Discover Namibia In Style

Begin your adventure in Windhoek, the high-altitude capital of Namibia, where German colonial architecture sits alongside modern African city life. Around 6pm, meet your tour leader and fellow travellers, when we gather as a group for the first time to get to know each other and learn more about the adventures ahead. Your tour leader then ensures a big Namibian welcome by arranging a group dinner. Want more time in Windhoek? Secure pre-tour hotel nights through your sales representative.

Leaving Windhoek, travel southwest through the Khomas Highlands and over mountain passes into the Namib, considered the oldest desert in the world. Arriving at Sossusvlei Lodge in time for lunch, there’s a chance to settle in before heading out on an afternoon nature drive in an open safari vehicle. As the desert light softens, our guide helps decode this seemingly harsh environment, pointing out desert-adapted wildlife and explaining how plants and animals survive in one of the driest places on Earth. As the light softens over the dunes, we pause for a sundowner and watch the desert colours shift across the sand. Dinner is served on the terrace, with views towards Elim Dune and the floodlit waterhole, where oryx, springbok, jackal, ground squirrel and ostrich may make an appearance.

We enter Namib-Naukluft National Park early, when the early light hits the dunes and temperatures are still manageable for walking. Our first stop is Dune 45, one of the most famous dunes in Namibia, rising more than 550ft (170m) above the desert floor. Continuing deeper into the dune field, we reach Deadvlei, a white clay pan scattered with the blackened skeletons of camel thorn trees believed to be around 900 years old. Towering above it all is Big Daddy, among the tallest dunes in the area at approximately 1,060ft (325m). With our tour leader on hand to pace the walks and share insight into the geology of the Namib, there’s time to appreciate just how immense this desert really is. Later, we visit Sesriem Canyon, carved over millions of years by the Tsauchab River. In the afternoon, we visit the Namib Carnivore Conservation Centre, where conservationists work with rescued cheetahs and other predators while educating visitors about the challenges facing Namibia’s carnivores.

Our journey west to the Atlantic coast cuts through some of Namibia’s most dramatic desert scenery, before crossing the wide gravel plains of Namib-Naukluft National Park. Reaching Walvis Bay Lagoon, we pause to look for greater and lesser flamingos, pelicans and other birdlife that gather in the shallow waters. The lagoon is one of the most important wetland sites in southern Africa, creating a surprising contrast to the arid landscapes we’ve crossed earlier in the day. After lunch by the waterfront, we continue north to Swakopmund, a coastal town shaped by both German colonial history and the Atlantic Ocean. The rest of the afternoon is free to stroll along the promenade, browse craft shops or simply enjoy the cooler sea air.

Today is free for you to experience Swakopmund in your own way. For wildlife enthusiasts, dolphin cruises from Walvis Bay often reveal Cape fur seals, pelicans and bottlenose dolphins, while scenic flights provide an aerial perspective of the Skeleton Coast and dunes. If you prefer something more active, there’s the option to head into the desert for quad biking or sandboarding. Alternatively, remain in town and take in Swakopmund’s mix of German-inspired architecture, seaside cafes and long Atlantic beaches. Your tour leader can help arrange optional activities and recommend places to eat this evening.

Leaving the coast, travel inland towards the Etosha region, passing through the rugged scenery of Damaraland. This sparsely populated region is known for its open plains, granite outcrops and desert-adapted wildlife. After lunch en route, we arrive at Etosha Village Lodge in the afternoon. Later, we head out on a sunset game drive, where giraffes, springbok and antelope are often spotted in the softer evening light. Dinner is served in the bush, with a stargazing session to follow. With minimal light pollution in this part of Namibia, the night sky can reveal the Milky Way in remarkable clarity.

Spend a full day exploring Etosha National Park in an open game-viewing vehicle, allowing for excellent visibility and photography opportunities. Etosha is one of the great wildlife reserves in Africa, centred around a vast salt pan so large it can sometimes be seen from space. Our route takes us between waterholes that attract a steady flow of wildlife, particularly during the dry season. Elephants, lions, zebras, giraffes and several antelope species are regularly seen, while black rhinos are among the more prized sightings. Throughout the day, our tour leader and safari driver help interpret animal behaviour and track movement across the park, adding depth to the experience beyond simply spotting wildlife. We pause for a picnic lunch inside the park before returning to the lodge in the late afternoon.