Namibia | Highlights of Namibia

Namibia presents us with some of the most diverse cultural and scenic landscapes in Africa; a land of vast desert and dramatic coasts that encompasses some of the most exceptional natural and human heritage on the planet. This exceptional journey takes us from the towering dunes of the Namib Desert, across a land littered with reminders of its ancient and colonial past, to the expansive pans of Etosha National park, one of the finest game reserves in Africa.

Ideal for Solo Travellers

This small group adventure holiday is ideal for single travellers, as it allows you to meet and travel with other like-minded people. They are also extremely flexible, and allow plenty of free time for personal exploration. Travelling in a small group is also much safer then travelling alone - the additional security of travelling with an organised group with a tour leader should not be under-estimated. The ratio between solo travellers and couples (whether partners or friends) is generally 50/50, so don't worry, you won't be the only person travelling solo in the group. Generally the split between women and men travelling solo on our holidays is 60/40 so you won't feel outnumbered. There is a great mix of people of all ages on our tours, ranging from 25 to 65+.

As all rooming on tour is based on adults of the same sex sharing, you won't have to pay a compulsory single supplement. However, please note that if you do want your own room, that  option is not available on this tour.

Trip Details

GROUP SIZE:  Approx. 8 to 12

Golden Dunes & Sesriem Canyon

From Windhoek we head to one of the jewels of Namibia's natural wonders - Namib-Naukluft National Park, protecting one of the oldest deserts on earth. Here we find the classic image of huge dunes bathed in the low sun with a lone gemsbok or acacia tree the only sign of life. We also explore the cool tranquillity of Sesriem Canyon, carved by the Tsauchab River.

Swakopmund & Ancient Damaraland

There's the opportunity to take a balloon flight over the surrounding plains and mountains before we spend time at the German-influenced town of Swakopmund with a range of activities on offer. Moving north via the famous seal colonies of Cape Cross we enter Damaraland to discover petrified forests and the spectacular rock art at Twyfelfontein.

Gamelands of Etosha

We enter the celebrated gamelands of Etosha National Park, dominated by Etosha pan, a seemingly endless horizon of silvery-white sand. Home to huge herds of game we explore the open plains and dense bush hoping to see elephant, rhino and lion as well as springbok, zebra, wildebeest and giraffe around the numerous waterholes. We end with further game-viewing in the scenic surroundings of Mount Etjo.

Day 1. Join tour Windhoek

Overnight Safari Court Hotel - A spectacular four-star hotel close to the centre of Windhoek with luxuriously appointed rooms accommodating guests in peaceful surroundings and offering à la carte and buffet meals in the Acacia Restaurant, and a private dining room, the Captain's Cabin.

Day 2. Drive from Windhoek to Sesriem

Passengers on our group flight from London have the opportunity to freshen up this morning before heading out of the city, towards the rich expanse of the Namib Desert and the Namib-Naukluft National Park. Travelling across the plains of the Khomas Hochland to the western edge of the Naukluft Mountain Range overlooking the vast Namib Desert, we watch the sun cast its shadows over the red dunes of some of the most spectacular desert landscapes on earth. Covering some 50,000 sq km this is one of the largest national parks on the continent, encompassing an area of truly magnificent desert scenery that represents some of the oldest desert on the planet.

2 nights Sossusvlei Lodge - Sossusvlei Lodge is located directly adjacent to the entrance gate to the Namib-Naukluft Park on its own 43,000 hectare private nature reserve. Its 45 en-suite berber-like chalets have adobe walls and are shaded by canvas. The lodge boasts a swimming pool and has a reputation for generous cuisine and warm Namibian hospitality. Buffet dinners are taken under the stars close to its famous floodlit waterhole. (included meals: B, L, D)

Day 3. Full day in the Namib-Naukluft National Park

With an early start this morning we head past Sesriem to the Tsauchab River and spend the day exploring this majestic landscape in all its glory, firstly the towering dunes of Sossusvlei, some of the highest on earth. The area itself is a vast depression or clay pan, dominated by sand dunes that can reach up to 300m in height. In the early morning the first rays of the rising Sun turn these towering sand giants a deep orange, presenting us with a landscape of overwhelming grandeur that is truly a photographer's dream. It is a wild, beautiful and romantic spot, with sparse vegetation edging the few watercourses that flow in from the Tsauchab River. Here springbok and ostrich are often seen and the occasional acacia tree stands out in stark contrast against the golden sands. Lying amidst this harsh and barren world we come across the surreal landscapes of the Dead Vlei, an ancient salt pan of dazzling white, filled with the skeletons of long dead acacia trees, their gnarled and twisted carcasses presenting an incredible spectacle against the softer tones of the surrounding desert.

This afternoon our tour takes in the cooler confines of the Sesriem Canyon, which we will explore on foot. Small, but very picturesque, the canyon presents a marked contrast from this morning, with numerous plants growing in the shade and shelter offered by the canyon walls and water pools attracting several species of birds and animals. Sesriem translates as ‘six thongs', referring to the six lengths of rawhide rope (from a wagon) needed to haul a bucket of water up to the canyon rim from the stream below. (Included meals: B, L, D).

Day 4. AM optional balloon flight; drive to Swakopmund via Walvis Bay

An optional early morning balloon ride is an excellent way of gaining a unique perspective of the vast desert landscapes of this stunning region of Namibia. Drifting silently over the dunes, keep your eyes open for desert wildlife foraging for food. Travelling via Solitaire and through the Kuiseb Canyon, we then pass more awe-inspiring landscapes as we head across the Namib gravel flats to Walvis Bay. Here a large spit forms a natural deep-sea harbour, which attracted the first navigators in the late 1400's. The shallows located where the spit joins the mainland are home to a diverse collection of birds, the most spectacular being the flamingos and pelicans that feed here seasonally (May to November usually). From here it is a short drive to our final destination for the day, the coastal town of Swakopmund.

2 nights Hotel Europa Hof - Located a short walk from the Atlantic Ocean and Swakopmund city centre, the Europa Hof is a comfortable hotel with striking German architecture and a relaxed atmosphere. The hotel combines European and Namibian values, giving it a unique flair typical of Swakopmund and its restaurant offers an a la carte range of both local and European dishes. (included meals: B, L)

Day 5. Free in Swakopmund

Initially founded by German settlers at the end of the 19th century, Swakopmund was intended to serve as the main harbour for German Southwest Africa. Over the next few years it saw a steady increase in maritime traffic, eventually handling all the export and import traffic for the entire territory and this importance is reflected in the incredible array of German architecture that still makes up a large percentage of the old town. Swakopmund is a fascinating mix of Bavarian grandeur, Herero traditional and African colour, all set between the pounding waters of the Atlantic and the vast expanses of one of the largest areas of unspoilt wilderness on the planet. Today has been left free to enjoy this eclectic hotchpotch of cultural mores. You may like to pay a visit to the town's excellent museum, or take a wander through the stately grandeur of its colonial architecture. The town is also a popular resort area and there are a number of optional activities available to make the most of its natural delights. This evening you may like to round off the day watching the sunset across the coastal dunes of the infamous Skeleton Coast. (Included meals: B).

Day 6. Drive to Twyfelfontein via Cape Cross and rock engravings

Travelling north towards the Namibian ‘Skeleton Coast' we visit the memorable Cape Cross Seal Colony where between 80-100,000 Cape fur seals bask in the sun or swim playfully in the cold waters of the Atlantic Ocean. These seals grow to a fairly substantial size, an average male weighing in at anything up to 187kg, so the sight (and smell) of many thousands of these aquatic mammals enjoying the delights of these craggy coasts is certainly one you will not forget in a hurry. From here we continue on towards the culturally important area around Twyfelfontein, where we will be spending the night.

Translating as ‘the doubtful fountain' Twyfelfontein is one of the richest areas of rock engravings in Namibia. The massif contains a spectacular record of the rock art of the Khoisan people, painted and incised into the sandstone of the mountain over a thousand years and, to date, more than 2500 engravings have been recorded. The barren surroundings and rock  strewn slopes seem a most unlikely place for any human habitation, but there is a small spring near the base of the hill and this has been providing water to animals for millennia. The water and abundance of game also attracted Stone Age people and indications are that they inhabited the area for centuries.

Overnight Twyfelfontein Country Lodge - Situated in the heart of the Twyfelfontein Uibasen Conservancy, close to its historical rock paintings, this superbly adapted lodge blends seamlessly into its natural surroundings, using traditional thatch, natural stone and sympathetic colours to create an ideal oasis amidst the Namibian landscape. An award winning property, the lodge lies within a communal conservancy in what was originally Damaraland and the area is home to desert elephant, rhino, springbok and ostrich. The lodge also has a swimming pool and bar. (included meals: B, L, D)

Days 7 to 9. Drive to Etosha National Park; Game viewing in the park

The ‘Great White Place', Etosha National Park is ranked as one of Africa's great game parks, offering some of the best game viewing on the continent. An immense, saline desert, covering over 12,400 square miles, and offering a haven for 114 species of animals and some 340 species of birds, Etosha has been described as the best game reserve in Africa. Travelling via Outjo we enter the park and make initially to Okaukuejo in the south of the park for our first night before heading east to Halali for our second and third nights in this stunning area. At the very heart of Etosha is the Etosha Pan, which geologists believe was formed some 12 million years ago from an inland lake about the size of Holland. Shrunk to its present dried-up size, it is now a gigantic depression in the ground - flat, saline and silvery, a mysterious place of mirages and dust-laden images,  that after heavy rainfall converts back to a lake again.

The next two days sees us exploring the area along the southern and eastern edge of the Pan, where we should see elephant, rhino and hopefully lion. The terrain ranges from dense bush to large open plains where animals roam freely and we will drive along a network of gravel roads that criss cross the park, visiting the various viewpoints and the permanent waterholes around which animals congregate. There is something enigmatic about the vast silent grey white pans that cover this remarkable reserve. Numerous waterholes and underground springs attract large herds of animals including springbok, zebra, wildebeest and giraffe, making for some exceptional encounters. July to October generally produces the best months for game viewing, during Etosha's dry season.

3 nights Halali Resort - Halali is situated between Namutoni and Okaukuejo in Etosha National Park and surrounded by some of the most popular waterholes in the park. The camp has a restaurant, bar and swimming pool and a number of walking trails leading to local viewpoints over the plains. (included meals: Bx3, Lx3, Dx3)

Day 10 Drive to Mount Etjo

This morning we head south out of Etosha to Mount Etjo and Okonjati Wildlife Sanctuary.
The Sanctuary has been built up over 30 years to its current size of 30 000 hectares and provides a unique environment for hundreds of different species of wildlife and birds. White rhino were introduced in 1975 and more recently, elephant in 1985, as well as many other species including the rare Roan and Sable Antelope, who found a place of refuge in the sanctuary. This afternoon we take a game drive to discover the fauna and flora. Animals, which may be observed range include elephant, black and white rhino, zebra,hippo, and many different species of antelope.

Overnight Mount Etjo Safari Lodge - Mount Etjo Lodge is situated in Okonjati Game Sanctuary, among the fauna and it is common to observe animals quenching their thirst while enjoying a drink at the bar, pool and patio area. Meals are served in a rustic african-furnished Lapa and guests can also chose to share a drink around campfire under the open sky, while a barbecue is being prepared. (included meals: B, L, D).

Day 11. Drive to Windhoek; tour ends

This morning, we head back to Windhoek, travelling via the Okanhandja craft market There will be day facilities on arrival in Windhoek in oreder to freshen up before leaving for the airport. (included meals: B, L,)

Other Sightseeing

The following excursions and/or activities are usually available and may be arranged locally. Estimated costs are provided below for guidance only, are on a per person basis unless shown otherwise, and may depend on the number of participants. Prices quoted are correct as of the date this itinerary was originally issued but may change at any time due to currency fluctuations.

• SESRIEM Early morning balloon flight over the Namib with sparkling wine breakfast N$3600 per person; Scenic aircraft flight N$3000 per 5-seater aircraft.
• SWAKOPMUND Museum £2.00; Aquarium £3.00; Township tour £30.00; 1 hour scenic flight over Sossusvlei £100 - £300 (depending on numbers); Half day dolphin cruise in Walvis Bay £40.00

Inclusions

• 2 nights hotel, 5 nights lodge, 3 nights chalet
• Meals: 10 breakfasts, 9 lunches and 7 dinners
• Coach Transport
• Tour Leader/driver

What's Not Included

• Tips

Terms & Conditions

Click here for our Terms & Conditions

For more information, availability and pricing and options, please contact our expert travel specialists at Inspired Travel Worldwide on (02) 9449 8598 or send us an email. We look forward to hearing from you.

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