Namibia Adventure

On your arrival in Windhoek, you will collect your rental vehicle and then check into your accommodation for the night. This is a good time to visit a supermarket to stock up on some provisions for the next few days. Locally this is called ‘padkos’ (food for the road) and plays an important part of any Namibian road-trip. A meet-and-greet can be arranged either at the airport or at your accommodation in Windhoek.

After breakfast and any last minute shopping, you depart for Sossusvlei, the world’s highest sand dunes. There are several routes you can take but the most scenic is via the Spreetshoogte Pass. However, this is a more adventurous option, as it is very steep, but it does offer beautiful views over the Namib Desert. You will probably only arrive at your accommodation in the late afternoon so we suggest resting as it will be a very early start tomorrow.

You need to start today well before first light as you want to be at the park gates when they open at sunrise. It is often a good idea to arrange a packed breakfast with your accommodation so you can enjoy it in dunes. There’s a 4×4 shuttle service if you do not feel comfortable to drive in thick sand. Most people take all morning to explore this area so do not expect to be back at your accommodation before the afternoon.

After breakfast, you journey through the Namib Desert, via the Kuiseb Pass, and on to the coast. Rostock Ritz or Walvis Bay may be a good place to stop for lunch. The lagoon at Walvis Bay is home to numerous aquatic birds including flamingos and pelicans. The last section of your drive sees coastal dunes sweeping down to the Atlantic Sea. It is worth pre-booking a restaurant in Swakopmund if you are travelling during high season.

If you leave early (it’s a 2 hour detour), you may want to visit Cape Cross seal colony on your way to Twyfelfontein today. It is one of the largest Cape fur seals colonies in the world. Further north you find Twyfelfontein or /Ui-//aes, a UNESCO World Heritage site and the location of Africa’s largest concentration of rock engravings. It is often better to visit the rock art in the afternoon if you are travelling in winter as the light is  better. This is not always comfortable in summer due to the heat.

Today you make our way to Etosha, “Place of the great white spaces”, named after the massive salt pan that dominates the landscape within the park.  It’s one of the largest parks in Africa and home to a myriad of wildlife and birdlife.

In tune with the wildlife, we suggest you explore the park early in the morning and in the afternoon when animals are more active and it is not too hot. There are books listing guest sightings at each resort which can be useful to get an idea of where you may see certain wildlife.

You may want to sneak in one last game drive in Etosha before heading back to Windhoek.

It’s time to head home.