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Explore Namibia’s iconic landscapes and wildlife on an 11-day Namibia overland safari from Windhoek to Cape Town. This Namibia overland tour combines Etosha National Park, Swakopmund, the Namib Desert and Fish River Canyon with the dramatic journey south into South Africa.
Track wildlife in Etosha, visit ancient rock art in the Brandberg Mountains and spend two nights in Swakopmund on Namibia’s Atlantic coast. Then head into the Namib Desert to climb Dune 45 at sunrise, explore Sossusvlei, Deadvlei and Sesriem Canyon, and travel south via the Quiver Tree Forest, Giants Playground and Fish River Canyon.
The final stretch of this Windhoek-to-Cape Town overland safari crosses the Orange River into South Africa, travelling through Namaqualand and the rugged Cederberg Mountains before ending in Cape Town. Ideal for travellers looking for a Namibia lodge safari without camping, this affordable trip offers spectacular scenery, wildlife and one of Southern Africa’s classic overland routes.
On the first morning of this Namibia overland safari, you meet up with your safari crew in Windhoek. We board our overland safari truck and set off north from Namibia's capital city, traveling through rural Namibia to the premium wildlife safari destination, Etosha National Park.
You will be met by your tour leader at the park rest camp. After settling in and getting acquainted with your fellow travellers, we will head off into the park for an afternoon game drive. Etosha National Park is rated as one of Africa's best game viewing destinations, hosting a surprising abundance of animals and birds given the arid environment.
Keep an eye out for elephants in the bushy areas, as well as rhinos and elusive leopards. Common wildlife sightings in Etosha include lions and an array of herbivores - zebras, gemsbok, impalas, springbok, and giraffes. Hosting over 340 bird species, birding enthusiasts will be rewarded with a variety of sightings, from the martial eagles and kori bustards to bee-eaters and ostriches.
We spend the first two nights of our Namibia overland safari in comfortable en-suite rooms at the rest camp in Etosha, which features a floodlit watering hole offering excellent game-viewing opportunities from the comfort of camp. Make your way to the waterhole after dark to watch for nocturnal wildlife and sit back around the campfire listening to the night sounds of the African bush around us.
Day 2 will see a full day of wildlife viewing in Etosha Park. The park takes its name from the vast Etosha Pan, an oval-shaped salt pan covering approximately 480,000 hectares of the Namib Desert, which can even be seen from space.
We explore the fringes of Etosha Pan in our elevated safari truck, visiting watering holes and scanning the dramatic landscape for wildlife and birds. Etosha offers phenomenal game-viewing thanks to the pan's sparse vegetation and the life-giving waterholes dotting the bush, which attract thirsty wildlife.
Early this morning, we hop back on our overland safari truck, making one last search for wildlife and birds as we bid farewell to Etosha National Park. Exiting Etosha, we head to the Brandberg Mountains (Burning Mountains). These are the highest peaks in Namibia and are home to the iconic White Lady painting, one of over 45,000 rock art depictions in the region.
Upon reaching our destination for the day, we'll embark on a ±2-hour round-trip hike to view this ancient artwork, believed to be around 2,000 years old. Please note that this hike may take place the following morning. The trail navigates rugged terrain along the gorge of the usually dry Tsisab River. We end our day with a restful overnight stay at a nearby lodge.
On Day 4 of our Windhoek to Cape Town lodge safari, we leave Brandberg and head to Swakopmund, the adventure capital of Namibia. We continue along desert roads until we reach the coastline, where the arid desert sands meet the icy Atlantic Ocean.
During our journey, we’ll pause to explore the fascinating Lichen Fields, where your guide will share an engaging talk about the intricate lichen colonies that blanket the landscape. This is a unique opportunity to capture some stunning, unforgettable photographs.
Our last stop before reaching Swakopmund is the picturesque seaside town of Wlotskasbaken. With its charming houses and breathtaking views of the Atlantic Ocean, it’s the perfect spot for more memorable photos. Afterwards, we’ll continue our journey to the coastal city of Swakopmund, bringing an exciting day of discovery to a close as we settle in at our accommodation.
Day 5 is yours to enjoy Swakopmund at your leisure – relaxing, sightseeing and doing optional activities. For the adrenaline junkies amongst us, Swakopmund offers a whole range of thrilling adventure activities, including sandboarding, skydiving, and quad biking.
For those less inclined to high-adventure, dolphin cruises are a popular option, or you can simply amble along the sea, appreciating the refreshing sea breeze, walk around the German-influenced town and enjoy a leisurely meal. The town is small enough to explore on foot, featuring beautiful colonial-era architecture, quaint shops, and eateries serving delicious cuisine.
From the charming town of Swakopmund, our Namibia overland safari travels south into the ancient Namib Desert. Leaving the Atlantic Ocean, we proceed inland once more, headed to the iconic red-orange sea of dunes of the ancient Namib Desert.
On the drive, we cross the Tropic of Capricorn and will make a stop to capture a photograph of this auspicious crossing. After settling in at our desert lodge, we are taken on a guided afternoon walk through this starkly beautiful ecosystem. Our guide tells us more about the flora and fauna of the Namib Desert and the incredible survival techniques of the traditional San as we walk.
We get an early night tonight, but before you turn in, don't forget to look up and marvel at the star-studded desert sky.
Waking before dawn, we drive into the Namib Desert and hike up Dune 45 to catch the vivid colours of sunrise over the desert. The changing hues and shifting shadows of the dunes at sunrise will leave you awe-struck!
After admiring the sweeping desert views from the top of Dune 45, we have a hearty breakfast. We then transfer to a smaller 4x4 vehicle to drive to the Sossusvlei area of the Namib-Naukluft National Park. We explore the strange landscapes of the stark Sossusvlei and Deadvlei salt pan on foot to admire this unusual and surreal spectacle. Take a walk amongst the gnarled dead trees dotted across the cracked clay pans, encircled by ochre dunes.
Leaving the tall Sossusvlei Dunes and surreal-looking clay pans behind, we drive to Sesriem Canyon. Here we enjoy a short walk through the incredible passages of Sesriem Canyon, carved into the rock over millions of years by the Tsauchab River. After admiring the deep canyon, we return to our desert lodge for another night under starry desert skies.
Day 8 of our Namibia overland safari from Windhoek to Cape Town begins with a long desert drive, ending with a visit to the fascinating Quiver Tree Forest near Keetmanshoop.
Some 250 quiver trees, with their distinctive silhouettes, constitute this forest that was declared a national monument in 1995. The quiver tree forest includes specimens between 200 and 300 years old, making it an important ecological site. From here, we move on to the Giants Playground, a bizarre landscape where the flat earth is strewn with unusual stacks of large, round dolerite boulders about 160 to 180 million years old. Overnight in nearby Keetmanshoop.
This morning, we travel further south, stopping at the Fish River Canyon, the second largest canyon in the world. We'll travel to a lookout point on the rim of the Fish River Canyon and stroll along the edge to stretch our legs and marvel at the view.
We will spend our final night in Namibia at a lodge situated on the banks of the Gariep River, commonly known by its former name - the Orange River. This great river is the lifeblood of the desert landscape and forms the border between Namibia and South Africa.
This afternoon, you have the chance to take an optional canoeing trip on the Gariep (Orange) River. Paddling along the river in a canoe is the ideal way to appreciate the rugged scenery and spot birds and even small animals. Alternatively, you can explore on foot, cool off in the river, and laze on the riverbanks.
Today, our Namibia overland safari crosses the Orange River into South Africa. Once border formalities are complete, our drive takes us through the semi-desert Namaqualand region of the arid Northern Cape Province.
This part of South Africa is famous for its spectacular wildflower displays that pop out in spring each year (around August/September), so you may be lucky to see the rolling hills covered in multi-colored flowers, depending on the time of your travel.
Continuing south, we head to the rugged Cederberg Mountain region of the Western Cape. The Cederberg is known for its stunning rock formations, San rock art, and fantastic hiking trails. On our last night, we will stay at a comfortable lodge just outside the town of Citrusdal, gateway to the Cederberg. We tuck into a hearty traditional South African meal as we reminisce about the adventures we have had.
The fertile Cederberg is well known for citrus farming and the indigenous rooibos plant, which is used to make a healthy tea that is extremely popular both in South Africa and internationally. As we hit the road for Cape Town, we pass many citrus orchards, the ubiquitous padstal (farmstall) selling local goods, overlooked by the towering Cederberg Mountains.
Nearing the city, we pause in Tableview on the outskirts to get the iconic view of Table Mountain from across the bay. This provides for the perfect photo opportunity.
Our Namibia overland safari from Windhoek ends in the picturesque city of Cape Town, where we sadly say goodbye.
To get the most out of your overland tour, we recommend arriving the day before the Windhoek to Cape Town Safari departs, and booking flights only for the day after the safari ends. We can help arrange accommodation before and after the safari on request.
This Namibia overland safari is also available in the opposite direction as our 11-Day Cape Town to Namibia Lodge Safari.
Prefer a more adventurous and lower-cost option? Compare this lodge safari with our Namibia Camping Overland Safari from Windhoek to Cape Town.
For up-to-date and confirmed pricing info for optional items, please drop us an enquiry.
This tour does take children.
There is a minimum age limit of 8 years of age, for travellers on scheduled departures, however, children aged 8 and 9 years of age are accepted on a request basis only.
A maximum of 4 children, aged between 10 - 15 years will be allowed per scheduled tour departure date.
Should there already be 4 children confirmed on a tour, any further children requests will be dealt with on a request basis only.
Age restrictions may apply to certain items listed in the respective tour activities and it is important that you are aware of these restrictions prior to confirming children on tour.
Please contact African Budget Safaris for further information.
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