This 6-day Namibia Camping Safari is the perfect way to explore the beauty of Southern Namibia.
From Swakopmund we head into the ancient and scenic Namib Desert. Here we explore Sossusvlei to see some of the world’s highest sand dunes. Then we visit the ghost town of Kolmanskop, look for the wild horses of the Namib Desert and gaze over the Fish River Canyon. Lastly, we spend a night at the impressive Quiver Tree Forest before travelling to Windhoek where our beautiful Southern Namibia Safari culminates!
Our Namibia Camping Safari starts at your accommodation in Swakopmund where we meet for a pre-tour briefing. We will leave Swakopmund at 11h30, so we have the time to enjoy an optional activity in the morning. For the adrenaline junkies, this could be flying down a sand dune headfirst at 60km/h on a sandboard, exploring the dune field on a quad biking tour or discover the “old city” of Swakopmund on a fat bike (e-bike option available).
Whatever we choose, we depart Swakopmund no later than 11h30 and drive through the Namib Desert via the Kuiseb Pass, crossing the Tropic of Capricorn, stopping briefly in Solitaire and arriving at our camp late afternoon. We set up our tents, and enjoy the sunset over the Namib Desert while listening to the barking geckos. There is a pool and a bar at camp. Your guide makes you dinner and we get an early night.
We leave camp before dawn on day eight, heading into the desert to catch the sunrise over the orange-red dunes.
We drive down an ancient river bed, surrounded by towering dunes and our first stop is at the famous Dune 45 where we have the chance to climb to the top to enjoy the sunrise. On the descent, we replenish our energy and enjoy breakfast before continuing to the Sossusvlei area. Next, we explore Sossusvlei and Dead Vlei on foot, taking in the surreal desert landscapes. This is a place of stark contrasts with the dead thorn trees, white ground, tall orange dunes and deep blue skies. Walk across the cracked clay earth, bleached by the sun and try to capture the scene in photos.
We have the opportunity to climb the dune at Sossusvlei before we return to Sesriem for lunch and a swim or siesta during the heat of the day. Mid-afternoon we visit the Sesriem Canyon before your guide drops you at Elim’s Dune for a short and educational sunset walk back to camp through the desert. End the day with a tasty dinner made by your guide.
We pack up camp and enjoy breakfast before heading south through some of the most spectacular desert landscapes in Southern Namibia. Our destination today is the small outpost of Klein Aus, nestled in the Gondwana Sperrgebiet Rand Park. We arrive early afternoon and set up camp. For the active, there is a short optional unguided hiking trail. Permits and a map are available at reception. We enjoy a beautiful sunset and dinner cooked over an open fire.
After an early breakfast, we make our way from Klein Aus to the ghost town, of Kolmanskop, situated 15km outside of Luderitz. During a diamond boom in 1910 Kolmanskop quickly became one of the richest towns in Africa boasting the southern hemisphere’s first X-ray machine, a bowling alley and luxury housing. As the diamond boom came to an end and the town’s inhabitants abandoned the area Kolmanskop became a ghost town.
After our tour of Kolmanskop, we continue our adventure to the small town of Luderitz, situated on the rocky shores of the Atlantic Ocean and well known for its unique and colourful colonial-style buildings. We stop at Diaz Point, the famous site of the Original Diaz Cross and enjoy a picnic lunch. On our way back to Aus, we scan the landscape for the famous wild horses of Namibia. It is a mystery how these horses ended up roaming the Namib Desert but miraculously they continue to survive in this inhospitable environment. With a bit of luck, we will get a glimpse of these wild horses which roam freely between Luderitz and Klein Aus. Arriving at camp in the late afternoon there is time to relax and take in the sunset over the Aus Mountains with a sundowner.
We enjoy another early start this morning as we pack up camp and head east to the Fish River Canyon. Reaching the massive gorge we stop at the Hell`s Bend viewpoint to soak up the geological marvel. The Fish River Canyon is an impressive natural sight, being one of the world's biggest canyons. The Fish River Canyon Canyon is about 161 km in length and some 27 km wide, reaching depths of 550m in places. The canyon started forming along fault lines about 350 million years ago due to tectonic movement followed by water erosion.
After lunch, we continue our adventure heading to our last destination; The Quiver Tree Forest. It is located just north-east of Keetmanshoop and here approximately 250 quiver trees can be found. The forest grew spontaneously and the oldest trees 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. On the final night of our Namibia Safari, we camp out under the stars near the quiver trees. This is an ideal location for stargazing and photographing the night skies. You can also get a permit to photograph the quiver trees at night (at extra cost).
After a tasty cooked breakfast, we start the day with a chance to really explore the Quiver Tree Forest and Giants Playground, 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, an extinct volcano which is 650m above the surrounding area. We pass through the small towns of Mariental and Rehoboth before arriving at the backpackers in Windhoek in the late afternoon. Our Explore Southern Namibia Safari comes to an end upon arrival in Windhoek. There is a shuttle option for those staying elsewhere within the city limits.
Please note: We do not recommend booking flights departing on the final day of this Explore Southern Namibia Safari.
Accommodation on this tour is in canvas dome tents, fitted with camping mattresses (about 5 cm thick) each with a mattress cover. Camping chairs with backrests, are provided for all clients and sleeping bags can be hired in advance.
This tour does take children.
Child Rates are applicable to children Aged 5 to 11 who shares accommodation with 2 Adults only.
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