Day 1 – Arrival in Windhoek
After your international flight, you will usually arrive in Windhoek in the morning. You will be met at the airport and transferred to your accommodation, which will take around 45 minutes. On your journey, you will get your first glimpse of Namibia’s open and arid landscapes, winding through wide stretches of savannah grasslands until you start to see the distant mountain ranges that surround Windhoek. You will spend your first night in a small, charming hotel set in serene gardens where you will be given a walking route to the local area. If you’re in the mood for exploring, the route takes you past colonial buildings and traditional coffee shops, but if you’d rather rest and recover from your flight, of course, you can enjoy the peaceful surroundings by the pool and settle into Namibia.
Day 2 – Windhoek – Sossusvlei
Following a traditional Namibian breakfast, you’ll meet our local representative who will give you an extensive information package for your trip with tips and answer any questions before you set off. They’ll tell you all about the roads, driving on gravel, excursion options and most importantly – the best restaurants. Then you’ll receive your rental car and it’s time to set off.
You will drive around 5 hours from Windhoek to Sossusvlei, one of the most iconic landscapes in Africa. To truly immerse yourself in the unique surroundings, you’ll be staying at an eco-friendly desert camp with 360-degree views of the vast desert landscape. Your accommodation is a self-catering lodge, including a kitchenette and barbeque area, with the bonus of a swimming pool. Enjoy a traditional home-cooked African dinner tonight as the sounds of the desert buzz around you.
Day 3 – Exploring the dunes and stargazing
If you want to experience the Sossusvlei at its best, make sure you are at the entrance before sunrise. It is an early rise, but the morning sun painting the desert in a deep red glow creates an incredible visual effect that’s well worth the effort. You won’t see the sunrise from the top of the dunes, however, the sunlight on the dunes is a magical sight. Explore the towering dunes, some of which are the tallest in the world, as their colours switch from deep red and orange to light pink and experience the striking contrast against the central white clay plan. Between the dunes lies the area named Deadvlei, famous for its bizarrely shaped trees that have been dead for over 900 years but are unable to decompose due to the extreme dryness of the desert. This surreal sight creates a hauntingly beautiful landscape which is one of the most photographed places in the world.
On your second night, you’ll head a little further north to a hidden-away lodge. It’s the perfect spot to soak up the vast, star-filled skies of the Namib Desert (as long as the clouds stay away!). Perched on stilts with wide-open views across the Naukluft Mountains, you feel complete secluded. Your bed rolls right out onto your balcony, so you can drift off under a blanket of stars. It’s a simple but magical experience. Watch the Milky Way stretch overhead, spotting the odd shooting star and feeling completely humbled by the sheer scale of the night sky. It’s one of those moments that stays with you long after you’ve travelled home.
Day 4 – Drive to the Namib’s Valley
Today you’ll make the scenic drive from Sossusvlei to Namib’s Valley, which takes around four hours with plenty of impressive landscapes along the way. Perched on a rise overlooking the wide Gaub Valley, your lodge feels peaceful and tucked away with views that seem to go on forever. During your stay, you’ll head out with a local guide for a hike through the valley. The trails weave through rugged terrain and ancient rock formations, opening up to sweeping desert vistas at every turn. It’s a place that feels untouched and a little spiritual, offering a real sense of connection to the Namib Desert. Whether you’re an experienced hiker or just enjoy taking things at your own pace, your guide will tailor the walk to suit you. It’s all about breathing in the fresh desert air, feeling the warmth of the sun and soaking up the stillness and rhythm of this beautiful corner of Namibia.
Day 5 – Drive to Swakopmund
Today you’ll drive further to the charming coastal town of Swakopmund, where the former German colonial influences are still clearly visible with apple strudel and street signs being prime examples of this. There’s no need for the car while you’re here, as everything is easily reachable by foot. You’ll be staying at a small, homely B&B within walking distance of the town centre and the beach. Swakopmund is known as the ‘adventure capital’ of Namibia and is renowned for outdoor activities such as sandboarding, quad biking, skydiving and many other water-based activities.
In the afternoon you’ll be heading out onto the water in search of the huge colony of seals located just off the coast. There are around 15,000 of these playful mammals, so spotting them is almost guaranteed. Seals are curious creatures and they will often swim up to your kayak to greet you but don’t be alarmed they’re well used to interactions with humans and your experienced guide is there to keep you safe with minimal disturbance to the wildlife. In addition to seals, there’s a chance you may also spot dolphins and seabirds and, during migration season, you may even be lucky enough to encounter whales.
Swakopmund is truly the place to be for outdoor activities in Namibia. If you fancy another adventurous excursion, we have some optional tours at the bottom of this page. Join a catamaran dolphin tour, try sandboarding through the dunes or explore a local township and visit a lively market.
Day 6 – Sandwich Harbour Tour
Today you’ll experience the remarkable meeting of desert and sea at Sandwich Harbour, where the golden dunes of the Namib Desert tumble into the Atlantic Ocean. On a guided 4×4 tour from Walvis Bay, you’ll explore this protected natural wonder that is part of the Walvis Bay Wetlands. Along the way, you’ll have the chance to spot an incredible variety of wildlife — from flamingos and other wading birds to hardy desert plants clinging to the dunes. The views over the lagoon and the coastline are truly breathtaking. Your guide’s local knowledge and the necessary permits make this excursion safe and stress-free, while still feeling adventurous. For anyone who loves nature and wants to experience Namibia’s wild side up close, the Sandwich Harbour is simply unforgettable.
Day 7 – Travel to Twyfelfontain
Today you will be journeying through Namibia’s varied terrains, from the vast open plains of the Namib Desert, passing rolling hills and dry riverbeds, before arriving at your campsite for the next two nights. On arrival into this region, you will be met with dramatic landscapes, rolling plains, and striking mountains. The atmosphere is relaxed, and the view of the rocky surroundings is magnificent. After a hot day, you can cool off in the pool or enjoy a local meal in the restaurant. The location is ideal, near Twyfelfontein and within walking distance of the Damara Living Museum.
Day 8 – Elephant trekking
Today have an early breakfast, before heading off in search of the African desert elephant. These magnificent creatures travel enormous distances in search of food and water and they can be difficult to find in this vast landscape. Therefore, we will arrange for two rangers to go ahead of you and track the elephants, while you take a game drive through the desert where there is plenty of other wildlife to observe. Once the trackers locate the elephants, you will leave the 4×4 and go into the bushes on foot with the rangers, this way you can observe the elephants in their natural environment without disturbing them. When the tension rises and the leaves rustle, your breath catches… From a few meters away you see and hear these impressive animals. Sightings are never guaranteed, but there is always a high chance. You will explore the local farms and villages and learn more about the local people and their way of life, before enjoying a tasty lunch and heading back to your accommodation.
Day 9 – Drive to your hidden camp
From Twyfelfontein you’ll drive through ever-changing landscapes to Hoada. Tucked among large grey granite boulders and shady mopane trees, your camp for the next two nights sits in the heart of the Khoadi/Hoas Conservancy. It’s a community-run initiative that supports local people while giving visitors a chance to experience a truly remote and unspoiled part of Namibia. On your first night, you’ll head out in a private safari vehicle to a stunning viewpoint to enjoy a sun downer with snacks as the sun dips below the horizon. Later, a team of local guides will prepare a traditional BBQ for you and you’ll dine together while hearing stories about Namibian life. With minimal light pollution, it’s the perfect spot for stargazing — and if the sky is clear, you might even spot the Milky Way stretching overhead. It’s an evening full of warmth, storytelling, and connection with the Namibian wilderness.
Day 10 – Rhino tracking
The next morning starts early as you set out for an exciting rhino tracking adventure! While sightings can’t be guaranteed, the experience is unforgettable. You’ll be treated to panoramic views of rugged cliffs, dry riverbeds, and scattered acacia trees. With a bit of luck, you’ll not only spot rhinos, but you might also get the chance to see zebras, giraffes and antelope along the way. Later in the afternoon, you’ll return to your camp and get hands-on with a braai experience, cooking your own dinner from a basket of local ingredients delivered to you. As you settle into your tent for the night, listen out for the sounds of the desert, a gentle reminder that you’re truly immersed in the heart of Namibia.
Day 11 – Onto Etosha National Park
Enjoy your final breakfast and soak in the incredible views one last time, as you will be heading on to your next destination. You will be heading to the largest national park in Namibia, where you will stay within the park for the next two nights. Your accommodation is known as the hub for wildlife enthusiasts and has a floodlit waterhole that attracts a huge range of animals, especially during the dry season that you can observe day and night. You can buy a map from the park’s entrance and go in search of roaring lions and graceful giraffes from the comfort of your rental car. In the scorching midday sun, most animals seek shelter in the shade which is a great opportunity to take a dip in the swimming pool at your camp. At the end of the day, many animals enjoy visiting the waterhole for a drink so this can be a great time for wildlife spotting after your swim and into the night as the waterhole is illuminated.
Etosha is very popular, and the camps in the park can get booked up very far in advance. If there is no room in the park, we will reserve both nights in our small-scale lodges outside the park.
Days 12-13 – Safari in Etosha National Park
It’s worth setting your alarm early this morning, to catch the first light, when most of the animals are at their most active. You have two full days to search for the big 4, so take it slow and explore the unpaved roads, looking out for any movement in the bushes. If you’re travelling during the dry season (our autumn), large herds of game gather at the waterhole and if you’re lucky you will witness an incredible moment where all species come together (although most animals make way for the elephants to show themselves, just to be on the safe side).
At the end of day three, you will check out of your camp in the national park and head to the east of the park, where you will stay in a beautiful safari lodge just outside Etosha National Park. The lodge is smaller than the previous nights, and family-run which makes for a more homely, intimate atmosphere for your final night in this region.
Day 14 – Etosha to Otjiwarongo
After around 2.5 hours, you will arrive at your next stop, Waterberg. Waterberg is home to the Waterberg Plateau National Park – a huge sandstone plateau rising out of the vast savannah, surrounded by lush vegetation. Your accommodation is a charming B&B, located in the nearby town of Otjiwarongo, around a one-hour drive from the national park. The African-style lodge has thatched roofs, beautiful gardens and a refreshing swimming pool to cool off in.
Day 15 – Hiking and a sunset horse ride
Today get ready and lace up your hiking boots, drive to the entrance of Waterberg Camp NWR (the gateway to the national park) and pay your entrance fee. You will be given a map and some route suggestions, before heading out to explore the unique landscapes and diverse wildlife. There is also the option to book a game drive at the reception, where you may see giraffes, gemsbok, leopards and rhinos. In the evening, you’ll head out on a sundowner horse ride. It’s a really special way to experience the sweeping vistas of the surrounding landscape. Along the way you’ll stop off at a scenic spot to sip a drink as the sun sets, before returning comfortably by vehicle once night falls.
Day 16 – Journey back to Windhoek
The following morning, it’s time to leave Otjiwarongo and head back to Windhoek, which is around a 3-hour drive, passing the old missionary town of Okahandja – a great place to stop. The shoppers among us can indulge in the handicraft markets south of the main road, where the locals proudly show off their wood carvings.
Day 17 – Departure from Namibia
This morning after your final breakfast, you return your rental car and catch your international flight back home, where you land the following morning full of impressions and memories of Namibia.
Accommodation
