The Best of Namibia

After your arrival at Windhoek Airport you pick up your rental car and drive to your booked accommodation. You can spend the rest of the day recovering from the overnight flight at your accommodation. Alternatively, visit some of the city's sights, such as the Tintenpalast, the Christuskirche, the Namibia Craft Centre with local handicrafts, or stroll along Independence Avenue. To round off the day, dinner at one of Windhoek's first-class restaurants is a good idea (at your own expense). You stay at Elegant Guesthouse.

You leave Windhoek and drive south towards Mariental. Your destination is Bagatelle Kalahari Game Ranch, which lies like an oasis on the edge of the southern Kalahari amid red sand dunes. Enjoy the tranquillity of this seemingly endless desert region. In the afternoon an optional guided sunset game drive is possible, on which you can already see your first giraffes, zebras and various antelope. You stay in a Savannah Chalet at Bagatelle Kalahari Game Ranch.

Getting up early is worth it today, because the sunrises over the Kalahari are simply glorious! Make yourself comfortable on a dune and watch as the light of the rising sun makes the surroundings glow in the most beautiful colours. Breakfast then tastes twice as good. You then continue south through Nama country to Keetmanshoop. In the afternoon, go exploring and visit the "Giant’s Playground" with its huge rock formations as well as the Quiver Tree Forest. The warm light of the setting sun gives the trees a golden glow and makes them look especially beautiful – a great photo opportunity. You stay at Quiver Inn Guesthouse in Keetmanshoop.

Via the Naute Dam you reach Fish River Canyon, the second-largest canyon in the world. Set off early and first drive to the viewpoints in Gondwana Canyon Park on the eastern side. From there you can look into the canyon, 160 kilometres long, 27 kilometres wide and up to 550 metres deep, from various perspectives. After this impressive photo stop, you drive back to the main road and on to the western side. Fish River Lodge is your home for the next two nights. It lies right on the canyon rim and offers unique views. From the lodge you can undertake various activities on and in the canyon (optional).

If you like to get up early, do not miss the sunrise over the canyon. From the terrace of your room, with a tea or coffee in hand, you can watch this phenomenal play of colours wonderfully. If you prefer to sleep in, you can still enjoy breakfast with a view over the canyon. You then drive back to the main road and on to the little "nest" of Aus. Use the afternoon to explore the farm on well-marked hiking trails or take a short excursion and, with a little luck, watch the wild horses at Garub (approx. 25 km west of Aus). You stay in a chalet at Desert Horse Inn.

Take a day trip to Kolmanskop and Lüderitz. From 1908 to 1930 Kolmanskop was the home and workplace of many Germans in diamond mining. The "town" in the desert was then gradually abandoned, and since then the desert sand has been reclaiming lost ground. Today Kolmanskop is an extremely interesting "open-air museum". Lüderitz also has a long colonial history, and you can visit the witnesses of this history today (e.g. the Rock Church, Goerke House and the post office). Drive back to Aus and spend another night at Desert Horse Inn.

After breakfast you set off for the picturesque Tirasberg Mountains region. It is recommended to drive along the D707, which many consider the most beautiful route in Namibia. The fascinating desert landscape repeatedly invites photo stops. Finally you reach Greenfire Desert Lodge near NamibRand Nature Reserve, which is surrounded by peace and solitude and invites you to linger. Sit back, let your surroundings sink in and treat yourself to a breather. At sunset you go on a game drive in an open vehicle through the extraordinary dune landscape. After dinner it is worth looking far up into the sparkling starry sky – your guide is happy to share his knowledge of the constellations of the southern sky with you.

In the early morning the rising sun bathes the landscape in a soft, golden light and creates a magical mood at breakfast. Today you drive north into the Naukluft Mountains on the eastern edge of the Namib. The landscape changes dramatically; rugged rocks, deep gorges and mountain peaks up to 2,000 metres high now shape the scenery. Around midday you reach Elegant Desert Camp, a good starting point for exploring the picturesque surroundings of the Tsaris Mountains and the Namib Naukluft Park. On a short hike or an optional game drive in the afternoon, you can marvel at the desert valley in the warm light of the low sun. Dinner and overnight stay at Elegant Desert Camp.

Equipped with a breakfast box, you make your way in the early morning hours to the entrance of the Namib Naukluft Park, which opens right on time for sunrise. Inside the park you can park your vehicle and cover the way to the huge sand dunes of Sossusvlei on foot. Alternatively, you can use a 4×4 transfer. Climb the famous Dune 45 and be enchanted by the sight of this fabulous desert region. Deadvlei, with its white clay pan and dead trees, offers an impressive photo backdrop. You then drive to Sesriem Canyon, through which the Tsauchab River has forged its way over millions of years. At the end the gorge widens into a broad valley that leads ever deeper into the sea of sand. During the dry season the canyon can also be explored on foot. In the late afternoon you leave the park and drive back to your accommodation. Alternatively, you can book a guided day trip with an expert guide in advance (optional). Overnight stay at Elegant Desert Camp.

Today's drive takes you to the coast at Swakopmund, where you spend the next two nights on the Atlantic. Stroll through the town and enjoy the fresh sea air. The adventurous can explore the surroundings by sandboarding, quad biking, horse riding and much more, or get to know the "Little Five" on an exciting desert safari. A several-hour excursion to the seal colony at Cape Cross, boat tours and scenic flights are also possible. You stay at Cornerstone Guesthouse. In Swakopmund you will find a large choice of restaurants.

You leave the Atlantic coast and drive inland via Henties Bay. You pass the Brandberg, at about 2,580 metres Namibia's highest mountain massif, and continue into Damaraland. Your home for the coming night is Malansrus Tented Camp, picturesquely situated on a side arm of the Aba Huab. Arrive at your leisure and treat yourself to a short breather before visiting Twyfelfontein, Namibia's only UNESCO World Heritage cultural site, in the afternoon (optional). The numerous rock engravings, whose age is estimated at 2,000 years and older, are particularly impressive and will leave you amazed. Back at camp you can round off the day in a cosy atmosphere and enjoy the glorious nature.

Today is set aside for exploring some other sights in the area. You can visit the Organ Pipes, the Burnt Mountain and the Damara Living Museum, where you gain an insight into traditional Damara culture and its ancient traditions. Alternatively, you can book a guided half-day excursion into the hinterland of Twyfelfontein to look out for the desert-adapted elephants.
In the afternoon you then continue into the valley of the Ugab Terraces to Vingerklip Lodge. Explore the fascinating landscape on signposted hiking trails and visit Vingerklip, a remarkable rock formation resembling a finger, in the immediate vicinity.

Today you drive through Anderson Gate into Etosha National Park. Etosha National Park was founded in 1907 and is one of the most attractive National Parks in Southern Africa. In the afternoon and the next day you go on game drives in the central part of the National Park. Elephants, rhinos, giraffes, various antelope species and, with a little luck, lions and leopards come to the waterholes to drink and can be observed there. Shortly before sunset you leave the park and drive to Etosha Safari Lodge, just a few minutes from the park entrance. Here you enjoy your dinner and spend two nights in one of the chalets.

After sunrise and a hearty breakfast, you set off on a game drive again. Every day in the National Park is a new experience, so look forward to exciting encounters with the wildlife! Today you drive directly along the huge Etosha Pan towards the east. On the way you often come across herds of zebras, wildebeest, oryx and springbok peacefully roaming the wide landscape. Also stop repeatedly at the waterholes along the way. In the evening you leave the park through the Von Lindequist Gate with, hopefully, many wonderful safari impressions and drive to the lovely Mushara Lodge for the night. From the lodge you can explore the eastern part of Etosha National Park wonderfully the next day.

After breakfast you set off south. On the way to Tsumeb lies Lake Otjikoto, an inland lake surrounded by many legends. The Hoba Meteorite near Grootfontein is also interesting for a stop. The journey continues to the Waterberg Plateau. This gigantic table mountain with its steep red cliffs can be seen from far away. In the afternoon or the next morning you can explore the beautiful surroundings on foot on various hiking trails. We recommend a hike up the Klein Waterberg; the view across to the Great Waterberg is fantastic! You stay in a bush bungalow at Waterberg Guest Farm.

Drive back towards Windhoek. Stop at the large souvenir market in Okahandja to buy lovely hand-carved art, basketwork or jewellery. Then continue to Windhoek. Return your rental car at the airport and begin your journey home.