NAMIBIA - EXPLORER - 12 DAYS
Embark on a 12-Day Namibian Odyssey: A Journey Through Timeless Landscapes
Imagine yourself traversing the ancient sands of the Namib Desert, where time seems to stand still. Or perhaps you dream of encountering majestic wildlife in the heart of Etosha National Park. This 12-day adventure is your passport to these wonders and more.
Your journey begins in the vibrant capital city of Windhoek, where you’ll meet your expert guide, who will accompany you throughout your exploration. From here, you’ll venture into the ethereal Namib Desert, a place of stark beauty and otherworldly landscapes. Witness the spiritual atmosphere of Deadvlei, a haunting expanse of skeletal trees against a backdrop of towering dunes.
Next, you experience the wonder of witnessing where the Atlantic Ocean meets the dunes of the Namib Desert. After rejuvenating in the cool sea air, you travel inland to the fascinating Erongo Mountains, where ancient granite boulders rise from the otherwise flat gravel plains. Travel deeper into the dramatic volcanic landscapes of Damaraland, home to the elusive desert-adapted wildlife, including the rare black rhino and visit the Unesco World Heritage Site at Twyfelfontein, where one of the world’s oldest outdoor rock art galleries wait to fascinate you.
The heart of your adventure lies in Etosha National Park, a wildlife haven teeming with diverse species. Embark on thrilling game drives, tracking elephants, lions, and rhinos as they gather at waterholes. Witness the breathtaking beauty of the Etosha Pan, a vast, shimmering expanse that transforms into a vibrant oasis after the rains.
To conclude your extraordinary journey, you’ll retreat to a private wildlife reserve, where you can immerse yourself in the tranquillity of nature and witness wildlife in its purest form. As your adventure draws to a close, you’ll return to Windhoek carrying unforgettable memories of a land of breathtaking beauty and incredible wildlife.
Throughout the itinerary, you’ll enjoy comfortable accommodations tailored to your budget and preferences, engaging guided activities, and the flexibility to choose between self-drive or private guided options. Whether you prefer to follow or reverse the suggested route, this itinerary promises an unforgettable exploration of Namibia’s wonders, blending landscapes, wildlife, and cultural encounters for a truly immersive experience.
ITINERARY DAY-TO-DAY
Day 1
.Arrival – Windhoek
Welcome to Namibia! A driver will meet you at the airport and transfer you from the airport building to the car rental depot, where you will complete the required paperwork and collect your rental car. Drive a short distance to your hotel, where you can drop your luggage and freshen up before joining a local guide for a walking tour of Windhoek, Namibia’s capital city.
Overnight at The Windhoek Gardens Boutique Hotel or similar.
Day 2
Windhoek – Sesriem
Breakfast. Travel from Windhoek to Sesriem via the Spreetshoogte Pass and Solitaire. There will be ample opportunities to capture beautiful photos along the way. Arrive at your lodge in time for lunch. After lunch, there is time to relax and enjoy the sundowner’s views of the desert landscape before you join a guide for a quad bike excursion to explore and admire the desert landscape. Return to the lodge for dinner. Travel time from Windhoek to Sesriem is approximately 4h30, not including stops.
Overnight at Le Mirage Lodge or similar.
Day 3
A Day Exploring the Sossusvlei Area
This morning is an early start to grab a snack before departing the lodge for Sossusvlei. The route through the dunes is a well-maintained tar road, except for the last few kilometres of sandy tracks. Sossusvlei will be on your right, and the parking and route to Deadvlei will be on your left. If you’re feeling energetic, climb up the crest of Big Daddy Dune. The panoramic views over the sand sea are spectacular. Return to the lodge for lunch and to rest while the day is hottest. Later this afternoon, you drive to the nearby Sesriem Canyon. As you walk down into the canyon carved into the riverbed by the water of the ephemeral Tsauchab River, you’ll marvel at the layers of sediment that clearly show the passage of time over millions of years. Return to your lodge for a beautiful sundowner. Dinner is included at the lodge.
Overnight at Le Mirage Lodge or similar.
Day 4
Sesriem – Swakopmund
Breakfast. Travel through the Namib landscapes from Sesriem to Swakopmund. Stop at Solitaire for their famous apple pie, coffee, or tea before continuing northwest towards the Atlantic Ocean. The route crosses the Tropic of Capricorn and continues through the Gaub and Kuiseb canyons that cut through the Namib gravel plains. There will be opportunities for photo stops at lookout points en route. Arrive in Swakopmund in the afternoon and stroll through this lovely, small town or relax before choosing a restaurant for dinner. Travel time from Sesriem to Swakopmund is approximately 4h30, not including stops.
Overnight at Fritz Manor or similar.
Day 5
A Day on the Namibian Coast
Breakfast. Drive the short distance, along the coast, to Walvisbay and check in at the Waterfront for a day full of adventures. The day starts with a cruise in the Walvis Bay Harbour, where you’ll spot seals, dolphins, pelicans and flamingos. If you’re fortunate, you might spot whales and sunfish.
On your return to the Waterfront, you will meet your guide and embark on an epic 4×4 adventure through the dunes of the Namib Naukluft Park to Sandwich Harbour. The route to Sandwich Harbour depends on the tides. It may run along the beach, past the Lange Wand, before you head through the dune belt to a scenic lookout point from where you can see the whole Sandwich Harbour estuary.
Your guide is very experienced, and although you’ll want to hold your breath at some of the steep dune descents, you are in skilful hands. A light lunch platter is served in the dunes with various “finger” foods, i.e., spring rolls, crostinis, calamari sticks, chicken wings, and snacks like droёwors, chips, cookies with sparkling wine, beer, coke, and water.
Return to Swakopmund after your activity. Freshen up before choosing a restaurant for dinner. The cruise and dune trip will take the entire day. Travel time between Swakopmund and Walvisbay is approximately 0h40.
Overnight at Fritz Manor or similar.
Day 6
Swakopmund – Erongo Mountains
Breakfast. Travel from Swakopmund to the beautiful Erongo Mountains. Arrive at Ai Aiba Lodge and check in. Relax before you join a guide from the lodge for a guided sundowner walk exploring the striking granite hulk of the Erongo Mountains, rising dramatically from the otherwise flat surroundings. You’ll have plenty of time to enjoy the beauty of your surroundings. Dinner is included at the lodge. Travel time between Swakopmund and the Erongos is approximately two hours, not including stops.
Overnight at Ai Aiba Lodge or similar.
Day 7
Erongos – Twyfelfontein
Breakfast. Enjoy an optional early morning hike before you travel north to Twyfelfontein via Uis. You’ll arrive at your next destination in time for lunch. After lunch, you have time to rest before joining a guide for the afternoon scenic drive through the dry riverbeds of the Huab and Aba Huab rivers. These riverbeds are home to a surprising variety of wildlife, including small herds of desert-adapted elephants, giraffes, lions, and the occasional zebra and other antelope. The drive includes a stop to enjoy a beautiful sundowner with cold drinks before you return to the lodge for dinner. Listen to the melodies of a choir of Barking Geckos calling for a mate across the sandy river valley. Travel time from the Erongos to Twyfelfontein is approximately 3h30, excluding stops.
Overnight at Twyfelfontein Country Lodge or similar.
Day 8
Twyfelfontein – Etosha
Breakfast. Check out and drive to the nearby UNESCO World Heritage Site at Twyfelfontein. The Twyfelfontein UNESCO World Heritage Site is small (less than 1 km2). It includes some great galleries of rock engravings (petroglyphs) depicting an extraordinary diversity of wild animals – rhino, elephant, giraffe, oryx, ostrich, flamingo, zebra and many more – and footprints. The engravings are often superimposed on one another. They are engraved on the massive rock faces of free-standing boulders in completely exposed positions. The art was probably made for 2,000 years by local San hunter-gatherer peoples and offers an insight into San ritual and belief systems. After your visit, continue to your lodge close to the Anderson Gate of the Etosha National Park. If time permits, you can enjoy a game drive in the park in the late afternoon. Dinner is included at the lodge.
Overnight at Etosha Safari Lodge or similar.
Day 9
A Day Exploring Etosha
Breakfast and check-out. Today, you will explore Etosha National Park at your leisure. Spend the day visiting the waterholes and springs that dot the salt pan’s edge and enjoy this great park’s landscape and animals. The animals gather at these water sources during the dry season. Etosha is famous for mammal herds numbering into the hundreds. Take a lunch break during the hottest part of the day when the animals seek shade and become more challenging to spot. Return to the park for more game viewing in the afternoon. This evening, you will stay inside the park’s boundary at Okaukuejo Camp. The camp is famous for its excellent waterhole, always busy with animal activity. Rhinos are frequent visitors at night. Dinner is included at the camp.
Overnight at Okaukuejo Resort or similar.
Day 10
A Day in Etosha
Spend another day exploring the Etosha National Park. You travel through the middle of the park. Eventually, you exit the park through the Von Lindequist gate and soon arrive at your lodge for this evening. After a full day of game viewing, a cool drink and the peaceful safari atmosphere of the lodge will be the perfect way to revisit the highlights of your day. Dinner is included at the lodge.
Overnight at Mushara Lodge or similar.
Day 11
Etosha – Mount Etjo
Breakfast. Leave the white clay dust of Etosha behind and travel south to the Okonjati Private Reserve near Namibia’s Waterberg. Your route travels via the small towns of Tsumeb, Otavi and Ojtiwarongo before you arrive at Mount Etjo Safari Lodge. After an afternoon rest, join a local guide from Mount Etjo for an afternoon drive on the reserve, where you can enjoy the many animals that live here. The Mount Etjo waterhole is in front of the lodge and is a beautiful place to sit and watch the animal activity. Dinner is included at the lodge. The travel distance between Etosha and Mount Etjo is roughly 3h30, excluding stops.
Overnight at Mount Etjo Safari Lodge or similar.
Day 12
Etjo – Windhoek – Departure
Enjoy your last breakfast in the African bush before you start your journey south to Windhoek. You‘ll arrive in Windhoek in time for lunch. Pay a visit to the Namibia Craft Centre for a light lunch and souvenir shopping before returning your rental car and transferring to the airport to check in for your onward flight. Travel time between Mount Etjo and Windhoek is approximately three hours, excluding stops.
