Family Self-Drive Namibia: Deserts & Wildlife Explorer - 16 Days

Travel distance: Approximately 50kms, good, main roads.

Collect your vehicle upon arrival and drive to your guesthouse / hotel. Depending on your arrival time you may choose to wander into the centre of Namibia’s capital city. It’s often described as having a continental atmosphere - mixing African lifestyle with European history, picturesque German architecture, European influenced restaurants and shopping centres combined with street vendors make it unique. Alternatively relax by the pool or join an optional township tour.

Stay at:
Standard - The Elegant Guesthouse or similar

Travel distance: Approximately 270kms, main roads and good dirt roads

Head south and you will soon see the red sand of the Kalahari interspersed with yellow grasses, shepherd’s trees and acacias. The Kalahari is a vast semi-desert of sand shaped by the wind and mantle of thorn scrub. It is so extensive it covers a number of southern African countries. The Kalahari receives erratic rainfall, however, it is still home to a surprisingly large amount of specially adapted wildlife. Your lodge is situated on a private game reserve where oryx, springbok, zebra, and a variety of smaller game species abound and you have two nights to to experience the red dunes, wildlife and plants.

Included during your stay are:
- a morning walk with the the San Bushmen, the indigenous people of the Kalahari, to their village to learn about their ancient traditions. In the village, you will be shown how to collect water in ostrich eggs, how to set traps, which plants are suitable for medicine or how to make pearl and ostrich jewellery - a truly unforgettable experience.
- an afternoon cheetah excursion and game drive. Bagatelle Lodge is a recognised site for the cheetah conservation and this is a chance to get up close and personal with the fastest land animal on earth. Your cheetah experience is followed by a game drive through the desert landscape to view such species as giraffes, kudus, zebras, oryx, wildebeest, eland  and possibly, meerkats.

Stay at:
Standard - Bagatelle Kalahari Game Lodge or similar

Travel distance: Approximately 350kms, good dirt roads, good roads / main highways.

This morning you travel west into the Namib Desert, the oldest desert on Earth. Your lodge is surrounded by the striking Naukluft Mountains. Arriving at Sesriem, the gate to Sossusvlei, home of the highest sand dunes on Earth, you have the afternoon at leisure to relax or take part in one of the lodge activities (additional cost). Early the following morning head out in your vehicle to experience sunrise over the surreal environment of gravel plains contrasted with the majestic red sand dunes of Sossusvlei. Take some time to walk up the dunes, taking lots of photographs on the way, to admire the desert landscape below. Also visit the fantastic Deadvlei with its white clay-baked pan surrounded by the highest dunes in the desert. Finish your visit at the rugged Sesriem Canyon, a gorge created by the force of the Tsauchab River.

For more details about the amazing Sossusvlei check out our blog - Sossusvlei sand dunes: sensational shifting sculptures in the desert.

Stay at:
Standard - The Elegant Desert Lodge or similar

Travel distance: Approximately 350kms, good dirt roads, good roads / main highways.

After breakfast, leave Sesriem and travel to Swakopmund. Enroute you traverse the rugged and harsh Gaub and Kuiseb Passes. You can also visit the Welwitschia plains and the moon landscape as you approach Swakopmund. This idyllic town is situated between the Namib Desert and the Atlantic Ocean and enjoys a distinct German architecture and atmosphere. Swakopmund is fondly referred to as the "playground of Namibia" and has numerous adventure and sight-seeing activities on offer ranging from adrenaline-filled adventures to exploring the fascinating features of the Namib Desert and the animals and plants that survive there. Embrace the relaxed pace of this idyllic coastal town while enjoying coffee and freshly baked pastries in one of the many cafés.

Included during your stay on Namibia's Atlantic Coast are two activities the whole family will enjoy:
- a morning 'Living Desert' tour to discover some of the fascinating, hidden life in an apparently barren landscape. Here your guide will introduce you to the many creatures that are endemic to the Namib, such as the sidewinder snake, the Palmato Gecko the Namaqua Chameleon and the swift sand-diving lizard! For more details about this fascinating tour check out our blog - Living Desert Tours.
- an exciting quad biking adventure through the Namib Desert. Follow your guide as they take you on a quad-biking roller coaster journey up, down and through the dunes. For more details about this adrenaline filled tour check out our blog - Quad Biking & Dune Boarding.

Stay at:
Standard - Kramersdorf Guesthouse or similar

Travel distance: Approximately 260kms, good dirt roads, good roads / main highways.

Depart the coastal town of Swakopmund and travel east towards the picturesque Erongo Mountain Range. Travelling past the Spitzkoppe you have the exceptional opportunity to visit a village of the San community living here. At your overnight lodge you have time to spend at leisure around the sparkling pool, or explore the small town of Omaruru and its surrounds. Experience a magical sunset around a fireplace and marvel at the African sky whilst sipping your favourite Namibian Sundowner.

Stay at:
Standard - Klein Eden Guestfarm or similar 

Travel distance: Approximately 300kms, good dirt roads, good roads / main highways.

Travel onto the Etosha National Park, Namibia’s famous wildlife reserve. The park is centred around the stark Etosha salt pan, which shimmers with mirages during the heat of the day. The next four days are devoted to the abundant wildlife found in Etosha. The Park was proclaimed as Namibia's first conservation area in 1907 and is home to 4 of the Big Five - elephant, lion, leopard and rhino. Game viewing is primarily focussed around the waterholes, some of which are spring-fed and some supplied from a borehole, ideal places to sit and watch over 114 different game species, or for the avid birder, more than 340 bird species. Popular animals including giraffe, blue wildebeest, plains and mountain zebra, hyena, lion, leopard, antelopes such as kudu, oryx, eland, as well as endangered species including black rhino, cheetah and the black-faced impala are all found here. An extensive network of roads links over 30 water holes allowing visitors the opportunity of a comprehensive game viewing safari throughout the park with different habitats providing diverse encounters.

Your lodge for the first two nights is located just outside the Anderson Gate in the central section of the park and whilst you stay here we include a full day game drive with a safari guide. You then head across the park to its eastern border where your lodge for the next two nights is located in a private game reserve adjoining Etosha. Your family-friendly lodge offers special guided bush walks focusing on children, educating them on all highlights of environmental protection and conservation.

Stay at:
Standard -
Etosha Safari Camp, Etosha Central (2 nights bed & breakfast) or similar
Onguma Bush Camp, Etosha East (2 nights dinner, bed & breakfast) or similar

Travel distance: Approximately 350kms, good main roads.

After a last morning game drive in the park depart Etosha and travel south to the home of the AfriCat Foundation, Okonjima Private Game Reserve, resting at the foot of the Omboroko Mountains. The activities (additional costs apply) at Okonjima will delight and educate even the most experienced of travellers. You can witness some of the Foundation's work, which is committed to researching and rehabilitating Namibia's threatened wild cat populations. With an abundance of animal and birdlife and spectacular scenery, Okonjima is a photographer's paradise. Activities (please note that age limits apply for some activities) include nature drives, AfriCat carnivore care project, leopard tracking, endangered species game drives, bushman walk and night drives.

Stay at:
Standard - Okonjima Plains Camp or similar 

Travel distance: Approximately 275kms, main roads.

Enjoy a leisurely morning at Okonjima or one of the many activities on offer in the reserve before traveling south to Windhoek for your last night. On arrival in Windhoek there will be time for further exploring, stocking up on some final Namibian souvenirs for family and friends or  join a tour to experience one of Windhoek's townships.  

On your last morning, return your vehicle to Windhoek International (Hosea Kutako) Airport

Stay at:
Standard - The Elegant Guesthouse or similar