Namib Desert & Southern Namibia Safari

Tour Overview

• Day 1: Windhoek to Swakopmund
• Day 2: Full day in Swakopmund
• Day 3: Sesriem (Oshana Campsite)
• Day 4: Sesriem & Namib Desert (Dune 45, Sossusvlei & Deadvlei)
• Day 5: Klein Aus Vista
• Day 6: Klein Aus, Kolmanskop and Diaz Point
• Day 7: Quiver Tree Forest and Fish River Canyon
• Day 8: Quiver Tree Forest to Windhoek

Day 1: Windhoek to Swakopmund – Namibia

Our Namibia Camping Safari starts with an early shuttle transfer which will collect you from your lodging at roughly 6h00 and transfer you on a 5-hour journey to the Skeleton Coast, Swakopmund. Your base for the next 2 nights is the A la Mer Hotel.
The afternoon allows you time for lunch (at own account) and an opportunity to chat with a few activity centres about what to do with your free day tomorrow.

• Meals included: None
• Distance travelled: about 360km

Day 2: Swakopmund – Namibia

A full day to explore the vibrant coastal town of Swakopmund on the Skeleton Coast. There are many exciting activities to choose from. The adventure and adrenalin seeker can skydive, quad bike or visit the Sandwich Harbour Dunes which are only accessible with a specialised 4x4 vehicle and at low tide!

For those wanting something a little calmer, try a living desert tour, kayaking with the seals, a dolphin cruise in Walvis Bay, a scenic flight over Sossusvlei, the Eduard Bohlen shipwreck or a stroll around the town enjoying the curio shops and cafés that Swakop is renowned for. We will also meet up with our guide and fellow guests coming from Etosha who will join us on our adventure to Sossusvlei and have the option to participate in a group meal at one of Swakopmund’s excellent restaurants (own expense).

• Meals included: Breakfast

Day 3: Namib Desert & Sesriem – Namibia

Today we leave Swakopmund at 11h30 so we have the time to enjoy an optional activity. 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.

• Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
• Distance travelled: about 350km

Day 4: Sossusvlei & Sesriem Canyon, Namib Desert – Namibia

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.

• Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
• Distance travelled: about 150km

Day 5: Klein Aus Vista Campsite, Namib Desert – Namibia

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.

• Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
• Distance travelled: about 380km

Day 6: Klein Aus Vista Campsite, Namib Desert – Namibia

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.

• Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
• Distance travelled: about 260km

Day 7: Fish River Canyon & Quiver Tree Forest, Keetmanshoop – Namibia

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).

• Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
• Distance travelled: about 480km

Day 8: Quiver Tree Forest to Windhoek – Namibia

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 late afternoon. There is a shuttle option for those staying elsewhere within the city limits.

• Meals included: Breakfast & Lunch
• Distance travelled: about 500km

Please note: We do not recommend booking flights departing on the final day of this Namibia Safari.

Useful Information

• Airport transfers and pre- or post-safari accommodation can be arranged on request.
• Maximum group size of 12 guests, with a minimum of one person.
• Participation is limited to assisting with setting up your tent and breaking camp, while the camp assistant takes care of other chores. Your tour guide will do all the shopping, cooking and day-to-day organisation on safari.