Highlights of this Namibian guided adventure include exploring the world-famous sand dunes in the Namib Desert, visiting seal colonies on the Skeleton Coast, searching for desert-dwelling elephants in Damaraland, and getting up close and personal with big cats at the AfriCat Foundation at Okonjima.
Upon arrival, you will be met by your driver and transferred to your lovely accommodation in the center of Windhoek. We’ll spend the rest of the day exploring Namibia’s capital city with a guided tour of the city. Overnight at Am Weinberg Boutique Hotel.
After breakfast, you’ll leave Windhoek and drive to Sossusvlei in the Namib Desert in the southwest of the country. You’ll stay in Sossusvlei for the next two nights and you’ll have time to explore the iconic towering sand dunes, as well as other incredible geographical formations of the region, such as Sesriem Canyon. Overnight at Little Kulala.
We wake up early to climb the iconic dunes at sunrise, or if you prefer you can soar above this breathtaking landscape in a hot air balloon (not included). Other activities you can enjoy today include a nature drive to spot the desert-adapted wildlife, a dune walk or an eco-sensitive guided quad bike excursion, sand boarding and horse riding. In the evening you can enjoy a gin and tonic on a sundowner tour, or after dark, you can join a stargazing excursion with our knowledgeable guide. Overnight at Little Kulala.
This morning you’ll leave the Namib Desert and you’ll drive north through beautiful canyons and striking scenery as you head towards the lovely town of Swakopmund on the Skeleton Coast. Walvis Bay is a stunning spot just outside Swakopmund. Sheltered by the Pelican Point sand spit, Walvis Bay’s tidal lagoon is home to abundant birdlife, including flamingos and pelicans. Swakopmund itself is a former colonial town famous for its German architecture and culture - many residents speak German and there's even an Oktoberfest beer festival. It is an ideal place to spend a couple of days between visiting the dunes of Sossusvlei and exploring the attractions of northern Namibia. Overnight at the Strand Hotel.
Today you’ll have a full day to explore Swakopmund and the surrounding area. You can search for Cape Fur seals and dolphins off Pelican Point on a boat cruise or guided kayaking trip, join a bird watching excursion or a living desert tour, or you may wish to visit the Swakopmund Lighthouse, the Swakopmund Museum and Sandwich Harbour. These activites can be added into your tailor made tour for an extra cost. Just outside Swakopmund several sand dunes have been set aside for adventure activities, including sand boarding, quad biking, camel riding and off-road driving.
This morning we will resume your Namibian road trip and head further north up the Skeleton Coast to Damaraland. En route we recommend that you stop at Henties Bay to see the Cape Cross seal colony and we’ll visit the shipwreck of MS Winston at Durissa Bay. On arrival, you’ll settle into your accommodation and you can spend the afternoon relaxing at your lodge, or if you wish you can take a walk in the surrounding area, stopping at viewpoints to marvel at the beautiful Damaraland landscape.
There are also options for you to take an elephant nature drive in search of Namibia's desert-dwelling elephant, or you may wish to join the Twyfelfontein, Burnt Mountain and Organ Pipes excursion to see the rock engravings at the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Twyfelfontein. Overnight at Mowani Mountain Camp.
After breakfast, we’ll drive east towards Etosha National Park. Etosha offers fantastic wildlife viewing opportunities, particularly around the waterholes. You can expect to see elephant, giraffe, lion, leopard, zebra, springbok and gemsbok and it’s also one of the best places in Southern Africa to see the endangered cheetah, black rhino and rare antelope species such as black-faced impala, Damara dik-dik and roan antelope. We offer a choice of superb lodges, both in the park and on its borders. Overnight at Ongava Tented Camp.
Today you’ll have a full day to explore Etosha National Park. This means we can take our time visiting the many different waterholes such as Halali, Okondeka, and Okaukuejo, where large concentrations of wildlife congregate with your knowledgeable guide. Almost a quarter of Etosha consists of salt pans, including the Etosha Pan which is undoubtedly the park’s most distinctive and dramatic feature. The Etosha Pan is the only known mass breeding ground for flamingos in Namibia and at times there can be up to a million flamingos here. Overnight at Ongava Tented Camp.
This morning you’ll leave Etosha and head south to the Okonjima Nature Reserve which is home of the famous Africat Foundation - an education and research facility dedicated to the rehabilitation of Namibia's big cats, particularly cheetah and leopard. During your time here you’ll have an opportunity to observe and learn about Africat’s conservation work. Depending on your interests you can also go mountain biking or hike up the mountains to watch the sunrise, join a bird- watching excursion to spot some of the 250+ species of birdlife in the area, enjoy a nocturnal game drive, or you can experience a day in the life of a San Bushman on a bushman trail. Overnight at Okonjima Bush Camp.
Following your breakfast at your hotel, you’ll drive back to Windhoek which should take approximately 3 hours. On arrival, you’ll have time to get some lunch, before heading to the airport to catch your international flight home.
