Namibian Explorer

Private Guided Safari

At A Glance

TOUR TYPE

Lodge

DURATION

14 days

COST

No rates found.

Namibia boasts some of the most diverse landscapes, fascinating cultures and incredible wildlife in all of Africa. Spend 14 days exploring Namibia on a private guided safari, experiencing exclusive private reserves, remote community conservation areas and vast national parks.

Starting from Windhoek International Airport, we make our way south into the Kalahari where we spend 2 nights taking in the extreme serenity of the sprawling desert, where rich red sand dunes continue as far as the eye can see. Game drives, nature walks and spa treatments, cycling adventures, yoga and more will keep us as busy as we like. From here, we head south west into the Namib Desert. The Namib is the world’s oldest desert and we spend the next 2 nights learning what makes the Namib so different from the Kalahari. Where the Kalahari dunes are a deep red, the dunes of the Namib glow orange and are some of the tallest in the world. During early morning and late afternoon, the dunes are cast in shadow, creating depth and drama and incredible photography opportunities.

We continue through the Namib with a 2 night stay on the Skeleton Coast, a chance to experience Sandwich Harbour where the dunes meet the ocean. From the coast, we head inland, across the gravel plains of the Namib and into Damaraland where we stop and support the local Himba, Herero and Damara vendors that make a living here. Spend a minute shopping, but also getting to know the communities that survive on the very edge of existence in this harsh landscape. Arriving at Onduli Ridge we can settle in for 2 amazing nights under the stars, literally, by pushing our beds out into the open air and enjoying a night under the milky way. Days are spent exploring the area with some of the best guides in the country in some of the most remote landscapes in search of desert elephant, giraffe and more.

We then head northeast towards Ongava, one of Namibia’s most diverse private wildlife reserves, famed for it’s healthy population of predators and megaherbivores including critically endangered black rhino. We then cross the park, driving from waterhole to waterhole to experience the magic that is Etosha, where wildlife gathers in droves at waterholes in the dry season. Our next 2 nights are spent on the Onguma Reserve, bordering Etosha, at the new and luxurious Camp Kala.

Our final destination is Habitas, located just outside Windhoek on a 51,000ha reserve, where we can take in the incredible views from the mountain top where the luxury camp is set. Game drives, wellness treatments, immersive cultural experiences and delicious culinary delights abound wrapping up a spectacular 14 days in Namibia.

Highlights

Day-by-Day Itinerary

+ Day 1 - Kalahari Desert

On arrival at Windhoek International Airport, we will meet our guide and drive south into the Kalahari Desert. This afternoon we can absorb the fresh air of the Kalahari on an afternoon nature drive or guided walk.

Activities: Airport pick up & afternoon nature drive
Accommodation: Otjimbondona Lodge
Meals: Lunch, Dinner
Distance: Approx. 1 hour
+ Day 2 - Kalahari Desert

A full day to take in the incredible landscape of the Kalahari. Otjimbondona means “the place where the small camelthorn trees grow” in the local ethnic language. Mornings can be spent exploring the farm on one of the walking trails where we can enjoy spotting any of the 35 mammal species and 95 bird species that are resident in the area. This afternoon we head out on a sundowner drive or fat biking ride, either way we can experience an epic Kalahari sunset.

Activities: Morning nature walk & afternoon nature drive
Accommodation: Otjimbondona Lodge
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
+ Day 3 - Kalahari Desert - Namib Desert

We leave the Kalahari mid-morning after a leisurely breakfast and make our way south west into the Namib Desert. The Namib Desert, the oldest desert in the world, stretches some 2000kms along the west coast of Namibia, with varying types of terrain. Still, it is here, in the Sossusvlei region, that is known for its enormous dunes and breathtaking photographic opportunities. On arrival at our lodge, we can enjoy a walk and prepare for a relaxing sundowner drink before dinner.

Activities: Afternoon desert drive
Accommodation: Sossusvlei Desert Lodge
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Distance: Approx. 5.5 hours
+ Day 4 - Namib Desert

A very early start this morning for our Sossusvlei guided excursion. We aim to leave our lodge well before sunrise to ensure that we are one of the first to enter the national park. From Sesriem, we drive further into the desert area, where the early morning light provides excellent opportunities for photography. Once we arrive in the 4×4 carpark, we can then explore this area on foot, with a walk around Deadvlei 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, we make our 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. We then make our way back towards our accommodation, where we’ll have time to rest and relax before dinner.

Activities: Guided excursion to Sossusvlei, Deadvlei, Dune 45 & Sesriem Canyon
Accommodation: Sossusvlei Desert Lodge
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
+ Day 5 - Namib Desert - Swakopmund

Our drive today takes us through to Swakopmund via the Gaub and Kuiseb passes. Our first official stop is Solitaire, a small but important outpost for tourists and locals alike and a popular place to stop and enjoy 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 have 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, as well as the endemic Damara Tern, among 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. 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.

Accommodation: The Strand Hotel
Meals: Breakfast
+ Day 6 - Swakopmund - Walvis Bay/ Sandwich Harbour - Swakopmund

Today we head south to Walvis Bay where we spend the day exploring both the sea and the land. We start with a morning boat cruise in search of dolphins, pelicans, and if we are very lucky a friendly seal. Our boat docks at Pelican Point where we enjoy a sumptuous barbeque lunch on the beach before boarding 4×4 vehicles and riding the natural rollercoast to Sandwich Harbour. The afternoon drive is in breathtaking as we crest the massive dunes and take in the uninterrupted views of the epic coastline. We return to Swakopmund early evening.

Activities: Walvis lagoon boat tour, trip to Pelican Point & Sandwich Harbour
Accommodation: The Strand Hotel
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
+ Day 7 - Swakopmund - Damaraland

We start our day early as our drive takes us northeast into Damaraland. Today, we head north up to Henties Bay, where we can spot the most recent shipwreck to fall victim to the Benguela current. We then turn inland, travelling across the gravel plains of the Namib and then north from Uis, with the chance to meet the local people, the Himba, Damara and Herero, that call these areas home. We arrive at camp late afternoon and enjoy an epic sunset over Damaraland.

Activities: Stop at the Zeila shipwreck
Accommodation: Onduli Ridge
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Distance: Approx. 4 hours
+ Day 8 - Damaraland

We start the morning with a big breakfast before heading out on an excursion along the ephemeral rivers to explore this remarkable area and search for some animals, including the elusive and amazing desert-adapted elephants. These animals have amazingly found a way to become accustomed to this semi-arid area. This opportunity to find free-roaming desert elephants is unique, with these incredible creatures only being found in Namibia and Mali. In addition to the desert elephants, this unique environment offers breathtaking landscapes, and with a local guide, we will have some incredible landscape photographic opportunities.

Activities: Nature drive in search of desert elephant & afternoon nature walk
Accommodation: Onduli Ridge
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
+ Day 9 - Damaraland - Ongava Reserve

After breakfast, we say goodbye to Damaraland and head northeast for Ongava. Ongava is one of Namibias most exclusive private reserves and home to a healthy population of predators and megaherbivores making it a wildlife lovers paradise. This afternoon we enjoy a game drive on the reserve, in search of lion, leopard, rhino, elephant and more. Tonight we can relax by the floodlit waterhole, an excellent chance to view those creatures that prefer to be active during the cool of the night.

Activities: Afternoon game drive on Ongava Reserve
Accommodation: Anderssons at Ongava
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Distance: Approx. 3.5 hours
+ Day 10 - Ongava Reserve

Enjoy a morning walk today, taking in the sights and sounds of the bush on foot. Guided walks through the reserve will proudly showcase the abundant array of life, from the unusual plants to the arid-adapted animals with a chance of potentially approaching white rhino. This afternoon we head out on a final nature drive, in the hope of spotting predators before taking in an incredible Ongava sunset.

Activities: Morning nature walk & afternoon game drive on Ongava Reserve
Accommodation: Anderssons at Ongava
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
+ Day 11 - Ongava - Etosha - Onguma

After breakfast, we say goodbye to Ongava and make our way into Etosha National Park, one of Southern Africa’s premier game parks and wildlife enthusiasts paradise. We enter the park via the Andersson gate, on the southern boundary of Etosha and spend the whole day exploring. The park itself covers 22,270 sq kms and gets its name from the salt pan that makes up approx 23% of the park. Once a massive lake, the Etosha Pan is now mostly dry, except for good rainfall years when the pan fills up enough to become a breeding ground for flamingos that migrate between Walvis Bay and Sua Pan in Botswana. We exit the park via the Von Lindequist Gate and arrive on the Onguma Reserve, our home for the next 2 nights.

Activities: Full day game drive across Etosha National Park, visit to Onkolo hide & sundowner drive on Onguma Reserve
Accommodation: Camp Kala
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
+ Day 12 - Onguma Reserve

Today we take a morning game drive into Etosha National Park in search of predators during the early mornings. We return mid morning so we can enjoy a visit to the Onkolo hide, a chance to sit at eye level and take in any wildlife that wanders by. This afternoon we enjoy a sundowner drive taking in the wildlife on the reserve and a final Etosha sunset.

Activities: Morning game drive across Etosha National Park
Accommodation: Camp Kala
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
+ Day 13 - Onguma Reserve - Windhoek

We say goodbye to Etosha today and make our way south back towards Windhoek. Our final destination is Habitas, located on a 51,000ha wildlife reserve home to everything from elephant to lion, leopard, cheetah and more. Habitas also focuses on a holistic safari experience so enjoy anything from a bush dinner, to local gin tasting, to cultural interactions with the Himba or San people and more.

Activities: Afternoon nature drive
Accommodation: Habitas Namibia
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Distance: Approx. 6.5 hours
+ Day 14 - End of Itinerary

Depending on flight times today, we may have time to enjoy a final activity or just relax before being transferred to Windhoek International Airport in time for our outbound flight. End of services.

Activities: Airport drop off
Meals: Breakfast

INCLUDES

Accommodation
Activities as per itinerary
Guide
Meals as per itinerary
National park entry fees
Transport
Water

EXCLUDES

Drinks
International Flights
Items of personal nature
Optional Activities
Personal travel insurance

Rates

Minimum People

 

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