The Best of Namibia

Once you have landed in Windhoek, collected your luggage and gone through the passport control point, follow the signs to the rental car counter. Upon collection, you will make your way to your booked accommodation. Use the rest of the afternoon to relax after your long flight, or alternatively visit some of the sights in town, such as the Tintenpalast (House of Parliament), the Christ Church, the ‘Namibia Craft Centre’ with its local artwork or take a stroll along Independence Avenue. For dinner, we can recommend the popular Joe’s Beerhouse. You spend the night in a standard room at the Elegant Guesthouse.

After a leisurely breakfast and a stop at a shop for refreshments and snacks for the road, you depart from Windhoek and drive south towards Mariental. Your destination for today is the Bagatelle Kalahari Game Ranch. Enjoy the views of the imposing red Kalahari dunes from your room, explore the area by foot, on an afternoon nature drive or on a horseback safari with experienced guides (all optional). The reserve is home to giraffe, kudu, zebra, oryx, blue wildebeest, eland and over 150 species of birds. Take a look at the unpolluted Southern Hemisphere night sky from a state-of-the-art telescope and enjoy a delicious dinner, followed by a drink at the friendly bar. You will overnight in a savannah chalet.

Today you will continue your journey south, travelling through shrub-covered savannah before arriving at the Quiver Inn Guesthouse at the outskirts of Keetmanshoop. In the afternoon visit the Quiver Tree Forest and the Giant’s Playground just outside the town.  Especially photogenic at sunrise and sunset, about 300 trees are dotted around the boulder-strewn landscape, while the Giant’s Playground’s surreal rock towers will make for some exciting rock hopping after a long day’s driving. You overnight at the Quiver Inn Guesthouse.

Today, your journey will take you via the Naute Dam to the Fish River Canyon, the second largest canyon in the world. Although you will be staying on the western side of the canyon for the next two nights, we recommend starting early and going to the eastern side first. Stop at the various viewpoints within the Gondwana Canyon Park and soak up the stunning views of this imposing gorge from different angles. Then travel back to the main road and continue to the Fish River Lodge which is the only one located directly on the edge of the canyon. Experience the beauty of this area on various optional activities offered by the lodge or simply enjoy the truly magnificent views of the Fish River Canyon.

After an early breakfast, you leave the Fish River Canyon behind and travel northwest via Aus until you reach the coastal town of Luderitz. Stop en route at the trough at Garub to watch the wild horses of the Namib coming to drink. Luderitz has a long colonial history as the architecture of the Felsenkirche, Goerke House and the post office will show. Spend the afternoon exploring this quaint little seaside town. Your home for tonight will be the Luderitz Nest Hotel.

In the morning, you should not miss a visit to the historic Kolmanskop just outside of Luderitz. Kolmanskop is an old diamond mining town, which was officially active from 1908 to 1930. The sand has slowly taken over the town and has left many ruins. Due to the large percentage of German inhabitants, it was built in the style of a German village and boasted an ice factory, hospital and bowling alley. Travel back in time on an optional guided walking tour (mornings only) to see the old theatre and other buildings such as bakeries and entertainment areas. Afterwards, you continue your journey and travel via Aus and along the rugged Tiras Mountains to the Namtib Desert Lodge. Enjoy Namibian rustic farm-style accommodation, set in one of the most beautiful environments.

Today, you will continue along the scenic route through the Tiras Mountains. Stop next to the gravel road to breathe in the dry air and listen to the silence of the Neisip plains. You will drive north in direction of Sesriem, the entry point to Sossusvlei. If there is time on the way, make a detour to the medieval Duwisib Castle, built in 1908 by stone masons from Europe. Later on, you will reach the unique Elegant Desert Camp, your home for the next two nights. The camp is situated outside the Namib Naukluft Park. Here, you can end the day relaxing and enjoying the stunning views across the desert valley. You overnight at the Elegant Desert Camp.

Getting an early start is a must if you want to be among the first visitors to reach the dunes; the gates open at sunrise. Test your fitness by climbing up one of the famous dunes like Big Daddy or Dune 45. The panoramic views and the feeling of accomplishment are well worth the effort. Drive through the rolling dune landscape and marvel at the beauty. In the afternoon, walk in the Sesriem Canyon (dry season only) before heading back to your accommodation in the late afternoon. You can also book a guided day trip and explore the area together with a guide. You will spend another night at the Elegant Desert Camp.

Today you will continue on gravel road to Swakopmund. The cuisine, architecture (such as the station building and the old courthouse) and language are evidence of the German colonial era. Swakopmund is a base for adventure activities; daytrips to the seal colony, desert tours, dune boarding and flights over the Namib Desert. Explore the rough coast or take a relaxing stroll around the town. You will spend two nights at the Cornerstone Guesthouse situated within walking distance from the centre of town. There are a variety of restaurants but be sure to try the seafood.

After a relaxed breakfast, you will leave the coast and travel inland past the oval shaped Brandberg Mountain (‘fire mountain’), which is the highest mountain range in Namibia. A leisurely walk will take you to the famous ‘White Lady’ rock painting. (Please calculate at least 3 hours for the detour to the Brandberg.) Today’s destination is the Ugab Valley with its table mountains and plateaus, known as the Ugab Terraces. Explore the beautiful scenery on foot on one of the many well-marked walking trails or visit the nearby Vingerklip rock formation. Alternatively, go on an excursion to see the famous rock art of Twyfelfontein, the Damara Living Museum and the Petrified Forest. You might also see ‘living fossils’ – centuries-old Welwitschia plants. You will stay at Vingerklip Lodge for two nights.

You continue north. We’d recommend filling up on petrol in Kamanjab, before you spend the next days on safari. You drive to the Hobatere Concession, a protected area on 8,808 hectares of land, bordering the western edge of Etosha National Park and home to big game such as elephants, lions and antelopes. You can also join a night game drive to experience your first sightings alongside a professional guide (optional). You will overnight in a rondavel at the Hobatere Lodge.

After an early breakfast, you head straight for the famous Etosha National Park, which you enter through the Galton Gate. The national park was founded in 1907 and surrounds a salt pan of roughly 5,000 square kilometres. In heavy rains, the pan might fill with water for a few days, enough to attract huge flocks of flamingos in summer. From June to November, the park is dry and animals flock to the many waterholes to drink. These are the best spots to sit and watch the wildlife. Animals in the park range from huge herds of elephants, lion, cheetah and giraffe to herds of Hartmann’s zebras (in the west of the park) and plains zebras, wildebeest and impala. If you would like to see nocturnal wildlife, join a guided night game drive (optional). You will overnight at the Okaukuejo Resort.

The large resorts in the Etosha National Park are owned by the government. They are maintained and looked after by state employees who are sometimes not as enthusiastic about their work as we wish they were. Accommodation ranges from basic chalets to standard self-catering units. There are, however, more luxurious lodges outside the park from where you will do day trips into the park. Should you be interested in this option, please let us know and we will gladly amend our offer accordingly.

These two days are also spent in the Etosha National Park in search of its residents. Climb to the top of the lookout tower in Okaukuejo to see the early morning sun over the savannah before you set off towards the eastern part of the park. You drive along the salt pan and take loop roads to visit new waterholes. Stop for lunch at Halali or Namutoni to escape the heat or take a break at one of the waterholes in the northeast. By sunset, you will leave the park at the Von Lindequist Gate and travel just a few kilometres to Mushara Bush Camp, your accommodation for two nights.

After a delicious breakfast with views of the bush and the sounds of the early morning birdsong, you make your way to Tsumeb. Stop at the inland Lake Otjikoto with its clear blue water. Close to Grootfontein you can visit the Hoba Meteorite. At 3×3 metres it is the largest meteorite on the planet. Today’s destination is the Waterberg Plateau with its terracotta-coloured cliffs rising 200 metres above the plains. You will reach the Waterberg Guest Farm during the afternoon and spend the rest of the day at leisure. Explore the farm with or without a guide on several hiking trails. Especially the hike to the top of the so-called Small Waterberg is recommendable, as the views of the “big” Waterberg are just breath-taking.

You continue south in the direction of Windhoek. En route you can stop at the craft market in Okahandja for souvenirs, baskets, wood carvings and beaded jewellery. Your last stopover is the Immanuel Wilderness Lodge. Look forward to a beautiful end of your trip and a delicious dinner.

A sumptuous breakfast will be served for you before you head back to Windhoek. Drive to the airport and drop off your rental car in time for your flight back home or spend another night in Windhoek (optional).