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9 Day itinerary in Namibia, Africa

Etosha, Skeleton Coast, and Sossusvlei Camping & Lodge Sa...

This 9-day tour is the perfect combination of our 7-day Northern Namibia & Skeleton Coast camping and our 3-day Sossusvlei Express accommodated adventures. Enjoy sightings of wildlife at the Okonjima Nature Reserve and Etosha National Park before immersing ourselves into the rich culture of the Himb... Read More

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Macedo

By Macedo

Overview

Physical Difficulty

Easy
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Recommended Age

Everyone

Operated in

English

GUIDANCE

Tour Guide

starting point

Windhoek

trip type

Private

trip attributes

Nature & Wildlife

Start/End

Night

Highlights

1

Discover Etosha National Park, one of Southern Africa’s premier wildlife reserves

2

Visit the Himba people, one of the last tribes in Namibia who still embrace their ancient customs

3

Explore the infamous Skeleton Coast National Park and the remains of the Winston Shipwreck

4

Take a 4x4 shuttle into the Sossusvlei area to appreciate its beauty in the early morning

Itinerary

Camping Accommodation expand_more

Day 1

place Okahandja Wood carving markets and Okonjima Nature Reserve

Our tour starts in Windhoek, where we meet for a pre-departure briefing. We can pick you up at 7h15. After the departure from Windhoek, we stop briefly at the Okahandja Wood carving markets. Woodcarvers from all over Namibia come here to sell their hand-crafted goods and this is the perfect opportunity to practice our haggling skills all while supporting the local community. Our next stop is our overnight destination, the world renowned Okonjima Nature Reserve. Okonjima, is an impressive 20,000ha nature reserve which is home to an incredible array of wildlife species. It is also home to the AfriCat Foundation, whose long term mission is the conservation of Namibia’s wildlife in their natural habitat, but in a protected conservation area. This includes predators and keystone species and the reserve is well known for leopard, cheetah, and hyena sightings. We aim to arrive at camp around midday, giving us ample time to set up camp and enjoy lunch before we join the afternoon activity where we have the chance to see some of the cheetah currently part of the AfriCat rehabilitation programme. The aim of this programme is to re-introduce these animals back into the wild where they can thrive. After our educational tour, we join an afternoon game drive on the reserve before enjoying our first spectacular sunset in the Namibian bush. Dinner tonight is prepared by our guide over an open fire. (Distance: approx. 200 km)

Guide: Included for the day

Meals: Lunch, Dinner

Accommodation:

  • Camping Accommodation: Okonjima Nature Reserve
Day 2

place Okaukuejo Campsite, Etosha National Park

We depart from camp after breakfast and stop briefly at Otjiwarongo, a small town north of Okonjima to gather some fresh supplies, before continuing on to Etosha National Park, one of Southern Africa’s premier wildlife reserves. Upon entering the gate, we start our search for antelope, such as springbok and impala and with any luck some mega herbivores such as elephant, rhino or giraffe, on our short game drive to Okaukuejo. We set up camp and enjoy a delicious lunch before heading out on an afternoon game drive. Etosha is unlike any other, and our game drives take us from waterhole to waterhole in search of predators as well as plains game, birds and if we are lucky, even reptiles. We return to camp just before sunset, and whilst dinner is cooking, we have the chance to visit the excellent floodlit waterhole where rhino, elephant, giraffe, lion and hyena are frequent visitors. Dinner is prepared by our guide over an open fire. (Distance: approx. 200 km)

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Accommodation:

  • Camping Accommodation: Okaukuejo Camp
Day 3

place Game drive to Halali and Etosha Pan

A pre-dawn start today with a quick coffee and rusk before embarking on our full day game drive at sunrise to have any chance of catching a glimpse of predators that are returning home after a night of hunting. We make our way across the park, visiting various waterholes and enjoy a late breakfast at one of the picnic spots within the park. We continue our journey east in search of the many species that call Etosha home and arrive at Halali where we can take a dip in the pool, visit the waterhole and enjoy lunch. After lunch, we visit the Etosha Pan where the park gets its name. Here we can get out of the vehicle and experience this 4500 sq km ‘saline desert’, a salt pan so large it can be seen from space. We continue our game drive to look for the Big 4 on our way back to Okaukuejo, arriving at camp by sunset. Enjoy our last night camping in Etosha, and a visit to the waterhole before and after dinner is highly recommended. (Distance: approx. 200 km)

Guide: Included for the day

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Accommodation:

  • Camping Accommodation: Okaukuejo Camp
Day 4

place Visit to Otjikandero Himba Village, Kamanjab and transfer to Hoada Campsite

Another early start where we can take in a spectacular sunrise whilst having breakfast and then a short game drive back to the park gate. The route today takes us west into the area known as the Kunene Region. Our first stop is a visit to the Otjikandero Himba Village. The Himba people are one of the last tribes in Namibia who still embrace their ancient culture and customs. We participate in a guided tour around the village where we have the chance to not only gain an in-depth insight into the Himba way of life, but to get to know the Himba people to share a little of our own culture with them. We continue west and stop briefly in the small town of Kamanjab before continuing on to the Hoada Community Campsite, situated between large granite boulders and Mopane trees, creating the illusion of a serene home in the wilderness. Here we set up camp before enjoying a leisurely afternoon and watching the sunset from the Hoada deck. Dinner is prepared by our guide over an open fire. (Distance: approx. 300 km)

Guide: Included for the day

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Accommodation:

  • Camping Accommodation: Hoada Campsite
Day 5

place Skeleton Coast National Park and transfer to Cape Cross Campsite

Today our adventure takes us through the infamous Skeleton Coast National Park all the way to the Atlantic Ocean. The coastline itself is a very hostile but a fascinating area known for the Welwitschia mirabilis, the Northern Namibia sand sea, the derelict oil rig near Toscanini, the Huab lagoon and the diminishing remains of the Winston Shipwreck. On exiting the national park we stop for Instagram worthy photos of the iconic skull and cross bones gate. We arrive at Cape Cross late afternoon where we set up camp for the night and have the opportunity for a sunset walk on the beach. Dinner is prepared by our guide over an open fire. (Distance: approx. 350 km)

Guide: Included for the day

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Accommodation:

  • Camping Accommodation: Camping
Day 6

place Cape Cross & Swakopmund

Today is a chance for a rare lie in and after a hearty cooked breakfast we take a short walk to the Cape Cross Reserve. The reserve is home to one of the world’s largest breeding colonies of Cape Fur seals and during breeding season (November-December) up to 200 000+ seals can be spotted basking on the beach, certainly a sight and smell to behold. After our visit to the seal colony we continue travelling along the coast stopping to view the Zeila Shipwreck, one of the latest victims of the Skeleton Coast from as recent as 2007. We arrive in Swakopmund early afternoon and have plenty of time to explore this quaint little town on foot, or join one of the optional activities on offer from skydiving, scenic flights, quad biking and more. We will also meet up with our guide and fellow guests coming from Windhoek who will join us on our adventure to Sossusvlei and have the option to participate in a group meal at one of Swakopmund’s excellent restaurants (own expense). (Distance: approx. 130 km)

Guide: Included for the day

Meals: Breakfast

Accommodation:

  • Camping Accommodation: A La Mer Hotel
Day 7

place Drive through the Namib Desert via the Kuiseb Pass to Desert Camp

Today we leave Swakopmund at 11h30, so we have the time to join an optional activity. For the adrenaline junkies this could be flying down a sand dune head first at 60 km/h on a sand board, exploring the dune field on a quad biking tour or discover the “old city” of Swakopmund on a fat bike (e-bike option available). Whatever we choose, we depart Swakopmund no later than 11h30 and drive through the Namib Desert via the Kuiseb Pass, crossing the Tropic of Capricorn, stopping briefly in Solitaire arriving at our camp late afternoon. We have a chance to relax and enjoy the views before taking a short walk for sunset looking over the Naukluft mountain range. Overnight is in twin rooms with en-suite bathroom facilities. There is a pool and bar available, and dinner is prepared by our guide. (Distance: approx. 350 km)

Guide: Included for the day

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Accommodation:

  • Camping Accommodation: Desert Camp
Day 8

place Sossusvlei in the Namib Desert

We depart at dawn from camp to arrive at the park gate for sunrise. We drive down an ancient river bed surrounded by towering dunes to the 2x4 parking (around 55kms) and take a 4x4 shuttle into the Sossusvlei area to appreciate the beauty of this place in early morning light and enjoy the peace and tranquility of the region. Furthermore, we explore this unique area on foot before heading into Dead Vlei with its large expanse of bleached cracked clay and skeletal camel thorn trees, contrasting with a backdrop of huge dunes with their ever-changing colours before taking the 4x4 shuttle back to our vehicle. As we drive back to our accommodation we will stop at the famous Dune 45 and climb this dune if we wish or just wander around the base. We return to Sesriem and visit the nearby Sesriem Canyon, one of the few permanent water sources before arriving back at our lodge late afternoon to watch the sunset over this spectacular desert. (Distance: approx.150 km)

Guide: Included for the day

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Accommodation:

  • Camping Accommodation: Desert Camp
Day 9

place Cheetah conservation project and transfer back to Windhoek

Early morning breakfast before heading to Solitaire where we jump onto an open vehicle and visit the local conservation project. Here they have a number of cheetahs that are unable to be released for different reasons. This 1-hour activity allows us the chance to learn all about the cheetah, the work done by local conservation projects, and get some incredible photos of the world's fastest land mammal. We return to Windhoek via Bullsport and Rehoboth. We arrive mid-afternoon and will be dropped at our accommodation. For those that choose to fly today, NO FLIGHTS DEPARTING PRIOR TO 18H00 in case there are unexpected delays returning from safari. (Distance: approx.400 km)

Guide: Included for the day

Meals: Breakfast

What’s Included

Accommodation expand_less

  • Camping
  • A La Mer Hotel
  • Desert Camp
  • Okonjima Nature Reserve
  • Okaukuejo Camp
  • Hoada Campsite

Meals expand_less

  • Lunch (7)
  • Dinner (7)
  • Breakfast (8)

Transport expand_less

  • Transport in a custom-built safari vehicle with pop up roof (no air-conditioning)
  • Accommodation pick-up and drop-off within Windhoek city limits

Activities expand_less

  • Guided visit to the Africat Foundation & game drive on Okonjima Nature Reserve
  • Guided Game drives in Etosha National Park
  • Guided Himba Village visit
  • Guided visit to Cape Cross Seal Colony
  • Guided Sossusvlei excursion (including 4x4 shuttle)
  • Cheetah activity at Solitaire

Extras expand_less

  • Camping equipment (excluding sleeping bag which can be hired)
  • Tap water
  • National Park entry fees

Not Included expand_less

  • Personal expenses
  • Optional activities

About Macedo

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I have always had a keen wanderlust spirit, and thought the best way I could live out my dream would be to join the tourism industry and help other people to fulfil their dreams of visiting Namibia.

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