Best of Namibia in 11 Days

Day 1: Drive to Erindi Private Game Reserve (B, D)

The Erindi area used to be a cattle farm and unfortunately, its cattle caused some damage to the natural vegetation. However, Gert Joubert and his nephew Paul bought the farm and started to phase out cattle farming and replaced this with numerous species of wildlife, and in 2007, it was approved as a nature conservation venture. Over the years Erindi has successfully transformed itself into an eco-tourism and conservation venture with specific programs established to rehabilitate both the land and animals that live in the reserve which includes wildebeest, elephant, springbok, lion and even aardvark and monitor lizards. This afternoon, the included game drive roams through the reserve with a qualified and knowledgeable guide in the comfort of an open 4×4 vehicle.

🏚️Accommodation: Erindi Game Reserve Lodge or similar.

Day 2: Drive to Etosha National Park (B, D)

A long but highly rewarding traveling day today. We drive north to the world-renowned Etosha National Park today, Etosha is the country’s prime wildlife location and home to the largest variety of mammals and birds in Namibia. Etosha means the ‘great white area’ which refers to the large dried pan in the middle of the park. It is believed that the pan was formed over 100 million years ago and is 130 km long and up to 50 km wide (the pan covers almost a quarter of the entire park) and can even be seen from space! Reaching our base in the afternoon for a dusk game drive, we check-in for two nights in Namutoni which is one of only three rest camps in the park.

🏚️Accommodation: Namutoni Chalets or similar.

Day 3: Game drives in Etosha National Park, Elephant, Rhino, Lion, and Leopard (B, D)

Etosha National Park is an immense saline desert, and our game drives take us from dense bush to large open plains where animals roam freely. We travel along with the network of gravel roads that criss-cross the park, visiting viewpoints and the permanent waterholes around which animals congregate. We hopefully will see four of the Big 5 that live in the area. Elephants and lions are common in the park, while the elusive leopard hides in densely vegetated areas but it is the endangered black rhinos, which draw the most interest. The numerous waterholes scattered around the park are probably among the best places in the world to see this precious animal along with the plains which are home to large herds of springbok and zebra, all of which give a wonderful backdrop to game viewing in a unique place.

🏚️Accommodation: Namutoni Chalets or similar.

 Day 4: Etosha Safaris West (B, D)

Awake to the sounds of the bush as you explore the park on an early morning game drive before returning to camp for a refreshing drink and lunch. This afternoon you have time to relax and gaze out to the waterhole and watch as the game lazily congregates in the shade to escape the heat.
As the afternoon progresses you may like to explore the National Park on an afternoon game drive. The beauty of the park unfolds as you venture out into the baobab scattered landscape. Return to camp to freshen up before meeting around the campfire for a pre-dinner drink as you discuss the day’s adventures.

🏚️Accommodation: Okakuejo Etosha Chalets or similar.

Day 5: Desert Elephants (B)

After breakfast, depart Etosha and drive to Kaokoland. Drive over the famous Grootberg pass to Torra Conservancy where you will trek the desert elephants.

🏚️Accommodation: Palmwag Country Lodge or similar.
Optional: Afternoon Game drive, Wild camping, Rhino trekking on foot, Bushwalk.

Day 6: Historical Damaraland (B)

Enjoy a morning walk and later visit the ancient rock engravings of Twyfelfontein, Petrified forests as well as a Damaraland tribe village museum. Twyfelfontein is a spectacularly scenic area, featuring one of the largest and most important concentrations of rock art in Africa. The name ‘Twyfelfontein’ translates to ‘Fountain of Doubt’, which refers to the perennial spring situated in the impressive Huab valley flanked by the slopes of a sandstone Table Mountain.

🏚️Accommodation: Palmwag Country Lodge or similar.

Day 7: Skeleton Coast and Swakopmund (B)

After breakfast, depart southwards towards the coast and on your way meet the locals of the Himba and Damara tribes and stop at Spitzkoppe Hill for amazing views and finally arrive in Swakopmund late afternoon. Or drive westwards to marvel at the barren scenery of the Skeleton Coast, visit the mysterious shipwrecks.

🏚️Accommodation: Hotel Alamer or similar. 

Day 8: Swakopmund Activities (B)

Relax and stroll around this charming city or try out one of the many optional activities today!
Optional – Kayak in Walvis Bay with afternoon free for optional.
We spend the morning kayaking around Walvis Bay (no experience required) which is a natural deep-water harbor protected by the Pelican Point peninsula along the Skeleton Coast. As you kayak along the bay, you will see the sand dunes, birdlife, and even an artificial island made from bird poo! If you are lucky, we may also have sightings of dolphins and seals that feed off the cool Benguela nutrient-rich current, as well as flamingos or pelicans. The afternoon is free to relax on the beach or try out the numerous activities in Swakopmund such as dolphin, seal, and whale cruise, and mountain biking.
Sandwich harbor visit and many more.

🏚️Accommodation: Hotel Alamer or similar.

Day 9: Namib Naukluft Park – Discover Desert Wildlife (B, D)

We leave Swakopmund this morning and travel by the dunes outside Swakopmund. The local desert guide will show the hidden life in this apparently barren landscape with animals that are endemic to Namibia including the sidewinder (Peringuey’s adder), the Palmetto gecko with its transparent skin and beautiful colors as well as track the large Namaqua chameleon. We find out how the area’s plants and small animals survive in this harsh climate including how they find water. Along the way, the guide explains the variety of dune colors, and weather permitting, you will experience a ‘roaring’ dune as the sand actually produces sound!. We continue into the desert to our chalet accommodation and enjoy a night stargazing experience.

🏚️Accommodation: Rostock Ritz Desert Lodge or similar.

Day 10: Exploring Sossusvlei Dunes and Sesriem Canyon (B, D)

Today, we drive into the Namib-Naukluft National Park, the largest nature reserve in Africa, and travel down the Tsauchab Valley to Sossusvlei to watch the sunrise and cast its shadows over the red dunes. Sossusvlei has some of the world’s most spectacular and highest sand dunes, including the incredibly photogenic ‘Dune 45’. The area itself is a vast depression or clay pan towered over by sand dunes up to 300m high. In the early morning, the first rays of the sunlight up the dunes with a deep orange glow – a photographer’s delight. It is a wild, beautiful and romantic spot with sparse vegetation edging a few watercourses that flow in from the Tsauchab River. We’ll also explore the cool passageways of the Sesriem Canyon on foot. A deep slash in the earth, the picturesque canyon is approximately 1km long and its shade offers shelter to numerous plants, while its water pools attract several species of birds and animals. Sesriem means ‘six thongs’. This refers to the six lengths of rawhide rope needed to make a line long enough to lower from the rim of the gorge to the stream below, in order to haul up a bucket of water in days gone by.

🏚️Accommodation: Le Mirage Hotel and Spa or similar.

Day 11: Airport Transfer (B)

Depart your accommodation in Windhoek, Namibia via the Namib Nauklaft mountains.

Tour Ends