This morning you depart Windhoek in your safari vehicle with your private guide, driving southwest through the scenic Khomas Hochland highlands before descending the Great Escarpment into the Namib Desert below. Along the way, you will stop for a picnic lunch at a picturesque location. You will arrive at Dead Valley Lodge in the mid-afternoon, where you will stay for two nights while exploring the remarkable sights of the Namib Desert with your guide. If time permits, your guide will take you to visit Sesriem Canyon, a nearby geological attraction, or explore Elim Dune. Alternatively, you can relax and soak in the scenic and tranquil surroundings at Dead Valley Lodge. Sesriem Canyon has evolved through centuries of erosion by the Tsauchab River, creating a narrow gorge about 1.5 km long and 30 meters deep. The canyon exposes varying layers of sedimentation deposited over millions of years. The shaded cool depths of the canyon allow pools of water to gather during the rainy season and remain for much of the year. These pools were a vital source of water for early settlers who drew water for their livestock by knotting six (ses) lengths of rawhide thongs (riems) together, hence the canyon and surrounding area became known as Sesriem.

This morning, you will need to rise early for a magical excursion with your guide in the Namib Naukluft National Park. Departing before sunrise, you’ll capture the dunes as the soft light and shadows accentuate their towering shapes and curves. This area boasts some of the highest free-standing sand dunes in the world. Your guide will provide insights into the formation of the Namib Desert and the myriad of fascinating creatures and plants that have adapted to survive in these harsh environs. After exploring Sossusvlei, Deadvlei, and the surrounding dune fields to your heart’s content, enjoy a relaxed picnic brunch in the shade of a camel thorn tree. You will return to Dead Valley Lodge in the early afternoon for a late lunch, with the option to visit Sesriem Canyon if you haven’t already done so the day before. The rest of the afternoon is at your leisure, which is usually welcomed after an exhilarating morning in the dunes. Sossusvlei: This most frequently visited section of the massive 50,000 km² Namib Naukluft National Park is famous for its towering apricot-colored sand dunes, which can be reached by following the Tsauchab River valley. Sossusvlei itself is a clay pan set amidst these star-shaped dunes, standing up to 300 meters above the surrounding plains, ranking them among the tallest dunes on earth. The deathly white clay pan contrasts against the orange sands and forms the endpoint of the ephemeral Tsauchab River within the interior of the Great Sand Sea. The river course rises south of the Naukluft Mountains in the Great Escarpment, penetrating the sand sea for some 55 km before it finally peters out at Sossusvlei, about the same distance from the Atlantic Ocean. Until the encroaching dunes blocked its course around 60,000 years ago, the Tsauchab River once reached the sea, as ephemeral rivers still do in the northern half of the Namib. Sand-locked pans to the west show where the river previously flowed before dunes shifted its endpoint to where it currently gathers at Sossusvlei. Roughly once a decade, rainfall over the catchment area is sufficient to bring the river down in flood and fill the pan. On such occasions, the mirror images of dunes and camel thorn trees around the pan are reflected in the water. Sossusvlei is the biggest of four pans in the vicinity. Another, famous for its gnarled and ghostly camel thorn trees, is Deadvlei, which can be reached on foot over 1 km of sand. Deadvlei’s striking camel thorn trees, dead for want of water, still stand erect as they once grew.

Today, the fascinating drive takes you northwest through the breathtaking and ever-changing desert landscapes of the Namib Naukluft National Park, including the impressive Gaub and Kuiseb canyons. You will reach the coast at the port town of Walvis Bay, then continue north to Swakopmund, where you can enjoy the pleasant seaside location and cooler coastal air for the next two nights. This afternoon, there will be time to explore the town and wander along the waterfront on foot before heading off for dinner at a popular restaurant specializing in locally harvested seafood. Note: There is an option to include a sunrise balloon flight before departing for Swakopmund (optional extra at additional cost). This must be prebooked to fit with the day’s schedule. Swakopmund: Swakopmund resembles a small German coastal resort nestled between the desert and the sea. It boasts a charming combination of German colonial architecture blended with modern hotels, shops, restaurants, museums, craft centers, galleries, and cafés. Swakopmund began as a landing station in 1892 when the German Imperial Navy erected beacons on the site. Settlers followed, making attempts to create a harbor town by constructing a concrete Mole and then an iron jetty, which were ultimately unsuccessful. The advent of World War I halted developments, and the town declined until half a century later, when infrastructure improved and an asphalt road opened between Windhoek and Swakopmund. This made reaching the previously isolated town quicker and easier, allowing it to prosper once again as Namibia’s premier resort town. Although the sea is usually cold for swimming, there are pleasant beaches, and the cooler climate is refreshing after time spent in the desert.

After an early breakfast, embark on an exhilarating journey along the scenic coastal road south to Walvis Bay for an unforgettable kayaking adventure in the outer lagoon. Upon meeting your kayaking guide, you’ll take a short, picturesque drive to Pelican Point, famous for its lighthouse and windswept beauty. Along the way, a brief stop at the salt works offers a chance to admire the diverse birdlife. Kayaking is the perfect way to get up close and personal with Cape fur seals, Heaviside and bottlenose dolphins, pelicans, flamingos, and a wide variety of sea birds. If you’re lucky, you might also encounter whales, leatherback turtles, and sunfish. Your guide will share fascinating insights about the environment as you paddle, and light refreshments will be served on the beach, adding to the adventure before heading back to Walvis Bay. For those seeking an alternative thrill, opt for a motorized boat seal and dolphin excursion within the outer lagoon and harbor. This exciting experience promises sightings of Cape fur seals, Heaviside and bottlenose dolphins, pelicans, flamingos, and a wide array of sea birds. With a bit of luck, you may also see whales, leatherback turtles, and sunfish. During this adventure, indulge in snacks, local sparkling wine, and fresh oysters, enhancing the journey before returning to the jetty around midday. Afterward, explore the vibrant waterfront area of Walvis Bay before heading back to Swakopmund. Spend your afternoon at leisure, whether relaxing at your guesthouse or discovering the charming town. For more excitement, consider booking additional activities like scenic flights, sandboarding, and more, available at an extra cost.

Continuing on your safari today, the road takes you north and east into the breathtaking and diverse region of Damaraland. You will pass Namibia’s highest mountain, the Brandberg, which peaks at an impressive 2,573 meters above sea level. Along the way, enjoy opportunities to view game and immerse yourself in the vastness of the scenery. Damaraland is characterized by its vibrant colors, magnificent table-topped mountains, unique rock formations, and bizarre-looking vegetation. The landscape, shaped by wind, water, and geological forces, features rolling hills, dunes, gravel plains, and ancient river terraces. The variety, solitude, and scenic splendor of this area will reward and astound you, offering an authentic understanding of the word ‘wilderness’. If time permits this afternoon, your guide will take you to visit the nearby attractions and geological sites, including the prehistoric Twyfelfontein rock engravings, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. If not, there will be plenty of time to explore them tomorrow. **Twyfelfontein:** Nestled among flat-topped mountains of red sandstone, Twyfelfontein’s boulders and slabs hold some 2,500 prehistoric engravings depicting wildlife, animal spoor, and abstract motifs. It is perhaps the largest and finest collection of petroglyphs in Africa, showcasing animals such as elephants, giraffes, kudus, lions, rhinoceroses, springboks, zebras, and ostriches that once drank from a fountain at the bottom of the hill. Some engravings feature footprints instead of hooves or paws, while abstract motifs predominantly consist of circles. Stone tools and other artifacts found at Twyfelfontein suggest that hunter-gatherers occupied the site for around 7,000 years. Today, a local guide accompanies visitors to showcase the rock art. The engravings lie along two circular routes, one an hour’s climb and the other 40 minutes longer. Twyfelfontein stands as one of Namibia’s key National Monuments and is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

After an early breakfast, embark on an inspiring 4×4 adventure along the ephemeral Aba Huab and Huab River valleys. Here, you will explore the wonders of this remarkable region, searching for game, including the elusive desert-adapted elephants. Damaraland is home to a variety of desert-adapted wildlife and hidden desert treasures. With the elephants being most active in the mornings, you’ll have the best chance to see them before returning to camp for lunch. However, if all safari participants agree, you can opt for a picnic lunch, enjoying a meal in the shade of a large Ana tree by the riverbed, ideally while watching a herd of elephants browsing nearby. Your guide will arrange a visit to Twyfelfontein and other nearby attractions at a suitable time if you haven’t already done so the previous day. Upon returning to camp, there will be time to take a walk into the local area with your guide or simply relax and enjoy some well-deserved leisure time. Desert-Adapted Elephants: In habitats with sufficient vegetation and water, an adult elephant consumes up to 300 kg of roughage and 230 liters of water daily. Consider the immense resources a herd would require over a week, month, or year. Finding an African elephant in a desert is nothing short of miraculous. Not only do these elephants thrive, but other large mammals like black rhinoceros and giraffe also roam these arid lands. Their ranges extend from river catchments in northern Kaokoveld as far south as the northern Namib. Apart from the Kunene River, seven river courses northwards from the Ugab provide them with routes across the desert to the Skeleton Coast. The Hoarusib, Hoanib, Huab, and Ugab Rivers are among the most significant. Desert-adapted elephants in Kaokoland and the Namib walk further for water and fodder than any other elephants in Africa. The distances between waterholes and feeding grounds can be as great as 68 km. The typical home range of a family herd exceeds 2,000 km², or eight times larger than ranges in central Africa where rainfall is much higher. These elephants walk and feed at night and rest during the day. To meet their nutritional needs, they browse on no fewer than 74 of the 103 plant species in their range. Although not a separate species or subspecies, they are an ecotype unique to Namibia, adapted behaviorally to hyper-arid conditions. Elephants in Mali on the southwestern fringe of the Sahara Desert are the only others known to survive in similar conditions.

Today, you embark on an exciting journey to the Ongava Game Reserve, situated on the southern border of Etosha National Park. You will arrive just in time for an afternoon game drive in an open game viewer, accompanied by an experienced Ongava ranger. This shared experience with other lodge guests promises thrilling wildlife encounters and unforgettable moments. Ongava Game Reserve: Spanning 30,000 hectares along the southwest border of Etosha National Park, Ongava Game Reserve is a private sanctuary teeming with wildlife. The reserve is home to an impressive array of animals, including lions, leopards, giraffes, rhinos, Hartmann’s mountain zebras, gemsbok (oryx), kudu, steenbok, and many more. The landscape is a picturesque blend of large open plains, Mopane tree woodlands, and striking dolomite outcrops. This diverse and stunning environment provides the perfect backdrop for your adventure, offering both breathtaking scenery and extraordinary wildlife viewing opportunities.

Today, you will be treated to an exhilarating morning guided game drive into the renowned Etosha National Park, where you can marvel at the diverse array of game and bird species. After an awe-inspiring morning, relax by the refreshing swimming pool before heading out again for an afternoon game drive, capturing more of Etosha’s majestic wildlife before exiting the park at sunset. Alternatively, you can opt for a full day in the park, enjoying lunch at one of the rest camps or having a picnic while watching the abundant game at a productive waterhole. Once back at camp (gates close at sunset), spend the evening viewing game at the camp’s floodlit waterhole while savoring a delicious dinner. **Etosha National Park:** Spanning 22,270 km², Etosha National Park features approximately 5,000 km² of saline depressions or ‘pans.’ The largest, the Etosha Pan, is a saline desert in its own right, lying in the Owambo Basin on the northwestern edge of the Namibian Kalahari Desert. Three million years ago, this area was part of a vast, shallow lake, reduced to a complex of salt pans when the Kunene River changed course and began flowing to the Atlantic. If it existed today, the lake would be the third largest in the world. The Etosha Pan, covering 4,760 km², fills with water only when sufficient rain falls to the north in Angola, causing floods to flow southward along the Cuvelai drainage system. Etosha National Park’s diverse landscapes include grassland, woodland, and savannah. Wildlife viewing is concentrated around numerous springs and waterholes, where multiple species can often be seen simultaneously. The park boasts around 114 mammal species and over 340 bird species. You might encounter elephants, lions, giraffes, blue wildebeests, elands, kudus, gemsboks (oryx), zebras, rhinos, cheetahs, leopards, hyenas, honey badgers, warthogs, and the endemic black-faced impala. This extraordinary park promises an unforgettable experience of nature’s grandeur and wildlife diversity.

Your early departure today takes you south from Ongava via Outjo and Otjiwarongo to reach the remarkable Okonjima’s AfriCat Day Centre, a fantastic highlight to conclude your safari adventure. Okonjima is home to the AfriCat Foundation, a wildlife sanctuary dedicated to the research and rehabilitation of Africa’s big cats, especially injured or captured leopards and cheetahs. You will arrive in time for lunch, followed by an exciting and informative game drive and tour of the centre. Here, you will learn about the mission and vision of the AfriCat Foundation and have the unique opportunity to meet some of the Foundation’s special captive carnivore ambassadors. Note: There will be no tracking of wild cats on this visit. If you wish to track wild cats, please consider booking an overnight extension as detailed below. After your inspiring visit to the AfriCat Foundation and a chance to freshen up, the journey continues further south. You will arrive back in Windhoek in the late afternoon, just as the sun is setting, casting a golden glow over the landscape. Upon arrival in Windhoek, you will be transferred to your accommodation for a restful overnight stay, bringing your unforgettable safari adventure to a close. Note (Optional Extension): You have the option to extend your safari for an additional night or two at Okonjima Bush Camp. This extension offers a deeper insight into the incredible work being done by the AfriCat Foundation and allows you to enjoy a variety of activities offered by the lodge. Accommodation includes all meals, local drinks (excluding premium and imported brands), and two activities per person per day. Night hide and night drive activities are excluded but can be arranged directly at the lodge, subject to availability.

Today marks the conclusion of your remarkable journey. We have arranged a seamless transfer to Windhoek Airport for your onward flight. As you make your way to the airport, reflect on the memories and experiences that have made your stay in this vast and beautiful landscape truly unforgettable. Your connection with the wild, untamed beauty of Namibia may leave you, but the impressions it has made will accompany you always. Safe travels, and we look forward to welcoming you again on another extraordinary adventure.