Namibia Safari Special offer

11 days—Experience Namibia’s wild beauty on an epic journey through deserts, coastlines, ancient landscapes, and thrilling big-game safaris.

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$4300 USD

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Safari summary

After arriving at Hosea Kutako International Airport outside the country’s capital city of Windhoek, This unforgettable Namibian journey begins in Solitaire, a quirky desert outpost offering the only fuel, supplies, and its famously delicious apple pie en route to Sossusvlei. Though small, Solitaire is a welcome oasis for travelers crossing the vast Namib Desert, with a few lodges and sweeping desert views for sundowners, hiking, and biking.

The route travels through the Khomas Highlands and descends into the Namib Desert, the world’s oldest desert, home to the striking red dunes of Sossusvlei. Days here are spent exploring photogenic icons like Dune 45, Deadvlei, Big Daddy, Hiddenvlei, and Sesriem Canyon. This area, marked by its dramatic contrasts—brilliant blue skies, ochre dunes, and ghostly white pans—is a paradise for photographers and nature lovers. Wildlife sightings may include Gemsbok, Springbok, Pale Chanting Goshawks, and even Greater Kudu.

The journey continues through the Namib Sand Sea, a UNESCO World Heritage Site shaped by fog and wind, offering a unique ecosystem of endemic desert-adapted species. After a stop in Solitaire, the road leads to Swakopmund, a colonial-era coastal town nestled between desert and ocean. This vibrant hub is Namibia’s adventure capital, offering everything from sandboarding and skydiving to scenic flights and marine excursions. Nearby Walvis Bay is renowned for its lagoon and salt pans, a critical habitat for flamingos and over 150 bird species, along with desert-adapted reptiles and small mammals.

A highlight of Swakopmund is the Living Desert Experience, a guided exploration of the dune ecosystem revealing hidden wildlife like the Namib Sand Gecko, Namaqua Chameleon, Peringuey’s Adder, and a host of other adapted creatures.

The safari continues northward along the haunting Skeleton Coast, famed for its shipwrecks and harsh beauty. Turning inland, the route enters Damaraland, an expansive, rugged region framed by the Brandberg and Spitzkoppe Mountains. This is prime territory for tracking desert-adapted elephants, black rhinos, and even lions that survive in this seemingly barren landscape. Scenic sundowners cap off days spent amid striking granite outcrops and sweeping vistas.

A visit to Twyfelfontein, another UNESCO World Heritage Site, reveals one of Africa’s most important rock art collections—over 2,000 ancient engravings depicting rhinos, giraffes, and human footprints. Nearby, travelers can explore geological wonders such as the Organ Pipes, Petrified Forest, and Burnt Mountain, as well as encounter Namibia’s living fossil plant, the Welwitschia mirabilis.

The safari culminates in Etosha National Park, one of Africa’s greatest wildlife sanctuaries. Covering over 22,000 square kilometers, Etosha is dominated by a vast salt pan that attracts huge concentrations of wildlife to its waterholes—especially during the dry season. Game drives here reveal a dazzling array of mammals including elephants, lions, rhinos, cheetahs, giraffes, and both plains and mountain zebras. Birdlife is equally impressive, with over 350 species recorded, including Kori Bustards, Rüppell’s Parrots, Blue Cranes, and Secretarybirds.

Spending several days in both the southern and eastern regions of Etosha, including the Onguma Nature Reserve, travelers will enjoy varied habitats, abundant wildlife, and opportunities for remarkable photography. Evening campfires under star-filled skies and stunning African sunsets offer the perfect end to days spent exploring the bush.

After a final morning game drive or leisurely breakfast, the tour concludes with a return to Windhoek via the scenic countryside, capping off an epic journey through some of Namibia’s most iconic and wild landscapes.

About this tour

	Tour type	Set-date, set-itinerary, group
	Main focus	Game drives
	Activity level	Easy activity
	Best months	All months
	Countries	Namibia
	Parks	Etosha Namib-Naukluft

Fine details

Safari highlights

Beaches
Wildlife sanctuaries

What’s included?

Accommodation
Airport transfers
Meals
Park fees
Private vehicle and driver

What’s not included?

Alcoholic beverages
All drinks
Hot air balloons
Internal flights
International flights
Laundry
Premium alcoholic beverages
Spa treatments
Tips and gratuities
Visas

Itinerary

Windhoek to Namib Desert

Namib-Naukluft

Upon arrival at Hosea Kutako International Airport near Windhoek, your Nature Travel Namibia guide will meet you. We’ll drive 4–5 hours through the scenic Khomas Highlands into the Namib Desert, spotting wildlife like Ostrich, Gemsbok, and Kudu en route. The Namib, Earth’s oldest desert, features towering red dunes and striking landscapes. We’ll reach our lodge by afternoon, with time to explore the grounds for desert-adapted plants and small creatures.

Namib Desert Lodge Gondwana Collection Namibia

Sossusvlei

Namib-Naukluft

After an early breakfast, we head to Sossusvlei and Dead Vlei to explore Namibia’s iconic red dunes—among the tallest and oldest in the world. Highlights include Dune 45, Big Daddy, Hiddenvlei, and the surreal Deadvlei with its dead camelthorn trees. We'll also visit Sesriem Canyon, carved by the Tsauchab River. After lunch and a rest, we enjoy a sundowner drive to spot Gemsbok, Springbok, jackals, birds, and desert-adapted wildlife before returning for dinner.

Namib Desert Lodge Gondwana Collection Namibia

Sossusvlei to Swakopmund

Namib-Naukluft

After breakfast, we drive through the Namib-Naukluft Park to Swakopmund, possibly stopping in Solitaire for its famous apple pie. The journey crosses the Namib Sand Sea, a UNESCO site known for its fog-fed dunes and unique desert life. Swakopmund, nestled between desert and ocean, blends German and African cultures and offers adventure and charm. We arrive in time to explore or join an activity before dinner. Nearby Walvis Bay is a birding hotspot with rich desert biodiversity.

Swakopmund Sands Hotel

Swakopmund

After breakfast, we set out on a Living Desert Experience—an eye-opening adventure into the Namib’s hidden life. With a local expert, we search for geckos, chameleons, lizards, snakes, birds, and desert-adapted plants. Back in Swakopmund, enjoy lunch and optional activities like sandboarding, quad biking, a scenic flight, or a Walvis Bay cruise. We return to the lodge to freshen up before dinner and a well-earned rest.

Swakopmund Sands Hotel

Swakopmund to Twyfelfontein

Today we travel north along the remote Skeleton Coast, known for shipwrecks and its harsh, haunting beauty. After a stop to photograph one of these wrecks, we head inland toward Damaraland, passing landmarks like the towering Brandberg and iconic Spitzkoppe. This rugged region is home to desert-adapted wildlife including Elephant, Lion, and Black Rhino. We aim to spot some before arriving at our lodge in time for sundowners with a view.

Twyfelfontein Country Lodge

Twyfelfontein

After breakfast, we visit Twyfelfontein, a UNESCO World Heritage Site known for over 2,000 ancient rock engravings—mainly rhinoceros, but also elephants, giraffes, and human tracks. We’ll also look for the rare Welwitschia plant. Damaraland’s striking geology includes the Organ Pipes, Burnt Mountain, and the Petrified Forest. A game drive to search for desert-adapted wildlife may also be offered. We return to the lodge for dinner and a relaxing evening.

Twyfelfontein Country Lodge

Twyfelfontein to Etosha

Etosha

After an early breakfast, we head northeast to Etosha National Park, a scenic 4-hour drive with photo stops along the way. Arriving in the afternoon, we settle in at our lodge on the park’s southwestern edge. Etosha, meaning “great white place,” spans over 22,000 km² and is famed for its vast salt pan and iconic wildlife. After dinner, relax by the campfire and take in the dazzling night sky before turning in for the night.

Etosha Safari Camp Gondwana Collection Namibia

Etosha

Today we'll enjoy morning and afternoon game drives in Etosha, returning to the lodge at midday to rest and have lunch. Your guide will tailor the route based on your interests, ensuring the best wildlife viewing. Etosha hosts over 110 mammal species, including four of the Big Five, Cheetah, two Zebra species, and more. In dry months, animals gather at waterholes, offering exceptional viewing. After dinner, relax by the fire under the brilliant African night sky.

Etosha Safari Camp Gondwana Collection Namibia

Etosha

We’ll spend a full day exploring Etosha, gradually moving to the park’s eastern side for our next two nights. Etosha hosts over 350 bird species, including regional rarities like Kori Bustard and Violet Woodhoopoe, which we’ll seek on drives and near the lodge. Known for its dramatic light and colors, the park is a photographer’s paradise, especially at sunrise and sunset. After a rewarding day, we’ll return to the lodge for dinner and rest.

Onguma Forest Camp

Etosha

On our final day in Etosha, we’ll enjoy morning and afternoon game drives, resting at the lodge during the midday heat when animals are less active. Established as a game reserve in 1907 and a national park in 1967, Etosha draws over 200,000 visitors yearly. Beyond its wildlife, the area holds fossils dating back 650 million years. We’ll return to the lodge late afternoon to freshen up and share our last dinner together.

Onguma Forest Camp

Etosha to Windhoek

Etosha

After an early morning game drive or a leisurely final breakfast, we’ll begin the 5 to 6-hour journey south to Windhoek. This drive offers a last chance to soak in Namibia’s stunning landscapes and perhaps spot wildlife along the way. Upon arrival in the capital, we’ll escort you to Hosea Kutako International Airport for your departure, marking the end of an unforgettable Namibian adventure filled with diverse wildlife, dramatic scenery, and rich cultural experiences.

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