World-Exclusive Safari with GPS Tagging of Giraffes
Namibia: Giraffe Conservation Safari
Overview
Join field conservationists and vets from the Giraffe Conservation Foundation and work alongside them for the thrilling experience of tracking and attaching GPS tags to giraffes in the wild—be prepared to be awed! We have two tagging days with the GCF staff and pioneering conservation scientist Dr. Julian Fennessy for an adventure in a unique country that is one of Africa's greatest wildlife conservation stories. Encounters with the giraffe will be unforgettable, but we'll also radio-track leopard at famed AfriCat, track desert-dwelling black rhino with rangers at the Save the Rhino Trust, and meet the nomadic Himba people of the remote Kaokoveld.
Arrive: Windhoek, Namibia
Depart: Windhoek, Namibia
Highlights
- Just 6 participants—and led by Jason Nott, one of Namibia's most respected safari guides
- Hands-on participation in GPS tagging of giraffe with Dr. Julian Fennessy—an incredible experience!
- Track leopard at AfriCat, track endangered rhino in Damaraland with the Save the Rhino Trust
- Stay in gorgeous game lodges and wonderfully remote camps
Itinerary
We head out for Okonjima, home of AfriCat, the world's largest center for the rehabilitation of Africa's big cats, where we can radio-track leopards as they roam the Okonjima Nature Reserve.
In our “under canvas” camp in wild Damaraland, we search for rare desert-adapted wildlife, including black rhinos. WT supports the anti-poaching work of the Save the Rhino Trust—Namibia now has the only growing black rhino population in Africa.
We'll feel like we're on another planet amid the sand dunes and towering mountains of theKaokoveld in northwest Namibia. From our mobile camp, we look for desert-adapted wildlife, meet the nomadic Himba, and learn about Namibia's conservation practices on communal land.
We have the extraordinary—and world exclusive—opportunity to be part of a GPS team tagging giraffe in the wild. We’ll work alongside them, assisting with tagging and learning about giraffe ecology with Dr. Fennessy and his team. Our camp, Onduli Ridge, exudes character, with beds you can roll onto your private deck for a night under a billion stars.
We head back from the wilds to Windhoek and depart on Day 13.
Accommodations
Scroll through our signature accommodations for this trip below. Although it is highly unlikely, we may make substitutions when necessary.
What the Trip is Like
The trip is Level 3, Moderate, according to our trip grading system. This is a camping and lodge safari with game viewing by 4WD vehicle, nature walks, and long driving days. There will be some sections of walking through sand dunes or on rough, hilly terrain with loose scree. Although this is not a particularly rigorous trip, we still recommend you undertake a preparatory program of physical conditioning. Daily walking or regular hiking, jogging, and stair-climbing are excellent preparatory exercises. Any African safari is an adventure, and the traveler should bring along flexibility, a sense of humor, curiosity about new peoples and places, and an openness to the unexpected.
Review Trip Level Details
Namibia has a typical desert climate: hot in the day, and cool at night, mostly sunny and dry. Between November and April, daytime temperatures can be in the low 90s, with night temperatures dropping to the 50s. Between May and October, daytime temperatures generally reach the mid-70s and can drop to as low as 40 at night. The coastal region is cool and dry throughout the year.
Our accommodations are in hotels (2 nights), superb permanent camps (8 nights), and in one expedition mobile camp (3 nights), which offers incredible access to the giraffe habitat and has basic domed tents outfitted with cots, linens, en suite bathroom facilities, a shade canopy, and chairs. Meals are prepared over open fires by our camp crew at the mobile expedition camp and served at a dining table with comfortable canvas-backed chairs.
While on safari, most breakfasts and evening meals will be taken at the lodge or camp you are staying at. Lunches while traveling between destinations will be served picnic-style en route or at a café or restaurant if there is not a suitable picnic site. Bottled water, soft drinks, juice, house wine, and beer are included throughout the trip. All vehicles are equipped with a fridge or cool box stocked with bottled water. Tea and coffee are offered at most accommodations free of charge with meals and at afternoon tea time.
Due to Namibia's vast distances, an integral part of any Namibia safari is driving, and this is part of the adventure. The Trip Leader will make the road journeys very interesting and point out many highlights en route. While the driving times may appear long, there is a lot to see and the scenery is dramatic and beautiful. The road journeys are essentially game drives since Namibia's wildlife isn't restricted to parks. Our vehicles are very comfortable and have supplies for tea, picnic lunches, etc.
Client Testimonials
"As a first-time, unique, conservation-oriented trip it was impressive! Julian Fennessy and the GCF team went overboard in their interaction with us—before, during, and after the field work. We never felt we were intruding or hindering them. This positive interaction was a true highlight of the trip."
David and Audrey N.
Albuquerque, NM
"The concept of a conservation safari is excellent. The small group was cohesive, and the opportunities to see wildlife and interact with people who are committed to preserving it were wonderful."
Doug Y.
Oakland, CA
"This trip far exceeded our expectations, largely due to Jason’s leadership, passion for his country and its wild places, and intimate knowledge and participation in conservation projects around the country."
Heather L.
South San Francisco, CA
"This trip was absolutely exceptional from start to finish. The logistics were seamless, the itinerary was perfectly paced, and every detail was handled with care. The combination of wildlife encounters, conservation activities, and cultural experiences made it both meaningful and exciting. Truly an unforgettable journey that exceeded expectations."
McKenna F.
Cordova, TN
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Itinerary
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Trip Levels
With more than 200 different adventures to choose from, we want to help you find the trip that’s right for you. Our Trip Level system ranks each trip in two ways: a number rating from 1 to 6 according to the activity, and general travel rigors. 1 is the easiest and 6+ the most difficult.