Spectacular Namibia

A driver will pick the group up from the Hosea Kutako International Airport or your hotel and drive us to the Kalahari.

The Kalahari Basin covers most of Botswana and large parts of Namibia and South Africa. Kalahari means ‘the great thirst’ and describes the world’s largest continuous area of sand. It is an exceptionally beautiful semi-desert. The desert in Namibia is characterized by red dunes, acacia trees, and wispy golden grasses. The wide variety of wildlife includes gemsbok, impala, jackal, cheetah, and the famous meerkat. In all three countries, the Kalahari is the last bastion of the indigenous San people who lived as hunter-gatherers in the whole of southern Africa before the modern world took over.

Kalahari Red Dunes Lodge is a lush green oasis amid red Kalahari dunes. The restaurant and chalets are arranged around a shaded courtyard containing a large swimming pool. We'll have lunch at the lodge. Then, take some time to settle in or swim. Enjoy the open Savannah views and cool off in the pool.  

We will enjoy a sundowner and a dune and game drive in the late afternoon. 

We’ll dine at the lodge tonight to kick off an amazing Kalahari adventure.

After breakfast, we'll drive to the Desert Grace Gondwana Collection, our home for the next two days. Step into your chalet to find soft shades of love floating across the canvas. The minibar has a perfect gin and tonic waiting, and your private plunge pool is just a sliding door away. Check in and relax.

After a scrumptious lunch at the lodge, we'll head out for a dune drive. We'll discover fossilized dunes, the red dunes above the plateau, and many other wonders of the Namib Desert on this drive around Gondwana Namib Park.

Tonight, we’ll dine in style at the Desert Grace.

This morning, after breakfast, we'll embark on a guided half-day excursion to the Sossusvlei dunes, the tallest on Earth and part of the Namib Sand Sea, a UNESCO World Heritage site. With clear blue skies contrasting against the towering red dunes, Sossusvlei is a photographer’s dream and one of Africa's most scenic natural wonders. Some dunes reach up to 400 meters, displaying vibrant colors in the morning and evening light. The area is home to various desert wildlife, including gemsbok, springbok, ostrich, and reptiles.

These massive sand formations, sculpted over millions of years by wind, showcase the resilience of nature. The dunes support a unique ecosystem of specially adapted flora and fauna.

You can choose to hike Big Daddy, a challenging trek offering stunning views, or the easier Big Mama. For a relaxed option, take the easy route to Deadvlei, a white clay pan with ancient fossilized trees.

In the afternoon, we'll visit Sesriem Canyon, a deep chasm carved by water. Explore its striking rock walls, home to birds and lizards. Early settlers named it 'ses riem' after the six lengths of leather used to draw water from its base.

Later, we'll enjoy a savory dinner back at camp and reflect on our amazing day.

It’s time to head off on our next exciting adventure.

Founded in 1892, Swakopmund quickly became a lively town with a blend of Namibian and colonial-era influences. Today, its palm-lined streets, seaside promenades, and cool sea breeze make it one of Namibia's most attractive destinations. 

We'll enjoy lunch at a local restaurant in this charming coastal town. Swakopmund moderate coastal climate, thanks to the cold Benguela current, brings famous nightly fog that sustains the desert flora and fauna. Early mornings and evenings are chilly year-round, a welcome break from the inland heat.Known as Namibia’s adventure mecca, Swakopmund offers activities like sand boarding, sand skiing, quad biking, dune carting, beach angling, and deep-sea fishing. The town also features diverse shops, bistros, and restaurants selling handmade crafts and jewelry. Other attractions include art galleries, a local museum, Karakulia Weavers, and Kristall Galerie.

We'll stay at the Strand Hotel Swakopmund for the next two nights. Tonight we will dine at the hotel's Brewer and Butcher restaurant tonight.

This morning, we'll have a leisurely breakfast at the hotel. Then, we'll spend time exploring and shopping. Who doesn’t love to shop? While you're out and about, stop for lunch at one of the local cafes or restaurants. 

In the late afternoon, we’ll sail with Catamaran Charters from the Walvis Bay Waterfront for an educational sundowner excursion. We're on the hunt for the marine big five - whales, dolphins, mola, leatherback turtles, and seals. Sip hot tea or coffee as we pass oyster farms approaching the landmark lighthouse and 60,000 resident Cape fur seals at Pelican Point.

The crew will hoist the catamaran sails (weather dependent) so we can switch off the engines and experience true sailing. Help to put up the sails and rig the ropes if you wish.

Our journey from Pelican Point takes us past some of the more interesting ships and oil rigs in the bay as we savor fresh oysters with sparkling wine, snacks, desserts, and long, cool drinks.

Tonight, enjoy dinner at a local restaurant in the coastal town of Swakopmund on your own if still hungry.

It’s time to depart for our next encampment. Twyfelfontein, located in the Kunene Region of north-western Namibia, is home to Namibia’s first World Heritage Site and one of Africa’s largest concentrations of rock art. Thousands of tourists visit each year to view around 2,500 Stone Age rock engravings and 13 rock painting sites, featuring animals and other ancient imagery.This 'open-air art gallery' is situated in the Huab Valley, surrounded by flat-topped sandstone mountains. Twyfelfontein, meaning "spring of doubt," was named by a farmer in the late 1940s. The spring attracted Stone Age hunters over six thousand years ago, who used the petroglyphs for ritual, educational, and record-keeping purposes.

Our stay will be at Camp Kipwe, an intimate and remote bush lodge in the Twyfelfontein region. The unique and private rooms feature outdoor bathrooms, thatched roofs, and spectacular views of the surrounding area.

For a special experience, join an Elephant Nature Drive to explore the terrain in search of desert-dwelling elephants adapted to the arid conditions of northern Namibia. 

After exploring the region and admiring the engravings, we’ll enjoy a nice meal and a much-deserved rest.

After breakfast, we’ll depart for Etosha National Park in the central north. The park is world-famous for the abundance of wildlife and premiere game viewing opportunities. It's home to 114 species of mammals, including elephants, black rhinos, lions and other big cats and predators, giraffes, various antelopes, and zebras. There are also hundreds of bird and reptile species. The vegetation ranges from dense bush to open plains with semi-arid savannah grasslands. During the dry season and in times of drought, the animals flock to the perennial springs and artificial waterholes maintained all over the park.

Etosha Pan, in the heart of the nature reserve, is a vast shallow depression spanning 5000 kilometers. It's so big it can be seen from space. The vast salt pan is dry for most of the year, shimmering in the heat, but after good rains, it fills up with water and attracts scores of birds, especially flamingos from as far away as the Walvis Bay Lagoon on the Atlantic coast.

Today, we’ll explore the Damara Living Museum and take an afternoon game drive in the national park with guides familiar with the waterholes and the animals that visit them.

We will enjoy lunch at the Toshari Lodge. 

Why not dive into the cool waters of the lodge pool when we return? Dine on the veranda under a dome of stars, sit next to a blazing fire, and watch the ruby sun sink gracefully into the landscape. Be at peace.

The Toshari Lodge will be our home for the night (Etosha National Park).

Explore the National Park and its amazing wildlife in a 9-seater game vehicle. Refreshments, snacks, and entrance fees to the National Park are included. We will enjoy a packed lunch on the game drive.

Etosha King Nehale's design and decor pay homage to the area's rich cultural heritage and the majestic riches of the Etosha animal kingdom. Guests are immediately captivated by the lodge's atmosphere and warm cordiality. This arises from meticulous attention to detail in the interior design, the food choices, and the small, detailed features you'll encounter at every turn.

The lodge is situated on the Andoni Plains, just one kilometer from Etosha’s northern King Nehale Gate and 48 kilometers north of Namutoni. At this welcoming lodge, we’ll have private access to a remote waterhole in Etosha National Park, the Ontalelo Outpost. The name says it all: "ontalelo" means “view sight,” and “outpost” describes a remote part of a kingdom or empire. You'll love the fascinating feeling of being close to the wonders of Etosha’s animal kingdom.

Tonight, we'll dine at the Etosha King Nehale Lodge and celebrate yet another amazing day.

Today, we’ll have a full day of game viewing as we explore the National Park and its amazing wildlife in a 9-seater game vehicle. Refreshments, snacks, and entrance fees to the National Park are included. We will see a private waterhole and herds of thirsty animals. We will enjoy a packed lunch from the lodge on our excursion. 

We’ll have a much-needed rest in the afternoon before we convene for celebratory cocktails, followed by a sumptuous final meal, reminiscing about all the incredible things we’ve seen and done on our extended week together.

Sadly, our Namibian Adventure has come to an end. After breakfast, we’ll head back to Windhoek for your return home. Please try not to schedule your departing flight before 5 p.m. at the earliest. The drive back to the airport takes 5.5 hours.