This 7 Day Southern Namibia camping trip is a short, but comprehensive safari that includes the highlights of this area. We will visit the Quiver Tree Forest, Fish River Canyon, the Orange River, Luderitz & Klein Aus Vista and Sossusvlei.

Day 1: Windhoek – Kalahari – Namibia

Today you will be fetched from your accommodation at Windhoek between 08h00 and 08h30.

We travel through the thin strip of the Kalahari Desert that protrudes onto the eastern side of Namibia.  Stopping at small towns along the way including Rehoboth, traditional home of the Baster people and on to Kalkrand where you bid the main road farewell and head off into the Kalahari.  The Kalahari Desert often surprises people when they first see it. It is very different from the Namib.  First of all, remember that the Kalahari is not a desert. It receives more rain than a true desert should. The Kalahari is a fossil desert. Don’t expect to find tall Sossusvlei-style dunes devoid of greenery here.  The Kalahari’s dunes are very different. They are often equally beautiful, but usually greener and less stark – and with this vegetation comes its ability to support more flora and fauna than a true desert.

In the afternoon, hop onto one of the game drive vehicles for a sunset drive.

Distance: 280 kilometres
Meals: Lunch, Dinner
Accommodation:  Camping

Day 2: Kalahari – Fish River Canyon – Nambia

Just outside the town you have the opportunity of visiting the Mesosaurus Fossil Site. Then we travel to Keetmanshoop where we camp in the Fish River area. Here you will explore the Quivertree Forest. Quiver trees are not in fact trees, they are a type of aloe, (Aloe Dichotoma), so called because the branches fork “dictomously”. These weird looking plants dot the landscape in this part of the world and are locally common, however they are one of the world’s rarest flora species.

Distance: 500 kilometres
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Accommodation:  Camping

Day 3: Fish River – Luderitz – Namibia

Known for its extremely beautiful scenery and the second largest canyon in the world after the Grand Canyon, The Fish River Canyon has views that are impossible to forget.  The water destruction and crumbling of the valley formed the tall rock faces and deep ravines in the earth’s crust about 500 million years ago. Measuring at 160km tall and 27km wide and extending far down at almost 550m.

We then pack up camp and head to the coastal town of Luderitz where there are quaint colonial-style buildings that overlook the bay. On some days the the waters are an iridescent blue and other days a stormy grey.  Here you can see the fishing boats bobbing up and down and penguins and seals frolicking in the waters.

We should arrive at our guest house in the late afternoon. Dinner tonight will be for your own account.

Distance: 430 kilometres
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Accommodation:  Guest house

Day 4: Luderitz – Aus – Namibia

You have the opportunity today to go on an optional excursion and take a marine trip around Luderitz Bay. Depending on the weather you may be able to go to Halifax Island and see the Jackass Penguins. Please note that the cruise is subject to availability and for the client’s own expense.

We stop off in the town of Luderitz with its traditional German architecture and then head to Diaz Point to see the bird life, some seals and the stone cross replica which was erected by Bartholomew Diaz. Immediately afterwards we drive to Kolmanskop, a desert ghost town. The area was abandoned when bigger and better diamonds were found further along the coast. Since then the desert has encroached over the town giving it an eerie feeling.

Tonight we rest in a private reserve called Klein Aus Vista located in the Aus Mountain Range. You can spend time relaxing here and admiring the sunset over the mountains.

Distance: 125 kilometres
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Accommodation:  Camping

Day 5: Aus – Sesriem – Namibia

Heading deep into the southern part of the Namib, we make our way across gravel roads passing small rural areas along the way. The landscape is rough with rounded ‘koppies’ of arid terrain and outcrops of tortured rock due to erosion.

Travelling through the land, our scenery changes to some greenery before entering the red sand dune desert of Namib. We intend on reaching the camp site before the evening so you can enjoy the pleasures of the stunning views the distant mountains have to offer.

Distance: 340 kilometres
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Accommodation:  Camping

Day 6: Sesriem – Sossusvlei – Sesriem – Namibia

Waking in the early hours of the morning so that we do not miss the magical sunrise of the desert. Journeying through the settlement of Sesriem, we arrive at Sossusvlei. Experience a walk like no other, just a few kilometres through the dunes, with the refreshing morning air on your skin and the daylight rising just above the you.

You have the morning to explore Sossusvlei as well as dune 45. Be ready to capture picture perfect moments with the chance of witnessing a gemsbok or an ostrich as well as the ancient mineral pans and stunted camel thorn trees. We return to Sesriem for lunch to avoid the heat of the afternoon and in the late afternoon we  pay a visit to the Sesriem Canyon.

Distance: 120 kilometres
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Accommodation:  Camping

Day 7: Sesriem – Windhoek – Namibia

We travel from Sesriem back to Windhoek, crossing the mountains and the picturesque roads before making our way back to civilisation. We pass through the Naukluft Mountains and the Khomas Hochland Range which are beautiful mountain ranges. We arrive late afternoon in the city and you will be transported to your accommodation.

Distance: 350 kilometres
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

R14,400