Huge, wavy sand dune from the front during sunset in Sossusvlei

ADVENTURE

BEACH AND COAST

SELF-DRIVE SAFARI

16-day self-drive safari in Namibia: The Greatest Hits – Gold

From $5,379 USD* / Nature, history, wildlife & more / 16 days

*price p.p. incl. rental car and hotels, excl. international flight (based on six persons)

Itinerary

Exploring all that Africa has to offer is a dream for many. From epic Kenya safari adventures spotting Africa’s Big Five, going on a Gorilla trekking in Uganda or relaxing at Diani Beach: Africa has it all. Good news: Africa Safari Trips can build a custom-made itinerary that suits all your wishes.

Our most popular itineraries can help you find some inspiration. A lot of our clients love to end their exciting safari with a few days of relaxation on Africa’s most stunning beaches. Would you like that as well?

Whether you choose one of our popular itineraries or prefer to customize your journey, we are here to assist you. Come aboard and get ready to explore Africa at your own pace, exactly the way you like it!

Day 1

Arrival at Hosea Kutako International Airport in Windhoek

Gold

As you step off the plane at Hosea Kutako International Airport, the dry desert air hits you right away - a quick taste of the landscapes that await. After clearing immigration and collecting your luggage, you'll be met by a representative of our office. Whether you're spending your first night in Windhoek or heading straight to your next destination, today is all about settling into the country's rhythm. Namibia is made for self-drive travel: open roads, vast horizons and plenty of space to explore at your own pace. Over the coming days, you'll journey through some of Africa's most spectacular scenery, from towering dunes and rugged mountains to wildlife-rich national parks and dramatic coastlines.

Activities:

: Today is yours to enjoy Namibia's relaxed capital just the way you like it. If you'd rather take it easy, simply stay at your hotel, unwind by the pool or on the terrace, and enjoy a slow day before the next adventure begins. If you feel like exploring, Windhoek has plenty to offer. Join a guided Windhoek City Tour to discover the city's fascinating mix of German colonial heritage and modern Namibian culture, browse local craft markets, or settle into one of the many cafés or restaurants. Whether you spend the day sightseeing or simply recharging, Windhoek has got you covered.

Accommodations:

Gold The Weinberg Hotel

Gold

Day 2

The Kalahari

Gold

Dating back 40 to 60 million years, Namibia’s Kalahari is a world of rust-red dunes, grassy plains and surprisingly abundant life. Unlike the towering dunes of the Namib, its lower, sweeping dunes are dotted with hardy vegetation and turn green after the rain. Oryx, giraffe, meerkats and even the black-maned Kalahari lion roam the region, while the San have called this ancient landscape their home for around 20,000 years. Add in spectacular sunsets, star-filled skies and an almost endless sense of space, and this quieter corner of Namibia makes a compelling detour from the desert classics.

Activities:

: As the afternoon cools, you head out across the Kalahari dunes for a 3-hour drive that ends with a sundowner stop on a dune... drink in hand, sun on the horizon. Your guide drives you through the lodge property while you scan the landscape for whatever decides to show up. The Shy Five (meerkat, bat-eared fox, aardwolf, porcupine and aardvark) are all present in this area, and sightings happen more often than you'd expect. The natural waterhole on the property draws a rotating cast of zebra, springbok, wildebeest, gemsbok, giraffe and steenbok, while kori bustards, pearl-spotted owlets and marabou storks make regular appearances too. Refreshments and a light snack are served at the dune stop during sunset, before you return to the lodge in time for dinner.

Accommodations:

Gold Kalahari Anib Lodge

Gold

Day 3

Fish River Canyon

Gold

Ancient and seriously impressive, the Fish River Canyon is one of Namibia’s great natural wonders. Stretching 160 kilometres through the arid south, it's the second-largest canyon in the world after the Grand Canyon, with sheer rock walls dropping up to 549 metres into the valley below. The canyon forms part of the Ais-Ais/Richtersveld Transfrontier Park, and the main viewpoint is at Hobas. The Fish River Canyon certainly didn't appear overnight. Its story began more than a billion years ago... add tectonic forces, glaciers and millions of years of erosion by the Fish River, and you get the spectacular canyon we see today. Enjoy its spectacular viewpoints rather than walking down (which will take you 5 days) - after all, there’s plenty to admire from the top!

Activities:

: As the afternoon light starts to soften, head out with the experienced staff of Gondwana Canyon Park for a guided drive through the rugged landscape around Fish River Canyon. The route takes you across the reserve’s rocky plains and through its magical valleys. Oryx, springbok, zebra and other desert-adapted animals may be spotted along the way, while your guide shares insights into the landscape, its remarkable geology, and the creatures that have learned to thrive here. The real highlight comes as the sun begins its descent. Find a scenic viewpoint overlooking the canyon, settle in with a drink and watch the last rays light up the ancient rock formations in warm shades of gold and red. And once the sun has disappeared, your guide drives you back to the lodge in time for dinner.

Accommodations:

Gold Gondwana Canyon Lodge

Gold

Day 4 - 5

Lüderitz

Gold

At the end of the B4, where the Namib Desert meets the Atlantic, Lüderitz feels like Namibia’s wonderfully quaint little outpost. This harbour town is known for its German colonial architecture, the iconic Felsenkirche and its connection to nearby Kolmanskop, the diamond-rush ghost town. Founded in 1883 as a trading post, Lüderitz enjoyed a spectacular boom after diamonds were discovered - followed by the inevitable bust. Beyond its historic streets, the rugged coastline is well worth exploring. Head towards Diaz Point, passing bays, lagoons and islands along the way, and discover the stone cross erected here by Portuguese explorer Bartolomeu Dias in the late 15th century. Sit down on the rocks, take in the wild scenery and keep an eye out for flamingos and seals.

Activities:

: The Lüderitzbucht Museum on Dias Street traces Lüderitz’s diamond-mining past, including the history of the restricted Sperrgebiet and the people who worked there. Exhibits also cover the indigenous communities of the coast, the German colonial period and the plants and animals of the Namibian shoreline. The museum is within walking distance of the harbour and old town, and a visit takes about an hour. Entrance fees are paid on site, so carry Namibian dollars or South African rand.
: Step into a town the desert never quite forgot. Just 15 kilometres from Lüderitz, Kolmanskop rose from a tiny railway station to one of Africa’s richest towns after diamonds were discovered here in the early 1900s. Diamond fever took hold, and within just a few years, fewer than 400 residents enjoyed an astonishing array of luxuries - think elegant stone houses, a casino, a theatre, a ballroom, a sports hall and even a hospital. But then the diamonds ran out, the residents moved on, and by 1956 Kolmanskop was completely deserted. Today, the desert is steadily reclaiming the town, with sand pouring through windows and filling once-grand rooms. Explore the fascinating ruins on a 45-minute guided tour, and hear stories of the times when diamonds could be picked from the ground like daisies.

Accommodations:

Gold Lüderitz Nest Hotel

Gold

Day 6 - 7

Sossusvlei

Gold

A line of towering, rust-red dunes rising sharply from luminous white salt pans - this is Sossusvlei. It’s the most iconic and visited part of the 55 million-year-old Namib Desert, with Dune 45 and Big Daddy being the most photographed dunes in the world. Deadvlei adds a surreal twist, with 900-year-old tree skeletons frozen in time on a stark white pan. And yet, Sossusvlei is teeming with life, thanks to Atlantic mists and ingenious plants. This is desert theatre at its finest!

Activities:

: This day is for relaxing in Sossusvlei. If you like, you can spend the day at the lodge, take a swim, enjoy the views and slow down after your desert activities. If you’re feeling more energetic, there are other ways to spend your day in the Namib. Take a short walk around the lodge, explore the surrounding desert landscape, enjoy the sunset, or simply find a quiet spot and watch the dunes change as the light moves across them. Sometimes, doing nothing in the desert is an activity in itself!
: The desert wakes up long before breakfast! You leave before sunrise and head to the launch site in the dark, where the crew prepares the balloon with bursts of flame and streams of hot air. As the basket lifts off into the morning breeze, you drift above the dunes and mountain ranges of the Namib Desert for around an hour, watching the changing light sweep across the sands below. Imagine endless dunes, dry riverbeds, fairy circles and herds of oryx moving across the plains. After landing, the crew sets up breakfast in the open wilderness. Share stories with your pilot over coffee and pastries before taking a nature drive back to the meeting point. The full experience starts before sunrise and continues well into the morning.
: Before the desert heat builds, this half-day visit to Sossusvlei sets off from Taleni Africa Sossusvlei Lodge and heads into Namib-Naukluft National Park. From the parking area, you walk through the sand to Sossusvlei and Deadvlei, where the dry conditions have preserved camelthorn trees, black and skeletal, against the cracked white clay pan. You can also climb Big Daddy, a 325-metre dune beside Deadvlei, with the ascent taking 1.5 to 2 hours. From the top, you can walk or run down the sandy slope into Deadvlei below before heading back to the lodge.

Accommodations:

Gold Sossusvlei Lodge

Gold

Day 8 - 9

Swakopmund

Gold

Swakopmund is the most touristic coastal town of Namibia, which sits perfectly between the Namib Desert and the Skeleton Coast. Here, palm trees and colourful German-inspired houses border the coast while massive dunes dominate the other side of town. Museums, libraries and the Mondesa township retrace the history of the town, while the dunes and the ocean guarantee adventure, with possibilities to go sandboarding, quadbiking, fishing, or hiking.

Activities:

: Start your day on the water and finish among towering dunes on this full-day adventure combining sea kayaking at Pelican Point with a 4x4 drive to Sandwich Harbour. After an early morning pick-up, pass the lagoon, flamingos, salt pans and striking pink lakes before reaching Pelican Point. Paddle for 2 to 3 hours along the shoreline, where thousands of Cape fur seals gather around the old pier – expect splashing and curious pups all around! Back on the beach, enjoy a light brunch before swapping paddle for 4x4. Then head south through the !Nara Valley towards the spectacular Sandwich Harbour, where enormous dunes tumble straight into the Atlantic. Keep an eye out for oryx, springbok, ostriches and jackals, and stop for lunch in the dunes. Two spectacular landscapes, one day to remember!
: Discover the highlights of Swakopmund on a relaxed guided city tour. Over the course of 4 hours, morning or afternoon, you'll explore the fascinating blend of German colonial architecture, colourful streets and seaside atmosphere that gives Swakopmund its unique character. Along the way, your guide shares interesting stories about the town's history, culture and its surprising place between the Atlantic Ocean and the Namib Desert. Depending on the route you choose, you'll pass landmarks such as the historic Swakopmund Jetty, the lighthouse, beautifully preserved colonial buildings and bustling local markets. There will also be time to browse local shops, enjoy the ocean views and stop for coffee - it's the perfect introduction to Swakopmund before exploring the town at your own pace.

Accommodations:

Gold Swakopmund Luxury Suites

Gold

Day 10 - 11

Damaraland

Gold

Damaraland is one of Namibia’s most distinctive regions, stretching across a remote landscape of rocky desert shaped by ancient volcanic activity. Known for its desert-adapted wildlife, it offers sightings of elephants, rare black rhinos, giraffes, leopards, and even desert lions, all moving freely across open terrain. Places like Twyfelfontein reveal thousands of ancient rock engravings, while landmarks like Brandberg Mountain rise dramatically above the plains.

Activities:

: Step back thousands of years at Twyfelfontein, Namibia's first UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of Africa's most important collections of ancient rock engravings. Hidden among the sandstone hills of Damaraland, this remarkable open-air gallery features more than 2,500 petroglyphs created by San hunter-gatherers and Khoikhoi herders between 2,000 and 10,000 years ago. Just pay the entry fee and join a 90-minute guided walk through a maze of red rock formations, while your guide reveals the stories behind the engravings. Look out for elegant giraffes, elephants, rhinos and ostriches, as well as the famous 'Lion Man' and the surprisingly detailed image of a seal, so far away from the ocean. Part history lesson, part outdoor adventure, Twyfelfontein offers a rare glimpse into Damaraland's distant past.
: Explore 2 of Damaraland’s most intriguing geological curiosities, just a short distance from Twyfelfontein. The Organ Pipes are a dramatic 100-metre-long wall of near-vertical dolerite columns, formed 120 million years ago. Set against Damaraland’s warm ochre and red sandstone, standing 4 to 6 metres high, they look like the pipes of a giant cathedral organ. Around 2 kilometres further on, Burnt Mountain looks rather ordinary from the road... until the light hits it. This low volcanic inselberg is streaked with layers of black, purple and fiery red, created by ancient heat and mineral-rich rock. Its colours are particularly impressive around sunset, when the final rays make the hillside appear to glow as though it has been set alight - as striking as its name!
: This half-day drive explores the dry riverbeds of Damaraland, including the Huab and Aba-Huab rivers, where underground water supports plants and attracts wildlife. With your guide, you look for free-roaming desert elephants by reading tracks, dung and other signs along the riverbeds. Black rhinos and giraffes may also be seen. The drive includes stops to watch wildlife and take in the landscape, so keep an eye out for the clues animals leave behind!
: The Living Museum of the Damara sits 10 kilometres north of the Twyfelfontein rock engravings along the D2612. Get your entry ticket on site and join a 3-hour tour, during which a local guide walks you through the daily routine and traditions the community has rebuilt from memories - think of activities such as metal and jewellery forging and leather tanning, but there's also room for traditional games, singing and dancing. You also see the Holy Fire lit and tended (made by spinning a stick against dry tinder until it catches, without using matches!). Your visit helps support the community and its work to preserve Damara culture.

Accommodations:

Gold Twyfelfontein Country Lodge

Gold

Day 12 - 13

Etosha National Park

Gold

Etosha National Park is Namibia's premier wildlife destination, built around a vast salt pan in the country's north. Four of the Big Five roam its 22,270 square kilometres, including one of Africa's largest black rhino populations, and the park's iconic floodlit waterholes deliver some of Africa's most reliable game viewing. The park divides into four distinct sectors, and no two visits are quite the same. Whether you visit in the dry season for intense waterhole action or the wet season for a flamingo-filled pan, Etosha rewards year-round.

Activities:

: You set off on a self-drive safari through Etosha National Park, where the open roads, mopane woodland and grassy plains are your background for an exciting day of wildlife spotting. Take your time at the waterholes, stop whenever something catches your eye and linger as long as you like. You never know what might block the road next. If you prefer a picnic over a sit-down lunch, your lodge can prepare a lunch pack for you - just make sure to order it in advance. There’s no set schedule, and that's the beauty of a self-drive safari. Just allow enough time to reach the gate before closing and stick to the speed limits... windows down, binoculars ready and absolutely no need to rush!
: Head out to experience Etosha’s famous salt pan from a different perspective. You'll find it about 20 kilometres from the Andersson gate - the road is bumpy but well worth the drive! This vast, white expanse stretches towards the horizon, creating one of those landscapes that makes you stop, stare and check that your eyes aren’t playing tricks on you. The pan is largely bare and dry for much of the year, with cracked salt and clay surfaces contrasting sharply with the surrounding grassland and woodland. Take your time to soak up the sheer scale and, of course, take a few photos – this is otherworldly Namibia at its best. Depending on the season, you may see wildlife around the waterhole, adding a little extra excitement to the scenery. But above all, this experience is proof that sometimes the landscape itself deserves top billing.

Accommodations:

Gold Etosha Safari Lodge

Gold

Day 14 - 15

Okonjima Nature Reserve

Gold

Okonjima Nature Reserve covers 22,000 hectares in central Namibia between Windhoek and Etosha National Park, making it a popular stop for travellers. Once cattle farmland, it was fully fenced in 2010 and restored as a wildlife sanctuary featuring savannah, woodland, acacia thickets and rocky hills. Closely tied to the AfriCat Foundation, the reserve focuses on carnivore conservation (especially leopards and brown hyenas) while also offering rare chances to see pangolins. It supports giraffe, zebra, wildebeest, kudu and other antelope, along with more than 250 bird species.

Activities:

: Head out on a self-guided game drive through Okonjima Nature Reserve, where every bend in the track brings a new stretch of Namibian wilderness. The reserve’s varied terrain - from open savannah to rocky outcrops and riverine woodland - creates plenty of opportunities for wildlife sightings. Keep your eyes peeled for giraffe, zebra, wildebeest, kudu and other antelope, while leopard, brown hyena and the elusive pangolin are among the more exciting possibilities. With more than 250 bird species recorded here, there’s plenty to spot even when the bigger residents are keeping a low profile. Reserve around three hours, with the changing light adding an extra dimension to the landscape, from the fresh glow of an early-morning start to the warm colours of late afternoon.
: This 3-hour guided activity heads into Okonjima Nature Reserve to track radio-collared leopards with a telemetry device. The collars support the AfriCat Foundation’s long-running leopard research programme, active here since 1997. As the signals are followed, the guide shares insights into the leopards’ behaviour and related research, including work on brown hyenas. Sightings are never guaranteed, as the leopards are free to roam throughout the reserve.

Accommodations:

Gold Okonjima Luxury Bush Camp

Gold

Day 16

Flight back home from Hosea Kutako International Airport

As you board your flight home from Hosea Kutako International Airport, take a moment to look back on your time in one of Africa’s most striking countries. From endless dunes and dramatic desert landscapes to unforgettable wildlife encounters, Namibia leaves plenty of memories to take home. We hope you’ve enjoyed every kilometre of the journey. Safe travels!

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