Explore some of Namibia's most iconic destinations in the company of a highly experienced personal guide. Our 10-Day Best of Namibia Safari takes you from the towering red dunes of Sossusvlei and lonely stretches of beach along the Skeleton Coast to the quaint seaside town of Swakopmund and Damaraland with its startling geographical features. We round our trip off with a safari in Etosha National Park with its ancient salt pan in search of Namibia's famous desert-adapted elephants and lions.

Highlights
  • Small groups of 1 to 7 people per safari
  • Accompanied by one of Namibia's top nature guides
  • Climb to the top of some of the world's tallest sand dunes
  • Kayak with seals and dolphins off the Skeleton Coast in the Atlantic Ocean (optional boat trip)
  • Go in search of famous desert-adapted elephants
  • Visit Twyfelfontein petroglyphs – a UNESCO World Heritage Site
  • Discover the world-famous Etosha National Park on game drives
  • Experience game viewing at a floodlit waterhole at night

Map of our 10 Day Best of Namibia Safari

This is an ideal tour for first-timers to Namibia, as it gives you an excellent overview of some of this country's most popular and spectacular highlights. You also have the benefit of small groups and the safety of your own dedicated, expert guide.

Departures are 100% guaranteed with a minimum of one person and a maximum of seven people per safari. These tours depart on a Tuesday and finish the following Thursday. There are selected departures on a Saturday, too.

Basic Itinerary

  • Day 1 & Day 2: Windhoek to Sossusvlei in the Namib Desert
  • Day 3 & Day 4: Coastal town of Swakopmund, the adventure capital of Namibia
  • Day 5 & Day 6: Explore Damaraland highlights
  • Day 7 to Day 9: Game drives in Etosha National Park
  • Day 10: Visit Wildlife & AfriCat Centres en route back to Windhoek
10 Day Best of Namibia Safari

Day 1: Windhoek to Sossusvlei area

Includes
  • Overnight accommodation
  • Lunch, dinner and excursions with your guide

You'll be collected from your guesthouse or Windhoek International Airport should your plane land before 07h00. Setting off in a safari vehicle with your own private guide, you'll head southwest through the scenic Khomas Hochland highlands, down the Great Escarpment into the vast Namib Desert, stopping for a picnic lunch along the way. Towards mid-afternoon, you'll arrive at your accommodation for the next two nights. Activities include exploring the centuries-old Sesriem Canyon and towering red Sossusvlei dunes with your guide or simply relaxing and enjoying the tranquil desert views from the lodge.

Sossusvlei Picnic, Namibia

Picnic lunch while sightseeing in the Sossusvlei area

Day 2: Sossusvlei/Namib Desert

Includes
  • Overnight accommodation
  • Breakfast, lunch, dinner and excursions with your guide

Up early, you'll head for the Namib Naukluft National Park with your guide before sunrise to see the dunes in the soft, shadowy morning light. These are some of the highest free-standing dunes in the world. Your guide will share insights into how this desert was formed and how the incredible variety of curious creatures, plants and wildlife have adapted to these fierce conditions. You'll enjoy a picnic brunch under a shady camel-thorn tree with the option to explore Dune 45, Elim Dune, Sossusvlei and Dead Vlei. You'll return to the lodge for a late lunch. If you haven't already managed it, a trip to Sesriem Canyon is on the agenda or enjoy some leisure time at the lodge.

Day 3: Sossusvlei to Swakopmund

Includes
  • Overnight accommodation
  • Breakfast, lunch and dinner

[Optional sunrise hot air balloon safari over Namib-Naukluft and Sossusvlei dunes in the morning before departing for Swakopmund. This activity needs to be pre-booked and involves an additional cost.]

En route to Swakopmund, you'll witness the ever-changing vistas of this captivating land, including the Gaub and Kuiseb Canyons. Passing through coastal Walvis Bay, you'll continue northwards to Swakopmund, a popular German colonial-style seaside resort that enjoys cooler coastal air. You'll have time to explore the town and waterfront before dinner at a popular local seafood restaurant. A centrally-located guesthouse in Swakopmund will be your accommodation for the next two nights.

Day 4: Swakopmund

Includes
  • Overnight accommodation
  • Breakfast, lunch and dinner

After breakfast, your guide will drive you to Walvis Bay for an unforgettable kayaking adventure where you have every chance of encountering Cape fur seals, dolphins, pelicans, flamingos, numerous seabirds – and hopefully, whales, turtles and sunfish.

You'll also take a short drive to Pelican Point and its lighthouse. Light refreshments will be enjoyed on the beach. If you prefer, you may opt for a motorised boat trip and savour snacks of fresh oysters washed down with local sparkling wine instead of kayaking!

Swakopmund 10 Day Best of Namibia Safari Grant Durr

Swakopmund

(Image: Grant Durr)

You'll have the chance to explore Walvis Bay's waterfront area before returning to Swakopmund for an afternoon at leisure at your guesthouse or around the town. A host of activities can be booked at an extra cost such as camel rides, scenic flights, quad-biking, dune buggies, tandem or solo skydiving and more. Swakopmund is known as the adventure capital of Namibia.

Day 5: Swakopmund to Damaraland

Includes
  • Overnight accommodation
  • Breakfast, lunch, dinner and excursions with your guide

Heading off to the northeast today, you'll encounter the diverse and dramatic Damaraland. Passing Namibia's highest mountain, the Brandberg (2,573 metres), you'll be able to view wildlife and take in the vast expanse of scenery. This ancient wilderness area is characterised by incredible displays of light and colour, rugged flat-topped mountains, intriguing rock formations and odd-looking vegetation.

Time permitting, you'll visit the prehistoric Twyfelfontein rock engravings (a UNESCO World Heritage Site), one of Namibia's key national monuments and the geological phenomena of Burnt Mountain and Organ Pipes (or they'll be saved for tomorrow's highlights).

The next two nights are at a desert camp nestled amongst an outcrop of gigantic granite boulders in the heart of Damaraland with easy access to nearby local attractions.

Day 6: Damaraland

Includes
  • Overnight accommodation
  • Breakfast, lunch, dinner and excursions with your guide

After an early breakfast, you'll go on an exciting 4x4 game drive to explore the river valleys and search for wildlife, including the famed desert-adapted elephant. There's an option to stop for a picnic lunch en route and to visit the local attractions if you haven't already done so. Once you return to camp, you may have time to go on a guided nature walk or you can simply enjoy some well-deserved downtime if you prefer.

Guided walk in Damaraland

Guided nature walk in Damaraland

(Image: Damaraland Camp)

Day 7: Damaraland to Southern Etosha National Park

Includes
  • Overnight accommodation
  • Breakfast, lunch, dinner and game drives in a private game reserve

Another early start sees you setting off for Ongava, a beautiful private game reserve along the southwest border of Etosha National Park. You will arrive in time for an afternoon game drive in open safari vehicles.

Day 8 & Day 9: Etosha National Park

Includes
  • Overnight accommodation
  • Breakfast, lunch, dinner and game drives in Etosha National Park and Ongava Game Reserve

Game viewing in Etosha National Park is extremely rewarding. Home to 114 mammals and over 340 bird species, you have every chance of seeing elephant, lion, giraffe, wildebeest, eland, kudu, gemsbok (oryx), zebra, cheetah, leopard, hyena, honey badger and warthog, along with the endangered, endemic black-faced impala. Etosha is perhaps most famous for its salt pan, which is so large it is visible from space and its waterholes, each one different from the other, drawing wildlife that varies from season to season.

Etosha National Park 10 Day Best of Namibia Safari Jonatan Pie

Zebra in Etosha National Park

(Image: Jonatan Pie)

Game drives take place in the early morning and then again in the afternoon. You can while away the lazy midday hours by the swimming pool or take a siesta. If you opt to go on a full-day game drive instead, you can enjoy lunch at one of the rest camps inside the park or eat a packed picnic at a waterhole.

Day 10: Etosha to Windhoek

Includes
  • Breakfast, lunch and AfriCat Day Centre game drive

Leaving early, you'll travel south to Okonjima's AfriCat Day Centre, the final highlight of a truly memorable safari, in time for lunch, before going on an informative game drive and tour of the centre which researches and rehabilitates injured or captured leopard and cheetah. After your excursion, it's back to Windhoek by late afternoon where you'll be taken to your accommodation or to Windhoek International for your onward flight.

Optional Extension:

Please speak to us about extending your safari for another night or two at Okonjima Bush Camp. This luxury safari camp gives you an in-depth look into the fantastic work being done by the AfriCat Foundation and the opportunity to view many more cheetah, leopard and other big cats in the wild. Please ask us about rates and procedures if you'd like to enjoy this option.

Scroll down for regular Tuesday departure dates in 2024.

Selected Saturday departure dates 2024:

13.04.2024 / 27.04.2024 / 11.05.2024 / 18.05.2024 / 25.05.2024 / 15.06.2024 / 22.06.2024 / 29.06.2024 / 13.07.2024 / 20.07.2024 / 27.07.2024 / 03.08.2024 / 10.08.2024 / 17.08.2024 / 24.08.2024 / 31.08.2024 / 07.09.2024 / 14.09.2024 / 28.09.2024 / 05.10.2024 / 12.10.2024

Rates
Period Price per person (pp)
January 1, 2024 - May 31, 2024
$4,641
£3,643
€4,261
R86,961
June 1, 2024 - December 31, 2024
$4,933
£3,872
€4,529
R92,436

The above rates are per person sharing. Please contact us regarding single supplements and rates and conditions for children.

All rates on our website are provided to give a price estimate only and should not be seen as a firm quote. Likewise, our currency converter will give you a rough idea of the price in another currency, but should not be seen as a firm quote. It is only intended as a guideline, based on the daily interbank exchange rate. The total price includes our tour arrangement and tour management fees, if applicable. Please contact us to receive an accurate, free quote with no obligation.

Includes
  • Accommodation as stated
  • Three meals daily
  • Entrance fees and excursions as described
  • Excursions and game drives as stated
  • Sea kayaking OR catamaran boat cruise at Walvis Bay
  • Transportation in a luxury air-conditioned safari vehicle
  • Mineral water provided on the vehicle
  • Services of a registered, experienced, English-speaking nature and safari guide
  • Welcome pack
Excludes
  • Breakfast on Day 1 and dinner on Day 10
  • Hot air ballooning at Sossusvlei
  • Any entrance fees and excursions not included in the itinerary
  • Any items of a personal nature (telephone expenses, curios, medicines, etc)
  • All beverages (except mineral water consumed on board the safari vehicle)
  • Laundry (service available at lodges at extra cost)
  • Gratuities
  • International flights to Namibia and airport taxes
  • Return airport transfers to and from Windhoek International Airport
  • Pre- and post-safari accommodation in Windhoek
  • Visa fees and airport taxes
  • Bank charges
Scheduled Tour Departures

This trip departs and ends at Windhoek on the following dates. If you know which dates suit you, go ahead and make a selection below. If none of these dates suit you, please do contact us to request a custom departure at an additional cost on the date of your choice, subject to availability.

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