8-Nights Namibia Adventure: Canyons, Dunes & Deserts - Active & Adventure, Escorted Tours from $3,434

Day 1: Arrive in Windhoek

Transfer: Windhoek Hosea Kutako International Airportto Windhoek

Hotel: Auas City Hotel (3 Star Rating)

Auas City Hotel is a centrally located hotel in Windhoek's Maerua Park area, adjacent to Maerua Mall and within easy reach of the city's business, shopping, and cultural attractions. Set in a tranquil garden environment, the hotel offers comfortable accommodation with modern conveniences including air-conditioned rooms, complimentary Wi-Fi, daily housekeeping, and on-site parking. Guests can enjoy a restaurant known for its relaxed atmosphere and locally inspired dining options. Friendly service, a 24-hour front desk, and easy access to Eros Airport further enhance the guest experience, making Auas City Hotel a convenient and affordable choice for exploring Namibia's capital city.

Leaving Windhoek, we travel into the largest sand mass on Earth, the Kalahari Desert. The Kalahari is a vast semi-desert of wind-blown sand held by a sparse mantle of thorn scrub making it the most extensive continuous stretch of sand covering 9 African countries. Unlike other true deserts, the Kalahari does receive erratic rainfall. For many therefor "thirstland” is a more fitting description. Lacking permanent surface water, the Kalahari is a challenging place to live except for those who have adapted to not only survive but flourish here. The Bushmen refer to it as the "Soul of the World", an emotive description for this area! With its deep red dunes and endless grass plains interspersed with acacia’s and shrubs, it is still home to a surprisingly large amount of specially adapted wildlife. Enjoy the opportunity to experience the red dunes, wildlife and plants, in this desert environment on an optional nature drive

Hotel: Intu Afrika Camelthorn Kalahari Lodge (4 Star Rating)

Intu Afrika Camelthorn Kalahari Lodge is set within the private Intu Afrika Kalahari Game Reserve, surrounded by the iconic red dunes and ancient camelthorn trees of the Kalahari Desert. The lodge offers comfortable accommodations, a restaurant, bar and swimming pool, providing an ideal base from which to experience the region's unique landscapes, wildlife and optional desert activities.

We continue south through arid and extensive rocky plains. Visiting the unique Garas quiver tree forest where you are welcomed by quirky human-made sculptures of scrap metal which set a contrast to this serene, timeless space with Quiver trees and aloes nestled amongst huge dolerite boulders, stacked mysteriously, the area is also aptly referred to as “Giant’s Playground”. We continue to our lodge, situated in close vicinity to the Fish River Canyon. Here we can explore the area on foot or an optional guided nature drive in the later afternoon highlighting the Quiver trees, rugged landscape and impressive sweeping rock formations.

Hotel: Canyon Village (3 Star Rating)

The Canyon Village sits picturesquely at the foot of a sweeping rock face in Gondwana Canyon Park. There is a thatched restaurant, coffee shop and a rustic bar, all set between massive granite boulders. Namibian artists have decorated the walls of the restaurant, and the rural atmosphere is continued in the chalets, depicting the daily life of the original inhabitants of the area, the Bondelswart Nama. Alternatively, guests are welcome to enjoy a break at the pool. It has magnificent views of the endless plains of Gondwana Canyon Park. The lodge consists of 40 Cape-Dutch style chalets. They are all equipped with en-suite bathrooms, a fan and mosquito nets. Take in the superb scenery in this haunting, arid landscape on an unguided morning hike, Canyon and scenic drive, horse-riding trek, or a guided sunset walk. Canyon Village is an ideal base and offers easy access to explore the wonders of Namibia's Fish River Canyon.

Meal(s): Breakfast

Our morning starts on the edge of the Fish River Canyon where we gaze into this magnificent geological phenomenon. The Fish River Canyon is located in the northern part of the Nama Karoo and is the second largest canyon on earth, featuring a gigantic ravine that measures in total about 160 km long, up to 27 km wide and in places almost 550 meters deep. The Fish River is the longest interior river found in Namibia, but its current flow is just a drop compared with the immense volume of water that poured down its length in ages past. We continue our journey past the Naute dam, where we shortly stop at the Naute Kristall Cellar and Distillery, to taste some of their unique liquors (optional) or simply enjoy a delicious cup of coffee. Proceeding onwards we head towards the coastal town of Lüderitz. On the way to Lüderitz, we stop at Garub, which is the viewing point for the Wild Horses of the Namib Desert. Arriving in Lüderitz we head towards the coastline and take a scenic route along the “Grosse Bucht”, enjoying the fresh see breeze, while stopping for a quick picnic. Returning to Lüderitz we check into our guesthouse.

Hotel: Luderitz Nest Hotel (4 Star Rating)

Luderitz Nest Hotel enjoys a prime waterfront location in the historic coastal town of Luderitz. Overlooking the Atlantic Ocean, the hotel offers comfortable accommodations, a restaurant, bar, outdoor swimming pool and private beach, making it an ideal base from which to explore the town and the surrounding attractions of southern Namibia.

Meal(s): Breakfast

After an early breakfast, our morning starts with a visit to Kolmanskop ghost town. Kolmanskop is a deserted Diamond Mining Town in the Sperrgebiet National Park. Once an opulent and decadent town, a monument to the Diamond boom and built to last…until the diamonds ran out. Today Kolmanskop stands as a haunting monument to the thriving past, offering visitor’s unique photo motives into a bygone era. We continue across vast open plains, stopping for an optional light lunch (included in the Superior tour) in the countryside town of Helmeringhausen before continuing further north along with the Tiras Mountain range to our lodge in the Namib Desert. We are located close to Sesriem the gateway to Sossusvlei, Dead Vlei and Sesriem Canyon, with some of the highest dunes on Earth towering over the white desert plains. The afternoon can be spent relaxing at the sparkling pool, enjoying the vast open desert plains, or taking part in optional activities offered at the lodge.

Hotel: The Elegant Desert Lodge (4 Star Rating)

The Elegant Desert Lodge enjoys a peaceful setting overlooking the striking desert landscapes near Sesriem, providing convenient access to Sossusvlei, Dead Vlei, and Sesriem Canyon. The lodge offers comfortable accommodations, a restaurant, bar, and swimming pool, making it an ideal base from which to explore the spectacular scenery of the Namib Desert.

Meal(s): Breakfast

The morning demands an early start. Entering the Namib Naukluft National Park shortly after sunrise, the first rays of sunlight paint the mountains of sand into a variety of apricot, red and orange, contrasted against a crisp blue skyline, enrapturing our senses, and providing an opportunity to capture this impressive landscape on film. You will be captivated by the surreal Deadvlei surrounded by some of the highest dunes on earth and Sossusvlei, where the dry Tsauchab River ends abruptly amongst dunes. Take the opportunity to walk up one of these majestic dunes to admire the desert landscape beneath. After this thrilling experience we visit the Sesriem Canyon, a life-sustaining natural phenomenon in the heart of the Namib Desert before returning back to our lodge and cooling off along the swimming pool or with a refreshing drink at one of the quiet retreats located all around the lodge.

Hotel: The Elegant Desert Lodge (4 Star Rating)

The Elegant Desert Lodge enjoys a peaceful setting overlooking the striking desert landscapes near Sesriem, providing convenient access to Sossusvlei, Dead Vlei, and Sesriem Canyon. The lodge offers comfortable accommodations, a restaurant, bar, and swimming pool, making it an ideal base from which to explore the spectacular scenery of the Namib Desert.

Meal(s): Breakfast

After breakfast we continue our journey approaching the little settlement of Solitaire on the edge of the Namib Naukluft National Park, feeling like you have arrived in the middle of nowhere, before travelling via the desolate, rolling hills of the Kuiseb Valley towards the Atlantic Ocean. Reaching the coastal harbour town of Walvis Bay, we visit the shallow lagoon, one of the most important wetland areas on the African continent and a RAMSAR World Heritage Site. Over 80% of Africa’s lesser flamingos breed in this lagoon and present a breath-taking picture when they appear in groups. Continuing along the scenic route between the dune belt and the Atlantic Ocean we reach Swakopmund, where the rest of the day is spent at leisure. With palm-lined streets and seaside promenades, Swakopmund is a popular holiday destination in Namibia. Its pleasant summer climate and long stretched beaches attract anglers and surfers from all over Southern Africa. For the international guest, Swakopmund is a bohemian mix of German architecture and African rhythms, a laid back attitude with adrenalin activities, misty mornings and desert heat. It is colourful, it is vibrant, but most of all, it is pure fun.

Hotel: Hansa Hotel (4 Star Rating)

Nestled in the centre of Swakopmund, the hotel is constructed around a garden area and close to the sea (a 3-minute walk). With the town having been built during a German Colonial the hotel which originally dates back to 1905 (one of the first in the area) forms part of period, the area resembles a Bavarian village. With a timeless quality the towns culture. Located close by are a golf course, tennis courts, and horse/camel riding. The hotel boasts 58 rooms with underfloor heating.

Meal(s): Breakfast

Swakopmund is often fondly referred to as the "playground of Namibia", it has numerous activities ranging from, adventure to exploring the fascinating features of the Namib Desert and the animals and plants that occur and survive here. Embrace the relaxed pace of this idyllic coastal town while enjoying coffee and freshly baked pastries in one of the many café's. Alternatively explore the rugged, sweltering desert on a day tour, or view this awesome, environment from the air on a scenic flight. Find your inner child and push adrenaline to its limits with extreme adventures such as skydiving over the desert or quad biking and sand boarding on the dunes. Take time to get the feel of this quaint town with its historic buildings, museums, shopping arcades and beach bar that has transformed into its own personality by the vibrant use of colour and the bohemian lifestyle.

Hotel: Hansa Hotel (4 Star Rating)

Nestled in the centre of Swakopmund, the hotel is constructed around a garden area and close to the sea (a 3-minute walk). With the town having been built during a German Colonial the hotel which originally dates back to 1905 (one of the first in the area) forms part of period, the area resembles a Bavarian village. With a timeless quality the towns culture. Located close by are a golf course, tennis courts, and horse/camel riding. The hotel boasts 58 rooms with underfloor heating.

Meal(s): Breakfast

After breakfast a transfer takes us back to Windhoek to our hotel or the international airport for our return flight.

Meal(s): Breakfast