This tour has been designed for those who want to experience some of the pleasures of Namibia´s Atlantic coast after a tour to the desert, taking in the spectacular Sesriem Canyon, the sand dunes of Sossusvlei and crossing the Tropic of Capricorn to Walvis Bay and the pleasant seaside town of Swakopmund.
Duration & Fees
- £555 - 5 days
£50 Single Supplement
Start Dates
This trip departs every Monday morning.
Payment
£180 deposit at time of booking – balance payment of project fee due 12 weeks before departure
What's Included
- Fully equipped expedition vehicle
- Camping equipment (sleeping bags not included)
- Meals as indicated
- Park fees and excursions as detailed in the itinerary
- Service of a trained guide and an assistant
- Support and advice from Amanzi Travel staff and trip leaders
What's not included
- Travel insurance
- Flights
- Visas
- Optional excursions
- Restaurant meals and drinks
Start and end points: Windhoek, Namibia
Countries visited: Namibia
Departure Point: Anywhere within Windhoek
Collection Time: You will be collected between 8.00 to 8.30am
Itinerary
Day 1 Windhoek – Sesriem (400 km) (Lunch / Dinner)
Windhoek is surrounded by mountains and we have to pass both the Eros Mountains and the Khomas Hochland Range. As we come through the mountains we drop down from the central plateau to grassy desert savannah. We stop at Solitaire for petrol and perhaps also afternoon tea before we continue to our first night at Sesriem. We aim to arrive at our camp during the late afternoon. We will make a short excursion to the nearby sand dunes to enjoy the sunset over the dunes and watch the colours glow and change on the mountains before going back for dinner.
Day 2 Sesriem and Sossusvlei (Breakfast / Lunch / Dinner)
Early start to catch the soft light of the sunrise over the desert. After passing through Sesriem we continue towards Sossusvlei along distant sand dunes on both sides of the road. We will stop at the famous Dune 45. Those who feel fit may climb the dune and get a breathtaking view of the surrounding desert and dunes. After breakfast we will take a desert walk in the cool of the morning, with chance to see gemsboks, springboks, black-backed jackals and ostriches. As the day cools off in the afternoon we will make a short excursion to Sesriem Canyon. Overnight camping in tents.
Day 3 Sesriem – Swakopmund (350 km) (Breakfast / Lunch)
Namibia is a country of contrasts. Today we will move from desert to sea. On our way we will cross the Tropic of Capricorn and transverse the Gaub and the Kuseb passes, driving down to the dry river bed at the bottom of the Kuseb Canyon before climbing up the other side, watching the spectacular desert landscape unfold before us. Having arrived at the coast, we will make a stop in Walvis Bay to enjoy the view of flamingoes and other birds in the lagoons and to visit the salt works. Overnight in chalets. Dinner tonight is on the client's own expense in a local restaurant.
Day 4 Swakopmund (Breakfast / Lunch)
In the morning we will make an excursion to the seal colony at Cape Cross north of Swakopmund where we will be able to experience thousands of fur seals at close range. The rest of the day will be free with plenty of time to explore the town. Swakopmund is a very pleasant seaside town with lots of shops, a good stretch of beach (although the Atlantic is quite cold here) and an open-air curio market. There is also a very good museum and the Namibian National Marine Aquarium is located in Swakopmund. Alternatively, there are various optional activities that can be arranged - see Extra Info for more details. Dinner today is not included in the price of the safari and will be on the client’s own expense.
Day 5 Swakopmund – Windhoek (350 km) (Breakfast / Lunch)
Today we will return to Windhoek, passing by marble and gold mines and Namibia’s largest craft market in Okahandja, the administrative centre of the Herero people. Back in Windhoek you will be dropped off at your accommodation.
Nights one and two will be camping in tents, and nights three and four will be in chalets. This trip is based on assisted camping and chalets. Participation is limited to helping with tents only. The tents are spacious and equipped with windows on three sides and mosquito netting on all windows and door. Comfortable foam mattresses are provided. Sleeping bags are available for hire, unless you prefer to bring your own.
Your guide and assistant will prepare all meals - usually a continental breakfast, a picnic lunch and a dinner cooked over open fire.
Accommodation for nights 3 and 4 is in thatched chalets, with ensuite bathrooms, electricity (at least until 10pm), and mosquito nets. The living areas are generally open plan, encouraging guests to move around freely, and there is a swimming pool, open dining room, bar and shop in most chalets. Quite often, the lodge will overlook a permanent waterhole, which is floodlit at night. Here a wide diversity of wildlife congregates and interacts. The spectacle starts at dawn, with animals coming in large numbers to quench their thirst. The excitement continues throughout the day and deep into the night. In the early evenings, it is not uncommon to have black rhinoceros, elephant and lion, all drinking at the same time.
Namibia
Why visit Namibia?
Namibia is one of those dreamlike places that makes one question whether something so visually fabulous could actually exist. It is characterised by vast open spaces, with breathtaking scenery and great contrasts – ocean, dunes, mountains and deserts. A predominantly arid country, Namibia can be divided into four main regions. The Namib Desert and vast plains of the Skeleton Coast in the west; the eastward-sloping Central Plateau; the Kalahari desert along the borders with South Africa and Botswana; and the densely wooded bushveld of the Kavango and Caprivi regions – a magical undeveloped oasis of waterways and wildlife, providing abundant game and birdlife viewing opportunities. Despite its harsh climate, Namibia has some of the world’s grandest national parks, ranging from the wildlife-rich Etosha National Park, to the dune fields and desert plains of the Namib-Naukluft Park. The Namib-Naukluft Park is superb for hiking, with a number of spectacular trails. It is also home to the renowned dunes of Sossusvlei - said to be the highest in the world - and the fascinating Sesriem Canyon. Windhoek is the country’s geographical heart and commercial nerve centre, with an ethnic mix of people, while surfers, anglers and beach-lovers won’t want to miss Swakopmund, with its lively entertainment and sporting activities.
Highlights
- Etosha National Park is one of Africa’s finest parks, both in size and diversity of wildlife.
- The Namib-Naukluft Park is the largest conservation area in Namibia and one of the largest in the world.
- Two spectacular deserts - the Kalahari and Namib - each with distinctive wildlife and scenery.
- The Namib, at 80 million years, is the world's oldest desert. Namib means “open space”.
- The Namib and Damaraland offer remarkably clear skies for astronomers and keen star gazers.
- Stunning Fish River Canyon is the second largest canyon in the world, after the Grand Canyon – it is 161km long, up to 27km wide and 550m deep.
- Sossusvlei are said to be the highest sand-dunes in the world.
- Superb birding and good fishing is available from the banks of the Kavango and Kunene Rivers on the northern border.
- Popular self-drive destination with excellent infrastructure.
- Largely malaria-free.
- More than 300 days of sunshine per year.
Climate
| Seasons | Max | Min |
| Summer/wet (October - April) |
40 °C |
20 °C |
| Winter/dry (May - September) |
25 °C |
0 °C |
| Rainfall: October – December “little rains”, January to April more stormy period |
The winter months (May - September) range from 25 to 30°C during the day but night temperatures may drop to below freezing. June to August is the dry season with very little rain. This can be a good time for game viewing as wildlife converge at the waterholes.
The summer months (October - April) can reach highs of over 40°C and nights in the 20°C range (in the arid central Namib Desert temperatures can fall to below freezing during the night). This is a summer rainfall area, but overcast and rainy days are few and far between. Welcome thundershowers may occur in the late afternoon, bringing relief to flora and fauna. In October and November, large herds of blue wildebeest, zebra, springbok and oryx migrate from the Namutoni area to Okaukuejo, where they remain until May.
Rainfall is heaviest in the northeast, which enjoys a sub-tropical climate, and reaches over 600mm annually along the Okavango River. The northern and interior regions experience ‘little rains’ between October and December, while the main stormy period occurs from January to April.
Key Facts
Population – 2.1 million
Capital - Windhoek
Currency - Namibian dollar
Language – official language English; most widely spoken is Afrikaans; half of all Namibians speak Oshiwambo as their first language. German is also widely spoken, plus some Portuguese.
Namib – means “open space”
Etosha – means “great white place”
Time difference – GMT +2 hours
Telephone – country code 264, international access code 00
The overland trip was excellent - really well run. The guides were fantastic, the campsites great, and the food excellent. This has got to be the best way to see Africa in a short period of time ...
Amanzi Travel are excellent - professional, informative but with a real personal service ... The cheetah volunteer project was an absolutely fantastic experience, and the Overland trip was brilliant.
Jennie and Stuart, Sweden, 32 and 34 (Cheetah Volunteer Project and Overland Trip)
The tour was overall very enjoyable. Specifically, the tour guide provided a lot of interesting information during the trip (and very amazingly, he seldom said, 'I don't know' to our many questions!). The view at Namib Desert (especially that of sand dunes) was an once-in-a-life-time experience.
Toshi, USA aged 39