We Love —
- Visit a land of striking natural beauty on this immersive tour to some of Namibia's must see sights.
- You will experience some of the best game viewing in Africa in Etosha National Park, and visit unique treasures such as the Petrified Forest and the stunning sand dunes at Sossusvlei.
- Stay in a selection of rustic lodges and charming hotels on the tour and enjoy the services of a shared guide along the way.
Your Destinations —
This tour visits all of Namibia's hot-spots including Etosha National Park, the country's greatest wildlife reserve. At various waterholes zebra, wildebeest and gemsbok drink to the trumpeting of elephants and roaring of lions.
On to Swakopmund with its colonial architecture, atmospheric streets and delicious seafood, then to Sossusvlei in the heart of the Namib Desert and home to the world's tallest sand dunes, some of which tower over 300 metres high. Watching the changing mood and colours at sunrise and sunset is one of Namibia's highlights.
Namibia
To properly appreciate this extraordinary country, you will have to venture out of the cities to explore the remarkable natural landscapes Namibia has to offer. These include: the impressive Fish River Canyon; the vast Etosha National Park teeming with abundant wildlife, such as lions, desert-adapted elephants and the Hartmann's Mountain Zebra; the hauntingly beautiful Kalahari Desert; and of course the Namib Desert stretching for over 2000 km along the magnificent Atlantic Coast. Namibia is an ideal destination for travellers seeking an unforgettable African experience in a uniquely beautiful untamed wilderness.
Our Offer —
10 Night Namibia Highlights Tour
Your Itinerary In Brief —
Day 1: Overnight travel
Day 2: Windhoek
Day 3: Sossusvlei
Day 4: Sossusvlei
Day 5: Swakopmund
Day 6: Swaokpmund
Day 7: Damaraland
Day 8: Etosha South
Day 9: Etosha East
Day 10: Etosha East
Day 11: Windhoek
Day 12: Overnight travel
Your 10-Night Itinerary —
Day 2: Windhoek - Windhoek Country Club Resort & Casino
After collecting your luggage you will be transferred to the Windhoek Country Club. The remaining part of the afternoon is at leisure.
Situated in Central Namibia, the cosmopolitan city of Windhoek serves as the capital of the country. It is home to an international airport and a plethora of restaurants, shops, entertainment venues and accommodation options. The city is clean, safe and well-organised, with a colonial legacy that is reflected in its many German eateries and shops, and the widespread use of the German language. Windhoek has an interesting mix of historical architecture and modern buildings, many of which are worth a look, including the Alte Feste an old fort, the 1896 Christuskirche Christ Church, and the more contemporary Supreme Court.
The tour departs Windhoek today. Travel to the lodge in the Namib Desert. This is the gateway to Sesriem Canyon and Sossusvlei, where some of the highest sand dunes on Earth stand towering over the white desert plains. The afternoon can be spent relaxing at the pool, or taking part in optional activities offered at the lodge.
Located in the scenic Namib-Naukluft National Park, Sossusvlei is where you will find the iconic red sand dunes of the Namib. The clear blue skies contrast with the giant red dunes to make this one of the most scenic natural wonders of Africa and a photographer's heaven. This awe-inspiring destination is possibly Namibia's premier attraction, with its unique dunes rising to almost 400 metres-some of the highest in the world. These iconic dunes come alive in morning and evening light and draw photography enthusiasts from around the globe. Sossusvlei is home to a variety desert wildlife including oryx, springbok, ostrich and a variety of reptiles. Visitors can climb 'Big Daddy', one of Sossusvlei’s tallest dunes; explore Deadvlei, a white, salt, claypan dotted with ancient trees; or for the more extravagant, scenic flights and hot air ballooning are on offer, followed by a once-in-a-lifetime champagne breakfast amidst these majestic dunes.
The morning demands an early start. Entering the Namib Naukluft National Park with sunrise, the first rays of sunlight paint the mountains of sand into a variety of apricot, red and orange, contrasted against a crisp blue skyline, enrapturing our senses, and providing an opportunity to capture this awesome landscape on film. You will be captivated by the surreal Deadvlei surrounded by some of the highest dunes on earth and Sossusvlei, where the dry Tsauchab River ends abruptly amongst dunes. Take the opportunity to walk up one of these majestic dunes to admire the desert landscape beneath. Thereafter you will visit the Sesriem Canyon, a life sustaining natural phenomenon in the heart of the Namib Desert.
After breakfast travel via the desolate, rolling hills of the Kuiseb Moon Valley towards the Atlantic Ocean. In Walvis Bay visit the shallow lagoon, one of the most important wetland areas on the African continent and a RAMSAR World Heritage Site. Over 80% of the African flamingos feed in this lagoon and present a breathtaking picture when they appear in groups. Having arrived in Swakopmund, the rest of the day is spent at leisure. With palm-lined streets and seaside promenades, Swakopmund is a very popular holiday destination in Namibia. Its pleasant summer climate and long stretched beaches attract anglers and surfers from all over Southern Africa. For the international guest, Swakopmund is a bohemian mix of German architecture and African time, a laid back attitude with adrenalin activities, misty mornings and desert heat. It is colorful, it is vibrant, but most of all, it is fun.
Set along Namibia's spectacularly scenic coast, the seaside town of Swakopmund is known for its wide-open avenues, colonial architecture, and is surrounded by otherworldly desert terrain. Founded in 1892 as the main harbour for German South West Africa, Swakopmund is often described as being more German than Germany. Now a seaside resort town, Swakopmund is the capital of the Skeleton Coast tourism area and has plenty to keep visitors happy. The quirky mix of German and Namibian influences, adventure options, laidback atmosphere and cool sea breeze make it very popular Namibian destination. Visitors can look forward to a number of exciting activities including: quad biking, horse riding, paragliding, fishing, sightseeing and fascinating desert tours.
Swakopmund is often fondly referred to as the “playground of Namibia”, it has numerous activities ranging from, adventure to exploring the fascinating features of the Namib Desert and the animals and plants that occur and survive here. Embrace the relaxed pace of this idyllic coastal town whilst enjoying coffee and freshly baked pastries in one of the many café’s. Alternatively explore the rugged, sweltering desert on a day tour, or view this awesome, environment from the air on a scenic flight. Find your inner child and push adrenaline to its limits with extreme adventures such as skydiving over the desert or quad biking and sand boarding on the dunes. Take time to get the feel of this quaint town with its historic buildings, museums, shopping arcades and beach bar that has transformed into its own personality by the vibrant use of color and the bohemian lifestyle.
Heading further north, we travel via the Brandberg, Namibia’s highest mountain (2.579m), into the Damaraland, one of the least populated and geologically diverse areas in Africa. This harsh, rocky environment is home to the rare desert elephant, the black rhino and free-roaming antelope species. We visit to Twyfelfontein, a heritage site where Bushman communities engraved and painted over 2500 pictures some 6000 years ago! After a visit to a nearby Living Museum of the Damara we proceed on to the Petrified Forest - a geological phenomenon depicting the creation and evolution of some of the oldest landmasses on Earth. Here you will also visit the Welwitschia mirabilis plant – the oldest living desert plant on Earth.
This vast desert landscape is known as one of the most beautiful regions in Namibia. Huge, untamed and ruggedly beautiful, Damaraland is an exceptionally scenic landscape featuring open plains, ancient valleys and spectacular rock formations. The major attractions are the sacred Spitzkoppe, the Brandberg, Twyfelfontein, Vingerklip and the otherworldly Petrified Forest. Visitors can take in the dramatic vistas, catch a glimpse of the rare desert-adapted elephant, and enjoy spectacular stargazing in crystal-clear night skies from one of the many safari camps dotting Damaraland. Other popular activities include: guided drives, nature walks and visiting the local communities. Don’t miss the opportunity to view the Damaraland's world-famous ancient rock art.
After a relaxed breakfast, travel towards the Etosha National Park, famous for its vast amount of wildlife and unique landscape. Once you have reached the camp located on the outside of the National Park, you will have the rest of the day at leisure, but can optionally also book an afternoon guided game drive in open vehicles with the lodge
Located just south of the boundary of Etosha National Park in northwestern Namibia, Etosha South makes up the southern region of this wild paradise. Ogava Private Game Reserve shares the southern boundary with Etosha National Park and offers an array of luxury lodges overlooking picturesque landscapes dotted with abundant wildlife. The national park can be accessed via the southern entrance at Andersson’s Gate. Visitors can catch a glimpse of a variety of wildlife including: lion, giraffe, elephant, white and black rhino, and a multitude of plains game. Popular activities include: game drives, tracking rhinos on foot, guided nature walks, or watch the sunset over this magnificent landscape.
This day is devoted purely to the abundant wildlife found in the Etosha National Park, which surrounds a parched salt desert known as the Etosha Pan. The park is home to 4 of the Big Five - elephant, lion, leopard and rhino. The Park was proclaimed as Namibia’s first conservation area in 1907 by the then Governor, von Lindequist. Despite the size of the Etosha National Park, only the southern edge of the pan is accessible to visitors. Game viewing in the park is largely focussed around the waterholes, some of which are spring fed and some supplied from a borehole, ideal places to sit and watch over 114 different game species, or for an avid birder, in excess of 340 bird species. Popular game species such as giraffe, blue wildebeest, plains and mountain zebra, hyena, lion, leopard, antelopes such as kudu, oryx, eland, as well as some of the endangered species such as Black rhino, cheetah and the black-faced impala are all found here. An extensive network of roads link the over 30 water holes allowing the visitor an opportunity to do a real game viewing safari over the stretch of the park as each different area will provide different encounters.
Located in Northwestern Namibia, Etosha East is a protected sanctuary in the eastern part of the world-renowned Etosha National Park, known as one of the most accessible game reserves in Southern Africa. Etosha East boasts vast open plains scattered with semi-arid savannah grasslands dotted with watering holes and secluded bush camps. An impressive 5000-square-kilometre Etosha salt pan makes up a large area of the eastern side of the park and can even be seen from space. This remote area teems with abundant wildlife such as lions, elephants, black rhinos and giraffes, as well as a variety of birdlife featuring flamingos, ostriches, eagles, hornbills, and owls.
Today your guide again takes you on a game drive in the Etosha National Park. You may encounter animal species we have not seen the previous day and look forward to any new surprises at the different waterholes visited. The Etosha Pan dominates the park. This salt pan desert, which is nearly completely enclosed by the park and is lined by numerous watering holes, is roughly 130 km long and as wide as 50 km in places. During Etosha’s notorious dry spells the pan is a deathly place, lying parched and cracked under the molten African sun. It is claimed that game viewing is best during the dry spells as animals will then congregate closer to water. But even in the rainy season the park remains an abundant wildlife haven. You then have the pleasure of experiencing the rebirth of life as the young foals, cubs and chicks are seen frolicking with their parents and the sprouting new green shrubs and grasses create a pleasing green oasis. In the afternoon we travel back to our lodge, where we enjoy the rest of the evening at leisure.
Day 11: Windhoek - Windhoek Country Club Resort & Casino (Breakfast)
After breakfast, continue southwards to Windhoek. Visit the craft markets in the main street of the capital city, before returning to the Windhoek Country Club. Bid farewell to your touring friends and enjoy the rest of the day/evening at leisure.
Day 12: Overnight travel
Today you will be transferred to the airport for your flight home.
Day 13: End of Itinerary
Your Tour Hotels —
Our members will stay at the following 4* and 3* category hotels in a Standard Room with a breakfast dining basis included.
Your Hotels
Sossusvlei: Elegant Desert Lodge
Swakopmund: Swakopmund Plaza Hotel
Damaraland: Damara Mopane Lodge Gondwana Collection Namibia
Etosha South: Etosha Safari Camp Gondwana Collection Namibia
Etosha East: Mokuti Etosha Lodge
Your Journey —
Flights: Included with South African Airways
Outbound:
Leg 1: Heathrow International Airport to OR Tambo International Airport
Departure: 19:00
Arrival: 07:00 +1
Leg 2: OR Tambo International Airport to Hosea Kutako International Airport
Departure: 09:30
Arrival: 11:25
Inbound:
Leg 1: Hosea Kutako International Airport to OR Tambo International Airport
Departure: 16:00
Arrival: 17:45
Leg 2: OR Tambo International Airport to Heathrow International Airport
Departure: 20:00
Arrival: 06:25 +1
All flight times are local.
Luggage: 23kg checked baggage and 6kg hand luggage.
Transfers: Transfers are included throughout the trip. Private return airport transfers are included and shared transfers are included throughout the tour. Clients will be met at the airport and transferred to the hotel for the first night. On the way back, drop off at the hotel for the night and then met by the transfer vehicle for the return.
For inbound transfer arrangements please confirm with your transfer provider when you arrive. Alternatively, please check with the reception of your accommodation. If you still require assistance, please call the transfer provider directly.