Namibia Voyager

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.

Today you head south into the gently undulating red dunes of the Kalahari. The first section is on sealed roads, until Mariental, so it is an easy introduction to driving in Namibia. Different lodges offer varying activities so pick one that suits your interests.

Today is a long drive of around 5-6 hours. Drive south again, heading for the town of Keetmanshoop and then on to Fish River Canyon.  If you have enough time you may want to visit the Quiver Tree Forest and Giants’ Playground near Keetmanshoop, which is roughly an hour detour, not including time to explore. Depending on your accommodation choice you may be able to book a drive into the canyon (Fish River Lodge) or visit the canyon viewing point at Hobas.

After breakfast, you drive to the coastal town of Luderitz. There are various place to explore in this remote and wind-blown settlement – Diaz Point marks the first European explorer who briefly came ashore in 1488; Shark Island has a dark past as the first German concentration camp for Herero and Nama prisoners; birding along the peninsula where you are likely to see greater flamingos and African black oystercatchers; you can book a boat trip to view Halifax Island and the resident penguin population; or just sip a sundowner drink and watch the sun set over the Atlantic.

This morning we suggest you visit Kolmanskop Ghost Town – once a bustling diamond-mining settlement, it is now constantly battling to keep the sand of the Namib from engulfing it. The tour takes about an hour. Afterwards you drive further inland to the region around Aus, looking out for desert horses.

After breakfast, you depart for Sossusvlei, the world’s highest sand dunes.  We recommend taking the D707 as this is one of Namibia’s more scenic roads. 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. Swakopmund offers various activities including kayaking, sand boarding or a guided desert tour.

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 your 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. Mirroring the behaviour of the wildlife, we suggest you explore the park early in the morning and in the afternoon when animals. Because you have 3 nights in Etosha you may want to spend 2 within the park and 1 outside at a private lodge, to get a good combination of experiences.

Today you head back to Windhoek.

It’s time to head home.