Self-drive Safari | 9 nights / 10 days |
Day 1: Arrival in Windhoek and Vertigo Boutique Hotel
Upon arrival at the Hosea Kutako International Airport you will pick up your rental vehicle and drive the +-40km to Windhoek. Check in at the Vertigo Boutique Hotel and the rest of the day is at your own leisure. You have time to explore Windhoek and visit the famous landmarks of Windhoek or shop in the vibrant Independence Avenue.
Windhoek
Namibia’s capital Windhoek is often described as a city with a continental atmosphere. This can be ascribed to its architecture, cuisine, culture, dress codes and educational institutions. Windhoek combines the modern city architectural style with that of the German colonial era. Historic sites to visit in the town centre are the ‘Christuskirche’, ‘Alte Feste’ (Old Ford), ‘Tintenpalast’ (Parliament Buildings), Zoo Park, ‘Reiterdenkmal’, Museum and the Craft Centre.
With 280 000 inhabitants, Windhoek is the biggest city in the country and also the commercial centre of the country.
Overnight: Vertigo Boutique Hotel including breakfast
Day 2: The Kalahari Desert and Kalahari Farmhouse
After breakfast you depart the Vertigo Boutique Hotel and drive via Rehoboth to the Kalahari Farmhouse in the Kalahari Desert, characterized by the red dunes and Camel thorn trees. You will arrive at around noon and afterwards the rest of the day can be spent at your own leisure. The lodge also offers optional activities such as game and nature drives (at own expense).
Overnight: Kalahari Farmhouse including breakfast
Day 3: Cañon Lodge
The trip continues further into the south of Namibia, to the Fish River Canyon. On your way you can stop over at the Quiver Tree Forest and the Giant’s Playground (at own expense). After you have checked in at the lodge, the rest of the day can be spent at own leisure.
Overnight: Cañon Lodge including breakfast
Day 4: Fish River Canyon and Lüderitz Nest Hotel
In the morning you will have the opportunity to visit the Fish River Canon, before making your way to Lüderitz. On your way to Lüderitz you will pass Aus, where you will be able to see some desert adapted horses, which are believed to descendants of the horses used by the Germans in the First World War.
Overnight: Lüderitz Nest Hotel including breakfast
Day 5: Lüderitz Nest Hotel
Today you have the opportunity to take part one or two of the activities (at own expense) offered in and around Lüderitz. These include:
- Day trip to Kolmanskop – a ghost town in the Namib Desert
- Sedina boat trip – starting from Lüderitz harbour, passing the Diaz Point, lighthouse and cape fur seals
- City tour – this tour can be combined with the Kolmanskop tour
Overnight: Lüderitz Nest Hotel including breakfast
Day 6: Namtib Desert Lodge
Your trip continues to the Namtib Biosphere Reserve in the Tiras mountains. After arrival at the lodge you can either explore the area with its fascinating landscape, fauna and flora in your own vehicle or you can take part in various activities (at own expense), such as:
- Nature drives
- Guided hiking trails
- Birdwatching
- Guided desert trails
- Star gazing
Overnight: Namtib Desert Lodge including breakfast
Day 7: Desert Homestead Lodge
You depart the lodge and drive along the Namib Desert to Desert Homestead and Horsetrails, in midst of the Nubib, Tsaris and Naukluft mountains. Upon arrival at the lodge, the rest of the afternoon can be spent at your own leisure. (This gives you the opportunity to visit the Sesriem Canyon.) The lodge also offers several activities (at own expense), which you could take part in.
Sossusvlei
The Sossusvlei is a huge clay pan, enclosed by giant sand dunes. Some of the spectacular hills of sand are, at a height of 325 metres, the highest in the world. Only after a heavy rainfall, which is a rare event in this area, does the vlei fill with water. As the clay layers hardly allow any water infiltration, a turquoise lake will remain for quite some time. The Dead Pan is a large ghostly expanse of dried white Clay, punctuated by Skeletons of ancient camelthorn trees, about 600 years old. The dunes of the Namib Desert have developed over a period of many millions of years. It is thought that the vast quantities of sand were deposited into the Atlantic Ocean by the Orange River. This material was subsequently moved northwards by the Benguela current to be dumped back onto the land by the surf. The coastal dunes developed as a result of this and were shifted further and further inland by the wind. Wind continuously reshapes the patterns of the huge dunes of the Namib Desert.
The last 5 km are only negotiable with 4×4 vehicles. Should you not have one, there are 4×4 Shuttles available if you don’t want to hike there.
Overnight at Desert Homestead Lodge including breakfast
Day 8: Namib Naukluft Park, Sossusvlei and Desert Homestead Lodge
Today you can visit the Sossusvlei. From here you make your way to the 2×4 parking area, where you can make use of the 4×4 shuttle (not included, cost +-N$120.00 per person), which will take you the last few kilometres to the Sossusvlei. Alternatively you can walk the 4km to the vlei. See the sun rise in the massive dunes and enjoy the coolness of the morning to maybe climb up the “Big Daddy” Dune.
Overnight at Desert Homestead Lodge including breakfast
Day 9: Elegant Guesthouse
On your way back to Windhoek you will pass the Spreetshoogte Pass, where you have the opportunity to stop at the view point from which you will have an amazing view over the Namib Desert (which you have just left behind you). Upon arrival at Windhoek, check in at the guesthouse and spend the rest of the day at your own leisure. This could be used to do some last minute shopping.
Overnight: Elegant Guesthouse including breakfast
Day 10: Departure
After breakfast at the boutique hotel you will still have time before heading to the Hosea Kutako International Airport, where you check in for the onward or homeward flight.
- Windhoek
- Kalahari Desert
- Fish River Canyon
- Lüderitz
- Namtib Biosphere Reserve
- Namib Naukluft Park, Sesriem Canyon & Sossusvlei
- Windhoek
Price available on request.
Prices are nett and include VAT.
Prices include:
- 07 x overnight on a bed & breakfast basis
- 02 x overnight on a dinner & breakfast basis
- Complete Information package, including maps, route description and vouchers
- Preprogramed GPS
Entrance fees included:
N/A
Prices exclude:
- All activities and entrance fees
- All meals not mentioned above
- Drinks
- Personal expenses (Telephone call, souvenirs etc)
- Car Rental (See car rental prices)