What follows is a sample itinerary based on the Budget Scheme.
Day 1: |
Depart UK for evening flight to Windhoek. |
Day 2: |
Heading southeast from Windhoek, travel via Rehoboth to reach the Kalahari Desert where despite the harsh environment surprising quantities of flora and fauna have adapted to the conditions. The yellow grass and sparse trees contrast with the flamboyant red dunes of this marvellous landscape. Overnight at a lodge on the edge of the desert. |
Day 3: |
Journey westward to the Quiver Tree Forest, situated to the north of Keetmanshoop. These prehistoric trees grow to between 3 and 5 metres and are extremely photogenic. Continue via Namibia’s second largest dam to Africa’s second largest natural gorge, the Fish River Canyon, which has evolved over millions of years into its current shape and is 161km long and up to 27km wide in some places, with the depth varying from 457m to 549m. Overnight stay nearby. |
Day 4: |
Travel via Aus and skirt the southern part of the Namib Desert en route to the diamond town of Luderitz. Lying between the dry sands of the Namib and the icy waters of the South Atlantic Ocean this town is full of character and nostalgia for the colonial era. Take a scenic drive around the peninsula. Overnight stay in Luderitz. |
Day 5: |
Visit Kolmanskop, a ghost town that was abandoned over 40 years ago as the diamond boom dwindled. Over the years, many of the buildings have been shrouded by sand giving the settlement an eerie atmosphere. Continue to the unique NaDEET Centre (The Namib Desert Environmental Education Trust). This is a non-profit organisation created to empower Namibians to make decisions for a sustainable future and provides opportunities for groups to participate in a unique hands-on environmental learning programme. Spend two nights at the centre. |
Day 6: |
Enjoy an early morning visit to Sossusvlei, a large clay pan, which is surrounded by possibly the highest dunes in the world and only fills with water in years of exceptional rainfall. This is a photographer’s paradise. |
Day 7: |
Follow a route through the Kuiseb Canyon towards the coast. View the unique welwitschia mirabilis plant, which is endemic to the Namib Desert and lives for over 1000 years. Continue through the bizarre Moon landscape before arriving in the popular holiday resort town of Swakopmund for an overnight stay. |
Day 8: |
Enjoy a stunning drive along the Atlantic coast towards Walvis Bay, a fishing town and key harbour. Visit the lagoon with its overwhelming abundance of seabirds including flamingo. Drive to Windhoek in the afternoon for overnight stay. |
Day 9: |
Spend the day exploring Namibia’s capital city before being transferred to the airport for the late evening flight to the UK. |
Day 10: |
Return to UK early morning. |