Departure: Scheduled Departure Dates.
Duration: 8 Days / 7 Nights.
Highlights: Palmwag and Kaokoland.
Safari Style: Camps are pre-erected in prime, shady sites, close to the wildlife.
Rates: from US$ 2970.00 per person sharing (2008)
Rates: From US$ 3210.00 per person sharing (2009)

Desert Rhino Expedition Itinerary

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 24 beds in 2- or 3-bed thatched bungalows, a fully licensed restaurant, swimming pool under shady palms and a small "Pool Bar". On our arrival at Palmwag Lodge, we are welcomed by the guide to the area and receive a full briefing on the tour ahead.

Day 2: Aub River, Palmwag Concession
- After an early breakfast, we depart northwards by game drive to Mbakondja Camel Camp to meet the Save the Rhino Camel team. Then we ride or walk south to the Aub River, where our Adventurer camp has been erected prior to our arrival. In addition to the tracking and hopefully viewing of desert-adapted elephant and black rhino (the latter a rare subspecies of rhino), our 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
- Our journey continues today with a walk to the Barab River, concentrating on the tracking of the elusive desert giants through a series of hills, rocky landscapes and diverse geology. After even a little rain, the gravel plains are covered in nutritious grasses offering life-giving sustenance.

Day 4: Kudu Springs, Palmwag Concession
- After an early breakfast, we 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 we 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, we 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 slake their thirst.

Day 6-7: Hoanib Camp, Kaokoland
- We 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, we enter one of Namibia's richest desert wildlife areas. We stay at Hoanib Camp, and enjoy game walks, rhino tracking, game drives and night drives into the Hoanib River valley.
- Our Discoverer-styled tented Hoanib Camp close to the Hoanib River is a relaxed haven from which we explore this wild land on foot, or from the comfort of one of our safari vehicles. The camp is powered by solar-powered inverter systems and there are no generators or pumps running whilst guests are in camp. 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, we fly back to Palmwag Lodge, in time for a lunch and final farewell to the adventure.

Included in safari:
- Full board
- All transfers
- Accommodation
- Bottled water, soft drinks, local wine & beer at meal times
- Activities & National park fees

Excluded in safari:
- Visas
- Insurance
- Laundry
- Optional extra activities
- Gratuities and tips
- Transport not specified in the itinerary
- Personal expenses such as telephone etc

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