From Desert Dunes to Wildlife Safaris

Fly to Windhoek via Johannesburg.

On arrival in Windhoek, you will be welcomed and transferred to the Mövenpick Hotel. The rest of the day is free to explore Windhoek city on your own.

After breakfast, we travel north, passing through some of the country’s best farmland and stopping at quaint towns along the way to visit local markets and shop for wood carvings and curios. Upon arrival in Etosha, we check in at Eagle Tented Lodge & Spa.

Today, you'll explore the wildlife-rich Etosha National Park, home to four of Africa’s Big Five—elephant, lion, leopard, and rhino. We’ll visit several waterholes for excellent game-viewing opportunities. Etosha, meaning “the place of dry water,” offers your first glimpse of the breathtaking Etosha Pan, a vast salt pan stretching 4,800 km²—about a quarter of the park—making it the largest in Africa.

After breakfast, we spend the full day in Etosha’s unique desert landscape searching for, amongst other animals, its large population of elephants and marvelling at its prolific bird life.

Today, we visit a Himba settlement near Kamanjab to meet the Himba tribe people, who share roots with the Herero tribe and migrated to Kaokoland in search of land. Spend time learning about their unique culture, traditions, and pastoral lifestyle centred around cattle and goats. After the visit, continue via Khorixas, the capital of Damaraland, and arrive at your lodge in the mid-afternoon. Dinner and overnight at Damara Mopane Lodge.

Damaraland is one of the most scenic areas in Namibia, a huge, untamed, ruggedly beautiful region that offers the more adventurous traveller a more adventurous challenge. Visit the heritage site of Twyfelfontein to see paintings created by bushmen more than 6000 years ago before exploring the Burnt Mountain, Organ Pipes, and the Petrified Forest. The afternoon is free for your own leisure.

After breakfast, we travel via Henties Bay to the charming coastal resort of Swakopmund. On arrival, check in at the hotel The Strand. Afternoon at leisure to explore the town on your own.

After breakfast, the day is at your leisure to explore sights around Swakopmund, Alternatively sample some of the activities available in the area, ranging from walking tours to dolphin cruises, and from scenic flights to quad biking.

After an early breakfast, we travel to Sossusvlei, home of some of the tallest sand dunes in the world. Once we arrive at Sossusvlei Lodge, check-in is done, and we will go visit Sesriem Canyon, a striking natural formation carved by the Tsauchub River. The canyon, named after the six leather thongs (‘ses rieme’) once used to draw water from its depths, often retains water deep into the dry season—offering a refreshing contrast to the surrounding desert landscape.

Early this morning, you can see the spectacular sunrise over the massive sand dunes of Sossusvlei as the colours of orange and gold illuminate the desert. You will be able to hike one of the massive dunes for the view of this dramatic landscape. The option of early morning activities such as ballooning, horse riding, or quad biking is also available for those who are looking for some extra adventure.

After breakfast, we drive to Windhoek, ascending the massive Gamsberg Pass in the Khomas Hochland Mountain Range. On arrival, check in at the Mövenpick Hotel.

After breakfast, the morning is free for your own leisure and other activities. Afternoon transfer to Windhoek airport to board your flight to the UK.

Arrive home today.