Dunes to Cape

Day 1: Arrival in Windhoek.

Today you will arrive at Windhoek International Airport. You will be welcomed by a representative who will transfer you to Windhoek. Upon arrival, you will check in to your accommodation and transfer to the car rental company where you will receive your vehicle which will take you around for the next 14 days. Our representative will also meet you to hand over all documentation that you need for the next 2 weeks. The remainder of the day can be spent relaxing at your own leisure. For dinner tonight, you can head into town for a bite to eat at one of Windhoek’s well-known restaurants

Day 2: Windhoek– Etosha National Park

After breakfast, you'll drive north towards Etosha National Park which will take approximately 4 hours. Etosha offers fantastic wildlife viewing opportunities, particularly around the waterholes. You can expect to see Elephant, Giraffe, Lion, Leopard, Zebra, Springbok, and Gemsbok and it’s also one of the best places in Southern Africa to see the endangered Cheetah, Black Rhino, and rare antelope species such as black-faced Impala, Damara dik-dik, and Roan antelope. We offer a choice of superb lodges, both in the park and on its borders.

Day 3: Etosha National Park

Today you have a full day to spend at Etosha National park. This means you can take your time visiting the many different waterholes such as Halali, Okondeka, and Okaukuejo, where large concentrations of wildlife congregate. Almost a quarter of Etosha consists of salt pans, including the Etosha Pan which is undoubtedly the park’s most distinctive and dramatic feature. The Etosha Pan is the only known mass breeding ground for flamingos in Namibia and at times there can be up to a million flamingos here.

Day 4: Etosha National Park - Damaraland

Today you will drive to Damaraland which is roughly a 4-hour drive. Damaraland lies east of the skeleton coast and it's known for the many tribes that reside here. On arrival, you’ll settle into your accommodation and you can spend the afternoon relaxing at your lodge, or if you wish you can take a walk in the surrounding area, stopping at viewpoints to marvel at the beautiful Damaraland landscape. There are also options for you to take an elephant nature drive in search of Namibia's desert-dwelling elephant, or you may wish to join the Twyfelfontein, Burnt Mountain, and Organ Pipes excursion to see the rock engravings at the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Twyfelfontein.

Day 5: Damaraland - Swakopmund

Today you will depart to Swakopmund, en route, we recommend that you stop at Henties Bay to see the Cape Cross seal colony and you'll visit the shipwreck of MS Winston at Durissa Bay. Swakopmund itself is a former colonial town famous for its German architecture and culture - many residents speak German and there's even an Oktoberfest beer festival. It is an ideal place to spend a couple of days between visiting the dunes of Sossusvlei and exploring the attractions of northern Namibia.

Day 6: Swakopmund

After breakfast, you will have a full day to explore Swakopmund and the surrounding area. You can decide to go for a living desert tour, or go and spot the seals, dolphins, and pelicans during a boat or kayaking trip. You cal also join a bird-watching excursion, or you may wish to visit the Swakopmund Lighthouse, the Swakopmund Museum, and Sandwich Harbour. These activities can be added to your tailor-made tour for an extra cost. Just outside Swakopmund, several sand dunes have been set aside for adventure activities, including sandboarding, quad biking, camel riding, and off-road driving. It will be a day full of fun activities. You will head back to the hotel for dinner and overnight.

Day 7: Swakopmund - Sossusvlei

After breakfast, you’ll leave Swakopmund and drive to Sossusvlei in the Namib Desert in the southwest of the country, which will take approximately 5 hours. En route, you will pass the tropic of Capricorn and you should definitely make a short stop at Solitaire petrol station and try their German apple pie. You’ll stay in Sossusvlei for the next two nights and you’ll have time to explore the iconic sand dunes, as well as other incredible geographical formations of the region, such as the Deadvlei and the Sesriem canyon.

Day 8: Sossusvlei

Early morning, you will head out to climb the iconic Dune 45, also known as big daddy for a breathtaking sunrise, or if you prefer you can soar above this breathtaking landscape in a hot air balloon (not included). After you have climbed Dune 45, you will head to Deadvlei, where you get to spend some time. You will head back for lunch at the accommodation and can head out in the afternoon for some afternoon activities or spend time at the pool. Other activities you can enjoy today include a nature drive to spot the desert-adapted wildlife, a dune walk or an eco-sensitive guided quad bike excursion, sandboarding, and horse riding.

Day 9: Sossusvlei - Lüderitz

In the morning you will depart to Lüderitz, approximately a 6-hour drive. Lüderitz is a small harbor town known for its German colonial buildings and art-deco architecture and excursions to the ghost town of Kolmanskop. Explore the historical ghost town of Kolmanskop just outside of Lüderitz – a photographic mecca in the middle of the Namib Desert.

Day 10: Lüderitz - Fish River Canyon

Today you will depart to Fish River Canyon, the second canyon largest in the world and largest in Africa. It features a gigantic ravine, in total about 160 km/ 100 miles long, up to 27 km/16 miles wide, and in places almost 550 meters / 1800 feet deep.

Day 11: Fish River Canyon

Today you get to spend a full day to spend inside the canyon, with an additional guided tour you can get to explore all the secrets and viewpoints.

Day 12: Fish River Canyon - Ai-Ais/ Richtersveld Transfrontier Park

In the morning you will depart to South Africa, where your first stop will be Ai-Ais / Richtersveld Transfrontier Park. If nothingness and desert landscapes are your thing, the Ai-Ais/Richtersveld Transfrontier Park on the border of South Africa and Namibia will not fail to impress. Desert flora, impressive cliff faces, and unique plant and animal species that have carefully adapted to survive in a seemingly barren desert landscape make for an interesting visit. Explore the park on scenic drives. You can look forward to stunning river views, sunsets over the mountain ranges, and silent, starry nights.

Day 13: Ai-Ais/ Richtersveld Transfrontier Park - Hondeklipbaai

In the morning you will depart to Hondeklipbaai. Hondeklipbaai is a tiny settlement on the South African West Coast and is located next to the Namaqua National Park which is famous for its wildflowers. Hondeklipbaai boasts some of the best sunset views along the west coast.

Day 14: Hondeklipbaai - Cape Town

In the morning you will drive back to Cape Town for your drop off at the airport or at a hotel in the city center. You can extend your trip with our Cape Town extensions to explore this beautiful city.