Classic Namibia Self-Drive

You will be met at the airport and transferred to Galton House in the capital city of Windhoek for one night on a bed-and-breakfast basis. Your 4x4 vehicle will be delivered to your accommodation and a representative will provide a vehicle briefing and go through your personalised route map and answer any questions you may have. The remainder of the day is free to explore this interesting city, characterised by its German colonial architecture. There are some excellent options for eating out this evening.

After breakfast this morning, you will commence your adventure with a drive of a little over 300km to Sesriem and to the Dead Valley Lodge for two nights with dinner and breakfast. The lodge is ideally located for exploring the ancient dunes or walking in the Namib Naukluft Mountains.

It is recommended to rise early on the morning of day 3 to explore Sossusvlei, with its monumental star-shaped dunes, a mecca for photographers and artists, and neighbouring Deadvlei with its iconic gnarled and ghostly camel thorn trees which died around 900 years ago when the sand sea blocked waters from the river flooding the pan. Return later in the day to Sesriem and, time permitting, visit the Sesriem Canyon.

After breakfast this morning, set off on the 344km drive to Swakopmund, through mountain passes via Solitaire and on to Walvis bay where a stop is recommended at the lagoon, home to many birds, especially the greater flamingo. Continue to the charming Cornerstone Guesthouse for two nights on a bed-and-breakfast basis.

On the fifth day of your journey you have the freedom to explore the scenic areas of Swakopmund, Walvis Bay, and their surroundings at your leisure. There are numerous options available to you, such as climbing the coastal dunes at Langstrand or Dune 7, discovering Swakopmund's shops, cafes, museums, and waterfront, or trying out any of the adventure activities, such as sandboarding, boat cruises, kayaking, walking Foodie Tour, fatbike dune cycle tours, and scenic flights (at an additional cost).

We suggest you start your day by joining a morning dolphin and seal catamaran cruise or kayaking excursion at Walvis Bay harbour and lagoon. You'll have the opportunity to see seals, pelicans, flamingos, and other marine life, and if you're lucky, you might also spot Heaviside and Bottlenose dolphins.

Alternatively, you can explore the desert region by participating in the "Living Desert Tour." This tour focuses on the local dune belt between Walvis Bay and Swakopmund, taking care to preserve the gravel plains and avoid any damage to the dune ecosystem. We also highly recommend a half or full day excursion to Sandwich Harbour, the most critical wetlands and feeding area on the west coast of Southern Africa, hosting several migratory birds.

This morning, drive through changing scenery towards the mountainous scenery of Damaraland where Camp Kipwe will be your home for 2 nights on a bed-and-breakfast basis with 2 shared activities included. The campsite is ideally situated, just a brief drive away from the nearby attractions. It rests in the midst of an outcrop of colossal granite boulders, merely a stone's throw from the transient Aba Huab riverbed, a common path for the passage of desert-adapted elephants.

On day 7 your day begins with an early breakfast before setting out on an exhilarating 4x4 excursion through the transient river valleys to discover the wonders of this extraordinary region and to spot the indigenous wildlife, including the enigmatic desert-adapted elephants if they are in the area. Damaraland boasts an array of desert-adapted creatures and concealed desert treasures. As the elephants are usually most active in the mornings, you have the best chance of catching a glimpse of them before returning to camp for lunch.

If you haven't already visited Twyfelfontein and other nearby attractions, your guide will schedule a visit at a suitable time. After returning to camp, you can take a leisurely walk in the local area with your guide or relax and bask in some well-deserved downtime.

Leave early in the morning for a scenic drive of some 343 km to Etosha to stay for two nights on a dinner and breakfast basis at Etosha Village, right next to the entrance to the National Park.

This is a beautiful and wild area for driving, making sure you allow enough time to be out of the park by closing time at sunset. Stop by one of the many waterholes and just watch the animals come to you. There are rest camps within the park for lunch, swimming or just relaxing in the shade.

The second day of your time in Etosha is your own to explore Etosha National Park in your own vehicle, as per the park regulations. When inside the park, driving and navigating come with ease with only a single main route that traverses across the park with a variety of detours in the form of side roads and loops to reach the various waterholes and vantage points.

Once you have completed your exploration of the park, head back to the lodge and relax by taking a dip in the inviting swimming pool or relish the scrumptious cuisine and delightful wines at the restaurant. Savour your meal on the open-air veranda while gazing up at the shimmering stars and listening to the soothing crackle of the campfire or bask in the enchanting African sunset on the deck.

Your final day will see you enter the world-famous Etosha National Park through the southern gate with the goal of traversing the park to the eastern gate before sunset stopping at whaterholes such as Goas which are particularly good for game viewing along the way. On exiting the park it is a short drive to Mushara Bush Camp for an overnight stay with dinner and breakfast. There are lots of game and birds to be seen on the drive through the Park and the Mushara Camp is an ideal spot to stay, with a delightful nighttime campfire.

On day 10, drive 365 km to the Okonjima Plains Camp for your last two nights on a dinner and breakfast basis. The Okonjima Game Reserve is famous for its leopard safaris and here you will be able to track cheetahs on foot as well as go leopard spotting. The AfriCat Foundation based here is world-famous as a reserve which rehabilitates cheetahs, wild dogs, leopards and hyenas and seeing these amazing animals in the wild here is a highlight of the trip.

This morning, you will drive the 265km back to Windhoek, where you can check in your vehicle at the airport, before your onward or return flight.