This Namibia tour promises to reveal some of the country’s most extraordinary sights, raw wildlife and unique cultures. Start your adventure in the capital city of Windhoek. Translated from Afrikaans and German, its name means “windy corner” — fittingly situated near the edge of the vast Namib Desert. On arrival you will be greeted by your guide and other like-minded, courageous souls ready to explore this wild land.
Experience the marvelous Kalahari with its spectacular vistas, diverse wildlife, and ingrained culture. Despite the unforgiving conditions, the Kalahari maintains a variety of flora and fauna, including multiple animals that have adapted to live in a desert habitat. View majestic lions and elephants, cute meerkats, and rare cacti like the hoodia as well as camel thorn trees. You will also go stargazing during your visit. The Kalahari’s unpolluted night skies provide crystal clear views of the Milky Way, the Southern Cross constellation, and other heavenly delights.
The Namib Desert is one of the oldest in the world, with captivating scenery made up of towering sand dunes and rare wildlife. The area around Sossusvlei is renowned for its large, red sand dunes that can reach heights of over 300 meters; some of the highest in the world. The dunes are formed by sand carried by the wind through thousands of years, first from the Orange River (that is where the name Orange originates from) to the Kalahari Desert to the east and from here blown to the west. Their shapes and colors alter as the sun passes through the sky. This diversity creates a dynamic landscape perfect for photography. There is also a salt and clay pan, which is a white expanse of dried lakebed surrounded by dunes. It’s an otherworldly sight that contrasts greatly against the red sand.
Travel to Swakopmund and explore its beautiful German colonial architecture, gorgeous beaches, and exciting outdoor activities. Enjoy the thrill of quad biking up and down the sand dunes or take a Living Deserts tour for an immersive experience in the wilderness. Skydiving, paragliding, and hot air balloon rides are also available for travelers who want to get truly airborne. The possibilities are endless.
Uncover the mysteries of Damaraland in northwest Namibia. Encounter the captivating scenery, cultural riches of the indigenous Damara people and the unique wildlife. Learn about their language, music and traditions that have been passed down for generations. You will also explore the ancient rock art sites with paintings made by the San countless years ago, affording you a deeper insight into this region’s rich culture.
Exploring Namibia wouldn’t be complete without a trip to Etosha National Park, which covers an expanse of 22,000 square kilometers (8,500 square miles). It is one of the largest game reserves in Africa and is home to a multitude of species including elephants, lions, leopards, cheetahs, zebras, giraffes and more. The park also teems with over 340 bird species making it a haven for avian enthusiasts. Etosha boasts some endangered and rare animals, like black-faced impala and Hartmann’s mountain zebra that can only be found in this country. During your visit you’ll make a stop at a Himba Village known for their unique hairstyles, intricate jewelry, and body painting using red ochre.
Journey back to Windhoek via the Spitzkoppe, more commonly known as the “Matterhorn of Namibia.” This group of granite formations is situated in the Namib Desert in the center of the country and stands over 700 million years old.
Windhoek, Namibia’s capital is neat and orderly, and a German presence can be strongly felt in the restaurants, food and beer! After checking in at Safari Court, you can explore the city with your vehicle. Start with a visit to the Lutheran Church (a historical landmark and one of the most well-known monuments in Windhoek!) The Independence Museum is also well worth a visit. Dedicated to the country’s anti-colonial and independence struggle, the first floor tells the story of Namibia under colonial rule, with the next floor up shifting gears to the resistance movement, while the top floor is dominated by the road to independence. Don’t miss taking the glass elevator up the outside of the building for great city views. A pub lunch and ice-cold beer at the legendary Joe’s Beerhouse is mandatory! The city has an array of restaurants where you can choose to have dinner.
After a scrumptious breakfast in Windhoek we depart to the Kalahari Desert is a large semi-arid sandy savannah in Southern Africa extending for 900,000 square kilometers, covering much of Botswana, parts of Namibia and regions of South Africa. Kalahari is derived from the Tswana word Kgala, meaning “the great thirst”, or Kgalagadi, meaning “a waterless place”; the Kalahari has vast areas covered by red sand without any permanent surface water. Here we will enjoy a guided game drive in search of Rhino’s and enjoy a walk with the indigenous people of the Kalahari. Walk with the Bushmen (San) to their village and learn about the ancient traditions and secrets of their ancestors
The next stop on our tour is the world-famous Sossusvlei and the Namib Naukluft. Enjoy some of the most scenic photo opportunities of the highest inland sand dunes in the world. Here we visit Deadvlei, Sossusvlei and experience an unforgettable sunset at Elim Dune.
The sand dunes of Sossusvlei in the Namib Desert are often referred to as some of the highest dunes in the world. Various arguments are laid out to support this claim, but all miss the point, which is that Sossusvlei is surely one of the most spectacular sights in Namibia. Located in the Namib Naukluft Park, the largest conservation area in Africa, and the fourth largest in the world, the sand dunes at Sossusvlei are just one excellent reason to visit Namibia.
Here we will enjoy a Sundowner drive to the Elim Dune. It is the farthest inland dune in Sossusvlei and visitors can reach the dune by taking a short detour on their way from Sesriem to Sossusvlei.
The dune is covered with a few tufts of grass and easy to climb. It was named after the farm that was once located here before it was integrated with the nature park during its establishment. The dune is especially beautiful during sunrise and sunset when the light gently cascades over the dune.
We will also enjoy a full-day guided excursion in Sossusvlei and Dooievlei and enjoy a delicious picnic lunch made by your Fleet Foot guides.
Sossusvlei is a region of the southern Namib with homogeneous features extending between Koichab and Kuiseb Rivers. This area is characterized by high sand dunes of vivid pink-to-orange colour, a consequence of a high percentage of iron in the sand and consequent oxidation processes. These dunes are among the highest in the world; with the highest being the Big Daddy, about 380 meters high.
Deadvlei is a popular clay pan, about 2 km from Sossusvlei. A notable feature of Deadvlei is that it used to be an oasis with several acacia trees; afterwards, the river that watered the oasis changed its course. Deadvlei pan is thus punctuated by blackened, dead acacia trees, in vivid contrast to the shiny white of the salty floor of the pan and the intense orange of the dunes. This creates a particularly fascinating and surrealistic landscape, that appears in uncountable pictures and that has been used as a setting for films and videos.
On the way from Sesriem to Swakopmund on the 8th of July. We will have a stop at Walvisbay and drive along the lagoon marine to take pictures. The amount of time we spend here will depend on how smoothly the journey goes through the Nauklauft Desert.
On the south side of Walvis Bay is a great lagoon that attracts tens of thousands of birds, including many flamingos. The lagoon, salt pans and the bird sanctuary which form the Walvis Bay Wetlands are one of the most important coastal wetlands of southern Africa. Over 150,000 migrant birds spend the summer months in Walvis Bay and non-breeding palearctic, and intra-African species dominate. Possible sightings include over 150 species of bird that have been recorded in this region. You can see Greater Flamingo, Lesser Flamingo, Great White Pelican, Chestnut-banded Plover, African Oystercatcher, Cape Teal and Black-necked Grebe. But also European and northern Siberian migrants that travel between 10 000 and 14 000 kilometres to reach Walvis Bay each year. These long-distance travellers consist of Curlew Sandpiper, Sanderling, Grey Plover, Ruddy Turnstone, Little Stint, Marsh Sandpiper and Red Knot, Common Tern, Sandwich Tern, Caspian Tern and Black Tern.
We arrive in Swakopmund. Palm-lined streets, seaside promenades, fine accommodation, a pleasant summer climate and decent beaches. Welcome to Swakopmund- Namibia’s premier holiday resort! During the summer holidays and long weekends, thousands of Namibians flock to the coast, and this human migration happens for a number of reasons; Swakopmund has a real holiday feel to it and everyone wants to be there; during the December holidays, the cool Namibian coast offers relief from the intense heat of the interior; and more importantly as far as the tourist is concerned in these modern times, Swakop has changed, and has become the country’s leading adrenaline destination, with a wide range of activities to suit all ages.
Included in this tour we will enjoy the most ‘hands on’ to experience the Namib Desert, and that is on a quad bike. The four wheels of a quad bike are far better suited to the sandy terrain than the two narrow wheels of a motorcycle. Another big advantage of a quad bike is that it is extremely easy to ride. A quad bike tour can vary depending on your personal preference; it can be a scenic and relaxing cruise over spectacular dunes surrounded by unending desert, or an adrenalin-filled dash up and down the dunes.
We will also enjoy the Living Desert Tour is a unique 4×4 adventure which specialises in bringing the desert to life while sharing the awesome beauty of the Namib Desert with travellers from all over the world. The coastal dune belt may seem barren and lifeless to many people, but in fact it is alive with a fascinating variety of little desert adapted animals, which are able to survive on the life-giving fog which consistently rolls in from the cold Atlantic Ocean. This is optional but a must if you love the dunes coming alive.
After Living Desert Tour we will visit the Welwitschia Plains in the Namib-Naukluft National Park. The landscape is quite barren and displays moon like colours. Even though it looks like nothing can grow in this valley there are a few that prospers in this barren land like the lichens and dollar bush. Also, to be seen on this route is WW1 scrap metal, Old Ox-wagon trails, Dolerite Dike and also the oldest and biggest Welwitschia mirabilis.
We will have an early start again this morning. Just after breakfast at 07h30 we leave. We will drive along the Skeleton Coast past Hentiesbay (not the small Fisherman’s village anymore) still along the coast to Cape Cross and then return to the main road to Khorixas and Mopane Lodge.
Damaraland lies to the east of the Skeleton Coast and above this is the region of Kaokoland. These are the lands of the resilient Himba and Damara tribes who seem to have defied all odds and adapted to survive the inconceivably tough conditions. The area has numerous, intriguing natural landmarks such as the Petrified Forest, the volcanic Burnt Mountain and the basalt Organ Pipes, a peculiar geological feature comprising numerous 12 ft high dolerite columns. The area also incorporates the Spitzkoppe and is renowned for its incredible prehistoric rock paintings and engravings.
Here we will visit The Living Museum of the Damara close to Twyfelfontein is the first traditional Damara project in Namibia and the only one of its kind. The possibility to experience the traditional Damara culture in this form exists nowhere else in Namibia or in the world.
We will also enjoy a day tour to Twyfelfontein Bushmen Paintings & go in search of the famous Desert Elephants. Whilst genetically no different from their cousins who live in wetter lands with a greater abundance of food, these remarkable desert elephants’ have adapted their behaviour to the harsh conditions of the desert. They eat less, drink less, and walk up to 70 km per day to feed and find water. Although surface water is extremely scarce, the elephants appear to have a marvellous knack for remembering where the nearest water supply is – and not necessarily a natural waterhole – they are not averse to knocking over a farmer’s water tank!
Twyfelfontein is famous because of its many rock paintings and rock engravings (Petroglyphs) of the San (Bushmen) of which 2500 were counted. The engravings were made without the use of metal tools. It is presumed that quartz tools were used instead as many quartz chips were found here.
The motives of the rock engravings are on the one hand hunting scenes, in which the hunters are pictured with bow and arrow. On the other hand, many animal engravings (antelopes, zebras, giraffes, lions, etc.) are depicted. Remarkable is also the engraving of a seal, as the ocean is about 100 km away.
The valley was declared a national monument in 1952 to stop the common stealing of rock engravings. The paintings/ engravings can only be visited with a local guide. UNESCO declared Twyfelfontein as World Heritage Site in 2007.
After two relaxed mornings we start early today at 07h30 again as on our way to Etosha we visit the Himba Village.
Otjikandero Himba Orphan Village, the ultimate Ovahimba cultural experience suited about 20 km outside Kamajab on Farm Cauas-Okawa. The Himba Orphan Village will give you an in-depth experience of the Himba tribe living in their Heritage. The Himba Tribe is one of the last tribes in Namibia who still embrace centuries-old traditions and customs. Otjikandero Himba Orphan Village was started in 1999 and is developed as an uncommercial tourist attraction. Enjoy this guided tour with warm friendly guides around an authentic Himba Village. The funds generated by these tours are used to take care of the orphans and the families on the village. This tour is an amazing photographic and souvenir collection opportunities.
Etosha National Park is probably one of the best game-viewing regions in the world. Its name (meaning ‘great white place of dry water’) comes from the Etosha Pan, a vast, flat, saline desert. When a good rainy season happens, the normally dry river channels carry water to this gentle depression turning it into a shallow lagoon. This unusual oasis then becomes a busy watering hole as it draws in a variety of animals and, for a few days each year, thousands of flamingos and pelicans.
Etosha National Park is probably one of the best game-viewing regions in Namibia. Its name (meaning ‘great white place of dry water’) comes from the Etosha Pan, a vast, flat, saline desert. When a good rainy season happens, the normally dry river channels carry water to this gentle depression turning it into a shallow lagoon. This unusual oasis then becomes a busy watering hole as it draws in a variety of animals and, for a few days each year, thousands of flamingos, and pelicans.
About 80% of Etosha National Park is covered by mopane woodland. Scrubby savannah, umbrella thorn acacias and other trees enjoyed by browsers are also part of Etosha’s landscape.
The park protects over 100 species of mammal, 16 species of reptile and amphibian and an incredible 340 species of bird. As well as elephant, Burchell’s zebra, giraffe, cheetah, lion and leopard, Etosha is home to the protected, black-faced impala and black rhino. Here you are also likely to encounter springbok, red hartebeest, blue wildebeest, gemsbok, eland, kudu, roan, jackals, and hyena. The abundant birdlife includes korhaans, marabou, yellow-billed hornbills, ostrich, white-backed vultures and the enormous Kori bustard, which can exceed 15kg in weight.
Here we will enjoy Game Drives in the plenty & Visit the Salt Pans and sit and relax as the game gather at the Okaukeujo Waterhole for a late afternoon sip of water.
One of Namibia’s most popular mountain motifs, the granite inselberg of Spitzkoppe (inselbergs are isolated hills, ridges, or small mountains that abruptly protrudes out from a virtually flat surrounding) has been described as one of the most impressive landforms of this type on Earth. Circumstantial evidence exists that the tall inselbergs of the Central Namib Desert may have been in existence for millions of years at least.
Here we will enjoy a walk and a drive of Spitzkoppe, a group of bald granite peaks located between Usakos and Swakopmund in the Namib desert of Namibia. The granite is more than 120 million years old and the highest outcrop rises about 1,784 metres above sea level.
On 16 July 2023, we leave at 06h00 as it is 5-hour’s drive to the airport to arrive at 11h00. It is a small airport so 2 hour’s before is fine. On arrival, check in for your flight departing at Lunch time.
What to pack for your safari:
As a general guide, comfortable and casual clothing that you can wash, and wear is recommended while on safari. Muted colors are best for game viewing. Early morning and the late afternoons can be cold, especially in winter. The temperature often warms up during the day, so it is best to dress in layers.
The most practical items to pack for your safari are:
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