Namibia Sossusvlei, Damaraland & Etosha Self-Drive

On landing at Hosea Kutako International Airport in Windhoek, you will collect your 4x4 vehicle and head to the Olive Grove Guesthouse for a peaceful overnight stay after your long-haul flight. Book in for a massage at the wellness centre or spend your afternoon relaxing in the sunny alfresco lounge or soaking in the spa bath. If you would like to take it easy, in-room massages and room service can be arranged. For the energetic, the shops and restaurants of Windhoek are a short stroll from the guesthouse.

In the morning, head south for Sossusvlei Lodge, a luxury desert oasis in southern Namibia, set just outside Namib-Nauklaft National Park. The lodge offers easy access to Sossusvlei and the Sesriem Canyon. Enjoy guided or self-drive expeditions into the park, float over the awe-inspiring landscape in a hot-air balloon, or opt for a thrilling light aircraft flight over the rippling ochre-coloured dunes. Interactive activities such as eco-friendly quad biking (ATVs), guided nature walks and archery are great for families, while couples can spoil themselves with romantic dining in the wild and sundowner trips.

Travel at your own leisure in a north-east direction to the coastal town of Swakopmund - a quaint settlement between the cold waters of the Atlantic Ocean and the hot sands of the Namib Desert. The city dates back to German colonial settlement in the late 19th century and its original Bavarian-inspired architecture adds great charm to the town’s intriguing natural landscape. Arrive at the Swakopmund Guesthouse in the late afternoon or early evening, perhaps in time for a sunset walk along the beach. The following day is yours to explore and play: choose from water sports, sand boarding, quad biking, thrilling off-road trails, dolphin and seal safaris, and at the right time of year, a true German-style October beer fest!

The next leg of your journey takes you further north along the beautiful Atlantic coastline and then inland to the golden plains of Damaraland. Your luxurious base in this landscape where time seems have stood still is Camp Kipwe, an authentic eco-lodge where you can enjoy guided drives in search of desert elephants, nature walks and historical tours, night drives, and dazzling stargazing. The lodge is located in the Twyfelfontein region, which is most famous for its incredible rock art that consists of at least 5 000 carvings of animals, humans and geometrics, some of which date back thousands of years to the Stone Age.

From Damaraland, continue north-west to Etosha Safari Lodge. This region offers good year-round game viewing of elephant, lion, leopard, cheetah, rhino, giraffe, zebra and wildebeest as well as the rare Damara dik-dik. Your daily schedule includes morning and afternoon game drives into Etosha.

Travel to the eastern portion of Etosha, passing the edge of the expansive Etosha Pan as you head toward the Onguma Tree-top Lodge. Here your discovery of the park continues and, with only four suites at the lodge, you are guaranteed a unique, intimate and personalised safari experience. Onguma is set on a private reserve and activities available include wildlife and rhino tracking, guided or self-drive game drives, nature walks and night drives.

Bidding farewell to Etosha, you will begin moving south back towards Windhoek, stopping for your last adventure near Namibia’s Waterberg Plateau Park in Kunene. Enjoy two nights at the cosy Okonjima Plains Camp, spending your days hiking through the mountains, bird watching and learning about the conservation of Namibia’s big cats. The AfriCat Foundation is what Kunene is best known for and a visit to the centre is an opportunity to track rehabilitated predators on foot or on a game drive, and learn about the research and rehabilitation of cats such as leopards and cheetahs.

Make your way back to the capital city of Windhoek where your self-drive journey through awe-inspiring and unforgettable Namibia comes to its end. At the airport you will return your 4x4 and proceed to check-in for your return flight home.