Itineraries for Namibia

Flying in from Windhoek, the land becomes drier as you enter the Namib Desert.  Sossusvlei Desert Lodge is vast private reserve deep in the Namib, the world’s oldest living desert. A private gate allows secret access to Sossusvlei in the National Park, essential for the most majestic scenery at Sossusvlei’s towering dunes where white, cracked pans and shadows meld with soft pink, peach and red coloured dunes.

Its beautifully appointed stone and glass suites, spread out along the curve of the escarpment, open onto the massive desert. Quad bikes, nature walks and a hot air balloon ride complete are some of the activities on offer.

Located in the rugged Kaokoveld, Hoanib Skeleton Coast Camp lies along the dry Hoanib River and offers cool comfort under stretched canvas and shielded by ancient volcanic mountains. Intimate and exclusive, this iconic luxury tented camp combines enigmatic desert wildlife experiences around camp with the Skeleton Coast, the most barren coastline in the world.  

Guided explorations discover water filled oases surrounded by dunes, where elephants, rhino and even rare desert lions roam. The Skeleton Coast yields seal colonies, shipwrecks, whale skeletons and even the secretive brown hyena.

On the boundary of Angola and Namibia and amongst shady giant Ana trees on the Kunene River, sits Serra Cafema. Feel part of the breathtaking surroundings as elegant use of natural building materials and soft red hues of the Himba make you feel as one with nature.

Meet and speak with the beautiful Himba people, a matriarchal nomadic stone aged tribe of pastoralists. Other activities include boating, walking and guided quad-bike excursions which reveal a surprising diversity of life and include huge crocodiles, zebra, the Namaqua chameleon and the desert’s great survivor, the regal oryx. 

Etosha National Park and the surrounding private reserves host Namibia's largest wildlife populations and is a must do for safari enthusiasts. The park surrounds the white expanse of Etosha Pan, the ancient floor of a glacial lake. Springs around the pan's edges attract a staggering density of wildlife, a place where desert and savanna animals meet. Sightings may include lion, leopard, cheetah, elephant, endemic Damara dik-dik and black and white rhino.

Choices of accomodation are varied between the park and private reserves in terms of luxury, excursions and wildlife. Let our experts help to find your perfect experience.

Upon arrival at Windhoek, fly to a welcome oasis situated along the dry Auab riverbed in the Kulala Wilderness Reserve. Inspired by Dead Vlei, the design of the climate-controlled, thatched units, each with a private plunge pool, merges seamlessly into the timeless desert setting. Each unit has a Star Bed on the deck for romantic star gazing.

Once farmland used for subsistence goat farming, today the land and its wildlife have returned to their former glory. Excursions to Sossusvlei (via an exclusive gate), nature drives, walks and eco-sensitive quad biking, explore this fascinating landscape. A balloon safari offers an awe-inspiring experience soaring above the desert.

Fly over endles dunes to iconic Shipwreck Lodge, uniquely designed around the enigmatic shipwrecks that line Namibia’s Skeleton Coast. It’s a raw, rugged and impossibly remote slice of African wilderness, where towering dunes and wind-swept plains roll as far as the eye can see, buffeted by the icy Atlantic seas.

Game drive in search of desert-dwelling fauna; discover the enchanting desert flora (succulents and lichens); sit atop the dunes as the sun sinks below the horizon; spend the day beach-combing for whale bones and debris from centuries of shipwrecks; and marvel at the geologically-remarkable Clay Castles. There’s nowhere like it on earth.

After a final morning game drive, fly to the private and exclusive Ongava Reserve, on the boundary of Etosha National Park, Namibia’s premier wildlife destination. Little Ongava is perched on the crest of a hill commanding magnificent vistas of the plains stretching for miles to the horizon, offering an extraordinary experience as the focal point of an Etosha journey.

Day and night wildlife-viewing drives, visiting hides overlooking waterholes, walks and rhino tracking with experienced guides can all be enjoyed exclusively on this reserve. Game drives and day trips into nearby Etosha National Park are also offered.

Venture toward "The Smoke that Thunders!”, the locals' name for Victora Falls. Part of the mighty Zambezi River, this is the widest curtain of falling water in the world and plumes of mist can be viewed from afar. Sweeping views from a myriad of vantages can be enjoyed while exploring the Victoria Falls by foot and the air. 

Activities can include guided walks at Victoria Falls, nature drives, sunset boat cruises and even catch and release fishing searching for the feisty Tiger fish! Known as the adventure capital, additional activities should include a helicopter flight, micro-lighting or even white water rafting and bungee jumping.

Depart Windhoek via light aircraft to Kwessi Dunes, deep in Namibia’s NamibRand Nature Reserve, a vast desert of over 200,000 hectares. Immerse in its rolling desert plains, craggy mountains and iconic red dunes, admire the antelope that scatter the sand, and gaze at the stars that light up the night sky.

Cool and comfortable (and air-conditioned) chalets all with canvas walls and thatched roofs with separate ‘star gazer’ rooms are the perfect spots from which to watch the celestial theatre show above. Enjoy quad biking, scenic drives and walks, hot air ballooning, helicopter flights, horse riding and day trips to Sossusvlei.

Fly from Sossusvlei back to Windhoek then drive across incredible scenery and lichen covered plains into the quaint coastal town of Swakopmund on the stormy Atlantic Ocean. The timeless Hansa Hotel dates from 1905 and is a luxury hotel in this intriguing enclave where African culture and German colonial history blend naturally.

Explore the ice-blue Atlantic ocean on a catamaran boat excursion into Walvis (Whale) Bay, where pelicans silently glide by and the endemic heavyside dolphin can be seen. Guided excursions also traverse the Walvis Bay Lagoon, the playground of seals and home to hundreds of flamingo, who feed daily here.

Fly deep into north-western Namibia, an area of towering mountains, sand dunes and huge expanses of desert, scattered with unique wildlife and nomadic Himba settlements. Hoanib Valley Camp is a partnership between the local communities and the Giraffe Conservation Foundation, the world’s only Africa-wide giraffe conservation organisation.

The camp is an elegant and intimate affair blending seamlessly with the rugged landscape. Days are spent tracking endangered rhino, desert-adapted elephant, lion and giraffe, before retiring to your private veranda to marvel at the magnitude of your surroundings.

Ensuring a light footprint and an exceptional experience, Anderssons at Ongava's contemporary designed luxury guest units are a direct extension of the landscape, while offering guests a climate-controlled sanctuary in the bush. Each suite has a private viewing deck with a 180 degree panorama.

Central to the design of the lodge is the connection to the wild via the waterhole and nearby underground photographic hide. Here guests have a water level view of the prolific wild and birdlife. Sightings may include lion, leopard, cheetah, elephant and even black and white rhino.

With Cape Town a flight away, this vibrant, eclectic city is a destination not to be missed at the end or beginning of this safari! The "Mother City" surrounds Table Mountain and is located on the south western tip of Africa. Take a cable car to the mountain top and enjoy endless Atlantic ocean vistas, amble through the World Heritage gardens of Kirstenbosch or visit Robben Island, where Nelson Mandela was incarcerated. 

Whether you choose to indulge in fine wine and delectable meals at the country's best eateries, explore the urban art galleries or shop at the Victora & Alfred Watrfront, let our experts meticulously design your perfect extension and excursions.