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Namibia is a huge country with one of the lowest population densities in the world. Namibia is timeless. On the one hand, it has a rich heritage of rock paintings by Stone Age artists and geological features such as the petrified forest. And on the other hand, it has an impressive silence and vastness. This combination conveys a feeling of wilderness and solitude. The many highlights of this tour – climbing the highest free-standing sand dunes in the world, a sea kayak or boat trip to see seals and dolphins, exciting game drives in Etosha National Park and the private Ongava Reserve, to name just a few – make this trip unforgettable. A professional and experienced safari and nature guide will give you unique and valuable insights in Namibias’ beauty. This unique travel experience is rounded off by accommodation in comfortable lodges in impressive surroundings.
Windhoek – Sossusvlei Area
At 8:00 a.m. you will be welcomed and given a briefing at the Galton Hotel in Windhoek. At 8:30 a.m. you will set off in your safari car heading southwest through the picturesque Khomas Highlands before heading down the Great Escarpment and reaching the Namib Desert below. You will have a picnic at a scenic spot along the way. In the afternoon you will arrive at Dead Valley Lodge, where you will stay for two nights and explore the remarkable sights of the Namib Desert with your guide. If you still have time today, your guide will drive you to the nearby Sesriem Canyon or Elim Dune. Alternatively, you can just enjoy the picturesque and tranquil surroundings of Dead Valley Lodge. (P, D)
Overnight stay at the Dead Valley Lodge****
The Sesriem Canyon was formed by centuries of erosion. Over time, the Tsauchab River has cut the narrow gorge, about 1.5 km long and 30 meters deep, into the surrounding conglomerates. This exposed the different layers of sediment that had been deposited over millions of years. The shady, cool depths of the canyon allow pools of water to form during the rainy season and remain there for much of the year. These pools were a vital source of water for early settlers, who drew water for their livestock by tying six (ses) leather straps (Riems) together to reach the water. This gave the gorge and the surrounding area the name Sesriem.
Sossusvlei, Namib Desert
Today you will get up early as you have a magical trip to the Namib-Naukluft National Park ahead of you. You will set off before sunrise to experience the dunes in the soft light of the rising sun, when the shadows accentuate the towering shapes and curves of the unique red dunes. This area has some of the highest free-standing sand dunes in the world and your guide will give you an insight into the formation of the Namib Desert and its diverse, fascinating flora and fauna. After exploring Sossusvlei, Deadvlei and the surrounding dune fields to your heart’s content, you can enjoy a picnic brunch in the shade of a camelthorn tree. In the early afternoon you will then return to the Dead Valley Lodge in good time where a freshly prepared lunch awaits you. If you have not already visited the Sesriem Canyon the previous day, this can be done after lunch. The rest of the afternoon is at your leisure (experience shows that this is welcomed after an exciting morning in the dunes). (F, M, A)
Overnight stay at the Dead Valley Lodge****
Sossusvlei: This part of the vast 50,000 km² Namib-Naukluft National Park is known as Sossusvlei and is famous for its towering apricot-coloured sand dunes. Sossusvlei itself is a clay pan in the middle of these star-shaped dunes, which rise to 300 metres above the surrounding plains and are among the highest dunes on earth. The chalky white clay pan of Sossusvlei contrasts with the orange sand and forms the end point of the Tsauchab Dry River, which winds its way through the Great Sand Sea for about 55 km before finally disappearing at Sossusvlei, about the same distance from the Atlantic Ocean. The river rises south of the Naukluft Mountains in the Great Escarpment. The Tsauchab River once reached the sea until the encroaching dunes blocked its course about 60,000 years ago. The same is true of the dry rivers in the northern half of the Namib. Sand-enclosed clay pans in the west indicate the former course of the river before the dunes shifted its end point to the current Sossusvlei. About once a decade, enough rain falls over the catchment area to get the river flowing and fill the pan. On such occasions, the dunes and camelthorn trees surrounding the pan are reflected in the dammed water. Sossusvlei is the largest of the four clay pans in the area. Another is Deadvlei, which is famous for its gnarled and ghostly camelthorn trees and can be reached by walking about a kilometre. The distinctive camelthorn trees, which died due to lack of water, still stand as upright as they once grew. The dieback occurred about 900 years ago when the sea of sand prevented the occasional flooding of the pan.
Through the Gaub and Kuiseb Canyon to Walvis Bay and Swakopmund
NOTE: You have the possibility of taking a sunrise balloon ride before heading to Swakopmund (optional and at an additional cost). More information on request.
The journey continues northwest through the fascinating and ever-changing desert landscape of the Namib-Naukluft National Park, and the impressive Gaub and Kuiseb Canyon. You reach the Atlantic at the port town of Walvis Bay and then drive further north along the coast towards Swakopmund, where you can enjoy the pleasant seaside location and the cooler coastal air for the next two nights. Spend the afternoon strolling around town or strolling along the waterfront. Dinner is at a popular restaurant specializing in fresh seafood and other local and international dishes. (B, L, D)
Overnight stay at Hotel The Delight**** in Swakopmund.
Swakopmund resembles a small German seaside town nestled between the desert and the Atlantic Ocean. It offers a charming combination of German colonial architecture and modern hotels, shops, restaurants, museums, craft centres, galleries and cafes. Swakopmund began as a mooring port in 1892 when the German Imperial Navy erected beacons on the site. Settlers followed and made attempts to build a port town by building a concrete pier and then an iron jetty (the Landungsbrücke) – which ultimately proved unsuccessful. The advent of World War I prevented further development, and the town fell into a deep sleep. It came to life again half a century later when infrastructure improved and a tarmac road was built between Windhoek and Swakopmund. The previously isolated town was now quicker and easier to reach, making it Namibia’s leading holiday resort. The Atlantic is usually too cold for swimming, but beaches invite you to sunbathe, and the cooler climate is refreshing after a stay in the desert.
Kayak tour or boat trip (please specify when booking)
After an early breakfast, you will drive south along the scenic coastal road back to Walvis Bay, where an unforgettable kayaking adventure in the outer lagoon awaits you. You will be picked up by the kayak operator and after a short scenic drive you will reach Pelican Point and its lighthouse. A unique environment awaits you (possibly strong winds). A short stop at the salt production plant and the adjacent water basins will give you an insight into the diversity of the lagoon’s bird life. Kayaking is an ideal opportunity to experience Cape fur seals, Heaviside’s dolphins and bottlenose dolphins, pelicans, flamingos and a variety of other seabirds up close. With a little luck, you may also see whales, leatherback turtles and sunfish. After an exciting kayaking adventure, light refreshments are served on the beach and the tour guide will inform you about the area before you return to Walvis Bay. If kayaking is not your thing, you have the option of taking a boat trip. You will get to know the bay around Walvis Bay with an experienced captain and enjoy the breathtaking views. Here too you should come across Cape fur seals, porpoises or bottlenose dolphins as well as pelicans, flamingos and a variety of other seabirds. And with a little luck you will see whales, leatherback turtles and sunfish. Small snacks, local sparkling wine and fresh oysters are served during the trip before you return to the jetty around midday. Afterwards you can explore the small shops and restaurants on the jetty before you return to Swakopmund. Afternoon at leisure (activities such as sightseeing flights, sandboarding and others can be booked at an additional cost). (B, L, D)
Overnight stay at Hotel The Delight**** in Swakopmund.
The wild Damaraland – rock engravings in Twyfelfontein
The journey continues into the diverse region of Damaraland. You drive past Namibia’s highest mountain, the Brandberg, which is 1,000 m high. You can observe wildlife and enjoy the vastness of the landscape. Damaraland enchants with magnificent table mountains, impressive rock formations and bizarre-looking vegetation. Today’s landscape of rolling hills, dunes, gravel plains and old river terraces was created by the erosion of wind, water and geological forces. The diversity and solitude of the area as well as its scenic splendor convey an authentic understanding of the word “wilderness”. If you have time, you can visit the prehistoric rock engravings of Twyfelfontein (UNESCO World Heritage Site) in the afternoon – otherwise tomorrow. (B, L, D)
Overnight stay at Camp Kipwe****
Twyfelfontein: About 2,500 prehistoric engravings (wildlife, animal tracks and abstract motifs) are found on the scattered red sandstone boulders and slabs. It is perhaps the largest and finest collection of petroglyphs in Africa. The engravings depict animals such as elephants, giraffes, kudu, lions, rhinos, springboks, zebras and ostriches that once drank from a well at the foot of the hill. In some cases, footprints have been engraved rather than hooves or paws. The abstract motifs consist mainly of circles. The stone tools and other artefacts found at Twyfelfontein suggest that hunter-gatherers inhabited the site for a period of perhaps 7,000 years. A local guide will explain the rock art to you.
Desert elephants in Damaraland
After an early breakfast, an exciting 4WD game drive along the rivers of the Aba Huab and the Huab Dry River awaits you today. Let yourself be enchanted by the unique region and keep an eye out for game, especially the rare desert elephants if they are in the area. Damaraland is home to a variety of desert-adapted wildlife and hidden desert treasures. Since the elephants are mostly active in the cool of the morning, you usually have the best chance of seeing them before you return to camp for lunch. If all safari participants agree, you can enjoy a picnic lunch in the shade of a large Ana tree in the riverbed, ideally while a herd of elephants is grazing nearby. If you have not already explored Twyfelfontein and other nearby attractions the day before, you will have the opportunity to do so afterwards. A walk in the area with your tour guide or simply letting your mind wander round off a successful day. (F, M, A)
Overnight stay at Camp Kipwe****
Desert elephants: In habitats with plenty of vegetation and water, an adult elephant needs up to 300 kg of ffood and 230 litres of water per day. What would be the weekly, monthly or annual requirements of a herd of elephants? What would be the chances of finding an African elephant in a desert? Amazingly, we find not only elephants here in the desert, but also other large mammals such as black rhinos and giraffes. Their range extends from the northern Kaokoveld to the south of the northern Namib. Apart from the Kunene River, seven dry river courses north of the Ugab offer them possible routes through the desert to the Skeleton Coast. The largest are the Hoarusib, Hoanib, Huab and Ugab rivers. Desert elephants in the Kaokoveld and Namib travel far greater distances for water and food than any other elephant in Africa. The distances between watering holes and feeding areas can be up to 68 km. The typical home range of a herd is larger than 2,000 km², or eight times the size of its range in Central Africa, where rainfall is significantly higher. Elephants walk and feed at night and rest during the day. To meet their nutritional and mass requirements, they consume no fewer than 74 of the 103 plant species that grow in their habitat. Desert elephants are not a separate species or subspecies. Their behaviour is adapted to hyper-arid conditions, making them uniquely found in Namibia. Elephants in Mali, on the southwestern edge of the Sahara, are the only other known to survive in similar conditions.
Game drive in the Ongava Game Reserve
The journey continues to the southern border of the Etosha National Park. You arrive in time to take part in your first game drive in the Ongava Game Reserve. Together with other lodge guests, you will go on a safari in an open off-road vehicle to hunt for various wild animals and big cats. (B, L, D)
Overnight stay in the Ongava Collection****
The Ongava Game Reserve is a private game reserve that stretches over 30,000 hectares along the southwestern border of the Etosha National Park. A variety of game species can be found here, including lions, leopards, giraffes, rhinos, Hartmann’s mountain zebras, oryx, kudus, ibexes and much more. The landscape is varied with large open plains that blend into mopane tree forests and dolomite rocks.
Game drive in the southern Etosha National Park
An exciting, guided game drive in the Etosha National Park is on the agenda to give you an insight into the rich variety of game and bird species. On your return from the park, you can relax by the refreshing swimming pool before setting off on another afternoon game drive in the park, which you must leave before sunset. You can also spend the whole day in the park and either have lunch in one of the nearby rest camps or have a picnic at a particularly productive waterhole in the area while watching game. For dinner at the lodge, the camp’s illuminated waterhole within sight is an ideal place for game watching. (B, L, D)
Overnight stay at the Ongava Collection****
The Etosha National Park covers 22,270 km², of which about 5,000 km² are salt-clay depressions or “pans”. The largest of these salt pans, the Etosha Pan, can be classified as a salt desert. The Etosha Pan is in the Owambo Basin, on the northwestern edge of the Kalahari Basin. Until three million years ago it was part of a huge, shallow lake, which shrank to a collection of smaller salt pans and dried up when the Kunene River changed its course and began to flow into the Atlantic instead. If the lake existed today, it would be the third largest in the world. Etosha is the largest of all pans at 4,760 km². The pan fills up after good rainfall in northern Angola and thanks to inflow through the Cuvelai drainage system. The park consists of bush and grass savannah, mopane bushland and dry forest in the north-east. Game viewing focuses on the numerous springs and waterholes, where several different species of game can often be seen simultaneously. The park is home to about 114 mammal and over 340 bird species. Wildlife that can be seen includes elephant, lion, giraffe, blue wildebeest, eland, kudu, oryx, zebra, rhino, cheetah, leopard, hyena, honey badger and warthog, as well as the endemic black-faced impala.
Again in the southern Etosha National Park
Your early departure takes you south from Ongava via Outjo and Otjiwarongo to Okonjima to the AfriCat Information Center, which is a wonderful end to your safari. The AfriCat Foundation has its own nature reserve in Okonjima. The foundation focuses on researching and rehabilitating Africa’s big cats, especially injured or captured leopards and cheetahs. You will arrive at the lodge in time for lunch, and then take part in an exciting and informative game drive and tour of the center. Here you will learn more about the function and future vision of the AfriCat Foundation and get to know some special representatives of the foundation in the form of big cats. (F)
Additional information
PLEASE NOTE: Tracking of the radio-collared big cats is not offered on this visit. If this is desired, an additional night must be booked as described below.
After the excursion and a quick refreshment, the journey continues south to arrive back in Windhoek in the late afternoon in time for sunset.
We would be happy to make you an offer for suitable flights, airport transfers and any pre- and post-extensions in Windhoek.
You also have the option of extending your safari by one or two additional nights at Okonjima Bush Camp. This gives you the opportunity to gain a deeper insight into the work of the AfriCat Foundation and to take advantage of programs offered by the lodge.
Accommodation includes all meals, local drinks (except premium and imported brands) and two activities per person per day. The night hide and night drive activities are excluded, but can be arranged directly at the lodge, subject to availability.
B = breakfast, L = lunch, D = dinner, P = picnic
Program and hotel subject to change.
Services not included
To enter Namibia, Luxembourgers and Germans require a passport that is valid for at least six months beyond the length of stay at the time of entry. The passport must be in good condition and have at least two blank pages. From April 2025, travelers will be required to have a visa. Find out early about the different options for obtaining a visa. No vaccinations are required, but we recommend keeping your standard vaccinations up to date. All Covid-19-related restrictions have currently been lifted. Please note that this may change depending on the pandemic situation (as of 07/2024).
Almost all accommodations offer WiFi, but network coverage is not always perfect. Please note that hotels often only offer non-smoking rooms. Unless otherwise stated, the travel price is based on standard rooms. If some of the booked accommodations are unexpectedly unavailable, we will book an equivalent alternative (if possible). For air travel, our sales prices are usually based on special and tour operator rates of the airline(s) selected for the relevant trip. We would be happy to make you an offer for the flights that suit this trip.
No insurance is included in the travel price. We strongly recommend that you take out travel cancellation insurance in addition to travel health insurance. Both insurance policies should also cover Covid-19.This trip is not suitable for guests with mobility restrictions. If applicable, please tell us the type of mobility restriction you have before booking and clarify with us whether we can meet your individual needs.
We run this trip together with other tour operators. This of course has no influence on the quality.
The general travel conditions of Bollig Tours apply.
(+352) 72 97 22-1 - info@bollig-tours.lu
121, route de Luxembourg L-6562 Echternach
Mon - Fri 10.00 - 18.00 / Sat 09.00 - 13.00
