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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.