Wild Namibia

Today, depart for Windhoek, Namibia!

Please note: Some customers may depart Day 2 and arrive Day 2. Some customers may also depart on Day 0 and arrive on Day 1. Flight scheduling will be outlined in your travel packs 4-6 weeks prior.

Meals included: In-Flight

Upon your arrival, be greeted by a tour representative who will transfer you to your hotel. Take time to settle in, relax, and ease into the excitement of the journey ahead. If you arrive before the hotel’s check-in time, your luggage will be securely stored until your room is ready.

Located in central Namibia, the cosmopolitan city of Windhoek serves as the nation’s capital. The city’s German colonial heritage is visible in its traditional eateries, boutique stores, and the continued use of the German language. Windhoek offers a fascinating blend of historic and modern architecture, with highlights including the Alte Feste fort, the 1896 Christuskirche (Christ Church), and the contemporary Supreme Court.

Overnight: Uzuri Guest House or similar, Windhoek

Meals included: None

After breakfast this morning, be collected from your accommodation within the Windhoek city limits at 07:15 and transferred to Chameleon Backpackers for a brief pre-departure meeting.

Leaving Windhoek and heading north, make a short stop in the small town of Otjiwarongo to pick up any last-minute supplies before continuing toward Etosha National Park. A light packed lunch will be enjoyed en route.

The adventure begins with a game drive through Etosha National Park, travelling toward Okaukuejo Resort, your accommodation for the night (approximately 500 km for the day).

Spanning more than 22,000 square kilometres, Etosha National Park is one of Africa’s leading wildlife destinations, home to 114 species of mammals, 350 bird species, and over 100 species of reptiles, along with a single, rather unusual, species of fish. As you journey through the reserve, you will have plenty of opportunities to stop at various waterholes, ideal for spotting wildlife in their natural habitat. The aim is to reach the resort by sunset, in good time for you to settle into your comfortable en-suite room.

Overnight: Okaukuejo Resort or similar, Etosha

Meals included: Breakfast; Lunch; Dinner

Enjoy a full day exploring Etosha National Park, making the most of every moment. The park gates open at sunrise, so the safari sets off just as the first golden light touches the horizon. Early morning is one of the prime times for game viewing, offering an excellent chance to spot big cats returning from their nighttime hunts.

After an exciting start to the day, return to camp for breakfast before heading back into the park in search of more wildlife. Etosha’s unique desert landscape makes water an invaluable resource, drawing animals from far and wide. Throughout the park, numerous natural and man-made waterholes provide outstanding opportunities to watch animals gather for a refreshing drink.

During the day, stop to admire the impressive Etosha Pan. Its name, meaning “great white space,” barely conveys the immense scale of this natural marvel, over 4,700 square kilometres of shimmering white mineral plain, so vast it can be seen from space.

As the day comes to an end, exit Etosha National Park through the Anderson Gate, reaching your accommodation just before sunset. This evening, unwind with a buffet dinner and enjoy the remainder of your night at leisure.

Overnight: Etosha Village or similar, Etosha

Meals included: Breakfast; Lunch; Dinner

After breakfast, set off at around 07:30, heading toward the legendary Skeleton Coast. Travelling south on the main road, pass through the small town of Outjo before turning west onto the gravel roads that weave through the dramatic landscapes of Damaraland. This region is renowned for its rugged beauty, vast open plains, rolling grasslands, striking granite koppies (small rocky hills), and towering mountain ranges beneath endless blue skies.

Along the way, have opportunities to meet local people at informal roadside stalls selling handcrafted souvenirs. Women from the Himba, Herero, and Damara communities often showcase their traditional dress and vibrant handmade crafts. It’s a wonderful chance to experience Namibia’s rich cultural heritage, and even a small purchase goes a long way in supporting local families.

The journey continues through this breathtaking landscape, stopping for a light picnic lunch in the shadow of Brandberg Mountain, Namibia’s highest peak at 2,573 metres. This massive granite monolith glows with rosy tones in the sunlight and stands as one of Damaraland’s most iconic natural landmarks.

From here, the road leads west toward the coast and the chilly Atlantic Ocean. The entire Namibian shoreline is known as the Skeleton Coast, named for its haunting beauty and tragic maritime history. With barren dunes, rolling fog, and notoriously strong currents, the coastline claimed countless ships over the centuries. For sailors who washed ashore, survival was rare giving the region its evocative name.

Continuing south along the coastal road, stop to see one of the area’s more recent shipwrecks, the Zeila, a fishing trawler that ran aground in 2008, just 15 km south of Henties Bay. Originally destined for scrap, the vessel broke free while being towed and was swept onto the beach, where it now rests just offshore, an impressive and photogenic sight.

Make the final stretch to Swakopmund, arriving to check in at your centrally located accommodation. The town is easy to explore on foot, with cafés, shops, and attractions all within walking distance (approximately 510 km for the day).

Founded in 1892 by Captain Kurt von François of the German Imperial Army, Swakopmund blends old-world charm with coastal adventure. Bordered by the Atlantic to the west and encircled on three sides by the golden dunes of the Namib Desert, the town still reflects its German colonial heritage through its architecture and the continued use of the German language.

This evening, have time to discover Swakopmund’s vibrant dining scene. The town is known for its excellent restaurants, and your guide will be happy to offer recommendations or assist with reservations.

Overnight: Hotel a La Mer or similar, Swakopmund

Meals included: Breakfast; Lunch

This morning offers the option for a more leisurely start, with departure expected around mid-morning. For those wishing to make the most of their time in Swakopmund, the town offers a variety of optional activities and attractions. The compact town centre is easily explored on foot, with charming shops, cafés, and coastal views. Thrill-seekers may prefer an adrenaline rush with quad biking or sandboarding on the nearby dunes, an exhilarating experience that can see you racing down sandy slopes at speeds of up to 60 km/h (activity not included). Your guide will provide details on the available options in advance and assist with any bookings you wish to make.

Departure from Swakopmund is scheduled for around 11:30, heading east into the desert. The journey begins across the vast Namib gravel plains, seemingly barren expanses punctuated by dramatic granite inselbergs, isolated mountain formations rising sharply from the flat terrain. This afternoon’s drive takes you over two impressive mountain passes. The first, the Kuiseb Pass, winds steeply down through a canyon carved over millennia by the Kuiseb River, which eventually flows into the Atlantic near Walvis Bay. After climbing back up from the canyon floor, the journey continues through rugged peaks before descending into the smaller Gaub River Canyon, a tributary of the Kuiseb.

Emerging from the mountains, reach a notable geographical landmark: the Tropic of Capricorn (23.5° South). A short stop here allows for photos at the sign marking this iconic latitude. The journey continues through the stark desert landscape to the tiny settlement of Solitaire, a quirky outpost celebrated for its rustic charm and famous apple pie, a treat not to be missed.

After stretching your legs, travel onward to your lodge, where you will stay for the next two nights (approximately 350 km for the day). This evening, relax and unwind. Take a refreshing swim in the pool, enjoy a drink at the bar, and indulge in a buffet dinner served at the lodge.

Overnight: Desert Camp or similar, Sesriem

Meals included: Breakfast; Lunch; Dinner

Today, begin with a pre-dawn start and early breakfast to enter the dunes as early as possible. The dunes are at their most spectacular for photography around sunrise and sunset, when the light casts one side in glowing shades of orange and apricot, while the other remains in shadow, creating stunning depth and contrast.

From Sesriem, drive 60 km into the dunes to reach the 2x4 car park, where vehicles without four-wheel drive must stop. A 4x4 shuttle will transport you across the sandy river bed to reach the heart of Sossusvlei. Continue the final 5 km along the ancient Tsauchab River bed to reach Sossusvlei. The Tsauchab River is ephemeral, flowing only during periods of heavy rain. Thousands of years ago, it sometimes reached the Atlantic Ocean, but over the past five million years, shifting sands blocked its path as the surrounding dunes formed. Today, Sossusvlei is a permanent “dead end,” though exceptional rains can occasionally flood the area, creating a temporary lake that may last for months.

At Sossusvlei, visit Deadvlei, an ancient pan surrounded by soaring dunes and dotted with dead camelthorn trees that have stood for over 1,000 years. There will be time to explore on foot and, for the adventurous, climb one of the world’s tallest dunes, rising nearly 300 m above the valley floor. The panoramic views are truly breathtaking and world-famous.

On the return journey, stop at the iconic Dune 45, located 45 km from Sesriem. You can climb the dune if you have the energy, or simply relax in the shade at its base and take in the surroundings. Back in Sesriem, take a short excursion to Sesriem Canyon, just 4 km from town. This dramatic canyon was carved by the Tsauchab River over millennia. Around two million years ago, a global ice age increased the river’s length and flow, allowing it to cut deeply into the landscape. You can walk along the riverbed in the cooler canyon environment and follow its course for a short distance.

By late afternoon, return to your accommodation to relax and reflect on a full day in one of Namibia’s most iconic landscapes (approximately 220 km for the day).

Overnight: Desert Camp or similar, Sesriem

Meals included: Breakfast; Lunch; Dinner

Today, travel back to Windhoek and settle into your hotel, with the rest of the day free to relax at your own pace (approximatly 320km/day).

Overnight: Uzuri Guest House or similar, Windhoek

Meals included: Breakfast

Today, after breakfast, be transferred to the airport in time for your return flight back to Australia (or New Zealand).

Meals included: Breakfast; In-Flight

Please note that some customers may arrive +1 day.