Canyon, Desert, Etosha and more

Welcome to Africa! You will arrive at the airport in Windhoek and pick up your rental car. Afterwards, you can take an orienting city tour of Windhoek. The diverse Namibian capital with its 250,000 inhabitants is the largest city in the country and is picturesquely situated at an altitude of 1650 meters in a valley basin, lined by the Eros Mountains in the north and the Auas Mountains in the south. To the west, the Khomas Highlands extend toward the Namib and the coast. As the political and economic center of the country, Windhoek has much to offer. You will see among others the Christ Church, the Boulevard, the Equestrian Monument and the district of Klein Windhoek, and as a contrast the district of the Bantu-speaking community Katatura. Accommodation: River Crossing Lodge (Standard Room)

In the morning you will leave Windhoek in a southernly direction and drive through the Auas Mountains to Rehoboth and from there on to your lodge on the edge of the Kalahari Desert. The Kalahari Desert forms a large part of eastern Namibia and stretches about 500 km from north to south. Characteristic is its fine powdery red sand. On its sparsely vegetated grassy plains, graze huge herds of antelope and other animals. In the afternoon, for example, you can set out on a sundowner drive in an open jeep and enjoy a magnificent view over the Kalahari at sunset. Accommodation: Kalahari Anib Lodge (Standard Room).

Today you will drive south through a landscape dominated by dunes. Passing Mariental you will reach Keetmanshoop, the economic center of southern Namibia. Not far from the town you can visit the bizarre quiver tree forest. The whimsical looking tree-like aloe plant, which grows up to 7 meters high, is typical for Namibia. The plant got its name because the bushmen made quivers of arrows from its branches. Not far away is the “playground of the giants” with impressive stone formations. In the afternoon you will come to a natural wonder of Africa, the Fish River Canyon, the second largest canyon in the world. It is 160 km long, up to 27 km wide and up to 500 m deep in places. The rock canyons exposed at the bottom of the valley are up to a billion years old. Today the river only carries water after heavy rains. Accommodation: Canyon Roadhouse (Standard Room)

To experience the beauty and serenity first-hand, take an excursion along the canyon today and embark on a short hike in the Canyon Nature Park. In addition, your lodging offers optional excursions or you can enjoy the peace and relax at your lodging. Accommodation: Canyon Roadhouse (Standard Room)

Today you will continue towards Aus. Visit the coastal town of Lüderitz or look out for the famous wild horses in Garub. Also visit Namibia’s most famous ghost town – Kolmanskop. Accommodation: Klein Aus Vista, Desert Hourse (Standard Room).

In the morning you will leave Aus and your journey will continue to Sossusvlei, part of a dune landscape of the Namib Desert, more than 300 km long and 140 km wide. Enjoy the drive through this unique nature and collect unforgettable impressions and memories of the scenic desert state. Accommodation: Namib Desert Lodge (Standard Room)

This day is at your free disposal. For example, undertake a Dune Drive: Early in the morning you will drive into the Namib-Naukluft National Park. Be enchanted by the play of shadows of the dunes, the wide view and the wonderful silence. By off-road vehicle you will explore the highest sand dunes in the world, which strong winds have accumulated here over millions of years. A sea of huge dunes, up to 350 meters high, spreads out before you in the Namib Naukluft National Park – an unforgettable experience! Take the opportunity to climb the famous Dune 45 in Sossusvlei. Afterwards you can drive on and visit the Sesriem Canyon. Accommodation: Namib Desert Lodge (Standard Room)

Your journey takes you to Swakopmund. This small town was founded in 1892 and was once the most important port of German Southwest Africa. It developed over time into the most popular seaside resort in Namibia with about 18,000 inhabitants. Even today, the town is often referred to as the most German town in Namibia. Accommodation: The Delight (Standard Room)

Today your time is at your own disposal. Swakopmund is comfortable for anyone to explore on their own, as the interesting urban area is essentially concentrated in four blocks. This small, quaint coastal town has many beautiful buildings from the German colonial period. At first glance, you’d think you were lost in a small German town. Bay windows and stucco, half-timbering and bull’s-eye windows create an atmosphere all their own, still reminiscent of the German provinces. However, the turn-of-the-century Imperial German architecture in Swakopmund seems surreal against the massive sand dunes of the nearby Namib Desert. Accommodations: The Delight (Standard Room)

Today you head to the Damaraland. In the arid northwest of Namibia, parts of the mosaic of ethnically diverse regions that make Namibia so varied and interesting. Until recently, Damaraland was a remote region where the lives of the people who live here have changed little over the centuries. It is an area of stark contrasts: high mountains, grasslands and steppe. In the afternoon you will arrive at your lodge in Palmwag, where you will stay for the next 2 nights. Enjoy the afternoon by the pool. Accommodation: Palmwag Lodge (Standard Room)

Palmwag is beautifully situated on a palm-lined tributary of the Uniab River. Water is scarce in this area, so the presence of the river often attracts elephants closer to the camps. You will have the opportunity to participate in a game drive in an open jeep through the reserve. Maybe you will be lucky enough to see the magnificent desert elephants or black rhinos. In any case, the drive goes through beautiful terrain. Visit Twyfelfontein, which is famous for its rock formations with thousands of years old engravings. Also worth a visit is the Petrified Forest, a forest with gigantic trees that have been turned to stone by the environment after many years. Accommodation: Palmwag Lodge (Standard Room)

From Damaraland we continue our journey to Etosha National Park. The park is one of the most important game reserves in southern Africa. With about 22,270 km² the Etosha Park is about the size of Hesse and the largest game reserve in Namibia. More than 144 different animal species are at home here. There are not the Big Five here, but you can find four of them: Elephants, rhinos, lions and leopards. Also giraffes, wildebeests, jackals, hyenas and all antelope species, from the stately eland to the tiny Damara dik-dik, find their habitat in Etosha National Park. Thus, some of the most common but also some of the rarest animal species present themselves in the park. The main feature of the park is a salt pan, which is visible even from space. Accommodation: Etosha Safari Camp (Standard Room)

On this day, go on a safari in Etosha. Early in the morning you will start your tour in your comfortable rental car through the Etosha National Park, for which you should plan the whole day. Enjoy the beautiful scenery and with a little luck you will see giraffes, elephants and lions. Keep your camera handy for stunning photos. Accommodation: Etosha Safari Camp (Standard Room).

Today you will head south to the Waterberg Plateau Park. The Waterberg Plateau Park is a nature reserve in Namibia established in 1972. It has an area of 405 square kilometers and occupies large parts of the Waterberg in central northeastern Namibia. The Waterberg Plateau National Park is a great place to hike and relax. The park offers daily game drives to the plateau. (It is not possible to explore the plateau as a self-driver, also because the driveway is extremely soft sandy and only accessible by 4×4). Today you can go on an excursion to the plateau and then do an easy hike where you can enjoy nature to the full. Accommodation: Waterberg Wilderness Lodge (Standard Room)

After breakfast you will go to the international airport, where you will drop off your rental car. From here you will start your journey home. . We wish you a pleasant flight home!