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6 Day Dunes and Wildlife Experience

  (16 reviews)

From wildlife-packed Etosha to the Skeleton Coast and the red dunes of Sossusvlei, this is Namibia in all its spectacular variety!

Six days, from wildlife-rich Etosha to the towering dunes of Sossusvlei. This Namibia adventure takes you across some of the country’s most extraordinary landscapes, with game drives, desert roads, shipwrecks, mountain passes and plenty of time to get out and explore along the way. It’s a trip that keeps changing pace and scenery, taking you from the waterholes of Etosha to the wild Atlantic coastline before heading deep into the Namib Desert.

Spend your first days tracking wildlife through Etosha National Park, from elephants and rhino around its waterholes to the vast, otherworldly Etosha Pan. Then follow the road west through Damaraland, where rugged mountains give way to the fog-shrouded Skeleton Coast and the seaside charm of Swakopmund. From here, the landscape shifts again as you cross mountain passes and gravel plains into the Namib Desert, culminating in an early-morning exploration of Sossusvlei and Deadvlei beneath some of Namibia’s most famous red dunes.

It’s a lot to pack into six days, but that’s the point. This is Namibia at its most varied, and just enough to give you a taste for the road ahead. It’s an iconic tour, for an iconic explorer!

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From $2,420.00
  • Up to 12 Persons
  • Some Meals Included
  • 5 Nights
  • Starts Every Tuesday & Thursday
  • Minimum Age 5

Tour Highlights

  • Game drives in the world-renowned Etosha National Park
  • Step onto the vast ‘great white space’ of Etosha Pan
  • Drive along the stunning Skeleton Coast
  • Cross mountain passes into the heart of the Namib
  • Climb Sossusvlei’s iconic red dunes at sunrise

Speak To A Travel Expert

Lauren Mackinnon

Itinerary

This six-day tour incorporates many of the best aspects of a trip to Namibia. Experience the incredible Etosha National Park, witness a wealth of wildlife species, and discover the iconic sand dunes of Sossusvlei. 

Day 1

Day 1: Etosha National Park

After a pick-up at 07:00 and your pre-departure briefing, you’ll leave Windhoek in the rear-view mirror as you head north. After a quick stop in Otjiwarongo to pick up supplies, settle in with a light lunch and enjoy the journey towards Etosha National Park, watching Namibia’s landscape gradually transform as the city gives way to open country. Once inside the park, you’ll be exposed to one of Namibia’s best wildlife gems, where vast open landscapes and busy waterholes create some seriously memorable game-viewing opportunities. Before sunset, you settle into your accommodation within the park and enjoy dinner at the camp restaurant. Then, as darkness falls, head to the nearby floodlit waterhole and take a seat. With elephants and rhinos among its regular visitors, you can watch the African night unfold right in front of you!

Day 2

Day 2: The Etosha Pan

The early morning is when Etosha really comes alive. After breakfast, climb aboard your open game viewer and set out to see what the day has in store. Cooler temperatures mean wildlife is on the move, and if luck is on your side, you may catch big cats making their way back from a night on the hunt! The park’s waterholes are magnets for wildlife, so you’ll move between them, waiting to see who arrives for a drink. Away from the waterholes, the landscape itself takes centre stage at the Etosha Pan. Stretching more than 4,700 square kilometres, this dazzling expanse of white mineral flats, also known as the ‘great white space’, is every bit as striking as it sounds. As the sun drops towards the horizon, you’ll leave Etosha through Anderson Gate and head to your accommodation, where you can relax in the peaceful surroundings and enjoy dinner.

Day 3

Day 3: The Skeleton Coast to Swakopmund

After breakfast, hit the road by 07:30 and leave Etosha behind as you make your way west towards the Skeleton Coast. The journey itself is half the fun, with the landscape changing dramatically as you pass Outjo and leave the main road behind for the gravel tracks of Damaraland. Here, Namibia really turns up the drama: rugged mountains, open grasslands and seemingly endless skies stretch out in every direction. Along the way, you’ll meet local Himba, Herero and Damara communities and have the chance to browse their handcrafted souvenirs, with every purchase helping to support the local economy. Stop for a picnic lunch beneath the mighty Brandberg, Namibia’s highest mountain, before continuing towards the Atlantic; and suddenly, the desert meets the sea. The fog-shrouded Skeleton Coast is scattered with the remains of ships caught by its powerful currents, including the Zeila, stranded here since 2008. From the shipwreck, continue to Swakopmund, where you’ll check into your central accommodation and have the evening free to discover the town.

Day 4

Day 4: Swakopmund to the Namib Desert

Enjoy a slower start in Swakopmund before setting off at 11:30. Spend the morning exploring the town, grabbing a coffee or, if you’re after something more energetic, take on the dunes with an optional quad biking or sandboarding adventure. Your guide can arrange the details before you leave. Then it’s east into the Namib Desert, where the scenery changes once again. Cross the vast gravel plains before tackling the Kuiseb Pass, descending into the dramatic canyon carved by the Kuiseb River and climbing back through the mountains towards the smaller Gaub Canyon. Beyond the mountains, the landscape opens out once again as you cross the Tropic of Capricorn at 23.5° south, marked by the obligatory roadside photo stop. From here, continue deeper into the desert to your accommodation, where a pool, bar and buffet dinner await!

Day 5

Day 5: Sossusvlei, Deadvlei & Sesriem Canyon

An early start gets you to the Sossusvlei gate as the first light hits the desert. From here, follow the ancient Tsauchab Riverbed into the Namib, surrounded by towering red dunes that seem to stretch endlessly into the distance. At Sossusvlei, leave the vehicle behind and explore on foot, with the chance to climb one of the dunes for sweeping views across the world’s oldest desert. Then it’s on to Deadvlei, where ancient acacia trees stand stark against the white clay pan and surrounding red dunes, one of Namibia’s most recognisable landscapes. Still got some energy? Take on the optional climb of Dune 45 for another spectacular view over the desert. To end the day of marvelling before heading to your accommodation, you’ll stop at Sesriem Canyon, where millions of years of erosion have carved a dramatic gorge through the desert.

Day 6

Day 6: Solitaire and Back

After a leisurely breakfast, begin the journey back towards Windhoek, with a stop at the wonderfully eccentric outpost of Solitaire. Famous for its desert setting and legendary apple pie, it’s the perfect place for one last taste of the Namib before continuing east. The road climbs through Namibia’s central plateau, with mountain scenery and wide-open views along the way, passing through BüllsPort and Rehoboth before reaching Windhoek in the mid-afternoon. From here, you’ll be transferred to your accommodation within the city limits or to the airport. If you’re flying out, we recommend booking onward flights no earlier than 20:00.

Durations & Prices

To secure a place on this tour, a deposit of $245 is required at the time of booking. The remaining balance is due 60 days before your start date.

Flexible Payment Options: If you select a start date more than 3 months in advance, we offer convenient payment plans, allowing you to pay off your balance in instalments. Select your start date below to view these.

Duration Price
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Accommodation

Tour Comfort: Comfortable

This tour has been categorised as 'Comfortable'. This is based on the modes of transport used, the comfort level of accommodation and any modern facilities that they have to offer. In terms of comparison, this level of travel would be similar to that of a 3-star status.

Halali or Okaukejo Camp
Halali or Okaukejo Camp Halali or Okaukejo Camp Halali or Okaukejo Camp

Halali or Okaukejo Camp (NIGHT 1)

Spend your first night inside Etosha National Park, staying at either Halali or Okaukuejo Camp. Your twin-share room provides a comfortable base with an en-suite bathroom; both camps have a restaurant, bar, swimming pool, shop and Wi-Fi for everything you need between adventures. The highlight, however, is waiting just outside your door. Both have a floodlit waterhole, where you can settle onto the benches after dark and watch wildlife gather under the night sky. Elephants and rhino are among the regular visitors, making this one of those rare places where the safari can continue long after you’ve left the game viewer.

Etosha Village
Etosha Village Etosha Village Etosha Village

Etosha Village (NIGHT 2)

Etosha may be behind you for the evening, but the wilderness is still very much on your doorstep. At Etosha Village, just kilometres from the park’s southern gate, you’ll stay in a stylish twin-share chalet tucked among indigenous trees, with your own private veranda and en-suite bathroom. It’s a chance to slow the pace, whether that means cooling off in one of the two swimming pools, enjoying a drink at the open-air bar or settling in for dinner. As night falls, you may want to head to the fire pit and take a seat on the deck; relax with just you, the sounds of the bush, and a sky full of stars overhead.

Hotel Pension A La Mer
Hotel Pension A La Mer Hotel Pension A La Mer Hotel Pension A La Mer

Hotel Pension A La Mer (NIGHT 3)

Tonight you'll stay at Pension à la Mer, a centrally located hotel just a stone’s throw from Swakopmund’s beach and historic jetty. Settle into your comfortable twin-share room with an en-suite bathroom, then head out to make the most of your surroundings or relax with a drink in the hotel’s bar and lounge. The highlight is the rooftop sky deck, where you can take in sweeping views across the Atlantic, dunes and jetty as evening settles over the town. With Wi-Fi available and everything Swakopmund has to offer within easy reach, it’s a fitting base for your Namibian adventure.

Desert Camp
Desert Camp Desert Camp Desert Camp

Desert Camp (NIGHT 4 & 5)

For your last few nights, you’ll stay in the Namib Desert at either ‘Desert Camp’ or ‘Desert Quiver Camp’, just 5km from the entrance to Sossusvlei and Sesriem Canyon. Both stunning camps have 360-degree views across the desert and surrounding mountains. Your twin-share accommodation comes with en-suite facilities, while the setting does most of the talking. With the dunes on your doorstep and little to interrupt the view apart from old thorn trees, it’s a great base for an early start into Sossusvlei.

Tailor My Tour


Sandboarding


From $44.00

Runs daily in Swakopmund
Minimum age 8 (Lie Down) & 12 (Stand Up)
Approximate duration: 1 hour

Lie Down Boarding offers the ultimate adrenaline buzz as you zoom headfirst down the sandy slopes of the Namib Desert, reaching speeds up to 80km/h. Stand-up boarding is done on snowboards with soft boots and bindings. For beginners, the sand is the perfect training ground for a board sport, and full instruction is given. Experienced boarders are given modified snowboards with super-fast bases.

Includes: transfers from your accommodation in Swakopmund, all equipment, safety gear, and instruction.

Quad Biking


From $44.00

Runs daily in Swakopmund
Approximate duration: 1 hour and 30 minutes

A 55-60 km route takes you up the Swakopmund riverbed, across the plains, and then ultimately through the dune field, crossing the dunes from the eastern ridge and winding your way through to the western ridge. The scenery along the way is breathtaking as you drive through the peaks and valleys of the world's oldest desert. Safety is a first, so all riders are given helmets and a full safety briefing. Automatic, semi-automatic and manual bikes are available.

Includes: transfers from your accommodation in Swakopmund, a helmet, instruction and an English-speaking guide.

Tour Details

GETTING THERE

Ideally, you will need to arrive the day before the tour’s start date at Windhoek’s International Airport (Hosea Kutako) and spend the night in a local hotel. The tour begins on a Tuesday or Thursday, and you will be collected from your hotel at 07:00 before being transferred to a central hotel for a pre-departure talk.

Visa Requirements

Citizens of most countries, including the UK, USA, Canada, Australia, Germany, and most EU member states, will need to obtain a Visa on Arrival to enter Namibia.

This visa can be obtained online prior to travel and will permit a stay of up to 90 days. You will need at least 3 blank pages in your passport (which must be valid for a period of at least 6 months from your date of entry) for the immigration officials to use, and you must pay the visa application fee of N$1,600 (approximately $95).

If you are unsure about your visa requirements, we recommend contacting your local Namibian embassy at least 2 months before travel.

MEALS AND BEVERAGES

One of the best ways to travel is to follow your stomach, and most meals throughout the tour will be typical of Namibian cuisine. That said, alternative options are available, and we can also cater to specific dietary requirements if notified in advance. Please note that beverages are not included in the cost of the tour.

Reviews

Cécile Etienne, 2023
         

A great tour to visit the country in a few days. The guide, Daniel, is a wonderful man able to drive 8 hours in a day and still cook you a delicious meal for lunch and for dinner. All the accommodations were very good, and the visits and activities were perfects. Be ready for bumpy roads!

Amélie Raynier, 2022
         

A superb experience to visit the main must-sees of Namibia! A perfect guide who was able to explain the history of each city to us and who knows perfectly about flora and fauna. Lots of road ahead, but breathtaking landscapes, time flies faster than you think! My two favorites are Etosha national park, sossuvlei and solitaire farm. For lovers of animals and landscapes.

Scott Reuben, 2019
         

My favorite moment was seeing the dunes at sunrise and being able to climb to the top of Big Daddy dune. The scenery was spectacular. Also loved being able to sand board down the dunes. That was a first for me. I think our guide was excellent. He not only had to drive but cook many meals as well. And then he was extremely knowledgeable in the various animals, the culture, history, geology, & geography of Namibia. He really made the trip worth while.


What's Included

  • Accommodation in twin-share rooms with en-suite bathrooms
  • Most meals - lunch and dinner on day 1, all meals on days 2 - 5 (except dinner on day 3), and breakfast on day 6
  • National park entry fees
  • Game drives
  • English-speaking guide/driver
  • Pick-up and drop-off within Windhoek city limits

What's Not Included

  • Beverages during meals (both soft and alcoholic)
  • Flights
  • Visas

Speak To A Travel Expert

Lauren Mackinnon Call us on +44 208 885 4987 Submit an Enquiry

From
$3,441.00€2,151.00£1,792.00$2,420.00

  • Up to 12 Persons
  • Some Meals Included
  • 5 Nights
  • Starts Every Tuesday & Thursday
  • Minimum Age 5
Submit An Enquiry Book Now