Namibia Wildlife Safari

The Waterberg is about 340km north of Windhoek, the last 80km is a good gravel road. The drive is about three hours.

On the way: Okahandja wood carvers' market - reserve anything you like and collect it on your return; fossilised dinosaur footprints are off a scenic ring road.

When you're there: the Waterberg Plateau Park has several excellent hiking trails, the wildlife and birdlife and scenery make for a good hike; private game farms in the area offer game viewing and some have active conservation programmes like AfriCat and the Cheetah Conservation Fund.

Accommodation options: Waterberg Accommodation

You can do the gentle drive to Etosha National Park after a morning game viewing outing and a leisurely breakfast. The eastern entrance to Etosha, the Von Lindequist Gate, is about 375km from the Waterberg area; most of the road is paved and the short gravel sections are well maintained. Andersson Gate in the south is about 280km away.

On the way: If you're going east, the world's largest meteorite, Hoba, is on a long ring road via Grootfontein; the southern route is almost too short to stop, barring a comfort stop at Outjo and a picture of the Ugab Terrace.

When you're there: Etosha has an estimated 250 lions, 300 rhinos, 2,500 giraffes, 6,000 zebras, 20,000 springbok and 2,000 elephants. This on top of a large number of lesser and common plains herds, and abundant birds makes game viewing in Etosha something special. The surrounding lodges all have private reserves with equally impressive wildlife numbers and they offer private game viewing activities into the park.

Accommodation options: Etosha Accommodation

Wherever you are, make your way through the park or south towards Okahandja for your last night on safari in Namibia.

On the way: If you didn't stay at Okonjima on the way out, make time for an afternoon visit to the AfriCat Foundation where you can a) get a picture of any predators you missed at Etosha and b) see them close up and learn about these fascinating creatures.

When you're there: The lodges offer game drives and nature trails; watersports on the Von Bach Dam; Okahandja has a good wood carvers' market

Accommodation options: Okapuka Ranch or Okahandja Lodge

Windhoek is about an hour's drive and the airport a further half hour. Stop for lunch in the city or carry on to the airport in time for your flight and the end of your Namibian wildlife safari extravaganza.