On this small group Namibia Lodge Safari, a maximum of 7 guests explore Namibia's top destinations with an experienced guide. This 13-day guided Namibia Safari is the perfect alternative to a self-drive tour offering an affordable way to explore Namibia in the comfort of a 4x4 Toyota Land Cruiser with your own driver.
Experience the surreal landscapes, fascinating wildlife, and unique cultures of Namibia while staying at well-selected Namibia safari lodges. The rugged beauty of the Kalahari Desert, Namib Desert, Erongo Mountains, Damaraland, Etosha National Park, and Waterberg Plateau set the scene for an unforgettable African adventure offering excellent value for money.
__large.jpg "Erongo Mountains, Namibia Safari")
__large.jpg "Namibia Safari vehicle")
__large.jpg "Namib Desert, Budget African Safari")
__large.jpg "Namib Desert dunes, African Safari")
This Namibia Lodge Safari begins at Windhoek International Airport where you will be welcomed by your driver. From the airport, you are driven to the Elegant Guesthouse, near Windhoek city centre.
After checking in at the guesthouse, there is time to freshen up and relax before meeting your tour guide and heading off on a short city tour of Windhoek. The vibrant heart of Namibia, Windhoek has much to offer visitors. Known for its old colonial German buildings (such as the German castle) and its laid-back vibe, Windhoek is a surprising mix of African charm and an ordered modern metropolis.
Some of the sights visited include the landmarks of Christ Church, Tintenpalast (House of Parliament), and Alte Feste (Old Fort). In the evening we eat out at Joe’s Beerhouse (optional - own expense), before returning to your comfortable accommodation at Elegant Guesthouse for the night.
Day two of our Namibia Safari starts with a delicious breakfast in the guesthouse's sunny breakfast room and a short tour briefing.
Your luggage is loaded safely into the 4x4 safari vehicle and we head south of Windhoek to the hot, arid town of Mariental. From Mariental we continue travelling for another hour until we arrive at our first destination - Bagatelle Kalahari Game Ranch. Tonight we stay on the ranch at the owner-run lodge, surrounded by the dramatic deep red dunes of the southern Kalahari Desert.
Take in the solitude and changing colors of the Kalahari Desert enjoying endless views over the desert landscape.
Enjoy a leisurely breakfast or embark on an optional (own expense) sunrise drive on the ranch this morning. On the optional morning drive, you will get to watch the desert come to life and admire the morning light on the red dunes. This nature drive is conducted with a local guide who offers insight into the remarkable fauna and flora that survive and thrive in these harsh desert conditions.
Then we depart for Sesriem in our 4x4 Land Cruiser, traveling via the towns of Mariental and Maltahöhe. The settlement of Sesriem provides access to Namib-Naukluft National Park and the ever-popular attraction of Sossusvlei, the site of some of the highest dunes in the world.
In the heat of the afternoon, there is time to relax at the Elegant Desert Lodge, watch wildlife at the waterhole, and explore the lodge property on foot. Later in the afternoon, you can join an optional sunset drive with sundowners or laze at the pool and enjoy the beautiful desert setting of the lodge. End the day off with a relaxed three-course dinner at the desert lodge and marvel at the starry skies.
We get up early on day four of our Namibia Safari and head to the Namib-Naukluft National Park. At sunrise, the park gates open and we drive to Sossusvlei.
If we arrive early enough, you can climb one of the iconic Sossusvlei dunes before the heat of the day to take in the impressive views of the vast desert landscape.
Then we drive to the parking area near the Sossusvlei Pan in our 4x4 safari vehicle and cover the last stretch on foot. A short walk through the quiet desert brings us to the famous salt and clay pan where you can marvel at the surreal setting. Here we spend some time admiring the cracked white earth scattered with gnarled dead trees, surrounded by orange-red dunes.
Leaving the striking Sossusvlei Pan we continue to our next Namib Desert highlight, the Sesriem Canyon. Formed by the Tsauchab River over millions of years, the Sesriem Canyon reveals sedimentary layers of rock 30 meters deep. We take a short walk in this deep gorge to view the ancient rock formations, local flora, and fauna up close.
After a memorable morning of exploring the Namib-Naukluft National Park, we will return to the Elegant Desert Camp. Here you can take a rest and sit back to enjoy the mesmerizing desert scenery. End the day off with a tranquil sunset over the desert before settling in for a night of dazzling stargazing. If the star-studded skies have you enchanted you can roll your bed out onto your own private terrace to sleep out under the stars.
Today our Namibia Lodge Safari heads to the coastal town of Swakopmund. En route, we drive past Bloedkoppie in the northern part of the Namib Desert. This hill is named after its glowing colour at sunset, with Bloedkoppie translating as 'blood hill'.
From there we travel along Welwitschia Drive looking out for the strange Welwitschia plants that are endemic to the Namib Desert. Further on our drive, we come to several viewpoints where we pause to take in the stark scenery of the Moon Landscape. Stretch your legs and enjoy the expansive views over this arid lunar landscape. After admiring the rugged beauty of strange rocky lands stretched out around us, we drive on to Swakopmund.
Wedged between the crisp Atlantic Ocean and the Namib Desert dunes, Swakopmund is known as the adventure capital of Namibia. Swakopmund still heavily reflects its colonial German history, the streets lined with provincial buildings from a bygone era and cafés where you can experience warm German hospitality and well-loved continental confectioneries and baked goods.
The evening offers the opportunity to dine at one of the many restaurants in Swakopmund (own expense) – fresh seafood is a must. The charming, centrally located Organic Square Guesthouse is close to the restaurants and bars and is your home away from home for the next two nights.
Day six of our Namibia Safari starts with a lovely breakfast at the guesthouse in Swakopmund. The rest of the day is free for you to explore the town and do optional activities of your choice.
Take advantage of the many exciting activities on offer in Swakopmund - visit Cape Cross to see the seal colony, take a catamaran cruise, or join a desert safari in search of the "Little Five" (all optional). Two of the top activities are the scenic desert flight in a small fixed-wing plane and the desert safari.
Alternatively, simply stroll through the historic town discovering lesser-known gems and mingling with the locals. Visit the crafts market, take a walk along the beachfront promenade, and do some sightseeing.
At the end of an adventure-filled day of exploration, we meet up in Swakopmund for dinner and a chance to experience another seaside eatery (own expense).
Today we leave the Atlantic Ocean behind, after an early breakfast in Swakopmund. Our Nambia Lodge Safari takes us back inland, this time to the Erongo Region. Here we visit the 700 million-year-old Spitzkoppe, one of Namibia's most famous landmarks. The impressive granite peaks of Spitzkoppe rise to altitudes of 1730 meters, making them visible from great distances away. At Spitzkoppe your tour guide leads you on an exploration of this stunning landscape with its towering granite domes.
Then we continue to the Erongo Mountains and on to our next stop, the San Living Museum. Here a San guide takes you on a short bushwalk. Your local guide shows you ancient San rock paintings and tells you more about the traditional San way of life. The first inhabitants of Southern Africa, the San people were once nomadic hunter-gatherers able to survive in harsh conditions.
Then we continue to the Erongo Mountains and the nearby Otjohotozu Guestfarm, known for its warm hospitality. After settling in we head out on a sunset drive with sundowners. Sit back and enjoy the scenery as the day draws to an end. The drive offers insight into farm life in Namibia and a chance to see the diverse plants and animals of this unique ecosystem. After our drive, we will return to the guesthouse for a delicious dinner and a good night's rest.
Another exciting day of exploring remote areas of Namibia lies ahead. You will travel in a north-westerly direction today into the southern Kunene Region, formerly called Damaraland.
Our first stop is Twyfelfontein where we take a walk to view the famous rock engravings. Here you'll get up close to San rock art estimated to be at least 2000 years old and learn about the ancient San (bushmen) culture of Namibia. Then our journey into African culture continues as we proceed to the Damara Living Museum. Here you can learn more about the Damara people, one of the oldest tribes in Namibia. Discover how the Damara lived hundreds of years ago, and learn about their craftsmanship, dances, and songs. Later in the afternoon, we drive to the luxurious Malansrus Tented Camp, nestled under Mopane trees in a remote spot near Twyfelfontein. Enjoy a sundowner while you take in the beautiful views over the granite hills and the dry riverbed.
The morning starts with an early breakfast, before joining an experienced local guide and tracker in pursuit of the elusive desert elephants.
The herds of desert elephants have adapted remarkably to the harsh conditions of life in the desert. These rare elephants are smaller than other African elephants and travel up to 200km in search of water. While tracking elephants we get to appreciate the unique landscapes of Damaraland and see how the local people live. With some luck, we may even spot black rhinos during our drive, as well as desert elephants.
In the afternoon we drive back to Malansrus Tented Camp where you can relax, swim in the pool overlooking the valley, and enjoy a hearty dinner.
Day 10 marks our much-anticipated arrival at Namibia's top safari destination - Etosha National Park.
After breakfast at our tented camp, we drive to Etosha, one of the best national parks in Africa. We enter the park and embark on a game drive in our 4x4 safari vehicle. The majority of our time on safari in Etosha is focused on game viewing around the waterholes where animals, great and small, gather to drink and bathe. Elephants, lions, wildebeests, giraffes, zebras, and various antelopes all make appearances to quench their thirst in this harsh arid landscape. With a bit of luck, you might even spot cheetahs, rhinos, or elusive leopards.
After our first exhilarating game drive in Etosha, we exit the national park via the Anderson Gate in the late afternoon. A short drive brings us to our home next overnight lodge, Etosha Village. Enjoy a cool drink at the bar and tuck into a tasty dinner at the end of your first exciting day of game viewing in Namibia.
Begin day 11 of your Namibia Lodge Safari with sunrise at our lodge inside a private nature reserve. After an early breakfast, we embark on our full-day 4x4 Etosha Safari.
Entering the park as it opens we make our way to the fringes of the Etosha Pan. The vast salt pan of 5000 km2 stretches over roughly a quarter of the entire national park and is Etosha’s most iconic and scenic feature. In unusually wet rainy seasons the pan transforms into the breeding ground for large flocks of flamingos and pelicans, painting the mono-toned landscape with shimmers of pink and white. Our 4x4 game drive takes us via the pan to admire the open landscapes dotted with wildlife and on to various watering holes where wildlife and birds gather. Herds of elephant, giraffe, eland, blue wildebeest, kudu, gemsbok, impala, springbok, and zebra all inhabit Etosha National Park in abundance.
In the early evening, we exit Etosha via the Von Lindequist Gate in the east and make our way to Mushara Bush Camp where we spend the night in permanent luxury tents with en-suite bathrooms at a friendly safari lodge.
After breakfast on day 12 of our affordable Namibia Safari, we embark on a final game drive in Etosha National Park. Every day out in the bush brings new surprises and chance wildlife encounters. Our final game drive complete we exit the national park and journey south to Waterberg Plateau.
Along the way, we pass the mysterious Lake Otjikoto, one of only two permanent natural lakes in Namibia, and the 66-ton Hoba Meteorite, the largest intact meteorite in the world.
Arriving at Waterberg Plateau National Park we head to our final lodge, the Waterberg Guest Farm. Located inside Waterberg Plateau Park at the foot of Small Waterberg Mountain, the guest farm provides a peaceful setting in nature. In the afternoon, you can venture out on a hike to explore the wilderness or relax at the pool and rest at the tranquil lodge.
Today our Namibia Lodge Safari returns to the capital city of Windhoek, where our adventure began.
We arrive back in Windhoek between 14h00 and 15h00. If time allows you can visit the Namibian Craft Centre to buy hand-carved souvenirs, woven baskets, African accessories, and jewellery. Alternatively, you can sit at a sidewalk café and watch the locals go about their daily lives.
Depending on your travel plans, your guide then transfers you to the Hosea Kutako International Airport or your post-tour accommodation in Windhoek. Here it will be time to say goodbye to Namibia, until next time!
This small group Namibia Safari is conducted in a 4x4 Land Cruiser, built to navigate the rough roads of Africa. A maximum of 7 guests travel in the luxury of a 4x4 safari vehicle, guaranteeing each a window seat. The Toyota Land Cruisers feature pop-up roofs, ideal for viewing wildlife and the spectacular landscapes of Namibia, providing excellent photographic opportunities. Exploring the long, open roads of remote Namibia in the comfort of a well-equipped 4x4 vehicle makes all the difference!
For up-to-date and confirmed pricing info for optional items, please drop us an enquiry.
This tour does not take children.
This itinerary may have some long travelling days, and we would therefore not recommend this group safari for young children.
Families with younger children who are confident and comfortable with travelling long distances, are welcome on a private safari basis only.
Please contact African Budget Safaris for information regarding private tours and quotations.
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