Etosha, Skeleton Coast & Sossusvlei
Camping & Accommodated Safari
Duration
Highlights
Per Person Sharing
Departs
Safari Description
Starting in Windhoek and heading north, on our 9-day and 8-night semi-accommodated safari, our winding road takes us first to Mount Etjo Game Reserve where we will do a game drive with a specialist guide, we will learn all about this fascinating species and the pressures and challenges they face to survive in the modern world.
Looking for amazing wildlife encounters in Etosha National Park we hope for predators and prey alike. Lion and leopard, elephant and giraffe, black rhino and eland are all in the mix of possible sightings and we enjoy the privilege of night-time viewing at the world-famous Okaukuejo waterhole.
We meet and engage with the Himba Tribespeople and then travel, onwards to Palmwag, over the mighty Etendeka Mountains and Grootberg Pass with exotic and beautiful views, where the mountain peaks seem to touch the very sky. Stunning in every season this region of mountains and grassland, trees and riverbeds, desert elephant and desert rhino, puts real meaning into the words ‘’breathtaking’’.
Palmwag is set out abreast of the Uniab River and under waving Makalani palm trees which often provide a refuge for Namibia’s unique desert-adapted elephants.
We experience the Skeleton Coast, the last resting place of many an ancient mariner, meet 100,000 seals and encounter shipwrecks and lichen fields like no other on our way into the coastal town of Swakopmund. Referred to by some as the adrenaline capital of Namibia, there are certainly some hair-raising experiences on offer, but Swakopmund is also a place where you can relax and recharge.
We head for adventure on a magical trip to one of the most beautiful places on Planet Earth, the centre of Namib – the oldest desert in the world. From the coast, we cross the vast gravel plains that stretch inland for over 100km. We traverse high mountain passes and cross The Tropic of Capricorn on our way down to the dune fields.
A pre-dawn start to catch the soft light of sunrise as we head for Dead Vlei with its stark collection of skeleton trees and on to Sossusvlei, waters end for an ancient river. We watch out for wildlife, oryx and springbok are often seen in this sandy land but if we look and have sharp eyes, the dunes are also home to a full menagerie of reptiles, beetles, insects, rodents and birds. All these creatures are uniquely desert adapted to survive in this waterless wonderland using super-power evolutionary adaptations. The Namib Desert is internationally recognized as a top biodiversity hot spot in a desert habitat.
Climbing a towering sand dune, 300 m from top-to-toe, is an experience unique to Namibia, Big Daddy, Big Mamma and Dune 45 are all waiting to be conquered if you are feeling intrepid and want to experience the view from such a lofty perch.
We visit the Solitaire, then homeward bound up-and-over rocky mountains as we climb our way up the central plateau and across the Khomas Hochland mountains to Windhoek
Full Itinerary
Day 1: Saturday – Windhoek to Mount Etjo • 230 km
We leave Windhoek and travel to Mount Etjo and the Okonjati Nature Reserve. After setting up camp, there is time to relax and enjoy the reserve surroundings before dinner.
Twin-share tents with shared ablutions at the campsite.
Meals: Lunch and dinner.
Day 2: Sunday – Mount Etjo to Etosha National Park • 280 km
We leave Mount Etjo and travel to Etosha National Park, enjoying a game drive on the way to Okaukuejo Camp. In the evening, you can visit the floodlit waterhole.
Twin-share tents with shared ablutions at the campsite.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch and dinner.
Day 3: Monday – Etosha National Park
Today is a full day of game viewing in Etosha National Park between Okaukuejo and Halali, stopping at waterholes in search of wildlife. We return to Okaukuejo in the late afternoon, and after dinner you can visit the floodlit waterhole.
Twin-share tents with shared ablutions at the campsite.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch and dinner.
Day 4: Tuesday – Etosha to Palmwag • 320 km
We leave Etosha and travel west into Damaraland, passing through dry valleys and open landscapes on the way to Palmwag. This is a long but scenic travel day, with stops along the route before we arrive at camp in the late afternoon.
Twin-share tents with shared ablutions at the campsite.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch and dinner.
Day 5: Wednesday – Palmwag to Spitzkoppe • 420 km
We continue south through Damaraland, passing wide desert scenery and small settlements before reaching Spitzkoppe. After setting up camp, there is time to explore the granite rock formations around camp and enjoy sunset.
Twin-share tents with shared ablutions at the campsite.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch and dinner.
Day 6: Thursday – Spitzkoppe to Swakopmund • 120 km
We spend the morning at Spitzkoppe before travelling across open plains to Swakopmund. We arrive later in the day, and the evening is free to relax or explore town.
Twin-share rooms with en-suite bathroom.
Meals: Breakfast.
Day 7: Friday – Swakopmund to Sesriem • 350 km
We leave Swakopmund and travel east across the Namib Desert, stopping at the Tropic of Capricorn before continuing to our accommodation near Sesriem.
Desert Camp, Desert Quiver Camp or Desert Homestead.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch and dinner.
Day 8: Saturday – Sossusvlei and Sesriem Canyon • 120 km
We enter Namib-Naukluft National Park before sunrise and visit Dune 45, Sossusvlei and Dead Vlei, using the 4×4 shuttle for the final sandy section. There is time to explore the vlei area and visit Sesriem Canyon before returning to our accommodation in the late afternoon.
Desert Camp, Desert Quiver Camp or Desert Homestead.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch and dinner.
Day 9: Sunday – Namib Desert to Windhoek • 320 km
We leave the Namib Desert after breakfast and travel through the central highlands to Windhoek. Arrival is in the afternoon, with drop-off at your accommodation in central Windhoek. We do not recommend booking a departure flight for today.
Meals: Breakfast.
