Namibia: Sands of Time

Group Tour

Overview

Namibia. A land full of incredible geological wonders, spectacular landscapes, diverse game and a whole host of unexplored regions is undoubtedly one of Southern Africa’s most enthralling destinations and perfect for a Wild Frontiers trip!

Our trip focuses on the diversity of this impressive country that has barely changed for thousands of years. From the rolling red sand dunes of the Namib Desert to the boulder festooned grassy plains of Damaraland, ...

Read More

HIGHLIGHTS

At a glance

MEALS

13 x Breakfasts
12 x Lunches
11 x Dinners

TRANSPORT

An 8 or 15-seat vehicle, depending on group size.  Please see Supplementary Information section for more details

GROUP SIZE

Maximum: 12

EXPERT TEAM

The full services of a Wild Frontiers Tour Leader with local guides where appropriate

ACCOMMODATION

8 nights x Premium
5 nights x Superior

ENTRANCE FEES

All entrance fees for sights mentioned in the itinerary

FITNESS RATING

Low / Moderate

WILD MILES

This tour will earn you 10408 Wild Miles

ACCOMMODATION

As an overall ethos, wherever possible we aim to use characterful accommodation that enhances the overall travel experience, not just offers a bed for the night. This can obviously vary dramatically from country to country and from trip to trip.

On this particular trip we will use a combination of lodges, hotels and tented accommodation.

Please note that the accommodation mentioned in the itinerary is intended as a guide only and is always subject to availability.

FITNESS RATING

LOW: You should be comfortable walking around towns and cultural sites. May include some optional walks (typically 1-2hrs).

LOW/MODERATE: May be of a long duration and/or involve numerous border-crossings. May include easy/moderate day walks (up to 2-3hrs/day). You should be relatively fit and lead a generally active lifestyle.

MODERATE: May include several easy/moderate day walks (up to 2-5hrs/day) possibly at altitude. You should be relatively fit and lead a generally active lifestyle. Previous experience of similar trips helpful.

MODERATE/HIGH: May involve several days of moderate hiking (up to 3-6 hrs/day) possibly at altitude. You must be a fit and active traveller with appropriate trekking experience.

HIGH: May involve several days of moderate/strenuous trekking (up to 4-7 hrs/day) possibly at altitude. You must be a very fit and active traveller with appropriate trekking experience.

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

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

Map & Itinerary

Individual departures may vary so please refer to the information in the tour specific links in the Dates and Prices section below

Namibia: Sands of Time
EXPAND ALL ITINERARY DAYS
COLLAPSE ALL ITINERARY DAYS

Day 1 Tour Starts in Windhoek

Day 1 Tour Starts in Windhoek

Meeting at our hotel this afternoon there will be a chance to freshen up before heading out on an orientation tour around Windhoek. Tonight we’ll have an early dinner where we can talk about the big trip ahead of us.

Town Lodge Windhoek or similar
Dinner

Day 2 Windhoek – Sesriem

Day 2 Windhoek – Sesriem

After breakfast we’ll take a scenic drive south to Sesriem, stopping for lunch en-route. As we progress the landscape changes dramatically from rolling hills to farmland, before reaching the arid, red sands of the Namib Desert. Arriving as the temperature is dropping we’ll have time to enjoy the facilities of our lodge, set within an area of dramatic rocky outcrops of massive granite boulders. Approx. 5 hours driving.

Hammerstein Lodge or similar
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 3 Sesriem - Sossusvlei - Swakopmund

Day 3 Sesriem - Sossusvlei - Swakopmund

We have an early start to reach the iconic red dune fields of Sossusvlei this morning. After climbing the rolling red sand dunes and visiting Dead Vlei & Dune 45, we’ll explore Sesriem canyon, a striking natural feature of the area that is best explored on foot. We have lunch and head north towards the coast and Swakopmund, the gateway to the skeleton coast. This evening is free to explore this quirky German-influenced town where there’s a plethora of restaurants to choose from for tonight’s dinner at your own expense. Approx. 6 hours driving.

Swakopmund Hotel or similar
Breakfast, Lunch

Day 4 In & Around Swakopmund

Day 4 In & Around Swakopmund

Located just 30km south of Swakopmund, Walvis Bay is the only deep-water port in Namibia. Here we will take a wildlife cruise onto the lagoon to spot some of the creatures that thrive in the cold water. As well as an abundance of bird life we hope to spot whales and dolphins and we’ll pass close to the local seal colony. After a buffet lunch and the chance to sample the local seafood we’ll head back to dry land and return to Swakopmund. The afternoon/evening will be spent at your leisure, with the chance to visit one of the town’s museums, and dinner tonight will be at your own expense.

Swakopmund Hotel or similar
Breakfast, Lunch

Day 5 Swakopmund – Skeleton Coast – Palmwag

Day 5 Swakopmund – Skeleton Coast – Palmwag

After breakfast we leave civilisation behind us and as we head north the landscape becomes bleaker and bleaker as we journey along the infamous ‘Skeleton Coast’ - and looking at this inhospitable coastline it soon becomes obvious how it got its name. We may, if lucky, see desert elephants as we head to the UNESCO World Heritage Site at Twyfelfontein. Here we’ll find one of the largest concentrations of Stone Age petroglyphs (rock engravings) anywhere in Africa, depicting various animals and hunting scenes. This area is home to a good variety of wildlife who have adapted to the arid climate and we hope to spot many of them on our journey. Today will be a long day, approx 6 hours driving, but with beautiful scenery to enjoy along the way. We have dinner on arrival at our lodge, where we will be spending the next two nights. 

Palmwag Lodge Gondwana Collection or similar
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 6 Palmwag (Damaraland)

Day 6 Palmwag (Damaraland)

After a busy few days, we have the opportunity to slow down and enjoy spending time at our lodge - we may even have some wildlife visitors come to join us! For those who would prefer, there are optional activities offered at the lodge for an additional fee, including scenic drives, hikes and Rhino tracking. Your Tour Leader will provide more details at the welcome meeting on day 1 and assist with bookings.

Palmwag Lodge Gondwana Collection or similar
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 7 Palmwag – Opuwo

Day 7 Palmwag – Opuwo

After a short drive in the concession in search of wildlife, we’ll head to our accommodation in the north of Namibia. Please note that today will involve a long drive on some rough roads but you’ll be rewarded with some breath-taking scenery. All being well we’ll arrive at our lodge in time for sundowners and a dinner cooked up by the lodge’s chef. Approx. 4 hours driving.

Opuwo Country Lodge or similar
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 8 Opuwo - Epupa Falls

Day 8 Opuwo - Epupa Falls

Our journey north continues as we head in to the Himba tribal lands seeing various Himba settlements en route. We should arrive at Epupa by the middle of the afternoon - the most northerly point on our trip and close to the Angolan border. In the evening, approximately an hour before sunset, we visit Epupa Falls and then to the top of one of the hills overlooking the waterfalls for a sundowner as the landscape explodes in colours and fascinating shadows. We return to our lodge to freshen up for dinner. Approx. 3 hours driving.

Epupa Camp (safari style tented room) or similar
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 9 At Epupa Falls

Day 9 At Epupa Falls

Today we’ll have some time to visit local Himba settlements. Here we will have a local Himba guide during our visit and find out more about how these semi-nomadic people live, work and worship. We can enjoy an informal Q&A with our guide, providing not only the opportunity for us to learn about their rich culture and customs but also providing an income for members of the community. We pick up useful supplies, such as maize meal, tea, sugar, coffee, cooking oil and yeast, before heading into one of the rural Himba villages to offer these gifts up in exchange for a mutually beneficial interaction and introduction to everyday life in this part of the country. After our visit we can enjoy some free time at the lodge to unwind and relax amongst this beautiful setting.

Epupa Camp (safari style tented room) or similar
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 10 Epupa – Etosha National Park

Day 10 Epupa – Etosha National Park

Today is predominantly a transit day as we travel south into Etosha West, a more secluded area of the spectacular Etosha National Park. Once in the park, look out for wildlife from the comfort of the coach en route to our memorable lodge. We arrive at our accommodation in time to enjoy sunset from the deck of the lodge with its endless beautiful views. Approx. 5 hours driving.

Dolomite Camp or similar
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 11 Etosha National Park

Day 11 Etosha National Park

Today we enjoy a full day game viewing as we gradually make our way through the west of the National Park. This is an area where self-guided vehicles are not permitted, and as such is quieter, giving a good chance of spotting the more elusive game. Making our way east we’ll spend the night in the centre of the park where there is a permanent waterhole which is floodlit at night. Here we can watch a variety of wildlife as it congregates and interacts. In the early evenings it’s not uncommon to find black rhinoceros, elephant and lion all drinking at the same time!

Halali Camp or similar
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 12 Etosha National Park

Day 12 Etosha National Park

Taking a second full day in Etosha we will explore the eastern side of the park and the Etosha salt pan. Because the region is so arid, the game congregates around the watering holes and we should have a chance of spotting 4 of the big 5, along with some of the 114 mammal species, 340 bird species, 110 reptile species and 16 amphibian species which are resident within the park.

Halali Camp or similar
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 13 Etosha National Park – Okahandja

Day 13 Etosha National Park – Okahandja

Awaking early we will take the opportunity to have one final game drive within the park. From here we’ll drive south to Okahandja Lodge, just outside of Okahandja (approx. 5 hours driving), where we will spend our last night in Namibia and enjoy a farewell dinner.

Okahandja Country Hotel or similar
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 14 Okahandja (Tour Ends)

Day 14 Okahandja (Tour Ends)

The tour ends this morning after breakfast. We will be transferred back to Windhoek Airport (approx 1.5 hours) in time for the suggested group flights.

Breakfast

ACCOMMODATION USED ON THIS TOUR

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

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 displayed here should be taken as a guide only. *Please refer to the Detailed Itinerary of your individual departure for more information.

PRIVATE HOLIDAYS: DATES DON’T FIT?

All group tours can be taken on a private basis.

Additional Details

Responsible Travel

With local people, culture and eco-systems in mind, responsible travel and sustainable tourism are at the core of Wild Frontiers. We believe that a successful trip not only delivers a unique and unsurpassable journey for our travellers but also benefits the people and places we visit.

When designing our tours, we actively seek out experiences that have a positive impact on the communities and precious environments we visit - from supporting social enterprises; resting our heads in rural homestays; and eating at locally owned restaurants; to helping fund conservation projects that protect wildlife and their habitats. 

Visit the Responsible Travel area of our website to read more, including the work of the Wild Frontiers Foundation through which we fundraise to aid community empowerment and education projects.

Himba Tribe Village Visit

The less-trodden northern region of Namibia, close to the Angolan border, is home to Himba tribal land and settlements. In an effort to extend the benefits of tourism to all communities of the country, including those in remote areas, we take the group up to this wild and wonderful region to meet members of the Himba. We insist on hiring a local Himba guide during our visit, and clients will enjoy an informal Q&A with our guide over tea, providing not only the opportunity for us to learn about their rich culture and customs but also providing an income for members of the community. We will pick up useful supplies, such as maize meal, tea, sugar, coffee, cooking oil and yeast, before heading into one of the rural Himba villages to offer these gifts up in exchange for a mutually beneficial interaction and introduction to everyday life in this part of the country. At Wild Frontiers we believe that meaningful engagement and payment in kind is far more beneficial than tipping for a touristy tribal tour, and imprints a more positive memory for all.

Reducing Single Use Plastic

We recognise the environmental issues and challenges around single-use plastic in many countries we visit and are actively working with our partners on the ground to reduce plastic waste on our tours and within the hotels and restaurants we visit. You can help to reduce your personal plastic waste by taking a refillable, filtered water bottle with you on your trip. Filtered water bottles can be refilled from water sources including your hotel room and restaurant taps, drinking fountains and refill stations. Every time you refill your bottle without the use of single-use plastic, you will be helping to reduce waste and protect the environment. Filtered Water Bottles | Wild Frontiers (wildfrontierstravel.com)

Supplementary Information

The Vehicle

The Vehicle

Depending upon overall group size we will use either a 8-seat or a 15-seat vehicle. These vehicles are designed for the rigours of long distance off-road travel in Namibia, which at times can be bumpy and dusty! The picture above is of an option of our 15-seat vehicle. Please note that the vehicles and equipment may vary from that shown in the pictures according to availability.

Getting There

If you would like us to send you a quote for the suggested tour flights or on any alternative flight that may suit you better, please let us know, noting that for our US clients, we will most likely refer you to one of our preferred partners. For this trip our suggested flights from the UK (subject to change) are shown below.

If you wish to arrange your own flights you are completely free to do so and in this case we can arrange any transfers or supplementary accommodation that you may require. However please note that if you are planning on making your own flight arrangements, we recommend that you first check with us to see if the trip is guaranteed. We then suggest that you purchase flights that are flexible and ideally refundable as due to the nature of adventure travel, itineraries and destination accessibility can change at any time. For more information, please refer to our booking conditions.
 

Flight Code Departing Arriving
BA 055 London Heathrow (LHR) 19:05 Johannesburg OR Tambo (JNB) 07:05
4Z 124 Johannesburg OR Tambo (JNB) 10:40 Windhoek Airport (WDH) 12:50
4Z 125 Windhoek Airport (WDH) 13:35 Johannesburg OR Tambo (JNB) 15:35
BA 056 Johannesburg OR Tambo (JNB) 19:20 London Heathrow (LHR) 05:30

Visas

VISAS

Visas are necessary for many of the destinations we travel to and while we aim to provide you with the most up-to-date information, requirements frequently change and as such for the latest advice we advise that you check with the relevant embassies or contact a reputable visa agency. More details can be found here - https://www.wildfrontierstravel.com/visa

For this tour UK passport holders currently do not require a visa for Namibia.

Passports should be valid for a minimum period of 6 months from the end of your tour.

Non-UK passport holders or non-UK residents should contact the relevant embassies for individual requirements.
 

VACCINATIONS & ADDITIONAL TRAVEL REQUIREMENTS

There are no mandatory vaccination requirements for travellers to Namibia.

For all destinations, please make sure you are up-to-date with any standard vaccinations (e.g. MMR, Hepatitis A, Tetanus) as recommended by your local health care provider. 

Malaria is present in some parts of Namibia and precautions are essential.

For the most up-to-date information on all vaccination requirements and the most suitable anti-malarial tablets, we strongly suggest that you seek advice from your local travel centre or consult an official travel health website such as www.fitfortravel.nhs.uk or www.travelhealthpro.org.uk

Covid Testing: No mandatory testing is currently required for vaccinated or unvaccinated travellers.

If necessary further details will be sent out to you upon booking, however ensuring that correct and valid visas & vaccinations are obtained remains the sole responsibility of the client.

Extensions

If you have more time available, why not arrive early to adjust to a new time zone or just to get a feel for the country before your tour starts? Alternatively, you might choose to allow a few extra days after the tour to relax or to undertake some further exploration.

The choice is completely yours and we can usually arrange anything from simply additional accommodation and transfers to full tailor-made itineraries*. Please contact the office for more details and to discuss your requirements.

*Please note bespoke, tailor-made itineraries need to be a minimum of 7 days and we can only offer them in countries where we have a tailor-made expert

Governmental Travel Advice

Many governments issue advice which highlights potential hazards their citizens might experience when travelling abroad. We strongly suggest you refer to your country’s particular advisory site before booking and contact us if you have any queries or concerns. Click to follow links to the advice of the British Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) or the US State Department.

Non-UK citizens should consult the travel advice of their respective governments.

Key Information

CLIMATE

Namibia has a dry climate typical of a semi-desert country.  Days in April and May are usually warm to hot (20-30oC) whilst nights are generally cooler (5-12oC). Increasingly dry, with a real freshness in the air, and much greenery in the landscape; at this time the air is clear and largely free from dust. From June to August Namibia cools down and dries out more; nights can become cold, dropping below freezing in some desert areas. As the landscape dries so the game in the north of the country gravitates more to waterholes, and is more easily seen by visitors. By September and October it warms up again; game-viewing in most areas is at its best, although there's often a lot of dust around and the vegetation has lost its vibrancy.

IS THIS TRIP FOR ME?

It may sound obvious but Wild Frontiers tours are not always for everyone and it is important to us that the tour you choose is the most suitable. All our tours have a fitness rating as a guideline but you should check the day-by-day itinerary carefully. In certain instances we may ask you to complete a travel questionnaire before confirming your booking in order to ensure your suitability. Should you have any concerns about your ability to partake in any aspect of the tour then please contact the office.

KEY ASPECTS TO CONSIDER

Anyone in a reasonable state of health, with an open mind and a sense of adventure should be perfectly able to cope with this tour, as many of the activities are optional.

Road Conditions, Distance & Comfort: Namibia is a large country and you will be covering a lot of ground on this tour. As a result there will be a number of long drive days spent in the tour vehicle. Please note the road conditions vary from bitumen to rutted, bumpy and corrugated piste. If the unsurfaced roads have not been graded for a while it can be uncomfortable for some stretches if you aren’t used to travelling off-road. However, your Tour Leader will take the opportunity to stop for a leg-stretch whenever possible and you will be rewarded with some spectacular scenery!

Please be aware that vegetarians can be catered for but the selection and variety can be limited in the more remote areas we visit. People with specific dietary requirements should consider such limitations carefully and we suggest you discuss your needs with us before booking this tour.

THE NATURE OF ADVENTURE TRAVEL

We feel that it’s worth pointing out that while we will always strive to stick as close to the stated itinerary as possible, it may be necessary from time to time to make changes to our itineraries or services (due to weather, political and religious influences etc.) and this can happen with little or no notice. This unpredictability can be one of the most exciting aspects of adventure travel and for many of our clients often leads to unexpected highlights as the tour-leader necessarily adapts the tour to the changing conditions. However we are aware that this lack of assuredness may not suit everyone. As such, with the greatest respect, if you are someone who needs to know that everything will happen exactly as planned, we would kindly suggest that perhaps our tours are not for you. Adventure travel can be infectious and once you’ve caught the bug, it is likely to never leave you, but especially if this is your first such tour we would strongly urge you to give us a call if you have any concerns whatsoever about your suitability for this trip.

TRAVELLING SOLO AND SINGLE SUPPLEMENTS

As a company approximately 70% of our clients are solo travellers, so it’s very unlikely you’ll be alone!

Our prices are typically based on twin-share accommodation but single supplements are not compulsory for any Wild Frontiers tour. If you prefer not to pay a single supplement we’ll pair you with someone else of the same sex for you to share with throughout the trip.

On this trip, if you do opt to pay for a single supplement then please note that it will cover you for all nights of the tour.

Please note that paying a single supplement entitles you to lone occupancy of a single room. In many cases these rooms will be of the same size as a double/twin room, but in some cases they may be smaller.
 

INSURANCE

Insurance that provides cover for emergency repatriation in case of a medical emergency is compulsory for all tours. You should be aware that due to some of the geographical areas visited and some of the activities included on certain of our trips some standard insurance policies may not always provide adequate cover. As such we strongly recommend that you purchase a policy that adequately covers your trip. Please see the Insurance section for more details.

General Information

TOUR PRICE

All our tours are priced on a land-only basis, giving you maximum flexibility when deciding how to get to and from your tour.

DEPOSIT

A 10% deposit is required to confirm your booking.

PROTECTION FOR YOUR MONEY

For further details please see our travelling with peace of mind page

WILD MILES

This tour will earn you 10408 Wild Miles

WHAT'S NOT INCLUDED

We believe in a completely transparent approach to pricing with no hidden extras. As such, please note that the following are not included in the cost of the tour.

Visas & Travel Insurance: Visas will always be tour/nationality dependent but travel insurance is mandatory
Tips: Always optional but some guidance will be given in the pre-departure information documents
International Flights: Please ask us for an obligation-free quote for flights which originate in the UK
Airport Transfers: We include complimentary transfers if arriving/departing on the suggested group flights
Beverages & any costs of a personal nature: This will include items such as laundry and souvenirs

WILD FRONTIERS COMMUNITY

If you’re still not sure if this trip is right or just want to see get some different perspectives, then why not have a look at the wide variety of resources we have on our website? Browse our community section to read our blogs, watch videos and find out about our events. 

WHY WILD FRONTIERS?

We are frequently asked what makes Wild Frontiers different from other tour operators. Visit our Why Wild Frontiers page to find out.