The red shimmer of the dunes of Sossusvlei, the glittering white of the Etosha pan and the barren beauty of Damaraland – 'Namibia is captivating!' I’m told by Reiseservice Africa in Munich. Full of curiosity, I set off for a flying safari 'around the Namibian world in ten days'.
Full of expectation and curiosity, I land in Windhoek, the capital of Namibia, and am immediately positively surprised by my accommodation at The Olive Exclusive. Starting my trip with the Wilderness Safaris ecotourism company like this, I immediately feel as though I’ve arrived in the real Africa. I set off on the first morning in a Cessna flown by Wilderness Air southwards to reach the Kulala Desert Lodge. From here there is access to Sossusvlei in the middle of the seemingly never-ending Namib Desert with unparalleled views of its unique ocean of sand and red dunes. The gorgeous colours of the famous Sossusvlei dunes are fascinating – simply amazing! Two days later, we move into Little Kulala, the smaller but more exclusive and more intimate sister of the Kulala Desert Lodge – also in Sossusvlei. This top-class camp has impressive and highly unusual architecture with the eleven kulalas ('sleep' in English) merging into the shape of the landscape. Each luxury kulala has a small pool and a 'sky bed' from where you can watch the stars over the desert.
The next flight takes me north, with magnificent birds-eye views across the waves of the Sossusvlei dunes. Despite the drought, there is a remarkable array of fauna with springbok and Oryx antelope. We continue over the Skeleton Coast. It’s incredible but all those white dots down below are flamingos – simply sensational and an absolute must for every Namibia trip! We land at Desert Rhino Camp in Damaraland, an area where there are less animals to see, but which then makes their discovery all the more special when we see them at very close range. In this region, Wilderness Safaris works closely with the 'Save the Rhino Trust' to protect the black rhino. Desert Rhino Camp will be my personal favourite. At the entrance, we are met by all the staff singing us a song of welcome. No question that all employees in all the camps are friendly, but here they take particularly good care of their guests. Time and again, we are surprised by their thoughtfulness. After my three fellow travellers and I have been out in the bush all day, a properly laid table with biltong (air-dried meat) and chilled wine appears in the middle of nowhere. We are happy to accept the invitation and enjoy this culinary treat as the perfect sundowner after an adventurous day’s safari. For dinner, we are met by a scene fit for a film set with open hearths and flaming torches. We, the guests, stand centre stage. The set is provided by the staff and the scenery. We are thoroughly spoilt in every possible way.
Day eight breaks; the flight takes us on to the Etosha region in the northeast. Here I stay in Little Ongava Camp – without doubt the most luxurious of the four camps. Perched on a rocky outcrop, it consists of just three spacious and luxuriously furnished tented villas for a total of six guests. From here, there are magnificent views out across the vast plains of the national park and down onto a water hole whose visitors include lions, elephants, giraffes and rhinos. I spend a day on the Ongava Game Reserve searching for tracks and am delighted to see numerous families of lions living there. The following day is reserved for the famous Etosha National Park and its abundance of fauna. It takes its name, which translates as 'great white area', from the 120 km long and 55 km wide salt pan, the product of an earlier gigantic lake which has since dried out. In contrast to the other regions we visited, the Etosha Park is not a private site taking commissions, but a state nature reserve on an enclosed site. At the entrance, there are many tourists and natives haggling over souvenirs, reminding me somehow of a public zoo with its annual market. After this, my experiences in the wild over the past few days get an even higher star rating in my diary. Our holiday is over, and it’s already time to take our leave. The time has passed so quickly, and the flight back to Zurich is waiting. Did Reiseservice Africa win me over with its selection and its advice? Did they live up to their promise? At the end of my trip, I consider I have had an extremely positive experience: a fantastic, all-round successful holiday, which I would not hesitate to repeat! It has made me want to take more holidays with Wilderness Safaris and Reiseservice Africa. The unique combination of hospitality, breathtaking landscapes and fascinating fauna has impressed me. Speaking to guests with experience of other companies only confirms my opinion. The flying safari gives you the chance to get to know the very different parts of Namibia and its wide open spaces in quite a short time, and to fly in comfort from one highlight to another. And with Wilderness Air, the safety of their discriminating guests is always at the forefront of their mind.
Intensive Namibia – Wilderness Safaris is an ecotourism company specialising in unforgettable experiences in Africa’s remote and untouched wilderness, and it has exclusive access to some of the most beautiful nature reserves. The company’s goal is to share these semi-wild areas with visitors from around the world, while ensuring the long-term conservation of Africa’s spectacular natural heritage. Part of their income is invested in nature and animal conservation and in community projects. Wilderness Safaris is both a provider of low-impact tourism and an environmental protection organisation. But their philosophy is not only about sustainability and social commitment; luxury is never missing from the mix either. All the lodges are luxurious and designed to meet the needs of the discriminating safari traveller. In Namibia, this global market leader for luxury flying safaris runs eleven lodges, using meticulously trained local staff. You notice this straight away in the very special hospitality and service culture. Safari – it makes you think of adventure and exciting experiences but also of strenuous exertion, uncomfortable beds and unidentifiable creepy-crawlies. Wilderness Safaris have managed to successfully combine the excitement of new discoveries with comfort and relaxation.
