Itinerary
- Day 1
Windhoek
Collect your rental car from the airport and drive out to Naankuse Lodge in the Namibian bush. After settling in from your flight, you'll head out in the afternoon for a Cheetah Experience where guides share details about these big cats and their behavior. Your first night is at the lodge, so you can relax and adjust to the landscape around you.
- Meals
- Dinner
Included Activities
- Cheetah Experience at Naankuse Foundation Game Reserve
Landmarks Naankuse Foundation Game Reserve - Day 2
Naankuse to Sossusvlei
Drive west toward the Namib Desert with Sossusvlei as your destination. Along the way, stop at Neuras Wine Estate for a tour and tasting. Later you'll reach The Elegant Desert Lodge near Sesriem, where a guided nature tour in a four-wheel drive takes you through the area. By evening, head to a hilltop for sunset drinks and snacks while taking in the desert views.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Guided winery tour at Neuras Wine Estate
- Wine tasting at Neuras Wine Estate
- Guided nature tour in four-wheel drive vehicle from The Elegant Desert Lodge
- Sunset refreshments and snacks on hilltop
Landmarks Sossusvlei Neuras Wine Estate Naukluft Mountains - Day 3
Sossusvlei
Get up early to see Sossusvlei when the light hits the ochre-colored dunes just right. Take a short hike out to Dead Vlei to see the dead acacia trees that have been there for over 500 years. The rest of your day is free, so spend it by the lodge pool cooling off and resting.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Optional Activities
- Transfer from parking lot to heart of dunes (available for a fee if four-wheel drive vehicle not booked)
- Self-guided visit to Sossusvlei
- Hike to Dead Vlei
Landmarks Sossusvlei Dead Vlei - Day 4
Sossusvlei to Swakopmund
Head north through striking desert landscapes, passing through Gaub and Kuiseb canyons. Stop in Solitaire for their famous apple strudel, then continue to Walvis Bay Lagoon on the Atlantic coast, one of Namibia's most important bird sanctuaries. You'll arrive in Swakopmund later, a town known for its colonial architecture and beach promenade.
- Meals
- Breakfast
- Accommodation
- Hotel
Optional Activities
- Stop for apple strudel in Solitaire
Landmarks Gaub Canyon Kuiseb Canyon Walvis Bay Lagoon Solitaire - Day 5
Swakopmund
Explore Swakopmund at your own pace, checking out the lighthouse, pier, and jetty. This morning or afternoon, join a sea kayaking tour at Pelican Point. Later, take a fat bike ride through the oldest desert in the world just outside the city, covering about 14 km along the Atlantic dune belt.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Sea kayaking tour at Pelican Point
- Scenic Desert Tour with fat bikes through Swakop district and dune belt (approximately 2 hours, approximately 14 km)
Optional Activities
- Visit to lighthouse, pier, and jetty
- Discovery tours into the desert with lunar landscape visit
- Sandboarding
- Quad biking in nearby dunes
- Parachute jump
- Catamaran trip
Landmarks Pelican Point - Day 6
Swakopmund to Uis
Drive along the Atlantic coast to Hentiesbaai, then turn inland toward Uis, an old mining town near Brandberg, Namibia's highest mountain. You'll check into Ondjamba Hills Camp and can either relax or explore a local Bushman or Damara village on your own if you're interested.
- Meals
- Breakfast
- Accommodation
- Hotel
Optional Activities
- Visit to Bushman or Damara village
Landmarks Brandberg - Day 7
Uis
Join a morning excursion searching for desert elephants in the area. Afterward, the day is yours to spend however you'd like. Relax by the pool, or ask the camp about optional sunset drives or trips to Brandberg if you want something more active.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Desert elephant excursion
Optional Activities
- Sunset drives
- Excursions to Brandberg
Landmarks Brandberg - Day 8
Uis to Etosha National Park
Head toward Etosha National Park, and there's a recommended stop in Outjo for fresh pastries at a local bakery. Arrive at a lodge south of the park boundary and settle in. If you want, join an optional game drive in the afternoon to start spotting lions, giraffes, elephants, and rhinos.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Optional Activities
- Afternoon game drive in Etosha National Park
- Visit to Twyfelfontein rock engravings
- Visit to Living Museum of the Damara
Landmarks Etosha National Park Andersson's Gate Twyfelfontein rock engravings Living Museum of the Damara - Days 9 - 10
Etosha National Park
Spend these two days exploring Etosha National Park on your own or with optional game drives. Drive to different waterholes to see zebras, elephants, giraffes, wildebeest, lions, leopards, cheetahs, and numerous bird species. Early morning or late evening drives give you chances for nocturnal sightings too.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner
- Accommodation
- Hotel
Optional Activities
- Self-guided game drives and wildlife viewing at waterholes
- Optional game drives arranged by camp
Landmarks Etosha National Park Etosha Pan - Day 11
Etosha to Waterberg
Drive to the Waterberg region, a key conservation area protecting endangered white and black rhinos, buffalo, and various antelope species. The region hosts over 200 bird species, so bring binoculars. Watch one of Africa's great sunsets over the thornbush savannah. If interested, visit the Cheetah Conservations Fund to learn about endangered cheetah protection work.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner
Optional Activities
- Hikes and game drives in Waterberg region
- Visit to Cheetah Conservations Fund (CCF)
Landmarks Waterberg Plateau Cheetah Conservations Fund (CCF) - Day 12
Waterberg to Windhoek
Return to Windhoek, Namibia's capital city at 1,650 meters elevation in a mountain basin. Join a guided Windhoek Tasting Tour sampling local market specialties, kapana meat at a local stall, cold Namibian beer in a shebeen, and craft beer at a brewery. End the day watching the sunset from a restaurant terrace.
- Meals
- Breakfast
- Accommodation
- Hotel
Included Activities
- Guided Windhoek Tasting Tour including local market visit, kapana tasting at stall, shebeen experience with Namibian beer, craft beer brewery visit, and sunset dining
Optional Activities
- Lunch at Brewers Market restaurant before tour (recommended but not included)
Landmarks Windhoek Katatura local market Brewers Market restaurant - Day 13
Windhoek
Drive to Windhoek International Airport for your return flight. Drop off your rental car at the airport to finish your road trip.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Landmarks Windhoek International Airport
