Overview
Namibia is a vast wilderness comprising diverse landscapes of desert and arid savanna where a geological history has produced fascinating formations. Survival in the desert is hugely challenging for all forms of life that have adapted to these harsh conditions, each in their own fascinating way. This is another world !
You will be intrigued by the diversity of life in a seemingly barren world and will relish the sunrises and sunsets in the most unusual landscapes on our planet, the warmth of the Namibian people and the tranquillity of vast open spaces – the result is an unforgettable experience.
Namibia is a photographer’s dream, from the ochre colours of the wind-sculpted sand dunes and bare mountains that glow in the morning sun to the unusual landscapes, ethnic cultures and desert life.
Although most roads are gravel, they are well maintained, allowing tourism to move freely between the many weird and wonderful areas of the country. Namibia’s infrastructure is reasonably good and much of the accommodation is highly original and aesthetically pleasing.
Your Namibia Tour is designed to give you a taste of this country’s highlights including the red dunes, magnificent dunes and vistas of the Namib Desert and Sossusvlei, charm of Swakopmund, landscapes and Rock Art of Damaraland, abundant wildlife of Etosha National Park, diverse peoples of Namibia and an array of wonderful lodges and guesthouses that blend into their natural surroundings.
Your stay in Windhoek will give you an impression of the variety of indigenous cultures that make up Namibia’s small population and get a feel of the capital city which lies at an altitude of 1,650 metres above sea level.
Desert Quiver Camp is beautifully located near Sesriem, the gateway to the Namib Naukluft Park, a massive conservation area in the Namib Desert. Sossusvlei, a normally dry lake caked with mud and set amongst some of the highest sand dunes in the world, lies 65 kms from Sesriem inside the Namib Naukluft Park.
Swakopmund is a quaint German town on the Atlantic Ocean with good restaurants, markets and shops, a breath of fresh air after the desert dust of the Namib. Here too you will find a cross section of Namibia’s peoples. Swakopmund Luxury Suites are centrally located allowing you the freedom to explore on foot. Enjoy the many activities on offer.
Damaraland is Namibia’s most scenic region and quite different to what you have seen so far. The wonderful ochre-coloured rocky and mountainous setting of Twyfelfontein is sometimes frequented by desert elephants and where thousands of rock engravings speak of previous cultures. Twyfelfontein Adventure Camp is beautifully located amongst the rocks and boulders with a tranquil atmosphere. Explore the area and visit the Rock Engravings, Burnt Mountain and Organ Pipes on a guided tour. You will also visit the Damara Living Museum and do a drive along the Huab River in search of desert elephants.
Etosha Village is located just outside the southern part of Etosha National Park. Visit Okaukuejo Camp’s waterhole that attracts an abundance of wildlife day and night and explore the Park on guided game drives. The terrain of the Park comprises dry savanna and a series of saline pans which include the massive Etosha Pan. There are many springs and waterholes throughout the Park that sustain animals’ needs.
Your last 2 nights are spent at Onguma Bush Camp just outide Etosha’s eastern gate. You will then be able to explore another beautiful area of Etosha National Park.
Highlights
- Guided tour of Windhoek City
- Experience some of the world’s highest sand dunes at Sossusvlei
- Charming seaside oasis of Swakopmund
- Enjoy a wide range of activities in Swakopmund
- Scenic Damaraland
- Rock Engravings & Petroglyphs of Twyfelfontein
- Huab River drive to find desert elephants
- Thrilling game drives in Etosha National Park
Itinerary
DAY 1
THE ELEGANT GUESTHOUSE, WINDHOEK
Ensuite Room – Bed & Breakfast
On arrival at Hosea Kutako International Airport you will be met by your guide from Namibia Tours & Safaris and transferred to The Elegant Guesthouse situated in the leafy suburb of Klein Windhoek.
You’re a short stroll away from a bunch of interesting restaurant and wine bar options and the botanical gardens are just down the road if you’ve got time during your stay in Namibia‘s capital.
Modern design and fittings give The Elegant Guesthouse a sophisticated air. Once a small six-roomer, the Elegant has been upgraded and is ever more sophisticated now, offering 17 stylish and beautiful guest rooms. All rooms have en-suite bathrooms, twin beds (together making a king) and are fitted with air conditioners as well as fast Wi-Fi, television and most open out onto a drought resistant garden or the swimming pool area surrounded by loungers and umbrellas.
Breakfast is served in the light and airy open-plan breakfast room or out in the garden on warm days, which is about 90% of the time in Namibia.
If time permits, you will have a 2 hour guided tour of Windhoek City to learn about the people and history of Namibia. You will visit the Christ Church, the Tintenpalast (House of Parliament) and the Kaiserstrasse (main shopping street). You also have the option of visiting 3 museums. One is the Railway Museum, another is dedicated to the history of Namibia and the other is the Minerals Museum.
For the remainder of the day you can relax. Tonight you can head to a nearby restaurant for dinner.
Included : Bed and Breakfast, Guided Tour of Windhoek City
DAYS 2 & 3
DESERT QUIVER CAMP, SESRIEM, NAMIB DESERT
Desert Unit – Dinner, Bed & Breakfast
Your journey today will take you into the awesome expanse of the Namib Desert along gravel roads travelling through open plains before reaching the dunes of the Namib Naukuft Park. You will arrive around midday and check into Desert Quiver Camp, located just outside Sesriem and close to the entrance to the Namib Naukluft Park.
The 24 units, built of poles and canvas and stone, look like A-frames adrift and subsiding into the desert. The natural construction and sympathetic choice of colours help these structures blend into the dramatic scenery.
The rooms are spacious, cool and spotless. An en-suite bathroom with shower, toilet and wash basin lurks behind the dividing wall.
The unit has a large, shaded porch with a kitchenette tucked away behind a canvas roll-down; the picnic bench and barbecue set the scene for a classic campout under the stars beside a flickering fire. A nice feature is you can order in your fresh cooking supplies and have them delivered to your unit.
If you prefer, you can dine at Sossusvlei Lodge, just a few kms up the road. As a guest of Desert Quiver Camp you have full access to their activity centre, wonderful buffet restaurant, bar and pool all overlooking a waterhole.
Back at camp, a huge and ever-sparkling pool and bar provide an agreeable venue for a sunset cocktail and a refreshing dip – the ochre view across the plains towards the rocky mountains is pure Namibia.
Included : Dinner, Bed & Breakfast, Namib Naukluft Park Excursions
https://www.desertquivercamp.com/
Activities
After checking into Desert Quiver Camp, enjoy a relaxed lunch and a swim.
The next morning you will rise very early to enter the Namib Naukluft Park at sunrise. Your guide will have your packed breakfasts ready and after entering the Park, you will drive to Dune 45 where you can trudge up the sandy slope to capture the awesome sight of the first rays of sun that light up the dune wonderland all around. Then drive another 15 kms to the car park from where you travel along very sandy tracks to vist the renowned areas of Sossusvlei, Dead Vlei and Big Daddy Dune. After enjoying walks through these areas you will drive back to Desert Quiver Camp or Sossusvlei Lodge for lunch.
In the afternoon your guide will take you to Sesriem Canyon and another sundowner drive.
Sossusvlei
The highlights of the Namib Naukluft Park include Sossusvlei, Dead Vlei, Big Daddy Dune, Dune 45, Sesriem Canyon and Elim Dune. These are located inside the Park except for Sesriem Canyon which is just outside the park about 3 kms from Sossusvlei Lodge.
Namib Naukluft Park is almost 50,000 sq. kms and one of the largest Parks in Africa. It stretches from near Luderitz in the south to Swakopmund in the north and includes well known areas such as Sossusvlei, Namibrand Nature Reserve, Naukluft Mountains, Sandwich Harbour, Swakop River Valley and Kuiseb Canyon.
Sossusvlei, a dry lake that sometimes fills with water after heavy rains in the interior, is located inside the Namib Naukluft Park and is one of the most popular tourist destinations in the Namib Desert as it is here that some of the highest sand dunes in the world are found, some of which are over 300 metres high. The first and last light of day blends with the ochre red and brown hues of the dunes to create a visual spectacle that holds visitors in awe. And to climb a dune before sunrise has become a religion to most who flock to this area.
Deadvlei, close to Sossusvlei, is a clay pan characterized by dark, dead camel thorn trees contrasted against the white pan floor. The pan was formed when the Tsauchab River flooded and the abundance of water allowed camel thorn trees to grow. However, the climate changed and the sand dunes encroached on the pan, blocking the river from reaching the area. The trees are estimated to be approximately 900 years old, though they have not decomposed due to the dry climate. Deadvlei is a paradise for photographers as the contrast between the pitch-black trees and bleached-white pans, and the rusty-red dunes and deep blue sky make for incredible images.
Big Daddy is the tallest dune in the Sossusvlei area. This magnificent dune is situated between Sossusvlei and Deadvlei and at 325 meters, it dwarfs the other dunes.
Dune 45 is situated 45 kms from the entrance gate along a paved road. It’s fascinating shape and accessibility makes it the most photographed dune in the world. Visitors are allowed to climb Dune 45, so be sure to visit early in the morning to watch the sunrise over the vlei from the top of the Dune. The Dune is 85 meters high and the climb is well worth the effort as from the top you will be spoilt with the incredible panoramic view of Dune Valley. In the morning and evening light the floor of the pan has been described as a “moonscape” and is truly a sight to behold.
Sesriem Canyon is located near the Namib Naukluft Park Gate. Here the Tsauchab River carved the conglomerate rock of the Canyon to a depth of 30 metres. The Canyon is about a kilometre long and was named after the six leather thongs used by settlers to lower a bucket into the canyon to get water. There is normally always water at the deepest part of the canyon. The normally dry Tsauchab River runs through the Namib Naukluft Park and ends at Sossusvlei about 50 kms from the Atlantic Ocean.
Apart from the ephemeral sustenance provided by the river, the living desert is primarily sustained by fog from the Atlantic Ocean and wind-blown detritus.
Elim Dune is located inside the Park and is only 5 kms from the Namib Naukluft Park Gate. It is a good place to visit before sunset. Take note that the Park entrance gate opens at sunrise and closes at sunset.
DAYS 4 & 5
SWAKOPMUND LUXURY SUITES, SWAKOPMUND
Ensuite Luxury Room – Bed & Breakfast
Today you travel through the Namib Desert to Swakopmund, a 4 to 5 hour journey via the spectacular formations of Gaub Pass, Grammadoelas and Kuiseb Canyon. Close to Walvis Bay you will find Vogelfederberg, a lovely rocky niche with great views over the desert landscape. In Walvis Bay there is a lagoon where abundant waterbirds gather at certain times of the year to feed in the shallow waters. Continue to the charming oasis of Swakopmund on the Atlantic Ocean and check into Swakopmund Luxury Suites. In Swakopmund you have the freedom to explore and eat at restaurants of your choice. Lunches and dinners are not included in your package and your guide will recommend some good options. Don’t leave Swakopmund without a meal at The Tug.
Swakopmund Luxury Suites pack comfort and convenience into an elegant apartment-style accommodation option in the belly of Swakopmund’s restaurant quarter. The suites are elegant with neutral décor that is easy on the senses and top quality linen with quite possibly the most comfortable bed you’ll encounter on your tour of Namibia. Attention to detail includes Nespresso machines with complimentary pods, bath robes, extra thick towels, wi-fi that actually works, climate control, mini-bar and that general air of purpose and cleanliness of a professional outfit.
For convenience you are a few minutes’ walk to the beach, restaurants, cafes and main attractions of central Swakopmund – a feature you will welcome after many hours’ in the car on Namibia’s long and dusty roads. And the day reception is staffed with the friendliest of friendly Namibians who add that personal touch and valuable insider’s information for making the most of your visit.
A secluded upper deck lined with comfortable recliners and deck chairs is a wonderful place to catch up with your digital life. Or escape it entirely with a good book and a glass of chardonnay. Parking out front is secure with 24-hour watch and CCTV and, occupying the first storey down a pedestrianised side street, the location is quiet and safe.
Breakfast at the Swakopmund Luxury Suites is a delight. The breakfast room is stunning and the food is delicious. A great way to start your day before you head off to explore where the dunes meet the sea. You are just a short walk to the main beach and the main streets of town.
Included : Bed & Breakfast
Activities
After checking into your accommodation, take a short stroll into town and have lunch in one of the many restaurants. Your guide will recommend some places. Then explore the markets, shops and streets with their quaint German architecture. You may want to book a scenic flight over the Skeleton Coast where shipwrecks on a rugged coastline can be seen from the air.
Swakopmund and Walvis Bay offer a wide range of activities such as Dolphin cruises, Sandwich Harbour excursion (a real Skeleton Coast experience), Dune quad biking, Sand boarding, Sea kayaking, Living Desert Experience and lots more.
Swakopmund
Swakopmund is the capital of the Erongo Region with a population of about 34,000 inhabitants and is located amidst dunes and desert close to the mouth of the Swakop River. During the colonial period it was an important harbour, although the conditions were not really favourable: the coastal waters were far too shallow, a sheltered lagoon was missing and the surf was much too strong.
Today Swakopmund serves mainly as a holiday resort and is thus of touristic importance. Due to its mild climatic condition, especially during the high season of December and January, the town is an attraction to many tourists, especially from the inland areas. Some of the many touristic attractions include splendid buildings typical of the German colonial period, a wonderful town promenade, the aquarium and many more. The nearby surroundings are also of touristic importance. The coastal road which is flanked by dunes on the one side and the Atlantic Ocean on the other is very impressive. Excursions can be made 30 kms south to Walvis Bay as well as up north to the fishing paradise of Henties Bay or Cape Cross, one of the world’s largest seal colonies.
DAYS 6 & 7
TWYFELFONTEIN ADVENTURE CAMP, DAMARALAND
Ensuite Standard Tent – Dinner, Bed & Breakfast
More intriguing scenic sights today as you travel along gravel roads through the very scenic areas of Damaraland to Twyfelfontein, a journey of 4 to 5 hours. A huge, untamed and ruggedly beautiful region that offers the traveller a more adventurous challenge. The geography changes dramatically with endless sandy wastes that are able to sustain small, but wide-ranging, populations of desert-adapted elephant, black rhino, giraffe, ostrich and springbok. These animals have adapted their lifestyles to survive the harshness of the sun-blistered, almost waterless desert spaces.
You will pass the Brandberg Massif where Namibia’s highest mountain, Konigstein, stands at 2,574 metres above sea level and where a wealth of Bushman Rock Art can be found.
Located amongst the granite boulders, Twyfelfontein Adventure Camp has prime location for visiting the highlights of the area. From here you can easily explore the heart of Damaraland, the sights of Twyfelfontein and track desert-adapted elephants. Within walking distance of the Damara Living Museum, Twyfelfontein Adventure Camp is a 10-minute drive from the Twyfelfontein Rock Engravings, Burnt Mountain and Organ Pipes. Situated in the Huab River Valley, there’s a chance the elephants could stroll past your tent at any moment or at the least, you won’t have to venture very far to find them.
It’s been a long day’s drive from any direction to get here, so once you’ve arrived, it’s great knowing you won’t have to spend much time in the car to explore the area. Less time on the road means more time for adventure and to laze at the glistening pool with a drink in hand. Of equal importance when on holiday.
The eco-friendly camp has both standard and premium tents. The standard tents are just that, they are small and basic but tasteful and charming. The premium tents are more luxurious, both in the decor and the space. You have some added extras, a bigger room, a bigger bathroom, comfortable inside seating and a small fridge.
The main lodge area is rather lavish and quite ornate, shared by all guests for meals and to relax. There is a second more relaxed ‘chill’ area too and two swimming pools, one at each.
Jumbled sandstone hills, platinum-blonde savannahs and olive-green shrublands make this landscape of incredible scale, colour and silence – so much silence – a marvel. See the many wildlife species that thrive here and learn how humans and wildlife including elephant, lion, rhino, antelope varieties and smaller predators have adapted to life in a land so hot and dry that it becomes ever more a wonder.
Included : Dinner, Bed & Breakfast, Guided Rock Engravings Tour, Visit Organ Pipes, Burnt Mountain and the Damara Living Museum, Huab River drive.
Activities
Activities will include a guided tour of the Twfelfontein Rock Engravings, visits to Burnt Mountain, Organ Pipes and the Damara Living Museum. The multitude of engravings tell a story of an ancient past and lend a mystical quality to the surrounding landscapes. Your guide will take you on a choice of different tours to view the rock engravings. The early morning and late afternoon are the best time to see the engravings as the sunlight accentuates the beautiful brown, orange and ochre colours of the rocks but photographic results are generally better achieved when the sun is overhead.
Your guide will also take you on a 4WD drive along the Huab River in search of desert elephants.
Twyfelfontein
Twyfelfontein is a beautiful mountainous area with a tranquil atmosphere. Shades of yellow, orange and ochre coloured rocks blend to create rich hues that are accentuated by the morning and afternoon sunlight. Twyfelfontein is known for its rock engravings, paintings and associated Late Stone Age material dating between 6,000 and 2,000 years ago. The site has one of the largest known concentrations of engravings in Africa executed on flat and upright slabs of rock, depicting a diversity of wildlife including rhino, elephant, giraffe, oryx, ostrich, flamingo, zebra and many more – and footprints. Over 5,000 individual figures have been recorded to date. They were probably made over a period of 2,000 years by local San hunter-gatherer people and represent an important aspect of San ritual and belief systems.
DAY 8
ETOSHA VILLAGE, BORDERING ETOSHA NATIONAL PARK
Luxury Canvas Suite – Dinner, Bed & Breakfast
Your journey today (4 to 5 hours) takes you further through Damaraland and past the Petrified Forest where you have the option of stopping for a short visit. Here you will find 200 million year old fossils of very large trees that got washed downriver and were buried under the right climatic conditions for fossilisation to take place. You will also see Welwitschias here, ancient plants that can live for thousands of years.
Continue to Etosha Village which is located 2 kms before the Anderson Gate entrance into Etosha National Park.
Etosha Village had a major refurbishment in mid-2016 and what an upgrade. Brick has replaced canvas, sleek tiles have replaced creaky wood decking and the en suite bathrooms are smart, shiny and functional. From the outside, the chalets are full of life and texture with gabion foundations, balustrades filled with pebbles, a gravelled forecourt and woven latte poles covering the roof. Inside the rooms are spacious, practical and well-appointed with air conditioning, en suite bathroom, sofa bed good for two under-12s (the Village is one of a few child-friendly safari lodges in Etosha), fridge, tea/coffee, safe, balcony and a large gazebo to the side. Comfortable twin beds with soft cotton are a given.
The living areas have also retained their charm and casual comfort with a large swimming pool surrounded by loungers and parasols and a smaller pool adjacent to a third toddler-friendly pool. The food at Etosha Village is fresh and the staff here, recruited from the nearby village and trained in-house, are famous for their friendly and enthusiastic service.
Breakfast and dinner are sizeable buffet spreads and lunch is a small a la carte menu with local venison specialities. Tea, coffee, hot chocolate and juice are on the house all day and the open-air bar is a convivial spot to share a drink and a tale or just gaze into the night sky as is your want.
Being just minutes from the southern gate is ideal for daily access to Etosha National Park.
Included : Dinner, Bed & Breakfast, Game Drives in Etosha National Park with your guide
Activities
After checking into Etosha Village and enjoying a relaxed lunch, your guide will take you into Etosha National Park for an afternoon game drive. You will stop at Okaukuejo Camp which is located 17 kms from Anderson Gate and has a waterhole that attracts an abundance of animals coming to slake their thirst after a long dry day.
Etosha National Park
Etosha National Park is located in northern Namibia and covers an area of nearly 22,912 sq kms. Within the eastern part of the park an approximately 5,000 sq km salt pan can be found which was formed about 2 million years ago when the Kunene Delta dried up and its riverbed shifted. The name Etosha is derived from Oshiwambo and means “big, white place”.
Due to the fencing of the Park the animals living in the park depend on the water and food resources found within the fence. Thus the water is provided in water holes, some of natural origin some artificial. In the western part of the park, 5 natural and 27 artificial water holes are found, whereas 29 natural and 12 artificial water holes are found in the eastern part of the park. These form the livelihood for the animals and also serve tourists for game viewing.
Etosha National Park is a wonderful game reserve and quite different from most other African parks. The varied savanna habitats include massive salt pans, a variety of dry savanna grasslands and woodlands, dune veld and rocky areas all interspersed with many springs and waterholes. These habitats allow for a diversity of game and bird species. There are 114 species of mammals and 340 species of birds in the Park, but no buffalo, hippo, crocodile or monkeys. The sweet grassveld that occurs along the southern edge of Etosha Pan attracts a lot of grazers and is a good area for gameviewing.
The early mornings and late afternoons are the best times of day when the wildlife is more active and the angle of the sun’s rays allows for better pictures and more scenic landscapes. Yet it is an experience at midday to see the shimmering figures of zebra, wildebeest, springbok, oryx and ostrich on the pans creating a surreal world of mirage effects.
All entrance gates open at sunrise and close at sunset.
DAYS 9 & 10
ONGUMA BUSH CAMP, ETOSHA EAST
Deluxe Rooms- Dinner, Bed & Breakfast
Today you will take a long game drive through Etosha National Park to the eastern side where Onguma Bush Camp is located just outside the Park.
Onguma Bush Camp is a comfortable, family-orientated lodge in a private reserve on the eastern edge of Etosha National Park. With 18 rooms including family suites as well as a small campsite, the atmosphere is tranquil and casual.
The ensuite, air-conditioned rooms are built from local stone and have thatched roofs. The pool, open-air lapa and dining area provide the venues for some pleasant banter, spectacular sunsets and hearty meals. The lounge and dining area overlooks a waterhole for around-the-clock game viewing.
You will have a full day to explore the eastern part of Etosha National Park.
Included : Dinner, Bed & Breakfast, Game Drives in Etosha National Park with your guide
DAY 11
END OF SAFARI
Today you will travel back to Windhoek and your guide will then transfer you to Hosea Kutako Airport for your onward flight. Enroute you can visit the craft centre in Okahandja if time permits.
We wish you a safe and thrilling journey that will leave lasting memories and a desire to return.
Rates 2025
- 8 Pax – ZAR 47,950 per person sharing
- 6 Pax – ZAR 52,850 per person sharing
- 4 Pax – ZAR 62,500 per person sharing
Single Supplement – ZAR 11,150 per person
HIGH SEASON – 1 JULY – 31 OCT 2025
- 8 Pax – ZAR 50,300 per person sharing
- 6 Pax – ZAR 55,850 per person sharing
- 4 Pax – ZAR 66,500 per person sharing
Single Supplement – ZAR 11,500 per person
Accommodation subject to availability
Inclusions
Transport in a 4×4 Toyota
All vehicle costs
Guide & guide costs
Accommodation and meals as per itinerary
Water in the vehicle at all times
National Park Entry fees
Activities
– Windhoek City Tour
– Sossusvlei excursions
– Living Desert Excursion – Swakopmund
– Guided Tours of Rock Engravings, Organ Pipes & Burnt Mountain – Twyfelfontein
– Huab River Drive, Damara Living Museum – Twyfelfontein
– Game Drives with guide – Etosha National Park
Airport pick up on day 1
Airport drop off on day 11
