15 Days Southern Africa Safari with Best of Namibia Tour

Your Southern Africa Safari and Namibia Tour begins with arrival at Hosea Kutako International Airport in Windhoek, where your expert guide welcomes you to this land of contrasts. After a comfortable 45-minute transfer to your centrally located hotel, your Southern Africa Safari and Namibia Tour continues with an orientation drive through Namibia's charming capital city. The first day of your Southern Africa Safari and Namibia Tour concludes with a welcome dinner featuring local cuisine at the famous Joe's Beerhouse, where your guide will brief you on the amazing adventures ahead.

The Southern Africa Safari and Namibia Tour adventure continues with an early departure from Windhoek, journeying approximately 350km (5-6 hours) southwest through the stunning Khomas Hochland mountains and into the Namib Desert. Your Southern Africa Safari and Namibia Tour experience is enhanced by several scenic stops along the way, including the small settlement of Solitaire, famous for its apple pie and remote desert location. Upon afternoon arrival at your lodge near Sesriem, your Southern Africa Safari and Namibia Tour guide prepares you for the next day's desert exploration while you enjoy stunning views of the ancient desert landscape.

Today's Southern Africa Safari and Namibia Tour takes you into the heart of the Namib-Naukluft National Park, arriving at Sossusvlei before sunrise to witness the dunes transform with changing light. Your Southern Africa Safari and Namibia Tour guide leads you on an exploration of iconic landmarks, including the famous Dune 45, Big Daddy dune, and the hauntingly beautiful Deadvlei clay pan with its 900-year-old petrified camel thorn trees. The afternoon portion of your Southern Africa Safari and Namibia Tour includes a visit to the impressive Sesriem Canyon, carved over millennia by the Tsauchab River, before returning to your lodge for relaxation and stargazing.

Your Southern Africa Safari and Namibia Tour continues with a more relaxed day in the Sossusvlei region, beginning with an optional hot air balloon safari offering breathtaking aerial views of the ancient Namib Desert. The midday portion of your Southern Africa Safari and Namibia Tour features a guided nature walk with a local expert who reveals the desert's surprising biodiversity and survival adaptations of creatures like the Namaqua chameleon and dancing white lady spider. Your evening Southern Africa Safari and Namibia Tour activity includes a sunset drive to a private concession to observe desert-adapted wildlife and enjoy sundowners amid spectacular scenery.

Today's Southern Africa Safari and Namibia Tour journey takes you northwest approximately 350km (5-6 hours) through changing landscapes toward the Atlantic coast and the charming town of Swakopmund. Your Southern Africa Safari and Namibia Tour route passes through the Gaub and Kuiseb canyons before crossing the Namib gravel plains, with potential sightings of free-roaming oryx and springbok along the way. The afternoon segment of your Southern Africa Safari and Namibia Tour includes arrival in Swakopmund, known locally as "Swakop," where German colonial architecture meets desert and ocean, followed by an orientation walk through this unique coastal settlement.

Your Southern Africa Safari and Namibia Tour exploration of the coast begins with a morning marine cruise from nearby Walvis Bay (45-minute drive), offering close encounters with Cape fur seals, dolphins, and seasonal whale sightings. The midday portion of your Southern Africa Safari and Namibia Tour takes you to the massive Sandwich Harbour dunes, where the desert dramatically meets the Atlantic Ocean, an unforgettable landscape for photography and nature appreciation. Your evening Southern Africa Safari and Namibia Tour experience features dinner at a local seafood restaurant on Swakopmund's historic jetty, showcasing the region's fresh Atlantic bounty.

The Southern Africa Safari and Namibia Tour continues eastward approximately 200km (3 hours) to the ancient Erongo Mountain range, formed by volcanic eruptions over 130 million years ago. During your journey, your Southern Africa Safari and Namibia Tour includes a visit to the Spitzkoppe, known as "Namibia's Matterhorn," where granite peaks rise dramatically from the desert floor, creating a photographer's paradise. Upon afternoon arrival at your Erongo lodge, your Southern Africa Safari and Namibia Tour guide leads you on an introductory walk through this geological wonder, home to some of Namibia's most significant rock art sites and diverse birdlife.

Today's Southern Africa Safari and Namibia Tour is dedicated to discovering the natural and cultural riches of the Erongo region, beginning with an early morning guided hike to Paula's Cave to view ancient San rock paintings dating back thousands of years. The midday portion of your Southern Africa Safari and Namibia Tour offers time to relax at your lodge, swim in natural pools, or observe the unique wildlife attracted to the mountains, including Hartmann's mountain zebra and over 200 bird species. Your evening Southern Africa Safari and Namibia Tour experience includes a cultural interaction with local Damara people who share their traditional knowledge, followed by dinner under the spectacular African night sky.

Your Southern Africa Safari and Namibia Tour journey continues approximately 250km (4 hours) north into the rugged wilderness of Damaraland, one of Africa's last true wilderness areas. En route, your Southern Africa Safari and Namibia Tour visits the UNESCO World Heritage site of Twyfelfontein, where over 2,500 rock engravings and paintings date back 6,000 years, offering extraordinary insight into ancient San spiritual beliefs. The afternoon segment of your Southern Africa Safari and Namibia Tour explores the unique geological formations of the Organ Pipes basalt columns and the Burnt Mountain, before settling into your remote Damaraland lodge surrounded by dramatic landscapes.

Today's Southern Africa Safari and Namibia Tour adventure takes you deeper into northwestern Namibia to the exclusive Palmwag Concession, approximately 180km (3-4 hours) through increasingly arid landscapes. Your morning Southern Africa Safari and Namibia Tour includes tracking desert-adapted elephants along the ephemeral river systems where these remarkable animals have evolved to survive in one of Earth's harshest environments. Upon arrival at your Palmwag lodge, your Southern Africa Safari and Namibia Tour continues with an afternoon game drive in this vast private reserve, home to the largest free-roaming population of desert-adapted black rhino in Africa, as well as lion, cheetah, and numerous other species.

Your Southern Africa Safari and Namibia Tour journey continues approximately 300km (5 hours) northeast to the legendary Etosha National Park, one of Africa's greatest wildlife sanctuaries. Upon entering through Galton Gate on the western side, your Southern Africa Safari and Namibia Tour immediately transitions into game drive mode as you make your way to your lodge inside or adjacent to the park. The afternoon portion of your Southern Africa Safari and Namibia Tour features your first dedicated Etosha game drive, focusing on the less-visited western section known for its unique Hartmann's mountain zebra and black-faced impala populations.

Today's Southern Africa Safari and Namibia Tour is devoted to full-day game viewing in western Etosha, centered around the numerous waterholes that attract incredible concentrations of wildlife in this arid environment. Your morning Southern Africa Safari and Namibia Tour game drive explores the Okaukuejo area, renowned for its floodlit waterhole offering around-the-clock wildlife viewing, including frequent rhino sightings. The afternoon segment of your Southern Africa Safari and Namibia Tour takes you to more remote waterholes where lions, elephants, giraffes, and numerous antelope species come to drink, creating spectacular photographic opportunities away from other vehicles.

Your Southern Africa Safari and Namibia Tour continues with a full-day game drive traversing Etosha from west to east, covering approximately 150km of diverse habitats within the national park. During this all-day journey, your Southern Africa Safari and Namibia Tour includes stops at the vast Etosha Pan, a salt depression so large it's visible from space, where mirages and dust devils create an otherworldly atmosphere. The evening portion of your Southern Africa Safari and Namibia Tour finds you at your eastern Etosha accommodation near Namutoni, historically a German fort now converted to a rest camp, ideally positioned for exploring the eastern regions of the park.

The final full day of your Southern Africa Safari and Namibia Tour focuses on exploring the eastern section of Etosha, known for its more wooded environment and different wildlife dynamics than the west. Your morning Southern Africa Safari and Namibia Tour game drive explores the Fischer's Pan area, particularly productive during the wet season when it attracts thousands of flamingos and other water birds. The afternoon segment of your Southern Africa Safari and Namibia Tour visits the iconic Twee Palms waterhole, a favorite haunt of leopards, before a sunset drive along the edge of the great Etosha Pan for a final opportunity to view the park's prolific wildlife.

The final day of your Southern Africa Safari and Namibia Tour takes you southward approximately 500km (6-7 hours) back to Windhoek, with the journey broken by interesting stops along the way. Your morning Southern Africa Safari and Namibia Tour includes a visit to the Okahandja craft market, where you can purchase authentic Namibian woodcarvings and other souvenirs directly from local artisans. Before reaching Windhoek, your Southern Africa Safari and Namibia Tour makes a final stop at the N/a'an ku sê Wildlife Sanctuary to learn about conservation efforts, followed by transfer to the airport or your Windhoek hotel, concluding this unforgettable journey through Namibia's diverse landscapes and wildlife.