tuuur.com - Worldwide Trips

Original

Wildlife

Namibia Highlights

12 days

Start

Start:

Finish

End:

Trip Code

UBSW

Min Age

Trip Size

1 - 16

Physical Rating

Transport

Overland Vehicle, 4WD Safari Vehicle

Accommodation

Hotel (1 night), Chalets (2 nights), Lodge (8 nights)

From 0 (12 days)

Trip Informations

Spend 12 days witnessing the remarkable diversity of Namibia’s landscapes, encountering local culture and wildlife along the way. See the granite peaks of Spitzkoppe, have a sunset picnic among the striking Moon Landscape and venture into the towering dunes of Sossusvlei to see ancient camel thorn trees rising from the Deadvlei clay pan. Embrace plenty of opportunities for wildlife sightings – track rhinos on foot near the Waterberg Plateau, go on a full-day 4WD safari in Etosha National Park to see iconic African wildlife like elephants, lions, giraffes and zebras, and visit a community conservancy working to protect native species. Get up close with local culture and history when you see the ancient rock carvings at UNESCO World Heritage-listed Twyfelfontein and learn about Damara traditions and crafts.

Why you’ll love this trip

Search for rhinos in a private nature reserve at the foot of the Waterberg Plateau. Accompanied by experienced trackers, you might also see other wildlife like oryx, red hartebeest, kudu and giraffes.

Witness the rugged, lunar-like Moon Landscape at sunset. Enjoy a picnic as you watch the sky change colour, then stay after dark for an evening of desert stargazing.

Spend a full day on safari in Etosha National Park, exploring the park’s vast landscapes and waterholes in search of elephants, lions, rhinos, zebras, giraffes, wildebeest and other iconic African wildlife.

Learn about cultural traditions and community conservation practices in Damaraland. See the ancient rock carvings at UNESCO World Heritage-listed Twyfelfontein, learn about traditional crafts at the Damara Living Museum and visit a community conservancy helping protect desert-adapted wildlife.

Walk among the ancient trees of Deadvlei – a striking white clay pan dotted with camel thorn trees and surrounded by the Namib’s towering red dunes.

Is this trip right for you?

This itinerary features some long travel days, which can be exacerbated by bumpy African roads. Please review the approximate durations of travel listed throughout the itinerary.

Namibian summer (November to March) can be very hot and humid with maximum temperatures around 30 to 35°C and peaks of over 40°C in the desert.

This trip can be partnered with other itineraries into a combo trip, which means that some of your fellow travellers may carry on to further destinations at the end of this trip. If you’d like to spend more time in Africa, have a look at 'Highlights of Botswana & Namibia’ (UBSNC).

Itinerary

Gaze up at starry desert skies, encounter wildlife and venture into sand dunes in Namibia

DAY 1
NoneWindhoek
Oshi li nawa! Welcome to Namibia. Your adventure begins in the capital, Windhoek, known for its German architecture including the Tintenpalast (parliament) and Christuskirche buildings. You'll have a welcome meeting at 6 pm to meet your local leader and fellow travellers. After the meeting, why not head out to a local restaurant and get to know your group over dinner – your leader will have all the best recommendations. It’s very important that you attend the welcome meeting as we will be collecting insurance and emergency contact details at this time. If you are going to be late, please let your travel agent or hotel reception know. Ask reception or look for a note in the lobby for more information on where the meeting will take place.
Accommodation
Lodge (1 night)
Meals
Breakfast
Special information
It’s very important that you attend the welcome meeting as we will be collecting insurance and emergency contact details at this time. If you are going to be late, please let your travel agent or hotel reception know. Ask reception or look for a note in the lobby for more information on where the meeting will take place.
DAY 2
NoneWaterberg Private Nature Reserve
Leave Windhoek this morning and travel north to Waterberg Wilderness – a private nature reserve located at the foot of the Waterberg Plateau. The plateau stretches up to a height of 200 m and is 50 km long. When you arrive, head out on a nature walk along one of the reserve’s trails. Winding through the valley and over the slopes of the plateau, you’ll make stops at viewpoints along the way and learn about the springs, wildlife and flora that make up this ecosystem. Stroll through the Botanical Garden where you can learn about the 500 or so species of plants on the plateau and its surrounds, including fig trees, camel thorn trees and leadwood trees. Your travel time today will be approximately 3.5 hours.
Accommodation
Lodge (1 night)
Meals
Breakfast
Dinner
Included activities
Waterberg - Nature Walk
Special information
Your travel time today will be approximately 3.5 hours.
DAY 3
NoneEtosha National Park
This morning, head out into the Waterberg reserve with an experienced guide in search of rhinos. As you explore, keep an eye out for giraffes, kudu, oryx, eland, blue wildebeest and red hartebeest as well. Then, say goodbye to Waterberg and drive north, headed for Etosha National Park. This is one of the best spots for wildlife viewing in Namibia. Spanning more than 20,000 sq km, more than 114 mammal species and 340 bird species can be found here. This afternoon, you can opt to go on a 4WD safari to start exploring the national park and catch your first glimpse of the diversity of wildlife that calls this place home. Your travel time today will be approximately 4 hours. A good level of fitness is required for today’s rhino tracking activity.
Accommodation
Lodge (1 night)
Meals
Breakfast
Included activities
Waterberg - Rhino Tracking on Foot
Optional activities
Etosha National Park – Afternoon 4WD Safari - Free
Special information
Your travel time today will be approximately 4 hours.
A good level of fitness is required for today’s rhino tracking activity.
DAY 4
NoneEtosha National Park
Rise bright and early this morning to set off on a full-day 4WD safari in Etosha National Park. Drive along the open plains and keep watch at the waterholes on the edge of the Etosha Pan where the wildlife gathers to drink. You might see elephants, lions, giraffes, zebras, wildebeest, rhinos and the endemic black-faced impala. Return to your accommodation in the late afternoon, where you can debrief about the day’s adventures with your group or just kick back and relax.
Accommodation
Lodge (1 night)
Meals
Breakfast
Included activities
Etosha National Park – Full Day 4WD Safari
DAY 5
NoneDamaraland
Travel to the mountainous region of Damaraland this morning. You’ll visit the UNESCO World Heritage-listed site of Twyfelfontein, home to one of the highest concentrations of petroglyphs in Africa. The carvings depict rhinos, footprints of both animals and humans and rock shelters, combining to create a record of hunter-gathering practices in this region dating back thousands of years. Continue to the Damara Living Museum to learn about Damara cultural traditions and crafts like blacksmithing, fire-making, singing and dancing. Then it’s on to one of Damaraland’s natural wonders – the Petrified Forest, where you can see a vast deposit of 280-million-year-old fossilised tree trunks. After, head to Khorixas, where you’ll spend the night. Your travel time today will be approximately 7 hours.
Accommodation
Hotel (1 night)
Meals
Breakfast
Dinner
Included activities
Damaraland - Living Museum of the Damara
Damaraland - Twyfelfontein Bushman Paintings
Damaraland - Petrified Forest
Special information
Your travel time today will be approximately 7 hours.
DAY 6
NoneUis
This morning, journey towards Brandberg Mountain – Namibia’s highest peak at an elevation of 2573 m. On the way, make a stop at a community conservancy where you’ll learn how locals are working to protect wildlife and conserve habitats. Continue towards Brandberg, where you’ll spend the night at a lodge. Your travel time today will be approximately 3 hours.
Accommodation
Lodge (1 night)
Meals
Breakfast
Dinner
Included activities
Damaraland - Community Conservancy Visit
Special information
Your travel time today will be approximately 3 hours.
DAY 7
NoneSwakopmund
Journey to the coast, making a stop at Spitzkoppe to take in the views of dramatic granite peaks rising from the desert. Then, continue to the coastal city of Swakopmund. Join your leader for an orientation walk to get your bearings, then the rest of your day is free. Maybe get together with your group for dinner – your leader will be ready with recommendations for restaurants where you can sample some fresh local seafood. Your travel time today will be approximately 4 hours.
Accommodation
Lodge (1 night)
Meals
Breakfast
Included activities
Spitzkoppe – Viewpoint Visit
Swakopmund - Leader-led Orientation Tour
Special information
Your travel time today will be approximately 4 hours.
DAY 8
NoneSwakopmund
You have some free time to explore Swakopmund at your own pace today. Maybe visit the Swakopmund Museum to learn more about Namibia’s natural and cultural history, then wander past the town’s lighthouse to reach the waterfront and Mole Beach. With everything so close together, this a great area to explore on foot. Later, head into the Namib Desert to explore the Moon Landscape, named for its lunar-like appearance that’s been shaped over millions of years by erosion from the Swakop River. Take a walk through the rugged landscape before settling in for a picnic as the sun sets. Look up at the night sky for some stargazing before returning to Swakopmund.
Accommodation
Lodge (1 night)
Meals
Breakfast
Included activities
Swakopmund - Moon Landscape Sunset Picnic & Stargazing
DAY 9
NoneSesriem
Head towards the sand dunes this morning for a guided Living Desert experience. Learn about the wildlife that calls the Namib Desert home and hear about how desert-adapted creatures survive in this seemingly inhospitable, harsh environment. Then, leave Swakopmund and journey south towards Sesriem. Along the way, you’ll stop at the small desert settlement of Solitaire, where you might like to try a slice of the famous apple pie from the local bakery. Continue to Sesriem – your base for exploring the landscapes of Sossusvlei tomorrow. Your travel time today will be approximately 6 hours.
Accommodation
Chalets (1 night)
Meals
Breakfast
Included activities
Swakopmund - Living Desert Experience
Special information
Your travel time today will be approximately 6 hours.
DAY 10
NoneSesriem
Spend today exploring the unforgettable landscapes of the Namib Desert. Travel to the Sossusvlei salt and clay pan and visit Deadvlei, where ancient camel thorn trees rise from a white clay pan surrounded by towering red dunes. Explore the area on foot, taking in some of the Namib’s most iconic desert scenery. Later, visit Sesriem Canyon, a narrow gorge carved into the rock by the Tsauchab River over millions of years. Walk into the canyon to see its layered rock walls and learn how water has shaped this arid landscape.
Accommodation
Chalets (1 night)
Meals
There are no meals included on this day.
Included activities
Sesriem - Sossusvlei & Deadvlei Salt Pan Visit
Sesriem - Sesriem Canyon Visit
DAY 11
NoneWindhoek
Say goodbye to the Namib Desert this morning and travel back to Windhoek. When you arrive, join your leader for an orientation walk to see some of this capital city’s highlights. The rest of the day is free for you to relax or keep exploring at your own pace. You might like to head out for dinner with your group tonight to celebrate the end of your adventure. Ask your leader where to try popular local dishes like kapana (grilled meat) or potjiekos (a hearty meat and vegetable stew). Your travel time will be approximately 6 hours.
Accommodation
Lodge (1 night)
Meals
Breakfast
Included activities
Windhoek - Leader-led Orientation Walk
Special information
Your travel time will be approximately 6 hours.
DAY 12
NoneWindhoek
With no further activities planned, your adventure comes to an end. If you’d like to extend your stay, just speak to your booking agent ahead of time.
Meals
Breakfast

Inclusions

Transport

Overland Vehicle, 4WD Safari Vehicle

Accommodation

Hotel (1 night), Chalets (2 nights), Lodge (8 nights)

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DAY 12NoneWindhoek expand_moreWith no further activities planned, your adventure comes to an end. If you’d like to extend your stay, just speak to your booking agent ahead of time.restaurant_menu MealscircleBreakfast

DAY 12
NoneWindhoek
With no further activities planned, your adventure comes to an end. If you’d like to extend your stay, just speak to your booking agent ahead of time.
Meals
Breakfast