On arrival at Windhoek International Airport, we will meet our guide and make our way into Windhoek. Depending on our arrival, there may be time for an afternoon City & Township Tour before sunset. Windhoek city itself is quite small, so should you wish to explore on foot with your guide, this is also possible before dinner.

We depart Windhoek this morning after breakfast, no later than 09.00, as we head south out of the capital and into the Kalahari. Today’s drive is relatively short and easy, and we aim to arrive around lunchtime, so we have time to enjoy lunch and settle in before heading out on an afternoon nature drive to explore the surrounding area.

After breakfast, we depart the Kalahari and make our way south through to the world’s 2nd largest Canyon, Fish River Canyon. Here, we can enjoy a late afternoon visit to the canyon to watch as the sun sets over this enormous expanse. With thousands of years of history, a visit to the canyon is a must for any geology enthusiast.

We start the morning with a guided walk in the Gondwana Canyon Reserve, learning about the rich history of the area and gaining a deeper understanding of the flora and fauna that survive here. After our walk and breakfast, we then head west, through Klein Aus and across the plains of the Namib Desert to the colourful and historical town of Luderitz where we spend the next 2 nights. After checking in to our guesthouse we can then head out to Agate Beach to take in the sunset.

An early start today should we wish to join a short boat cruise to Halifax Island to see the African Penguins. From there, we make a short journey back into the desert to explore the infamous ghost town of Kolmanskop, a once prosperous village, now Namibia’s most famous ghost town after the local diamond field was depleted in 1956. The afternoon can then be spent at leisure or enjoying a drive south along the coast to visit Diaz point and possibly spot some flamingos.

We hit the road early for another long but scenic drive today north into the Namib Desert. Depending on our route, we will experience a range of different but equally breathtaking landscapes from mountains to deserts before arriving in the Sesriem area mid-afternoon, where we can take in our first Namib Desert sunset.

A very early start this morning for an excursion to Sossusvlei. Aim to leave camp just before sunrise to be one of the first vehicles to enter the park when the gates open. The drive from Sesriem to the heart of the dunes is approx. 60kms and this drive alone offers some incredible opportunities for photography. On arrival in the 4×4 car park, begin to explore this area on foot, with a walk around Dead Vlei and Sossusvlei, and for the adventurous, a hike up Big Daddy, the tallest dune in the region, offering breathtaking views of the sand sea that is the Namib Desert. By midday, make your way back towards Sesriem with a stop at Sesriem Canyon, a small but important landmark for both the human and animal residents of the area.

Today’s drive takes us through to Swakopmund via the Gaub and Kuiseb passes. The first official stop is Solitaire, a small but important outpost for tourists and locals alike and a popular place to stop enjoy some more unusual photographic opportunities. From Solitaire, we continue through the ever-changing desert landscapes before arriving in Walvis Bay, the main harbour in Namibia. Here we take the opportunity to visit the Walvis Bay Lagoon, a RAMSAR listed wetland site, famous as the feeding ground for many bird species, including the Greater & Lesser Flamingos and the endemic Damara Tern, amongst others, making it an ornithologist paradise. From Walvis Bay, it’s just a short drive to Swakopmund, where we will spend the next two nights.

Today is a free day and the chance to explore at our own pace. For some, this will mean joining a boat cruise in Walvis Bay, where we have a good chance to see some seals and dolphins. For others, this will mean a morning of sandboarding before exploring the dunes on a quad bike or enjoying a scenic flight before skydiving. For others, it might be something a little more calm as a leisurely breakfast, a visit to the aquarium before an afternoon scenic flight along the Skeleton Coast. Swakopmund is the adventure capital of Namibia, and there is certainly something to satisfy everyone. The town itself, an unusual mix of German and Namibian culture, offers a relaxed and walkable town centre to enjoy at our own pace. There are good restaurants in both towns, with seafood, of course, being a specialty.

Starting the day early, we drive north along the Skeleton Coast this morning. Heading north up to Henties Bay, we make our first stop to see the most recent shipwreck to fall victim to the Benguela current, The Zeila. From here, we head inland into Damaraland and have the chance to stop and meet the people that call this area home, from the Himba to the Herero and, of course, the Damara people. We arrive late afternoon at our camp in the heart of Damaraland and have the chance to enjoy an epic Damaraland sunset.

A full day today to explore Damaraland. We start the morning with a leisurely breakfast before heading through to the UNESCO World Heritage site of Twyfelfontein, the world’s largest collection of rock etchings. After an informative tour with a local guide, we can return to camp for lunch and a siesta before heading out in the afternoon for a Huab River drive, searching for the elusive desert elephant.

After breakfast, we head east to Etosha National Park, one of Southern Africa’s premier game reserves, home to some 340 species of birds, mammals, reptiles, and even 1 species of fish. On arrival at the park gate, we game drive through to our lodge for the night, stopping at the waterhole after waterhole seeing what we can find.

Today, a full day to explore Etosha National Park, to game drive either morning & afternoon, or head out across the park for a full day, visit the famous Etosha Pan (where the park gets its name). Etosha stretches some 22,000km², and the pan is so big it can be seen from space. Photography opportunities around Etosha’s waterholes can be some of southern Africa’s best. Due to a lack of natural waterholes and rivers, wildlife congregates together, and the chance to capture both prey & predators around the waterhole together is not uncommon. In addition to this, Halali offers excellent floodlit waterholes at the camp so we can enjoy the chance to watch the animals well into the night if we wish.

We make the most of our last morning and enjoy a morning game drive before exiting Etosha National Park no later than 12noon and making our way south back to Windhoek. Time permitting, enjoy a stop at the Okahandja woodcarvers market, a chance to practice our bargaining skills for some souvenirs.

Depending on our flight time, we may have time for a leisurely breakfast and some last-minute shopping before leaving for the airport in time for our onward flight.