12 Day Northern and Southern Namibia Highlights

Your African adventure begins in Windhoek. Leaving the capital behind, journey north toward the sanctuary of Mount Etjo within the renowned Okonjati Nature Reserve. Upon arrival, pitch camp and unwind amidst peaceful sanctuary views. As dusk falls, enjoy a fireside dinner surrounded by the sights and sounds of the African bush.

Journey north into Etosha National Park, one of Africa’s premier wildlife destinations. Enjoy an afternoon game drive en route to your camp at Okaukuejo. After dinner, head to Okaukuejo’s world-famous floodlit waterhole—a front-row seat to observe black rhinos, elephants, lions, and giraffes drinking under the night sky.

Spend a full day exploring Etosha’s vast saline desert and network of natural waterholes. Route between Okaukuejo and Halali, scanning the grasslands for lions, leopards, cheetahs, zebras, and vast herds of springbok. Return to Okaukuejo Camp in the late afternoon for a second evening of nocturnal wildlife watching at the floodlit waterhole.

Bid farewell to Etosha as you venture west into the rugged wilderness of Damaraland. Traverse open landscapes, rocky outcrops, and sweeping valleys where desert-adapted wildlife roams freely. Arrive at Palmwag in the late afternoon to set up camp under the vast Namibian sky.

Embark on an unforgettable journey from the northern reaches of our adventure, as we pivot westward towards the dramatic Atlantic coastline, then track south along the legendary Skeleton Coast towards the iconic Spitzkoppe. Prepare to be captivated by Namibia’s unique and breathtaking landscapes, dotted with bizarre yet beautiful flora, including the ancient Welwitschia Mirabilis, a drought-defying botanical marvel endemic to Namibia and Angola, with some specimens exceeding 1,500 years. Entering the stark beauty of the Skeleton Coast National Park, we’ll witness the haunting allure of its barren beaches and formidable mountains, understanding why countless shipwrecked mariners faced a desolate fate. Discover the ambitious yet ill-fated ventures of early entrepreneurs seeking oil and diamonds, leaving behind intriguing remnants of their dreams. Our route leads us to Cape Cross, home to one of the world’s largest Cape fur seal colonies – a truly spectacular, albeit pungent, wildlife encounter. Learn about the historical significance of the stone crosses erected by Portuguese explorers like Diogo Cão in the 15th century, marking this significant landmark. Finally, we journey inland to the majestic Spitzkoppe, granite peaks rising dramatically from the plains, promising stunning sunset and sunrise vistas and unparalleled night photography opportunities before we settle into camp.

The rare and wonderful lie-in can be enjoyed this morning as we are in no rush and everyone can come through for breakfast to enjoy a tasty cooked breakfast.Our plan today is to take a slow drive down the coast towards Swakopmund for an early afternoon arrival. Along the way, we will stop at Zeila Shipwreck which is one of the latest victims of the Skeleton Coast from as recent as 2007. Upon arrival into Swakopmund, take your time to settle into your lodge and enjoy walking through this German-inspired small coastal town. Here you may even be able to enjoy an afternoon activity, such as quad biking, camel riding a scenic flight or even skydiving if you still have time. As we are in a town that has such lovely restaurants, dinner tonight is at your own expense as this will allow you to eat some great local meats, amazing seafood and hearty veggie meals where you may go tonight – it’s just a nice change-up

This morning, we depart Swakopmund at 11h30 so we can have time today to do an optional activity. The adrenaline junkies there’s a lot for you to choose from to fill this morning and for the more relaxed animal-focused individuals, we recommend partaking in a morning trip into the dues to see the more small wildlife that resides within this environment. Whatever we choose to do is perfect. Thereafter, our wheels start rolling at 11.30 am to drive through the Namib Desert, where we can enjoy the Kuiseb Pass, Tropic of Capricorn, stopping briefly in Solitaire for a sweet treat and a look into the past before arriving at our camp late afternoon. We set up our tents, enjoy the sunset over the Namib Desert while listening to the barking geckos and know that we recommend an early night as tomorrow morning we set out early, to enjoy “first light” in the heart of the desert.

We’re leaving camp early today so we can see the sunrise over the dunes. Driving down an ancient riverbed, surrounded by towering dunes, our first stop is the famous Dune 45, where we can climb to the top to see the sunrise. On the way down, we stop for breakfast before heading into Sossusvlei. Explore this unique area on foot, head into Dead Vlei with its vast stretches of bleached cracked clay and skeletal camel thorn trees, contrasting with a backdrop of huge sand dunes with their ever-changing colors. We’ll climb the dune at Sossusvlei before going back to Sesriem for lunch and a swim or rest. Later in the afternoon we visit Sesriem Canyon before your guide takes you to Elim’s Dune for a short and educational sunset walk back to camp.

A very scenic drive is upon us today as we head south through some of the most spectacular desert landscapes in Southern Namibia.

We arrive midafternoon and have a few options to choose from in terms of keeping busy, however one of our favorite things to do here at Klein Aus Vista is to enjoy a nice refreshing swim in the pool at the lodge or go on a afternoon hike on one of the trails from the campsite.

Today’s journey begins with an early start on smooth, sealed roads, guiding us through vast grasslands and open desert landscapes towards the captivating ocean. Keep your eyes peeled for the legendary desert-adapted horses, a remarkable sight whose origins – perhaps linked to German WWI cavalry or the bloodstock of Castle Duwisib’s Hans Heinrich von Wolf – remain a fascinating mystery, making their wild presence a true privilege to witness. Our destination is the eerie ghost town of Kolmanskop, a short drive from Lüderitz, a place where whispers of untold riches once became reality when diamonds were so plentiful they could be pocketed straight from the sand. Founded in 1908 with German village architecture and surprisingly modern amenities like the Southern Hemisphere’s first x-ray machine, Kolmanskop thrived until the 1920s when diamond yields dwindled, and the discovery of richer deposits further south led to its abandonment, leaving the desert to slowly reclaim its fascinating structures – a photographer’s dream we’ll explore with a guided tour. Leaving Kolmanskop, we soon arrive in Lüderitz, renowned for its vibrant colonial architecture, before venturing onto the peninsula to Diaz Point, another historical site marked by a stone cross erected by the Portuguese navigator Bartolomeu Diaz in 1487, who named the bay “Angra das Voltas” due to the strong winds that still make Lüderitz one of Earth’s windiest spots. Finally, we return to the comfort of Klein Aus Vista, offering another chance to spot the elusive desert horses and enjoy a well-deserved sundowner.

Another early head east towards Fish River Canyon where we have the opportunity to overlook the second largest canyon in the world, which was formed millions of years ago by water erosion and the collapse of the valley due to movements of the earth’s crust.

After lunch, we head to the last destination of our adventure together – The Quiver Tree Forest which is located just northeast of Keetmanshoop. Here we find a forest of over 250 quiver trees which grew spontaneously the oldest trees in this forest are estimated to be around 200-300 years old.

The Quiver tree (Kokerboom in Afrikaans) is also Namibia’s national tree, and the forest was declared a national monument in 1995. The last night on our adventure is spent camping under the stars with meals prepared by our guide. This is an excellent location for photographing the stars should you be an avid photographer (permits are available for night photography of the quiver trees at additional cost).

After a hearty breakfast, we start the day exploring the Quiver Tree Forest and Giants Playground. This area is known to be a geological phenomenon of dolerite rocks that appear to have been stacked by giants.From here we begin our journey back to Windhoek passing Brukkaros Mountain, travelling through the small towns of Mariental and Rehoboth and then arriving back at the Backpackers in Windhoek late afternoon.There is a shuttle option for those staying elsewhere within the city limits.It’s recommended that no flights are scheduled for this day due to the later afternoon arrival in Windhoek, however, if you are desperate to fly out, no flight should be booked before 22.00pm this evening.