9 Day Canyons, Dunes & Wildlife Camping and Lodge Safari
This 9 day tour is the perfect overview of Namibia’s highlights. Enjoy incredible wildlife sightings in Etosha National Park before immersing ourselves into the rich culture of the Himba tribe and spending time on Namibia’s Skeleton Coast with a 1 nights stay in Swakopmund, Namibia’s adventure capital. Here we can enjoy any number of adrenaline-inducing optional activities before starting our journey south. From Swakopmunnd, we cross the Tropic of Capricorn, and then spend 2 nights in the Namib Desert, exploring Sossusvlei, Deadvlei and climbing Dune 45. We then continue to Namibia's deep south with visits to the ghost town of Kolmansop and Luderitz as well as the impressive Fish River Canyon and Quiver Tree Forest. This tour is a combination of camping and lodging, and the ultimate Namibian adventure for those looking for a combination of an affordable and comfortable safari!
ItineraryDay 1: Etosha National ParkStop At: Chameleon Backpackers, Voight Street, Windhoek, Namibia
We meet all together for brief pre-departure talk at Chameleon Backpackers before departing Windhoek.
Duration: 45 minutes
Stop At: Otjiwarongo, Otjiwarongo, Otjozondjupa Region
After 3hours on the road, we take a short break in Otjiwarongo where we can collect some last minute supplies, drinks and snacks.
Duration: 30 minutes
Stop At: Etosha National Park, Etosha National Park, Oshikoto Region
Arriving at Andresson Gate around 2pm, spend the rest of the afternoon game driving through to our accommodation at Halali.
Accommodation at Halali is in twin share rooms, and we highly recommend spending time at the floodlit waterhole before and after dinner.
Duration: 12 hours
Meals included:
• Lunch: Cold meats and fresh salads with bread rolls or soup and bread in winter.
• Dinner: A different dish each night – curries, pasta, braai (BBQ), stirfries etc
Accommodation included: Overnight in twin share rooms with en-suite bathrooms at Halali RestCamp.
Day 2: Etosha National ParkStop At: Etosha Pan, Etosha National Park Namibia
After breakfast we pack our bags and head off on a morning game drives out into the park searching for predators. By mid morning our game drive takes us through to the Etosha Pan where we can see where the park gets it's name.
Duration: 5 hours
Stop At: Etosha Village, On C38 - 2km from Okaukuejo Gate, Okaukuejo, Namibia
After a picnic lunch in the park, we continue on our final game drive, heading back towards Okaukuejo, and exit the park just before sunset, driving through to our lodge for the evening, Etosha Village.
Duration: 14 hours
Meals included:
• Breakfast: Variety of cereals, yoghurt, fruit, cooked breakfast, toast, juice, tea/coffee
• Lunch: Cold meats and fresh salads with bread rolls or soup and bread in winter.
• Dinner: A delicious buffet dinner offering a selection of meats, stirfries, salads, soups and desserts.
Accommodation included: Overnight in twin share rooms with en-suite bathroom at Etosha Village.
Day 3: Himba visit & SwakopmundStop At: Damaraland, Damaraland
Today is a long day in the vehicle travelling through rural Namibia. Our journey takes us through Damaraland where we have the chance to meet the Damara people where we can support them at their small pop up shop, as well as get to know them in their local environment.
Duration: 1 hour
Stop At: Uis, Uis, Erongo Region
Just before we reach Uis, we stop at a small Himba settlement. Here we can enjoy a short tour through their village and get to know a little more about what makes the Himba people so unique.
On arrival in Uis we make a short stop to resupply cold drinks and have a quick bathroom break before continuing our journey across the desert.
Duration: 30 minutes
Stop At: Zeila Shipwreck, Hentiesbaai Namibia
We then make our way across the plains of the Namib Desert, through the the coast where we make a stop at the Zeila Shipwreck.
Duration: 30 minutes
Stop At: A La Mer Hotel, Albertina Amathila Ave, Swakopmund, Namibia
We arrive in Swakopmund late afternoon where we will check into our accommodation at Hotel A La Mer, located just across the road from the beach as well as some of Swakopmund's top restaurants.
Dinner tonight is at own expense.
Duration: 16 hours
Meals included:
• Breakfast: A buffet breakfast of cereals, yoghurt, fruit, muffins, cooked breakfast, toast, juice, tea/coffee.
• Lunch: Cold meats and fresh salads with bread rolls or soup and bread in winter.
Accommodation included: Overnight in twin share rooms with en-suite bathroom at Hotel A La Mer.
Day 4: Namib DesertStop At: Swakopmund, Swakopmund, Erongo Region
Today we leave Swakopmund at 11h30 so we have the option to enjoy a rare sleep in and a leisurely breakfast or the chance to join one of the many optional activities. For the adrenaline junkies this could be flying down a sand dune head first at 60km/h on a sandboard or exploring the dune field on a quad biking tour.
Duration: 4 hours
Stop At: Solitaire, Solitaire, Khomas Region
We depart Swakopmund no later than 11h30 and drive through the Namib Desert via the Kuiseb Pass, crossing the Tropic of Capricorn, stopping briefly in Solitaire where we can stop for a snack and leg stretch.
Duration: 30 minutes
Stop At: Sesriem, Sesriem, Hardap Region
We arrive at our camp late afternoon where we can set up our tents, and enjoy the sunset over the Namib Desert. Pool and bar available, and dinner is prepared by our guide. An early night is recommended.
Duration: 14 hours
Meals included:
• Breakfast: Variety of cereals, yoghurt, fruit, cooked breakfast, toast, juice, tea/coffee
• Lunch: Cold meats and fresh salads with bread rolls or soup and bread in winter.
• Dinner: A different dish each night – curries, pasta, braai (BBQ), stirfries etc
Accommodation included: Overnight camping at Sesriem campsite in the Namib Desert
Day 5: Sossusvlei in the Namib DesertStop At: Dune 45, 45 kilometers From the Park Entrance Gate, Sossusvlei, Namib-Naukluft Park Namibia
A pre-dawn departure from camp this morning means we can enjoy the dunes at first light. We drive down an ancient river bed, surrounded by towering dunes and our first stop is at the famous Dune 45 where we have the chance to climb to the top to enjoy the sunrise. On descent we replenish our energy and enjoy breakfast.
Duration: 2 hours
Stop At: Sossusvlei, Sossusvlei, Namib-Naukluft Park
We continue on into Sossusvlei area. We explore this unique are on foot.
Duration: 1 hour
Stop At: Deadvlei, Sossusvlei, Namib-Naukluft Park Namibia
We then head into Dead Vlei with its large expanse of bleached cracked clay and skeletal camel thorn trees, contrasting with a backdrop of huge dunes with their ever changing colours.
Duration: 2 hours
Stop At: Sesriem, Sesriem, Hardap Region
We return to Sesriem around lunch time for lunch and a swim or siesta during the heat of the day.
Duration: 2 hours
Stop At: Sesriem Canyon, 4.5km from the entrance gate of the Namib-Naukluft National Park, Sesriem 6900 Namibia
Later that afternoon we visit the Sesriem Canyon, a must see when in the area.
Duration: 1 hour
Meals included:
• Breakfast: 3 varieties of cereal, yoghurt or bananas, toast with a choice of 3 toppings, tea/coffee
• Lunch: Cold meats and fresh salads with bread rolls or soup and bread in winter.
• Dinner: A different dish each night – curries, pasta, braai (BBQ), stirfries etc
Accommodation included: Overnight camping at Sesriem campsite in the Namib Desert.
Day 6: Klein Aus Vista, Namib DesertStop At: Sesriem, Sesriem, Hardap Region
We enjoy a leisurely breakfast this morning and pack up camp, aiming to depart no later than 09h00.
Duration: 1 hour
Stop At: Klein-Aus Vista Desert Horse Campsite, On the B4 main road to Luederitz, Aus, Namibia
Today we head south through Namibia’s Namib Rand Nature Reserve, home to some of the most spectacular desert landscapes in Southern Namibia. Our destination today is the small outpost of Klein Aus, nestled in the Gondwana Sperrgebiet Rand Park. We arrive at camp late afternoon and we can set up our tents and then have the afternoon at leisure to enjoy one of the many short hiking trails. We enjoy a beautiful sunset and dinner prepared by our guide over an open-fire.
Duration: 12 hours
Meals included:
• Breakfast: 3 varieties of cereal, yoghurt or bananas, toast with a choice of 3 toppings, tea/coffee
• Lunch: Cold meats and fresh salads with bread rolls or soup and bread in winter.
• Dinner: A different dish each night – curries, pasta, braai (BBQ), stirfries etc
Accommodation included: Overnight camping at Klein Aus Vista campsite
Day 7: Kolmanskop & LuderitzStop At: Kolmanskop Ghost Town, Luderitz Namibia
After an early breakfast we make our way from Klein Aus to the ghost town, also known as Kolmanskop, situated 15km outside of Luderitz. During a diamond boom in 1910 Kolmanskop quickly became one of the richest towns in Africa boasting the southern hemisphere’s first X-ray machine, a bowling alley and luxury housing. As the diamond boom came to an end and the town’s inhabitants abandoned the area, Kolmanskop became a ghost town.
Duration: 3 hours
Stop At: Luderitz, Luderitz, Karas Region
After our tour of the ghost town, we continue our adventure to the small town of Luderitz, situated on the rocky shores of the Atlantic Ocean and is well known for its unique and colourful colonial-style buildings.
Duration: 1 hour
Stop At: Diaz Point, A sud di Luderitz, Luderitz Namibia
We stop at Diaz Point, the famous site of the Original Diaz Cross.
Duration: 30 minutes
Stop At: Wild Horses of Aus, 4 National Rd B, Aus Namibia
On return to Aus, we keep our eyes peeled for the wild horses of the Namib Desert that roam between Luderitz & Klein Aus. While the details of how these horses came to live in the desert are still a mystery, the mere fact that they have survived in the harshest of conditions is impressive, and any sighting of them is one to celebrate.
Duration: 30 minutes
Stop At: Klein-Aus Vista Desert Horse Campsite, On the B4 main road to Luederitz, Aus, Namibia
We arrive back at camp late mid-afternoon and can relax for the afternoon before enjoying another incredible sunset over the Aus Mountains. Dinner tonight is prepared by our guide.
Duration: 12 hours
Meals included:
• Breakfast: 3 varieties of cereal, yoghurt or bananas, toast with a choice of 3 toppings, tea/coffee.
• Lunch: Cold meats and fresh salads with bread rolls or soup and bread in winter.
• Dinner: A different dish each night – curries, pasta, braai (BBQ), stirfries etc
Accommodation included: Overnight camping at Klein Aus Vista campsite.
Day 8: Fish River Canyon & Quiver Tree ForestStop At: Fish-River-Canyon Lookout, Namibia
We enjoy an another early start this morning as we pack up camp and head east. Our first official stop is at the well-known Hell`s Bend viewpoint of the Fish River Canyon. Here we have the opportunity to overlook the second largest canyon in the world. The Fish River Canyon was formed millions of years ago by water erosion and the collapse of the valley due to movements in the earth’s crust.
Duration: 1 hour
Stop At: Quivertree Forest and Giant's Playground, Keetmanshoop Namibia
After lunch we continue our adventure heading to our last destination; The Quiver Tree Forest. It is located just north-east of Keetmanshoop and here approximately 250 quiver trees can be found. The forest grew spontaneously and the oldest trees are estimated to be around 200-300 years old. The quiver tree (kokerboom in Afrikaans) is also Namibia’s national tree, and the forest was declared a national monument in 1995. The last night on our adventure is spent camping under the stars with meals prepared by our guide. This is an excellent location for photographing the stars should you be an avid photographer (permits not included for night photography).
Duration: 12 hours
Meals included:
• Breakfast: 3 varieties of cereal, yoghurt or bananas, toast with a choice of 3 toppings, tea/coffee
• Lunch: Cold meats and fresh salads with bread rolls or soup and bread in winter.
• Dinner: A different dish each night – curries, pasta, braai (BBQ), stirfries etc
Accommodation included: Overnight camping at Quiver Tree Forest campsite
Day 9: WindhoekStop At: Quivertree Forest and Giant's Playground, Keetmanshoop Namibia
After lie in and a leisurely breakfast we start the day with a visit the Giants Playground, a geological phenomenon of dolerite rocks that appear to have been stacked by giants.
Duration: 1 hour
Stop At: Windhoek, Windhoek, Khomas Region
From here, we begin our journey back to Windhoek travelling the small towns of Mariental and Rehoboth before arriving in Windhoek late afternoon where we will be dropped off at our accommodation. No flights recommended on this day.
Duration: 30 minutes
Meals included:
• Breakfast: 3 varieties of cereal, yoghurt or bananas, toast with a choice of 3 toppings, tea/coffee
• Lunch: Cold meats and fresh salads with bread rolls or soup and bread in winter
No accommodation included on this day.
Informacion Adicional
"Not wheelchair accessible"
"Near public transportation"
"Not recommended for travelers with back problems"
"Not recommended for pregnant travelers"
"No heart problems or other serious medical conditions"
"Travelers should have a moderate physical fitness level"
"Hand sanitizer available to travelers and staff"
"Regularly sanitized high-traffic areas"
"Gear/equipment sanitized between use"
"Transportation vehicles regularly sanitized"
"Guides required to regularly wash hands"
"Paid stay-at-home policy for staff with symptoms"
"This tour/activity will have a maximum of 10 travelers"
"Confirmation will be received at time of booking"
Hora de Inicio:
07:00 AM
Duración: 9 Days
Lugar de comienzo: Chameleon Safaris, Ferry Street, Windhoek, Namibia
Traveler pickup is offered
Cancelaciones y devoluciones:
All sales are final and incur 100% cancellation penalties.