Beautiful Contrasts Southern Comfort Tour

At the accommodation establishment at which you have spent the previous night, you will be met by your personal English-speaking Guide for the following 6 days. He/she will welcome you and assist you with your luggage before you board the safari vehicle. You proceed with a short sight-seeing trip through the Capital.

Windhoek is considerably enhanced by stately historic buildings built in the German architectural style of the turn of the century. One can visit the ‘Tintenpalast’ and the Christuskirche, plus all along Independence Avenue you will see the old colonial houses next to the buildings of the modern, post-independence Namibia.

Hereafter, you proceed with the initial leg of your journey into the first of the incredible deserts of Namibia. Driving Southwards via Rehoboth and Kalkrand, you enter the beautiful dune landscape of the Kalahari Desert. The Kalahari Desert forms a great part of the eastern side of Namibia. Due to its sandy ground, it doesn’t allow sufficient water absorption into the soil and with the extremely high evaporation in this area, it is characterised as a Desert. In reality, it is a lively wilderness, and you can often see antelopes and other animals in the dry valleys, seasonally inundated pans and on the tracts of excellent grazing that result when there are good rains.

Following arrival, check-in and a while to relax, you partake in an included late afternoon Game Drive. Depart before sunset to view the panoramic view of the Kalahari Region while you enjoy a cold drink and watch the picturesque sun sinking in the west.

Dinner, Overnight and Breakfast

Awaken very early and breathe in the fresh early morning air as you embark on a Sunrise Game Drive, to discover the secrets of the desert as the sun rises over the dunes and the animals, birds and insects slowly awaken. Breakfast is served on your return to the lodge, thereafter the day is yours to enjoy at your leisure. For those who wish, another evening Sundowner Game Drive can be enjoyed, (optional, not included.) Your Guide will gladly assist you with all booking arrangements.

Dinner, Overnight and Breakfast

Breakfast precedes today’s journey, onwards into the South and the vast and contrasting Namib Desert region. Travelling via Mariental , Maltahöhe and Sesriem, you reach your breathtaking destination in the Namib Naukluft Park region in the early afternoon.

Considered possibly the oldest desert in the world, the Namib was already arid at least 80 million years ago. In the south it extends into South Africa across the Orange River, while in the north it crosses the Kunene into Angola. The greater part of the Namib lies inside Namibia, where it occupies some 1500km of Atlantic coastline. In width it generally varies between 80 and 140 km, but in places reaches inland for as much as 200 km. The Namib sand dunes, some of which are 300 metres high and span 32 kilometres (20 mi) long, are the second largest in the world.

Evening sundowners while you view the incredible Namibian desert sunset will undoubtedly be memorable, as you marvel at the endless landscapes that stretch in front of you.

Dinner, Overnight and Breakfast

This morning you will rise very early for coffee/tea, before embarking on your pre-dawn journey into the sand sea of Sossusvlei. Today you have the opportunity to climb one of the highest sand dunes in the world.

Sossusvlei is a beautiful dune wonderland, with towering dunes up to 300m high surrounding a huge, dried-up pan. Extending as far as the eye can see, their rich tints vary from pale apricot to vivid reds and oranges. During a good rainy season, the Tsauchab River flows into the pan and creates a haven for birds. Even during the dry season, Oryx, Springbok and Ostrich can be seen feeding off the sparse vegetation along the water course.

At the entrance to Sossusvlei lies the Sesriem Canyon, where centuries of erosion have incised a narrow gorge about 1 km in length. At the foot of the gorge, which plunges down for 30m to 40m, are deep pools of water which become replenished after good rains. Sesriem derives its name from the time when early pioneers tied six lengths of rawhide thongs together to draw water from these pools.

Return to the lodge in the early afternoon, where the remainder of the day can be spent at leisure.

Dinner, Overnight and Breakfast

Enjoy a leisurely breakfast before continuing your journey through the Namib Naukluft Park, towards the west coast of Namibia. The drive takes you via Solitaire and Walvis Bay.

Solitaire refers to a single solitaire diamond, the other being the solitude or loneliness of the area and the two meanings combined create the image of a distinctive, precious and solitary place. This small settlement features a gas station, post office, shop and a restaurant which is widely known for its delicious apple pie. It is the perfect stop-over to break the journey between the Sesreim and Sossusvlei area, and Swakopmund or Windhoek.

Walvis Bay is Namibia’s major harbour town; it is fast developing into a sought-after haven for spending a holiday at the coast. Attractions include the lagoon with its prolific bird life, where altogether some 80 000 wading birds including flamingos and rare white pelicans can be seen. A former enclave belonging to South Africa, Walvis Bay and the offshore islands were incorporated into the Republic of Namibia on March 1, 1994. The town has a welldeveloped and efficient port, while its fishing harbour is the hub of Namibia’s fast-growing fishing industry.

Arrival in the afternoon in Swakopmund after travelling along the road that passes directly between the towering sand dunes of the Namib, and the Benguela current that flows along the Namibian coastline. Check in to your Hotel where you will be welcomed warmly and you can sink into cool comfort following a dusty day on sandy roads and rocky mountain passes. Hereafter you can enjoy an optional city tour, or get to know this quaint and lovely town on foot at your leisure.

Overnight and Breakfast

Enjoy a relaxing day at your leisure. In Swakopmund there are many activities to choose from, such as a Catamaran cruise in the Walvis Bay lagoon with oysters and sparkling wine served underway, the famous ‘Living Desert tour’, or a Quad Bike excursion into the dunes. Alternately, visit the Crystal Gallery to see the largest crystals in the world, or join a guided Fatbike Tour through town or into the dunes.

Dinner in the evening can be enjoyed at any one of Swakopmund’s renowned and very popular Restaurants.

Swakopmund is much loved by Namibians as a welcome respite from the inland heat. It is also popular amongst visitors for its old-world charm and relaxed atmosphere. Founded in 1892 during the period of German colonial rule, it served as the territory’s main harbour for many years. The distinct German colonial character has been well preserved and today many of the old buildings serve a useful purpose. The Woermann House (1905) now houses an art gallery and the Woermann Tower was used in earlier times to watch ships entering the harbour. Other old interesting buildings include „Die Alte Kaserne“, the „Hohenzollern Haus” and the Railway Station Building.

The road that runs between Walvis Bay and Swakopmund offers a fascinating contrast, flanked on one side by the soaring yellow sand dunes of the Namib Desert and on the other by the sea and the cold Benguela Current. The mists that cover the dunes and beaches in the early mornings are equally as eerily beautiful as the windblown sands that drift over the dune ridges, driven by the on-shore winds in the late afternoon.

As the last day of your safari day draws to a close, climb the sand dunes and watch the sun set over the ocean with a view that is often coloured in brilliant hues of red and orange, and seems to stretch all the way to eternity. In the evening after dinner, you bid your Tour Guide farewell.

Overnight and Breakfast

After breakfast the various options from which you could select will commence: Choose to remain in Swakopmund, accommodation bookings are not included but we will gladly assist you with this on request, for your own account. (Prices on request.)

Travellers flying out of Namibia on Day 7 board their early morning transfer to the airport, travelling through the towns of Usakos, Karibib, Okahandja and Windhoek en-route to the Hosea Kutako International Airport or your Windhoek accommodation.

You could also choose to continue with the safari, into the Northern Regions of Namibia. In Swakopmund you will be joined by further guests who have booked the Northern Tour and your tour will depart after breakfast. (See the Beautiful Contrasts Never-ending Landscapes Tour for the ful program.)

Namibia is ideal to visit year-round, but the dry winter months (May to September) offer the best wildlife viewing and comfortable temperatures.

Yes! Day 4 includes a morning hike up the towering sand dunes of Sossusvlei, some of the highest in the world.

You may spot antelope, oryx, springbok, ostriches, and various bird species, particularly in the Kalahari and Namib Desert regions.

Yes, you can enjoy activities such as catamaran cruises, quad biking, and the Living Desert Tour.

The drive takes approximately 4-5 hours, with scenic views of the Namibian landscape along the way