Stay at Hoanib Camp, and enjoy game walks, rhino tracking, game drives and night drives into the Hoanib River valley.

The Discoverer-styled tented Hoanib Camp close to the Hoanib River is a relaxed haven from which to explore this wild land on foot, or from the safari vehicles. The camp is powered by solar-powered inverter systems. There are 5 walk-in hexagonal Meru-style tents with en-suite and flush toilet and bucket shower bathrooms in a separate portion of the tent. Each tent is furnished with necessary comforts and styled with burnt orange interiors, wood and brass, effectively recreating a sense of the early explorers of Africa.

Day 8: Air charter to Palmwag Lodge
After an early breakfast and game drive, you fly back to Palmwag Lodge, in time for a lunch and final farewell to the adventure.

Extend you safari at Palmwag Lodge where Activites revolve around daily game drives in open 4x4s into the vast 450,000 hectare Palmwag Concession and its surprising array of arid-adapted wildlife. A trip to the nearby Ovahimba village is an option where guests can experience first hand the daily life of these desert nomads - who still live by their ancient cultural traditions and rituals. A series of guided nature walks for the intrepid is also on offer.

Large populations of Hartman's Mountain Zebra, giraffe, oryx, springbok and kudu exist within the Palmwag Concession. A healthy population of elephants and desert adapted black rhino, under the management of the Save the Rhino Trust (SRT), move freely around the concession. The predator population is the largest outside of the Etosha National Park, with over 100 lions, cheetah, leopard, brown and spotted hyena.

Bird life is prolific and diverse around Palmwag Lodge, with most of Namibia's endemics present.

Notes: please note that connecting charters onto the safari are not included. These are provided by Sefofane Air from Windhoek to Palmwag at an additional cost and are available on request.