Two oryx antelopes running across red desert sand with sparse vegetation.

Best of Namibian Highlights — 12-Days Private Tour

Discover the beauty of Southern Africa on this 12-day journey through Namibia. From the vast, timeless dunes of the world’s oldest desert to the rugged scenery of Damaraland and the wildlife-rich plains of Etosha National Park, this tour offers a wealth of remarkable experiences and lasting memories at every turn.

Price

from 2,900 USD pp sharing

Starting price per person

Highlights of the Tour

Day 1 - 12

Quiver trees stand tall in a rocky landscape under a clear blue sky

Kalahari Desert

Bushman Walk, Cheetah Tracking, Safari 4x4 in Kalahari Desert,

Exploring red Dunes

Namib Desert

Sossusvlei, Deadvlei, Sesriem Canyon

Beach with people, lighthouse, and museum under blue sky; Classic Namibia.

Swakopmund

Coastal town, optional activities

Orange mountain at sunset with arid landscape and stunning Classic Namibia vistas.

Damaraland

Twyfelfontein World Heritage Site or Petrified Forest

Zebras and springboks gather at a watering hole in the desert landscape.

Etosha National Park

Game drives, beautiful landscapes

Handmade African crafts on display at a market, including wooden animal carvings.

Okahadja

Souvenir market

Who Should Go

For those looking to discover Namibia’s highlights in a relaxed and personal setting, this 12-day safari is an ideal option. Perfect for first-time visitors, it features the country’s most renowned sights, such as Etosha National Park and Sossusvlei, while an expert local guide brings Namibia’s culture, history, and geology to life along the way. This small-group tour welcomes solo travelers and is designed to create a friendly, intimate atmosphere. With every detail thoughtfully arranged, you can simply unwind and focus on enjoying the adventure.

Tour Itinerary

Day 1 | Arrival in Windhoek

Distance approx. 50 km; driving time approx. 1 hour

Please arrive at Windhoek International Airport no later than midday. Upon arrival, you will be met by a driver and transferred to the Elegant Guesthouse. After check-in, you’ll have time to freshen up before meeting your guide and heading out on a short city tour of Windhoek.

During the tour, you’ll discover some of the city’s highlights, including Christ Church and the Tintenpalast (House of Parliament). In the evening, enjoy dinner at one of Windhoek’s excellent restaurants (at your own expense), before returning to the Elegant Guesthouse for an overnight stay.

Day 2 | Windhoek – Kalahari

Distance approx. 280 km; driving time approx. 3-4 hours

After a short briefing and once your luggage has been loaded into the safari vehicle, you depart Windhoek and travel south toward Mariental. Your journey leads you to Bagatelle Kalahari Game Ranch, an oasis set on the edge of the southern Kalahari and surrounded by striking red sand dunes. Settle into the serene desert atmosphere, unwind, and take in the vast, open landscapes.

In the late afternoon, you may choose to join an optional sundowner drive—an experience not to be missed. As the sun sinks below the horizon, the Kalahari glows in warm golden tones. Guided by a local expert, you’ll gain fascinating insights into the region’s unique ecology and wildlife.

Back at the lodge, enjoy a delicious three-course dinner before retiring to your comfortable chalet for the night.

Breakfast

Dinner

Day 3 | Kalahari – Namib Desert

Distance approx. 300 km; driving time approx. 4-5 hours

Early risers are rewarded with a breathtaking sunrise over the Kalahari. Enjoy a cup of coffee atop a dune as the first light of day bathes the landscape in stunning shades of gold and red. Alternatively, you may choose to sleep in or join one of the lodge’s optional morning activities, such as a scenic drive, a guided walk with the Bushmen, or a horseback ride. However you choose to begin your day, a hearty breakfast will prepare you for the journey ahead.

Later in the morning, you continue your journey via Mariental and Maltahöhe toward Sesriem. Your destination is Elegant Desert Camp, the perfect base for exploring the vast star dunes of Sossusvlei in the Namib Desert. Spend the afternoon unwinding by the pool or relaxing on your private terrace, soaking in the peaceful desert surroundings.

Dinner and overnight accommodation are at Elegant Desert Camp.

Breakfast

Dinner

Day 4 | Exploring Sossusvlei

Distance approx. 200 km; driving time approx. 3-4 hours

At sunrise, the gates of Namib-Naukluft Park open, allowing you to enter the iconic Sossusvlei region. If you arrive early and feel up to the challenge, you may choose to climb one of the towering dunes and be rewarded with sweeping views over the vast desert landscape. Traveling by 4×4 vehicle, you continue to Sossusvlei—a striking clay pan that fills with water only in years of exceptional rainfall.

Your journey then leads to Sesriem Canyon, carved over millions of years by the Tsauchab River. After an eventful morning of exploration, you return to Elegant Desert Camp to relax and soak in the beauty of your surroundings.

As evening falls, take a moment to look up and admire the night sky, where millions of stars shimmer against the darkness. For an unforgettable experience, you may even roll your bed onto your private terrace and spend the night beneath the open sky, fully immersed in the magic of the desert.

Breakfast

Dinner

Day 5 | Namib Desert – Swakopmund

Distance approx. 400 km; driving time approx. 6 hours

Today’s journey leads you toward the Atlantic Ocean. En route, you pass the striking Bloedkoppie and travel along the scenic Welwitschia Drive. Several lookout points along the way offer spectacular views over the Moon Landscape, where you are invited to step out of the vehicle and take in this rugged terrain of rocky ridges and barren peaks. Both haunting and beautiful, the landscape leaves a lasting impression.

Continuing onward, you arrive in Swakopmund, a charming coastal town nestled between the Atlantic Ocean and the Namib Desert. A short city tour introduces you to its distinctive German heritage and seaside character. In the evening, enjoy the freedom to dine at one of Swakopmund’s many excellent restaurants at your own expense—seafood is highly recommended.

You will spend the next two nights at Organic Stay Guesthouse, located just a five-minute walk from the Atlantic Ocean.

Breakfast

Day 6 | Swakopmund

After breakfast, the day is yours to enjoy at leisure. Take a leisurely stroll through town or along the seaside promenade, or spend time browsing the local shops. Alternatively, you may choose from a range of optional activities, including a scenic flight in a light aircraft, a visit to Cape Cross, a catamaran cruise, or a desert safari in search of the “Little Five.”

In the evening, reunite with your fellow travellers for dinner at one of Swakopmund’s many restaurants (at your own expense), offering a wide variety of dining options. Overnight accommodation is at Organic Stay Guesthouse.

Breakfast

Day 7 | Swakopmund – Erongo Mountains

Distance approx. 270 km; driving time approx. 4-5 hours

Early in the morning, you depart Swakopmund and begin your journey back inland. Your first stop is the 700-million-year-old Spitzkoppe, whose striking granite dome peaks rise to 1,730 metres and are visible from afar. Accompanied by your guide, you explore this remarkable landscape and its fascinating granite rock formations.

You then continue into the Erongo Mountains region and travel onward to a San Living Museum. Here, you gain valuable insight into the traditional way of life and customs of one of Namibia’s oldest indigenous communities. During a guided bush walk with the San, you learn about their hunter-gatherer culture and admire ancient, authentic rock paintings.

From here, it is a short drive to your accommodation at Otjohotozu Guest Farm. After checking in and taking time to refresh, you set out on a guided sundowner drive to enjoy the beautiful scenery and learn more about the region’s fauna and ecosystem. The day concludes with a delicious dinner and an overnight stay at the guest farm.

Breakfast

Dinner

Day 8 | Erongo Mountains – Twyfelfontein

Distance approx. 250 km; driving time approx. 3-4 hours

Another exciting day awaits as you travel in a north-westerly direction. Your first stop is Twyfelfontein, home to Namibia’s famous rock engravings. Discover these remarkable cultural treasures, estimated to be over 2,000 years old, and gain insight into the country’s rich history.

You then visit the Damara Living Museum, where you learn about the traditional way of life of the Damara people from centuries past, including their craftsmanship, dances, and songs.

In the afternoon, you continue to the beautifully situated Malansrus Tented Camp. Settle in, relax, and make yourself at home.

Breakfast

Dinner

Day 9 | Twyfelfontein – Etosha National Park

Distance approx. 350 km; driving time approx. 4 hours

Today’s journey takes you to Etosha National Park, founded in 1907 and one of Southern Africa’s most renowned wildlife reserves. You will spend much of the day game viewing around the park’s waterholes, where elephants, rhinos, giraffes, and various antelope species gather to drink. With a bit of luck, you may even spot predators such as lions or leopards.

After an exciting day of wildlife encounters, you exit the park in the late afternoon via Anderson Gate. Just a short drive later, you arrive at your accommodation for the night, Etosha Village. Unwind with a refreshing drink at the bar, enjoy a delicious dinner, and look forward to the safari experiences still to come.

Breakfast

Dinner

Day 10 | Etosha National Park

After sunrise and a hearty breakfast, you set out for another day of game viewing in Etosha National Park. Keep an eye out for herds of impala, wildebeest, oryx, and zebra roaming the open plains. You travel alongside the vast salt pan, which covers nearly a quarter of the park and is Etosha’s most striking and iconic feature. Along the route, the many waterholes offer further opportunities for memorable wildlife sightings.

In the evening, you exit the park at the Von Lindequist Gate and continue to Mushara Bush Camp. Here, you will overnight in a permanent luxury tent with an en-suite bathroom, surrounded by the tranquil sounds of the bush.

Breakfast

Dinner

Day 11 | Etosha National Park – Waterberg

Distance approx. 350 km; driving time approx. 4-5 hours

Your day begins early once again, and after breakfast you set out on your final game drive in Etosha National Park. Keep an eye out for animals you may not have encountered over the past few days—each safari day brings new and unexpected sightings. It is then time to leave the Etosha region and continue your journey south.

Soon, the Waterberg Plateau comes into view, its steep red cliffs visible from afar. At the foot of the Small Waterberg Mountain lies your accommodation for the night, Waterberg Guest Farm. Depending on your arrival time, you may choose to go on a hike to explore the scenic surroundings or relax by the pool and enjoy the tranquility of nature. Overnight is spent at Waterberg Guest Farm.

Breakfast

Dinner

Day 12 | Waterberg – Windhoek

Distance approx. 300 km; driving time approx. 3-4 hours

You’ll travel south today toward Windhoek. Along the way, consider a stop at the Okahandja craft market, where you can browse — and bargain for — wooden carvings, beaded jewelry, baskets, and other handmade items. Once in Windhoek, you’ll either drive to the airport to drop off your rental car or choose to spend an additional night in the city, if you prefer.

Breakfast