Itinerary
- Day 1
Windhoek
You'll land at Hosea Kutako International Airport and head straight to Chameleon Backpackers in Windhoek for your first night. After settling in, dinner is up to you, so you can hit one of the local restaurants or grab something at the backpackers itself.
Optional Activities
- Dinner at local restaurants in Windhoek
- Day 2
Windhoek to Etosha National Park
The group meets at 07:15 at Chameleon Head Office, then you'll drive north through Otjiwarongo toward Etosha National Park. A light lunch pack keeps you going during the journey, and once you enter the park, it's straight into a game drive heading to Halali Camp. By evening, you'll be watching for wildlife at the floodlit Moringa waterhole right near where you're staying.
- Meals
- Lunch (Light lunch pack whilst on the move)
Included Activities
- Pre-departure meeting at Chameleon Head Office
- Game drive through Etosha National Park
- Visit to floodlit Moringa waterhole
Landmarks/POIs Etosha National Park Moringa Waterhole 
- Day 3
Etosha National Park
An early sunrise game drive gets the day rolling, then you return to Halali for breakfast before heading back into the park. You'll stop at several waterholes and see the massive Etosha Pan, soaking up the landscape before exiting near sunset. Later you drive to comfortable accommodation with en-suite bathrooms for a good night's rest.
- Meals
- Breakfast (Breakfast at Halali Camp), Dinner (Fantastic dinner prepared by guide)
Included Activities
- Full day game drives in Etosha National Park
- Early morning game drive at sunrise
- Afternoon game drive with waterhole stops
- Visit to Etosha Pan viewing area
Landmarks/POIs Etosha Pan 
- Day 4
Etosha to Swakopmund
Leaving early, you head south through Damaraland where you'll have chances to meet locals and pick up hand-crafted items from Himba, Herero, and Damara tribes. A picnic lunch sits near Brandberg mountain before continuing west to the Skeleton Coast. You'll see the Zeila shipwreck, then arrive in Swakopmund and check into the A La Mer hotel in the town center.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch (Light picnic lunch)
Included Activities
- Drive through Damaraland scenic landscape
- Visit to shipwreck of The Zeila
Optional Activities
- Purchase hand-crafted souvenirs from local artisans
- Interaction with local Himba, Herero and Damara community members
Landmarks/POIs Damaraland Brandberg Mountain Skeleton Coast The Zeila Shipwreck 
- Day 5
Swakopmund to Sesriem
Start slow in Swakopmund with time to wander around town if you'd like. Mid-morning you drive east through the Namib gravel plains and mountain passes, crossing the Tropic of Capricorn. Solitaire is worth a stop for its famous apple pie, then you push on to Desert Camp near Sossusvlei. Twin rooms, a pool, and a bar await you.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner (Dinner prepared by guide over open fire)
Included Activities
- Drive through Namib Desert landscape
- Cross Kuiseb Pass
- Cross Gaub River canyon
- Tropic of Capricorn photo stop
Optional Activities
- Quad biking in Swakopmund
- Sand boarding down dunes at 60 km per hour
- Morning exploration of Swakopmund town centre
Landmarks/POIs Kuiseb Pass Tropic of Capricorn Solitaire 
- Day 6
Sossusvlei
A very early pre-dawn start gets you out to see sunrise in the dunes. After a 60 km drive to the car park, you board a 4x4 shuttle through the Tsauchab River-bed to Sossusvlei. Dead Vlei and its skeletal trees are incredible, and you'll climb some of the world's highest sand dunes. Dune 45 comes next on the way back, plus Sesriem Canyon before returning to camp later in the afternoon.
- Meals
- Breakfast (Very early breakfast)
Included Activities
- Sunrise desert drive to Sossusvlei
- 4x4 shuttle through Tsauchab River-bed
- Visit to Dead Vlei ancient pan
- Climbing opportunity on 300m high sand dunes
- Stop at Dune 45
- Excursion to Sesriem Canyon
- Walk in Sesriem Canyon river-bed
Optional Activities
- Climb Dune 45
Landmarks/POIs Sossusvlei Dead Vlei Dune 45 Sesriem Canyon 
- Day 7
Sossusvlei to Swakopmund
You head back to Solitaire and jump into an open vehicle for a visit to a local cheetah conservation project. Learning about the work and getting photos of these fast cats is a highlight, and of course, more apple pie at Solitaire. A shuttle takes you back to Swakopmund by evening, and there's a pre-project talk at your hotel with other volunteers and coordinators.
Included Activities
- Visit to local cheetah conservation project
- Educational session about cheetah and conservation work
- Pre-project talk at hotel
Optional Activities
- Sample world-famous apple pie at Solitaire
Landmarks/POIs Solitaire - Days 8 - 18
Elephant Human Relations Aid Volunteer Project
Two weeks of hands-on conservation work with EHRA starts now, building protective walls around windmills, water tanks, and pumps. You'll sleep in large trees on wooden platforms at base camp or camp in the bush on mattresses under stars or in tents. Work rotates with kitchen duty, and conditions are raw, no washing facilities during build weeks, though weekend showers happen at base camp. Group cooking over fire and bush toilets complete the true wild experience.
- Meals
- Breakfast (Coffee-in-bed and breakfast cooked by group over fire), Lunch (Lunch cooked over fire), Dinner (Dinner cooked over fire)
Included Activities
- Volunteer work with Elephant Human Relations Aid
- Building protective walls around water infrastructure
- Participation in kitchen duty rotation
- Camping in African wilderness
- Educational sessions on elephant conservation
- Day 19
EHRA to Swakopmund
After breakfast, your adventure winds down as you return to Swakopmund for one final night. A proper hotel shower feels great, and you'll have time to download your experiences and photos. A last meal with your new friends happens at your own expense at a local restaurant.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Return transfer to Swakopmund
Optional Activities
- Final restaurant meal in Swakopmund
- Day 20
Swakopmund to Windhoek
An early breakfast comes first, then Carlos Shuttle picks you up for the drive back to Windhoek. Later, you can hang at Chameleon Backpackers bar or head out for a meal on your own dime. It's a chance to reflect on everything before heading out.
- Meals
- Breakfast (Early breakfast)
Included Activities
- Early breakfast
- Return transfer to Windhoek
Optional Activities
- Evening meal at local restaurant
- Evening at Chameleon Backpackers bar
- Day 21
Windhoek Departure
If your flight leaves in the afternoon, a free city walking tour or City & Township Tour keeps you occupied during the morning. Your driver collects you and takes you to the airport with plenty of time for check-in. You fly home knowing you've made a real difference for the Namibian Desert Elephant and local communities.
Included Activities
- FREE city walking tour (if afternoon flight)
- Airport transfer
Optional Activities
- City & Township Tour (alternative to city walking tour)
