Namibian Explorer  

  Duration12 Days

Day 1 – Windhoek to Keetmanshoop

Welcome to Namibia and its capital, Windhoek.  This morning, after meeting your crew, we pack our bags into our vehicle and head south through the Kalahari Desert towards the town of Keetmanshoop into the llKaras Region of Namibia. We spend the afternoon in awe of the famous Quiver Tree Forest and enjoy the desert sunset amongst these incredibly unique trees.

Day 2 – Keetmanshoop to Ais-Ais

Our morning will be spent meandering The Giants Playground – named for the way in which the massive dolerite boulders have been placed on each other – creating rock formations and a series of mazes.

Day 3 – Ais-Ais to Luderitz

We rise early this morning and drive to the rim of the Fish River Canyon.  We will have time to watch the morning sunrays filter through the canyon.  After stretching our legs with a gentle walk along the rim of the canyon, we turn west for the harbour town of Luderitz.

Day 4 – Luderitz to Sesriem

Every overland journey has some long travelling days and today is one of those as we venture deeper into the Namib Desert. Our destination is the dune fields that cover the western reaches of the desert. But before we leave the coast, we visit the fabled ghost town of Kolmanskop where the desert has reclaimed the old abandoned mining town, leaving a unique frame of colourful buildings buried in desert sands.  We carry on our adventure along long dusty roads and sparsely populated farmlands offer us an insight into the vastness of rural Namibia. From the grasslands in the east to the red dunes of the west the slowly changing landscapes represents the many faces of this desert country. Our overnight stop is on the doorstep of the dune fields and we fall asleep to the unique calls of the elusive Barking Gecko.

 Day 5 – Sossusvlei

Today we will rise early for our drive to the Namib-Naukluft National Park.  We will enter the park just after sunrise and travel through to the famous Dune 45. A brisk climb up Dune 45 offers us the perfect vantage point to marvel at the changing colours of the desert. Once satisfied we descend this famous dune and enjoy a hearty breakfast before catching a 4×4 transfer into Sossusvlei, here we will spend time on foot visiting the pans at Sossusvlei and Deadvlei. Tonight we empty the red sand from our shoes and spend the night under the magnificent desert stars, knowing that we have spent a full-day enjoying the wonders of this harsh land.

Day 6 – Sesriem to Swakopmund

We leave the Namib behind and after a stop to mark our crossing of the Tropic of Capricorn, we continue to the Atlantic coastline. Before reaching the coastal town of Swakopmund, we drive through the Lunar Landscape, so named for its resemblance to the surface of the moon.  We will stop at several viewpoints overlooking the landscape – a great opportunity for the photography enthusiasts to capture this wonderfully unique scenery.  A visit to Namibia is not complete without a stop to view the iconic Welwitchia plant, endemic to Namibia and said to live up to 2,000 years.  Tonight we spend the evening in Swakopmund and enjoy a meal out together in a local restaurant..

Day 7 – Swakopmund to Skeleton Coast

Our exploration of the desert continues with a trip up the fabled Skeleton Coast National Park, where the hot desert sands meet the cold waves of the Atlantic Ocean. We visit the renowned Seal Colony at Cape Cross, known as the largest in the world with over 200,000 Cape Fur Seals hugging the shore. Cape Cross marks the spot where the first European explorer set foot on the coast of Namibia in 1486, and was erected in honour of the then king of Portugal by explorer Diego Cao. Tonight we overnight in the Skeleton Coast National Park. Please note that the Cape Cross Colony may be inaccessible at times which means that we will not be able to visit the seals.

 Day 8 – Skeleton Coast to Khorixas

The road today leads way from the coast and takes us towards the Khorixas area.  Today we will explore the Twyfelfontein Rock Engravings and the Petrified Forest in the Kunene Region. This area has been inhabited for 6000 years by the Khoi San.  These inhabitants used the site to conduct shamanist rituals.  In the process, 2500 rock paintings were created.  This site displays one of the largest concentrations of rock petroglyphs in Africa.  Also on route, we visit the Petrified Forest, a national monument, comprising of prehistoric tree trunks now fossilised. In prehistoric times huge tree trunks were washed down a river and deposited in alluvial sands, creating this relic.

Day 9 – Khorixas to Etosha National Park

After breakfast, we leave Khorixas for Etosha National Park. With vast salt pans, savanna and woodland, Etosha is one of Africa’s finest game parks. At 18 000 sq km, it is one of the biggest Parks in Southern Africa. Etosha means “great white area”, which refers to the large dried pan in the middle of the Park. We will spend the afternoon exploring the park in the Nomad Truck.

Day 10 – Etosha National Park

Today is all about game driving and going in search of the abundant wildlife in the park.  Our afternoon will include a stop at the Etosha Pan and many waterholes.  This evening you can relax at the floodlit waterhole as the animals make their way to drink after dark.

Day 11 – Etosha to Waterberg Plateau National park

We depart Etosha and set off for The Waterberg Plateau National Park. The Waterberg Plateau is an impressive sandstone table-top mountain that rises 200m above the surrounding bushveld providing a home to more than 25 species of game and at least 200 bird species. In the afternoon, our guide will lead us on a hike to explore the plateau and surroundings.

Day 12 – Windhoek

Today our tour comes to an end. After breakfast we head back to Windhoek where upon arrival we will take a short walk through the city centre and have the opportunity to view some of its better known landmarks.  Our tour concludes after the city tour and those staying the night in Windhoek have the option of experiencing the legendary Joe’s Beerhouse.