12 Days of Private Namibia Safari – Cats, Dunes & Desert
The Soul of Namibia where Wild Savannahs Meet Golden Dunes
From wild savannahs to shifting sands, this 12-day private Namibia Safari journey links Namibia’s greatest wonders – from big cat tracking in Okonjima to dolphin cruises in Walvis Bay, stargazing in the Namib, and lion sightings in Etosha.
A complete loop through surreal landscapes, rare wildlife and iconic highlights – guided with care and designed to give back.
From Namibia’s central highlands to the flamingo-lined coast, this 12-day private-guided journey connects the country’s most iconic locations in one seamless adventure.
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Namibia’s Greatest Hits in 12 Days
Begin in the open savannahs of Okonjima, where leopards roam and conservation comes alive. Continue north to Etosha National Park, where lion and rhino gather at waterholes that glow under the stars. Then, head west into the rugged wilds of Damaraland, home to ancient rock carvings and desert elephants. The Skeleton Coast calls next—Swakopmund’s seaside charm blends thrill and leisure with optional skydives, scenic flights, or dolphin cruises.
The journey ends in the surreal silence of the Namib Desert, where you’ll walk between red dunes, salt pans, and fossilised trees at sunrise. It’s a full-circle loop through landscapes that shift and stun at every turn.
If you are interested in shorter and more intense tours through this African gem, please check out Namibia Private Safari – Sossusvlei, Etosha & Damaraland, Canyons, Dunes & Wildlife or our quick Swakopmund & Etosha Safari Adventure!
Best Time to Go
Dry Season (May–Oct): Clear skies, cool nights, best wildlife viewing
Wet Season (Nov–Apr): Lush landscapes, fewer visitors, great for photography
Popular Attractions
Etosha National Park, Damaraland, Namib Desert, Sossusvlei & Dead Vlei, Sesriem Canyon, Walvis Bay, Swakopmund, Okonjima Nature Reserve
Weather
May–Oct: 18–30 °C, dry & sunny | Nov–Apr: 25–35 °C, warm with showers
Highlights
Track big cats in the Okonjima Nature Reserve
Discover the towering dunes and ghost trees of Sossusvlei
From Swakopmund, cruise past dolphins and flamingos in Walvis Bay
Witness desert-adapted elephants and ancient rock art in Damaraland
Etosha National Park delivers iconic African wildlife at glowing waterholes
“I had an amazing time I finally visited Namibia with my husband on the twelve day classic camping safari. The tour surpassed our expectations from the quality of service by Calisto our guide. He showed us many wild animals, taught us about Namibia’s history, culture and ecosystems and so much more. Camping in the wild was exciting, sharing great food, nice stories under the open African sky is so rejuvenating. It was much fun exploring Namibia in tranquility away from the crowds. My appreciation goes to the WAT team for going out of their way to host us and sparing no effort to ensure our delight.”
– Julia, Tourradar
Why Book with Us
Customize Your Trip
Tailor every inch of your journey to suit your preferences, from destinations to accommodations, ensuring a personalized dream-come-true travel experience.
Best Price Guarantee
Competitive pricing with the assurance that you are receiving the best value for your travel investment. We match or beat any verified quote.
Flight Booking Assistance
Our agents simplify your travel planning by finding the best domestic and international flights for your travel plan, taking the hassle out of booking.
Multilingual Guides
Enjoy authentic experiences with guides who speak English, French, Spanish and German – ensuring clear communication and enriched explorations.
Certified Travelife Partner
We are a Certified Travelife Partner and GSTC Partner. Travel with a clear conscience knowing that you're choosing a responsible agency, committed to sustainable and ethical tourism practices.
Travel Guarantee
Travel Guarantee with Swedish Kammarkollegiet provides financial protection for your trip.
Travel Plan
Day-to-Day Program – 12 Days
Arrival in Windhoek
You’ll be met on arrival at Windhoek International Airport and transferred to your guesthouse in the leafy suburb of Klein Windhoek. Settle in and relax after your flight, or take a walk in the area. Depending on timing, you’ll have a briefing with a local consultant either this afternoon or early tomorrow.
🍽 Meals: None
🏨 Accommodation: Naankuse @ Utopia or Similar
Windhoek to Namib Desert & Elim Dune Walk
Your guide collects you around 08:15 for the journey southwest into the vast Namib Desert. The drive takes you across the rugged Khomas Hochland and into the sweeping sandscapes near Sesriem. In the late afternoon, enjoy a short guided walk up Elim Dune to catch the desert in golden light.
🍽 Meals: Lunch, Dinner
🏨 Accommodation: Dead Valley Lodge or Similar
Dune Sea, Dead Vlei & Optional Sesriem Canyon
Rise early for a magical sunrise experience at Sossusvlei. Climb a nearby dune and explore the surreal pan of Dead Vlei, surrounded by 1,000-year-old camelthorn trees. On the return, stop at Dune 45 before heading back to the lodge to relax. Later, option to visit the Sesriem Canyon to discover the geological history carved by the Tsauchab River.
🍽 Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
🏨 Accommodation: Dead Valley Lodge or Similar
Desert Passes to Swakopmund
Today’s scenic drive leads you across desert plains and through the Gaub and Kuiseb Passes. Pause at the Tropic of Capricorn and stop at Walvis Bay’s lagoon to view flamingos and other wetland birds. Arrive in Swakopmund with free time to explore the town and coast.
🍽 Meals: Breakfast
🏨 Accommodation: Atlantic Garden Boutique Hotel or Similar
Coastal Adventures & Free Time
Enjoy a full day in Swakopmund with time to join optional activities such as kayaking, a Sandwich Harbour tour, quad biking, or scenic flights. Explore the German-colonial town on foot, relax at a café, or take in the Atlantic breeze.
🍽 Meals: Breakfast
🏨 Accommodation: Atlantic Garden Boutique Hotel or Similar
Bushman Culture & Mountain Sunsets
Leave the coast behind and head into the rugged Erongo Mountains. In the afternoon, join a guided walk to the San Living Museum, learning about traditional bushman life and stopping at ancient rock art sites along the way. Later, enjoy a sundowner walk for spectacular views over the Erongo massif.
🍽 Meals: Dinner, Breakfast
🏨 Accommodation: Ai Aiba Rock Painting Lodge or Similar
Twyfelfontein Rock Art & Damaraland Drive
Travel north into Damaraland. Visit the World Heritage Site of Twyfelfontein, home to thousands of Stone Age engravings. Arrive at Grootberg Lodge in the afternoon and relax on the edge of the Etendeka Plateau.
🍽 Meals: Dinner, Breakfast
🏨 Accommodation: Grootberg Lodge or Similar
Day 8
Damaraland Wildlife & Conservancy Life
Spend the day exploring the wild beauty of Damaraland. Join a shared lodge activity, such as a sundowner drive or optional desert elephant or rhino tracking. You may also choose to visit the local Damara community and learn about daily life in this arid region.
🍽 Meals: Dinner, Breakfast
🏨 Accommodation: Grootberg Lodge or Similar
Day 9
To Etosha National Park
Continue east toward Etosha National Park. Settle into your lodge just outside the park and head out for a guided afternoon game drive in Etosha’s southern section. Keep an eye out for predators, giraffes, elephants and plains game.
🍽 Meals: Dinner, Breakfast
🏨 Accommodation: Etosha Safari Lodge or Similar
Day 10
Safari Day in Etosha National Park
Enjoy a full day on safari with your guide, exploring Etosha’s waterholes, grasslands and salt pan. This is Namibia’s top game-viewing area with excellent chances to spot black rhino, lions, elephants and a wide variety of antelope.
🍽 Meals: Dinner, Breakfast
🏨 Accommodation: Etosha Safari Lodge or Similar
Day11
Conservation in Okonjima
Travel south to Okonjima Nature Reserve, home of the AfriCat Foundation. In the afternoon, join a shared guided activity, such as leopard tracking or an endangered species drive. The reserve is one of Namibia’s leading conservation hubs.
🍽 Meals: Dinner, Breakfast
🏨 Accommodation: Okonjima Plains Camp or Similar
Day 12
Return to Windhoek
Depending on flight time, enjoy a relaxed morning or optional activity before returning to Windhoek. Your guide will drop you at the airport or city hotel. No flights before mid-afternoon.
🍽 Meals: Breakfast
🏨 Accommodation: None (end of safari)
Why Pick This Travel Plan
Includes Namibia’s top destinations without rushing between them
Guided by a local expert and built for comfort and insight
Lodges and tours chosen for their support of nature and local communities
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Journey Through Namibia’s Raw Beauty and Wild Heart
From glowing deserts to rugged coastlines and untamed savannahs, this adventure brings Namibia’s contrasts to life. Watch elephants cross ancient riverbeds, trace shipwrecks along the Skeleton Coast, and sleep under the stars near towering red dunes.
A Seamless Journey Through Namibia with Purpose
This itinerary links Namibia’s diverse regions in a way that feels natural and effortless. With a private guide throughout, you’ll get deeper insight into the wildlife, people, and landscapes that define this remarkable country—from Etosha’s game-rich plains to the star-drenched skies of the Namib. Each lodge is chosen not just for comfort, but for its role in conservation, local employment, or responsible tourism. If you want a classic Namibia route with meaningful travel built in, this one delivers.
Included in the Price
- Transport in a custom-built safari vehicle with a pop-up roof and USB charging capabilities & air-conditioning
- Services of a professional English-speaking guide
- 6 nights’ accommodation in twin share rooms with en-suite bathrooms as stated above in the Travel Plan
- Meals as stated in the Travel Plan
- National park entry fees (2 days Etosha & 1 day Sossusvlei)
- Carnivore Feeding activity at N/a’ankuse Wildlife Sanctuary
- Game drives mentioned in the Travel Plan
- Sossusvlei excursion (including 4×4 shuttle) and cheetah activity at Solitaire
- Return Airport transfers
- Travel Guarantee with the Swedish Kammarkollegiet »
Price Does Not Cover *
- International or Domestic flights
- Visas
- Health and Travel Insurance are excluded, but we highly recommend getting insurance from your home country before your trip.
- Snacks between meals
- Alcoholic and Non Alcoholic Drinks during the Safari
- Gratuities to your guide, hotel staff, and porters – Find guidelines in our Help Center
* Rest assured, we’re here to assist with anything not covered in the price. Your convenience is our priority.
Don’t Miss Our Group Deals
Accommodation
Naankuse @ Utopia (Windhoek)
Dead Valley Lodge
Atlantic Garden Boutique Hotel
Ai Aiba Rock Painting Lodge
Grootberg Lodge
Etosha Safari Lodge
Okonjima Plains Camp
Add-ons
Discover Africa with Our Exhilarating Activities. Pick and choose from our handpicked collection of activities and day trips to enrich your African travel plan with that special touch.
Naankuse @ Utopia (Windhoek)
Set in a lush garden with a sparkling pool and cozy common areas, Naankuse provides easy access to Windhoek’s shops, restaurants and sights.
Rooms are comfortable with private bathrooms, air-conditioning and Wi-Fi. Utopia forms part of the Naankuse Collection, known for its commitment to conservation and responsible tourism.
Atlantic Garden Boutique Hotel
A family-owned hotel located in the heart of Swakopmund, just minutes from the oceanfront promenade, featuring sleek, comfortable rooms with en-suite bathrooms, satellite TV, tea and coffee facilities, and a peaceful garden courtyard.
Breakfast is served daily, and the staff is happy to help arrange coastal activities or dining. Perfect for travelers looking to unwind after time in the desert.
Dead Valley Lodge
Dead Valley Lodge lies inside Namib-Naukluft National Park near Sesriem, offering direct access to Sossusvlei and Dead Vlei.
Its 20 luxury tented chalets feature climate control, private patios, and open-air views of the desert. A restaurant, bar, and swimming pool overlook Elim Dune.
Ai Aiba Rock Painting Lodge
Set among granite hills in the Erongo Mountains, this lodge offers sweeping views and striking sunsets.
Thatched chalets feature en-suite bathrooms, air-conditioning, and patios. Guided walks lead to rock art and the nearby San Living Museum.
Grootberg Lodge
Built on the edge of a dramatic plateau, this community-run lodge blends natural charm with warm hospitality.
Stone chalets have en-suite bathrooms and private decks, and guests enjoy a pool, restaurant, and wildlife experiences with local guides.
Etosha Safari Lodge
Close Etosha National Park’s central entrance, this lodge offers spacious rooms with private verandas, a large deck and dining area from which you can watch the sunset and gaze at the star sprinkled skies, and amazing views.
Relax by the pool, enjoy quality food and wine, and take part in game drives led by knowledgeable guides providing the best wildlife viewing opportunities.
Okonjima Plains Camp
A conservation lodge and base for the AfriCat Foundation’s work with leopards and cheetahs.
Guests can join guided tracking experiences or visit the Carnivore Care Centre. Rooms reflect the area’s farming history, and facilities include a pool, curio shop, walking trails, and a waterhole.
Hilton Windhoek
This 5-star hotel features a rooftop pool, a spa, and panoramic city views, and 24-hour fitness and business center. Enjoy Namibian specialties at one restaurant, wine and sushi at another, and/or snacks at any of the three bars.
Rooms comes with AC, rainfall shower, city views, and some with private gardens or lounges.
Halali Resort & Campsite
Located in Etosha National Park, this camp offers a variety of accommodations suitable for all types of travelers including 2 Family Chalets, 20 Bush Chalets where the larger units have a kitchen and lounge area, and 39 Double Rooms – all featuring en-suite bathrooms.
Enjoy the largest pool in the park and the nearby waterholes for excellent wildlife spotting. This is the ideal base for exploring Etosha.
Etosha Village
An affordable yet luxurious gateway to Etosha National Park, offering 55 air-conditioned accommodation units with modern amenities, camping facilities, dining areas, a pool, a bar and a utility and curio shop.
Enjoy activities as guided game drives in Etosha, walking tours, sundowner driver, stargazing sessions and a special Boma Dinner – perfect for both relaxation and adventure.
Desert Camp
Located near Sossusvlei and Sesriem Canyon, this camp offers 28 self-catering units with stunning views and en-suite bathrooms, kitchenettes, BBQs, and can accommodate up to two adults and two children under 12 for free.
Facilites include a bar, pool, and communal bomas. There is no shuttle service, but you can enjoy meals and activities at the nearby Sossusvlei Lodge and find supplies at the Sossus Oasis Service Station.
Mount Etjo Campsite
The campsites near Mount Etjo Safari Lodge offer privacy, shade, and views over a waterhole, featuring amenities like hot/cold water, private bathroom, electricity, and a fireplace. Fresh meat can be ordered in advance.
Enjoy lodge activities and meals, with a maximum of four per site and extra charges for additional campers. The luxury option includes extra outdoor facilities.
Palmwag Campsite
With a unique blend of comfort and wilderness, this campsite offers 13 equipped sites featuring essentials like power and wash basin. Enjoy modern conveniences, a swimming pool, bar while surrounded by the beauty of Damaraland.
This campsite’s location offers possibility of nighttime elephant visits, making it an ideal spot for adventurers who wish to connect with nature.
Hotel a la Mer
Located in Swakopmund’s center and only seconds from the beach, this welcoming hotel provides 46 en-sutie bedrooms with a variety of amenities, including a generous breakfast, security and free Wi-Fi
Rooms offers a teracce or balony, a seating area, and are all equipped with private bathrooms and showers.
Okaukuejo Campsite
Renowned for its flood-lit waterhole where you can observe a variety of wildlife up-close, this resort offers a range of accommodations from Waterhole Chalets with patios or balconies for wildlife viewing, spacious Bush Chalets with lounges, and comfortable Double Rooms with essential amenities.
Enjoy a swimming pool, a restaurant, a bar, a shop, a kiosk, and camping facilities.
Cape Cross Campsite
The Lodge features 18 standard suites and 2 semi-suites with sea views, all equipped with en-suite bathrooms. First-floor rooms have private balconies and ground-floor ones offer beach access.
Four bedrooms can form a family suite, and six rooms are wheelchair-accessible. The self-catering Whalers Cottage accommodates 4 people, with an indoor “braai” kitchen, living/dining area, and en-suite bathroom.
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