Highlights: Windhoek, Kalahari Desert, Sossusvlei, Deadvlei & Sesriem, Namib Desert, Swakopmund, Twyfelfontein (Damaraland), desert elephants, Epupa, Kunene, Etosha National Park, private game reserve, wonderful landscapes, lots of animals, hiking opportunities, encounters with Bushmen, Himba and Ovambo.

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)

Arrive in Windhoek and pick up your rental car. Approx. 30 minutes drive to your accommodation in Windhoek.

For the first and last evening in Windhoek you should book the desired restaurant in advance. We will be happy to make the table reservation for you.

Optional: Guided Katutura tour, city tour (also on your own).

Overnight stay: Lodge in the Kalahari (dinner | overnight stay | breakfast)

After breakfast, head south into the Kalahari.

Behind the Auas Mountains, the vastness of the country opens up like a picture book. On the way, you will discover gigantic sieve weavers’ nests in ancient camel thorn acacias. As you approach the lodge, endless linear dunes stretch across the limestone soil of the Kalahari. Oryx, springbok and smaller steenbok make wonderful animal motifs in the red dune sand.

Optional: Afternoon guided panoramic drive in the red Kalahari dunes with sundowner. The drive is carried out in an open and comfortable off-road vehicle with a lot of passion and without any hectic pace. It is a tour to get to know the Kalahari with unforgettable viewpoints on the red dune ridges (duration approx. 2.5 hours)

Overnight : Lodge in the Sossusvlei area (dinner | overnight | breakfast)

Today, before you leave, you should consider a Bushman tour (optional). You will walk to a Bushman village. There you will learn about the way of life, the traditions and some of the wisdom of this indigenous people. The journey then continues east into the Namib Desert. You will spend the night near the famous Sossusvlei.  

Overnight stay: Lodge in the Sossusvlei area (dinner | overnight stay | breakfast)

Drive to Sesriem Park in the morning, because a dune landscape in the morning light offers an unforgettable landscape. Sossusvlei is surrounded by the highest dunes in the world, which suck the last bit of energy out of your legs as you climb them. Once at the top, you are richly rewarded with a fantastic view. Dune 45 is the most popular dune to climb.

Overnight stay: Lodge in the Namib Desert (dinner | overnight stay | breakfast)

Continue via Solitaire and through the enchanting landscapes of the Namib Desert. Upon reaching Solitaire, visitors will first notice the many car wrecks picturesquely draped along the roadsides. As you drive on, the gravel plains of the Namib spread out before you, with a mountain here and there on the shimmering horizon. Today’s drive is not too far, and halfway between Sesriem and Swakopmund is the next lodge in the middle of the Namib Desert. Here you can relax extensively and also go on hikes in the surrounding area. 

Overnight stay: Hotel in Swakopmund (bed | breakfast)

After breakfast, drive to Swakopmund via Walvis Bay. The long gravel roads are occasionally decorated with a small plume of dust. You are surrounded by breathtaking expanses and the most beautiful landscapes of the desert. You drive through granite sculpture landscapes, ancient erosion valleys and cross the occasional dry river. Arrival in Swakopmund at midday.

Optional activities: quad biking, camel riding, visit to the museum, aquarium, crystal gallery, riding safari, flight over the Skeleton Coast or Sossusvlei

Overnight: Hotel in Swakopmund (bed | breakfast)

This morning you can take part in an optional catamaran boat trip or a desert tour.

Catamaran cruise: Between Walvis Bay and Swakopmund, on the rugged coast of the Atlantic Ocean, you will experience the unique nature and wildlife of the Walvis Bay lagoon on board a spacious and comfortable catamaran. The four-hour trip takes you from the harbor across the Walvis Bay oyster beds out to Pelican Point, 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 many interesting things about these animals.

Desert Tour: also called The Living Desert Tour, is a unique experience in 4WD vehicles that aims to introduce our visitors to the impressive beauty of the Namib Desert and showcase life in the desert. The coastal dune belt, which may seem 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.

A unique opportunity to experience the desert up close.

Overnight stay: Lodge in the Twyfelfontein area (dinner | overnight stay | breakfast)

Continue north on the salt road towards Henties Bay. Here you can continue to Cape Cross, where, in addition to the cross of the Portuguese navigator Diego Cao, there is a colony of pygmy fur seals. It is one of the largest colonies in the world and is also open to visitors.

You reach your camp in the early afternoon. Damaraland offers a wealth of geological and archaeological highlights. Named after the Damara people, the region is home to Namibia’s highest peak, the Brandberg, and Twyfelfontein, one of the most important rock engravings and paintings of the San, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Overnight stay: Lodge in Opuwo (dinner | overnight stay | breakfast)

One of the most scenic regions. The landscape is very rocky and mountainous and you can discover cone-shaped ranges of hills. Many species of wild animals live in the area, such as desert elephants, rhinos and giraffes. The Himba and Herero tribes who live here traditionally live as hunters and gatherers or as cattle breeders. The location of your accommodation offers a fantastic view of the surrounding mountain landscape.

Overnight stay: Lodge at Epupa Falls (dinner | overnight stay | breakfast)

This morning, the journey continues to the 1,207-kilometre-long Kunene River, which carries water all year round. In fact, it seems like the end of the Namibian world. From Ruacana, where the Kunene meets the Namibian border, the river forms the natural border between Angola and Namibia in a westerly direction before flowing into the South Atlantic in a delta up to 30 kilometers wide. Until the Tertiary period, the Kunene flowed into today’s Etosha Pan, which at that time formed an inland delta similar to the Okavango Delta and Lake Ekuma. It was only after the break-up of the Gondwana continent and the drifting apart of Africa and South America that the Kunene shifted towards the Atlantic. Arrival at the lodge around midday.

The afternoon is at leisure.

Overnight stay: Lodge at Epupa Falls (dinner | overnight stay | breakfast)

In the morning, you can take part in an optional guided tour to a traditional Himba village. A Himba guide will take you to the Epupa Valley, where you will visit a Himba village that is still active and inhabited. Here you will gain an insight into the daily life of the Himba in a normal, traditional kraal. Learn more about the customs and lifestyles of one of Africa’s last nomadic tribes. The Himba are a proud people who have adapted to western civilization minimally and only as necessary.

Overnight stay: Lodge near Ruacana (dinner | overnight stay | breakfast)

This morning, after breakfast, continue along the enchanting landscapes of the Kunene River, past small primeval villages to the vicinity of Ruacana. Here you can enjoy an overnight stay directly on the Kunene River.

Overnight: Lodge near Ruacana (dinner | overnight stay | breakfast)

Today you can relax in this picturesque landscape or take part in optional lodge activities such as white water rafting, canoeing or a Kunene sundowner boat trip.

Overnight stay: Village Homestead near Ondangwa (dinner | overnight stay | breakfast)

After breakfast, drive in a north-easterly direction into Owamboland. The Angola border is only about 70 km away. Around midday you arrive in the town of Ondangwa, where the Homestead Village is located just outside. In the afternoon, you can take an optional 2h30min – 3h guided tour to learn more about the life of the Owambos. A traditional meal will be served.

Overnight: Bush Camp outside Etosha National Park (dinner | overnight | breakfast)

After breakfast, drive south into the world-famous Etosha National Park. The entrance to the park is through the King Nehale Gate. From the entrance you have the opportunity to spot big game in the wild. Continue past Onkoshi Camp in a southerly direction via Camp Namutoni to the eastern von Lindequist Gate, where you leave the park and reach your accommodation shortly afterwards.

Overnight: Bush camp outside Etosha National Park (dinner | overnight | breakfast)

Full-day game drive in the eastern part of Etosha Park on your own. Right from the entrance you have the opportunity to spot big game in the wild. The Etosha National Park has a biodiversity that is hard to beat. A variety of animals gather at the waterholes, which can make for a spectacular experience. Each individual waterhole has a unique character. You return to your accommodation in the late afternoon. 

Overnight: Bush camp outside Etosha National Park (dinner | overnight stay | breakfast)

Today you have another opportunity to explore Etosha National Park extensively. With a length of 130 km and a width of 50 km, the Etosha Pan is by far the largest in Africa and also the most striking feature of the park. The total area is approximately 4800 km2, which is about a quarter of the total area of the Etosha National Park. In the language of the Ovambo tribe, Etosha means “Great White Place”, a name given to this place by the first European explorers Sir Francis Galton and Charles Andersson when they traveled through this area together with the Ovambo traders in 1851.

Overnight: Camp in Etosha National Park (dinner | overnight stay | breakfast)

Today you cross the national park in a westerly direction, giving you the opportunity to visit the various waterholes on your drive. The Okondeka waterhole, for example, is one of the best for lion spotting. The predator can often be spotted here with its prey. The waterhole is a natural spring and is located a little further north of Okaukuejo directly on the western edge of the pan.

Overnight: Lodge near Omaruru (full board)

Drive south after breakfast. You leave the Etosha Park through the Anderson Gate and drive via Outjo to the vicinity of Omaruru. Here, on a 71 000 ha game reserve, you can experience the world of game, get to know animals and their unknown habits, relax in untouched wilderness, switch off and reconnect with nature.

Overlooking the waterhole, you can observe hippos and book an optional afternoon game drive with lions, elephants and numerous other animals.   

Overnight stay: Lodge near Omaruru (full board)

Today you can take part in the lodge’s optional activities. On offer here are game drives on the reserve, the best opportunity to end your vacation with lions, elephants and numerous other animals.

Return flight to Germany.

On the way to Windhoek, it is worth stopping at the woodcarving market in Okahandja. It is the largest woodcarving market in Namibia. Continue to Windhoek. Here you will drop off your rental car in good time before check-in for your return flight to Germany.

Africa’s unique natural beauty and abundant wildlife are among the continent’s true treasures. This safari has proven itself to be authentic and gives you a high probability of spotting the Big 5. You will experience exciting moments on the safaris in the national parks of Namibia and Botswana. You will be there when a family of elephants meets for a bath or when a herd of zebras grazes peacefully while lions lurk in the bushes. Namibia fascinates you with the change of impressive landscapes from dry endless expanses, the rows of mighty mountain ranges to the three desert landscapes. From the large number of wild animals in Chobe National Park to the majestic Victoria Falls, this trip will inspire you.

Highlights: Kalahari Desert, Namib Desert, Sossussvlei, Deadvlei, Sesriem Canyon, Swakopmund, Etosha National Park, Caprivi Strip, Chobe National Park, houseboat on the Chobe River, Victoria Falls.

INFORMATION

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

Overnight: Guest lodge in a game reserve (overnight | breakfast | lunch | dinner)

Arrival at Hosea Kutako International Airport in Windhoek. After the immigration formalities, you will pick up your rental car and drive directly to your accommodation in the Kalahari region.
The rest of the day is at your leisure. A generous selection of optional activities will enrich your three-day stay in an informal atmosphere.

Overnight: Guest lodge in a game reserve
(overnight | breakfast | lunch | dinner)

Today you can take part in the many optional activities on offer here. The team at the guest lodge will be happy to cater to your individual interests and will offer you nature-oriented and individual game drives, Kalahari excursions, wilderness courses, hikes, game walks or horseback rides, as well as the opportunity to accompany biologists in their field work.

Overnight: Guest lodge in a game reserve
(Overnight | Breakfast | Lunch | Dinner)

On the horizon before you, the rising sun, 149.6 million km away, signals its wake-up call. Today you can enjoy another day on the game reserve and consider optional activities, or relax in this tranquil setting. You have another overnight stay in this picturesque savannah setting. 

Overnight: Lodge in the Kalahari (overnight | dinner | breakfast)

After breakfast, the journey continues through the Kalahari Desert. On the way you will discover gigantic sieve weavers’ nests in ancient camel thorn acacias.
As you approach the lodge, endless linear dunes stretch across the limestone soil of the Kalahari. Oryx, springbok and smaller steenbok make wonderful animal motifs in the red dune sand. The Kalahari (also known as the Kgalagadi) is a thorn bush savannah, sometimes also a dry savannah, but is occasionally referred to as a desert due to the predominance of sand.
Once you have arrived at your lodge accommodation, you have some time to relax.
Optional activity: In the afternoon, guided sundowner drive in the red Kalahari dunes. The drive is conducted in an open and comfortable off-road vehicle with a lot of passion and without any hectic pace. It is a tour to get to know the Kalahari with unforgettable landscapes.

Overnight : Lodge in the Sossusvlei area (dinner | overnight | breakfast)

Today, before you set off, you should consider a Bushman tour (optional). You will walk to a Bushman village before breakfast. There you will learn about the way of life, the traditions and some of the wisdom of this indigenous people. The journey then continues eastwards, over the picturesque Tsaris Pass into the Namib Desert. You will spend the night near the famous Sossusvlei.  

Overnight stay: Lodge in the Sossusvlei area (dinner | overnight stay | breakfast)

Drive to Sesriem Park in the morning, because a dune landscape in the morning light offers an unforgettable landscape. Sossusvlei is surrounded by the highest dunes in the world, which suck the last bit of strength out of your legs as you climb them. Once at the top, you are richly rewarded with a fantastic view. Dune 45 is the most popular dune to climb. Afterwards you can visit the smaller Sesriem Canyon. 

Overnight: Hotel in Swakopmund (bed | breakfast)

Continue today via Solitaire and Walvis Bay to Swakopmund. You drive through the enchanting landscapes of the Namib Desert. Upon reaching Solitaire, visitors will first notice the many car wrecks picturesquely draped along the roadsides. The long gravel roads are occasionally adorned with a small plume of dust. You are surrounded by breathtaking expanses and the most beautiful landscapes of the desert. You drive through granite sculpture landscapes, ancient erosion valleys and cross the occasional dry river. Arrival in Swakopmund in the afternoon.

Optional activities: Catamaran boat trip, Living Desert Tour, quad biking, camel riding, visit to the museum, aquarium, crystal gallery, riding safari, flight over the Skeleton Coast or Sossusvlei

Overnight stay: Hotel in Swakopmund (bed | breakfast)

This morning we recommend you take part in an optional catamaran boat trip or a desert tour.

Catamaran cruise: Between Walvis Bay and Swakopmund, on the rugged coast of the Atlantic Ocean, you will experience the unique nature and wildlife of the Walvis Bay lagoon on board a spacious and comfortable catamaran. The four-hour trip takes you from the harbor across the Walvis Bay oyster beds out to Pelican Point, 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 many interesting things about these animals.

Desert Tour: also called The Living Desert Tour, is a unique experience in 4WD vehicles that aims to introduce our visitors to the impressive beauty of the Namib Desert and showcase life in the desert. The coastal dune belt, which may seem 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.

A unique opportunity to experience the desert up close.

Overnight: Lodge near Etosha National Park (dinner | overnight stay | breakfast)

Today’s drive takes you back into the interior of the country, through the picturesque Erongo Massif region, and further north to the immediate vicinity of the famous Etosha National Park. Here, just outside the central Andersson Gate, your accommodation is situated on a hill with picturesque views of the surrounding area.

Overnight: Lodge in the Etosha East area (dinner | overnight | breakfast)

You leave the lodge this morning and drive into Etosha National Park at sunrise. This is a full day game drive in your own vehicle from the central to the eastern side.
Etosha National Park has a biodiversity that is hard to beat. A variety of animals gather at the different waterholes which can lead to a spectacular experience. Each individual waterhole has a unique character. For example, the Okondeka waterhole is one of the best for lion spotting. The predator can often be spotted here with prey. The waterhole is a natural spring and is situated just north of Okaukuejo on the western edge of the pan. Continue to the eastern side of the park where your next accommodation is located just outside the Von Lindequist Gate.

Overnight: Lodge on the eastern side of Etosha (dinner | overnight stay | breakfast)

Today you have another opportunity to drive to various waterholes on the eastern side of the park in your rental car. Set off early to drive into the park as soon as the gates open. At one particular waterhole there is usually a leopard resting in the tree after its nightly hunt. Leave the park before sunset and drive back to your accommodation outside the park. 

The park is home to approximately 114 mammal species, 340 bird species, 110 reptile species, 16 amphibian species and 1 fish species (up to 49 during floods). Etosha National Park holds the prestigious title of being the world’s foremost patron of the black rhino and offers unparalleled opportunities for spectacular game viewing.

Overnight: Lodge in the Divundu area (dinner | overnight stay | breakfast)

Today the route continues northwards to the Caprivi Strip. The drive takes you past many small primitive villages, via Rundu to Divundu. On the way you will pass the Popa Falls, which you can explore. However, the Popa Falls are not real waterfalls, but a series of several rapids. Not far from here, you will spend the next two nights in a lodge located directly on the banks of the Okavango River. 

Overnight: Lodge in the Divundu area (Dinner | Overnight | Breakfast)

Today you spend on the banks of the Okavango River, and optionally we recommend that you either go on a game drive into the Buffalo National Park on your own or with the lodge, or consider a boat trip on the Okavango River. Alternatively, you can also take a trip to the nearby Mahango National Park. 

The Caprivi falls into the tropical climate zone and records high rainfall during the rainy season (December to March). With high temperatures, the weather is often hot and humid. The entire Western Caprivi is now a game reserve. In 2002, the former Mahango Game Park and the West Caprivi Game Park were merged to form the Bwabwata National Park. The park stretches between the Okavango and Kwando rivers and covers an area of over 5000 square kilometers. It is estimated that around 8000 elephants live in the area, as well as 1000 buffalo and many antelope species, hyenas, lions and leopards.

Overnight stay: Lodge on the Kwando River (dinner | overnight stay | breakfast)

Continue your journey through the water-rich Caprivi Strip, which is now called Bwabwata National Park. Your accommodation is located on the Kwando River. An ideal place to relax and take in the natural surroundings.

At the very top, on its northern border, Namibia is not quite over yet. Squeezed between Zambia and Botswana, a gifted piece of land stretches eastwards to the Zambezi. It really is just a tip and that’s why it’s called the Caprivi tip.

Optional: Self-guided game drives in Mudumo National Park or a boat trip on the Kwando River. A guided bush walk is also an option, as is a fishing trip. In the western part of the Strip lies the Bwabwata National Park, an untouched wilderness with more than 400 bird species. A paradise for birdwatchers.

Overnight: Lodge on the Kwando River (dinner | overnight stay | breakfast)

Today you have the opportunity to explore the Kwando area extensively. The lodge also offers optional activities such as game drives in Bwabwata Park in the morning or afternoon, as well as boat trips on the Kwando River. The Kwando River is a tributary of the Zambezi and forms the border between the eastern and western parts of the Caprivi Strip.

Overnight stay: Lodge near Chobe National Park (dinner | overnight stay | breakfast)

Departure in the morning in the direction of Botswana. After approx. 200 km you reach the border crossing. Continue (approx. 70 km) through the Chobe National Park to Kasane. Here you return the rental car at the airport and then transfer to your accommodation in Kasane, which is located directly on the Chobe River.

The afternoon is at leisure. 

Overnight stay: On a houseboat (full board & boat activities)

Optional: This morning you have the opportunity to go on an approximately three-hour game drive in an open off-road vehicle in Chobe National Park. Chobe National Park is not only an elephant mecca but is also home to huge herds of buffalo and Burchell’s zebra and a high density of predators such as lions, spotted hyenas and cheetahs.

A transfer service will then take you to the Kasane Immigration Station. You travel upstream by boat transfer to a houseboat. You will already be on the houseboat for lunch. The following activities and excursions, depending on the weather, are included here during the next two days (examples: Excursion to a traditional village, bird watching, hike to the baobab tree on Impalila Island). 3 motorboats per houseboat allow flexible planning of water activities.

Overnight: On a houseboat (full board & boat activities)

Today you can take part in the various activities from the houseboat. You will enjoy the extensive boat trips on the Chobe River. The river attracts many animals that come here to quench their thirst, especially in the afternoon. A unique opportunity to observe and photograph the wildlife from the boat. 

Overnight: Hotel in Victoria Falls (bed | breakfast)

After breakfast, you will take the small boats back to Impalila Island, and back to Kasane where a representative of a transfer company will be waiting for you, and you will be taken to Victoria Falls by car transfer (approx. 90 km). Your accommodation is not far from the mighty Victoria Falls.

Optional: We recommend taking a tour to the famous Victoria Falls today. You can book this tour directly at the hotel on site. The waterfalls, which are a UNESCO World Heritage Site, are the result of the mighty natural spectacle of the Zambezi River plunging 110 meters over a basalt cliff 1708 meters wide. The falls are one of the greatest natural wonders on our planet and fascinate everyone who sees the thundering spectacle with their own eyes.

The rest of the afternoon is at leisure and you can book further optional activities directly at the hotel.

Return flight to Germany

The morning is at your leisure and you can relax once again. A transfer service will take you to Victoria Falls Airport.

Highlights: Windhoek, Kalahari, Fish River Canyon and the Orange River, wild horses, Kolmannskuppe & Lüderitz, Tiras Mountains, Sossusvlei, Sesriem & Dead Vlei, Namib Desert Swakopmund, Erongo Mountains, Etosha National Park, Waterberg, wonderful landscapes, variety of animals and 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: Windhoek Luxury Suites
(bed | breakfast)

Pick up your rental car. Approx. 30 minutes drive to your accommodation in Windhoek.
For the first evening in Windhoek, you should book the desired restaurant in advance (we will be happy to help you with this).
Optional: Guided Katutura tour, city tour (also on your own).

Overnight: Bagatelle Kalahari Lodge
(dinner | overnight stay | breakfast)

After breakfast, head south into the Kalahari.
Behind the Aua Mountains, the vastness of the country opens up like a picture book. On the way you will discover gigantic sieve weavers’ nests in ancient camel thorn acacias. As you approach the lodge, endless linear dunes stretch across the limestone soil of the Kalahari.
Optional activity: afternoon guided panoramic drive in the red Kalahari dunes with sundowner. It is a tour to get to know the Kalahari with unforgettable viewpoints on the red dune ridges (duration approx. 2.5 hours)

Overnight: Mesosaurus Camp near Keetmanshoop (dinner | overnight stay | breakfast)

Before you set off, you can take an optional activity to a Bushman village. There you will learn about the way of life and some of the wisdom of this indigenous people.
Then continue south through the contrasting desert world.
Today’s journey ends at the Quiver Tree Forest near Keetmanshoop. The “playground of the giants” – a jumble of granite rocks piled on top of each other – is a special motif for every photographer as the sun sets and rises.
In the afternoon, you can consider an optional exploration of these remnants of forgotten times on a guided tour, while enjoying Namibia’s hospitality and comfort in rustic accommodation.

Overnight stay: Canyon Lodge (dinner | overnight stay | breakfast)

After breakfast, the journey continues in a southerly direction.
It is worth taking a break at the Naute Dam. The Naute Dam was built to supply water to the surrounding villages and to irrigate the fruit plantations. This fruit, which spoils quickly if left unrefrigerated, is now distilled. This is the background to the “Naute Dam Distillery” project. Not far from the mighty gorge landscape of the Fish River, your next accommodation lies between mighty granite rocks.

Overnight stay: Canyon Lodge (dinner | overnight stay | breakfast)

At 650 kilometers, it is the longest river in Namibia. And in the Naukluft Mountains it set off a very long time ago in search of the Orange River in the south of the country. But mountains stood in its way and so, in 120 million years of painstaking work, it created the largest canyon in Africa, the Fish River Canyon.
Optional: Today you should consider a guided tour to the canyon viewpoints in a lodge vehicle.

Overnight stay: Klein Aus Vista (dinner | overnight stay | breakfast)

You penetrate further into the Namib Desert and spend the night near Aus.
And the scene of history, where your next accommodation is situated at 1,400 meters, is now called Aus Mountains. A place where everyone can come to rest. Silence, endless expanses, a fantastic view of the Aus mountains and widescreen sunsets are the program for a pleasurable slowdown.

Overnight stay: Klein Aus Vista (dinner | overnight stay | breakfast)

Today you should not only visit the Wild Horses of the Namib, but also the historic town of Lüderitz.
In the morning you should drive to Lüderitz and visit the ghost town of Kolmannskuppe. The houses were falling into disrepair and sand was piling up meters high in the ruins. Some of the interior furnishings were destroyed or taken away. Kolmanskop finally became a ghost town.
Continue to the small harbor town of Lüderitz, a small town built on bare rock. On the way back, you can spot the wild horses at the Garub waterhole.

Overnight stay: Koiimasis Farm in the Tiras Mountains (dinner | overnight stay | breakfast)

Today you drive through a geologically beautiful area into the southern Namib Desert. The rugged Tiras Mountains rise like a chain of islands from the endless expanses of red dunes and yellow grasslands. Koiimasis Ranch is also located here in the heart of the Tiras Mountains.

Optional: On a guided tour you will learn about life on a farm on the edge of the desert.

Overnight: Desert Camp in the Sesriem area (dinner | overnight stay | breakfast)

Today the journey continues to the vicinity of the famous Sossusvlei, where you will arrive in the afternoon at your accommodation, which is located at the entrance to the Sesriem Park.

Overnight stay: Desert Camp in the Sesriem area (dinner | overnight stay | breakfast)

Drive into the park early in the morning, as a dune landscape in the morning light offers an unforgettable landscape. Sossusvlei is surrounded by the highest dunes in the world, which suck the last bit of energy out of your legs as you climb them. Once at the top, you are richly rewarded with a fantastic view. Dune 45 is the most popular dune to climb.

Overnight stay: Hotel Pension Rapmund in Swakopmund (bed | breakfast)

After breakfast, drive to Swakopmund via Solitaire and Walvis Bay. Upon reaching Solitaire, the first thing visitors notice are the many car wrecks picturesquely draped along the roadsides.
As you drive on, the gravel plains of the Namib spread out before you, here and there a mountain on the shimmering horizon. Arrival in Swakopmund at midday.
Optional activities: quad biking, camel riding, visit to the museum, aquarium, crystal gallery, riding safari, flight over the Skeleton Coast or Sossusvlei

Overnight: Hotel Pension Rapmund in Swakopmund (bed | breakfast)

This morning you can consider either a catamaran boat trip or desert tour (optional).

Catamaran boat trip: Between Walvis Bay and Swakopmund, on the rugged coast of the Atlantic Ocean, you will experience the unique nature and wildlife of the Walvis Bay lagoon on board a spacious and comfortable catamaran. The four-hour trip takes you from the industrial harbor across the Walvis Bay oyster beds out to Pelican Point, 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 many interesting things about these animals. 

Desert Tour: Also called The Living Desert Tour, this is a unique experience in 4WD vehicles that aims to introduce our visitors to the impressive beauty of the Namib Desert and showcase life in the desert. The coastal dune belt, which may seem 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. A unique opportunity to experience the desert up close.

Overnight stay: Twyfelfontein Country Lodge (dinner | overnight stay | breakfast)

Continue north on the salt road towards Henties Bay. Here you can continue to Cape Cross, where, in addition to the cross of the Portuguese navigator Diego Cao, there is a colony of dwarf fur seals. From Henties Bay, continue north via Uis to the vicinity of Twyfelfontein. Damaraland offers a wealth of geological and archaeological highlights. Named after the Damara people, the region is home to Namibia’s highest peak, the Brandberg, and Twyfelfontein, one of the most important rock engravings and paintings of the San, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Overnight: Twyfelfontein Country Lodge (dinner | overnight | breakfast)

This morning you should go on a guided drive in search of the desert elephants (optional). The afternoon is at leisure.
Optional excursion (on your own): Visit to the rock engravings at Twyfelfontein.

Overnight: Okaukuejo Camp in Etosha National Park (bed | breakfast)

After breakfast, drive in a north-easterly direction into the world-famous Etosha National Park. The entrance to the park is through the Anderson Gate. Right from the entrance you have the opportunity to spot big game in the wild.

Overnight: Mokti Etosha Lodge in the Etosha East area (dinner | overnight stay | breakfast)

If you wish, you can leave the camp and explore the park on your own. Etosha National Park has a biodiversity that is hard to beat. A variety of animals gather at the waterholes, which can lead to a spectacular experience. Each individual waterhole has a unique character. For example, the Okondeka waterhole is one of the best for lion spotting. The predator can often be spotted here with prey. The waterhole is a natural spring and is located just north of Okaukuejo on the western edge of the pan. Continue to the eastern side of the park where your next accommodation is located just outside the Von Lindequist Gate.

Overnight: Mokuti Lodge in the Etosha East area (dinner | overnight stay | breakfast)

Today you have another opportunity to drive to various waterholes in the park in your rental car. Set off early to drive into the park as soon as the gates open. At one particular waterhole there is usually a leopard resting in the tree after its nightly hunt.

Overnight: Waterberg Plateau Lodge (dinner | overnight stay | breakfast)

On the drive to the Waterberg, it is worth making a detour to the Hoba Meteorite. This is probably the largest lump of iron (over 50 tons) of its kind and is worth seeing for that reason alone. Continue via Otjiwarongo to the historic Waterberg area.

Overnight: Waterberg Plateau Lodge (dinner | overnight stay | breakfast)

Today you have the opportunity to explore the Waterberg Plateau Park on your own.
The 20-kilometre-wide and 50-kilometre-long Table Mountain massif consists of porous sandstone. Precipitation seeps through the permeable rock and meets an impermeable layer of clay at the bottom. Thanks to reintroduction, the two rhino species found in Namibia, white and black rhino, the only known healthy groups of African buffalo, sable, roan and lyre antelope as well as leopards and cheetahs can be found here today.

Return flight to Germany

On the way to Windhoek, it is worth stopping at the woodcarving market in Okahandja. It is the largest woodcarving market in Namibia.
Continue to Windhoek. Here you have the opportunity to buy a souvenir that you have not yet found. Suitable shops are Bushmen Art, Rogel Souvenirs, Ernst Holz and the Craft Center.
Return your rental car in good time before check-in at Hosea Kutako Airport.

From spectacular landscapes, endless contrasts and abundant wildlife, this self-drive safari starts in Windhoek, spends time in the Kalahari desert and onwards to the sites in Sossusvlei, Swakopmund, Twyfelfontein, Grootberg Plateau, Etosha, and Okonjima. This Namibia self-drive tour is ideal for those who want to get a real, full taste of what Namibia is all about.

Highlights: Windhoek, Kalahari Desert, Maltahöhe, Sossusvlei, Deadvlei & Sesriem, Namib Desert, Swakopmund, Twyfelfontein (Damaraland), Desert adapted Elephants, Grootberg Plateau, Etosha National Park, private Wildlife Reserve, beautiful landscapes, plenty of animals, hiking, game drives, elephant tracking, San Bushmen rock art paintings, and meeting the various cultures of Namibia.

INFORMATION

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

Accommodation: Hotel in Windhoek (Bed & Breakfast)

Arriving at Hosea Kutako International Airport in Windhoek marks the beginning of your journey. Once you’ve completed the formalities for your vehicle rental, you can proceed with a drive to Windhoek town to reach your hotel. For your first evening in Windhoek, we suggest booking your preferred restaurant in advance. We are happy to provide recommendations and assist with making table reservations. Optional activities include a Guided Katutura Township Tour and sightseeing in Windhoek, which can also be arranged independently.

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

Following breakfast, kickstart your Namibia safari by heading south into the Kalahari Desert. Beyond the Auas mountains, the country unfolds like a captivating picture book. En route, you’ll encounter sizable sociable weaver nests nestled in ancient camelthorn acacias. As you approach the lodge, the extensive dunes sprawl across the Kalahari Desert, providing a stunning backdrop for animal sightings, including oryx, springbok, and various smaller mammals. The Kalahari, sometimes labelled as a desert due to its prevailing red sands, is characterized as a thorn bush savannah, partially transitioning into a dry savannah. Upon reaching the lodge, take some time to relax and unwind. Optionally book a Sundowner Drive during the afternoon, and embark on this guided scenic drive amidst the red Kalahari dunes, culminating with a sundowner. This excursion is conducted in a comfortable off-road vehicle, allowing you to absorb the guide’s knowledge and passion for the region. It’s an opportunity to acquaint yourself with the Kalahari’s unforgettable landscapes, diverse fauna, and flora. The lodge also offers numerous other exciting optional activities to choose from as well as walking trails.

Accommodation: Guest Farm near Maltahöhe (Dinner, Bed & Breakfast)

Today, your travels lead you eastward towards the Maltahöhe area. Here, you have the opportunity to spend the night in a traditional Namibian guest farm. Additionally, you can choose to participate in a scenic drive to enhance your experience.

Accommodation: Lodge in the Sesriem Park (Full Board)

Following a scrumptious breakfast, you proceed with your journey through the picturesque Tsaris Pass, making your way into the Namib Desert. The next lodge is nestled within the Sesriem National Park.

Accommodation: Lodge in the Sesriem Park (Full Board)

Just before the sunrise this morning, we recommend taking a drive to the renowned Sossusvlei. The dune landscape illuminated by the morning light of the rising sun provides an unforgettable and dramatic setting, offering excellent photographic opportunities. Over the years, the sporadically flowing water of the Tsauchab dry river has been carving its way through the expanding dune landscape of the Namib Desert. Despite its efforts, this river will never reach the sea; instead, it seeps away in natural dams or “vleis” formed by the surrounding dunes. Notably, Sossusvlei is surrounded by
some of the world’s highest dunes, which can be a challenging climb, but the effort is rewarded with a fantastic view once you reach the top. Dune 45 is particularly popular for climbing. Upon your return, consider visiting the smaller Sesriem Canyon as well.

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

Embark on the next leg of your journey today, passing through Solitaire and traversing the captivating landscapes of the Namib Desert. A distinctive feature upon entering Solitaire is the array of vintage car wrecks artistically scattered along the roadside. Continuing from this point, the gravel plains of the Namib unfold, with occasional glimpses of mountains on the shimmering horizon. Today’s drive is relatively short, as the next lodge is positioned midway between Sesriem and Swakopmund, nestled in the heart of the Namib Desert. Here, you can unwind and explore the area by partaking in various hiking trails available.

Accommodation: Hotel in Swakopmund (Bed & Breakfast)

After breakfast, you embark on a journey to Swakopmund via Walvis Bay. The extended and winding gravel roads are intermittently adorned with small dust plumes. Throughout the drive, you’re surrounded by breath-taking views and the stunning landscapes of the Namib Desert. Your route takes you through granitic sculptured terrains, ancient erosion valleys, and not only dry riverbeds but also crosses the Tropic of Capricorn. You’ll arrive in the coastal town of Swakopmund around midday. Optional activities in Swakopmund include quad biking, camel rides, visits to the museum, aquarium, crystal gallery, horseback safaris, and scenic flights over the Skeleton Coast or Sossusvlei.

Accommodation: Hotel in Swakopmund (Bed & Breakfast)

This morning we recommend that you partake in either a Living Desert Tour, or consider a Marine Cruise on the Walvis Bay lagoon. Both these excursions should be booked in advance, to guarantee availability. A Desert Tour is designed to unveil the wonders of the Namib Desert, showcasing the “Little 5.” Around lunchtime, you are returned to your hotel, and the afternoon is yours to explore the town at leisure on foot. The Living Desert Tour, also known as the Desert Tour, provides a distinctive 4×4 experience aimed at revealing the remarkable beauty of the Namib Desert and highlighting its diverse desert life. The coastal dune belt, seemingly barren and lifeless to some, is actually home to a captivating array of small animals that have adapted to desert conditions, thriving with the help of the regular fog that sweeps in from the chilly Atlantic Ocean. Marvel at the “Dancing White Lady,” a spider that executes cartwheels down the dunes at an astonishing 44 revolutions per second to escape potential threats. Witness the transparent desert gecko with webbed feet resembling snowshoes. Gain insights into various bugs and insects and their strategies for survival in the desert. This tour offers a unique opportunity to intimately experience the desert’s wonders. 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.

Accommodation: Hotel in Swakopmund (Bed & Breakfast)

You have the option to leisurely spend another day in Swakopmund today or choose to book an additional activity in the morning in the coastal area of Swakopmund. The town is known as the adventure and activity hub of Namibia.

Accommodation: Lodge in Twyfelfontein (Dinner, Bed & Breakfast)

Proceed north today along the salt road towards Henties Bay and continue through Uis into the scenic Damaraland. Both regions in the northwest feature vast, desolate desert landscapes, occasionally punctuated by green oases and renowned for hosting the famous desert-adapted elephants. You will arrive at the lodge in the early afternoon. Damaraland boasts an abundance of geological and archaeological marvels. Named after the Damara people, it is home to Namibia’s highest mountain, the Brandberg, and Twyfelfontein, a UNESCO World Heritage Site renowned for some of the best-preserved San rock engravings. Other sites of interest include the Organ Pipes, Petrified Forest, and the Burnt Mountain.

Accommodation: Lodge in Twyfelfontein (Dinner, Bed & Breakfast)

This morning, we suggest you visit the rock engravings at Twyfelfontein. Renowned for housing some of the most exceptional Bushman rock engravings in southern Africa, the Twyfelfontein area also features intriguing rock formations and remnants of prehistoric volcanic activity, such as the Organ Pipes, Burnt Mountain, and the Petrified Forest.

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

After breakfast and check out, your journey progresses to the Grootberg plateau, where you will enjoy the next two nights amidst this unspoiled landscape. Optionally, you have the choice to participate in a sundowner tour on the Grootberg plateau in the afternoon.

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

This morning you can opt to book a desert elephant tracking tour with the lodge. Around the lodge there are also numerous walking trails, and guided walks in this scenic area are a further recommended activity.

Accommodation: Camp in the Etosha National Park (Bed & Breakfast)

After breakfast today, continue your journey towards the northeast. In the renowned Etosha National Park, you’ll have the opportunity to spend one night in a Rest-camp, which boasts a floodlit waterhole.

Accommodation: Lodge on the eastern side of Etosha (Dinner, Bed & Breakfast)

Today’s journey covers a short distance from Okaukuejo to Mokuti Etosha Lodge, navigating from the central side to the eastern side of the park. To enhance your game viewing experience, it is recommended to take detour routes, making stops at various waterholes along the way. Should you desire a light lunch en route, both the Halali camp and Namutoni camp feature restaurants. Exit the park through the Von Lindequist gate situated on the far south-eastern side before sunset. Not far from the gate your next lodge is situated. Etosha National Park boasts an unparalleled biodiversity, attracting a diverse array of animals to its waterholes and providing exceptional opportunities for game viewing. The Etosha Pan, spanning 130 km in length and 50 km in width, stands as the largest pan in Africa and serves as the park’s most distinctive feature. The total pan area covers approximately 4800 square kilometres, roughly a quarter of Etosha National Park’s total expanse. The park hosts around 114 mammal species, 340 bird species, 110 reptile species, 16 amphibian species, and 1 species of fish (up to 49 during floods). Etosha National Park holds the prestigious title of being the single most important guardian of the black rhino globally, offering unparalleled opportunities for spectacular game viewing.

Accommodation: Lodge on the eastern side of Etosha (Dinner, Bed & Breakfast)

Today, you have the option to explore the northern part of the Etosha National Park in your own vehicle or choose to book a game drive directly with the lodge. Exit the park through the Von Lindequist gate situated on the far south-eastern side before sunset.

Accommodation: Lodge near Otjiwarongo (Dinner, Bed & Breakfast)

This morning marks your departure from the Etosha region, and your journey leads you southward, passing through the towns of Outjo and Otjiwarongo, ultimately bringing you to a world renowned Game Reserve, which is home to a large number of African cats and prides itself taking care and being the custodian of these. Your anticipated arrival at the reserve is in the afternoon. If you arrive with sufficient time, you have the option to participate in one of the various activities offered on the Reserve.

Accommodation: Lodge near Otjiwarongo (Dinner, Bed & Breakfast)

Today, we recommend that you book a Leopard Tracking Activity with the lodge. The lodge provides various optional activities that you can book directly according to your preferences. Spend another night at the lodge and relax amidst the African bush.

Return Flight 

After breakfast and completing the check-out process, your route takes you back to Windhoek and the Hosea Kutako International Airport. Wrap up the vehicle return procedures at the airport, before proceeding to check in for your homeward-bound flight.

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.