15-Day Namibia Classic – Namibia Highlights (lodges)

This Tour can be guided or self -drive This is a very popular itinerary as it includes most of the highlights of Namibia from the living desert, the Namib, to the Skeleton Coast, traditional Himba tribes and numerous game species of the Etosha National Park.

DAY 1: Windhoek Head south from Windhoek through desert shrub savannah to the edge of the Khomashochland plateau and a guest farm situated between beautiful granite hills. If time permits, a short hike in the afternoon is planned. Namibgrens Guest Farm or similar (dinner).

DAYS 2 & 3: Namib Desert/Sossusvlei After breakfast travel on via the beautiful Spreetshoogte Pass to the Naukluft Mountains for an afternoon hike in this beautiful area. A full day is set aside in this area with an excursion to Sossusvlei to visit this beautiful dunes landscape. Interests include Dead Pan, Dune 45 and Sesriem Gorge, as well as dune climbing and photography. Desert Homestead or similar (breakfast & dinner)

DAYS 4 & 5: Swakopmund/Kuiseb Canyon/Walvis Bay Travel west through desert gravel plains, via the stunning Kuiseb Canyon and Moonlandscape to Swakopmund situated on the Skeleton Coast. Time is available for a morning visit to Walvis Bay, home to a wide variety of bird species such as flamingo, pelican and numerous waders. Optional extra activities whilst at Swakopmund include scenic flights, dolphin cruise, dune boarding, 4X4 quad biking and lots more. Europahof or Rapmund Hotel or similar (breakfast)

DAY 6: Twyfelfontein/Cape Cross Travel north along the Skeleton Coast to the Cape Cross where a breeding colony of Cape Fur seals (80000-100000) can be seen. From here, along gravel roads through open plains changing to granite hill formations to Camp X’Aragu Tented Lodge in Damaraland (breakfast & dinner).

DAYS 7 & 8: Palmwag/desert adapted elephants Morning visit to the Twyfelfontein rock engravings and bushman paintings before heading north-west via the “back-route” to Palmwag Lodge. This road goes through open plains, dune fields as well as mountain areas with a good opportunity to see the desert adapted elephants. Time is set aside to spend in this beautiful area with a full morning game/nature drive in the Palmwag concession to the Aub Canyon where a wide variety of desert adapted animals can be found. This will include giraffe, oryx, springbok, mountain zebra, kudu, and, if very lucky, the endangered black rhinoceros. Accommodation in bungalows at Palmwag Lodge (breakfast & dinner).

DAY 9: Opuwo/Himba Tribes Today we head north to the frontier town of Opuwo, a Herero word meaning, “all finished” or “no more”! This afternoon we will visit a few traditional Himba/Dzimba villages. Overnight in a lodge in Opuwo (breakfast/dinner).

DAY 10: West Etosha Morning visit to some more villages before heading east and then south to a lodge/guest farm on the western side of Etosha (outside the park). Overnight lodge/guest farm (breakfast / dinner).

DAYS 11, 12 & 13: Etosha National Park We enter Etosha at the western Otjivasando gate, closed to the public (we obtain a special permit for this area – self-drive groups travel via Kamanjab & Outjo) and head east to Okaukuejo. Along the way, stop over at numerous waterholes for game viewing. Enjoy the floodlit waterhole at Okaukuejo where there is an excellent chance to see the black rhino drinking at night. These days will be spent in Etosha on morning and afternoon game drives and visiting numerous waterholes. Accommodation will be in Namibia Wildlife Resorts bungalows. (guided safaris include breakfast and dinner but self-drive safaris do not include any meals)

DAY 14: Waterberg Plateau Exit Etosha at the eastern gate and head south to Otjiwarongo and the Waterberg Plateau Park (guided safaris include breakfast and dinner but self-drive safaris do not include any meals).

DAY 15: Windhoek Depart after breakfast, on to Windhoek and transfer to the airport where the safari will end (breakfast).

The cost for the above is in the region of £3235.00 per person (guided) and £988.00 per person (self -drive)
Please note that the above costs excluded your international flights and taxes and car hire with the self drive option.
We can gladly cost this itinerary to include international flights on Air Namibia and your choice of vehicle should you opt for the self drive option.