Safari Itinerary

Namibia Adventure Safari

Journey Outline

15 Days

Etosha (2 Nights)

- Toshari Lodge
Damaraland (3 Nights)

- Accommodation (Camp)
Swakopmund (2 Nights)

- Villa Margherita
Sossusvlei (3 Nights)

- Desert Hills Lodge
NamibRand (2 Nights)

- Accommodation (Camp)
Windhoek (2 Nights)

- Voigtland Guesthouse

Proposed Itinerary

Day 1

Introduction

Experience the beauty of Namibia on this 15-day, easy self-drive itinerary that includes incredible wildlife encounters and breathtaking scenery for an unforgettable African experience. Visit the wildlife paradise that is the Etosha National Park, hike the ancient rocky plains of the Grootberg Massif and sleep under the stars in the Namib Desert. The itinerary will appeal to the traveller who is prepared to step outside of their comfort zone and combines easy slack-packing with comfortable lodge luxury. Unplug and de-stress. The iconic landscapes of Namibia await to welcome and invigorate you.

Day of Arrival

You will touch down in Namibia at Hosea Kutako International Airport. Welcome, to Namibia! After passing through immigration and collecting your luggage, a driver will meet you as you enter the arrivals hall and transfer you from the airport to the car rental depot in Windhoek. After completing the rental paperwork and checking the car, you are ready to start your Namibian safari adventure. Drive the short distance to your hotel and check-in. Enjoy dinner at the nearby Stellenbosch Restaurant. Overnight at The Windhoek Luxury Suites.

Toyota Fortuner 4x4 (Auto) (14 days)

Includes: Unlimited kilometres; Premium Cover; Cross Border Permits, Contract Fee, Unlimited Additional Drivers, Tyre & Glass Damage, Airport Transfers. GPS, Two Spare tyres.

The Windhoek Luxury Suites (1 night)

With its lush green gardens and lavish designer rooms, Windhoek Luxury Suites offers luxury and tranquillity in the heart of the Namibian capital. Barely a stone’s throw away, our three sister restaurants will wow you with a range of mouthwatering dishes and some of the best fine dining in Windhoek.

Day 2

Windhoek - Etosha

After enjoying a generous breakfast, you are ready to head north to the famous Etosha National Park. Remember to stock up on snacks and water. Today's route follows well-maintained, tar roads and you will travel through the small towns of Okahandja, Otjiwarongo, and Outjo. You will arrive at your lodge on the southern border of the Etosha National Park in the afternoon with enough time for a sundowner drive inside the park. Dinner and overnight at Toshari Lodge.

Toshari Lodge (2 nights)

Nestled on an outcrop of dolomite rocks, under a forest of Mopane and white Seringa trees, Toshari Lodge offers affordable but enchanting accommodation close to Etosha National Park. Absorb the peace and tranquillity of the natural African bush as you stroll through a blend of manicured lawns and rustic bush gardens to your private room. The lodge has its own solar plant which generates 50% of its electricity as well as a vegetable garden that supplies our kitchen. Toshari Lodge is a perfect base for day visits into Etosha National Park, on your own or with our expertly guided tours into the park. The lodge also has a lovely 20 minute walking trail through our Mopane woodland.

Day 3

A Day Exploring Etosha

Namibia's extraordinary animal kingdom reigns supreme in the vastness of the Etosha National Park. Today you explore this incredible wildlife paradise in your vehicle or, if you choose, with a guided game drive. You will need to pay for an entry permit at the park gate. The permit allows you access to the park for the day, and you can enter and exit as many times as you wish. The park's main feature is the enormous, white clay pan, and you are guaranteed to see hundreds of animals move between the many waterholes and natural springs that dot the landscape around the pan. Just sit and wait at one of the waterholes, and the animals will come to you. The best times for game viewing are mornings and afternoons, when the animals are most active. You can choose to have lunch at one of the camps inside the park or picnic at a designated picnic area. Return to your lodge to relax in between your game drives.

Day 4

Travel from Etosha - Etendeka

Leave the white dust of Etosha behind and travel into Damaraland. This part of Namibia's endless gravel plains and ephemeral rivers is home to desert-adapted lions, elephants, rhino and giraffes. Travel through the beautiful landscape, past Twyfelfontein and on to the Grootberg Massif. Keep your eyes peeled for wildlife that blend into their surroundings. Arrive at Palmwag Lodge in the afternoon to join your hiking guide for the next two days on the 400km² Etendeka Concession. All operations on this concession directly benefit the people of the Omatendeka and Anabeb Communal Conservancies. These communities live in remote and isolated areas bordering the concession in the north.

Hike from Palmwag Lodge Pick-up Point - River Camp

Experience the stark beauty of Kaokoveld's wilderness on foot. The Etendeka Overnight Walking Trail Experience is set in the foothills of the Grootberg Massif. It is a unique new offering from the Etendeka Lodge Company and the Etendeka Community Trust (Anabeb and Omatendeka Community Conservancies). This unique guided experience promises to be an authentic and exhilarating engagement with nature. Trek through one of Namibia's most remote and untouched landscapes on foot. Have sundowners as you look out over never-ending vistas of ancient rock formations and sleep under a blanket of stars. On a cloudless night you will be overwhelmed by the spectacular sight of the Milky Way stretching overhead.

Included:
- Breakfast, packed lunch, dinner, afternoon tea and coffee & all local drinks
- Use of day pack, water bottle & walking stick
- “Back-to-basics” hiking experience with knowledgeable guide
- Sleeping under the stars on raised platforms in canvas bed-rolls and 100% cotton linen and down duvets
- Luggage transportation between overnight camps

Etendeka Walking Trails Introduction

Day 6

Etendeka Mountain Camp (1 night)

In the foothills of the Grootberg massif, set amidst magnificent scenery and the ancient Etendeka lavas of northern Damaraland, the ten en-suite Meru tents have been refitted with luxury mattresses and 100% cotton linen. Necessary comforts have not been overlooked with the bathrooms also benefiting from a makeover, while the traditional, open-air bucket shower still holds pride of place. Simple, fresh, wholesome meals are prepared, either in solar ovens or on open fires, and enjoyed under African skies.

Day 7

Travel from Etendeka - Swakopmund

Leave Damaraland behind and travel south to Swakopmund via the Skeleton Coast. You'll arrive in Swakopmund in the late afternoon and check in at your hotel before enjoying a stroll on the promenade to stretch your legs after the day's long journey. Next, enjoy an excellent seafood dinner at one of Swakopmund's popular restaurants before retiring for a good night's rest.

Villa Margherita (2 nights)

Villa Margherita is a small luxury boutique hotel in the heart of Swakopmund consisting of four stylish buildings which are all located close to each other on the same premises. A fusion of contemporary art and historic colonial buildings. Rest assured that you will not find a noisy fridge in your room or a pre-made buffet breakfast, as we serve our breakfasts individually from 7:00 am, with pleasure. Room service is available to our guest’s until 9:00 pm at no extra charge.

Day 8

Sandwich Harbour 4x4 Scenic Excursion

Departing from the Walvisbay Waterfront, we do a short break at the Walvis Bay Lagoon to see masses of flamingos and other coastal birds that reside in and around the lagoon at different times of the year. From here, the drive initially takes us to the Kuiseb river delta, a dry riverbed where we might spot the odd springbok, oryx or jackal. We are the only operator allowed access to this area. If weather and tides allow, we will drive right to the Sandwich Harbour Lagoon along the beach, one of Southern Africa's most unique wetlands. If our vehicles cannot go all along the beach because of high tide, you will get a chance to see the lagoon area from one of our many beautiful lookout spots. You will have time to walk and explore as we'll have lots of time to stop along the way for photography. You may see animals that have adapted to the desert, like the black-backed jackal, the fog-basking beetle, the dancing spider ("white lady of the Namib"), golden mole, shovel-snouted lizard, palmato gecko, springbok, oryx, brown hyena and ostrich. We'll stop on top of a high dune overlooking the Atlantic Ocean to enjoy a selection of snacks, including oysters, sparkling wine, beers and cool drinks. The route homeward takes us over spectacularly high dunes. Guests will experience exhilarating 4x4 driving before arriving back on the beach for a leisurely cruise home to the Walvisbay Yacht Club.

Day 9

Travel from Swakopmund - Sossusvlei

Today you leave the Atlantic waters behind and travel deep into the ancient Namib Desert. You'll drive along gravel roads with dramatic landscapes unfolding around every corner. The rock formations around the Gaub and Kuiseb Canyons are genuinely marvellous. These ephemeral riverbeds were once home to elephants, rhinos and lions. Their petrified footprints are still visible in the clay today - preserved by the shifting sands covering them. The Kuiseb River Valley marks the dividing line between the sandy southern dune area and the vast northern gravel plains. Stop at Solitaire for their famous Apple Pie and to refuel. Arrive at your destination in the late afternoon. Your lodge enjoys stunning views over gravel plains, and the sunsets are spectacular. Relax and enjoy the facilities.

Desert Hills Lodge (2 nights)

A mere 30km from the Naukluft gate on the C19, Desert Hills Lodge is perfectly positioned to discover the beauty of the Namib. The lodge comprises of 18 individual on-suite luxury huts, inspired by the San peoples grass huts of old. Guests can relax around the bar, refresh themselves at the pool or take their meals in the breath-taking restaurant, overlooking the magnificent vastness.

Day 11

Travel from Sossusvlei - NamibRand Nature Reserve

Enjoy a leisurely breakfast before checking out and driving south to the NamibRand Nature Reserve.

Tok Tokkie Trail Introduction

Vast and eternal, but also picturesque and enchanting, NamibRand Nature Reserve embraces its visitor. Tok Tokkie Trails takes you close to the desert’s stunning beauty. Whilst walking, you will discover many secrets of the Namib that cannot be experienced when driving. You will get to feel different aspects of the desert – from mountainous terrain to sandy dunes. Fog-basking Tok Tokkie beetles, barking geckos, dancing spiders, bat-eared foxes, and many more - the desert is not deserted at all. Let your guide introduce you to this world, relax with a sundowner and enjoy a three-course dinner before falling asleep under the stars...

Hike from Base - Camp 1 with Lunch + Dinner (1 day)

Day 13

Travel from NamibRand - We Kebi

Enjoy your last morning of hiking on NamibRand. If your legs are feeling a bit tired, don't worry. You only need to drive the short distance to We Kebi Safari Lodge. Enjoy a nice hot shower before another beautiful sundowner and a delicious dinner. We promise you'll sleep like a baby tonight.

We Kebi Safari Lodge (1 night)

In the almost forgotten tongue of the San Bushmen, We Kebi means invitation. We invite our guests is to enjoy luxurious accommodation in an authentic African setting. Each of our 14 free-standing en-suite thatched chalets has its own terrace and a 180-degree uninterrupted view of the surrounding landscape. End your day of excursions and activities by enjoying a drink in our lounge area or by cooling off in our crystal clear pool.

Day 14

Travel from We Kebi - Windhoek

Today you turn north for the last leg of your adventure. Your last night in Namibia will be spent at the charming Voigtland Guest Farm, a short distance outside Windhoek. Return your rental vehicle before being transferred to Voigtland for a leisurely afternoon and delicious three-course dinner.

Voigtland (1 night)

Voigtland Guesthouse is delightfully different and combines an atmosphere of old-world charm with a unique modern style. Originally built around 1900, the house is set on the slopes of a hill in a generous landscape of trees, lawns and gardens. Spacious living and dining rooms reflect the history of the house. Appetising breakfasts, delicious light lunches and dinners are freshly prepared.

Day 15

Day of Departure

Enjoy a lovely breakfast and, depending on the time of your flight, you may have time to relax or explore some more. You will be transferred to the airport in time for check-in. We know you'll leave a piece of your heart in Namibia and look forward to welcoming you back soon.