Namibian Highlights (13 Days)

Day 1 :
Arrival in Windhoek, collect your rental car on arrival and drive to your hotel. Rest of day at leisure.
Overnight: PH Thuringerhof (or similar), Windhoek.

Day 2 :
A full day to explore Windhoek, the capital of Namibia. The attractive town lies at an altitude of 1650 metres in a beautiful valley bordered by the Eros Mountains in the north and the Auas mountains in the south. Towards the west, stretches the Khomas Highland to the Namib and the coast. Windhoek combines the modern city architectural style with that of the German colonial era.
The city centre of Windhoek lies on both sides of the Independence Avenue, and can be explored by foot. The busy main road (formerly known as the "Kaiserstrasse") starts at the Ausspannplatz in the south and stretches up to the former township Katutura in the north. Worth a visit are the "Tintenpalast" ("Ink Palace"), which houses Namibia's parliament, the Christuskirche (Christ Church) of the Lutheran parish from the year 1896, the "Reiterdenkmal" from 1912 and the "Alte Feste" (Old Fort); former headquarters of the Schutztruppe and today, Namibia's National Museum. Since 1997, the historical buildings of Windhoek are overshadowed by the monumental Supreme Court building.
Overnight: PH Thuringerhof (or similar), Windhoek. (B)

Day 3 :
Leave Windhoek and travel via the Gamsberg Pass, with the magnificent views towards Gamsberg, often called “Namibia’s Table Mountain”. Travel via Sossusvlei and arrive at your lodge.
Overnight: Namib Desert Lodge (or similar). (B,D)

Day 4 & 5 :
Sossusvlei offers one of the most spectacular landscapes in Namibia. The Sossusvlei pan is situated where the Tsauchab River disappears into the white clay at the foot of monumental sand dunes. The various colours of nature - the blues of the mountains, yellows of grasslands and varying shades of oranges and reds of the dunes - are breathtaking and are a major tourist attraction. Of great beauty is the spot known as Deadvlei, named after the skeletal remains of the Camelthorn trees found in the pan. The sparse vegetation attracts springbok, oryx, and ostrich even during the dry spells. A fleshy melon plant, Nara, is particularly popular as it is high in nutrients and full of thirst-quenching liquid. We recommend you book an optional tour to Sossusvlei at your lodge.

You should also explore Sesriem Canyon: the Tsauchab is a dry riverbed in the southern Naukluft Mountains, approximately 100 km long in total and parts of this riverbed flows through Sesriem Canyon. Only during the rare times when rain falls in the Naukluft Mountains and runs off, does the river flow as the water cannot seep into the compacted riverbed. During these rains, the Tsauchab becomes a rapid-running, strong river within a matter of hours.
Overnight: Namib Desert Lodge (or similar). (B,D)

Day 6 :
After breakfast, drive via the travel through two rugged passes and drive to via Kuiseb Canyon, via the Moonlandscape and stop to see the unique Welwitschia plants. The age of the plants is difficult to determine, but they are very long-lived, living 1000 years or more. Some individuals may be more than 2000 years old. The plant absorbs water through structures on its leaves, harvesting moisture originating from dew that forms during the night. Continue to Swakopmund, located on the Atlantic Ocean. Better known as Namibia’s playground, this idyllic town is wedged between the sweltering Namib Desert and the cold Atlantic Ocean, and enjoys a distinct German architecture and atmosphere. Swakopmund has numerous activities to offer. Your lodge is located on the beach, approximately 5 km from the town centre.
Overnight: Beach Lodge, Swakopmund. (B)

Day 7 :
Swakopmund resembles a quaint German town from the last century – and it is no wonder that the German history is still felt in this cosy town. Swakopmund is a popular seaside resort with many tourist attractions and a pleasant climate isummer. Visitors can go on town tours, fishing trips, visit some of the many museums, snake park, sand-boarding, parasailing and hot air ballooning. Driving along the stunning dune-lined coastline is also an attractive option, whether you go south to Walvis Bay (30 km) or to the National West Coast Recreation Area in the north. There are also many optional tours and activities which can be booked in Swakopmund.
Overnight: Beach Lodge, Swakopmund. (B)

Day 8 :
Departure from Swakopmund and drive along the Atlantic Coast towards the north. Visit the lichen fields near Wlotzka’s Baken before continuing to Henties Bay, a small holiday resort. Continue to the seal colony at Cape Cross. This seal colony is the breeding place of the Cape fur seals, which are actually a species of sea lion. Along the Namibian and South African coast there are 24 colonies with a seal population of about 650 000 animals, and approximately 80 000 to 100 000 seals live at Cape Cross. After seeing the seals, the journey continues via Ugabmund to the southern Skeleton Coast Park to view a shipwreck. Leave the Skeleton Coast Park in the early afternoon via Springbokwasser, and you will see the harsh transition from the Namib Desert to the Damaraland highlands with its impressive landscape and ragged valleys.
Dinner and overnight: Twyfelfontein Lodge (or similar). (B,D)

Day 9 :
Leaving Palmwag Lodge, we travel via the Grootberg Pass to Kamanjab and further on the tarred road to the Etosha National Park. Arrive at your lodge, located close to one of the entrance gates to Etosha. Check in, you will spend the next 3 nights at this lodge.
Dinner and overnight: Etosha Safari Camp (or similar), Etosha area . (B,D)

Day 10, 11 & 12:
Three full days to explore Etosha on your own. Etosha, meaning 'place of dry water', is centered around a huge, flat depression (or pan) of about 5,000 square km in extent in far north Namibia. The 'Pan' provides a great, parched, silver-white backdrop of shimmering mirages to an area of semi-arid savannah grassland and thorn scrub. The pan itself contains water only after very good rains, and sometimes for only a few days each year, but is enough to stimulate the growth of a blue-green algae which lures thousands of flamingos.

Etosha National Park is one of Africa's major wildlife sanctuaries, covering an area of more than 22 750sq km. During the drier months of June to November the water points exert a magnetic pull on the big game herds, and forms the centre-piece for visitors looking to see the nearly 150 mammal species to found in the Park, including several rare and endangered species such as the black rhino, black-faced impala, tssesebe and gemsbok. We recommend you stop at some of the waterholes as this is often the best place to spot wildlife – as they come down to drink. Return to your lodge.
Dinner and overnight: Etosha Safari Camp (or similar), Etosha area. (B,D)

Day 13:
Head back to Windhoek via Okahandja, this is an important centre for woodcarvers from the north. They practice their ancient skills at the Woodcarvers Market next to the main road. This is a good place to pick a last souvenir. Arrive in Windhoek and hand back your rental car. (B)