5 Days in Namibia - 3 Unique Itinerary Ideas

Itinerary #1: Discover Namibia's Dunes, Coast & Wildlife

Explore Namibia's parks and coastline on this compact five-day itinerary that takes you through the wildlife-filled Etosha National Park and along the remote and dune-swept Skeleton Coast to discover shipwrecks. The tour finishes in Sesriem for desert sunsets and cheetah sightings.

Welcome to Namibia! After arriving in Windhoek, there will be time to explore the capital. Wander past Gothic churches, leafy parks, and imposing fortresses, then stop to eat some braai (barbecue) at a local restaurant. The next day, transfer to Etosha National Park. Etosha is also home to hundreds of birds and animal species, from zebra and impala to giraffes, big cats, elephants, and black rhinos. In the rainy season, you can see migratory birds like flamingoes. 

Continue toward Swakopmund and the Skeleton Coast, stopping en route in Damaraland, a dramatic land of gorges, grasslands, and burnt-orange mountains. Explore independently in coastal Swakopmund city, an adventure hub where you can also arrange tours into the desert for dune buggy riding or sand boarding. Next is a drive south through the Namib Desert to Sesriem and then to the Namib-Naukluft National Park. Visit a local cheetah conservation project before returning to Windhoek. Learn more

Itinerary #2: Namibia Desert & Dune Safari Adventure

Experience Namibia's vast, ancient deserts on this five-day self-drive adventure tour. Drive to the Kalahari Desert and hike the epic three-day Tok Tokkie Trail through the NamibRand Nature Reserve.

After arriving in Windhoek, you'll pick up your vehicle and drive into the Kalahari Desert. Get your trip off to a great start on a "bushman walk" to meet the local Indigenous San people. Learn about their unique hunter-gatherer lifestyle, and then early the next day, enjoy a guided game drive through the desert, home to 55 mammals, 58 reptiles, and 185 bird species. If you're keen to see more, you can also take an optional nocturnal drive.

The second leg of your trip gets you active on the Tok Tokkie Trail. This three-day guided hike travels through NamibRand Nature Reserve, a protected, 770-square-mile (2,000 sq km) stretch of the Namib Desert, the oldest living desert in the world. You'll stay at comfortable camps overnight, and at the end of the trek, pick up your rental car and return to Windhoek. Learn more

Itinerary #3: Namibia Desert & Dune Luxury Fly-In Safari

Take to the skies on this luxury, five-day Namibia sky safari. Touchdown in the Namib Desert, exploring Sossusvlei's famous salt pan and towering dunes, then fly on to the wind-battered Skeleton Coast before ending with a fishing expedition in the marine-rich waters off the coast.

Upon arriving in Windhoek, transfer to a private flight to Sossusvlei, soaring over the Naukluft Mountain Range. Stay in a luxury lodge in Sossusvlei, from where you'll head out into the Namib Desert before spending a day exploring some of the planet's tallest dunes, including Elim, Dune 45, and the 1,000-foot-tall (300 m) Big Daddy in the Namib-Naukluft National Park. You'll also see Sossusvlei's famous salt pan, the Deadvlei (Dead Marsh) with its skeletal trees, and the four-million-year-old Sesriem Canyon.

Fly to the Skeleton Coast, where the Atlantic collides with the Namib Desert, creating a thick fog responsible for the numerous shipwrecks you can see here. Your pilot will refuel in Swakopmund before continuing to Möwe Bay. Explore the wonders of the seasonal Hoanib River Delta and the Hoarusib River, stopping to explore eerie shipwrecks. The next day, take a game drive in the remote Skeleton Coast National Park, surprisingly rich in wildlife despite its stark appearance. Learn more

More Great Namibia Itineraries

Looking for more inspiration for your trip to Namibia? Check out these other Namibia itineraries, with outdoor adventures, wildlife safari trips, and best-of tours to hit the highlights.