Highlights Namibia

These safaris are very easy to extend either with a few days at the beginning or at the end. Traveling in Namibia by rental car means enjoying absolute freedom. Experience a country full of contrasts at your own pace. We have pre-booked rooms for certain months (see dates below). But you can also plan your own period.

Highlights:  Windhoek,. Kalahari Desert, Fish River Canyon, Lüderitz Bay, Kolmanskop, Sossusvlei + Sesriem Canyon + Deadvlei (Unesco World Heritage Site), Swakopmund, Twyfelfontein (Unesco World Heritage Site), desert-adapted elephants, Etosha National Park – diversity of wildlife in the wild, changing landscapes, encounters with Bushmen.

INFORMATION

BB= Overnight stay | Breakfast
DBB= Dinner | Overnight stay | Breakfast
FB= Lunch or lunch packages | Dinner | Overnight stay | Breakfast and activities

Overnight: Hotel in Windhoek (Bed & Breakfast)

Arrival in Windhoek at the Hosea Kutako International Airport. After completing your vehicle rental formalities your journey can commence with the drive through to Windhoek town (approximately 30 minutes drive) to your hotel.
For your first and last evening in Windhoek we recommend that you book the desired restaurant in advance. We can gladly assist with recommendations as well as the table reservations.
Optional Activities: Guided Katutura Township Tour, Sight-seeing in Windhoek (can also be undertaken in own arrangement).

Overnight: Lodge in the Kalahari Desert (Dinner, Bed & Breakfast)

After breakfast your Namibia safari can start with the drive south into the Kalahari Desert.
Behind the Auas mountains, the vast expanse of the country opens up like a picture book. On the way you will discover large sociable weaver nests in ancient camel thorn acacias. As you approach the lodge, the endless dunes stretch linearly across the Kalahari Desert. Oryx, springbok and other smaller mammals avail themselves for wonderful animal motifs, in the backdrop of the red dune sands. The Kalahari (also Kgalagadi) is a thorn bush savannah, partially also a dry savannah, but is sometimes referred to as a desert because of the prevailing red sands.
Upon arrival at the lodge, you will can spend some time to relax and unwind. Optional Activities on offer here are: An afternoon guided scenic drive in the red Kalahari dunes with a sundowner. This activity is offered in an open and comfortable off-road vehicle. The guide will share his knowledge and passion for this area. This is a tour to get to know the Kalahari with its unforgettable landscapes, fauna and flora. Alternatively, you can also explore the Kalahari on foot, a map for walking trails is available at the reception.

Overnight: Lodge on the rim of the Fish River Canyon (Dinner, Bed & Breakfast)

Before breakfast you can opt to visit a traditional bushman village with a guide. Here you will get to know the way of life and some wisdom of the ancient San tribe.
Thereafter you continue in a southerly direction through the contrasting desert environment. The journey takes you past the Quiver Tree Forest near the town of Keetmannshoop. Gazing out over this harsh and unforgiving landscape, it is hard to imagine that you are standing at the foot of an ancient lake. True to Namibia, this is a place of contrast and diversity, with the earth’s history clearly evident in the beautiful rock formations here.
En-route to the Fish River Canyon, you can consider stopping at the Naute Damm. The “Naute Dam” was created to supply water to surrounding towns, and to irrigate the orchards that were established in its vicinity. Table grapes, dates, prickly pears, monkey oranges and pomegranates now thrive on what was once 200 hectares of barren land. In addition to table fruit, the orchards already produce more than 50 tons of fruit each year that cannot be sold seeing that it spoils easily and quickly without refrigeration, is now distilled. This is the background of the project “Naute Dam Distillery”. The distilled fruit are to be marketed exclusively in Namibia in the local lodges, hotels, restaurants and souvenir shops. Your lodge is not far from the mighty and dramatic Fish River Canyon landscapes.

Overnight: Lodge on the rim of the Fish River Canyon (Dinner, Bed & Breakfast)

At 650 kilometres the Fish River is the longest river in Namibia. A very, very long time ago, the Fish River left the Naukluft mountains attempting to find its way to the Orange River, in the south of the country. But mountains blocked its flow and so the largest canyon in Africa was formed. It took 120 million years of meticulous work for the creation of the Fish River Canyon. It is a vast labyrinth, in which temperatures of 50 degrees in the summer months are considered quite normal.
Optional: Today you should consider a guided tour of the Canyon in a lodge vehicle.

Overnight: Lodge in the vicinity of Aus (Dinner, Bed & Breakfast)

You continue your journey further into the Namib Desert today, to the small town of Aus.
Admittedly, a trip to the “Friedrich” mountain, or the “Kempinski mountain” and even the 2,484 meter high “Moltkeblick”, all sound like very unusual destinations, as these landmarks all carry German names. Nevertheless, you are still in Namibia.
The lodge is situated at about 1,400 meters above sea level, on the fringes of the Aus mountains. A place that invites travellers to relax and enjoy the solitude. The silence, endless landscapes, a fantastic view from the Aus mountains, all contribute to a memorable stay here.

Overnight: Lodge in the vicinity of Aus (Dinner, Bed & Breakfast)

You can choose to arrange your sight-seeing programme according to your own wishes and interests today.
We recommend that you take a drive to Lüderitz in the morning, and visit the ghost town of Kolmanskop. In 1908, by chance, the first diamond was found here. The boom that was triggered by this event, resulted in the rapid growth of this settlement, on the northern border of the now diamond restricted area. It was initially only intended as a diamond prospector camp. The wealth of the residents was based on the diamond discovery. This gave rise to Kolmanskuppe or also known as Kolmanskop. Over the decades, however, the desert took back what man had wrestled from it. The houses fell into disrepair and the sand started piling up meters high in the ruins. The interior was partially destroyed or removed. Kolmanskuppe eventually finally became a ghost town.
Continue to the small harbour town of Lüderitz. Just 20,000 people live here. At first glance, the town conveys an extremely bizarre sight to its visitors. On the one side you have the cold Atlantic Ocean, and on the opposite side the desert is visible. In the midst of these two contrasts, a small town was built on the bare rocks. The symbol of the town is the church that was built in 1911 on the highest point of a rock.
On the way back to Aus you might spot the wild horses of the Namib at the Garub waterhole.

Overnight: Lodge in the vicinity of Sossusvlei (Dinner, Bed & Breakfast)

Today your journey takes you through one of the most spectacular and scenic landscapes of Namibia, through the southern Namib Desert. Like a chain of islands, the rough Tiras mountains rise out of the endless expanses of the desert vistas and yellow grassy plains. In the afternoon you will reach your lodge which is situated near the entrance gate of the Sesriem National Park.

Overnight: Camp in the vicinity of Sossusvlei (Dinner, Bed & Breakfast)

Just before sunrise this morning we recommend that you drive into the Sesriem Park, because a dune landscape in the morning light of the rising sun offers an unforgettable dramatic landscape, and photographic opportunities. For many years, the sporadically flowing water of the Tsauchab dry river, has been fighting its way through the ever-expanding dune landscape of the Namib Desert.  However, this river will never be able to reach the sea, but instead it seeps away in natural dams, or “vleis”, made by the surrounding dunes. The Sossusvlei for instance, is surrounded by some of the highest dunes in the world, which can drain the last strength out of your legs, when you climb them.  But once at the top, you will be rewarded with a fantastic view.  Dune 45 is the most popular dune to climb here.  Upon your return, you can also pay the smaller Sesriem Canyon a visit.

Overnight: Lodge in the Namib Desert (Dinner, Bed & Breakfast)

Continue your journey via Solitaire and through the enchanting landscapes of the Namib Desert today. The first thing that strikes the visitor when entering Solitaire is the many old timer car wrecks which are picturesquely draped along the roadside. As you continue from here, the gravel plains of the Namib spread out before you. Here and there a mountain can be seen on the flickering horizon. Today’s drive is not too far, as the next lodge is located halfway between Sesriem and Swakopmund, in the middle of the Namib Desert. Here you can relax and also go hiking in the area, as there are a number of hiking trails here.

Overnight: Hotel in Swakopmund (Bed & Breakfast)

After breakfast you drive via Walvis Bay to Swakopmund. The long winding gravel roads are occasionally decorated by small dust plumes. You are surrounded by breath-taking views and the most beautiful landscapes of the Namib desert. You drive takes you through granitic sculptured landscapes, ancient erosion valleys and crosses not only dry rivers, but also the Tropic of Capricorn. Midday arrival in the coastal town of Swakopmund.
Optional activities: quad biking, camel rides, visit to the museum, aquarium, crystal gallery, horseback safari, and scenic flights over the Skeleton Coast or Sossusvlei.

Overnight: Hotel in Swakopmund (Bed & Breakfast)

This morning you can consider to optionally partake in a variety of activities on offer here. We recommend either a catamaran Marine Cruise on the Walvis Bay Lagoon, or a half-day Living Desert Tour.
Catamaran Marine Cruise: Between Walvis Bay and Swakopmund, on the rough Atlantic coast, you will experience the unique nature and wildlife of the Walvis Bay lagoon on board a spacious and comfortable catamaran. The four-hour cruise goes from the harbour port via the Walvis Bayer oyster banks to Pelican Point, which is home to a large colony of fur seals. The tour offers many highlights. Among other things, pelicans are hand-fed in flight. You will learn a lot of interesting things about these and other marine animals. At the end of the cruise you are offered snack platters with fresh oysters and sparkling wine.
The Desert Tour, also called the Living Desert Tour, is a unique experience in 4×4 vehicles intended to introduce the visitor to the impressive beauty of the Namib Desert and to showcase life in the desert. The coastal dune belt, which may appear barren and lifeless to some, is home to a fascinating variety of small animals that have adapted to the desert. They survive thanks to the fog that regularly rolls in from the cold Atlantic Ocean.
Admire the “Dancing White Lady”, a spider that cartwheels down the dunes at 44 revolutions per second to escape any enemy. Admire the transparent desert gecko with webbed feet that look like snowshoes. Learn about the different bugs and insects and how these manage to survive in the desert. A unique opportunity to experience the desert up close.

Overnight: Lodge in the Twyfelfontein area (Dinner, Bed & Breakfast)

Continue further north today via the salt road towards Henties Bay, and onwards via Uis into the picturesque Damaraland.

Both regions in the northwest are characterized by lonely stretches and barren desert landscapes, which are repeatedly interrupted by green oases and are home to the famous desert adapted elephants.

You will reach the lodge in the early afternoon. The Damaraland offers a wealth of geological and archaeological highlights. The area is named after the Damara people and is home to Namibia’s highest mountain, the Brandberg, and Twyfelfontein, where some of the best preserved San rock engravings can be found.  This is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Overnight: Lodge on the Grootberg Plateau (Dinner, Bed & Breakfast)

This morning you can explore the rock engravings at Twyfelfontein, in own arrangement. The Twyfelfontein area is famous for some of the finest Bushman rock engravings in southern Africa. Interesting rock formations and the remains of prehistoric volcanic activity include the Organ Pipes, Burnt Mountain, Doros Crater and the Petrified Forest.
Thereafter the journey continues to the Grootberg plateau, where you will spend the next two nights in this pristine landscape. Optionally you can partake in a sundowner tour on the Grootberg plateau in the afternoon.

Overnight: Lodge on the Grootberg Plateau (Dinner, Bed & Breakfast)

Optional: Today we recommend that you join a guided rhino tracking activity, or you can also consider a desert elephant tour with the lodge.  Around the lodge there are also numerous walking trails, and guided walks in this scenic area are a further optional activity.

Overnight:  Lodge in the vicinity of the Etosha National Park (Dinner, Bed & Breakfast)

Today after breakfast your journey takes you further north-east. Here, in the immediate vicinity of the world famous Etosha National Park, your lodge is situated on a hilltop with scenic views onto the surrounding savannah landscapes.

Overnight: Lodge in the vicinity of the Etosha National Park (Dinner, Bed & Breakfast)

Today you can explore the Etosha National Park in your own vehicle, on a full day game drive.  Immediately after entering the park you will have the opportunity to see a variety of wildlife in its natural habitat. The Etosha National Park has a biodiversity that can hardly be surpassed. A variety of animals gather at the various waterholes, which offers spectacular opportunities for game viewing.  Each individual waterhole has a unique character. For example, the Okondeka waterhole is one of the best for spotting lions. Very often the predator can be seen here with prey. The waterhole is a natural spring and is located just north of Okaukuejo, on the western edge of the pan.  In the late afternoon you return to your lodge outside the park. 

Overnight: Hotel in Windhoek (Bed & Breakfast)

Today you start your return journey to Windhoek.  On the way to the capital, it is worthwhile stopping at Namibia’s largest wood carving market in Okahandja, where you can purchase hand-carved souvenirs, basketry or jewellery. Then continue to Windhoek, where you will arrive during the course of the afternoon.

Return flight to Germany

You can spend the morning at leisure in Windhoek. Within walking-distance you have opportunity to purchase some last souvenirs, if you wish.   Recommended shops are Bushmen Art Souvenirs, Ernst Holz, and also the Craft Centre in the centre of town, to mention but a few.

Return your rented vehicle at Hosea Kutako Airport, prior to checking in for your return flight home.