One of Africa's most beautiful countries, Namibia is one of the world’s best wildlife destinations and this 2-week adventure will provide families with a combination of varied landscapes and superb wildlife viewing possibilities.
- Visit the Namib Desert
- Spend time with desert researchers
- Learn about cheetah conservation
- Watch elephants, lions & rhinos
- Visit the Waterberg Plateau
- Enjoy comfortable camps with excellent facilities
This exceptional family activity holiday includes plenty of contrast between the wild Skeleton Coast and the dry desert interior, from the salt pans of Etosha to the acacia savannah and lush, green, sub-tropical woodlands of the Waterberg Plateau. Spend time with cheetahs, watch marine life from a catamaran and see the seal colony at Cape Cross. This is a great African adventure for families.
Typical Itinerary
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Day 1: Depart UK
Fly from London via Frankfurt or Johannesburg to Windhoek on an overnight flight.
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Day 2: Arrive Windhoek
Arrive at Windhoek International Airport and transfer to the hotel. Depending on your flight schedule, it may be possible to collect your self-drive vehicle today and spend the rest of the day at leisure or exploring the town.
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Day 3: Namib Desert via Solitaire village
Drive south towards the Naukluft Mountains and head towards the Namib Desert. After the mountains, reach open plains and stop at the tiny town of Solitare, from where it is a short distance to your camp in Sesriem.
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Day 4: Sossusvlei, explore the dunes & Sesriem Canyon walk
Drive into the heart of the dune field and take a walk through the dunes to reach Sossusvlei and the central dunes including 'Big Daddy', where you’ll spend the rest of the morning admiring the views. Then visit the Sesriem Canyon before returning to camp.
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Day 5: Namib Desert Research
Today's drive crosses the Tropic of Capricorn, which provides a good photograph opportunity! You continue through Kuiseb Canyon, turning west to cross the ancient and desolate ‘Namib gravel plains’ before the northern dune belt re-appears, and you reach Gobabeb, where you embark on a desert night walk with researchers.
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Day 6: Walvis Bay
Having spent an early morning in the dunes with the desert researchers of Gobabeb, you drive to the coastal lagoons of Walvis Bay where you can watch dolphin, flamingo and Cape fur seals. -
Days 7-8 : Swakopmund, Skeleton Coast
This morning you have two optional excursions - a cruise with dolphins at Walvis Bay or a kayaking excursion to the seal colony at Cape Cross.
On the dolphin watching trip, you board your catamaran from Walvis Bay Waterfont and learn about the Walvis Bay cultivated oysters, which you’ll be able to taste during the tour. As you sail around Pelican Point, you can look out for three different types of dolphins and leatherback turtles. The seal kayaking excursion offers the opportunity to get close to Cape fur seals who frolic in the waves.
Next you drive to the next coastal town of Swakopmund where you can opt to join a sand dune-boarding activity.
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Day 9: Visit seal colony at Cape Cross & transfer to Damaraland
Leaving Swakopmund, you take the northern coastal road to visit the seal colony at Cape Cross, where it is possible to see thousands of Cape fur seals in the water and on the surrounding rocks and beaches.
You then travel inland to the small town of Uis, a small mining town and one of the best places to buy semi-precious stones. Here you can visit the ancient Bushman rock engravings at Twyfelfontein and the famous ‘White Lady’ rock painting, believed by some to be over 20,000 years old.
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Days 10-11 : Wildlife viewing in Etosha National Park
Go on wildlife safaris, visiting some of the numerous waterholes in the area to spot some of Etosha’s wildlife and enjoy great views of the massive Etosha Pan. Visit Okaukeujo’s famous waterhole, described as one of the best game viewing opportunities in Southern Africa, for ‘after hours’ wildlife watching, where lion, elephant, black rhino and antelope are often seen.
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Day 12: Visit to Cheetah Conservation Fund
Continuing the game-viewing, you drive to the Cheetah Conservation Fund, where you have the opportunity to watch feeding time and learn about the conservation of cheetahs, with opportunities to observe a number of these predators at close quarters.
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Day 13: Waterberg Plateau
Today you visit the Waterberg Plateau, declared a nature reserve in 1972 and home to 25 mammals and over 200 bird species. Largely inaccessible, several of Namibia's endangered species have been relocated here to protect them from illegal hunting – including rhino.
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Day 14: Transfer to Windhoek & depart Namibia
Leaving Waterberg, a tarred road takes you all the way back to Windhoek Airport.
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Day 15: Arrive UK
Please note: It is possible to break up your journey with a few nights in Cape Town on the way home. Spend three nights in Cape Town where you will be able to take a cable car up Table Mountain, see the famous penguins of Boulder’s Beach and learn about South Africa’s fascinating history on a visit to Robben Island.
Duration and Guide Prices
- Age Guide: 10+
- Itinerary Type: Tailor-made Holiday
When To Go
View dates and prices-
Summer
Our Tailor-made Holidays
Our tailor-made trip ideas can be adapted to suit your requirements. Contact our experts for a personalised itinerary.
Next Steps
Dates & Prices
Our trip ideas are flexible and can be offered during the school holidays highlighted below or on a date of your choice. To book, make a no obligation booking request with your preferred departure date or enquire to find out more.