Namibia

Namibia is an increasingly popular destination, especially for those who like to venture into the wilds where few others go. It provides a very different safari experience from the big game safaris of East Africa. The vast expanses of untouched wilderness covered with endless blue skies, give a sense of awe and peace to all who visit. The 800 miles of Atlantic coastline and the starkly beautiful red sand dunes provide a contrast that is unique.  Enjoy birding, biking, hiking, hot air ballooning, sand dune surfing, fishing and boating. According to astronomers, the 80 million year-old Namib Desert offers some of the best stargazing on the planet.

Namibia gets its name from the Namib Desert, the oldest desert on the planet. This sparsely populated country is twice the size of California with a handful of cities separated by pristine wilderness. Because of the enormous distances, fly-in safaris make the best use of your time while providing breathtaking views of the landscapes.  There are more cheetah in Namibia than in any other country in Africa and you can see endemic species like the desert elephant and endangered species like the African wild dog.

Namibia became an independent, democratic country in 1990.  Its constitution was the first in the world to include protection of the environment and sustainable utilization of wildlife. The country has rich mineral wealth, a well-developed infrastructure and a growing tourism market. The people reflect a blend of cultures and traditions from the various ethnic groups including the San, Ovambo, Herero, Himba, Khoi-Khoi, and a small European population. English is the official language in Namibia.

Namibia Botswana Zimbabwe Mozambique South Africa Angola Zambia Skeleton CoastNational Park DorobNational Park Namib NaukluftNational Park SperrgebietNational Park Ai-Ais/RichtersveltTransfrontier Park KgalagadiTransfrontierNational Park WaterbergPlateau Park KaudomGame Reserve BwabwataNational Park EtoshaNational Park Ondangwa Namutoni Tsumeb Tsodilo Hills Grootfontein Outjo DAMARALAND Otjiwarongo Cape Cross Seal Reserve Swakopmund Okahandja Windhoek Rehoboth Lüderitz Mariental Gobabis Walvis Bay Etosha Pan Fish River Orange River Atlantic Ocean Sossusvlei Caprivi Strip
Namibia Highlights

Itineraries

Namibia is best explored by light aircraft transfers which allow you to see the amazing diversity of this country.  Specialty experiences like ballooning over the dunes, kayaking with dolphins off the coast, visiting the Cheetah Conservation Center and the tribal peoples of Namibia are generally included in our custom-tailored itineraries.

Namibia Flying Safari

Itinerary

Days 1 & 2       NamibRand Nature Reserve

You will be met on arrival in Windhoek (or you can begin with a night in Windhoek), and assisted to board the flight to the Kwessi Dunes, just south of Sossusvlei.  You can take a dip in the pool and get settled in at your air-conditioned room.  Dinner under the stars tonight!  The next day you’ll explore the area spotting springbok, oryx and aardwolf.

2 Nights at Kwessi Dunes

 

Days 3 & 4       Hoanib Valley

Today you will take a scenic flight over the famous Eduard Bohlen shipwreck, Conception Bay and Sandwich Harbor before touching down in Swakopmund for lunch on the beach.  Later you’ll fly over the dramatic Skeleton Coast and head east to the Hoanib Valley.  You’ll find desert-adapted giraffe and elephant, and if you’re lucky perhaps rhino and lion.  The local Himba communities are also in this area.

2 Nights at Hoanib Valley Camp

 

Days 5 & 6       Skeleton Coast

You will be transferred by road through incredible rock formations and desert-elephants digging for water, before arriving at the crashing waves and rolling dunes of the Skeleton Coast.  Activities here can include quad biking, visits to the Clay Castle and seal colony and game drives to see the elusive brown hyena, baboons, lion and giraffe.

2 Nights at Shipwreck Lodge

 

Day 7       Windhoek

This morning you’ll meet the plane and fly back down the stunning Atlantic coastline to Windhoek. 

2024 Departures Price Per Person Sharing Single Supplement
January 10 - March 31 NAM 138,505 NAM 10,130
April 1 - June 30 NAM 152,305 NAM 31,800
July 1 - 30 NAM 181,280 NAM 42,855
August 1 - 30 NAM 194,260 NAM 47,645
September 1 - 30 NAM 181,280 NAM 42,855
October 1 - 31 NAM 194,260 NAM 47,645
December 20 - January 9, 2023 NAM 181,280 NAM 42,855

 

Note: Prices shown for this safari are in Namibian dollars (NAM):

Prices include all internal flights and road transfers as specified in the itinerary, driver/guide services, entrance and park fees, daily activities, accommodation, all meals beverages and drinks (except premium brands), and Wi-Fi.

Prices exclude international airfare, gratuities, porterage, travel insurance, passport and visa fees, government taxes, laundry, any personal purchases, optional activities like hot air balloon or helicopter flights, and any pre- or post-safari plans.

Set Departure –  This safari has departures every Sunday and is guaranteed with a minimum of two confirmed travelers and operates with a maximum of twelve travelers. 

Arrivals – Please arrange to arrive in Windhoek by 10 a.m. or come the day prior and we can arrange your overnight stay.

Departures – Return to Windhoek will be late afternoon. We can arrange your overnight stay. 

Private Departures – This itinerary can be custom tailored for groups for flexible dates and other accommodation choices.

Extensions – We recommend adding a few nights to the end of the safari in the Etosha area, home to the nighest concentration of wildlife in Namibia. Ask us for more details.

Diverse Namibia

Itinerary

 

Days 1 & 2      Windhoek to Sossusvlei

You will be met at Windhoek Airport by your guide and start the five-hour drive through the iconic Sossusvlei region. The first two nights are spent at Kulala Adventurer Camp on the private Kulala Wilderness Reserve. The camp, comprising dome tents under the shade, is perfect for taking in the Reserve's expansive vistas and stark beauty and enjoys views into the Namib Naukluft National Park. Dining under the star-filled Namibian skies and watching a blood red sunset punctuated by the cacophony of barking geckos are a few highlights, as is spending unrushed quality time at the towering dunes of Sossusvlei, known for their red coloring in the early morning sunlight. Desert-adapted wildlife such as ostrich, springbok and gemsbok can be seen on the reserve, as well as smaller creatures like bat-eared fox, black-backed jackal and Cape fox. Other activities include day and night scenic drives and walks, and optional early morning ballooning, horse riding or quad biking (the last three at extra cost).

2 Nights at Kulala Adventurer Camp

 

Days 3 & 4      Walvis Bay & Swakopmund

Set out for Walvis Bay and the hauntingly beautiful skeleton coast, into the quaint town of Swakopmund, a distance of 230 miles.  On day 4, we explore the ice-blue Atlantic coast and the incredible marine mammals that inhabit the area on our dolphin and seal catamaran cruise.  Aside from spotting diverse pelagic (ocean-going) birdlife, pelicans and flamingo, and Cape fur seals, the massive sunfish, leatherback turtles, southern right and humpback whales can be seen in season.

Hansa Hotel is an iconic place that forms part of Swakopmund's architectural culture and is said to be one of the oldest buildings in the town. It is ideally situated in the center of Swakopmund within easy walking distance of town and the beach.

2 Nights at Hansa Hotel

 

Days 5 & 6      Damaraland

Continue your journey by road to Damaraland, west of the Brandberg Mountain, stopping for lunch at Ugab Save the Rhino Trust Camp. The Save the Rhino Trust (SRT) has been involved with rhino conservation in this area since the early eighties and has been singly responsible for helping these rare animals survive and thrive, so that today this area boasts the largest concentration of black rhino anywhere on the planet outside of a national park.

 
Once in the area around Damaraland, you are in the heart of the rocky desert, an ancient glacial landscape. Damaraland boasts a varied and breathtaking assortment of desert-adapted species including one of the highest concentrations of desert elephant and black rhino, and a surprisingly high diversity of wildlife including Hartmann's mountain zebra, kudu, giraffe, gemsbok, and springbok, with occasional cheetah sightings.   Activities range from nature walks, mountain biking, viewing the rock engravings at Twyfelfontein (a World Heritage Site) today and night nature drives, exploring the mountains, hills and ephemeral riverbeds and springs. Looking south from camp toward the imposing Brandberg Mountains, Damaraland offers its guests endless vistas and one of the best wilderness areas in Namibia. Early morning mists generated by the clash between the icy Atlantic Ocean and the warm desert air of the Skeleton Coast, drift inland along the river sand canyon, providing sustenance to the flora and fauna of the region.

2 Nights at Damaraland Camp

 

Days 7 & 8   Ongava Game Reserve

A five-hour drive to Ongava Game Reserve, on the boundary of Etosha National Park, grants the experience of big game viewing and this iconic salt pan. Etosha remains the highest density wildlife area within Namibia, its fame justly acknowledged. The salt pan (largest salt pan in the world) is speculated to be a remnant of an ancient glacial lake - today being maintained by scouring winds across its surface and sporadic ephemeral flooding. On day nine you embark on a full day game drive into Etosha, exploring the southern roads of Etosha Pan from Okakeujo through to Halali, meandering our way from waterhole to spring and enjoying the endless vistas and mirages of the pan itself.
 

On the southern boundary of Etosha National Park and forming a buffer to the Park lies Ongava Game Reserve. It is a haven to large concentrations of wildlife: notably lion, cheetah, black rhino, white rhino, springbok, gemsbok, wildebeest, Burchell's zebra, Hartmann's mountain zebra, waterbuck, red hartebeest, giraffe, eland and the largest population of the endemic black-faced impala outside of Etosha.  Meru-style, en-suite tents sit on raised wooden decks.  There is a swimming pool in the main guest area.

2 Nights at Ongava Tented Camp or Ongava Lodge
 

Day 9             Windhoek

Today you drive back to Windhoek, arriving at approximately 1 p.m. 

2024 Departures Price Per Person Single Supplement: ZAR 5,420 - 6,758
January 1 - May 31 ZAR 79,110 per person sharing
June 1 - 30 ZAR 87,631 per person sharing
July 1 - November 30 ZAR 93,325 per person sharing
December 1 - 31 ZAR 86,607 per person sharing
2024 Departures
Departures are scheduled year-round. Please contact us for details.

Note: Prices shown for this safari are in South African Rand

Set Departure – This set departure itinerary is guaranteed with a minimum of two confirmed travelers and operates with a maximum of eight travelers.  Children must be at least 12 years old on set departure itineraries.

Arrivals – Please arrange to arrive in Windhoek by 7 a.m. or come the day prior and overnight.  Late arrivals will be subject to extra cost.

DeparturesPlease arrange for a flight that departs from Windhoek after 3:30 p.m. on Day 9. Earlier departures will be subject to extra cost.

Private DeparturesThis itinerary can be custom tailored for groups of four to eight guests for flexible dates and other accommodation choices.

Camps - Both Kulala Adventurer Camp and Damaraland Camp are semi-permanent camps and feature dome tents which accommodate a maximum of two persons.  Tents are on elevated wooden platforms with a small veranda.  Beds have mattresses with linens, duvets and pillows.  Bathrooms are en-suite with a zipper entrance in the rear of the tent leading to flush toilet, basin and shower with hot and cold running water.

Namibia Accommodations

Most of the camps and lodges in Namibia are located in large, private reserve areas giving guests an exclusive wilderness experience. Many of our preferred places have won awards for luxury, environmental sustainability features, and for their joint ventures with the local community.

Etosha

Etosha National Park is Namibia's premiere game viewing destination. Located in the northern part of the country, it is sometimes called the "land of mirages" because of the huge Etosha Pan which looks like an endless expanse of silvery sand.

Photo: Dana Allen

Ongava Lodge

Ongava Private Game Reserve
The private Ongava Game Reserve shares a common boundary with Etosha National Park. The lodge has 13 air-conditioned en-suite chalets and one family suite.  The main dining area has a view of the camp's waterhole where animals come to drink year-round with a hide where you can get a close-up view. Activities include day and night game drives, guided walks and cooling off in the swimming pool.

Photo: Dr. Olwen Evans

Little Ongava

Ongava Private Game Reserve
Built on the crest of a hill on the southern boundary of the park, Little Ongava guests have a view onto the plains below.  Each of the three sumptuous units features its own plunge pool, a sala, and an en-suite bathroom with both indoor and outdoor showers, and a bathtub with a view.  The private reserve is more than 115 square miles with high densities of big game including lion, black and white rhino and plains game.  This is a good option for families or three couples traveling together.

Photo: Dr. Olwen Evans

Ongava Tented Camp

Ongava Private Game Reserve
This vintage-styled tented camp has eight Meru-style tents, all with en-suite facilities, open air showers and private verandas. The family unit sleeps four.  Activities include game drives where lion, black and white rhino, elephant, cheetah, gemsbok, springbok, and hartebeest can be seen. In addition, guided walks and bird watching are offered on the private reserve.  There is a swimming pool for those hot afternoons.

Photo: Dana Allen

Anderssons at Ongava

Ongava Private Game Reserve 

Anderssons at Ongava provides an interactive hub for guests to be a part of conservation science, where cutting edge technology meets hands on, field-based research.  Guests have the option of being involved in developing creative, knowledge driven solutions with resident scientists, visiting researchers, conservationists and rhino security personnel.   There are seven air-conditioned luxury guest units and one family unit. The camp features a waterhole and nearby underground photographic hide for a water level view of the prolific wildlife in this area.  

Photo: Onguma Fort Camp

Onguma Fort Camp

Onguma Game Reserve

The Fort is a luxury African property designed with a touch of Moroccan and Indian influences.  There are 11 suites and one honeymoon suite, each surrounded by wooden decks with views towards Fischer’s Pan and featuring air-conditioning, a bar fridge, Wi-Fi, and both an inside and outside shower.  The Sultan suite is in the main tower.  The Onguma Reserve sits on the eastern border of Etosha National Park and The Fort offers one of the best sunset spots in all of Namibia. 

Sossusvlei

Here in the heart of the Namib Desert, the oldest desert in the world are the famous dunes that have inspired photographers and filmmakers for years. Rising 1,000 feet above the plains these are some of the highest in the world. The light and shadows produced in the early hours of the morning and again near sunset are stunningly beautiful.

Photo: Dana Allen

Kulala Desert Lodge

Kulala Wilderness Reserve
Hidden at the foot of the majestic Sossusvlei dunes, this lodge has a private entrance to the Namib Naukluft National Park making it very convenient for those pre-dawn visits to the dunes.  The thatched and canvas "kulalas" with en-suite bathrooms and verandas, are built on raised platforms to catch the breeze and feature a flat rooftop for sleep-outs under the stars.  The launch for balloon safaris is nearby.  

Photo: Daniel Myberg

Little Kulala Camp

Kulala Wilderness Reserve
Little Kulala, is an award-winning retreat for the discerning traveler.  The 11 climate-controlled, thatched "kulalas" (the word means 'to sleep') merge impeccably into the desert landscape, each with private plunge pool, both indoor and outdoor showers and a rooftop star bed for romantic star gazing.  The waterhole in front of the main guest area draws oryx, springbok, bat eared fox, aardwolf, ostrich and jackals.

Photo: &Beyond

Sossusvlei Desert Lodge

NamibRand Nature Reserve
Set in a 530,300-acre private reserve at the foot of a mountain, the lodge overlooks the starkly beautiful Namib Desert.  The stone, steel and glass structure of the lodge melts into wraparound verandas becoming one with the land.  Desert adventures abound here including hot air ballooning over the dunes, game drives, and quad biking. Special interest guided nature walks, dune ecology, fat biking and San rock painting excursions are also on offer. When night falls, the resident astronomer reveals the mysteries of the stars in the state-of-the-art observatory.

Damaraland

This mountainous region of northwest Namibia is inhabited by the Damara people, who are today of mixed heritage. The name Damara is derived from the Nama word "Dama,” meaning "who walked here. Thanks to the implementation of a viable eco-tourism model, wildlife numbers are thriving and the local communities have money in the bank and employment.

Photo: Dana Allen

Damaraland Camp

Torra Wildlife Conservancy
Owned and largely run by the local community, the camp looks south toward the imposing Brandberg Mountains, offering endless vistas. This is one of the driest, most desolate regions in all of Africa. Here you can find the desert elephant roaming alongside oryx, springbok, ostrich and other hardy desert animals. There are 10 elevated adobe-styled, units and a guest area complete with a fireplace, bar, and swimming pool.

Photo: Dana Allen

Doro Nawas Camp

Torra Wildlife Conservancy
Doro Nawas rests on the edge of the dry Aba-Huab River overlooking ancient plains with glorious views of the rugged Damaraland area. The camp provides an excellent base for exploring in game drive vehicles and on foot, as well as excursions to view fascinating geological phenomena, petroglyphs - prehistoric rock engravings - and San rock art at Twyfelfontein, Namibia’s first World Heritage Site. Wildlife viewing and nature drives concentrate on the game found in the riverbed including the desert-adapted elephant. The camp features 16 hillside units including one family unit, all with outdoor showers and verandas for sleep-outs. 

Photo: Mike Myers

Desert Rhino Camp

Palmwag Reserve
This camp sits in a one million-acre private reserve that is home to the largest free-ranging black rhino population in the world.  Few places on the planet can offer this level of privacy and wilderness experience. The camp features eight large, East African-styled tents, each with an en-suite bathroom with shower and flush toilet, and private viewing deck. The main area of the camp overlooks a sweeping plain dotted with Namibia’s national plant, the welwitschia.

Skeleton Coast & Kunene River

Skeleton Coast Park is one of our planet's most inhospitable, yet hauntingly beautiful places. It is wild, desolate and uninhabited and has everything from roaring sand dunes and windswept plains, to towering canyons and saltpans. The Kunene River near the northern border of Namibia is home to the Himba people, some of the last true nomadic people of Africa.

Photo: Dana Allen

Hoanib Skeleton Coast Camp

Skeleton Coast National Park
For the adventure seeker, this wild and beautiful place is only reachable by air.  The camp sits in a valley at the confluence of two tributaries of the Hoanib River and hosts researchers committed to conserving desert-adapted lion, brown hyaena and more. There are seven twin-bedded tents and one family unit, all en-suite with shady outdoor decks.  The main area has a swimming pool.  Activities include viewing of desert-adapted wildlife, exploring sand dunes, shipwreck remains and scenic flights along the dramatic coastline. 

Photo: Dana Allen

Serra Cafema Camp

Kunene River
This is one of the most remote destinations in all of southern Africa, perched on the banks of the Kunene River. This luxurious desert retreat offers respectful interaction with the semi-nomadic Himba community, fascinating nature walks, boating on the river (water levels permitting), and low-impact guided quad-bike excursions. There are just eight riverside villas perched on elevated decks blending into the picturesque surroundings.

 

Photo: Natural Selection

Shipwreck Lodge

Skeleton Coast National Park
It’s a raw, rugged and impossibly remote slice of African wilderness, where towering dunes and wind-swept plains roll as far as the eye can see, buffeted by the icy Atlantic seas. The ten rooms have been uniquely designed around the enigmatic shipwrecks that line Namibia’s Skeleton Coast.  Activities include game drives amongst the desert-dwelling elephant, lion and kudu, discovering the desert flora, and visiting nearby shipwrecks.  Children of all ages are welcome.

 

Travel Information

When to go to Namibia

You can travel to Namibia year-round depending on how you tolerate heat and cold. Much of Namibia has a subtropical desert climate with wide ranging temperatures between daytime and night. The winter months, May to September, are the dry season when the daytime temperatures average 75F and the nights can get down to freezing in the desert. October and November temperatures get warmer. December to March is when rain falls in the northern part of the country. The desert areas receive little or no rain and the sun shines here almost every single day.

Passport & Visa for Namibia

Your passport must be valid for at least six month after the date of your return from Namibia.  No visas are needed for citizens of the USA to enter Namibia.  If you are traveling via South Africa, you must have at least six blank visa pages in your passport. 

For further information:  The Embassy of the Republic of Namibia in Washington, D.C. & U.S. State Department

Medical Information for Namibia 

Before traveling to Africa, please consult with your physician. No mandatory vaccinations are required to visit Namibia. You will need a malaria prophylactic if you are traveling to the northern part of the country.  Those who have been in transit through a yellow fever risk country will be required to show proof of vaccination.   

For further information: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention - Namibia

Traveling with Children

All children under the age of 18 traveling to or departing from South Africa are required to carry an original or certified copy of their birth certificate along with their passport.  Additional requirements are necessary in the event of a child travelling: