Best of Namibia

Arrival at the Windhoek International Airport. Here you will be met by a representative of the car rental company and he will transfer you to your hotel, in the Capital of Namibia, Windhoek.

Here you will stay for your first night.

The city is considerably enhanced by stately historic buildings built in the German architectural style of the turn of the century. You can visit the buildings, which lend a singular charm to the city, including the historic seat of government also known as the Tintenpalast, which means palace of ink in German. The Christuskirche, right next to the Tintenpalast, with its graceful sphere, provides the city with a striking landmark. The white-walled Alte Feste, which was once a fort and is now a museum reflects the history of the country. Windhoek lies 1650m above sea level. The population of Windhoek consists of approx 450 000 people, which makes it the largest city in the country.

The largest part of Windhoek’s population stays in Katutura, the Bantu- speaking suburb of the city. Katutura is an Oshiwambo word meaning: “the place where we do not want to stay”. All along Independence Avenue (the former “Kaiserstrasse” – German for “emperor’s street”), one can see the old, colonial houses right next to the buildings of the modern, post-independence Namibia.

Overnight and Breakfast at Hotel Thule.

In the morning you will fly from Eros Airport Windhoek to the famous Etosha National Park.

The Etosha National Park, consisting of 22 270 sq km of saline desert, savannah, and woodlands, is one of the largest parks in Africa. Its definitive feature is the Etosha Pan, a vast, shallow depression of approximately 5000 sq km. For the greater part of the year, the pan is a bleak expanse of white cracked mud that shimmers with mirages on most days. It is seeing vast herds of game with this eerie „great white place of dry water“ as a backdrop which makes the Etosha experience unique.

A total of about 114 mammal species are found in the park, including several rare and endangered animals such as the black rhino and black-faced impala. Many bird species occur in the park, of which approximately one-third are migratory, including the European bee-eater and several species of waders.

In the afternoon you will have your first game drive in an open vehicle in the Etosha National Park.

Dinner, Overnight and Breakfast at Taleni Etosha Village.

Included: Etosha Village Guided Morning Game Drive

Today, you will go on safari again in the Etosha National Park, where you will have excellent opportunities for game viewing.

Dinner, Overnight and Breakfast at Taleni Etosha Village.

After breakfast, your journey continues over the unique mountain landscape of Damaraland.

The Damaraland and Kaokoveld in the dry northwest of Namibia form parts of the mosaic of ethnically diverse regions that make Namibia so diverse and interesting. Until recently, Damaraland was a secluded region where the life of the local people has hardly changed over the centuries. It is an area of strong contrasts, with high mountains, grasslands, and plains.

In the afternoon a nature drive in the fantastic landscape is on the program.

With a little luck, you can observe free-roaming desert elephants.

Dinner, Overnight and Breakfast at Twyfelfontein Country Lodge.

This morning after a lovely breakfast, you will visit the famous prehistoric rock engravings at Twyfelfontein, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Twyfelfontein was declared a world cultural heritage site in 2007. The Bushman engravings bear witness to the indigenous people who lived here hundreds or perhaps thousands of years ago, hunting wild animals, gathering berries, and digging edible tubers in the ground. The name Twyfelfontein is Afrikaans and means “dubious source” and it lies at the foot of a huge sandstone massif. These sedimentary rocks are the fossilized remains of a primeval desert that covered large areas of today’s Namibia with its sand masses about 180 million years ago.

In the afternoon you will continue your flight over the Brandberg massif to Swakopmund, Namibia’s most popular coastal town.

Overnight and Breakfast at Strand Hotel.

Included: Twyfelfontein

Swakopmund is much loved by Namibians as a welcome respite from the inland heat. It is also popular amongst visitors because of its old-world charm and relaxed atmosphere. Founded in 1892 during the period of German colonial rule, it served as the territory’s main harbor 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. The Woermann Tower was used in earlier times to watch ships entering the harbor. Other old interesting buildings are: „Die Alte Kaserne“, „Hohenzollern Haus“, and the Railway Station Building.

This idyllic town, better known as Namibia’s playground, is located between the Namib Desert and the cold Atlantic Ocean. This desert city is a rhapsody of adventure, fun, exploration, and relaxation. Swakopmund has many beautiful old buildings in the colonial, Bavarian-style.

Today an interesting boat trip in the Walvis Bay Lagoon is on the program. Here fur seals, pelicans, and dolphins can often be spotted. Namibian oysters and iced South African sparkling wine provide a pleasant culinary setting.

Overnight and Breakfast at Strand Hotel.

Included: Levo Dolphin & Seal Tour

After breakfast, the flight continues over the Kuiseb Canyon and the sheer endless dune landscape to Sesriem in the heart of the Namib Desert.

Namibia’s most versatile conservation area and one of the country’s major tourist destinations is the Namib Naukluft Park, a vast wilderness of almost 50 000 sq km. The park has key features such as Sossusvlei, Sesriem, the Welwitschia Trail, Sandwich Harbour, the Naukluft Mountains, and the Kuiseb Canyon.

An amalgamation of the Namib Desert Park, proclaimed in 1907, the Naukluft Mountain Zebra Park created in 1966, unoccupied public land and a large section of Diamond Area 2, it was proclaimed in 1979 as one integrated reserve. Following the addition in 1986 of the remainder of Diamond Area 2, it now has a surface area of 49 768 sq km and is thus Namibia’s largest conservation area.

Your lodge is located directly at the entrance to Namib Naukluft Park and the breathtaking Sossusvlei.

Dinner, Overnight and Breakfast at Sossusvlei Lodge.

Today you have an early departure for a tour in an open vehicle to the famous sand dunes. The colors and shapes of the dunes in the early morning light make this place a feast for the senses. Breakfast will be served in the middle of the dunes.

Sossusvlei is a dune wonderland, with towering dunes up to 300m high surrounds a huge, dried-up pan. Dunes extend as far as the eye can see and their rich tints vary from pale apricot to vivid reds and oranges. During a good rainy season, the Tsauchab River flows into the pan which creates a heaven for water birds. Even during the dry season, oryx, springbok, and ostriches can be seen feeding off the sparse vegetation along the watercourses.

This is the Vlei itself, where at the moment the waters of the Tsauchab River are disappearing into the red sand of the Namib.

This can be followed by a visit to the Sesriem Canyon.

Before you leave the dunes, you explore on foot the Sesriem Canyon. The Sesriem Canyon, a deep ravine, is a striking natural feature of the area, which is best explored on foot. The name of the canyon means “six belts” because early settlers used it as a source of water, with six lengths of leather used to draw water. It is 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 that become replenished after good rains.

Return to your lodge and spend the afternoon at leisure.

Dinner, Overnight and Breakfast at Sossusvlei Lodge.

Upon arrival in Windhoek, check-in at your hotel and spend the rest of the afternoon at leisure.

You can enjoy an afternoon tour through the City of Windhoek.

Overnight and Breakfast at Hotel Thule.

Unfortunately, your African adventure has come to an end. Until your transfer to the airport, you have today at leisure. Bid farewell to our beautiful country and make your way to the airport to board your flight back home.

Activities in Swakopmund include things like dolphin tours and seal watching.

The towering red sand dunes, some reaching 300 meters high, provide a stunning desert landscape.

You may see elephants, lions, giraffes, rhinos, and many other species during game drives.

The dry season (May to September) is ideal for wildlife viewing as animals gather around waterholes.

Yes, a guided tour of this UNESCO World Heritage Site is included on Day 5.