Namibian Highlights Safari – 9 Days

Day 1: Halali inside Etosha National Park, Namibia

We leave the Backpackers Lodge in Windhoek at around 08h00. We make a short stopover in Otjiwarongo and have lunch before making our way into Etosha National Park via the Anderson Gate. We spend our day game driving through the Park and paying visits to waterholes in search of predators and animals such as zebra, giraffe, elephant and rhino. We reach our accommodation situated inside of Etosha National Park just before the sun sets. There is a beautiful floodlit waterhole that neighbours the camp. We spend the evening in twin-shared double rooms with en-suite bathroom facilities. We then enjoy some supper and get an early night’s rest for the day ahead.

Meals: Snack pack, Dinner
Accommodation: Halali Camp

Day 2: Etosha Village, near Anderson Gate, Namibia

At sunrise, we start our first game drive, stopping at many waterholes to observe the predators while they are still active. We proceed to Etosha Pan, a 4500 sq km “saline desert”, for our second game drive mid-morning where we will get out of the vehicle and explore the area before continuing our game drive in search of the Big 4. Immediately following lunch, we begin our final game drive across the park towards Okaukuejo, stopping at some well-known waterholes before leaving the park. The lodge we are staying at tonight is located just outside the park gate and offers comfortable and modern accommodation in twin share rooms with en-suite bathrooms. In the evening, our guide prepares dinner for us, and another early night is recommended.

Meals: Snack pack, Dinner
Accommodation: Halali Camp

Day 3: Swakopmund, Namibia

Breakfast is served in the early morning, and departure from our lodging is scheduled for 07h30. Our route today will take us through the dramatic and picturesque scenery of Damaraland. A wonderful opportunity awaits us to meet the charming Himba and Damara ladies who sell their handcrafted arts and crafts to support their rural families. As we travel through Namibia, we stop for a light roadside lunch under the shadow of the Brandberg, Namibia’s tallest mountain, and have the opportunity to meet some of the colourful local characters who live in this harsh environment. In the afternoon, we arrive in Swakopmund after exploring the remains of a small shipwreck along the Skeleton Coast.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Accommodation: Hotel A La Mer

Day 4: Swakopmund to Sesriem, Namib Desert

This morning, we depart Swakopmund at 11h30 so we can have time today to do an optional activity. The adrenaline junkies there’s a lot for you to choose from to fill this morning and for the more relaxed animal-focused individuals, we recommend partaking in a morning trip into the dues to see the more small wildlife that resides within this environment.

Whatever we choose to do is perfect. Thereafter, our wheels start rolling at 11.30 am to drive through the Namib Desert, where we can enjoy the Kuiseb Pass, Tropic of Capricorn, stopping briefly in Solitaire for a sweet treat and a look into the past before arriving at our camp late afternoon.

We set up our tents, enjoy the sunset over the Namib Desert while listening to the barking geckos and know that we recommend an early night as tomorrow morning we set out early, to enjoy “first light” in the heart of the desert.

Accommodation: Sesriem Oshana Campsite
Meals: Breakfast

Day 5: Sossusvlei in Namib Naukluft Park

We’re leaving camp early today so we can see the sunrise over the dunes. Driving down an ancient riverbed, surrounded by towering dunes, our first stop is the famous Dune 45, where we can climb to the top to see the sunrise.

On the way down, we stop for breakfast before heading into Sossusvlei. Explore this unique area on foot, head into Dead Vlei with its vast stretches of bleached cracked clay and skeletal camel thorn trees, contrasting with a backdrop of huge sand dunes with their ever-changing colors.

We’ll climb the dune at Sossusvlei before going back to Sesriem for lunch and a swim or rest. Later in the afternoon we visit Sesriem Canyon before your guide takes you to Elim’s Dune for a short and educational sunset walk back to camp.

Accommodation: Sesriem Oshana Campsite
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 6: Klein Aus Vista, Namib Desert

A very scenic drive is upon us today as we head south through some of the most spectacular desert landscapes in Southern Namibia. We arrive midafternoon and have a few options to choose from in terms of keeping busy, however one of our favorite things to do here at Klein Aus Vista is to enjoy a nice refreshing swim in the pool at the lodge or go on a afternoon hike on one of the trails from the campsite. An application for a permit and a map can be obtained at the reception desk. Our guide prepares our dinner over an open fire while we enjoy a beautiful sunset.

Accommodation: Klein Aus Vista Campsite
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 7: Kolmanskop and Luderitz, Namibia

This morning we take a glimpse into the past by enjoying the spectacle that is Kolmanskop.

During the diamond boom in 1910 Kolmanskop became one of the richest towns in Africa boasting the southern hemisphere’s first X-ray machine, a bowling alley and luxury housing. Once this boom came to an end, the towns inhabitants needed to find greener pastures and abandoned this area quite quickly, thus rendering it the beautiful ghost town that is today.

After our tour though Kolmanskop, we continue our adventure to the small town of Lüderitz, situated on the rocky shores of the Atlantic Ocean and well known for its unique and colorful colonial-style buildings, its concerntration camp on Shark Island and Diaz Point, the famous site of the Original Diaz Cross where we enjoy a picnic lunch.

Driving to and from Lüderitz, remember to keep your eyes peeled for the wild horses of the Namib Desert that roam between Lüderitz and Klein Aus. There are many speculations of how these horses came to be but the fact that they have survived in the harshest of conditions is impressive, and any sighting of them is one to celebrate.

Accommodation: Klein Aus Vista Campsite
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 8: Quiver Tree Forest, Namibia

Another early head east towards Fish River Canyon where we have the opportunity to overlook the second largest canyon in the world, which was formed millions of years ago by water erosion and the collapse of the valley due to movements of the earth’s crust.

After lunch, we head to the last destination of our adventure together – The Quiver Tree Forest which is located just northeast of Keetmanshoop. Here we find a forest of over 250 quiver trees which grew spontaneously the oldest trees in this forest are estimated to be around 200-300 years old.

The Quiver tree (Kokerboom in Afrikaans) is also Namibia’s national tree, and the forest was declared a national monument in 1995. The last night on our adventure is spent camping under the stars with meals prepared by our guide. This is an excellent location for photographing the stars should you be an avid photographer (permits are available for night photography of the quiver trees at additional cost).

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 9: Windhoek, Namibia

After a hearty breakfast, we start the day exploring the Quiver Tree Forest and Giants Playground. This area is known to be a geological phenomenon of dolerite rocks that appear to have been stacked by giants.

From here we begin our journey back to Windhoek passing Brukkaros Mountain, travelling through the small towns of Mariental and Rehoboth and then arriving back at the Backpackers in Windhoek late afternoon.

There is a shuttle option for those staying elsewhere within the city limits. It’s recommended that no flights are scheduled for this day due to the later afternoon arrival in Windhoek, however, if you are desperate to fly out, no flight should be booked before 22.00pm this evening.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

Onward Travel Plans

Due to circumstances beyond our control while on tour (such as border crossings, traffic, breakdowns and delays, etc), the end time on the last day cannot be guaranteed. Therefore we strongly recommend you stay the night and fly out the next day. Please consult with your booking consultant.