Namibia Desert & Wildlife Fly-In Safari: Sossuvlei, Skeleton Coast & Etosha – 7 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. 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. Your first stop will be the Clay Castles which line gorges along the riverbed. Created over centuries, many of 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 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.

This afternoon you can opt for 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 Etosha National Park, Etosha Game Drive & Onguma Sundowner 

Say goodbye to the Skeleton Coast this morning and board your private flight to Etosha National Park. You'll arrive in time for a morning game drive in Etosha, which is known by the Indigenous Ovambo people as "the great white place" for its 1,900 square-mile (4,920 sq km) salt pan, which is visible from space. If you visit during the rainy season, water floods the pan, creating algae-rich lagoons that attract migratory birds such as flamingoes. Etosha is one of Namibia's top safari destinations due to its many spring-fed waterholes, which offer supreme wildlife sightings.

After resting at your lodge, head out in the cool late afternoon for a sundowner drive in Onguma. This private game reserve borders Etosha National Park and covers 84,000 acres (34,000 ha) of protected land where wildlife thrives. During the safari, you're likely to spot everything from kudus and dik-diks to zebras, lions, and the reserve's family of black rhinos. Park up for sunset and take in sweeping views of the reserve while enjoying a selection of drinks.

Day 6: Game Drive in Etosha National Park

This morning you'll set off on a full-day game drive in Etosha National Park. Along the way, your safari guide will point out some of the park's diverse wildlife, which encompasses over 114 species of mammals and 350 bird species. You're likely to spot everything from Burchell's zebra and black-faced impalas to oryx and giraffes. You'll also learn about Etosha's distinctive landscape, which features over 20 types of vegetation.

Drive toward Halali Camp for a leisurely lunch, stopping at several waterholes along the way. Before you continue your safari, there's plenty of time to swim in Halali's pool or have a drink at the bar. Your next stop will be Okaukuejo's teeming waterhole, which has earned a reputation as one of the best game viewing destinations in Southern Africa. Spend the night at a campsite nearby with black rhinos, elephants, and antelopes on your doorstep.

Day 7: Fly to Windhoek & Depart

This morning your Namibia journey ends with a private charter flight to Windhoek, where you'll connect to your international flight. Safe travels!

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