Highlights of Namibia

Welcome to Namibia. On arrival at Windhoek's international airport, you will be met and transferred to your selected accommodation for an overnight stay. The balance of the day is free to relax Namibia's capital, and the evening is at leisure.

This morning we depart Windhoek, and drive south to the edge of the Namib Desert where you will see some of the highest sand dunes found anywhere on Earth. Arriving early this afternoon, check in at the Elegant Desert Lodge for a 2-night stay. Spend the balance of the day relaxing by the pool or take part in an optional activity such as a guided walk or scenic drive to watch the sun set dramatically over the desert.

Set off before dawn to get to the Namib Naukluft National Park as the sun rises and where you will see it paint the landscape in awesome colours. Marvel at the towering dunes of Deadvlei and Sossusvlei where you'll have the opportunity to scale their heights. Afterwards, visit the spectacular Sesriem Canyon, carved out of limestone by the Tsauchab River nearly 4 million years ago. Return to overnight at the lodge and an evening at leisure.

After breakfast we stop at the tiny settlement of Solitaire for a coffee before travelling via the rolling hills of the Kuiseb Valley towards the Atlantic Ocean. At Walvis Bay visit its lagoon, one of the most important wetland areas in Africa, to see huge flocks of flamingos. Continuing north along the scenic route between the dunes and the sea, we reach Swakopmund, and check in for 2 nights at the Hansa Hotel with the remainder of the day free to explore this seaside town.

Today is a full day at leisure in Swakopmund, often called the “playground of Namibia”. There are many optional activities to choose from, such as visiting a seal colony on the Skeleton Coast or taking a scenic flight. For the adventurous, go quad biking, skydiving or sand boarding, or just hang out and enjoy the town's quaint and vibrant, bohemian lifestyle with its historic buildings, museums, shopping arcades and beach bars. The evening is at leisure and overnight is at your hotel.

Today continue north into Damaraland. This sparsely populated and rocky area is home to the elusive desert elephant, the rare black rhino and other antelope. Then with a local guide visit a UNESCO heritage site where 6000 years ago, Bushman created thousands of rock art and engravings. After visiting the Living Museum of the Damara we stop at the Petrified Forest and also see the Welwitschia Mirabilis – the world's oldest living desert plant. Arrive to overnight at the Damara Mopane Lodge.

After breakfast, we continue towards Etosha National Park, famous for its vast amount of wildlife. Once checked in for an overnight at Etosha Safari Camp, located close to the Park's entrance, we head off on our first safari. Our guide will take us to see various waterholes located near Etosha Pan which is one of the world's largest salt pans. Return to the camp for an evening at leisure. Optional and time permitting, open vehicle game drives can be booked with the camp.

Spend all day game viewing as we drive cross the full width of Etosha. Home to 4 of the Big Five - elephant, lion, leopard and rhino, most game viewing takes place around the Park's waterholes where you can see up to 114 different species of animals and hundreds of different types of birds. The many roads allows for encounters with lots of game. Later arrive at Mokuti Etosha Lodge on the West side of the park for a 2-night stay. The evening is at leisure.

Today your guide takes you on another game drive in Etosha, or optionally, you can book an open vehicle game drive with the lodge. We may encounter animal species not seen the previous day, especially some of the endangered ones such as Black rhino, cheetah and the black-faced impala. There are also giraffe, blue wildebeest, plains and mountain zebra, hyena, plus antelopes like kudu, oryx and eland. In the afternoon return to the lodge for an evening at leisure.

After breakfast we travel through the centre of Namibia's bushland and savannah to Windhoek. Time permitting there may be a stop at a wood carvers market en route or the craft market in Windhoek for last-minute souvenirs shopping. Then you will be dropped off at the airport for your evening homebound flight.