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www.familiesworldwide.co.uk Feel the sand between your toes, in your hair, up your nose… Climbing the world’s highest dune may sound tough, but rolling back down is kids stuff! Take the family to Namibia, a real adventure playground and top safari destination.
See ‘big cats’ up-close, camp in the desert, visit a fascinating tribal village and meet the Himba people, learning about their simple ways of farming - families will get to meet the goats (and their kids!) and other livestock during an action-packed 15-day safari with Families Worldwide, departing London on selected dates coinciding with school holidays in March, July, August and December 07.
Whilst the main wildlife focus will be Etosha National Park, the first ‘big cat’ encounters are experienced at Africat Foundation at Okonjima. The Foundation was set up to protect Cheetahs and other big cats, and during their visit Families Worldwide get to meet the inhabitants up-close.
Next, more big game in Etosha National Park, one of the world’s premier wildlife destination. Guests are based at Okaukuejo, Etosha’s longest established camp, famous for its floodlit waterhole frequented by Black Rhino, Elephant, Lion and numerous antelope species.
With special permission, Families Worldwide get to enter the restricted ‘West Etosha’ zone, a huge area of the park set aside for wildlife research and to allow the animals to breed without the intrusion of game drive vehicles. Keep an eye out for Elephant and Hartmann’s Mountain Zebra, a different species of ‘stripey donkey’ that usually shies away from the main tourist areas of Etosha.
Exit the park and head south to Oase Himba village for a fascinating visit with the local Himba tribespeople. Learn about marriage customs, traditional food, medicine and the mysterious ‘Holy Fire’ of their ancient religion. Further highlights en route through Damaraland to Swakopmund and the Skeleton Coast include ancient Bushman rock engravings at Twyfelfontein, Namibia’s highest mountain, the Brandberg (2573m), the world-famous ‘White Lady’ rock painting and the seal colony at Cape Cross.
Swakopmund is a pretty seaside town from where various optional activities, including quad biking and sand boarding in the dunes, may be arranged. ‘Slugabeds’ are warned that a pre-dawn start is necessary to catch the sunrise over Sossusvlei’s dunes and to climb famous Dune 45. | 
