The whole point of taking a long weekend is to escape and be inspired, right? We think so too. And in our opinion the ultimate short break destination is Namibia. Just imagine the looks on your colleagues faces when you casually mention that you're off to the Skeleton Coast for the weekend.
The extreme North-west of Namibia is one of the most unspoilt and untamed locations on earth, offering totally extraordinary travel experience. From your remote camp (accessible only by light aircraft) watch towering sand dunes glow as the sky burns bright red in the setting sun.
Aptly named, the Skeleton Coast boats some of the harshest scenery on the planet, with landscapes closer to lunar conditions than anywhere in the world. Miles from civilisation and as far as you can get from the hustle and bustle of normal routine, lies the luxurious rooms of the Skeleton Coast Camp, the only building in the 300,000 hectares of private concession area. Lying in your cosy bed after a hearty meal, you'll listen to the desert winds howl around your tent, over the surrounding dry, cracked plains.
In the course of your short break you'll visit sand dunes, vast plains and saltpans unlike anything you've ever witnessed. You'll climb giant wind-carved dunes in a 4x4, and listen to them 'roar' as you slide down the other side, to find the ghostly shipwrecks which dot the notorious coastline. Mysterious and totally cut off, these wrecks have been whipped by the wind and seas for over sixty years in the extreme daytime heat and nighttime cold of the Atlantic coastline. Wildlife is present as well, but with a definite emphasis on the wild. The area is so remote that the lions, elephants and giraffes that roam the land rarely see humans. Authentic Africa? Without a doubt.
A short charter flight and 4x4 drive will then bring you to the Serra Cafema Camp, perched in the hills overlooking the Kunene river that borders Angola. Undoubtedly one of the most beautiful camps on earth. Here you'll sleep in modern varnished wooden huts on stilts, enjoying the luxury of a swimming pool and shade from huge Albida trees overlooking the lush hills of the Hartmann Valley. Visit springbok, ostrich and 3.5-metre-long crocodiles by foot or boat and see canyons, gorges and sweeping dunes by quad bike - undoubtedly one of the best African experiences we have ever seen.
Extreme heat and numbing cold, bone-dry desert and flourishing jungle; you will experience the best of Namibia in just a few days on this unbeatable journey. This trip sets the standard for short breaks, raising the bar higher than ever before, and we guarantee you'll return home with fresh inspiration and a new, burning enthusiasm for life.
