16-Day Best of Namibia with Southern Extension Self-drive Safari - Standard - NETT

Day 1: Windhoek

  • You will be met by the car rental company representative on arrival and transferred to their offices in Windhoek to complete all rental procedures
  • You will then meet with our representative to hand over your travel documents
  • The remainder of the day can be spent relaxing at your own leisure
  • For dinner tonight, you can head into town for a bite to eat at one of Windhoek’s well known restaurants

Day 2: Kalahari Namibia

Windhoek - Kalahari                   245km - approximately 3 to 4 hours

  • After breakfast, you can still pop into town for anything you might need and then depart heading south from Windhoek to the red sand dunes of the Kalahari
  • Spend the remainder of the day at leisure in this beautiful setting
  • Optional activities here include game and nature drives as well as a Bushman experience

Day 3: Fish River Canyon

Kalahari – Fish River Canyon     440km - approximately 7 to 8 hours

  • Head south via Mariental and Keetmanshoop to the Karas region, the Fish River Canyon area
  • Detour en-route to Giant's Playground and Quiver Tree Forest, a beautiful site where three large aloes grow between rocks
  • If time permits, visit the Fish River view point at sunset to end the day

Days 4 - 5: Luderitz

Fish River Canyon – Luderitz      385km - approximately 5 to 6 hours

  • Enjoy a morning canyon view before heading west through harsh but beautiful terrain which changes to wide open desert plains as you make your way to the coast
  • Your drive will take you via Aus, where you may be lucky to view the wild desert horses in the area
  • 1 full day is set aside to enjoy the historic town of Lüderitz and visit the amazing Kolmanskop Ghost Town
  • Lunches and dinners can be enjoyed at any of the local restaurants in town

Days 6 - 7: Sossusvlei

Luderitz – Sossusvlei                 505km - approximately 7 to 8 hours

  • After breakfast, you will depart to the "sea of sand" backtracking to Aus and then heading north via Helmeringhausen
  • Wake up early for breakfast (Day 7) and then head to the entrance to Sossusvlei, the Sesriem Gate
  • Spend the whole day in the beautiful Sossusvlei area, exploring the highlights: Sossusvlei,  Dead Vlei, Dune 45, Big Daddy, Elim Dune and the Sesriem Canyon
  • Return to the lodge for lunch or arrange a lunch pack to enjoy in the dunes and return late afternoon for a well-earned rest
  • Optional extra activities: Guided Sossusvlei excursion, Hot air balloon safari, Nature drives

Days 8 - 9: Swakopmund, Walvis Bay

Sossusvlei – Swakopmund         350km - approximately 5 to 6 hours

  • Depart after breakfast and head north to Solitaire, then west crossing the Tropic of Capricorn, through the Gaub and Kuiseb Canyons via the Namib Gravel Plains to the coast
  • Either via Walvis Bay to Swakopmund, or (recommended) detour via Ganab to the Welwitschia Plains and Moon Landscape
  • The Namibian coastline is generally known as The Skeleton Coast due to the barren areas, ship wrecks and, in days gone by, whale skeletons left on the beach
  • 1 full day is set aside for this lovely area where Swakopmund and Walvis Bay offer a wide range of activities such as: Dolphin cruise, Sandwich Harbour excursion (a real Skeleton Coast experience), Dune quad biking, Sand boarding, Sea kayaking, Lots more…
  • Lunches and dinners can be enjoyed at a café or restaurant overlooking the sea

Days 10 - 11: Damaraland

Swakopmund – Damaraland       445km - approximately 7 to 8 hours

  • Head north along the Skeleton Coast, via Henties Bay to visit the Cape Cross seal colony. Along the way, stop at the Lichen Fields as well as the ship wreck between the colourful small town of Wlotskasbaken and Henties Bay
  • Backtrack to Henties Bay and head inland through wide open plains to Uis, then north to the Twyfelfontein area
  • Visit to Namibia's Open Air Museum, the Twyfelfontein Rock Engravings as well as the interesting Organ Pipes rock formations and Burnt Mountain
  • Take a drive west (4x4 needed) to the Huab River to look for desert adapted elephants as well as other game such as oryx, springbok, ostrich and more (recommended with a lodge guide)
  • Visit the Damara Living Museum for a hint of culture

Day 12: Etosha South

Damaraland – Etosha (south)     325km - approximately 4 to 5 hours

  • After breakfast, drive east towards Khorixas stopping at the Petrified Forest en-route
  • From Khorixas head further east along the tar road to Outjo and then north to your lodge which is situated very close to the southern entrance of Etosha, the Andersson Gate
  • If time permits, enter Etosha for an afternoon game drive. Depending on how often you stop today, you should arrive at your lodge in time for lunch (optional extra)
  • On entering the park, the first stop would be Okaukuejo where you pay your entry fee and I suggest you pop in at the local shop to purchase some drinks and snacks and most importantly, a map of Etosha which will show you all the waterholes along the way
  • Etosha is one of Africa's great game parks. With 114 species of mammal and 340 species of birds you are sure to see a great variety of wildlife on your safari

Days 13 - 14: Etosha East

Etosha (south) – Etosha (east)   a full days game drive through the park

  • From one side to the other side of the park is a full day game drive as you head slowly east stopping at numerous waterholes along the way
  • Take a slow drive in the morning and then enjoy a packed lunch (optional extra) overlooking one of the waterholes before continuing on through the park to the eastern side
  • 1 full day is set aside for game viewing, either all day or alternate with morning and afternoon drives. These are self-drive game drives but you can arrange at the lodge to go with their open safari vehicle and guide (optional extra) 

Day 15: Waterberg Region

Etosha (east) – Otjiwa         330km - approximately 4 to 5 hours

  • Head south via Otavi and Otjiwarongo to Otjiwa, which is the oldest private game farm in Namibia, and offers about 25 different game species, this includes the White Rhino, Sable and Roan. 
  • Enjoy many of the optional activities like sundowner drive, game walks, rhino tracking and night drives

Day 16: End of Itinerary

Otjiwa– Windhoek                225km - approximately 3 to 4 hours

  • Early morning rise for a quick snack before joining an optional morning activity
  • Back to the lodge for a hearty Namibian breakfast before departure
  • Head back to Windhoek, where you will drop off your vehicle and transfer the airport in time for your departure flight (Keep in mind that you need to be at the airport 2 hours prior and the airport is still a 45 minute to 1 hour drive from town)
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