Journey from the Southern Wilderness to the Northern Frontier
14 DAYS SAFARI TOUR
The ideal safari for travelers with time to spare and a desire to truly immerse themselves in Namibia. This journey is designed for those who want to explore the entire country at a relaxed pace, spending quality time at each destination. Discover all the breathtaking landscapes and hidden gems Namibia has to offer, with the freedom to fully experience its beauty, culture, and wildlife.
Highlights
- Explore the oldest desert in the world, the Namib.
- Day trip to the world famous red dunes of Sossusvlei.
- The wild Atlantic
- Discover the ‘Little 5’ or visit the seal colony in Walvis Bay
- Discover the World Heritage Site of Twyfelfontein
- Thousands of animals of all kinds to discover in Etosha National Park
Brief Itinerary
- Day 1-2: Windhoek
- Day 2-4: Sossusvlei
- Day 4-6: Swakopmund
- Day 6-8: Twyfelfontein
- Day 8-11: Etosha National Park
- Day 11-12: Waterberg Plateau National Park
- Day 12-13: Erindi Game Reserve
- Day 14: Departure
- Day 15: Arrival Home
Detailed Itinerary
Day 1 – 2: Windhoek
Your guide will greet you at the international airport near Windhoek, and take you to the guest house in Windhoek, where a Meet and Greet session will be held. During this session, the full itinerary will be thoroughly discussed, and you’ll receive all necessary travel documents. Afterward, the rest of the day is free for you to enjoy whether that’s exploring the city, shopping for your upcoming adventure, or relaxing by the pool to recover from your journey.
As Namibia’s capital, Windhoek offers a diverse selection of restaurants, shops, and lodging options. The city is well maintained and orderly, with highlights including the Christ Church, the Tintenpalast, and the lively craft markets in the city center. In the evening, the group will come together for dinner at the guest house’s or restaurant.
Day 2 – 3: Namib Desert
The journey goes via Rehoboth and further past the Naukluft mountains into the great desert landscapes of the Namib. The guide will happily stop for a few photo stops along the way and lunch packs are available for everyone around midday.
In the afternoon you will reach the beautiful lodge, where you can spend the rest of the day, preferably with a cool drink by the pool. You can take a short hike in the afternoon and enjoy the beautiful landscape. With a bit of luck you might spot some desert antelope in the distance.
In the evening there will be dinner with a great view at the Lodge Restaurant.
Day 3 – 4: Sossusvlei
Your day starts early in the morning so that you can still experience the beautiful light of the morning hours. First the journey goes to Sesriem, the entrance gate to the Namib Naukluft Park. The gate opens at sunrise. Then a narrow tar road takes you past beautiful landscapes and high dunes to Deadvlei and Sossusvlei. A 1.5 km hike takes you over clay flats and a small dune to the ancient, dried up acacia trees of the Dead Vlei, which are now world famous.
Sossusvlei is located in the Namib-Naukluft National Park, the largest nature reserve in Africa. The most famous photographs of Namibia undoubtedly come from Sossusvlei. The images are stunning with the intense red dunes and sharp lines. The dunes in this area are the highest in the world, reaching immense heights of almost 400 meters. Climb Dune 45 and enjoy the fantastic view over the dune sea. Another stop is Deadvlei, a dry lake with tree stumps that has become an almost surrealistic landscape. Sossusvlei means “dead end swamp” because it is where the dunes that prevent the Tsauchab River from reaching the Atlantic Ocean converge. However, due to the drought in the Namib Desert, this river rarely flows that far at all, hence the pan is dry most years. However, during a good rainy season, the Tsauchab River fills the salt pan and visitors from all over the world flock to the area to experience this spectacular site.
Around noon you can then enjoy your packed lunch under the camel thorn trees by the Sossusvlei Dry Pan. Afterwards the drive goes back to the entrance gate at Sesriem, where the Sesriem Canyon can also be explored. In the afternoon you will reach the beautiful lodge again.
Day 4 – 5: Swakopmund
On this route, the Namib shows itself from many different sides. You drive past mountains, red dunes, Gaub and Kuiseb Canyon and later the barren areas of the Namib. On particularly hot days, you can see a Mirage. On the way you can always see typical desert animals, oryx, springbok, ostrich and with a bit of luck a giraffe.
The small gas station and rest stop, Solitaire, is a great place to stop. It is very conveniently located on your tour of south western Namibia and on the way to Swakopmund. In the small Solitaire Bakery there are many delicacies, including the best apple pie in Namibia.
Once you reach the Atlantic, you can take a short trip to the harbor and lagoon of Walvis Bay. Hundreds of flamingos often cavort here in the shallow water of the salty lagoon. From there you drive the last 40 km on a beautiful tar road, always along the sea, to Swakopmund, probably the most German town in the southern hemisphere.
Day 5 – 6: Swakopmund
On day 5-6, you can choose between two activities, which must be reserved in advance ( so to be included in the tour package).
Living Desert Tour
The Guide will pick you up from your hotel at 8:00 AM sharp. You’ll embark on an off-road adventure through the dune belt south of Swakopmund, searching for the “Little 5.” This thrilling excursion offers fascinating insights into the dune ecosystem and its unique inhabitants. You’ll return to your hotel around midday, leaving the afternoon free to explore Swakopmund and its surroundings at your leisure.
Boat Safari
These cruises focus on seeing marine life, mainly heavyside and bottlenose dolphins and the Cape fur seal. Enjoy a glass of sparkling wine and the wonderful Walvis Bay oysters while these animals play with the boat. You will be picked up at the hotel reception in the morning. The excursion departs from Walvis Bay Harbour, from where you take a catamaran to Pelican Point, home to the seals. Around noon you will be taken back to the hotel in Swakopmund.
Day 6 – 7: Twyfelfontein
From Swakopmund, we travel north along the Atlantic coast to Hentiesbaai, then head inland, passing Namibia’s tallest peak, the majestic Brandberg, named for the fiery glow it casts when bathed in the sun’s final rays. In the afternoon, we arrive at Twyfelfontein, where you have the option to visit the renowned rock engravings and organ pipes. You can coordinate this with your guide. Please note that entry fees for these attractions are not included in the tour price and must be covered separately..
Day 7 – 8: Twyfelfontein
After breakfast, you will head into the region’s dry rivers in search of the famous desert-adapted elephants. These animals roam the region almost all year round, but there are times when the animals are simply untraceable. While it might not work out with the elephants, you will definitely be treated to beautiful desert landscapes and a lovely day trip.
Day 8 – 9: Etosha West
On the way to the Etosha National Park, we pass the area of the petrified trees. We stop here and marvel at the mighty petrified tree trunks. In the afternoon we arrive at the Hobatere Concession area which borders the western Etosha National Park. Lions, elephants and antelope can often be seen in the concession area. If you want, you can sign up for a night safari at the lodge.
Day 9 – 10: Etosha South
We will spend the whole day on safari in the Etosha National Park. The route will take us from the western Galton Gate to the Anderson Gate south of Okaukuejo. We will start after an early breakfast, as progress is slow today. There are thousands of animals of all kinds to discover in Etosha National Park and most of them can be found at the waterholes, depending on the season it can be quite busy and you will find yourself surrounded by hundreds of springbok, zebra and elephant.
Animal watching should be done with patience, you drive comfortably from waterhole to waterhole and stay there for a while. Our safari vehicle is particularly suitable here, as it has a pop-up roof that is great for taking photos and observing. We enjoy our packed lunches at one of the rest areas in the park. In the afternoon we leave the park in the south and spend the night at the nearby lodge.
Day 10 – 11: Etosha East
Our safari starts right after breakfast. We drive back into the park via the Andersson Gate. From Okaukuejo we drive along the southern edge of the salt pan. This area is very popular with the animals and due to the sparse vegetation you have the opportunity to see the animals from afar. We take a lunch break at the Halali rest stop.
We then continue to the old German Fort Namutoni, which dates back to the time of the Schutztruppe. We must have left the park by sunset at the latest. A beautiful lodge awaits on the east side of the park.
Day 11 – 12: Waterberg Plateau National Park
We leave the Etosha region and drive via Tsumeb and Grootfontein to the Waterberg Plateau. Tarmac and gravel roads will take us to the beautiful Waterberg. Millions of years ago, this area was once a swamp where dinosaurs roamed. The swamp was petrified and the area around it has been eroded away. What was left was a beautiful red and fertile Plateau, where you can still find dinosaur footprints in the sandstone. We recommend the guided plateau hike & the Rhino Drive, but the other hiking routes are also very exciting to explore on your own.
Plateau hike
Your hiking guide will climb the Waterberg plateau with you, explain the nature of the park to you and give you an insight into the everyday life and culture of the Herero people who live in this area. A great view of the valley and the plains of the Kalahari awaits you here.
Rhino Drive
Traveling like the Bushmen. With the tracker, you can track down Oryx or Hartebeest, Kudu or giraffe in the game-rich nature reserve – or even meet rhinos at eye level.
(The activities on the Waterberg are not included and can be booked and paid for on site.)
Day 13 – 14: Windhoek and surroundings
In the early morning you can go on an AM Game drive, and enjoy Namibias beauty for a last time.
After that we set off for Windhoek, which we reach around noon. Arriving in Windhoek, your guide will take you to a good restaurant where you are welcome to stay for a while to enjoy lunch. In the afternoon the Guide will take you to the international airport near Windhoek, where everybody will say their goodbyes.
We hope you had a wonderful tour of the highlights of Namibia.
Envision Africa Travel offers organized self-drive holidays and private guided tours to Namibia. Embark on an adventure in a fully equipped vehicle of your choice, with accommodations pre-arranged to suit your preferences, whether staying in lodges, guesthouses, campsites, or a combination of these.
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Every traveler is unique, with distinct preferences for their journey. Planning a self-drive trip to Namibia, Botswana and Zimbabwe? Let Envision Africa Travel’s expert tour consultants guide you! Based in Africa, our friendly, service-oriented team collaborates with you to craft a fully customized tour tailored to your desires, needs, and budget. From 4×4 rentals to camping or luxury lodging, we create a personalized proposal for your unforgettable African adventure.
Included Self-Drive Trip:
- Car rental
- Accommodation (hotels, guesthouses, lodges or campsites)
- Unlimited kilometres
- Complete camping equipment (camping trip)
- Car insurance with standard excess
- Third party insurance
- Most accommodations are booked with breakfast and camping is self-catering
- Personal travel App for cell phone
- 24-hours emergency service
- Tips and route information
- Airport/hotel transfers
Accommodation:
- Standard accommodation tours include all rooms at middle-class hotels, guesthouses or lodges (mostly B&B), unless otherwise requested.
- Standard camping tours include most nights at campsites, combined with several nights at middle-class hotels, guesthouse or lodges (mostly B&B).
- Almost all campsites and accommodations have a restaurant and offer facilities like a pool, bar, info desk, etc.
- If the trips includes visits to National Parks, then the nights will be spent inside the parks as much as possible.
Meals & Drinks:
- Most accommodations are booked with breakfast and camping is self-catering. It will be clearly indicated what meals are included in your tour proposal.
- With most accommodations it is also possible to book dinner in advance. If you would like to include this in your proposal, please let us know.
Not included Self-Drive Trip:
- International Flights
- Fuel
- Park fees, entrance fees to museums
- Personal expenses
- Additional activities and excursions, e.g. game drives, boat trips, etc.
- Meals (unless indicated as included)
- Travel and cancellation insurance
