Complete Namibia Experience - 13D/12N

Pretoria flowers, Courtesy of Thompsons Tours It is a wonderful self drive experience. You will be able to appreciate the best of Namibia in 13 days, combining first the northern desert and then the dunes and the river canyons at your own pace or if you want just do one of them! Visit places like Windhoek, the capital of Namibia, that is located in a basin between the Khomas Highland, Auas and Eros Mountains. Whether due to pure luck or a brilliant stroke of Germanic planning, Windhoek is situated in almost the exact center of Namibia. The Fish River is, at 650 kilometers, the longest river in Namibia. Its source lies in the eastern Naukluft Mountains and flows south-west of Ai-Ais into the Oranje. It is situated along the lower reaches of the Fish River, is one of the most impressive natural beauties in the southern part of Namibia.

Dunes & River Canyons - 7D/6N

Highlights: View the awesome Fish River Canyon, reputedly the second largest canyon in the world after the Grand Canyon. Explore a ghost town in Kolmanskop. Climb the highest sand dunes in the world at Sossusvlei.

Included: 1 Night in the Kalahari (bed and breakfast) - 1 Night in Fish River Canyon (bed and breakfast) - 1 Night in Lüderitz (bed and breakfast) - 2 Nights in Sossusvlei (meals as specified) - Morning dune experience.

Not Included: Any international airfare - Passport and visas - Any personal expenses - Entrance fees not specified in the itinerary.

Accommodation: Standard Day 1: Auob Lodge (B) Day 2: Canon Lodge (B) Day 3: Protea Hotel Seaview Zum Sperrgebiet (B) Day 4 & 5: Desert Camp (B) Day 7: Hotel Safari (B).
* We reserve the right to offer accommodation of a similar standard, subject to availability.

Departures: Daily.

South African desert, courtesy of Thompsons ToursDay by day Itinerary:

  • Day 1 Windhoek / Kalahari - On arrival at Windhoek International Airport, collect your hired car and travel to Gochas. The red sand dunes of the Kalahari form a great contrast to the white limestone of the hollow that the Auob River carved into the landscape when it was still flowing. Here the plant life has adapted to the harsh conditions of the Kalahari.
  • Day 2 Kalahari / Fish River Canyon - Head southwards today to the Fish River Canyon, the second largest canyon in the world. Absolutely magnificent and breathtaking in its immensity, the canyon is 161km long, 27km wide and about 500m deep. Fish River Canyon is so vast that your eyes cannot cope with the full view all at once. At the northern end of the gorge are amazing viewpoints.
  • Day 3 Fish River Canyon / Lüderitz - Drive via Aus through the barren expanses of the prohibited diamond area to Lüderitz, the first European settlement dating back to the mid 1800’s. Visit a ghost town just outside of Lüderitz. This hazy Atlantic coast town has immense appeal for its barren beauty and solitude.
  • Day 4 Lüderitz / Sossusvlei - This morning make your way to Sossusvlei, Namibia’s famous highlight in the heart of the Namib Desert, a huge pan enclosed by giant sand dunes. Some of the spectacular hills of sand are, at a height of 300
    meters, the highest in the world.
  • Day 5 Sossusvlei - The best time to view Sossusvlei is at sunrise when the colors are strong and constantly changing, allowing for wonderful photographic opportunities. The climb to the top of one of the dunes can be grueling under the heat of the sun and the ever-shifting sand under your feet, but it is worth it for the magnificent views.
  • Day 6 Sossusvlei / Windhoek - This morning depart for Windhoek.
  • Day 7 Windhoek - On arrival at your hotel in Windhoek you will be met by our Representative. Windhoek combines the modern city architectural style with that of the German Colonial era. A visit to Windhoek is not complete without an outing to Joe’s Beerhouse, a rustic but fabulous eatery offering great vibes, great Namibian food and plenty of beer and cheer (own account)! Your desert exploration ends.

    • Northern Desert Experience - 6D/5N

    Highlights: Visit the vast spectacle of Etosha National Park. See the impressive Bushman paintings in Damaraland. Explore the beautiful historical buildings in Swakopmund, a coastal Mecca and adventure capital of Namibia.

    Included: 2 Nights in Swakopmund (bed and breakfast) 1 Night in Damaraland (dinner, bed and breakfast) - 2 Nights in Etosha (meals as specified).

    Not Included: Any international airfare - Passport and visas - Any personal expenses - Entrance fees not specified in the itinerary.

    Accommodation: Standard Day 1 & 2: Hansa Hotel (B) Day 3: Damaraland Camp (B) Day 4 & 5: Etosha National Park - Okaukeujo Room Only
    * We reserve the right to offer accommodation of a similar standard, subject to availability.

    Departures: Daily.

    Bushman Paint, courtesy of South Africa Tourism Board and Thompsons ToursDay by day Itinerary:

    • Day 1 Arrive Swakopmund - Arrive in Swakopmund today and check into your hotel. Namibia’s most popular coastal resort looks very much like a Bavarian village, with characteristic shops, restaurants and hotels.
    • Day 2 Swakopmund - Swakopmund is the adventure hub of Namibia. We recommend a trip to Walvis Bay for a boat excursion, to see the dolphin and seal colonies that inhabit this area. For those adventurous spirits who wish to experience the boundless expanse of the shifting sand dunes, we recommend quad biking and dune boarding.
    • Day 3 Swakopmund / Damaraland - Set off this morning travelling onto Khorixas. Visit one of the many strange rock formations in this area, the one that stands out is a 35m tall pillar called Vingerklip or ‘Rocky Finger’ carved over millions of years by wind and rain.
    • Day 4 Damaraland / Etosha National - Park Today, head north towards the famous Etosha National Park. Known as ‘the place of dry water’, Etosha National Park is a truly unique wildlife experience.
    • Day 5 Etosha National Park - Spend the entire day in the park, exploring the waterholes along this enormous saltpan. The park is one of the last remaining natural wild sanctuaries of the endangered black rhino. Etosha’s elephants are thought to be the tallest in Africa, and the black-faced impala is endemic to this area.
    • Day 6 Etosha / Windhoek - This morning travel southwards back to Windhoek, the capital of Namibia.

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    Also tagged with: Adventure Expeditions, Independent Journeys, Africa, Self Drive, Namibia, Trekking, Active Travel, Educational, Cultural, Nature / Ecology, Hosted Tours, Photography


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