Itinerary
- Day 1
Windhoek
You'll arrive in Windhoek and pick up your rental car at the airport. From there, it's about a 50 km drive to your accommodation in the city center. Get settled in for your first night.
- Day 2
Windhoek to Waterberg
Head north through Namibia toward Waterberg Plateau, a critical conservation area where you'll find over 200 bird species and endangered wildlife like white and black rhinos, buffalo, and various antelopes. The drive covers approximately 265 km before you reach your accommodation.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Optional Activities
- Bird watching in Waterberg Plateau region
- Wildlife observation (white and black rhino, buffalo, sable, roan and tsessebe antelope)
Landmarks Waterberg Plateau - Day 3
Waterberg to Etosha National Park
After breakfast, you'll drive via Otjiwarongo and Outjo to Etosha National Park, which has over 110 animal species and 340 bird species. Check in at your accommodation, then take your rental car out to explore the park and look for lions, cheetahs, and antelope.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Self-guided safari drive through Etosha National Park in rental car
Landmarks Etosha National Park - Day 4
Etosha National Park
Start early and continue your safari through Etosha, watching for black rhinos, elephants, different antelope species, cheetahs, and lions. Around lunchtime, stop at Halali rest camp to take a break and stretch your legs.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Self-guided safari drive through Etosha National Park in rental car
Landmarks Etosha National Park Halali Rest Camp - Day 5
Etosha National Park to Damaraland
Leave Etosha and drive to Damaraland, a volcanic region with a lunar-like landscape and scattered large rocks that turn golden at sunset. You'll arrive at your accommodation in the evening.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner
Optional Activities
- Visit Burnt Mountain with its unique play of colors
- Visit Organ Pipes (bizarre vertical dolerite columns)
- Visit Twyfelfontein (one of the richest sites of Bushman rock engravings)
Landmarks Burnt Mountain Organ Pipes Twyfelfontein - Day 6
Damaraland to Swakopmund
Travel to the Atlantic coast and Swakopmund, Namibia's most popular vacation spot. The town has colonial architecture and small street cafes that feel like a German village by the sea.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Landmarks Swakopmund - Day 7
Swakopmund
Spend the day exploring Swakopmund and the area around it at your own pace. You might want to take a boat tour in Walvis Bay lagoon where seals come aboard and pelicans follow along.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Optional Activities
- Boat tour in Walvis Bay lagoon with seal and pelican viewing
Landmarks Walvis Bay Lagoon Swakopmund - Day 8
Swakopmund to Sossusvlei
Drive south along the coast to Walvis Bay where flamingos and pelicans gather in the lagoon. From there, continue through Kuiseb Canyon to the small settlement of Solitaire, then on to your accommodation near Sesriem or Sossusvlei.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Landmarks Walvis Bay Lagoon Kuiseb Canyon Solitaire - Day 9
Sossusvlei
Wake up early for breakfast, then visit Sossusvlei with its apricot-colored dunes. You can arrange a transfer (for a fee) to reach Big Daddy, the highest dune at over 300 meters. After that, explore Dead Vlei with its petrified trees and Sesriem Canyon, carved by the Tsauchab River over millions of years.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Visit Sossusvlei dunes
- Visit Dead Vlei
- Visit Sesriem Canyon
Optional Activities
- Transfer to Sossusvlei (last 5 km, for a fee)
Landmarks Sossusvlei Big Daddy Dune Dead Vlei Sesriem Canyon - Day 10
Sesriem to Helmeringhausen
Depart the dune region and drive toward Helmeringhausen, a tiny village surrounded by sheep and goat farms. Standard option guests can stop at Duwisib Castle, built by a German nobleman at the start of the last century, along the way.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner
Optional Activities
- Visit Duwisib Castle (standard option travelers)
- Optional nature drive in the afternoon (superior option travelers)
Landmarks Duwisib Castle - Day 11
Helmeringhausen to Lüderitz
Head back toward the coast, traveling to Luderitz via the town of Aus. Luderitz is Namibia's first European settlement and a charming harbor town that works well as a base for seabird watching in the lagoon and visiting the Diaz Cross.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Optional Activities
- Seabird watching in the lagoon
- Visit Diaz Cross
Landmarks Lüderitz Diaz Cross - Day 12
Lüderitz to Fish River Canyon
Visit the ghost town of Kolmanskop, an old diamond mining settlement being slowly reclaimed by the desert. Bring your camera for great photos. Then continue east to the Fish River Canyon region and settle in for your stay.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Visit Kolmanskop ghost town
Landmarks Kolmanskop - Day 13
Fish River Canyon to Kalahari Region
See Fish River Canyon, the world's second largest after the Grand Canyon, stretching 170 km with depths up to 550 meters and widths up to 27 km. You'll have multiple viewpoints for photos. Later, visit the Playground of the Giants near Keetmanshoop, then continue to Mariental in the Kalahari region.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Visit Fish River Canyon viewpoints
- Visit Playground of the Giants
Landmarks Fish River Canyon Playground of the Giants Keetmanshoop - Day 14
Kalahari Region
Spend the day exploring the Kalahari at your own pace, checking out the vast semi-arid landscape, unique wildlife, and red dunes. Or relax at your lodge. Superior option guests can join a guided bushman walk to learn about local culture and survival techniques.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Optional Activities
- Bushman walk at Intu Africa Zebra Lodge (superior option, included for that option)
Landmarks Kalahari Region - Day 15
Kalahari Region to Windhoek
Drive back to Windhoek via Kalkrand and Rehoboth, completing your circular journey across Namibia. Check into your final accommodation for the night.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Landmarks Windhoek - Day 16
Windhoek
After breakfast, drive to Windhoek airport, about 50 km away. Return your rental car and head out. Your Namibia adventure wraps up here.
- Meals
- Breakfast
