Unforgettable Namibia Classic Camping Safari

After breakfast, we journey north, stopping in Otjiwarongo for supplies before entering Etosha National Park via Anderson Gate. A short game drive leads us to Okaukuejo Camp, where we set up camp and head out again to explore.

Covering over 22,000 km², Etosha is a haven for lions, elephants, rhinos, giraffes, zebras, antelope, and hundreds of bird species. The diversity of life here is staggering, and the stark beauty of the desert pan gives Etosha its unique character.

As evening falls, the floodlit Okaukuejo waterhole offers a front-row seat to the drama of the wild. Elephants often crowd the pool, and black rhinos – critically endangered – are regular visitors. Hyenas, jackals, and an array of nocturnal wildlife add to the experience.

🍽 Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
🏨 Accommodation: Okaukuejo Campsite or Similar

We rise with the sun for early morning game viewing, hoping to catch predators before they retreat. After coffee and a light snack, we begin our full-day game drive, visiting various waterholes and observing the wildlife that gathers there.

We stop for breakfast at a picnic spot, then head to Halali Camp for lunch and a swim. Take a moment at Halali’s waterhole before continuing toward the immense Etosha Pan – a vast, white salt flat visible from space. Its otherworldly appearance creates a dreamlike atmosphere, and animals often appear like silhouettes against the blinding backdrop.

In the afternoon, we trace our way back to Okaukuejo, maximizing wildlife sightings as we go. With the low sun casting golden hues across the savanna, we return to camp just before sunset – an ideal time to revisit the waterhole and reflect on the day’s discoveries.

🍽 Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
🏨 Accommodation: Okaukuejo Campsite or Similar

After breakfast, we exit Etosha and visit the Otjikandero Himba Village, where we learn about the traditional life of the Himba people, known for their distinctive hairstyles and ochre body paint. Our guided visit offers respectful cultural exchange and insight into this unique community’s history, spiritual beliefs, and customs.

We continue west through the dramatic Etendeka Mountains and the Grootberg Pass, a land of volcanic boulders and table-topped peaks. The terrain tells a story of the Earth’s violent geological past, and the wide vistas inspire awe. We make photo stops along the way before reaching Palmwag, nestled near the Uniab River. Known for its desert-adapted elephants, this lush oasis often sees these gentle giants meandering close to the camp.

🍽 Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
🏨 Accommodation: Palmwag Campsite or Similar

We journey westward to the Atlantic, passing bizarre desert flora like the Welwitschia Mirabilis, an ancient plant that thrives in this arid land. Some specimens are over 1,500 years old. Entering the Skeleton Coast National Park, we feel the stark atmosphere shift – fog rolls in from the icy ocean, and rusted relics of human ambition dot the shores.

We pause at Toscanini, a now-abandoned oil and diamond outpost, before continuing south to Cape Cross. Here, tens of thousands of Cape fur seals crowd the rocks in a raucous display of marine life. The smell is overpowering, the sound unforgettable. We also view the stone crosses commemorating explorer Diego Cao, who landed here in 1485.

As the sun sets over the Atlantic, we settle into camp nearby, perhaps taking a peaceful walk along the beach.

🍽 Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
🏨 Accommodation: Cape Cross Campsite or Similar

After a relaxed breakfast, we drive south along the coast. Near Henties Bay, we stop at the wreck of the Zeila, a fishing trawler beached in 2008 and now a haunting monument to the Skeleton Coast’s power. Further on, we visit lichen fields—fragile ecosystems sustained by fog. A guided walk reveals their scientific and ecological value.

Arriving in Swakopmund, we check in to our cozy hotel. This town is a blend of seaside relaxation and colonial charm, complete with German architecture, bakeries, and palm-lined promenades.

You’re free to explore or choose from optional activities like scenic flights, quad biking, or the popular Living Desert tour. Enjoy dinner at one of Swakopmund’s excellent restaurants—your guide can assist with bookings.

🍽 Meals: Breakfast
🏨 Accommodation: Hotel A la Mer or Similar

We begin the day with a relaxed morning in Swakopmund. Whether you prefer shopping, exploring the coast, or taking part in more adventure activities like sandboarding, the town has something for everyone.

Around 11:30, we head east toward the desert. The route takes us across gravel plains, then through the rugged beauty of the Kuiseb and Gaub Canyons – deep chasms carved over millions of years. We stop for photos at the Tropic of Capricorn, where a sign marks our passage into subtropical Namibia.

A highlight along the way is Solitaire, a tiny desert outpost known for its quirky charm and world-famous apple pie. We enjoy a brief break here before continuing to our desert camp near Sesriem, gateway to the towering red dunes of the Namib Desert. As the sun begins to set, the dunes glow a brilliant orange – a preview of the magic to come.

🍽 Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
🏨 Accommodation: Sesriem Oshana Campsite or Similar

Today we rise before dawn and make our way into the Namib-Naukluft National Park for a sunrise visit to the dunes. Our first stop is Dune 45, a towering formation of apricot-colored sand shaped by centuries of wind. We climb to a viewpoint to watch the colors of the desert shift dramatically in the early light.

After a quick roadside breakfast, we continue via 4×4 shuttles, heading for Sossusvlei and Deadvlei – a clay pan famous for its 1,000-year-old petrified trees and surreal, cracked-white floor surrounded by colossal dunes. The area is a photographer’s dream.

Following our desert exploration, we return to camp for lunch and a bit of downtime, perhaps a refreshing swim. In the afternoon, we explore Sesriem Canyon, a narrow gorge carved by the Tsauchab River over millions of years. Those still feeling energetic can opt for a sunset walk to Elim Dune, offering a final magical moment in the desert light.

🍽 Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
🏨 Accommodation: Sesriem Oshana Campsite or Similar

We continue south through stunning and varied desert landscapes, with wide vistas and distant mountains. Our destination is Klein Aus Vista, perched in the Aus Mountains just above the vast plains of the Namib.

This region was once the site of a WWII prisoner-of-war camp, and today it holds historical remnants of the past. Our campsite is situated inside the Gondwana Sperrgebiet Rand Park and features self-guided hiking trails through rocky terrain and desert grasslands. We arrive in the afternoon with time to stretch our legs before dinner, and perhaps catch a spectacular desert sunset.

🍽 Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
🏨 Accommodation: Klein-Aus Vista or Similar

Today’s journey takes us through arid landscapes to the wild Atlantic coast. We keep an eye out for the wild desert horses that roam this region – mysterious descendants of military stock or early settlers’ animals, their exact origins unknown.

We reach the haunting ghost town of Kolmanskop, once a booming diamond mining village. A guided tour reveals its grand buildings, now half-buried in desert sands. We then continue to Lüderitz, known for its colonial-era architecture and vivid buildings. Driving out to Diaz Point, we visit the site where Portuguese explorer Bartolomeu Diaz planted a cross in 1487.

After soaking in the wind-swept views, we return to camp in time for sunset and another hearty dinner under the stars.

🍽 Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
🏨 Accommodation: Klein-Aus Vista or Similar

A long but scenic drive today as we make our way to the south’s final highlight: the Fish River Canyon, the second-largest in the world. We stop at the Hobas viewpoint to marvel at the massive chasm and the winding course of the Fish River below.

Continuing north, we reach Keetmanshoop before heading to our camp near the striking Quiver Tree Forest. These ancient aloes, some over 200 years old, were once used by San hunters to make quivers for their arrows. Their sculptural forms create a surreal landscape, especially striking at sunset.

🍽 Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
🏨 Accommodation: Campsite near Quiver Tree Forest or Similar

Our final day takes us north on smooth tar roads through Namibia’s heartland. We pass natural landmarks such as Brukkaros, a collapsed volcanic crater, and near Gibeon, where metal meteorites rained down in prehistoric times.

We pause for lunch en route and continue through Mariental and Rehoboth, arriving in Windhoek by late afternoon. A shuttle takes you to your accommodation.

🍽 Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
🏨 Accommodation: None (end of safari)