Namibia Desert & Dune Luxury Fly-In Safari: Sossusvlei & Skeleton Coast – 5 Days

Day 1: Arrive in Windhoek & Fly to Sossusvlei for a Sundowner Drive

Welcome to Namibia! A travel representative will greet you at Windhoek airport and introduce you to the pilot for your fly-in safari adventure. After check-in and a briefing, take to the Namibian skies on your private flight from Windhoek to Sossusvlei, soaring over the spectacular Naukluft Mountain Range. Upon touchdown, you'll take a transfer to your luxury lodge.

Get your first taste of Namib Desert scenery on a drive through the reserve near your lodge. As you go, take in views of the never-ending dunes of Namib, the world's oldest desert, which is recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site for its shifting sand sea. This mammoth desert stretches over 1,200 miles (2,000 km) from Angola along the coast of Namibia into South Africa. Set off in the late afternoon and park at a panoramic viewpoint to watch the sunset while sipping on a selection of drinks.  

Day 2: Sossusvlei Tour

Spend today exploring the Namib-Naukluft National Park. Namibia's most extensive park covers over 18,900 square miles (49,000 sq km) of desert, mountains, and canyons. Head to Sossusvlei, a dry riverbed home to some of the planet's tallest dunes, including Elim, Dune 45, and the 1,000-foot-tall (300 m) Big Daddy. As the light changes throughout the day, these towering sand masses transform into shades of orange, red, and gold.

You'll also get to see Sossusvlei's famous salt pan. Deadvlei (Dead Marsh) is a popular photo spot featuring dozens of skeletal dead camelthorn trees stranded in the chalk-white ground. Continue to Sesriem Canyon, which was formed up to four million years ago by the Tsaugab River. Early settlers used ses (six) riem (leather rope straps) to lower a bucket into the 100-foot (30 m) deep canyon to collect water, hence the name.

Day 3: Fly to the Skeleton Coast, Hoarusib River Excursion

This morning begins with a flight to the Skeleton Coast, where the Atlantic collides with the Namib Desert. This creates a veil of thick fog responsible for numerous shipwrecks that litter the coastline, along with giant bones left over from Namibia's former whaling industry. Enjoy birds-eye views of Sossusvlei as you fly, passing over old diamond mines, shipwrecks, and Sandwich Harbour. Your pilot will refuel in the coastal town of Swakopmund before continuing to Möwe Bay.

When you land, head out to discover the wonders of the Hoanib River Delta, one of 12 seasonal rivers in western Namibia. Your first stop will be the Clay Castles which line gorges along the usually-dry riverbed. Created over centuries, these striking geological formations soar hundreds of feet into the sky. During the tour, your guide will look out for desert-adapted animals that roam the area, such as elephants, oryx, and brown hyenas. 

Continue along the Hoarusib River, stopping to explore eerie shipwrecks. The first is the Suiderkus, which ran aground on a stormy night in 1976 despite her modern navigation equipment; the ship's hull now serves as a perch for cormorants. You'll also see the Karimona, a fishing boat that suffered a similar fate in 1971. The trip ends with a visit to the Möwe Bay seal colony to watch some of Namibia's 1.5 million Cape fur seals playing in the waters and basking on the shore.

Day 4: Game Drive & Fishing Excursion in the Skeleton Coast National Park

Start the day with a game drive in the remote Skeleton Coast National Park. Despite its stark appearance, this biodiverse landscape is home to various animals, birds, and insects that have adapted to survive in this hostile environment. You might spot everything from desert lions and elephants to jackals, kudus, giraffes, and zebras. Your guide will also point out hardy plant species, including the pencil bush, over 100 types of lichen, and the "living fossil plant" welwitschia, which can live up to 2,000 years.

Spend the rest of the day on a fishing excursion off the Skeleton Coast. The waters are teeming with marine life, such as seals, sharks, and an array of colorful fish. Thanks to the nutrient-rich Benguela current, this area has one of the world's largest populations of bronze whaler sharks. Your guide will supply you with top-notch fishing gear for the expedition, where you'll likely catch kob, steenbra, and black bream.  

Day 5: Fly to Windhoek & Depart

Today your Namibia adventure ends with a private charter flight from Möwe Bay to Windhoek International Airport for your onward flight. Safe travels!