Namibia Desert Exploration

On arrival at Windhoek International Airport, you are met by your personal guide for the next seven days. We welcome you, assist with your luggage and drive you to your accommodation on the outskirts of the city for check in. We then set out for a relaxed introduction to the capital – taking in landmarks such as the Tintenpalast, the Christuskirche and the Alte Feste, whose white walls now house a museum. Along Independence Avenue – formerly Kaiserstrasse – you will see historic façades alongside modern buildings.Windhoek sits at 1,650 metres above sea level and is home to around 450,000 people, making it the country’s largest city. Many residents live in Katutura, an Oshiwambo name meaning the place where we do not want to stay. Overnight in Windhoek.

After a leisurely breakfast, we begin the first leg of the journey into Namibia’s deserts, travelling south via Rehoboth and Kalkrand into the red dune landscapes of the Kalahari Desert in the Mariental region. On arrival, you can choose to join an optional sundowner game drive before dinner – at your own expense. Overnight in the Kalahari Desert.

After breakfast we continue south into the vast, contrasting landscapes of the Namib Desert. Travelling via Mariental, Maltahöhe and Sesriem, we reach our accommodation in the Namib Naukluft Park region in the early afternoon. In the evening we round off the day with sundowners as the desert sunset unfolds. Overnight in the Namib Desert.

We rise before dawn for coffee or tea, then set off into the sand sea of Sossusvlei to experience the morning light over the dunes. We explore this remarkable landscape of towering sand ridges – some reaching up to 300 metres – that encircle a vast, dry pan. You can choose to climb one of the high dunes for sweeping views, with colours shifting from pale apricot to rich reds and oranges.In good rainy seasons, the Tsauchab River reaches the pan, creating a haven for water birds. Even in the dry months, oryx, springbok and ostrich are often seen along the watercourse.We also visit Sesriem Canyon at the entrance to Sossusvlei – a narrow, 1 km-long gorge that drops 30–40 metres to rock pools replenished after decent rains. The name Sesriem recalls early pioneers who tied together six lengths of rawhide to draw water here. We return to the lodge in the early afternoon, and the rest of the day is at leisure. Overnight in the Namib Desert.

After a leisurely breakfast, we continue west through the Namib Naukluft Park towards the coast, travelling via Solitaire and Walvis Bay. At Solitaire – a tiny desert outpost with a petrol station, post office, general store and a small restaurant–bar renowned for its apple pie – we pause to break the journey. We then reach Walvis Bay, Namibia’s major harbour, where the lagoon often hosts some 80,000 wading birds – including flamingos and white pelicans. Once an enclave of South Africa, Walvis Bay and its offshore islands were incorporated into Namibia in 1994. We follow the coastal road between the Namib’s towering dunes and the Benguela Current to arrive in Swakopmund in the afternoon. On arrival, you can join an optional city tour or explore the town on foot at your leisure – activities at own expense. Overnight in Swakopmund.

You have a full day at leisure in Swakopmund. You can choose from optional activities – a boat cruise on Walvis Bay lagoon with oysters and sparkling wine served on board, the renowned Living Desert tour, or a quad biking excursion into the dunes. Dinner is at your own expense and can be enjoyed at one of Swakopmund’s popular restaurants.Swakopmund is a favourite coastal escape for Namibians and is appreciated by visitors for its old world charm and relaxed atmosphere. Founded in 1892 during German colonial rule, it served for many years as the territory’s main harbour. Its distinct architectural heritage endures – the Woermannhaus now houses an art gallery and the Woermann Tower once watched for ships entering the harbour. Other notable buildings include Die Alte Kaserne, the Hohenzollern Haus and the Railway Station.Overnight in Swakopmund.

After breakfast we depart Swakopmund for Windhoek, travelling via Usakos, Karibib and Okahandja – directly north of the capital and of great significance to the Herero as the former seat of Chief Samuel Maharero. Each August thousands of Herero gather here to pay homage at the graves of their chiefs, and the town is also a key centre for woodcarvers from the north, with a Wood Carvers Market well known to visitors. We continue to Hosea Kutako International Airport, arrive to check in and you bid your guide farewell before your scheduled flight.