Itinerary Highlights
- Stay in prime locations within the national parks
- completely independent travel through Namibia
- See the wildlife at Etosha
- ascend the dunes at Sossusvlei
- search for desert adapted elephant in Damaraland
What's Included
- Flights
- Accommodation Throughout
- Car Hire
13 nights from £3,475 per person
Derek Schuurman
Travel Specialist
An iconic road trip across a pristine part of Africa, the open roads of Namibia hold many adventures to be had and discoveries to be made. Drive across and explore a land which is in equal measures beautiful and barren. The blazing sun enhances the gold and ochre hues of the captivating endless vistas you will cover in your car. Spend two weeks travelling to many of Namibia’s stunning landscapes filled with desert adapted wildlife, an intriguing safari alternative to chasing the Big Five across the savannah grasslands.
You’ll spend three days in the Etosha National Park, one of the world’s greatest wildlife havens and home to a vast salt pan visible from space. An authentic way to observe the wildlife, drive to one of the waterholes and watch in awe as an abundance of animals congregate round. Other highlights include driving along Skeleton Coast, the shore of a thousand shipwrecks, a barren stretch of dramatic coast before reaching the coastal Germanic town of Swakopmund.
Staying in comfortable lodges, guesthouses and National Park rest camps, this tour includes the hire of an air-conditioned salon car, with comprehensive insurance, with upgrades to a 4x4 available.
Itinerary
Day 1 Take an overnight flight from the U...
Take an overnight flight from the UK to Windhoek with a transfer and change of aircraft in Johannesburg.
Day 2 Waterberg
On arrival at Windhoek Airport you will be met by our local agent, who will provide you with your drive pack, before collecting your hire vehicle and heading out for your three hour journey north to the Waterberg Plateau. Your first night in Namibia will be spent in the Waterberg Rest Camp.
There are a variety of trails organised by the camp to explore this unique biosphere. Hike up to the top of the isolated flat-topped plateau for awe-inspiring panoramas looking over the patchwork land of wooded areas, grasslands and verdant ravines.
Staying at
Waterberg Rest Camp
Day 3 Etosha National Park
Today continue north to the Etosha National Park. One of the world’s greatest wildlife havens, the park’s vast salt pans and waterholes attracts large number of game. This animal crowd includes zebra, springbok, rhino, lion and leopard. Etosha National Park is set up for visitors to drive themselves, intrepidly cover the land by a network of well-marked and sign-posted roads.
Spend the night in Namutoni, a wonderfully atmospheric camp built into an old German Fort. Namutoni has a fantastic location for you to explore all the surrounding natural wonders including the Makalani Palms, Fischer’s Pan – a wonderland of water birds including flamingos – and the wildlife of the National Park.
Staying at
Namutoni Rest Camp
Day 4 Etosha National Park
Spend a full day in Etosha National Park with possible animal sightings including bathing elephants, running warthogs, prowling lions and growling hyenas. With the park home to 112 mammal species, your wildlife spotting is likely to be diverse and thrilling.
In the evening drive to Okaukuejo, a former military outpost with a magnificent stone tower which has been renovated into a popular camp with bush chalets. The camp overlooks a permanently lit waterhole which bustles with animal activity. In the early morning, as the sun rises, the animals gather for their morning drink while in the evening it is not uncommon to see black rhino, elephant and lion.
Day 5 Etosha National Park
During your last day in Etosha National Park you are free to spend your time as you wish. Continue traversing through the park, in search for the last wildlife spot to be ticked off the list. Or relax at the camp overlooking the waterhole as the congregation of animals changes throughout the day.
Day 6 Damaraland
Drive southwest to the stunningly rugged Damaraland for a two night stay in this adventurous region. One of the most scenic areas in Namibia, Damaraland is full of desert mountain ranges and scrubby plateaus threaded by springs and rivers.
You will stay in Twyfelfontein country lodge, a stunning lodge which takes its inspiration from the warm colours and dramatic shapes of the surrounding mountain backdrop. The lodge is near to Twyfelfontein, the largest collection of rock engravings in Africa. Namibia’s first UNESCO site, the preserved engraved rock slabs depict the ritual practices of the hunter-gatherer communities of Late Stone Age. The drawings of elephant, ostrich, giraffe and humans are a fascinating look back at like thousands of years ago.
Staying at
Twyfelfontein Lodge
Day 7 Damaraland
Today delve into Damaraland’s attractions, from the long columns of rich rusty stone of the Organ Pipes, an intriguing geological formation, to Burnt Mountain. This national monument is best seen in the early morning or late evening as the orange sun sets the black mountain ablaze with an explosion of reds and purples.
Staying at
Twyfelfontein Lodge
Day 8 Swakopmund
Head south, driving along the iconic Skeleton Coast past beaches scattered with rusted shipwrecks and bleached whalebones, the Atlantic Ocean crushing against the shore. A landscape of haunting beauty, travel along this road until you arrive in Swakopmund.
This charming coastal town has a strong German influence. Spend the afternoon wandering along the seaside promenades and amongst the colonial era buildings, stopping for a coffee and cake in one of the continental style cafes. During your two nights here you’ll be staying in Sam’s Giardino, an intimate and welcoming Swiss-run guesthouse.
Staying at
Sam's Giardino
Day 9 Swakopmund
Swakopmund is the perfect base for many local activities including sand boarding and quad biking over the roaring sand dunes for the adventurous. Take a boat cruise to see the Cape Cross Seal Colony or visit the ancient desert adapted Welwitschia plants.
Staying at
Sam's Giardino
Day 10 Sossusvlei
Leave behind Swakopmund to travel inland to Sossusvlei, the towering dunes a wonderful finish to your thrilling holiday. Ascend the dunes to the peak 200m above the valley floor to marvel at the magnitude of the spectacular red sand landscape, a quintessential image of Namibia.
Make your way into the Namib Naukluft National park where you will spend the next 2 nights at Sossus Dune lodge with breakfast included.
This lodge is perfectly situated to take in the dunes at sunrise.
Staying at
Sossus Dune Lodge
Day 11 Sossusvlei
A wonderful way to start your last day exploring Namibia, drift in a hot air balloon over the landscape as the sun’s rays come up over the dunes.
Other desert activities include scenic drives in an open 4x4 safari vehicle to the petrified dunes and the massive boulders of Bushman’s Koppies. For those who want to get close to the nature of the land, take a guided nature walk on the marked hiking trails. Walk across Deadvlei, an eerie white salt covered pan strewn with dead camel thorn trees which have been scorched black in the 1,000 years spent in the harsh sun.
Staying at
Sossus Dune Lodge
Day 12 Windhoek
Leave behind Sossusvlei heading north to Windhoek. Due to the distance between the two locations, we suggest spending the night at the Olive Grove Guest House.
Staying at
Olive Grove
Day 13 Windhoek
After breakfast, you will be transferred to the Windhoek Airport for your flight back to London via Johannesburg.
Derek Schuurman
Travel Specialist
Pricing Information & Dates
13 nights from £3,475 per person
Itinerary Dates
Pricing
10th Jan 2023 -
15th Dec 2023
15th Dec 2023
£3,475
Derek Schuurman
Travel Specialist
Price Includes
- Return International Flights as per the itinerary
- All airport taxes and security charges
- Accommodation and meals as specified
- Transfers as specified
- Activities and excursions as specified
- All entrace fees on sightseeing tours as specified
• Airport taxes
• Car hire for the duration (unlimited mileage and comprehensive insurance)
• Accommodation with breakfast throughout
Price Excludes
- Travel Insurance
- Any meals not specified in the itinerary
- Tips and gratuities
- Optional excursions
• visa fees
• drinks
• activities
• entrance fees
• fuel
• additional driver fee
• car hire admin fee payable directly
• car hire security deposit taken from credit card
• meals other than specified
Pricing Notes
Prices based on a 2x4 vehicle (Nissan Xtrail or similar)
Why Choose Us?
Passionate travel experts
- We've been leading wildlife travel since our first South Africa tours over 25 years ago
- Our Travel Specialists have lived in their specialist area for years
- We work with local guides to immerse you deeper in our diverse range of experiences
Personal & tailor-made
- You'll speak to your own expert who'll share their first-hand knowledge
- We'll make your itinerary seamless with 24/7 emergency contact available
- Your Travel Specialist will listen to ensure you have the best chance of seeing the wildlife you love
Responsible by nature
- We take care to actively contribute to the conservation of environments we visit
- For select countries, we make a charitable donation on your behalf when you make your booking
- We've partnered with conservation experts and NGOs to curate responsible tours
For the latest travel advice from the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office check www.gov.uk/travelaware
