1 Week in Namibia - 4 Unique Itinerary Ideas

Itinerary #1: Pride of Namibia

This classic weeklong itinerary balances wildlife spotting in Etosha National Park, architecture and culture in German-influenced Swakopmund, and desert canyons and dunes in Namib-Naukluft National Park.

Welcome to Namibia! Hit the ground running after your arrival in Windhoek by picking up your rental car and driving to Etosha National Park. Reach Anderson Gate by mid-afternoon and take a game drive to Okaukuejo. Start early the next day and head off toward Halali Camp, visiting several waterholes along the way and taking in splendid views of the massive Etosha Pan. On Day 3, you'll drive to coastal Swakopmund via the towns of Outjo, Otjiwarongo, Omaruru, and Usakos. You'll have two nights in Swakopmund—plenty of time to admire its 19th-century German architecture—with a free day to explore.  

On Day 5, you'll check out Walvis Bay, where you'll tour a large marine lagoon that is home to a vast array of marine birdlife—specifically, flamingoes. Back on the road, drive across the Namib gravel plains, finally reaching the mountains and red dunes of the Namib Desert. Rise early the following day for an excursion into the "sand sea," including the famous Sossusvlei dune belt. You'll visit some of the largest dunes in the world and the iconic Deadvlei trees. Venture into the four-million-year-old Sesriem Canyon and finally return to Windhoek. Learn more

Itinerary #2: Namibia Desert & Wildlife Fly-In Safari

Skip the extensive driving and take to the sky on this classic seven-day route option that has you discovering Namibia's deserts, rugged coastline, and wildlife-packed national parks. You'll be able to cover a lot of ground and a diversity of landscapes in a relatively short time, including the infamous Skeleton Coast.

Transfer to a private plane in Windhoek for your flight to Sossusvlei, where your adventure will begin. Get your first taste of the Namib Desert on a drive through the reserve near your lodge, followed by a full-day tour through the Namib-Naukluft National Park the next day. Be amazed by some of the planet's tallest sand dunes, including Elim, Dune 45, and the 1,000-foot-tall (300 m) Big Daddy. Next, you'll fly to the Skeleton Coast, where you'll explore the eerie shipwrecks led astray over the years by the coast's dense fog, starting first with the Suiderkus. Your pilot will refuel in Swakopmund and then continue to Möwe Bay.

On Days 4 and 5, enjoy game drives in a couple of Namibia's national parks, Skeleton Coast National Park and Etosha National Park, as well as Onguma Private Game Reserve and Okaukuejo's teeming waterhole, one of the best game viewing destinations in the region. You're likely to spot everything from zebras and black-faced impalas to oryx and giraffes and fall asleep to the sounds of Namibia's wildlife from the comfort of your bed in camp. Your last morning sees you boarding your short flight back to Windhoek, where the tour ends. Learn more

Itinerary #3: Namibia Luxury Fly-In Safari

Travel Namibia in comfort on this luxury, seven-day fly-in safari. You'll cover the famous Etosha National Park for a wildlife-studded game drive and end your tour in the Namib Desert, all the while staying in luxury accommodations. This is another classic route option that swaps out the Skeleton Coast for remote Damaraland.

Your Namibia adventure begins with a flight from Windhoek to Etosha National Park. On various safari activities, look for plains game like gazelles and antelopes, big cats, colorful birdlife, and endangered black rhinos. Next, fly west to Damaraland, a dramatic region of grasslands, gorges, and mountains home to Indigenous groups and prehistoric rock paintings. You'll explore by day and relax in luxury in your desert lodge for the next two nights. On Day 4, visit the Twyfelfontein region, a UNESCO World Heritage Site for its collection of over 2,000 rock petroglyphs, striking geological formations like the Organ Pipes and the Petrified Forest.

Fly to Sossusvlei, where you'll stay near the Namib-Naukluft National Park. Venture into the Namib Desert to the Sossusvlei dune belt, a dry riverbed that features some of the highest and oldest dunes in the world. Check out the incredible dead camelthorn trees at Deadvlei, and opt to take an additional excursion to the nearby Sesriem Canyon, formed millions of years ago by the Tsaugab River. Depart from Windhoek. Learn more

Itinerary #4: Explore South Africa & Namibia

In a week, you can experience South Africa's Cape Town—a perfect introduction to the country—and the highlights of Namibia with a focus on Fish River Canyon and Namib-Naukluft National Park.

With one week in southern Africa, you can experience some of the highlights of South Africa as well as Namibia. Starting in Cape Town, visit a working Rooibos tea farm and discover plants indigenous to the mountain slopes of Cederberg. On Day 2, you'll venture into the Namaqualand in Northern Cape. Cross the border into Namibia and to your camp on the banks of the Orange (Gariep) River. Day 3 sees you taking to a canoe for a tour of the river before heading inland to Fish River Canyon—the largest canyon in Africa and the second-largest in the world. Enjoy a soak post paddle in the ǀAi-ǀAis natural hot springs.

The following day, meander through the Quiver Tree Forest and the Giants Playground, named for the massive boulders and interesting rock formations they create. Venture deeper into the Namib Desert on an overland journey and camp beside the dune fields. The next day, a brisk climb up Dune 45 offers a perfect vantage point to marvel at the changing colors of the desert before transferring into Sossusvlei, where you'll visit the salt pans at Sossusvlei and Deadvlei on foot. Cross the Tropic of Capricorn and to coastal Swakopmund to visit Walvis Bay Lagoon, where you may spot rose-tinted flamingoes. Learn more

More Great Namibia Itineraries

Looking for more inspiration for your trip to Namibia? Check out these other Namibia itineraries, with outdoor adventures, wildlife safari trips, and best-of tours to hit the highlights.