Welcome to Namibia, “the land of the wide open spaces". Today is the first day of what could become one of the most exciting holidays of your life.
Upon your arrival at the Hosea Kutako International Airport you collect your rental vehicle and travel the short distance to Windhoek, the capital of Namibia.
The rest of the day is at leisure to relax after your long flight, or to explore the city on your own. The ideal way to explore Windhoek is on foot, please CLICK HERE to view the detailed walking map.

Today you leave Windhoek behind you and start your Namibian self-drive adventure. You travel due south along the B2 main road passing the towns of Rehoboth and Kalkrand along the way.
Your destination today is the Gondwana Kalahari Park, situated some 30km northeast of the town of Mariental, right in the middle of the Kalahari Desert, the world’s largest continuous stretch of sand. 
Namibia’s Southern Kalahari is more than a destination; it is an exploration in which the traveller discovers ancient Africa, fascinating animals and a rich history driven by people who were hardened by the sun and the will to survive. The night is spent at the Kalahari Anib Lodge, and guests can go on self-guided hiking excursions in the park or join scenic drives. There is a sparkling swimming pool at the lodge, and a typical Namibian dinner can be enjoyed in the restaurant.

Travel south to the magnificent Fish River Canyon, at 160km long and up to 550m deep the 2nd largest canyon in the world. You have the rest of the afternoon and a full day tomorrow to explore the area and visit one or more of the viewpoints that look out over the rugged and breathtaking canyon landscape. The Fish River Canyon was formed when the plates of the African continent split, and was gradually deepened by the flow of water over the course of hundreds of millions of years. Today, in the midst of rugged plains and mountains, travellers can look down into its depths and see the geological history of Namibia written in its layers.

North and then west to the town of Lüderitz, on the cold Atlantic coast. The port of Lüderitz is one of the most historical and fascinating towns in Namibia, and a picturesque destination in its own right. It was the first German possession in the territory, the town from which the diamond rush began, and the site of one of Namibia’s darkest secrets (see below). In 1488, the small bay, now known as Lüderitz, received its first visitor, Bartholomew Diaz, who marked his visit with a stone cross. Almost 400 years later, the bay and the territory surrounding it was purchased by Adolf Lüderitz. He placed it under the protection of the German government and, not recognising the wealth that lay on the sands, later sold it to a trading company. On 14 April 1908, a worker on the railway line, Zacharias Lewala, first stumbled across diamonds in the sand, and Lüderitz was place on the international map. Today the town offers visitors a glimpse of Namibia’s colonial history, and a base from which to explore the well known ghost town of Kolmanskop and the Sperrgebiet. (Permit required)

Back inland as far as Aus and then north into the forbidding semi-desert interior of southern Namibia. Namtib is a privately owned biosphere reserve covering an area of 16 400 hectares situated at the edge of the Namib Desert in the Tiras Mountains. Farming and human activities are adapted to suit the arid climate prevailing in southern Namibia. The fascinating landscape of the farm offers an abundance of breathtaking views and hosts a wealth of fauna and flora.

Further north into the harsh & forbidding Namib desert, the oldest desert in the world. Sossusvlei, situated right on the edge of the sand sea of the Namib Desert, allows travellers to experience the contrasts of life in the harsh desert environment. You have a full day to explore this fascinating area. A visit to the dunes just after sunrise provides the opportunity to watch the sunlight unfold over the desert from the crest of Dune 45, unveiling red dunes marching off into the distance. As the sun rises higher, the dunes change colour, revealing pastel hues that are so beloved by photographers. The dead camelthorn trees of Hidden Vlei and Dead Vlei make magnificent photos, casting jagged silhouettes against the velvet textures of sand. And in certain years, when the rains have been good, there may be a magical opportunity to see water amidst the dunes. Sossusvlei is also a place of life, with opportunities to see desert adaptations that the desert requires. Oryx survive at temperatures that kill other mammals, dune lizards perform a dance to cool down their feet, and the head-standing ‘tok-tokkie’ beetle drinks condensation that runs down its back towards its mouth. But perhaps the greatest magic of Sossusvlei is the opportunity to experience it’s timelessness, solitude and silence.

Through the barren semi-desert landscape to the cold Atlantic Ocean and Swakopmund, a perennial Namibian favourite, a place to which travellers happily return. Swakopmund’s appeal lies in the contrast of a small but sophisticated coastal resort, with old German architecture predominating, set amongst the harsh dunes of the Namib Desert. You have a full day to explore this beautiful coastal town and it’s interesting surrounds on your own. A popular excursion in the area is the The Welwitschia Drive, a half-day, self-drive circuit of the Namib Naukluft Park in the vicinity of Swakopmund. Travellers can view the gravel plains of the Namib, the awe-inspring “moon landscape”, the “living fossil” Welwitschia mirabilis plant and a number of sites of historical interest. A permit to enter the Namib Naukluft Park is required, please enquire at your guest lodge. Activities in and around the town include quad-biking, sand-boarding, boat trips and fishing excursions.
The day could also be set aside for a visit the seal colony at Cape Cross, about 120km north of Swakopmund along the barren Atlantic Coast. A trip to Cape Cross is not just an opportunity to see Namibia’s largest seal colony, with between 80,000 and 100,000 seals. It is also a journey through history. Diego Cao first landed here in 1482, perhaps attracted by the wild beauty of the area, and erected a cross to commemorate his visit, a replica of which can still be seen at this wild and desolate place.

Today you leave Swakopmund behind you and travel inland on the B2 towards Okahandja. Near the town of Usakos you will see the well known Spitzkoppe mountains in the distance. Time permitting, these are well worth a visit. The area was once the home of some of the original inhabitants of Namibia, the San Bushmen, and traces of their lives can still be seen at Bushman’s Paradise, where rock art remains to record the animals they saw. Today, the Spitzkoppe is home to a thriving rural community who offer mineral samples, trips to see Bushman’s paradise and rides on traditional donkey carts. For skilled climbers, Spitzkoppe, affectionately known as “The Matterhorn of Namibia” offers challenging sport climbs. For the less skilled, but equally adventurous, there is the opportunity to go bouldering, climbing the easier rocks and boulders, to admire the beautiful views of the surrounding Namib Desert.
Your destination today is the Erongo Wilderness Lodge, nestled amid the granite formations of the Erongo Mountains, a spectacular location in the heart of a country renowned for it’s scenic beauty. The lodge is a founder member of The Erongo Mountain Nature Conservancy, joining 30 private landowners in a collective effort to conserve and protect this natural treasure of over 200 000ha in extent. The Conservancy’s mission includes the preservation of the rich cultural heritage in the form of rock paintings and engravings that are found throughout the area, such as the rock art site near Erongo Wilderness Lodge.

Optional open-vehicle nature drives may be booked directly with the lodge, but walking is undoubtedly the best way to experience the beauty of the Erongo Mountains. Popular guided walks include the 2-3 hour early morning Mountain Top Walk, and the late afternoon Sundowner Walk.

South through the typical Namibian towns of Tsumeb, Otavi and Otjiwarongo to the Waterberg Plateau Park. Rising up out of the flat African savannahs, the cliffs of the Waterberg Plateau form a rock island refuge for endangered species and the memory of forgotten times. Once a battleground, the Waterberg is now a sanctuary for rare and endangered species such as the white rhino, roan and sable antelope, and the vulnerable Cape vulture. With easy walking trails and guided game drives to search for endangered species, a visit to the Waterberg brings travellers into contact with Africa, in a way that few other destinations can. Accommodation tonight is at the Bernabe de la Bat Rest Camp. Nestling amongst indigenous vegetation, this delightful rest camp was named after the first director of Namibia's Department of Nature Conservation. The camp was designed to blend with the surroundings, and during construction as little as possible of the natural vegetation was disturbed. In addition, the reddish brown sandstone bricks of the buildings and their copper-coloured roofs echo the colour and texture of the cliffs overlooking the rest camp. Amenities include a swimming pool with a superb view of the cliffs, a restaurant, shop which stocks frozen meat, tinned goods and curios, and a filling station.

Today you tackle the last leg of your Namibian adventure. On the way back to Windhoek you can stop at the town of Okahandja. One of Namibia’s first towns, Okahandja has seen many battles between the Hereros, the Namas and the Germans. The sites are marked by monuments and memories. Yet today it is a peaceful town, quietly civilised, known for the excellence of its bakeries, and as the home of two of Namibia’s largest craft markets.

In the late afternoon you arrive back in Windhoek where your rental vehicle is handed back for the end of your tour.