Adventures with Purpose: Namibia

Suggested Itinerary

Overview

Covering some 200 million acres of abundant floodplains, woodland savannah, dramatic desert landscapes and haunting coastal scenery, Namibia is a conservation treasure-house and an environmental success story. The first African country to incorporate the protection of the environment into its constitution, its far-reaching initiatives are seeing incredible results. The creation of communal conservancies, ground-breaking research projects and anti-poaching directives have resulted in increases ...

Read More

TRIP HIGHLIGHTS

Suggested Itinerary

This is a suggested itinerary. Our experts have all travelled widely in the region and will be happy to tailor any of our itineraries to suit your tastes, or build a trip from scratch.

EXPAND ALL ITINERARY DAYS
COLLAPSE ALL ITINERARY DAYS

Day 1 ARRIVE WINDHOEK

Day 1 ARRIVE WINDHOEK

Arriving in Windhoek today you will be met at the airport and transferred on to your boutique guesthouse for a chance to relax from the flight and prepare yourself for the adventure ahead.

Elegant Guesthouse

Day 2 WINDHOEK – NAMIBRAND NATURE RESERVE

Day 2 WINDHOEK – NAMIBRAND NATURE RESERVE

From Windhoek you begin your journey by heading south to the desert landscapes of the Namibrand Nature Reserve. Dating back 55 million years, the Namib is believed to be the oldest desert in the world. Home to towering dunes, rocky desert, and dramatic canyons, this landscape is also inhabited by antelopes, gazelles, hyenas, various wild cats, and desert elephants. The largest privately owned game park in Southern Africa, Namibrand Nature Reserve was founded to conserve the unique environment and wildlife species of the Namib Desert. Here you will be staying in a very special camp dedicated to the ongoing conservation work in the area. The owner is not only the son of one of the founders of the reserve, but he also established a Desert Training Academy which focuses on hospitality training, sustainable gardening, eco-friendly building practices, recycling, and much, much more, all of which you can learn about during your stay.

Wolwedans Dune Camp
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 3 NAMIBRAND NATURE RESERVE

Day 3 NAMIBRAND NATURE RESERVE

Spend the next two days exploring this very special part of the country. The camp offers a variety of wonderful activities that will show you many aspects of the area, its wildlife and its community. Set off with the highly experienced team on scenic drives around the reserve and visit the village, to learn about the amazing work that goes on here; from the vital water supply system, permaculture and welding, to hospitality training and the use of solar power. Why not ditch the vehicles and set off on horseback, or for something a little different there are also e-bikes available to use. There are also of course multiple ways to just relax at the camp and soak up your surroundings, and the amazing team here will be available to give you all the options on arrival.

Wolwedans Dune Camp
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 5 NAMIBRAND NATURE RESERVE – SWAKOPMUND

Day 5 NAMIBRAND NATURE RESERVE – SWAKOPMUND

Today's stunning drive takes you across the gravel plains of the Namib Desert and through the Kuiseb and Gaub passes, across landscapes that morph from the soaring red dunes of the Namib Desert to the flat, yellow sands that ripple with the heat as the morning progresses, before finally depositing you amongst the impressive coastal dunes of Swakopmund. Here you can check into your lovely guesthouse, centrally located to make the most of exploring this charming German-influenced town on foot, where a plethora of restaurants await your choice for tonight’s dinner.

Swakopmund Guesthouse
Breakfast

Day 6 SWAKOPMUND

Day 6 SWAKOPMUND

This morning you will get the chance to discover the wonderful Pelican Point, getting up close and personal with your surroundings as you explore by kayak. Pelican Point provides a home to up to 50,000 Cape Fur seals, large numbers of Heavisides and Bottlenose dolphins, black-backed jackals, flamingos, pelicans and even the brown hyena. The Pelican Point lighthouse, erected nearly 100 years ago, still casts a guiding light for sailors during the night. The seals are very playful and curious, and love to interact with the kayaks. The kayak affords the chance to become part of the scenery, without disturbing the wildlife. The animals do not see you as a threat in any way, offering the perfect opportunity to enjoy them 100% in their natural state. Returning to town for lunch, you then have the afternoon free to relax or explore at leisure.

Swakopmund Guesthouse
Breakfast

Day 7 SWAKOPMUND - TWYFELFONTEIN

Day 7 SWAKOPMUND - TWYFELFONTEIN

Departing early from Swakopmund, you'll journey through the Brandberg Mountains and along the dramatic Atlantic Coast this morning towards the startling landscapes of Twyfelfontein. The drive should get you to the camp in time for a late lunch and a chance to spend the afternoon enjoying the delights of the camp and the stark panoramas for which this region is famed. If the location alone isn’t enough to impress, be sure to learn about the camp’s ongoing support of the conservancy’s community, wildlife and environment. Projects include a community-based vegetable garden and the expansion of the current waterhole, to the support of desert lion projects and tireless work to effortlessly ‘reduce, reuse and recycle’. You can enjoy your stay in the full knowledge that it is all in support of preserving this very special area.

Camp Kipwe
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 8 TWYFELFONTEIN

Day 8 TWYFELFONTEIN

Following the meandering course of the Aba Huab River, with its rich variety of wildlife, this morning you will set out on a guided nature drive in search of some of Namibia's remaining desert dwelling elephants. Dating back over 2,000 years, Twyfelfontein (Doubtful Fountain), is also home to one of the richest collections of rock art in Africa. A UNESCO World Heritage Site, this remarkable region contains a treasure trove of stone-age engravings and ancient bushman artwork, providing an incredible insight into the lives of the ancient San bushmen who once lived here. You will get the chance to explore some of these unique sites today, as well as seeing Burnt Mountain and the Organ Pipes.

Camp Kipwe
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 9 TWYFELFONTEIN – PALMWAG

Day 9 TWYFELFONTEIN – PALMWAG

Continuing on to Damaraland's Palmwag Concession this morning, the next leg of the journey takes you into some of the most pristine wilderness in Namibia. Passing through some utterly breathtaking scenery, you will arrive at Etendeka Mountain Camp. Etendeka is a fantastic community project that has been running in conjunction with the local conservancy for over 20 years. The focus here is very much on low-impact tourism, with some fabulous walking safaris available, not to mention some of the best star-gazing in the country. The first activity guests enjoy here is the transfer into the camp, which is a 90-minute drive through the beautiful deserts of Damaraland. The route takes you through riverbeds, where desert elephant are often seen digging for water in the sandy riverbeds or feasting from the trees that surround them. No private vehicles are allowed in the concession and animals are free to roam wherever they like, meaning that every day brings a new experience here.

Etendeka Mountain Camp
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 10 PALMWAG

Day 10 PALMWAG

Activities at Etendeka are a truly magical experience, allowing guests to revel in the glorious isolation of the camp and explore the stunning landscapes in which it is nestled. Mornings are spent out walking across the ancient lava flows and learning more about how this incredible landscape was created millions of years ago. Whilst spotting animals isn’t the focus of these walks, game is often seen en route, especially the more common animals such as oryx. In the afternoons further game drives are offered, although you may prefer to simply sit back and enjoy the spectacular views from the front of your tents or from the main bar area.

Etendeka Mountain Camp
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 11 PALMWAG – ONGAVA NATURE RESERVE

Day 11 PALMWAG – ONGAVA NATURE RESERVE

Head east today, to the impressive 30,000-hectare Ongava Game Reserve, found on the southern fringes of the game-lands of Etosha National Park. Whilst it may lack the dramatic scenery of the National Park itself, the game viewing and landscapes of Ongava are still a wonderful sight to behold. One of the benefits of staying in a private reserve is that guests can enjoy a greater variety of activities, including day and night game drives and guided walks. They also offer longer day drives through the Etosha National Park, allowing the chance to make the most of the vast salt pans. Ongava Tented Camp has a long history of conservation and research work in the area, most notably with both white and black rhinos. Indeed, Ongava holds one of the largest rhino custodianships for the Namibian government in the country and is one of the few private game reserves in southern Africa where guests can see both these species. The Ongava Research Centre (ORC) is a vital hub of research and also boasts an excellent visitor’s centre, which guests can visit to learn more about the science behind these very important conservation efforts.

Ongava Tented Camp
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 12 ONGAVA NATURE RESERVE

Day 12 ONGAVA NATURE RESERVE

Guests staying at Ongava Tented Camp are able to enjoy a range of safari activities within the private land of the Ongava Game Reserve. The vast expanses of the reserve make game drives the main activity here, with morning and afternoon drives to spot the abundant and varied game conducted daily. The reserve is especially good for spotting lion, whilst rhino also thrive here and for those fortunate enough to spot them on the open plains, the chance to approach to within a few metres of them on foot will be offered – a truly incredible experience and one not to be passed up. For those on slightly longer stays, the guides can also conduct morning trips into the main part of the Etosha National Park which is adjacent to Ongava, whilst guests are of course free to drive themselves to Etosha and enjoy a self-drive safari there as well.

Ongava Tented Camp
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 13 ONGAVA NATURE RESERVE – OKONJIMA NATURE RESERVE

Day 13 ONGAVA NATURE RESERVE – OKONJIMA NATURE RESERVE

A final morning affords an opportunity to enjoy the sunrise and a last game drive, before beginning the journey south towards Okonjima Nature Reserve. Okonjima is home to the AfriCat Foundation, a non-profit organisation that works alongside local communities and researchers to help conserve and protect threatened cheetah, leopard, and other wild carnivores of Namibia. Visitors can observe some of this programme in action and learn more about these amazing and beautiful animals during their time here. The foundation also has a great education centre where local students often come to learn about the importance of big cats as a keystone species.

Okonjima Plains Camp
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 14 OKONJIMA NATURE RESERVE

Day 14 OKONJIMA NATURE RESERVE

During your stay at Okonjima you will be able to enjoy a wonderful variety of activities. Go in search of the elusive leopard on a game drive or learn about the Cheetah Project, which offers an invaluable insight into the welfare work of the AfriCat Foundation. Guests can even set out on foot with the specialist guides and radio-track the rehabilitated cheetahs. Experience life as a bushman as you enjoy a highly-informative guided walking trail, learning about the art of making traditional artefacts and discovering how the San adapt and survive in such an unforgiving wilderness environment. After a delicious dinner be sure to spend some time in the nocturnal hide, where you can witness the nighttime reserve coming to life, with porcupines, honey-badgers and caracal amongst the regularly spotted visitors.

Okonjima Plains Camp
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 15 OKONJIMA NATURE RESERVE – WINDHOEK

Day 15 OKONJIMA NATURE RESERVE – WINDHOEK

Leaving the Omboroko Mountains and the AfriCat Foundation behind you'll make your final journey south to Windhoek today, a drive time of about 2.5 hours. This is where the tour comes to an end.

Breakfast

SUGGESTED ACCOMMODATION

Hotel Rating

Ultra
The best of the best, the ultimate in luxury
Luxury
Outstanding service and facilities, giving you the 5* experience
Premium
Excellent standards offering a higher-end experience
Superior
Good quality service and overall comfort
Simple
No frills, basic accommodation, but often in the most exciting of places

Hotel Rating

Ultra
The best of the best, the ultimate in luxury
Luxury
Outstanding service and facilities, giving you the 5* experience
Premium
Excellent standards offering a higher-end experience
Superior
Good quality service and overall comfort
Simple
No frills, basic accommodation, but often in the most exciting of places

Hotel Rating

Ultra
The best of the best, the ultimate in luxury
Luxury
Outstanding service and facilities, giving you the 5* experience
Premium
Excellent standards offering a higher-end experience
Superior
Good quality service and overall comfort
Simple
No frills, basic accommodation, but often in the most exciting of places

Hotel Rating

Ultra
The best of the best, the ultimate in luxury
Luxury
Outstanding service and facilities, giving you the 5* experience
Premium
Excellent standards offering a higher-end experience
Superior
Good quality service and overall comfort
Simple
No frills, basic accommodation, but often in the most exciting of places

Hotel Rating

Ultra
The best of the best, the ultimate in luxury
Luxury
Outstanding service and facilities, giving you the 5* experience
Premium
Excellent standards offering a higher-end experience
Superior
Good quality service and overall comfort
Simple
No frills, basic accommodation, but often in the most exciting of places

Hotel Rating

Ultra
The best of the best, the ultimate in luxury
Luxury
Outstanding service and facilities, giving you the 5* experience
Premium
Excellent standards offering a higher-end experience
Superior
Good quality service and overall comfort
Simple
No frills, basic accommodation, but often in the most exciting of places

Hotel Rating

Ultra
The best of the best, the ultimate in luxury
Luxury
Outstanding service and facilities, giving you the 5* experience
Premium
Excellent standards offering a higher-end experience
Superior
Good quality service and overall comfort
Simple
No frills, basic accommodation, but often in the most exciting of places

Accommodation listed here is intended as a guide only, to give you a taste of what we can do. Our experts can tailor any aspect of this itinerary and accommodation to suit your budget and tastes.

GUIDELINE PRICE & WHAT'S INCLUDED

15 days from A$11,300

MEALS

As specified in the itinerary, sampling some of the country's finest cuisine.

TRANSPORT

Private air-conditioned vehicles with experienced, dedicated drivers.

ENTRANCE FEES

Tours and admission fees, including tickets specified in the itinerary.

EXPERT TEAM

Licensed English-speaking guides and a support team available 24/7.

ACCOMMODATION

As specified in the itinerary, using some of our favourite local properties.

WILD MILES

This tour will earn you 10408 Wild Miles

ACCOMMODATION

Ultra
The best of the best, the ultimate in luxury
Luxury
Outstanding service and facilities, giving you the 5* experience
Premium
Excellent standards offering a higher-end experience
Superior
Good quality service and overall comfort
Simple
No frills, basic accommodation, but often in the most exciting of places

Wild Miles Club

When you book a trip with Wild Frontiers you are awarded points, which are based on the return distance from London to the arrival city of your trip. Points are awarded for all our holidays, including both our escorted group tours and tailor-made trips. When you accrue points, you will qualify for the following discounts on all future bookings:

Blue More than 10,000 points 2.5% discount
Bronze More than 30,000 points 5% discount
Silver More than 45,000 points 7.5% discount
Gold More than 60,000 points 10% discount

This itinerary is aimed to give you an idea of what we can offer. The price shown above is per person, based on two people travelling outside of peak periods. As this itinerary is only a suggestion and can be tailor-made to suit your interests and budget, your final price may differ.

Positive Impact of this Trip

Tree
Ten trees are planted per passenger on this trip
Community
Supports Wild Frontiers Foundation community projects
Wind Turbine
A contribution to renewable energy projects

WHEN TO GO

START PLANNING YOUR TRIP

Our team of experts have a wealth of knowledge and experience to help you plan your adventure of a lifetime.

WHY WILD FRONTIERS?

Meet the expert, Clem

Clem is our Namibia expert, who has travelled extensively in the region.

Speak to Clementine by calling
+44 (0)20 3944 6258

The best way to explore Namibia is on a self-drive adventure – set off with a paper map and old nokia phone in your 4x4. You will be rewarded with rolling red dunes, giant starry skies and epic moonscape like vistas.

OTHER ITINERARIES IN NAMIBIA