Family Namibia: Cheetahs, Etosha and Sand Dunes

descriptionDescription

Namibia may seem like a destination for intrepid travelers, but it is also a wonderful country for family travel if planned well. Distances are long, but the roads are in good condition, the lodgings are welcoming and the wildlife is spectacular. This 7-day itinerary removes the heaviest driving stretches and focuses on activities kids love, starting with one of the biggest thrills for any child: seeing cheetahs up close. The trip starts in Windhoek and heads to Okapuka Ranch, where children can watch rescued cheetahs being fed. Seeing these cats — the fastest land animals in the world — run and feed just a few feet away is an experience no child forgets. The ranch runs educational sessions where kids learn about the conservation of these magnificent predators. From Okapuka, the route heads to Etosha National Park, Namibia's great attraction. What makes Etosha unique for families is its system of floodlit waterholes at the camps. At Okaukuejo, children can sit comfortably on a terrace and watch black rhinos, solitary elephants, giraffes and zebras file past to drink through the night, like a live documentary. No early wake-ups or long car safaris needed: the wildlife comes to you. The next stop is Swakopmund, the picturesque coastal town with German colonial architecture. Here kids enjoy sandboarding on the dunes, a safe, fun activity. Educational Living Desert tours are also organized, where children search for chameleons, harmless snakes, lizards and other small desert creatures. The trip culminates in the NamibRand Nature Reserve, one of the areas with the darkest skies on the planet and a certified Dark Sky Reserve. Sitting together as a family to gaze at the Milky Way, identify constellations and watch shooting stars is the perfect finale to a trip that will spark a lifelong love of nature in the little ones.