100% customisable travel idea
From the dunes to the ocean First trip to Namibia
Namibia - Etosha - Damaraland - Walvis Bay - Namib
100% customisable travel idea
Namibia - Etosha - Damaraland - Walvis Bay - Namib
100% customisable for you
Night on board, arrival the next day.
On arrival in the Namibian capital, private transfer to Eros Park, a quiet and airy neighbourhood. Settle in for the night in a building with immaculate modernist architecture and stone courtyards. The pool creates a neat blue rectangle in the paving. Inside, chic animal-themed cushions and photos enhance the white walls and greige canvas with silhouettes and colours. The rooms offer contemporary comfort, while the restaurant serves both Namibian and international cuisine.
Things to see and do - Discover the city centre on foot; explore the area around The Christ Church at the end of Fidel Castro Avenue; stroll along Independence Avenue; seek out the Meteorite Fountain; visit the State House, the official residence of the Namibian president; learn about the struggle for independence at the Alte Feste State Museum; and try one of the capital’s excellent restaurants, a few of which we have selected for you.
Already planned - In the evening, meet with our Concierge in Namibia. They offer valuable advice before setting off on Namibian trails. Your vehicle for hire? It has already been delivered straight to your accommodation earlier on in the day.
Head north to reach Okonjima Nature Reserve and settle in for the night, right at its heart. The common areas are nestled in an old bush house, while the rooms are set slightly back to facilitate immersion. Spacious, most of the private accommodations open onto untamed landscapes, home to fascinating wildlife easily observed from the camp. The gardens showcase native plants and encircle a pool that delights between safaris. At the restaurant, the menu is well thought out, both in form and content.
On your itinerary - a safari in search of leopards. Stealthy, skilful, and wearing a coat that makes camouflage easy, the leopard is one of the most sought-after animals, but also one of the most difficult to spot. As part of a conservation project, some animals in the reserve are fitted with transmitter collars with which, using a specialised telemetry device, they can be tracked. This seriously increases your chances of spotting them. Brown hyenas, ears pricked and legs striped, also patrol the area in search of a carcass to sustain them.
Continue northwards, travelling through vast Namibian ranchlands, to reach Etosha National Park. The site proudly ranks among the largest wildlife reserves in the world, covering 23,000 km² (8,880 square miles). During the rainy season, the vast salt desert of Etosha Pan transforms into a lagoon teeming with pink flamingos. These are not the only residents - Etosha is home to more than 100 species of mammals, 300 species of birds, as well as reptiles, amphibians and fish.
You will be staying for two nights in the heart of the bush, in the private Onguma reserve. With their grey thatched roofs, the bungalows blend seamlessly into the natural surroundings. The interiors feature attractive African decor and the rooms are comfortable. We especially appreciate the kindness of the staff and the pool, which is just what you need for cooling off after a day of exploring. The camp is set up on the edge of a waterhole, offering an excellent view from the lounge and the dining area. The safari continues at cocktail hour or during meal times, when the animals come down to drink.
Already planned - A guided bush walk. To start the day off right, there’s nothing like slipping out of camp at first light to get to know your surroundings. On foot, you experience everything differently: the landscapes, the sounds and the scents. Even encounters with the local wildlife feel more moving and genuine. The ranger leading the group teaches you to identify tracks and bird calls. Between two game drives, stretching your legs is an unexpected treat.
Also included - a 4x4 safari at sunset. Spread over more than 34,000 hectares of protected land, the Onguma Nature Reserve is home to more than thirty species - kudu, giraffes, eland, oryx, hartebeest, zebras, impalas, as well as predators such as lions, cheetahs and leopards. A family of black rhinos and more than 300 species of birds add to this already considerable population, so you scan the landscape endlessly as the light gently fades.
Head to the centre of the reserve and settle in for the night at an original safari camp. From floor to ceiling, it’s a real jumble: pieces of corrugated iron, anti-apartheid propaganda posters, advertisements, strings of electrical wires, cans, bicycles, lamps. All these objects pile up in a cheerful and colourful display of recycling. In fact, it’s almost an installation: the recreation of a South African township from before independence. Even in the bungalows, which are much more understated, you find paintings on the walls and floors, beadwork sculptures, and metal or ceramic furniture made by local artists. All the creativity of urban Africa finds expression here. The atmosphere is relaxed, friendly and all about sharing: braai (the South African barbecue) areas have been set up; for meals, you can sit wherever you like in charmingly arranged spots. During the day, we track elephant, lion, giraffe and kudu. And then, as evening falls, everyone settles in the large courtyard around the wood fire to listen to the musicians play and sing the story of the country.
You leave behind the silvery depression of the Etosha Pan for the hills of Damaraland, home to black rhinoceroses and desert elephants. A rugged and wild region with dramatic landscapes - one of the last areas on the continent where zebra, oryx, giraffe and the black rhinos roam outside the boundaries of national parks. A remarkable change in atmosphere and colours.
Night installation in a camp set at the foot of a large pile of granite boulders - a spectacular spot. The tents are pitched on low wooden platforms. Each one is comfortably equipped and opens onto a small shaded terrace. Within the camp grounds, you’ll find an outdoor pool, a restaurant and a bar - everything you need to relax before, during or after a day of adventure.
On your itinerary - A safari in search of desert elephants. In the hills of Damaraland, these pachyderms can travel more than 70 km (43 miles) a day in search of water and to meet their needs for food. Here, they are captivated by the towering acacias and mopane bark. You will follow in their footsteps, guided by a ranger and a 4x4 vehicle.
Then, head south towards Damaraland and Omaruru. You will find yourself in the beautiful Erongo Region. An extinct volcano, dormant for several million years, has given rise to magnificent granite formations. With the Namib Desert to the west and mixed savanna terrain to the east, these mountains form an incredible mix of ecosystems where endemic plants, reptiles, mammals and birds thrive. Enjoy an overnight stay in a pleasant lodge surrounded by rocks and cave paintings. A watering hole draws warthogs during the hottest hours of the day.
While the shortest route to Swakopmund heads southwest, there is also a particularly scenic alternative. Head west towards Uis, through landscapes of plateaus and flat-topped mountains shaped by time, with a picnic lunch to improvise along the way. A first detour to greet the Brandberg, an ancient volcano that has shaped the region’s landscape and is the highest point in the country at 2,573 metres (8,441 feet). Then a second one, if you wish, via Cape Cross to visit its famous colony of seals. After winding down the coast, settle in for two nights facing the sea. This charming guesthouse was once the owners’ holiday home. Today, it offers around 15 spacious rooms, each with a refined atmosphere that echos the house. The property opens onto a small, green courtyard. As for the town centre, like the beach, it is within walking distance.
On your itinerary - A day of kayaking and 4x4’ing on the Walvis Bay Lagoon. It is in the bay that the long-awaited meeting between the Namib dunes and the Atlantic Ocean happens. A striking contrast to discover by kayak, departing from Pelican Point. As its name suggests, the site is home to pelicans, cormorants and pink flamingos. Further along, it’s not uncommon for dolphins to come and play around the boats. Often submerged in the water, they sometimes take off in a graceful flight. Once you’ve soaked up the magic of the place, set off to explore Sandwich Harbour and its surroundings in a 4x4 vehicle: it’s the least you’ll need to tackle the giant dunes, including Big Daddy, which rises to 300 metres (984 feet) high.
After the coast comes the desert. Head due south to reach the Namib dunes, one of the world’s oldest deserts. Settle in for two nights in Sesriem. In the heart of the desert, in the Naukluft Mountains, there is a wooden and thatched lodge that blends into its surroundings. Optimally ventilated and air-conditioned, the small round cabins comprising the property offer some welcome coolness in this arid region. Scattered across the mountain, they ensure traveller privacy. The pool is an inviting retreat during the hottest hours, while a beautiful outdoor fireplace warms the cold desert nights. At the bar, a selection of wines complements your dinners. The surroundings are truly spectacular. Happily lounge on the wooden deck of your cabin, a good book in hand.
To see, to experience - Namib-Naukluft National Park. You are faced with a landscape that borders on perfection: pure lines, an unmatched palette of colours - sand that shifts from orange to scarlet, and a sky that is endlessly blue. Only a few ghostly trees and occasional animals - oryx, gazelles, ostriches, jackals - break the endless sea of dunes. With some dunes rising over 340 metres (1,115 feet), they are among the highest in the world and are arranged around a former salt lake that has dried up, bordered by a few acacias whose roots reach far, very far into the ground. In the Sossusvlei area, a salt desert meets the sand desert.
Optional - a hot air balloon flight over the Namib Desert.
We leave the Namib Desert and head up onto the Namibian plateau. The elevation gain is there, and so is the isolation. We make the most of this 4-5 hour road trip to soak in the untamed setting one last time. Ochre, sand, brown - and always that deep blue sky. These are the colours that will always be linked to Namibia in the traveller’s memory.
On arrival in the capital, settle in for your last night in a small castle built at the beginning of the century by a count for his fiancée. Each of the few rooms opens onto the Khomas Highland mountains. At the restaurant, game dishes are served with wines from the largest private cellar in the country. As for the outdoor pool, it waits in the shade of the palm trees. An ideal accommodation venue to end your journey in style.
Return journey to the airport, vehicle drop-off, and return flights. Night on board, arrival the next morning.
This suggested itinerary can be customisable down to the smallest detail, including duration, stops and content. An à la carte menu of experiences is also available to create a journey that reflects who you are.
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