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Kunene River in northern Namibia
Private Lodge Tour

Namibia’s Untouched North

14 Days from NAD 58,900 per person

Reserve your spot

Namibia's Untouched North – 14 Day Private Lodge Tour

If you are an Africa enthusiast and have a love for culture and desolate landscapes, then this stunning 14-day safari to remote northern Namibia is the right choice for you.

Accommodation type

Lodges & camps

Accommodation style

Tour price

From 58,900 NAD

Starting price per person

Travellers

Private tour

Travellers (window seat guaranteed)

Departure date

Any day of your choice

Departure dates

Highlights

Day 1-14 Namibia

Hoba meteorite, cultural encounters with the San

Grootfontein Area

Hoba meteorite, cultural encounters with the San

Game drives, night game drive (optional)

Etosha National Park
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Game drives, night game drive (optional)

Epupa Falls, visit to a Himba village, walking tour along the Kunene River

Epupa
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Epupa Falls, visit to a Himba village, walking tour along the Kunene River

Desert elephants, breathtaking landscapes

Hoanib Valley

Desert elephants, breathtaking landscapes

Petrified Forest, Ugab Terraces, visit to the Vingerklip

Damaraland
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Petrified Forest, Ugab Terraces, visit to the Vingerklip

Who Should Go

Most of our guests booking this trip are Namibia returnees, have seen the highlights of central and southern Namibia and are now back for more. This northern Namibia tour speaks to culture enthusiasts who want to learn more about the people and customs of Namibia from an experienced guide as well as other locals. The routing takes you into the remote Kunene Region (Kaokoland) and to the border with Angola, showing you a Namibia off the beaten track. You will have an even more secluded experience than on best-of Namibia trips. While you should bring a sense of adventure, you can look forward to the hospitality and warmth at personal lodges and camps.

The Damara

Culture Enthusiasts

Namibia Returnees

Namibia Returnees

Nature lovers

Nature Lovers

Open-minded travellers

Open-minded Travellers

“This tour is ideal for travellers who have been to Namibia before following the normal tourist routes, and now look for some adventure, not minding long driving distances. We have been to Namibia three times and we truly enjoyed this tour off the beaten track.”
Jürgen & Gabi

Accommodation

9 accommodations over 14 days/13 nights
The Elegant Guesthouse Windhoek
Day 1
Windhoek
The Elegant Guesthouse
1 night bed&breakfast
Day 1
Mushara Bush Camp Etosha Area
Day 4
Etosha Area
Mushara Bush Camp
1 night half-board
Day 4
Etosha Village Taleni
Day 5-6
Etosha Area
Etosha Village
2 nights half-board
Day 5-6
Omarunga Epupa Falls Lodge northern Namibia
Day 8-9
Epupa Falls
Omarunga Epupa Falls Camp
2 nights half-board
Day 8-9
Vingerklip Lodge
Day 12
Vingerklip
Vingerklip Lodge
1 night half-board
Day 12
Immanuel Wilderness Lodge
Day 13
Greater Windhoek
Immanuel Wilderness Lodge
1 night half-board
Day 13

Tour Itinerary

Private lodge tour

This northern Namibia tour is for Africa experts and culture enthusiasts, who are looking to explore the more unknown parts of northern Namibia. From Windhoek, your journey takes you to a living museum of the San, where you will get an interesting insight into the traditional way of life and culture of one of the oldest inhabitants of Namibia. You will explore the fascinating animal kingdom in Etosha National Park, before heading to the Kunene River located deep in northern Namibia. Gaze upon the Epupa Falls and enjoy the beautiful scenery of this oasis-like place. You will head off to a Himba village to learn more about the culture and habits of this semi-nomadic tribe. Via Opuwo, the district capital of the Kunene Region, you will reach Sesfontein. On your quest to find desert elephants you will travel on the rough terrain of the Hoanib Valley in the Kaokoveld. Take in the beautiful landscapes of the Damaraland before ending your extraordinary journey in Windhoek.

Namibia's Untouched North tour map

Start Windhoek

Ends Windhoek

Christ Church in Windhoek

Day 1 | Windhoek

Distance approx. 50 km; driving time approx. 1 hour

Windhoek

Distance approx. 50 km; driving time approx. 1 hour

Arrival at Hosea Kutako Airport no later than midday. Your transfer driver awaits you and takes you to the Elegant Guesthouse in Windhoek, where you have some time to rest and freshen up after your long flight. In the afternoon, you meet up with your guide for a tour of the city. You visit the Christ Church, the Tintenpalast (House of Parliament) and the former Kaiserstraße, now called the Independence Avenue. In the evening, we recommend you having dinner at the well-known Joe’s Beerhouse (own expense).

Waterberg area in Namibia

Day 2 | Windhoek – Grootfontein Area

Distance approx. 550 km; driving time approx. 7 hours

Windhoek – Grootfontein Area

Distance approx. 550 km; driving time approx. 7 hours

After breakfast it is time to head north! Along the way you pass vast farmlands and the historic Waterberg Plateau, towering majestically over the surrounding flat plains. As you reach Grootfontein, you take a detour to the Hoba meteorite. It impacted the ground roughly 80,000 years ago and is the largest known meteorite on earth. In the afternoon, you finally reach your accommodation for the night, the Fiume Bush Camp. Sit back, enjoy your peaceful surroundings and look forward to the next day which will be filled with interesting encounters.

Breakfast Dinner
Two men showing third man how to make fire

Day 3 | Grootfontein Area

Grootfontein Area

An authentic cultural experience with the San, one of the oldest people of the world, awaits you today. Proudly, they give you a detailed insight into their way of life, their customs and their traditions and explain how their ancient hunter-gatherer culture was practiced not too long ago. Go on an informative walk through the bush and try your hand in starting a campfire, in making a bow and arrow or in crafting jewellery as you enjoy some traditional dancing and singing. Take a break from the world as you know it an engage on an equal footing with the San. You spend another night at Fiume Bush Camp.

Breakfast Lunch Dinner
Elephant herd crossing road in Etosha

Day 4 | Grootfontein Area – Etosha National Park

Distance approx. 230 km; driving time approx. 2-3 hours

Grootfontein Area – Etosha National Park

Distance approx. 230 km; driving time approx. 2-3 hours

After breakfast you continue through Tsumeb and along the deep blue Lake Otjikoto, a place where many stories and myths have originated, on your way to Etosha National Park. Your accommodation for the night is situated just outside the park gates. You have some time to relax before you embark on your first game drive in the national park. Etosha (‘Great White Place’) is one of the biggest national parks in Africa and with its diverse wildlife and landscape – from Acacia trees on the wide-open plains to the large salt pan, stretching as far as the eye can see – it is definitely one of the most interesting. Keep an eye out for elephants, giraffes, lions, many antelope species and much more! Sitting around the campfire in the evening you can reflect on the experiences of the day, before enjoying a delicious meal. You stay the night at Mushara Bush Camp.

Breakfast Dinner
Oryx antelope walking

Day 5-6 | Etosha National Park

Etosha National Park

The following two days are set aside for game viewing in the Etosha National Park. Since you are in no rush, you can explore the central part of Etosha intensely. Especially in the dry months, the waterholes are great places for seeing herds of elephants, zebras, giraffes, wildebeests, oryx, impalas, springboks and with a little bit of luck also lions, rhinos and leopards. Observe the animals and birds as they come to quench their thirst and study their behaviour together with your guide. Before the sun sets, you make your way to the Etosha Village just outside the national park. Get comfortable and enjoy the relaxed atmosphere while two eventful safari days come to an end.

Breakfast Dinner
Jackal seen on Etosha safari

Day 7 | Etosha National Park

Etosha National Park

After breakfast, your journey continues to the western part of Etosha National Park, where a full day of exciting wildlife encounters awaits you. You will be amazed by how much you have already learned about the flora and fauna of the area. Keep an eye out for animals you might not have seen these last few days. In the afternoon you leave the Etosha National Park and head to the nearby Hobatere Lodge. Enjoy the drive through the beautiful scenery of the Hobatere concession area as the sun slowly begins to set. After a delicious dinner you can opt to take part in a night game drive in an open safari vehicle (optional) and with a little bit of luck find some of those shy nocturnal animals.

Breakfast Dinner
Epupa Falls in northern Namibia

Day 8 | Etosha Area – Epupa Falls

Distance approx. 380 km; driving time approx. 5-6 hours

Etosha Area – Epupa Falls

Distance approx. 380 km; driving time approx. 5-6 hours

In the morning you leave Hobatere and drive north. Your journey takes you along the western outer edge of the Etosha National Park and continues further north via Ruacana to the Kunene River, which forms the border between Namibia and Angola. Through a spectacular and nearly completely uninhabited landscape, you travel along the river. Your destination for the day is the Omarunga Epupa Falls Camp, only a stone’s throw away from the Epupa Falls. Here, against a breath-taking backdrop, the Kunene River cascades down into a 60-meter-deep gorge – a spectacular sight to behold. Once you are at the camp you have time to relax and enjoy your surroundings. If you would like to stretch your legs, you can always go for a stroll to the Epupa Falls. In the late afternoon, your guide takes you to a nearby viewpoint, where you can enjoy the picturesque sunset and scenic landscape dotted with Makalani palms and Baobab trees. You stay the night at Omarunga Epupa Falls Camp

Breakfast Dinner
Himba village close to Omarunga Lodge on Northern Namibia tour

Day 9 | Epupa Falls

Epupa Falls

In the morning, you will visit a Himba village, where you will not only learn more about the culture and traditions of these proud people, but also get an insight into their everyday lives. Most striking is the intense red colour of the women’s bodies. By using a paste of butter fat, ochre powder and wood ash, they dye their hair and protect their skin from the sun. You also cannot help but to admire their intricately braided hair and their gorgeous jewellery, made from iron, copper and shells. In the afternoon, you will join a walk along the Kunene River accompanied by a Himba guide. He will explain the different vegetation found in the region and you might even see a crocodile lounging in the sun. After about 2-3 hours you will head back to the Omarunga Epupa Falls Camp.

Breakfast Dinner
Landscape in northern Namibia

Day 10 | Epupa Falls – Sesfontein

Distance approx. 350 km; driving time approx. 5-6 hours

Epupa Falls – Sesfontein

Distance approx. 350 km; driving time approx. 5-6 hours

Wake up to the gentle sounds of the Kunene… After a leisurely breakfast your journey takes you through the town of Opuwo and continues south along the Joubert Mountains and over the steep Joubert Pass. Your destination is the Fort Sesfontein. This old fortress was built in 1896 as an outpost to guard against poaching and weapons smuggling. It has now been converted to a comfortable lodge, where you spend the night.

Breakfast Dinner
Desert elephant in the Hoanib Valley seen on Northern Namibia tour

Day 11 | Sesfontein, Hoanib Valley

Sesfontein, Hoanib Valley

Today calls for an early start as you embark on a journey through the Kaokoland. Enjoy the awe-inspiring and diverse landscape as you cross the sandy Hoanib River Valley and drive through shallow grassland and gravel desert. Always keep an eye out for wildlife as you can find desert elephants, giraffes, lone oryx and zebras here. Even lions can be seen from time to time in this inhospitable wilderness. A well-deserved shower awaits you back at the lodge to wash away the dust of the day. You stay another night at Fort Sesfontein Lodge.

Breakfast Lunch Dinner
Landscape in Palmwag Namibia

Day 12 | Sesfontein – Vingerklip

Distance approx. 350 km; driving time approx. 5-6 hours

Sesfontein – Vingerklip

Distance approx. 350 km; driving time approx. 5-6 hours

You leave early in the morning and make your way past Palmwag to the heart of the Damaraland. You stop along the way at the Petrified Forest to witness the over 200-million-year-old, petrified tree trunks which lie scattered across the site. You also have the chance to more closely inspect the Welwitschia plants, which grow here in abundance. Driving through Khorixas you finally reach the Vingerklip Lodge. Sit back and enjoy the last rays of sunshine as your eyes glide over the picturesque valley with its flat top hills, known as the Ugab Terraces. You have your evening meal and overnight stay at the Vingerklip Lodge.

Breakfast Dinner
Moon rises near Vingerklip

Day 13 | Vingerklip – Greater Windhoek

Distance approx. 400 km; driving time approx. 5 hours

Vingerklip – Greater Windhoek

Distance approx. 400 km; driving time approx. 5 hours

If you have not yet had the opportunity, you visit the Vingerklip together with your guide in the morning. This remarkable 35-meter-high rock needle resembles a finger, hence the name ‘Finger Rock’. Hiking trails take you up to the Vingerklip, offering great photo opportunities of the valley below. You then continue to Okahandja. Take some time to browse through the well-known souvenir market, where you can find wood carvings, textiles and jewellery to name but a few. You then finally reach the charming Immanuel Wilderness Lodge close to Windhoek. Take your time to sit back and reflect on everything you have seen and experienced over the past days.

Breakfast Dinner
Straight road leading to Windhoek

Day 14 | Greater Windhoek – Windhoek

Distance approx. 70 km; driving time approx. 1-2 hours

Greater Windhoek – Windhoek

Distance approx. 70 km; driving time approx. 1-2 hours

After breakfast, you head back to Windhoek. Depending on the rest of your travel plans, we take you directly to the airport or to a hotel of your choice in Windhoek. You say farewell to your guide – totsiens – until next time.

Breakfast

Included

  • transport in a 4x4 vehicle
  • professional, English-speaking guide
  • 13 nights’ stay in lodges, rest camps and guesthouses
  • meals according to the itinerary
  • activities and transfers as per itinerary
  • all national park fees

Excluded

  • flights (international and domestic)
  • meals not indicated in the itinerary
  • alcoholic and soft drinks
  • optional activities
  • tips
  • personal expenses, visa fees, travel insurance

Upcoming Departures

Season 1 pers. 2 pers. 3 pers. 4 pers. 5 pers. 6 pers. Language
01.01.2024-
30.06.2024
159,200 NAD 89,100 NAD 70,700 NAD 70,300 NAD 63,500 NAD 58,900 NAD English

01.07.2024-
31.10.2024
161,600 NAD 91,100 NAD 72,700 NAD 72,300 NAD 65,500 NAD 60,900 NAD English

01.11.2024-
31.12.2024
162,600 NAD 91,900 NAD 73,300 NAD 73,100 NAD 66,300 NAD 61,700 NAD English

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