Day 1, Windhoek
Windhoek - Etosha National Park. Welcome to Namibia! We leave Windhoek early on day 1 and make our way to Etosha National Park, where we will be spending our first two nights. This 20,000 square kilometre reserve is dominated by a salt pan, which floods seasonally but is also home to a select few watering holes all year round. Wildlife is easy to spot as the animals tend to gather around these scarce water sources.
Our itinerary in Etosha is flexible depending on the conditions and the location of wildlife. We'll generally enjoy a short game drive on day 1 before spending our first night at a camp with a floodlit watering hole. Here you may be lucky enough to spot elephants, giraffe, hyenas and even lions.
Please note: The pre-departure meeting is held at 18:00 on the evening prior to departure. The tour departs at 08:00 on Day 1 so please arrive in Windhoek the day before your tour. Refer to the Joining Instructions in the Trip Notes for more information. We can book accommodation and transfers on request.
no breakfast, 1 lunch, 1 dinner included.
Day 2, Etosha National Park
Today is spent on a full day's game drive across the park, stopping whenever we see anything of interest. We will either return to our first campsite, or perhaps a different one, depending on your tour leader's decision. Despite the dry and barren nature of the park, it supports a wide variety of mammal and bird species, and you are sure to have some amazing wildlife experiences.
1 breakfast, 1 lunch, 1 dinner included.
Day 3, Spitzkoppe
Etosha National Park - Spitzkoppe. Leaving Etosha, we head into the Damaraland region and our destination - Spitzkoppe. At this mountain peak, you can see incredibly well-preserved bushmen paintings and spectacular rock formations reaching 1800 metres above sea level. As the sun moves across the sky, the rocks change colour, a sight that is particularly beautiful at sunrise and sunset. We'll be staying at a campsite at the base of the mountain, so you can enjoy this sunset with a refreshing drink.
1 breakfast, 1 lunch, 1 dinner included.
Day 4-5, Swakopmund
Spitzkoppe - Swakopmund. On day 4 we drive to Swakopmund, a German colonial town located on Namibia's famous Skeleton Coast. We'll be staying in simple dormitory accommodation in Swakopmund, rather than camping.
The rest of day 4 and the following day are free for you to explore Swakopmund as you see fit. Wander around the town and indulge in the relaxed cafe culture and German colonial architecture. There are also lots of optional activities available including quad-biking, sand boarding, skydiving, and dolphin-watching cruises. See the Trip Notes for further details.
2 breakfast, no lunch, no dinner included.
Day 6, Namib Naukluft National Park
Swakopmund - Solitaire Area. Continuing south, we cross over the Tropic of Capricorn, stopping for a photo opportunity en-route to our stunning desert campsite in the Khomas region of Namibia.
1 breakfast, 1 lunch, 1 dinner included.
Day 7, Namib Naukluft National Park
Solitaire Area - Namib-Naukluft National Park - Sesriem. This morning we head into Namib-Naukluft National Park, arriving at the desert's most famous landmark - Dune 45. This towering sand dune is more than 300 metres high - you are welcome to try to climb the dune if you are up to it!
Journeying deeper into the park, we arrive at Deadvlei, a white clay pan surrounded by the rolling golden dunes and home to eerie petrified trees. You'll want to remember your camera as the area changes colour with the movement of the sun across the sky. En route to our camp for the night, we also make a stop at Sesriem Canyon.
1 breakfast, 1 lunch, 1 dinner included.
Day 8, Fish River Canyon
Namib-Naukluft National Park - Fish River Canyon. If you thought Sesriem Canyon was impressive, you're in for a treat today! It's a long drive south through desert scenery to reach Fish River Canyon, second only in size to the Grand Canyon in the USA. More than 500 metres deep and scarring the land for 160km, it's a jaw-dropping sight to behold. We'll stop at a couple of viewpoints and visit the canyon's famously sharp bend, known as 'Hell's Corner'.
1 breakfast, 1 lunch, 1 dinner included.
Day 9, Orange River
Fish River Canyon - Gariep (Orange) River. Leaving the mighty Fish River Canyon, we travel south to the Gariep (Orange) river. Our campsite lies on the banks of the river on the Namibia side. On arrival we have the opportunity to partake in an optional canoe safari on the river to see the striking Richtersveld scenery or simply relax on the water’s edge at camp.
1 breakfast, 1 lunch, 1 dinner included.
Day 10, Cederberg
Orange River - Cederberg (South Africa). Leaving the mighty Fish River Canyon, we travel south to the Gariep (Orange) river. Our campsite lies on the banks of the river on the Namibia side. On arrival we have the opportunity to partake in an optional canoe safari on the river to see the striking Richtersveld scenery or simply relax on the water’s edge at camp.
1 breakfast, 1 lunch, 1 dinner included.
Day 11, Cape Town
Cederberg - Cape Town. Today we complete our journey to Cape Town, South Africa's 'Mother City', where our tour comes to an end.
Home to Table Mountain, the V&A Waterfront, and some of the world's most spectacular scenery, we strongly recommend booking post-tour accommodation to further explore this iconic city. We can arrange this accommodation for you.
1 breakfast, no lunch, no dinner included.