6-Day Namibia Desert & Coast Safari

Itineraries

• 

  Day 1

  Welcome to Namibia

  You'll arrive today in Windhoek and our local guide, Mr Elvis Nghimutina transfers you to your nearby bush accommodation in N/a’an ku sê Wildlife Sanctuary. This afternoon’s “Carnivore Tour” game drive affords close-up viewing of the sanctuary’s rescued lions, leopards, wild dogs and others. During dinner, Elvis will offer a few words of wisdom to help you feel comfortable with being in Namibia while giving a brief overview of the exciting itinerary that lay ahead. Some travellers prefer to arrive in Windhoek and continue straight onwards to the Namib Desert without considering the possibility of late arrival due to a flight delay, or the effects of jetlag as well as the very long drive from Windhoek to the desert. Staying close to Windhoek allows you to acclimatize to Namibia's dry air and settle into a relaxed, healthy rhythm for the remainder of your safari.

    Destination

  N/a'an Ku Sê Wildlife Sanctuary (Wildlife Sanctuary)
  
   

    Accommodation

  N/a'an Ku Sê Lodge
  

  Luxury lodge located in or near Windhoek

  If the hotel is unavailable, a similar hotel will be provided

  Meals

   -All meals included

   -Drinks not included
• 

  Day 2

  Naukluft Mountain Range & Namib Desert

  Today offers a wonderful scenic drive to Sesreim and the dunes of the Namib Desert. Travelling mostly on graded, gravel roads, descend down into the Naukluft Valley and its panoramic mountain vistas. The scenery remains stunning as you approach the easternmost edge of Namibia’s famed desert dunes, where sand and savannah meet and free-roaming wildlife such as springbok, oryx and ostrich can often be seen from your lodge. Our aim is to provide plenty of time for you to soak up this harsh yet beautiful landscape and we, therefore, include a stay of two nights in the region. The Namib-Naukluft National Park lies within the Namib Desert and is one of the world’s largest wildlife reserves, encompassing almost 50,000sq km (19,300sq mi). Your lodge is located next to the park entrance gate and is subsequently one of the best located in the desert region. Other lodges are up to one hour's drive away and require a very early pre-dawn departure in order to see the dunes in the morning sunlight.

    Destination

  Namib Desert
  
   

    Accommodation

  Sossusvlei Lodge
  

  Mid-range lodge bordering Namib-Naukluft NP without fences

  If the hotel is unavailable, a similar hotel will be provided

  Meals

   -All meals included

   -Drinking water (Other drinks not included)
• 

  Day 3

  Namib Desert including Sossusvlei and Dead Vlei

  Today Elvis takes you to the desert sands overlooking the well-known and photogenic landmarks of Dune 45, Dead Vlei and Sossusvlei. Later today, explore Sesreim Canyon and visit Elim Dune to marvel at the splendour of an African sunset. As you travel down the valley of the Tsauchab River, you are dwarfed on either side by huge sand dunes. At times you'll pass close to groves of dead trees, testimony to a bygone era when there was much more water. During the drive, you can hope to see oryx, the fabled desert antelope, as well as springbok, ostrich and jackal. At the end of the tarred road is a short, though at times bumpy ride along a sandy track to Dead Vlei and Sossusvlei. Vlei is an Afrikaans term for a marsh or pan of water. Travelling in a 4x4 SUV with a private, local guide affords you the luxury of being transported directly to the vleis without the need for the 4x4 ‘taxi’ (and the ensuing queue and waiting time), that must be used by visitors in 4x2 vehicles or on group tours.

    Destination

  Sossusvlei (Sand Dunes)
  
   

    Accommodation

  Sossusvlei Lodge
  

  Mid-range lodge bordering Namib-Naukluft NP without fences

  If the hotel is unavailable, a similar hotel will be provided

  Meals

   -All meals included

   -Drinking water (Other drinks not included)
• 

  Day 4

  Namib Desert & Swakopmund

  You now call into the home of Gideon David, better known as "Boesman" and an old friend of Compass Odyssey. Boesman is our local bare-footed desert guide and also a keen farmer. This morning you are treated to an informative tour of his farm and its resident desert dunes. Along the way, he shows you that the Namib Desert is alive and thriving with specialized animal and plant life. The great majority of it is utilized in some way by the nomadic Bushmen (also collectively called the San people). After this fascinating morning, you then head for Namibia’s barren Atlantic coastline via the stunning Gaub and Kuiseb Mountain passes and the arid coastal moonscape. Reaching the Atlantic coastline by mid-afternoon, you travel north to the quaint resort town of Swakopmund, often best explored on a meander around the town’s German-influenced centre with your guide, Elvis.

    Destination

  Swakopmund (City)
  
   

    Accommodation

  Sea Breeze Guesthouse
  

  Mid-range guest house located in or near Swakopmund

  If the hotel is unavailable, a similar hotel will be provided

  Meals

   -All meals included

   -Drinking water (Other drinks not included)
• 

  Day 5

  Walvis Bay and Sandwich Harbour

  This morning you travel the short distance south to Walvis Bay, where you discover this port town’s prolific bird and marine life on an entertaining and informative cruise in the bay, followed by a decadent on-board lunch of locally cultivated oysters. You then embark on an afternoon’s 4x4 excursion along the coast to Sandwich Harbour – one of the most remote destinations within a country that boasts its fair share. Your cruise around the bay offers sightings of dolphins, whales, Cape fur seals, mola mola (sunfish) and with a bit of luck, orca (killer whale). Birders won’t be disappointed, with close-up viewing of pelican, cormorant, Cape gull, Caspian tern, flamingo and other wader species. Less than 60km south of Walvis Bay in the Namib-Naukluft National Park, Sandwich Harbour is one of Namibia’s most unique and dramatic sites where some of the world’s highest sand dunes descend into the wild Atlantic Ocean to form a picturesque lagoon.

    Destination

  Walvis Bay (City)
  
   

    Accommodation

  Sea Breeze Guesthouse
  

  Mid-range guest house located in or near Swakopmund

  If the hotel is unavailable, a similar hotel will be provided

  Meals

   -All meals included

   -Drinking water (Other drinks not included)
• 

  Day 6

  Farewell

  Time permitting, this morning you can stop in the nation’s capital, Windhoek, and visit a local craft centre for some final souvenir shopping. Elvis then bids you farewell as he returns you to Hosea Kutako International Airport in time for an afternoon flight departure. Daily flights are available to Cape Town, Johannesburg and Frankfurt, among others. There's also a thrice-weekly flight to Botswana's Okavango Delta via the town of Maun. NOTE: It’s possible to stop the night in Windhoek, in which case Elvis can provide an informal afternoon tour of the city. It’s also possible to extend your stay in Swakopmund to enjoy some of the exciting adventure activities on offer. We can then arrange transport back to Windhoek (4hrs by road) or Walvis Bay (40mins by road). There are daily flights to Cape Town and Johannesburg if required. (Stopovers are at an additional cost).

    Destination

  Windhoek (City)
  
   

    Accommodation

  Not Specified

  Meals

   -Breakfast (Lunch & dinner not included)

   -Drinks not included