Highlights
- Visit the marine life in Walvis Bay Lagoon
- Explore the rock formations of Damaraland
- Wander the Makgadikgadi Pans
- Experience the wildlife of the Zambezi Region
Brief Itinerary
| Day | Highlights | Overnight |
|---|---|---|
| Day 1 | Welcome to Namibia! Arrive in Windhoek | Windhoek |
| Day 2 | Road Trip from Windhoek to Sossusvlei | Sossusvlei |
| Day 3 | Road Trip from Sossusvlei to Swakopmund | Swakopmund |
| Day 4 | Road Trip from Swakopmund to Damaraland | Khorixas |
| Day 5 | Road Trip from Damaraland to Etosha National Park | Etosha National Park |
| Day 6 | Game Drive in East Etosha National Park | Etosha National Park |
| Day 7 | Road Trip from Etosha to the Caprivi Strip | Caprivi |
| Day 8 | Caprivi Strip to Chobe National Park | Chobe National Park |
| Day 9 | Chobe to Makgadikgadi Pans | Makgadikgadi Pans |
| Day 10 | Makgadikgadi Pans to Moremi Game Reserve & Okavango Delta | Okavango Delta |
| Day 11 | Okavango Delta to Windhoek, Departure |
Detailed Itinerary
Day 1: Welcome to Namibia! Arrive in Windhoek
Welcome to Windhoek! Arrive at the airport, then pick up your rental car along with all your travel documents. You'll wrap up all paperwork by early afternoon, then spend the rest of the day relaxing and settling in.
In the evening, head into town for dinner at one of Windhoek's cozy restaurants.
Day 2: Road Trip from Windhoek to Sossusvlei
After breakfast, hit the road for the six-hour drive to Sossuvlei (226 miles/ 365 km away.) Along the way, you'll pass by grand scenic passes and the infinitely vast Namib Desert, which stretches along the base of a mountain. Stop for lunch at Spreetshoogte Pass before continuing to Sossuvlei.
Sossuvlei is located in Africa's largest conservation area, the Namib-Naukluft National Park. The area is a large salt and clay pan surrounded by towering red dunes that create striking views in the morning and evening. The dunes here are some of the world's highest, reaching nearly 1,312 ft (400 m) and provide photography enthusiasts plenty of opportunities for incredible shots.
Day 3: Road Trip from Sossusvlei to Swakopmund
Wake up in time for one last sunrise at the Sossusvlei dunes, then start the drive to Swakopmund, a five-hour drive (250 miles/ 400 km) to the north. As you drive along the coast, the scenery gradually changes from mountains and dunes to rolling grass-covered hills, dotted with stands of acacia trees.
On the way, watch for the endemic Hartmann's mountain zebra and other Namibian wildlife. Stop in the town of Solitaire (about halfway) for some homemade bread and an ice-cold drink. Another 1.5-hour drive down the road is the scenic Kuiseb Canyon—stop here for a picnic in the shade and to take in the views. Springbok and ostrich roam the vast gravel plains of the Namib, and welwitschia plants cover the arid ground.
After a beautiful drive, arrive in Swakopmund in the early afternoon.
Day 4: Road Trip from Swakopmund to Damaraland
In the morning, drive from Swakopmund to Damaraland, a 5-hour (270 miles/ 430 km) drive to the north. The drive along the Skeleton Coast to Damaraland is full of incredible views, from grassy plains and dry riverbeds to coastal panoramas. The route takes you past Cape Cross, home to the world's largest breeding Cape fur seal colony in the world. The sound of 100,000 seals can be deafening, but the sight of the animals is worth the stop.
Continue to Cape Cross Lodge or a picnic spot for lunch, then keep driving north. Other stops along the way include lichen fields and the salt pans—an excellent birding spot.
Arrive at Damaraland in the afternoon. Here, wind and rain have spent eons carving enormous granite outcrops and dolerite dikes into incredible formations. Endless open skies and geologic formations add to the region's beauty.
Spend your time in Damaraland enjoying game drives on private reserves in search of the famed desert elephants, black rhino, giraffes, Hartman''s Mountain Zebras and other herding animals. Explore the region's geologic formations, including the Twfylefontein Rock Paintings, Vingerklip, the Petrified Forest, and the Organ Pipes. For a view of the area hike up Brandberg Mountain (Damara: Dâures; Otjiherero: Omukuruvaro), Namibia's highest point at 8,442 ft (2,573 m).
Chat with a local specialist who can help organize your trip.
Day 5: Road Trip from Damaraland to Etosha National Park
Head out in the morning for Etosha National Park, located three hours (210 miles/ 340 km) to the north. Drive through scenic Damaraland to reach Etosha's southern gate, reaching the park by early afternoon. Along the way, stop at the small town of Outjo for a coffee break and the Ugab Terrace for photos.
Arrive at Etosha in time for lunch, then spend the rest of the day relaxing and enjoying the scenery. Spend the day exploring the park. Etosha has a plethora of wildlife with an estimated 250 lions, 2,500 giraffes, 6,000 zebras, 20,000 springbok, and 2,000 elephants.
Head out for an evening game drive, then fall asleep to the sounds of the African bush at night.
Day 6: Game Drive in East Etosha National Park
In the morning, continue to the east through Etosha National Park to your next lodge. Stop at water holes along the way to catch sight of wildlife, or head directly to your lodge for a guided afternoon game drive.
This region of Etosha is well-known for its incredible game viewing. The park's watering holes draw an astonishing variety of animals and birds from miles around, as they're the only source of water for the area. Sunrise and sunset game drives are the perfect way to see elusive wildlife like leopards, and if you spend time at the park's 30+ waterholes, you're bound to see something incredible.
At night, listen to the sounds of the nighttime, and catch glimpses of nocturnal animals on nighttime game drives.
Day 7: Road Trip from Etosha to the Caprivi Strip
The full-day (520 miles/ 840 km) drive east to the Zambezi Region requires an early start. The roads there are paved, making for a comfortable and beautiful journey.
Along the way, stop to see Otjikoto and Guinas Lakes, Namibia's only two permanent natural lakes, created by collapsed karst caves. The Hoba Meteorite, weighing more than 60 tons, lies near Grootfontein. It's the largest known meteorite of its kind in the world.
Stop at Roy's Camp for a coffee break before continuing east. Arrive in the late afternoon in time to relax before dinner.
Day 8: Caprivi Strip to Chobe National Park
Today you transfer to Chobe National Park in neighboring Botswana, a 5-hour drive (155 miles/ 250 km) away. Start the day with a drive through the town of Katima, then to Ngoma Bridge, where you enter Botswana and the national park. As you drive, the sub-tropical woodlands give way to lush, riverine floodplains where vast herds of grazing animals gather to drink.
Pass through customs and immigration at Ngoma, then drive through the game park to your safari lodge. Check in, then head out for your first game drive around the park.
Day 9: Chobe to Makgadikgadi Pans
After breakfast, transfer to the Makgadikgadi Pans National Park, a seven-hour (250 miles/ 400 km) drive south of Chobe National Park. Makgadikgadi Pans is a massive salt pan, situated in the dry savannah in the location of what was once Lake Makgadikgadi. It's comprised of many salt pans with sandy desert in between, which together form the great Makgadikgadi Pans area. Of these, the largest individual pan is about 1,900 square miles (4,921.0 square km).
Accommodation in the national park ranges from affordable tent camping to luxury hotels. One excellent option is Planet Baobab, which has been voted as one of the top 10 most extraordinary places to stay in the world by Lonely Planet.
Day 10: Makgadikgadi Pans to Moremi Game Reserve & Okavango Delta
Drive three hours (1320 miles/ 193 km) northwest to Maun, then take a light aircraft flight over the Okavango Delta to your lodge, where you'll stay for the next two nights. Land at camp, then check-in for your fully inclusive stay.
Day 11: Okavango Delta to Windhoek, Departure
Take a short flight back to Maun, then connect with a flight back to Windhoek. From here, catch your flight home.
Map
