The Namib, world's oldest desert; Apricot dunes at sunrise; Kaleidoscope of cultures; Swakopmund: charming seaside town; Rugged Skeleton Coast; Etosha: Africa's undiscovered wildlife gem
This 12-day Namibia tour takes us along the dense streets of its capital city, Windhoek, where we walk among people from the numerous tribes that wear a mixture of traditional and contemporary dress.
This country's captivating history shines through its architecture from the turn of the century, but a sense of modernism is kept alive through its vibrant culture.
Once we're outside of the city, the colourful Sossusvlei sand dunes tower above us with their record-breaking heights of 300 metres.
What would a trip to Africa be without a day spent game-viewing? Etosha National Park's "salt desert" is an important resource for the mixture of wildlife that inhabits this land.
Naukluft National Park yields an excellent display of animals as diverse as the baboon, rock hyrax or leopard.
This is a perfect adventure through a country that serves as an excellent showcase of what makes Africa such a compelling continent for so many travellers.
Prices below are per person, twin-sharing costs in US Dollars (USD). Pricing does not include airfare to/from the tour and any applicable taxes. For single supplement rates and taxes (if any), please refer to below Prices & Dates table. For general information on flights to/from the tour, click here.
Select a date below to reserve your spot:
Optional Single Supplement: $840 USD (number of singles limited).
This tour may require a mandatory single supplement charge of $430 if you join our share program and we are unable to pair you.
Day 1 Arrival in Namibia
Arrival in Windhoek, the capital of Namibia.
As capital cities go, Windhoek is very relaxed with a whole mixture of Namibia's tribes strolling the streets. Many are in traditional dress and others are in stylish contemporary clothes often with magnificent plaited hairstyles. The city is full of trees and gardens, plus some splendid buildings dating from the turn of the century, all jumbled up with post-modernist office blocks in a swirl of ethnic mix.
Today you will meet our Namibia-based Tour Leader and enjoy a welcome dinner this evening.
Overnight in Windhoek.
Included Meal(s): Dinner
Day 2 Windhoek - Namib-Naukluft National Park
Today we leave the interior plateau region and head southwest through the Gamsberg Pass to the Namib Desert, through magnificent colours, pastel-basted rock formations, and waves of taupe-coloured grasses. Even the clouds are tinged orange-pink as distant dunes reflect their colour skywards. In the Nama language, Namib means vast, and this is an understatement. At the opposite end of the moisture scale is the parched Namib Desert with endless orange dunes blown into razor sharp ridges by the sand-shifting wind. The famous Sossusvlei sand dunes at 300m (1,000 ft), are the highest in the world, towering over their nearest rivals in Arabia, and just begging to be climbed barefoot.
Animals, insects, and plants have adapted to live in this generally inhospitable region and apart from infrequent rains, rely on the sea mist that rolls far inland. En route we have the chance to see kudu, springbok, gemsbok and black eagles set against some of the most expansive and dramatically rugged scenery in the world.
En route we have several stops for scenery viewing and photos. Upon arrival this afternoon you will have time to wander the land around our lodge and enjoy the multi-hued sands, strange twisted acacia trees, and almost guaranteed perfect sunset. We will have a picnic lunch en route.
Overnight in the vicinity of the Namib-Naukluft National Park.
Included Meal(s): Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Day 3 Namib-Naukluft National Park
Very early this morning we drive into the park to a special place called Sossusvlei, a huge dried up pan (vlei) which sporadically holds water, at the base of some of the most spectacular dunes in the Namib. We watch the morning sun light up the apricot coloured sands, the long shadows accentuating the graceful, almost feminine curves of the dune crests. These immense rich ochre sand dunes are one of the most wondrous sights in the world.
Geologists say that this desert, covering most of the Namib-Naklauft Park, could be the oldest in the world. The older the dune, the brighter the colour from slow iron oxidisation and minute fragments of garnets. Dwarfed by the sheer size of the dunes, your footprints look like insect trails and each step forward forms a mini sand-slide. The solitude is immeasurable and your place in the great scheme of life takes on a curious insignificance. Visually powerful and deafeningly silent, this unforgettable experience is a high point of our visit to the Namib. Possible game sightings include oryx antelope, springbok, or ostrich.
At Sossusvlei we have plenty of time to walk into the heart of the dunes, scale a dune or two for panoramic views, and walk across the sand to a pan called Dead Vlei. This spooky place is named as such because of the blackened dead acacia trees that "sprout" from a blinding white pan against an orange dune backdrop. Stupendous.
On our way back to our accommodation we will make a stop at Sesriem Canyon, located near the entry gate to Sossussvlei. It was an important source of water for early inhabitants and even during dry times there is water in the upper reaches, where deep clefts in the rock reduce evaporation. Explorers, transport riders and early travellers used to lower a bucket down to collect the water and it normally took 6 lengths of thong tied together, hence the Afrikaans name 'Ses' meaning six, and 'Riem' meaning thong. The canyon was formed by the Tsauchab River rising in the Naukluft and Zaris Mountains to the east, and flowing through to Sossusvlei. Walking through the canyon takes you on a journey back 10-20 million years ago when sedimentary layers of gravel and sand were deposited and cemented together by lime. The ledges are now inhabited by pigeons, raucous pied crows and chattering starlings.
We'll have a picnic breakfast en route and likely a late lunch upon return to our lodge.
Overnight in the vicinity of the Namib-Naukluft National Park.
Included Meal(s): Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Day 4 Namib-Naukluft Park - Swakopmund
We continue our journey north through Namib-Naukluft Park via Solitaire and the spectacular rocky Kuiseb Canyon (photo stops en route) -- with possible sightings of baboon, rock hyrax, or, if lucky, leopard -- to the German colonial resort town of Swakopmund. This is Namibia's second biggest town and traditional "summer capital", and one of themost surreal places in this surreal country. You approach the town through the endless expanses of the Namib Desert, one of the world's largest wilderness areas. Then, through the mists (it is almost always misty in the morning and late afternoon) Bavarian spires and elaborate Germanic architecture rise through the fog banks. The boom of the surf on the notorious Skeleton Coast is an ever-present reminder of the icy Atlantic Ocean beyond.
We will have some time for a stroll around town before dinner.
Overnight in Swakopmund.
Included Meal(s): Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Day 5 Swakopmund: Leisure Time & Optional Activities
Today is free to wander the streets of charming Swakopmund. The town is an eclectic mixture of Bohemian and Bavarian, home to an intriguing mix of artists, hippies, strait-laced descendants of German settlers, stately Herero women in Victorian dress, and hardened miners, game rangers, safari operators and fishermen. Swakopmund exudes romance and history, a rich cultural melting pot of old and new. Nighttime entertainment ranges from sophisticated spins on the casino's roulette wheels, through raucous parties at the many pubs and restaurants, to an assortment of drama, music and cultural events. It is indeed odd to be in a little corner of old Bavaria wedged between one of the world's harshest deserts and even harsher coastlines.
You may wish to participate in an optional activity, including "Living Desert" excursions of the amazingly diverse Namib Desert biosphere; marine cruises on the Walvis Bay lagoon and outer harbour, scenic flights, camel rides, and many more (your Tour Leader can advise on current pricing and book in advance once you arrive on the tour).
Overnight in Swakopmund.
Included Meal(s): Breakfast and Dinner
Day 6 Swakopmund - Damaraland
After an early breakfast the road takes us north and east into the wonderful and diverse region of Damaraland. We pass Namibia’s highest mountain, the Brandberg, which peaks at 2573 m above sea level, and take time to view game and absorb the vastness of the scenery along the way. Weu make our way into the heart of Damaraland where we will spend the next two nights at our specially erected Under Canvas Camp ("Huab Under Canvas").
Damaraland is typified by displays of colour, magnificent table-top mountains, rock formations and bizarre-looking vegetation. The present day landscape has been formed by the erosion of wind, water and geological forces which have created rolling hills, dunes, gravel plains and ancient river terraces. It is the variety and loneliness of the area as well as the scenic splendor which will reward and astound you, giving one an authentic understanding of the word 'wilderness'.
If time allows this afternoon (or tomorrow if we are running late) we will visit the nearby attractions and geological sites of the pre-historic Twyfelfontein rock engravings (recently declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site). We will arrive in the late afternoon after a long yet rewarding day -– with time to enjoy sundowners before dinner.
Overnight in Damaraland.
Included Meal(s): Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Day 7 Damaraland Touring
Today is dedicated to exploring this remarkable and fascinating area with our guides. After an early breakfast we will be treated to a memorable 4x4 excursion along the ephemeral Aba Huab River valleys to explore this remarkable region and to search for game, including the elusive desert adapted elephants if they are in the area. Damaraland is home to a variety of desert adapted wildlife and hidden desert treasures. As the elephants are mostly active in the mornings we will normally have the best chance to see them then before returning to camp for lunch. However, if all travellers are in agreement, we could possibly take a picnic lunch and stop to enjoy that in the shade of a large Ana tree by the riverbed, ideally while watching a herd of elephant browsing nearby. On return to camp there should be time to relax and enjoy some pre-dinner drinks whilst admiring the stunning views of your surroundings at sunset.
Overnight in Damaraland.
Included Meal(s): Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Day 8 Damaraland - Etosha National Park
This morning after breakfast we will continue our safari to Etosha National Park. Lunch is had en route and if time allows this afternoon our guide will take us on a game drive into Etosha, exiting the park before the gates close at sunset. The rest of the evening can be spent game viewing at the camp's floodlit waterhole.
Overnight at Etosha-West.
Included Meal(s): Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Day 9 Etosha National Park
Today is dedicated to a full day of exciting game viewing within the central and eastern sections of Etosha National Park from the comfort of our private safari vehicle/s. We drive our way from the southern Andersson’s Gate to Halali (where we may stop for lunch) and then on across via selected waterholes such as Goas, which are normally particularly good for game viewing, to Namutoni Camp in the east, eventually leaving the park before sunset, arriving
with enough time to relax and freshen up before for dinner.
Etosha National Park covers 22,270 km², of which approximately 5,000 km² is made up of saline depressions or 'pans'. The largest of these pans, the Etosha Pan, can be classified as a saline desert in its own right. The Etosha Pan lies in the Owambo Basin, on the north-western edge of the Namibian Kalahari Desert. Until three million years ago it formed part of a huge, shallow lake that was reduced to a complex of salt pans when the major river that fed it, the
Kunene, changed course and began to flow to the Atlantic instead. If the lake existed today, it would be the third largest in the world. Etosha is the largest of the pans at 4,760 km² in extent. It is nowadays filled with water only when sufficient rain falls to the north in Angola, inducing floods to flow southward along the Cuvelai drainage system.
The park consists of grassland, woodland and savannah. Game-viewing centers on the numerous springs and waterholes where several different species can often be seen at one time. The park boasts some 114 mammal and over 340 bird species. Wildlife that one might see includes elephant, lion, giraffe, blue wildebeest, eland and kudu.
Overnight at Etosha-East.
Included Meal(s): Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Day 10 Etosha National Park
Full day of exciting game viewing within the eastern section of Etosha National Park. Our day and lunch placement are somewhat free-form to take into account seasonal variations, weather, and travellers' interest.
Overnight at Etosha-East.
Included Meal(s): Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Day 11 Etosha - Windhoek
After a leisurely breakfast we set off on our journey back to Windhoek. The road takes us south through Namibia's central highlands and commercial farmlands to reach Windhoek for the last night of our safari. We can visit Lake Otjikoto along the way and spend some time in Okahandja at the local woodcarver’s craft market where you can do some last minute curio shopping if desired.
Overnight in Windhoek.
Included Meal(s): Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Day 12 Departure
Today we depart from Windhoek.
BON VOYAGE!
Included Meal(s): Breakfast
Inclusions
Breakfast and dinner daily (hotels and restaurants); most lunches. All accommodation, transport, sightseeing and entrance fees for sites noted as 'visited' in the detailed itinerary. Gratuities for drivers, local guides, restaurant staff, porters. Airport transfers for land & air customers arriving/departing on tour dates.
Exclusions
International airfare to/from the tour. Tour Leader gratuities, some lunches, drinks, personal items (phone, laundry, etc), international (if applicable) air and airport taxes, early/late arrivals/departures or Land Only customers. Optional trip cancellation insurance. Our post-reservation trip notes offer further guidance on shopping and not included meals.
Seasonality and Weather
Most rain falls in summer (Nov-Apr); that said, Namibia is an arid place that tends to be dry at any time of year. Temperatures are quite high at this time. Winter (May-Oct) nights can be fairly cold, but days are generally warm and pleasant. Our March departure is moving into the cooler season when showers, though short lived, may occur. Our departures in Oct/Nov will experience cooler temperatures; showers--sometimes heavy--will be a greater likelihood moving into Nov.
Transport and Travel Conditions
Varies depending on group size. Bus transport may be arranged, or the group may be accommodated in multiple Land Rover type vehicles. These are specially modified vehicles and are the best-suited for the conditions we will encounter. Note that air conditioning is VERY rare in vehicles in Namibia in general, though in a dry climate an open window should provide adequate relief. That said, you must remember that you will be visiting a desert environment in which heat and dust are a fact of life. Namibia is also a huge, sparsely populated country with great distances between facilities. We stop for breaks as often as possible, but you must be prepared for some long days and some early starts. For our full days of game viewing in Etosha we will be using open safari-style vehicles (ie Land Rover / Land cruiser) with space for 4-6.
Am I suitable for this tour? Please refer to our self-assessment form.
Accommodation
Well-located, air-conditioned, 3&4-star hotels and lodges with en suite toilet and bath throughout (maybe shower only). Some hotels have hairdryers, irons, and outdoor swimming pools. Porter service is available throughout (see 'Inclusions'). Single rooms are limited and likely smaller than twins. There is no camping.
Staff and Support
Local Tour Leader throughout, drivers, local guides at various locations.
Group Size
Maximum 18 plus Tour Leader
Tour Extensions
This tour is part of a series that can be upgraded to make for a longer trip. For more options, please refer to tour code/s:
Regions visited: Southern Africa
Countries visited: Namibia
*The red tour trail on the map does not represent the actual travel path.
The following is a list of sample hotels at some locations included on this tour. The hotels shown here are meant to provide a general sense of the standard of hotel we usually aim for; they are not necessarily confirmed for your chosen departure.
We encourage you to get trip cancellation and interruption insurance to protect against unforeseen events.
Transfers for Marco Polo Airport if arriving and departing with the group; accommodation at 3 and 4 star hotels with ensuite facilities; breakfast daily, welcome dinner and farewell dinner with wine; admissions to sites in the itinerary; comfortable coach travel with professional driver; all other transport necessary to fulfill the itinerary; professional English-speaking guides at guided sites in the itinerary; services of a professional Tour Director from arrival in Venice through departure; gratuities for drivers, local guides and the Tour Director; additional insight from Lucinda Edinberg, Hammond-Harwood House curator, who will be with us for the whole tour.
Airfare; transfers that do not coordinate with the group arrivals and departures; single supplement; mandatory travel insurance; lunches, dinners other than the two stated in the itinerary; personal expenses such as laundry, telephone calls; gratuities for hotel service and porters; optional audio service.
Our aim is for every participant to fully enjoy the sites and towns we visit. Please bear in mind that you will have to negotiate getting on and off the vehicle on a regular basis, walking around sites, managing stairs in the hotels and showers over the bath. The nature of exploring the sites and historic towns we visit means there is a reasonable amount of walking involved in our daily itineraries. Should participants wish to take a day off from the tour, they are perfectly entitled to do so, if they are returning to the same hotel in the evening.
The deposit secures your place on the tour if space is available at the time of booking. Final payment is required 60 days before the tour departs. Payments are non-transferable.
The deposit is non-refundable unless the tour is cancelled by Adventures Abroad Worldwide Travel. Your trip insurance may cover your cancellation under certain conditions. It is a condition of booking that you, and all members of your party, take out comprehensive travel insurance before you join the tour and that it is adequate for your needs. Your insurance must include coverage for medical expenses, personal injury, and personal liability. We strongly recommend you also obtain coverage for loss of baggage, money and valuables, delay, curtailment, missed departure, cancellation expenses and legal expenses. You may be asked to provide your travel insurer name, contact number and policy number before you join our tour, or required coverage under the credit card used to book the tour.
A minimum of 14 paid passengers is required to run a tour. If the minimum number of bookings has not been received by 60 days prior to departure, Adventures Abroad Worldwide Travel reserves the right not to run the tour and refund all moneys paid. In no case except for reasons of war, natural disasters, fire, civil disturbances, riots, terrorist action, closure of port or airport, industrial disputes, force majeure, or similar events beyond their control will cancellation take place within 60 days of the departure date. In the event of a cancellation within 60 days under these conditions, Adventures Abroad Worldwide Travel retains the right to make a partial refund at their own discretion.
Hammond-Harwood House Association and Adventures Abroad Worldwide Tours have taken all reasonable steps to ensure that proper arrangements have been made for the tour and that the suppliers of the services are efficient and reputable. Every booking is subject to the conditions imposed by shipping, airline, rail, coach, hotel, restaurant, visitor attraction and insurance. We cannot be held liable for any loss or expenses suffered by you because of your late arrival at the start of the tour, or at any time during the tour for other than reasons within our control. Any willful damage to property is your sole responsibility, including any costs incurred due to such action or measures taken up by the various authorities or principals. Damage will be charged to you and must be paid for at that time. Adventures Abroad Worldwide Travel reserves the right to withdraw tour participation from any person at any time if their behavior is likely to affect the smooth operation of the tour or adversely affect the enjoyment or safety of other participants and shall not be under any liability to such person whatsoever. This is without any liability whatsoever on the company’s behalf for homeward travel arrangements or refund of tour costs. The decision of the Tour Director will be final. Adventures Abroad Worldwide Travel will not be held responsible for closure of sites or attractions named in the tour itinerary. Under such circumstances every endeavor will be made to find an alternative. Adventures Abroad Worldwide Travel reserves the right to substitute hotels. If a passport is lost or one of the group members is taken ill or has an accident, the Tour Director will assist to the best of their ability but must reserve the right to carry on with the tour. It may be necessary to leave the tour member to rejoin later at his/her own expense.
This is a release of legal rights – please read carefully and understand before booking.
By sending the booking form, I acknowledge that I have voluntarily agreed to participate in a travel experience (the “Tour”) offered by Hammond-Harwood House Association (“HHH”). I am aware that HHH has contracted with Adventures Abroad Worldwide Travel Ltd. (“AAWT”) to conduct, operate, provide services during, and/or manage portions of the Tour. AAWT has been selected based on experience in the travel industry and history of providing safe and gratifying tours. Even though HHH will use its best efforts to provide opportunities for educational enrichment during the Tour in a safe environment, I acknowledge that I am responsible for making my own safety decisions relating to the Tour and otherwise, and I agree to be bound by each of the following terms and conditions below:
I am aware that it is my personal decision to travel, and I am doing so voluntarily, with full knowledge of the applicable travel recommendations, restrictions, regulations, and risks with regard to travel generally, and as it relates to the COVID-19 pandemic. I understand that by electing to participate in this Tour, I do so at my own risk, and I agree to accept personal responsibility for any liability, injury, loss, or damage in any way connected with my participation in the Tour.
I understand that there are certain dangers, hazards, and risks inherent with travel and in the activities included in the Tour, including but not limited to, weather, strikes, acts of God, war, quarantine, disease, civil unrest, or terrorism. I understand that my participation in the Tour may involve risk of injury and loss, both to person and to property, and, I may be subjected to potential risks, including illnesses, injuries, permanent disability, and even death. In addition, I understand that medical treatments, such as vaccines, may be required before traveling to some destinations, partaking in the Tour, and/or participating in certain Tour activities, and it is my responsibility to consult a physician and the Center for Disease Control regarding immunizations or other precautions to protect against travel related illness. I recognize that while an AAWT or HHH staff representative may assist me with obtaining medical care in event of an illness or emergency, neither AAWT nor HHH is responsible or liable for my care.
I recognize that HHH is not in the position to evaluate, and therefore cannot evaluate, whether the Tour will take place in a safe and secure environment. These are judgments that I recognize I must independently make, and I have made my own investigation of these risks, understand these risks, and assume them knowingly and willingly. I have been warned of possible travel industry bankruptcies and medical and climatic disruptions, as well as the possibility that I may be unable to travel as scheduled because of personal emergency. I understand that specific AAWT, national, state, local and/or municipal health and safety protocols will apply to my Tour. I have reviewed all applicable protocols and Tour terms and conditions provided, including terms and conditions regarding cancellations, refunds, health and safety, vaccination, and insurance, prior to finalizing my reservation. I understand and acknowledge that HHH and/or AAWT are not responsible for changes to my Tour or for losses, expenses, damages, or injuries resulting from my Tour or travel incidents related thereto.
I understand that, because of the COVID-19 pandemic, local and state governments may be enacting border, travel, and stay-at-home restrictions; and that the trajectory of the COVID-19 virus at the local, national, and international levels is unpredictable. Moreover, local health care systems in many areas of the United States either are overwhelmed or are at risk of becoming overwhelmed by COVID-19 cases. I further understand that travel can increase my chances of getting and spreading COVID-19, and that my participation in this Tour means I may be subjected to potential risks, illnesses, injuries, and even death as a result either of contracting COVID-19 or of any actions or omissions of governments, private entities, or other parties with respect to COVID-19. I responded accurately to any Assumption of Risk questions posed to me regarding health and safety guidelines (including those relating to the COVID-19 vaccine), and that it is my responsibility to follow and abide by these guidelines at all times during my Tour. I have reviewed and understand the Center for Disease Control and Prevention’s travel advisories (https://www.cdc.gov/travel/destinations/list/) for my destination(s), if any, and any additional pertinent information available from the World Health Organization website (https://www.who.int/) and local health authorities. With full knowledge of this information, I have made my own investigation of the risks associated with this Tour, understand these risks, and assume them knowingly and willingly.
I have been advised and understand that HHH does not provides insurance coverage or indemnification for any accident, injury, illness, damage, loss, expense or mishap suffered by any travel participant in connection with my Tour or travel arrangements. I have been required to obtain appropriate insurance coverage against these risks on my own, at a level with which I am comfortable.
I understand that HHH does not represent or act as an agent for, and cannot control the acts or omissions of AAWT, a transportation carrier, hotel, or other providers of food, goods, or services involved in the Tour. I understand that HHH is not responsible for matters that are beyond its control, and that it cannot warrant the safety or convenience of the circumstances under which I will be traveling. I understand that I am subject to the cancellation and refund policies set by AAWT and provided for the Tour in which I am enrolled, and I have carefully read such policies prior to making my reservation. I further understand that I will not receive any refunds beyond what is stated in these Terms and Conditions.
I agree that my deposit is my unconditional confirmation that I (i) have considered all risks (foreseen and unforeseen for this trip), (ii) have or will obtain adequate and proper insurance covering risks (and will provide evidence of the receipt of such insurance immediately upon request by Hammond-Harwood House Association or Adventures Abroad World Travel, Ltd., as the case may be), and (iii) will defend, indemnify and hold Hammond-Harwood House Association and Adventures Abroad World Travel, Ltd. harmless from any claim, action, suit, loss or any damages or costs and expenses of any kind or nature incurred by Hammond-Harwood House Association or Adventures Abroad World Travel, Ltd.
I agree that this agreement is to be construed under the laws of the State of Maryland (without regard to its conflicts of laws principles), which shall be the forum for any lawsuits filed against Hammond-Harwood House Association under or incident to this agreement. I agree that this agreement is to be construed under the laws of British Columbia (without regard to its conflicts of laws principles), which shall be the forum for any lawsuits filed against Adventures Abroad World Travel, Ltd. under or incident to this agreement. If any portion of the agreement is held invalid, the balance of the agreement shall, notwithstanding, continue in full legal force and effect.