International
Namibia Desert & Dunes - 9 Nights 10 Days
Windhoek, Sossusvlei, Etosha, Swakopmund
Dramatic desert landscapes! Namibia sparsely populated 2.5 million people massive country twice size California offers surreal otherworldly scenery red sand dunes tallest world desert-adapted wildlife excellent infrastructure self-drive destination German colonial heritage. Windhoek small capital German architecture independence museum craft markets. Sossusvlei Namib-Naukluft National Park iconic red sand dunes Dune 45 sunrise climb 170m panoramic sea of dunes apricot glow photographers paradise, Deadvlei white clay pan dead camelhorn trees 900 years old black skeletons against orange dunes surreal Mars-like landscape most photographed Africa. Swakopmund German colonial coastal town adventure capital sandboarding quad biking, Walvis Bay flamingos dolphins boat tours, Skeleton Coast shipwrecks seal colonies desert meets Atlantic dramatic fog. Etosha National Park 22270 sq km abundant wildlife concentrations waterholes dry season elephants lions rhinos giraffes zebras springbok oryx self-drive game viewing salt pan shimmering white endless. Spitzkoppe Matterhorn Namibia granite peaks rock formations Bushman paintings. NamibRand dark sky reserve stargazing incredible Milky Way clarity.
Day 1:
Arrive Windhoek, city orientation Christuskirche German Lutheran church independence memorial, craft markets shopping, drive south Namib Desert (350km, 5hrs) through escarpment mountain passes, evening desert lodge|
Day 2:
Pre-dawn Sossusvlei enter (last 5km 4x4 shuttle), sunrise Dune 45 climb 170m flowing curves, Deadvlei white pan walk dead trees 900 years photography surreal black silhouettes orange dunes, Big Daddy tallest dune 325m optional climb fitness required, Sesriem Canyon walk narrow gorge, sunset desert dunes apricot glow magical|
Day 3:
Morning leisure desert walk nature trails oryx gemsbok springbok desert-adapted, afternoon drive Swakopmund (350km, 5hrs) through Namib desert endless vistas Kuiseb Canyon pass, evening German coastal town dinner|
Day 4:
Swakopmund activities full day (sandboarding dunes adrenaline, quad biking desert adventure, or scenic flights Skeleton Coast shipwrecks optional, Walvis Bay dolphins flamingos boat tour), German bakeries cafes architecture explore|
Day 5:
Drive Etosha National Park via Spitzkoppe Matterhorn Namibia rock formations (400km), enter Etosha evening game drive Okaukuejo waterhole floodlit night viewing|
Day 6:
Full day Etosha self-drive game viewing (multiple waterholes Okaukuejo Halali Namutoni, elephants drinking bathing, lions hunting ambush, black rhinos endangered, giraffes zebras herds, salt pan Etosha Pan shimmering white midday mirage incredible expanse)|
Day 7:
Morning final Etosha game drive, drive Windhoek (400km, 5hrs) via Okahandja woodcarvers market shopping souvenirs, evening Windhoek|
Day 8:
Optional add Caprivi Strip wetlands or Damaraland desert elephants or leisure|
Day 9:
Morning craft center shopping, departure Hosea Kutako International Airport (45km), end dramatic Namibia desert adventure