CLASSIC NAMIBIA SELF-DRIVE

On arrival, collect your hire car. Drive to Windhoek for overnight (45 minutes). You can explore Windhoek which is a city of many contrasts. Modern skyscrapers blend with historic buildings dating from the turn of the century. Several buildings from the German colonial era have been preserved and restored to fulfill useful functions in the community today.
Overnight: Galton House

After breakfast depart Windhoek and drive via Rehoboth, the centre of Namibia's Baster community, into the red dunes of the Kalahari Desert (280 km - approximately 5 hours). A choice of optional activities are available (payable locally).
Overnight: Bagatelle Kalahari Game Lodge or similar.
Meals : Breakfast and Dinner

After breakfast you may wish to enjoy one of the activities on offer (payable locally). Late afternoon, participate in a guided game drive to learn about the flora and fauna of the Kalahari Desert.
Overnight: Bagatelle Kalahari Game Lodge or similar.
Meals : Breakfast and Dinner

Drive via Maltahöhe into the low plains of the Namib Desert (280 km - approximately 6 hours).
Overnight : Desert Homestead
Meals : Breakfast and Dinner

Early morning you can choose to visit Sossusvlei, a clay pan surrounded by some of the highest sand dunes in the world. It is filled with water only in years when there has been an exceptionally good rainfall. Afterwards you might choose to visit the smaller Sesriem Canyon.
Overnight : Desert Homestead
Meals : Breakfast and Dinner

Today drive north via the Kuiseb Canyon to Swakopmund (350 km - approximately 5 hours). This quaint desert town with its old-world charm and relaxed atmosphere, hedged by desert and sea, is enhanced by lush green lawns and palm trees.
Overnight : Central Guesthouse
Meals : Breakfast

This morning you can enjoy a dolphin cruise on the Walvis Bay Lagoon. Sparkling wine, fresh oysters as well as snacks are included on this excursion. The afternoon is at leisure, with time to explore the town, if you choose.
Overnight : Central Guesthouse
Meals : Breakfast

Depart Swakopmund along the Atlantic Coast towards the north. En route to Damaraland you can choose to visit the seal colony at Cape Cross. Continue inland via Uis and experience the transition from the Namib Desert to the Damaraland highlands with its impressive landscape and rugged valleys (435 km - approximately 7 hours).
Overnight: Grootberg Lodge
A highlight of your stay at Grootberg Lodge will be the rhino tracking excursion on day 9
Meals : Breakfast and Dinner

Drive via the Grootberg Pass to Kamanjab and on to the Etosha National Park (385 km - approximately 5 hours). At the heart of this National Park is the Etosha Pan, a vast dry shallow depression. Perennial springs feed the waterholes along the southern verge, which attract a myriad of animal species.
Overnight : Okaukuejo Camp
Meals : Breakfast and Dinner

Discover the mysteries of the African bush in Etosha National Park. You can choose to explore the various waterholes on guided game drives or in your own vehicle. The numerous waterholes attract a large diversity of animal and bird species, many endemic to the country.
Overnight : Okaukuejo Camp
Meals : Breakfast and Dinner

Another day to discover the mysteries of the African bush in Etosha National Park, whilst travelling in an easterly direction via Halali and Namutoni to Mushara Bush Camp.
Overnight : Mushara Bush Camp
Meals : Breakfast and Dinner

Return via Okahandja to Windhoek. Okahandja is an important centre for woodcarvers from the north. They practice their ancient skills at the Woodcarvers Market next to the main road. Time for some last minute shopping before driving to Windhoek International airport to return your hire car (535 km - 7 hours).