Namibia highlights: Sossusvlei, Damaraland and Etosha

Itinerary in brief:

• 1 night Windhoek 
• 2 nights Sossusvlei
• 2 nights Swakopmund
• 1 night Damaraland
• 3 nights Etosha National Park
• 1 night Okonjima 

Day 1: Arrive Windhoek

On arrival in Windhoek, you’ll be met at the airport and taken to your hotel, where you’ll check in for one night. Head out and enjoy a wander around Windhoek – there is a beautiful German church that looks like it’s made of gingerbread. Head out for a delicious dinner and get ready to being your Namibian road trip tomorrow.

Day 2: Drive to Sossusvlei

Leaving Windhoek behind, you'll start the drive towards Sossusvlei, home to the famous sand dunes of Namibia. Watch the landscape change as you drive and keep your eyes peeled for oryx as you travel further south. On arrival in Sossusvlei, you'll check into your hotel for two nights. 

Day 3: Sossusvlei

Today you can explore the simple beauty of Sossusvlei, the striking, red dunes where gemsbok (antelope) and ostriches wander under the morning sun. The ancient trees in the Deadvlei cast spiky dark shadows on the white cracked ground – so make sure you bring your camera today; it’s such a picture perfect landscape that you’ll be snapping away all day.

Day 4: Drive to Swakopmund

Driving towards the seaside town of Swakopmund you’ll pass through the Welwitschia Plains, where you can look out for the bizarre welwitschia plants, made of only 2 leaves that are gradually split into strips by the wind - some of which are over 1,500 years old. You’ll also pass through the moon-like landscape where rippling hills and rocky valleys create an other-worldly scene. Arriving at the Atlantic Ocean, you’ll check into your hotel for 2 nights.

Day 5: Swakopmund

Swakopmund is a popular seaside town where lots of Namibians spend their holidays. Spend your time here enjoying the sea air, eating local oysters and admiring the German colonial architecture throughout the centre. In the afternoon, drive half an hour south to Walvis Bay, where we’ve included a catamaran cruise to see the seal colonies. Depending on the season you’ll find rosy flamingos in the lagoon, watch dolphins follow the boat and meet friendly pelicans that land on the deck.

Day 6: Drive to Damaraland

Leaving the coast you’ll head north into Damaraland, passing the huge seal colonies of Cape Cross. Check into the Damara Mopane Lodge for 1 night before driving on to Twyfelfontein. Home to the 2,500 year old rock carvings, these simple sketches of lions, cattle and humans engraved into the red rock are humbling and beautiful – sure to be a real highlight of your trip to Namibia.

Day 7: Drive to Etosha National Park

This morning you’ll pass magnificent Mount Brandberg on the way to Etosha National Park, where you’ll check into your lodge for two nights on the west side of the park. Settle into your lodge, relaxing by the pool and resting after the long drive. 

Day 8: Etosha National Park game drive 

Today you'll head out on a full day guided game drive of the national park, looking for wildlife with the help of your guide. Look out for elephants trekking across the great salt pan, lions gathering around the waterholes and rare black rhinos hiding beneath low trees. The birds of Etosha are just as impressive as the mammals; turquoise bee-eaters fly from shrub to shrub while hornbills observe the landscape from the perch in the treetops. It's so valuable to explore the region with a guide to help you identify as much wildlife as possible.

Day 9: Drive to eastern Etosha National Park

This morning you'll drive yourself from the east to the west side of Etosha. We always recommend experiencing Etosha on a guided game drive as well as a self-drive experience - they are both fantastic, and can be very different. As you make your way across the vast landscape, it changes from open grassland and the salt pan into the mopane woodlands and waterholes. Look out for herds of plains game like zebras, giraffes and wildebeest, gathered around the waterholes, with cheetah lurking in the shade nearby as ostriches stalk along with their babies sheltered from the sun beneath them. 

Take your time driving and it will become a full day journey, arriving at your lodge on the western side of the park in time to have a freshen up before dinner, where you can discuss your incredible day over a cold glass of wine. 

Day 10: Drive to Okonjima 

Leaving Etosha this morning you’ll head south and break your journey back to Windhoek with a night at Okonjima Plains where the Africat Foundation has its headquarters. Okonjima is a great place to spot one of the leopards that freely roam this 20,000-hectare nature reserve or visit the Carnivore Care Centre where you can meet cheetahs and leopards who are patiently waiting for their second chance in the wild. You’ll also be able to track the animals on foot, looking out for Spotted Hyaenas, Cheetahs and Wild Dogs along the trails.

Day 11: Departure

Today is your final day in Namibia; you’ll drive back to Windhoek Airport where you’ll drop off your rental car and catching your onwards flight.