10-Day Namibian Explorer Tour

The Namibian Desert awaits you!

Upon arrival, your guide will be waiting for you at the airport with a name board, you will immediately start your adventure heading to Sossusvlei. He will make a quick stop in Rehoboth on the way. Thereafter we make our way onto the gravel road that will take us on a spectacular scenery. Lunch is to be served somewhere along the road. We aim to arrive at our Lodge early afternoon. There will be a sun-downer walk with sunset drinks.

Dinner will be served at the lodge.

We start early to catch the soft light of the sunrise over the desert. In the cool of the morning we take a walk through the desert, with good chance to see gemsboks, springboks and ostriches. We spend the morning in and around Sossusvlei and drive to Sossusvlei lodge for lunch, passing by the famous “Dune 45”. As the day cools in the late afternoon we make a short excursion to Sesriem Canyon before returning to our lodge.

Continue to Walvis Bay

Namibia is a country of contrasts. Today we barter the desert for the sea. We shall cross the Tropic of Capricorn and transverse both Gaub and Kuiseb passes, driving down to the dry river bed at the bottom of the Kuiseb Canyon before climbing up the other side, watching the spectacular desert landscape unfold before us. Having arrived at the coast, we make a stop in Walvis Bay to enjoy the view of flamingos and other birds in the lagoons and to visit the salt works.

Dinner tonight is at a local restaurant.

“Coast to coast day” as we drive to Walvis Bay where we stop at the lagoon area to see flamingo's and lots of other birds. If we are lucky we may even spot some dolphins. We pay a visit to the salt works before we return back to Swakopmund. During the rest of the day there is plenty of time to explore the town. Swakopmund is a very pleasant seaside town with lots of shops, a good stretch of beach (although the Atlantic here is quite cold) and an open air curio market. There is also a very good museum and the Namibian National Marine Aquarium is located in Swakopmund. Alternatively, there are various activities that can be arranged. These include a half-day boat-tour with chances to see seals and dolphins (and indulge in oysters and champagne!), scenic flights and micro-light flights over the desert, fishing trips (either from the beach or in a boat), quad-bike trips into the desert and over the sand dunes around Swakopmund, sand boarding, skydiving and many other activities. Your guide will discuss all possible optional activities with you and offer to make pre-booking in advance, (N.B. all extra activities and in Swakopmund are made at the client’s own risk and expense).

Dinner is at a local restaurant.

Heading for Damaraland along the Skeleton Coast we stop at the seal colony of Cape Cross where we may have a close encounter with thousands of fur seals. We continue to the small town of Uis for supplies. Uis is an old mining town and a good place to buy semi-precious stones. We pass by the Brandberg, the highest mountain in Namibia, and arrive in Twyfelfontein in time for sunset. We will visit the Unesco site , the Twyfelfontein rock paintings and engravings this afternoon or the next morning.

Before heading to Palmwag we do some excursions at Twyfelfontein (UNESCO Bushman rock paintings, we then hit the gravel that so much connects any places in the Kunene region heading towards Palmwag, we pass by the village of Bergsig and proceed for another 45 kilometers to Palmwag Lodge. This part of the world is blessed with Table Mountains and the spectacular scenery. We will have a afternoon desert rhino tour with local trekkers of the torra conservancy. After we will continue to the lodge. Dinner to be served at the Lodge.

Today we will continue towards Etosha National Park where we will drive pass Kamanjab. On our way we will stop at the local Ovahimba tribe and learn the way of life from the Himba people.We will then continue to our lodge just outside the gate of the south gate of Etosha National Park. We will stay at 2 nights at this lodge. Depending on the time we will have a afternoon game drive inside the park and return back just before sunset with your guide.

In search of the Big 5!

Today we will spend most of the day game driving. We will visit a number of waterholes and make a stop at the Etosha Pan, the “place of dry water”. The Pan is an extensive flat depression of about 5,000 km2. This great, white expanse is a place of shimmering mirages, and being able to see large herds of game in this setting makes Etosha a unique experience in Africa. We may stop at Halali middle camp to have lunch before we continue our game drive back to our lodge. The game viewing is usually excellent with close views of springboks, zebras, impalas, giraffes, gemsboks and plenty of birds. If we are lucky we may also have some close encounters with elephants and lions. In the evening we may enjoy a glass of wine and experience a fabulous dinner at our lodge.

Morning game drive before we depart the park. We will continue further south towards the south closer to Windhoek. On our way back to Windhoek we will pass smaller towns. We will arrive in time at Okonjima Africat cheetah farm for lunch. Later in the afternoon you will have a afternoon Cheetah Conservation Africat activity to learn more about what Okonjima is doing and how they are protecting and educating farmers about our endangered cheetah population.

Say your last goodbyes!

This morning you will depart Okonjima and head towards Windhoek.You will also drive through the small town of Okahandja with the biggest craft market in Namibia. We stop to explore the market and perhaps buy some souvenirs before heading back to Windhoek. The stalls are operated on a cooperative basis by the local community and the market is a good place to do last-minute-shopping for truly Namibian souvenirs. You will arrive in Windhoek around 14h00 pm or even earlier if requested. The guide will then drop you off at the airport and assist you to check in for your flight.

Distance: 250km ( Driving time 3-4 hours)