10 days - Windhoek, the Kalahari, Sossusvlei and Etosha
Ten days from Windhoek into the Kalahari and on to the Sossusvlei dunes, then west to the Atlantic coast at Swakopmund and north to Etosha National Park, returning to Windhoek.
The journey
Dry, clear days with cool mornings, good for sunrise on the dunes. Animals begin to concentrate at Etosha’s waterholes.
Windhoek, the Kalahari, Sossusvlei, Swakopmund and Etosha, with the drive back to Windhoek.
Upon arrival in Windhoek, your guide will transfer you to the city for an orientation tour. Windhoek is a clean, safe, and well-organised capital, blending historical architecture with modern buildings, like the Alte Feste, Christuskirche, and the Supreme Court. After the tour, head to The Elegant Guesthouse for your overnight stay.
Windhoek is a vibrant, multicultural city with a mix of European-style architecture and African culture. The city, home to 350,000 people, was founded near natural springs.
For dinner, you can choose from several nearby options, including the popular Joe’s Beerhouse or restaurants at Am Weinberg offering seafood or meat dishes.
You will journey into the Kalahari Desert, the largest sand mass on Earth. This vast semi-desert, covered in wind-blown sand and sparse thorn scrub, stretches across nine African countries. Unlike other deserts, the Kalahari receives erratic rainfall, earning it the nickname "thirstland." While it lacks permanent surface water, the desert is home to wildlife that has adapted to survive here. The Bushmen call it the "Soul of the World." Despite its harsh environment, the Kalahari boasts red sand dunes, grass plains, acacia, and shrubs, supporting a surprising amount of wildlife. After settling in, you’ll join an afternoon nature drive to learn more about the area and its unique fauna.
Today, you’ll head south towards the towering red dunes of the Namib and Sossusvlei. After settling in, you’ll have time to freshen up before joining an afternoon nature drive with your ranger, who will share insights about the area and its unique wildlife. No visit is complete without a sundowner to enjoy the sunset. As the stars emerge over the world’s oldest desert, you’ll experience true silence. Back at the lodge, a delicious dinner awaits, followed by a drink at the "One Night in Namibia" bar, creating lasting memories. Before bed, take a moment to gaze at the stars and spot the Southern Cross, glowing so brightly you can almost touch it.
Start your day early for a visit to Sossusvlei, timed to catch the sunrise when the dunes’ colours dramatically change. The 60km drive to the heart of Sossusvlei takes you past Dune 45, one of the largest dunes. Explore the stunning Deadvlei and climb these towering dunes, some of the tallest in the world. The contrast between the warm red sand and the white clay pans creates a captivating scene that changes with the light, from apricot to deep red. Afterwards, visit Sesriem Canyon before returning to the lodge to relax by the pool or enjoy other activities.
After breakfast, continue to Swakopmund, Namibia’s premier coastal town. On the way, stop at Solitaire for a coffee and a slice of its famous apple pie.
A detour to Walvis Bay takes you to its shallow lagoon, a Ramsar wetland that is home to a large share of the flamingos in southern Africa. Then continue to Swakopmund, a desert town with palm-lined streets and a seaside promenade.
Dinner is included this evening.
A day at your own pace in Swakopmund. The town is known for quad biking, sandboarding and desert tours, and it is also a good place for a mid-afternoon Kaffee und Kuchen.
Your guide will suggest options for dinner this evening.
This morning, head north along the coast to Henties Bay, a fishing village that sees a sharp rise in visitors during summer. Off the cold Atlantic coast lies the wreck of the Zeila, visible from the shore.
Continue inland past Damaraland to Etosha National Park, where you check in and enjoy your first game drive, visiting waterholes to look for elephants, lions, rhinos and other wildlife.
Today is a full-day game drive through Etosha, exploring its waterholes and vast salt pans. The park is home to 114 mammal species, including the black-faced impala and endangered rhinos.
After heavy rains the Etosha Pan fills with water, drawing thousands of flamingos.
Today, travel to your final night in Namibia, stopping at the Wood Carvers Market in Okahandja. Here, local artisans display their crafts and artifacts for purchase. Look out for Herero women in their colourful, traditional dresses and headgear, inspired by German colonial fashion and said to mimic cattle horns. Continue on to your lodge for the evening.
The time has come to say goodbye to Namibia. Your guide drives you back to Hosea Kutako International Airport in Windhoek and goes in with you to help with check-in.
The detail
Ten days through Namibia’s desert, coast and wildlife, starting and ending in Windhoek. After an orientation tour of the capital you head into the Kalahari, then west to the red dunes of Sossusvlei for a sunrise climb at Dune 45 and a walk across the clay pan at Deadvlei.
The road continues to Swakopmund on the Atlantic coast, where quad biking and sandboarding sit beside a seaside promenade, and on to Etosha National Park for two days at the waterholes. On the way back you stop at the Wood Carvers Market in Okahandja before a last night near Windhoek.
Good to know
Photographs from the route, not stock library scenery.
Work down the list. Each step depends on the one above it.
The practical detail that decides whether a trip runs smoothly.
You leave early on day 4 to reach Sossusvlei at sunrise, when the dunes change colour. Climbing Dune 45 is steep and sandy, so wear closed shoes and bring water and a scarf against the wind.
Days 2, 3, 5, 7 and 9 include substantial drives across open country. Your guide stops at places such as Solitaire and the lagoon at Walvis Bay to break the journey.
Desert mornings and nights can be cold from May to September, while summer days are very hot. Layers, a hat and sunscreen cover both.
Quad biking, sandboarding and desert tours are available in Swakopmund on day 6. Tell us beforehand which you would like and we will arrange them.
The currency is the Namibian dollar. Visa and Mastercard are widely accepted, but ATMs can be hard to find outside the towns, so carry some cash.
Your guide and the lodge teams are customarily thanked with a tip. Your final documents include a guide to amounts.
Plan this journey
Every journey is planned around your dates and your party. Tell us who is travelling and when, and a specialist will come back with a tailored itinerary and a quote. Payment is by invoice.
