Inspiration for your own tailor-made trip
The Namib Desert ,Etosha & Damaraland
100% customisable for you
This morning you will be met on arrival and privately transferred to your charming hotel in the city. You will then have the rest of today to relax in your modern, comfortable room and maybe stretch your legs with a wander around Windhoek. After a delicious dinner, be sure to get an early night - the adventure begins tomorrow and it will be an early start!
This morning you will be met by one of our local partners who will sit down and run through your trip in detail, with a map and full, detailed driving instructions. You will be given a local phone and sim card, loaded with all the contact details you could need, and our guide will run through any questions you may have about the trip. Our partner will stay with you while your car hire is dropped off at the hotel and make sure you are happy with everything before you set off on the first stage of your road trip. You begin with a five hour drive to Sossusvlei - in the heart of the Namibian desert. Passing quirky towns, farmsteads, hillsides and desert, you will finally arrive at Kulala Desert Lodge by late afternoon. After your long drive here, freshen up and relax in your tent as the sun sets behind the dusty orange dunes around you. Alternatively, if you arrive into camp early enough, you may have time for an afternoon activity - what better way to introduce yourself to the desert than by hopping onto a quadbike and discovering your surroundings with speed! You will head back to camp in time for dinner in the restaurant, and once you have eaten as much as you can, make your way to the bar and enjoy a refreshing beverage as you watch the African night sky.
Early this morning you will depart just before sunrise to visit the iconic dunes of Sossusvlei and the pans of Dead Vlei. To give you some idea what to expect, think rusty orange dunes set against a luminous white floor, with dead black trees, and all below a deep blue sky - this is Namibia in a nutshell. To get there you will have to leave your car around half a mile away and walk to the dunes, so be sure to pack comfy walking shoes. Returning to the lodge you will have lunch, and perhaps a siesta, before setting out on an afternoon game drive. Exploring the 37,000-hectare private Kulala Nature Reserve, search for hyena, ostrich, springbok and gemsbok, which are all adapted in order to survive in the desert. Be sure to keep your eyes close to the ground too, as it's easy to miss the elusive beetles, spiders, reptiles and geckos which all dig beneath the sand. Plus, as well as spotting wildlife on the drive, our guide will also teach you about the flora which can be found here, and how they too are able to survive the hot and dry days that Namibia experiences. If you prefer, you can of course simply relax at the lodge, take a refreshing dip in the pool, lounge on your private balcony, read your favourite book in the library, or book a massage - what better way to make the most of the serenity the desert brings?! Alternatively, we can arrange bird watching or riding. Tonight, once you have had dinner, take advantage of the African night sky and sleep on the private rooftop skybed. This is an amazing, once in a lifetime experience and gazing up at the stars with your other half is oh so romantic.
Today you leave Swakopmund and make your way about five hours north east to Damaraland; first driving up along the coast (keep your eyes peeled for the shipwrecks!) before turning inland to Damaraland itself. You will notice how different the scenery is here from Sossusvlei, with much more yellow hues and even some green creeping in here and there. Upon arrival into the area you will be met at Palmweg by your guide, and leave your car to be transferred by jeep. You will be staying at Desert Rhino Camp in Damaraland, which sits amongst an outcrop of rocky hills. The lodge's name stems from the black rhino population found in this area, which is the largest group of free-roaming rhinos in Africa. Having settled into the camp, and discussed your personal interests and all the activities on offer with your guide, you will have dinner and return to your tent for an early night.
This morning will begin with another early morning start as you make your way to Etosha, the home of big game in Namibia. You will be staying at Ongava, which is one of the largest private game reserves in Namibia - 125 square miles to be exact! There is an abundance of wildlife which you will search for here, and a choice of four lodges to stay in, each one unique and luxurious - well you need to be well rested for all the game viewing you'll be doing! After arriving, spend the rest of the day relaxing in the lodge; taking in the panoramic views from the lounge or going for a dip in the pool - where you can simply relax and let the game come to you! You will have plenty of time to freshen up before dinner and a good night's sleep.
This morning you will say goodbye to Etosha as you head an hour and a half south to Okonjima, a nature reserve which sits among the Omboroko Mountains. This is also the home of the AfriCat Foundation. When you arrive, enjoy a refreshing drink as you look out over Okomjima - your adventure playground for the next 24 hours. After lunch you'll head out into Okonjima with the AfriCat Foundation. You'll be in search of leopards, cheetahs and carnivores, which are being rehabilitated into the wild. Helping the rangers spot these big cats and seeing them up close is a true eye-opening and once in a lifetime experience, one we're sure that you will be talking about for years to come.
This morning, wake-up early in time for one last morning game drive before you set off on your three hour drive back to Windhoek, in time for your flight home. Make sure you take some time to soak up the beauty of Namibia as you say your goodbyes. Your first flight will be to Johannesburg or the Middle East, where you will then connect onto your overnight flight to the UK.
Each of our trips is entirely tailor-made with originality, quality and cultural immersion in mind. Our team of destination specialists will craft itineraries based on your tastes, using their first-hand knowledge and the help of our in-country team of Concierges and guides. All trips are accompanied by a wide range of additional services, including a 24-hour helpline, the Original Travel app, fast-track airport services and much more.
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Our team of destination experts will get to know you and your unique requirements for your holiday
We work with you to build an ultra-personalised holiday itinerary with your choice of accommodation, experiences and activities
All of our holidays include little extras designed to make a big difference to your trip, from fast-tracking you through airport check-in and security to our network of local Concierges
