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An overland journey of a lifetime in the vast open spaces of the unique desert country of Namibia.
Immerse yourself in Namibia’s raw beauty and enjoy a host of exciting activities as you explore the highlights of Namibia: from the famous wildlife rich Etosha National Park to the Rock Art and Petrified Forest of remote Kunene. From the popular seaside adventure town, Swakopmund, and quaint harbour of Luderitz to the ancient Namib Desert with its iconic ochre sands of the Sossusvlei dunes, and vast Fish River Canyon & Ais Ais hot springs.
Appreciate the natural, cultural, and wildlife treasures that Namibia has to offer on this budget friendly Namibia Explorer Camping Overland Tour.
Our Namibia Safari Adventure begins in its vibrant capital city, Windhoek, cultural, economic, and administrative heart of the country. This morning, meet up with your safari crew and fellow travelers and load up your adventure vehicle for the journey ahead. Then we hit the road for the town of Keetmanshoop, the capital of southern Namibia.
From Windhoek, we head south into the Kalahari Desert and the llKaras Region of Namibia. This afternoon we stop to explore the Quiver Tree Forest en-route. The forest consists of about 250 quiver trees, actually a species of aloe, specially adapted to survive in the harsh desert conditions. The forest is an important ecological site and was declared a national monument in 1995 as it includes specimens that are 200 and 300 years old. The tree gets it name as the bushmen use hollowed out branches as quivers for their arrows. We take a walk in this unusual forest of rare succulents, appreciating their silhouettes as the sun sets over the Kalahari Desert.
Tonight, we camp at a campsite near Keetmanshoop.
This morning after a hearty breakfast, our Africa Overland Tour heads to Giants Playground, another distinctive site close to Keetmanshoop. Take a walk through the bizarre boulder-strewn landscape that looks as if it has been abandoned by giants at play. Giant's Playground features unique stacked rock formations consisting of large dolerite boulders about 160 to 180 million years old.
From rocks of Giant's Playground, we head south along often deserted roads. Leaving the Kalahari Desert, we cross the open gravel plains of southern Namibia en route to the majestic Fish River Canyon, one of the largest canyons in the world. Our next overnight stop on this Namibia Safari Adventure is a resort at the Ais-Ais hot springs that lies at the southern end of the canyon. This evening you can take a soothing soak in the hot mineral waters as you wash away the dust of the day.
On Day 3 of our Namibia Safari, we are up early to visit the nearby Fish River Canyon in the early morning light. The Fish River Canyon in Namibia is one of the largest canyons on the planet, about 160 kilometers (99 miles) long and 27 kilometers (17 miles) wide in places. We take a stroll along the rim of the impressive canyon to appreciate the shifting shadows and colors of sunrise over this natural wonder.
After marveling at the majestic Fish River Canyon, we travel west toward the coastline of Namibia where the desert meets the icy Atlantic Ocean. Tonight, we stay at a guesthouse in the quaint harbor town of Luderitz.
Our overland tour covers a lot of ground today, taking us northeast, up into the heart of the ancient Namib Desert and our overnight desert campsite at Sesriem. Just outside Luderitz at the start of our journey, we make a stop to visit the ghostly deserted town of Kolmanskop. This former mining town was abandoned to the desert sands which have largely reclaimed it. After taking a look at the crumbling remnants of colorful buildings which make a surreal backdrop for photographs, we continue our journey inland.
From Kolmanskop we head along long, dusty roads through open farmlands. This journey reveals the vastness of rural Namibia, one of the most sparsely populated places on earth. As we proceed westward through the slowly changing landscapes of Namibia, the dry grasslands give way to the distinctive ochre sand dunes. Our long day on the road brings us to the undulating dune fields in the western part of the Namib Desert, the world’s oldest desert.
Tonight, we stay at a desert campsite on the outskirts of the dune fields. Settle back and enjoy the starry desert skies, while you soak up the silence punctuated by the distinctive calls of the barking gecko.
Day 5 of our Namibia Safari Adventure sees us wake up to the striking Namib Desert environment. We get up early this morning to enter the Namib-Naukluft National Park just after sunrise. The iconic red-orange Dune 45 is our first stop. A climb to the top of Dune 45, one of the tallest sand dunes in the Sossusvlei area, is well worth the sweeping views over the desert with the warm colors of the dunes reflecting in the changing morning light. Once we are down from atop Dune 45, we enjoy a hearty breakfast.
A 4x4 safari vehicle collects us to continue deeper into the oldest desert in the world, with a transfer into the Sossusvlei. The Sossusvlei dunes, with Deadvlei at its center, are the most famous landscapes of the massive 49,768 square kilometer (19,215 square miles) Namib-Naukluft National Park, attracting photographers from far and wide for the archetypal desert scenery associated with Namibia. We explore on foot, taking in the stark scenes of the cracked, dry pans of Deadvlei underfoot, surrounded by the striking orange-red dunes all around. Here gnarled dead trees, some still standing, and others fallen, create surreal silhouettes in dramatic contrast with the blue skies and orange dunes.
We spend another night at our peaceful desert campsite, marveling at the endless star-studded skies.
Next, our Africa Camping Safari travels to the popular seaside town of Swakopmund on the rugged Atlantic coastline. Along the way we cross the Tropic of Capricorn, stopping to take photos of this auspicious occasion. From there drive through the Lunar Landscape, an arid area that resembles the face of the moon. We pause at different viewpoints to survey the surreal 'moonscapes' and take photos of the unique scenery. We also visit some of the iconic Welwitschia plants, which live for as long as 2,000 years and are endemic to Namibia.
After viewing these rare plants, we continue to our destination for the day, the charming seaside town of Swakopmund. We will stay in a lovely centrally located hotel tonight. The rest of the day is free to explore. Known as the Adventure Capital of Namibia, this lively town is an oasis of activity. Stroll along the sea front and explore the town with its colonial architecture and quaint coffee shops, bakeries and restaurants.
Today our Namibia Explorer heads north along the dramatic coastline. Our journey takes us into the Skeleton Coast National Park, where the baking-hot Namib Desert meets the icy Atlantic Ocean. The Skeleton Coast in Namibia earned its name from the numerous shipwrecks and whale bones that have washed up on its shores, their remains creating a ghostly spectacle along the desolate coastline.
On our way, we stop to visit the renowned Seal Colony at Cape Cross (when accessible). This is the largest breeding colony of Cape Fur Seals in the world, numbering over 200,000 seals. Cape Cross is also the site where the first European, Portuguese explorer Diego Cao, arrived ashore in 1486 and erected a cross in the name of his king.
We travel through the remote Skeleton Coast National Park, before heading inland. Tonight, we stay at a lodge amid swaying makalani palms and robust mopane trees nourished by underground water, overlooking the sweeping northern Damaraland landscape peppered with green euphorbias.
Day 8 of our Africa Overland Tour sees us traveling inland to the remote Kunene Region. Here we step far back in time as we visit the famous rock art of Twyfelfontein and a national monument Petrified Forest.
The first UNESCO World Heritage Site declared in Namibia, Twyfelfontein hosts one of the highest concentrations of rock engravings (petroglyphs) in Africa. About 2,500 rock engravings and paintings are found here. Most of the rock engravings and paintings were created by the Khoi San hunter-gatherers who lived in the area for 6,000 years. The valley was later inhabited by Khoikhoi herders who added to the collection of rock art between 2,000 and 2,500 years ago.
We then head to the Petrified Forest nearby. This ancient relic consists of fossils of giant tree trunks, about 280 million years old. In prehistoric times the trees were washed down a river during floods and deposited in the sands here, now frozen in time.
We spend the next night on our Namibia Safari at a campsite near the town of Khorixas in the underdeveloped Kunene Region of Namibia.
After breakfast, we hit the road to Etosha National Park, Namibia's top game park rated one of the best places for wildlife safaris in Africa.
This afternoon we embark on a game drive in Etosha National Park. We explore the park in our elevated safari truck enjoying outstanding game viewing in the dramatic wild landscapes. Our game drive takes us to one of the rest camps inside Etosha. If we're lucky we may spot some of the predators of Etosha, including lion, cheetah, leopard, jackal, and more. We are sure to see an array of large herbivores, from elephants and giraffes to blue wildebeest and eland.
Tonight, we camp at a park rest camp which has a floodlit watering hole for watching wildlife at night from the comfort of camp.
Day 10 of our Namibia Explorer Safari is set aside for game viewing in the rugged African bush. The word Etosha means "great white place" in the local Ovambo language, referring to Etosha Pan, the vast, shimmering salt pan stretching over 4,800 square kilometers (1,800 sq mi) in the heart of Etosha National Park. On our game drive, we visit the flat expanse of the salt pan to stare out across the stark plains where mirages shimmer and horizons stretch wide. Etosha National Park is home to huge numbers of wildlife, which can be seen roaming around the bush on the fringes of the vast Etosha Pan.
We also drive to various waterholes to see what animals luck brings. The watering holes are nodes of activity in this arid wilderness area drawing together thirsty herbivores and predators, often leading to fascinating encounters. At the end of our exciting day of game viewing, we make our way back to the rest camp for dinner and leisure time. Visit the floodlit waterhole at camp to get a glimpse of the elusive night creatures that often come to drink here.
Alternatively, embark on an optional thrilling night game drive. The night drive takes you exploring in an open 4x4 safari vehicle. Local guides conduct the night drive, using their experience and in-depth knowledge to search out nocturnal animals in Etosha Park that stay hidden during the daytime hours.
Today we make our way out of Etosha, game viewing as we exit the park. From Etosha, we travel southeast to Waterberg Plateau National Park. The park is named after its main geographical feature, the flat-topped Waterberg Plateau, an ancient sandstone massif that towers up to 200 meters (656 feet) over the surrounding plains which are home to various endangered animal species. The Waterberg Plateau is also home to over 200 species of birds, most notably the only breeding colony of Cape Vultures in Namibia. This afternoon your guide will lead you on a hike along the plateau where you can enjoy the sweeping views of the landscape beyond.
After our hike, we head to our campsite at the base of the plateau where we enjoy a final dinner together.
After breakfast this morning, we take our last drive back to capital city, Windhoek, where our camping overland tour began. When we arrive in Windhoek your guide leads you on a short walking tour of Windhoek city. This safe and clean African city, makes for an interesting and pleasant visit, providing insight into Namibia and its people. Windhoek is home to a vibrant mix of cultures with strong German influences, especially visible in the cuisine, locally brewed beer, and colonial-era architecture.
After your short tour of Windhoek, our Namibia Explorer Safari comes to an end. Most groups opt to meet up for a celebratory dinner at the legendary Joe’s Beerhouse in Windhoek, after the tour.
We recommend booking your incoming and onward flights at least one day before and after this Namibia Explorer Camping Overland Tour is scheduled. It is advisable to arrive the day before departure from Windhoek and fly out the day after the overland tour ends in Windhoek to allow for delays and changes.
Simply ask your friendly travel advisor to add pre-tour and post-tour accommodation to your safari booking.
This Namibia Camping Safari is also available as a Namibia Lodge Safari that follows the same itinerary and accommodation is in comfortable lodges rather than camping.
For more details contact African Budget Safaris.
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