This 6-day Namib Desert and Etosha tour is designed for travelers who want to see two of Namibia’s top attractions in a short time: the Namib Desert and Etosha National Park.
You will visit Sossusvlei, home to some of the tallest dunes in the world, and then travel north to Etosha for a real safari with a chance to see the Big Five and many other animals.
Day 1: Windhoek to Sossusvlei
In the morning, People Safaris will pick you up from your hotel in Windhoek or from Hosea Kutako International Airport. You will leave Windhoek at 10:00 am in your safari vehicle with your guide, driving southwest through the Khomas Hochland highlands and into the Namib Desert. A picnic lunch will be served along the way.
You will reach Namib Desert Lodge in the mid-afternoon, where you will stay for two nights. If time allows, your guide will take you to Sesriem Canyon or Elim Dune. You may also choose to relax at the lodge. In the evening, you will freshen up, have dinner, and rest for the night.
Day 2: Sossusvlei Dunes
You will wake up early and gather in the lobby for coffee or tea before heading into Namib Naukluft Park. Leaving early helps you enter before the sun gets too strong and gives you soft light for photos.
You will climb Big Daddy, the highest dune in Sossusvlei, and explore Deadvlei with its ancient trees and wide dune fields. A picnic brunch will be enjoyed under a camelthorn tree before you return to the lodge in the early afternoon for lunch.
Later, you may visit Sesriem Canyon if you did not go the previous day. The rest of the afternoon is free for relaxation.
Day 3: Sossusvlei to Swakopmund
Today, you will drive northwest through the desert landscapes of Namib Naukluft National Park, passing Ghaub and Kuiseb Canyon via Kuiseb Pass. You will reach the coast at Walvis Bay and continue to Swakopmund, where the cool ocean air will welcome you. You will stay one night.
The afternoon is free to relax or join optional activities in Swakopmund at your own cost. Your guide will advise on what is available. In the evening, you can explore the town on foot and enjoy dinner at a local restaurant.
Day 4: Swakopmund to Etosha National Park
After an early breakfast, you will go to Walvis Bay for a Sandwich Harbour tour from 8:30 am to 12:30 pm. After the tour, you will meet your guide and begin the drive to Etosha National Park, stopping for lunch along the way. You will arrive in the late afternoon.
After check-in, you will go on a game drive in your private vehicle, visiting waterholes where you may see predators, zebra, giraffe, elephant, rhino, and many antelope species. After the drive, you will freshen up, enjoy dinner, and relax while watching wildlife before heading to bed.
Day 5: Etosha National Park
You will spend most of the day inside Etosha, driving toward Namutoni, your next rest camp. Along the way, you will stop at waterholes and view the Etosha Pan, also called the “place of dry water.” This salt pan covers about 5,000 square kilometers and often creates mirages with herds of animals moving across it.
You may stop at Halali Camp for lunch before continuing to Namutoni. In the afternoon, you can relax at the pool or sit by the waterhole before heading out on another game drive. You may see springbok, zebra, impala, giraffe, gemsbok, elephants, and lions. In the evening, you can watch the sunset from the fort tower before dinner.
Day 6: Etosha to Windhoek
After a morning game drive and time for final wildlife photos, you will begin the journey back to Windhoek. On the way, you will pass through towns and stop in Okahandja to visit Namibia’s largest wood-carving market for souvenirs.
You will arrive in Windhoek by 4:00 pm and be dropped off at your accommodation. If you have a flight, your guide will adjust the departure time to get you to the airport on time.
