Namibia Safari Road Trip - 12 Days
Highlights
- Soar over the red dunes of Sossusvlei in a hot-air balloon
- See African bush elephants and black rhinos in the Namibian desert
- Spend time with Indigenous tribes and experience their pastoral way of life
- Embark on safari drives in famous parks like Etosha
Brief Itinerary
| Day | Highlights | Overnight |
|---|---|---|
| Day 1 | Arrive in Windhoek, Optional Activities | Windhoek |
| Day 2 | Drive to Sossusvlei & Namib-Naukluft National Park | Sossusvlei |
| Day 3 | Sossusvlei Optional Activities: Hot-Air Balloons & Desert Canyons | Sossusvlei |
| Day 4 | Drive to Swakopmund via Walvis Bay Lagoon | Swakopmund |
| Day 5 | Drive to Palmwag, Home of the Black Rhino | Palmwag |
| Day 6 | Palmwag Optional Activities: Nature Walks, Petroglyphs & Rhino Safaris | Palmwag |
| Day 7 | Drive to Opuwo, Himba Tribe Visit | Opuwo |
| Day 8 | Day Trip to Epupa Falls | Opuwo |
| Day 9 | Drive to Etosha National Park, Optional Game Drive | Etosha National Park |
| Day 10 | Etosha Safari Activities | Etosha National Park |
| Day 11 | Drive to Windhoek | Windhoek |
| Day 12 | Depart Windhoek |
Detailed Itinerary
Day 1: Arrive in Windhoek, Optional Activities
Welcome to Namibia! This country on the southwestern coast of Africa is a nature-lover's dream. It's filled with otherworldly deserts and vast savanna grasslands home to a menagerie of exotic wildlife, including the Big Five: lions, rhinos, elephants, buffalo, and leopards. You'll enjoy plenty of safari game drives throughout this itinerary, but first, you'll explore some landscapes exclusive to Namibia.
It begins with your arrival in Windhoek, the nation's capital. Pick up your rental car at the terminal and drive into the city to your hotel. On the way, you'll notice Windhoek has a European feel due to its German colonial legacy. After checking in, you can explore Windhoek's tranquil streets, strolling past Gothic churches, leafy parks, and imposing fortresses. Must-see historical sites include the gingerbread-like structure of Christuskirche (Christ Church) and the Tintenpalast (Ink Palace), now the Namibian parliament building. When you're hungry, you can stop for a braai (barbecue) at a local restaurant.
Day 2: Drive to Sossusvlei & Namib-Naukluft National Park
Rise and shine! After breakfast, hit the road for the six-hour drive to Sossusvlei (226 mi/ 365 km). Along the way, you'll pass scenic landscapes and the infinitely vast Namib Desert. It's a long drive, but there will be a stop along the way to grab refreshments and fill up on gas in the dusty outpost of Solitaire.
Eventually, you'll arrive in Sossusvlei and Namib-Naukluft National Park. At 19,215 square miles (49,768 sq km), this is the largest conservation area in the country. Among other wonders, it's home to the iconic red dunes of Namibia, which are a photographer's dream. These dunes rise up to 1,300 feet (400 m), making them some of the highest in the world. They're particularly attractive at sunrise and sunset.
After checking into your desert lodge, you'll have the rest of the day to explore. A fun activity is climbing Big Daddy, one of Sossusvlei's tallest dunes. You can also hike around Deadvlei, a salt clay pan dotted with ancient trees. For a more extravagant outing, opt for a scenic flight. There's fascinating wildlife here, too. Get lucky, and you might spot an oryx, springbok, ostrich, or one of the many reptiles like chameleons and the leopard tortoise. After exploring the area and glimpsing the wildlife, you'll return to your lodge.
Day 3: Sossusvlei Optional Activities: Hot-Air Balloons & Desert Canyons
Today is yours to explore the wonders of Sossusvlei at your own pace. If you like, rise early for a morning hot-air balloon ride over the dunes, followed by a decadent Champagne breakfast. Another fun option is to explore Sesriem Canyon. This deep gorge has been carved by the Tsauchab River over millions of years, resulting in soaring canyon walls. A hike through the gorge is an incredible experience, as is taking a refreshing dip in the river.
Day 4: Drive to Swakopmund via Walvis Bay Lagoon
Say goodbye to Sossusvlei in the morning as you hit the road to the coastal town of Swakopmund. This 5-6-hour drive (248 mi/ 400 km) follows the gravel plains of the Namib Desert through the spectacular Gaub and Kuiseb canyons. If you like, make a stop at the Walvis Bay Lagoon, a vital wetland renowned for its seasonal abundance of flamingoes. From here, join the main route, which leads between the coast and the dune belt to the coastal resort town of Swakopmund.
Founded in 1892 during German colonial rule, Swakopmund served as Namibia's main harbor for years. Now, this quaint town nestled between desert and ocean is enhanced by lush green lawns, palm trees, and carefully tended gardens. After settling into your hotel, feel free to take a stroll around town. There are many restaurants and coffee shops selling traditional German cakes and pastries.
For something more adventurous, head out on a dolphin boat tour or a quad bike adventure through the desert. You can also visit Snake Park, which displays indigenous Namibian species like pythons and famous poisonous snakes like the black mamba.
Chat with a local specialist who can help organize your trip.
Day 5: Drive to Palmwag, Home of the Black Rhino
Continue north this morning on a six-hour drive (273 mi /440 km) to Palmwag. This wilderness reserve covers around 1,930 square miles (5,000 sq km) and is home to exotic flora and fauna. It's most famous as a haven for the largest population of southwestern black rhinos in Africa. Also cruising its rugged desert terrain are leopards, lions, cheetahs, mountain zebras, giraffes, antelope, and African bush elephants. You can see these animals and more over the next two days in the park. For now, you'll check into your lodge and can then head out on a brisk nature hike.
Day 6: Palmwag Optional Activities: Nature Walks, Petroglyphs & Rhino Safaris
Rise early and take advantage of the myriad adventures around Palmwag. You'll have your choice of excursions, and there are some thrilling options. For example, after breakfast on the veranda, you can take a guided walk to marvel at the local flora (which includes interesting palm trees) and learn about the medicinal uses of native plants. You can also visit nearby farms to seek out African bush elephants as they migrate to water sources.
Afterward, perhaps take a scenic drive to nearby Twyfelfontein. Designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site, this area features a collection of over 2,000 rock petroglyphs. Marvel at the designs, which depict animals and geometric shapes and were made by Namibia's nomadic hunter-gatherer tribes an estimated 6,000 years ago. Your guide will also show you the area's iconic "living fossil plant," the welwitschia.
Of course, one of the most popular activities around Palmwag is a full-day rhino safari. Once listed as critically endangered, black rhino populations in Namibia have increased dramatically thanks to a conservation partnership between local communities and ecotourism efforts. This excursion combines walking and driving amid the cliffs and volcanic basalt ridges of the nearby Damaraland region. At lunchtime, there will be a stop near natural springs to enjoy refreshments.
Day 7: Road Trip to Opuwo, Himba Tribe Visit
Leave early on a four-hour drive north (149 mi/ 240 km) to Opuwo, the capital of the Kunene Region in northwest Namibia. Kunene is bordered by Angola in the north, Etosha National Park in the east, Damaraland (now Erongo) in the south, and the Atlantic Ocean to the west. The landscape here varies drastically, from dry dolomite hills in the south to towering peaks with deep gorges and chasms.
Besides the scenery, the region is home to a nomadic tribe called the Himba. Members of the tribe can be seen wandering with their herds of goats and cattle from watering hole to watering hole. Clad only in a loincloth, the Himba paint their bodies with an ocher-red pigment that protects their skin from the sun.
Speaking of which, after checking into your country lodge, you'll meet a guide for a trip to one of the Himba villages outside of town. During a cultural exchange, you'll meet members of the tribe and learn about their pastoral way of life. You'll see how the Himba people make mud-thatched houses, herd cattle, hunt, and forage from the land—the same way they've been doing for centuries.
Day 8: Day Trip to Epupa Falls
This morning, you'll travel north out of town to the border with Angola. Here, on the Kunene River, you'll find its star waterfall, Epupa. In the Indigenous Herero language, Epupa means "falling water," which is a short and sweet way to describe this epic 200-foot (60 m) cascade. Not only is it at an amazing site, but the falls feed a lush landscape that attracts plenty of exotic birds and animals—so keep your camera close. Also, these falls plunge into a series of natural rock pools, which are great places to take a dip before making the return trip to Opuwo.
Day 9: Drive to Etosha National Park, Optional Game Drive
It's another early start as you hit the road for the approximately 5-6-hour drive ((320 mi/ 515 km) east to Etosha National Park. One of the highlights of Namibia, this national park is centered around the Etosha Pan, once an inland sea that has dried up over the past millennia. What's left is one of the largest salt pans in Africa. Today, this fascinating landscape is a haven for a wide variety of exotic animals, including lions, elephants, leopards, giraffes, cheetahs, hyenas, two kinds of zebras, elands, and many more.
You should arrive at the southern entrance to Etosha by midday, and after checking into your lodge, you'll have lunch. Then, you can explore the park on a game drive. To see the most animals, it's best to visit during the dry season (May-Oct) when the wildlife congregates around the few water holes in the pan's center. That said, when the rains come and the pools increase, they attract hundreds of thousands of flamingoes, so there's always something to see here. When the sun goes down, you can also head out for a night game drive before returning to the lodge.
Day 10: Etosha Safari Activities
Today you'll have your pick of adventures in Etosha National Park. One option is a half-day guided game drive in a safari vehicle (refreshments and park entrance fees included). Even better is the full-day guided safari, which lasts about nine hours and affords a better chance to spot the wildlife.
You can also choose a guided safari walk. An expert guide will lead you on a 1-2 mile (2-3 km) trail, which lasts about two hours. Beyond searching for the animals, your guide will impart wisdom about native plants, point out exotic birds, and reveal the fundamentals of animal tracking.
Day 11: Drive to Windhoek
Say goodbye to the savannas and deserts of central Namibia as you hop in the car and return to Windhoek. It's a 4-5-hour ride (257 mi/ 402 km), but you can break it up with a couple of stops on the way. One option is the town of Okahandja, which features a famous open-air craft market. A stop here is a great opportunity to purchase handmade curios and African souvenirs to take home. Upon arrival in Windhoek, you'll check in at your hotel and will have the rest of the day free.
Day 12: Depart Windhoek
After almost two weeks of African adventures, the time has come to depart. Enjoy a leisurely breakfast at the hotel in Windhoek, then drive to the airport, drop off your rental car, and catch your flight home. Safe travels!
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