Namibia Lodge Safari

Namibia Lodge Safari

3,209 Views
12 Days From

$4260

$3840

Namibia Lodge Safari

12 Days Starting and ending in Windhoek

Visiting: Windhoek, Namibia, Sossusvlei, Swakopmund, Damaraland Wilderness Camp, Etosha National Park, Waterberg Plateau National Park

Tour operator:

Explore!

Tour code:

NL

Guide Type:

Fully Guided

Group size:

0 - 16

Physical rating:

FullOn

Age range:

16-

From: $4260 $3840 Operator discount: -$420

NB: Prices correct on 31-Oct-2024 but subject to change.

This tour is no longer available, please see similar tours below or send an enquiry

Tour Overview

Take the journey across Namibia's contrasting landscapes, including dramatic canyons, towering sand dunes and magnificent national parks in search of wildlife, and by night enjoy a sundowner in lodges located perfectly for exploring.

Sossusvlei - The world's highest sand dunes in the world's oldest desert
Etosha National Park - One of Africa's great parks, famed for an abundance of wildlife that congregate around waterholes
Coastal Namibia - Walvis Bay Lagoon, Cape Cross seal colony and the beautiful seaside town of Swakopmund

Highlights

  • Climb the towering sand dunes of Sossusvlei in the Namib desert

  • Experience world-class safari in Etosha National Park - one of Africa's greatest wildlife parks

  • Uncover the ancient San Bushman rock paintings and engravings of Damaraland

Itinerary

Expand All

Day 1: Join Tour Windhoek

Location: Windhoek

Accommodation: Hotel

Accommodation Name: Mercure Hotel Windhoek (ex Safari Hotel)

Arrive Windhoek and check into hotel. There is some free time today for sightseeing in the Namibian capital, with an opportunity to visit the National Museum or perhaps a half day Katatura Township tour.



For those arriving on time our Leader plans to meet you in the hotel reception at 6pm for the welcome meeting and for those that wish, there is the chance to go out for dinner. There are no other activities planned today, so you are free to arrive in Windhoek at any time. If you would like to receive a complimentary airport transfer today, you'll need to arrive into Hosea Kutako International Airport, Windhoek (airport code WDH), which is 48km, around 1 hours' drive from the hotel. Should you miss the welcome meeting, your Leader will inform you of any essential information as soon as you catch up.

Day 2: Drive Through Namib Desert To Sesriem

Location: Namibia

Accommodation: Lodge

Accommodation Name: Hammerstein Lodge

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Departing Windhoek we spend the day driving south-west into the Namib Desert, to the edge of the Namib-Naukluft National Park and our lodge near Sesriem. The Namib is the oldest desert on earth, distinguished as being home to some of the strangest flora and fauna on the continent.

Day 3: Exploring The Highest Sand Dunes In The World In Sossusvlei

Location: Sossusvlei

Accommodation: Lodge

Accommodation Name: Hammerstein Lodge

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Today we drive into the Namib-Naukluft National Park and travel down the Tsauchab Valley to Sossusvlei to watch the sun cast its shadows over the red dunes. Sossusvlei has some of the world's most spectacular sand dunes. The area itself is a vast depression or clay pan, towered over by sand dunes up to 300m high. In the early morning, the first rays of the sun light up the dunes with a deep orange glow - a photographer's delight. It is a wild, beautiful and romantic spot, with sparse vegetation edging a few water courses which flow in from the Tsauchab river. Here springbok and ostrich are often seen. We'll also explore the cool passageways of the Sesriem Canyon on foot. The canyon is small but very picturesque - many plants grow in the shade and shelter offered by the canyon, and water pools attract several species of birds and animals. Sesriem means 'six thongs'; which refers to the six lengths of rawhide rope (from a wagon) needed to make a line long enough to lower from the rim of the gorge to the stream below, in order to haul up a bucket of water.

Day 4: Drive To Swakopmund Via Walvis Bay

Location: Swakopmund

Accommodation: Lodge

Accommodation Name: Prost Hotel

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch

Travelling via Solitaire and through the Kuiseb Canyon, we then pass awe-inspiring landscapes as we head across the Namib gravel flats to Walvis Bay. Here a large spit forms a natural deep-sea harbour that attracted the first navigators in the late 1400's. The shallows, located where the spit joins the mainland, are home to a diverse collection of birds, the most spectacular being flamingos and pelicans that feed here seasonally. It's a short drive from here to the coastal town of Swakopmund.

Day 5: Swakopmund, Explore The Colonial Town Or Time For Optional Activities

Location: Swakopmund

Accommodation: Lodge

Accommodation Name: Prost Hotel

Meals Included: Breakfast

Swakopmund is one of the world's best examples of German colonial architecture, and served as the German's port into what was then, German South West Africa. Like any port town has a colourful past. Today, there may be time to visit the town's excellent museum, or visit a local township, participate in one of the numerous activities on offer, or just relax! This evening you have the chance to watch the sunset at the nearby coastal dune belt.



Please note: The running order of days 5, 6 and 7 is subject to change depending on accommodation locations. All listed highlights and activities will still be included and your Trip Leader will provide a detailed briefing to the group about the running order, driving distances and any necessary changes to what's described in the trip notes.

Day 6: Drive Via Cape Cross Seal Colony To Uis

Location: Damaraland Wilderness Camp

Accommodation: Lodge

Accommodation Name: Brandberg White Lady Lodge

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Travelling north towards the Atlantic coast we visit the memorable Cape Cross Seal Colony where between 80,000 and 100,000 Cape fur seals bask in the sun or swim playfully in the cold waters of the Atlantic Ocean. The seals are natural indicators of fish stocks in the ocean. If the fish stocks are healthy, then the seal numbers are high. If the fish stocks are poor, then the seal numbers will be low. The seals are quite big, an average male weighing in at anything up to 187kg (501 lbs.). The females give birth to a single pup around late November to early December. After our visit we head inland, towards the majestic Brandberg Mountain (2,573m and the highest point in Namibia) and stopping at the Brandberg White Lady Paintings. These famous San Bushman paintings can be found throughout the Brandberg Mountain area and are a spectacle to behold. To reach the rock paintings we will walk via mostly flat terrain between rock formations and it will take us approximately 1 hour to reach. Do remember to wear comfortable walking footwear and have a hat, suntan lotion and plenty of water with you today.



Please note: Depending on your accommodation location, the rock art seen will either be the Brandberg White Lady or Twyfelfontein rock art. Both of these sites are of important, cultural significance in Namibia and are examples of ancient Bushmen rock art. Your Trip Leader will advise on arrival about the running order and which rock art site will be visited.

Day 7: Travel Towards Etosha National Park

Location: Etosha National Park

Accommodation: Lodge

Accommodation Name: Toshari Lodge

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

This morning we set off on our drive north to Etosha National Park. Travelling through Damaraland we pass through local villages and will break the journey with some stops along the way. We'll travel to the edge of Etosha National Park, considered to be one of the finest national parks in Africa. Etosha is an immense, saline desert which can be seen from space, covering over 12,400 square miles, and the habitat for 114 species of animals. All the big carnivores, elephant, giraffe, wildebeest, zebra and various antelope are common sightings, and we will also try to spot some of the more endangered species, such as black rhino.

Day 8: Game Drives In Etosha National Park

Location: Etosha National Park

Accommodation: Lodge

Accommodation Name: Mokuti Etosha Lodge

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch

This morning we enter Etosha National Park for an early morning game drive. Our programme of game drives will depend entirely on the interests of the group and the time of year, so it is left as flexible as possible. The terrain ranges from dense bush to large open plains where animals roam freely. As well as an abundance of game, Etosha is a good place to spot birdlife with over 340 species in the park, including weaverbirds, European bee-eaters, hornbill, ostrich and Africa's heaviest flying bird, the striking kori bustard. We drive along the network of gravel roads that criss-cross the park, visiting the various viewpoints and the permanent waterholes around which animals congregate. There is something enigmatic in the vast silent grey white pan that covers the reserve.

Day 9: Game Drives In Etosha National Park

Location: Etosha National Park

Accommodation: Lodge

Accommodation Name: Mokuti Etosha Lodge

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch

We continue with game drives today. Numerous waterholes and underground springs attract large herds of animals including springbok, zebra, wildebeest and giraffe. At its very heart is the Etosha Pan, which geologists believe was formed some 12 million years ago from an inland lake about the size of Holland. Shrunk to its present dried-up size, it is now a gigantic depression in the ground - flat, saline and silvery, a mysterious place of mirages and dust-laden images.

Day 10: Visit Cheetah Conservation Foundation; Otjiwa Exploration

Location: Waterberg Plateau National Park

Accommodation: Lodge

Accommodation Name: Otjiwa Lodge

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch

We leave Etosha and travel via the Cheetah Conservation Foundation at Otjiwarongo to our accomodation in Otjiwa. The CCF is an internationally recognised centre of excellence in research and education on cheetahs and their eco-systems with an extensive visitor's centre which encourages visitors to learn more about these beautiful cats and the efforts being made to save them. Later we will continue to Otjiwarongo. Our lodge is one of the oldest game lodges in Namibia and is nesstled amongst lush bushland allowing impala, kudu and warthogs to wander freely near the lodge.

Day 11: Morning Walks Or Optional Game Drives; Head To Windhoek

Location: Windhoek

Accommodation: Hotel

Accommodation Name: Mercure Hotel Windhoek (ex Safari Hotel)

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch

This morning you could choose to explore some of the walking trails on offer or take an optional game drive in the national park. We will then head south and return to Windhoek. We have the chance to stop off en route in Okhandja and visit the local craft market.

Day 12: Tour Ends Windhoek

Location: Windhoek

Meals Included: Breakfast

Our tour ends in Windhoek after breakfast. Depending on the schedule of your departing flight, you may choose to spend a few hours exploring the town independently.



There are no activities planned today, so you are free to depart from Windhoek at any time. If your flight is departing later in the day luggage storage facilities are available at our hotel. If you would like to receive a complimentary airport transfer today, you need to depart from Hosea Kutako International Airport, Windhoek (airport code WDH), which is 48km, 1 hour from the hotel.

Why Book this Tour

This fascinating journey through Namibia is ideal for those with an interest in the inspiring landscape of the oldest desert on the planet. The Namib Desert and Skeleton Coast are worth a visit by themselves, however when combined with colonial buildings of Namibia and its range of National parks, this is an incredible adventure.

Meals

Breakfasts: 11
Lunches: 9
Dinners: 4

Videos

Check out our Q&As

  • I'm going on a walking/cycling trip-do I need to train?

    It will depend on the grade and how fit you already are. Check the trip page for details of the walking or cycling grade and how far you’ll be walking/cycling each day. For moderate or challenging trips in particular we’d recommend doing some walks or cycles before you leave to build up your fitness and prepare you for the distances being covered.

  • Who will be my travelling companions on the tour?

    We have a wide range of ages nationalities on our small group trips and they come from all walks of life.

  • Should I get travel insurance?

    Yes–it is a condition of booking that you are fully insured when travelling with us

  • How long has the tour company been trading?

    At Explore, we're the experts in adventure travel. Our small group adventure holidays have been running since 1981. Today, Explore is one of the most trusted travel companies in the UK with over 500 trips to more than 120 countries.

  • Can I join the tour once it has departed?

    Yes, but there are no concessions for doing so, and we must have a record in your booking advising as such before the trip departs.

  • Am I contributing to any charity by booking the tour?

    Being a responsible company is a large statement, something that has to be entwined within the very fibre of a company. Discover the charities and partnerships we support as part of this at https://www.explore.co.uk/about/sustainability/charities-and-partners

  • What happens if I need to change my holiday date once I’ve booked?

    We want to be as clear as and as honest as possible about what happens if you decide to that you no longer wish to travel on your trip. Our booking conditions have details of the costs you’ll incur when you cancel-these charges depend on how long it is before your planned departure.

  • What is the accommodation like?

    We choose comfortable accommodation in the best locations possible. We opt for small, local and family-run accommodation where we can, as opposed to large chain hotels. We typically use hotels that are the equivalent of European 3-star, and you’ll usually have an en suite room. Occasionally, where we want to get off the beaten trail we may stay in more basic accommodation.

  • What Ethical Travel credentials does the tour company have?

    Sustainability is embedded within the fibre of Explore, it emanates from the inside out. But as we enter a new decade it is clearer than ever that our world needs help, and Explore has created a sustainability strategy based on the 2015 UN’s Sustainable Development Goals.

  • What policies are in place for Covid-19?

    Our flexible booking and safety policies mean you're protected before and during your travels with us. Receive a full refund if your trip is cancelled, transfer your trip free of charge up to 10 days before departure minus any irrocoverable costs.

  • Do I need to be very fit to book with you?

    All our trips require some level of active participation. This could be on a cultural trip, trek, safari, expedition or voyage. It is in the interests of all members of the group that everyone should be capable of fully participating in the activities of their chosen trip.

  • What documents will I receive before I travel?

    Final documents will include a comprehensive trip itinerary, climate and country information, budgeting and packing advice visa and passport information and details on optional activities available.

  • Do you operate a “single share” option and how does it work?

    Yes on most of our trips. Most trips are based on customers sharing twin-bedded rooms. If you book a group trip as an individual, you will share a room with someone of the same sex. However, on many trips we offer the opportunity to pay a supplement to pre-book a single room, known as our single room option. On some trips a single room will be provided every night, on others it will be provided o

  • Do we have to be vaccinated against Covid-19 to travel

    It’s now a condition of booking a trip with us that customers should have one of the following before they travel - — Be vaccinated against COVID, having received the full recommended course, and allowing enough time for immunity to take effect. Full vaccination includes any booster required to keep the vaccine valid. — Have taken a negative test (rapid antigen or PCR) within 72hrs of departure.

  • Will the accommodation included meet local health and safety regulations?

    Explore will only offer hotels that have specific COVID-19 protocols in place and comply with local government guidelines. We will ensure these measures include; enhanced room cleaning, ventilation, social distancing, regular cleaning and disinfection of high frequency touch points in public areas, food safety, staff re-training and minimising contact within the properties.

Reviews from travellers on this tour

Susan  

Namibia Lodge Safari

I really enjoyed the trip and it certainly lived u

I really enjoyed the trip and it certainly lived up to my expectations. Our leader was excellent and the group size wasod.

Caroline  

Namibia Lodge Safari

This trip was a real highlight for me and represen

This trip was a real highlight for me and representedod value for money

Christine  

Namibia Lodge Safari

There were quite a few optional extras which added

There were quite a few optional extras which added to the cost, (as you would not want to miss out!!) still think it wasod value.

Christine  

Namibia Lodge Safari

It was a brilliant trip, well organised and both t

It was a brilliant trip, well organised and both the driver and guide went the extra mile to ensure everyone was taken care of.

Roger  

Namibia Lodge Safari

We were part of a veryod group of 8 other travelle

We were part of a veryod group of 8 other travellers. A small group makes a better trip than tackling Namibia on your own.

Namibia Lodge Safari

The trip was full on but the rewards were great

The trip was full on but the rewards were great

Colin  

Namibia Lodge Safari

The driver Clink and Wendy made a wonderful team.

The driver Clink and Wendy made a wonderful team. The group were fantastic and the combination made this a wonderful holiday never to be forgotten.

Susan  

Namibia Lodge Safari

I wish you'd instigate a tour driver award as you

I wish you'd instigate a tour driver award as you do for a tour leader. If you did Clint would be right up there among the very best as was Wendy, the tour leader.

Mohammed  

Namibia Lodge Safari

My first Explore trip.My first visit to Africa.A w

My first Explore trip.My first visit to Africa.A wonderful holiday made by the fantastic group of people whom It to share it with. An interesting and varied itinery gave aod overall picture of this vast and expansive country.

Brian  

Namibia Lodge Safari

You have an excellent balanced team in Wendy and C

You have an excellent balanced team in Wendy and Clint.

Read all 21 reviews

1 Select your preferred date

Tuesday - Saturday

Nov 26, 2024 - Dec 07, 2024
$4260 $3840

Operator discount: -$420

Thursday - Monday

Dec 19, 2024 - Dec 30, 2024
$4390 $3840

Operator discount: -$550

Tuesday - Saturday

Mar 11, 2025 - Mar 22, 2025
$4530

Tuesday - Saturday

Mar 25, 2025 - Apr 05, 2025
$4530

Tuesday - Saturday

Apr 01, 2025 - Apr 12, 2025
$4390

Tuesday - Saturday

May 06, 2025 - May 17, 2025
$4390

Tuesday - Saturday

May 20, 2025 - May 31, 2025
$4390

Tuesday - Saturday

Jun 03, 2025 - Jun 14, 2025
$4530

Tuesday - Saturday

Jun 24, 2025 - Jul 05, 2025
$4530

Tuesday - Saturday

Jul 08, 2025 - Jul 19, 2025
$4530

Tuesday - Saturday

Jul 22, 2025 - Aug 02, 2025
$4530

Tuesday - Saturday

Aug 12, 2025 - Aug 23, 2025
$4530

Tuesday - Saturday

Aug 19, 2025 - Aug 30, 2025
$4530

Tuesday - Saturday

Sep 02, 2025 - Sep 13, 2025
$4530

Tuesday - Saturday

Sep 16, 2025 - Sep 27, 2025
$4740

Tuesday - Saturday

Oct 07, 2025 - Oct 18, 2025
$4530

Tuesday - Saturday

Oct 21, 2025 - Nov 01, 2025
$4530

Tuesday - Saturday

Nov 04, 2025 - Nov 15, 2025
$4530

Tuesday - Saturday

Nov 11, 2025 - Nov 22, 2025
$4530

Tuesday - Saturday

Nov 25, 2025 - Dec 06, 2025
$4530

Thursday - Monday

Dec 18, 2025 - Dec 29, 2025
$4530

Book with Confidence

  • Free Date Changes

    Explore! allows you to make 1 free date changes, as long as the change is made at least 70 days before the start of the tour.

  • Low Deposit

    Explore! requires a minimum deposit of 10% or the full booking value, whichever is less, with the final balance not due until 70 days before departure.

  • Cancellation Policy

    We don't charge a cancellation fee, here is a summary of explore! charges.

    Up to 70 days before tour starts: Forfeit 100% of deposit.

    At 69 days before tour starts: Forfeit 30% of booking price.

    At 41 days before tour starts: Forfeit 60% of booking price.

    At 27 days before tour starts: Forfeit 90% of booking price.

    At 13 days before tour starts: Forfeit 100% of booking price.

Similar Tours