Desert and Dunes Adventure in Namibia
-
Namibia
-
9 nights
We're sorry, but this package is not currently available. Please use our search tool
Highlights
Namibia’s vast open spaces, dramatic deserts, rare wildlife, unique lodges, and incredible night skies make it one of Africa's hottest safari destinations. This adventure and safari trip opens the gates to the real Namibia with African Travel's expert guides helping you discover all the country's treasures. The red dunes of Sossusvlei, the wild safaris, the adrenaline-filled activities and the luxury lodges have all been hand-picked to create an unforgettable African experience. If you want to see what's deep beneath the surface and learn the secrets of Namibia's culture, history and animals, this is the perfect opportunity. Not to mention that having fun is non-negotiable on this journey!
The Basics
Start & Finish: Windhoek, Namibia
Length of Tour: 9 nights
Experience
Namibia’s desert landscape is ever-changing. On this flying safari, you will scale the red sand dunes of Sossusvlei, sleep in a shipwrecked lodge, explore Africa’s first dark sky reserve, enjoy cultural experiences with the Himba and Herero tribes, and learn about groundbreaking wildlife research.
- Explore the remote Kaokoland in search of desert-adapted elephants, giraffes, lions, rhinos, mountain zebras and oryx
- Spend time with the Himba people, one of the last real nomadic tribes of Africa, and learn about their fascinating way of life
- Explore the Skeleton Coast, visiting Mowe Bay Seal Colony and sandboarding across the dunes
- At Kwessi Dunes, enjoy game drives, nature walks and quad biking along the red dunes and rolling plains
- Go on a 4x4 drive along the Hoarusib River, including visiting the Clay Castles
- Experience Africa’s first designated International Dark Sky Reserve and one of the least light-polluted areas in the world
- Enjoy guided game drives and nature walks in Ongava Private Reserve, home to endangered black and white rhino
- Sleep in one of the most unique accommodations, unlike any other on the African continent and enjoy a night under the starry skies in your open-air "stargazer" room
Videos
Itinerary
Welcome to Windhoek, Namibia’s capital! Transfer to your hotel for a relaxing evening before tomorrow’s exciting flight to the Namib Nature Reserve and the start of your journey of discovery through this beautiful country.
Overnight: Am Weinberg Boutique Hotel
After breakfast, transfer to Eros Airport where you will be met by your pilot for your scheduled light aircraft flight to Kwessi Dunes. The striking NamibRand Nature Reserve with its rolling desert plains and iconic red dunes offers an escape from the modern world and a chance to reconnect with the wild.
Overnight: Kwessi Dunes
Soak up the beauty of the area, the landscape is just as much of an attraction as the wildlife. Keep a lookout for springbok and oryx, as well as some of the rarer creatures like aardwolf. If you’ve got a penchant for birdlife, ask your guide to find the endemic dune lark, which is only found in Namibia. For an otherworldly experience, go on a sunrise float over the Namib Desert in a hot air balloon (additional). Tonight, watch the celestial show from the comfort of your "stargazer" room.
Overnight: Kwessi Dunes
After breakfast, hop back on the plane for a scenic flight over the famous Eduard Bohlen shipwreck, Conception Bay and Sandwich Harbor, before touching down in Swakopmund for lunch and to refuel. Continue over the dramatic Skeleton Coast and then inland to the beautiful interior of the country. Remnants of shipwrecks are still visible from the air, a stark reminder of nature’s power.
Overnight: Hoanib Valley Camp
The area is a mix of towering mountains and huge expanses of desert, scattered with unique wildlife and nomadic Himba settlements. Spend a fascinating morning or afternoon with the local Himba people, one of the last true nomadic tribes of Africa. Game drive through the sandy terrain in search of desert-adapted giraffe, elephant, lion and rhino. Learn about the giraffe research conducted in the area by the Giraffe Conservation Foundation. Later this evening, retire to your private patio, cocktail in hand, and marvel at the magnitude of your surroundings.
Overnight: Hoanib Valley Camp
Get ready to enjoy the best transfer drive on the continent! You’ll pass incredible rock formations and desert-elephant digging for water, before arriving at the crashing waves and rolling dunes of the Skeleton Coast.
Overnight: Shipwreck Lodge
Wake to the ocean fog rolling in over the stark landscape, and a chance to explore this raw and rugged slice of African wilderness. 4×4 drives along the Hoarusib River, provide a chance to spot some of the unique wildlife of the area. Visit Möwe Bay Seal Colony, go quad biking and sandboarding across the dunes, walk across lunar landscapes, or simply put your feet up and admire the views.
Overnight: Shipwreck Lodge
This morning enjoy a scenic road transfer to Möwe Bay where your pilot and private charter plane will be waiting for you. Fly over the otherworldly Skeleton Coast to the famous Etosha National Park. Arrive in time for lunch. Later this afternoon, set out on your afternoon game drive in the Ongava Private Game Reserve.
Overnight: Anderssons at Ongava
Enjoy a morning game drive in Etosha National Park, meaning "Great White Place," the name refers to the Etosha pan, which makes up a large part of the park. Large mammals in the park include lion, leopard, elephant, rhino, giraffe, wildebeest, cheetah, hyena, zebra, springbok, kudu, gemsbok and eland. Return to the lodge for lunch and a siesta, or spend some time in the camp’s photographic hide. In the late afternoon, explore the Ongava Reserve, which has resident white and black rhino.
Overnight: Anderssons at Ongava
After a short flight to Windhoek, you'll be transferred to a day room to relax, until your onward arrangements.
FAQ
Not included in the package:
- International air
- Items of a personal nature
- Laundry
- Items not included in the daily itinerary
We are passionate and knowledgeable experts who have lived and traveled extensively throughout Africa. We have a total of 300+ years combined experience. With the largest tourism infrastructure in southern Africa, we have earned an enviable position of influence and negotiating power. We use this influence to personalize a life-changing journey that offers great value while doing good for wildlife and local communities.
Generally, the safari programs are not physically demanding. Walking safaris can require more levels of fitness, but usually they are not strenuous. Participation in these activities is at your discretion.
We cater to all families. It is best to talk to our safari specialist to advise the best destination based on age, family travel style and any other requirements.
City hotels and many lodges and camps have Wi-Fi, however, some areas in the bush are more remote and have less access to the internet. Depending on your needs to connect or disconnect, we can tailor the right experience for you.
If you choose to purchase African Travel's own Travel Protection plan, you will have the flexibility to cancel your trip for ANY reason, up to 24 hours before departure. Depending on the plan you select, you will be eligible for either a Future Travel Certificate or a mix of 60% cash back insurance benefit with a 10% Future Travel Certificate. Both plans include additional coverage for COVID-19.
Terms
Deposit
A non-refundable deposit of $458 is due at the time of booking to confirm the program. The final payment is due 100 days prior to departure. Once final payment is received, the program is non-refundable.
Cancellation Policy
20% of total tour cost is forfeited for cancellation made 66 days or more before departure.**
100% of total tour cost is forfeited for cancellations made 65 or fewer days before departure.
**Cancellation charges for Safari Vacation Packages may vary by program.
**Plus applicable third-party charges.
In some instances, lost and/or unused airline tickets are not refundable or replaceable. African Travel reserves the sole right to not accept a reservation or to cancel a reservation and impose cancellation charges if any payment is not received within the above specified periods. African Travel will not be responsible for lost land and air reservations.
Package Price and Availability
Package prices are valid throughout 2022 on new bookings only and subject to availability at the time of booking.
Changing a Reservation
If you want to change your reservation, you can choose new dates and/or a new destination prior to final payment without penalties.
Accommodation
When services and accommodations described cannot be supplied or the itinerary is changed due to delays or other causes of any kind or nature beyond African Travel’s control, African Travel may seek to supply comparable services, accommodations and itineraries. There shall be no refund in these circumstances. African Travel reserves the right to make changes to the itinerary and/or cancel any tour and shall have no liability whatsoever from or relating to such adjustments or cancellations. African Travel shall not be responsible for loss or damage to luggage, before, during or after the tour.
Baggage Restrictions
On Fixed Wing Safaris, you are permitted one soft-sided bag, weighing no more than the limit stated in your tour documents. The weight limit will be set at 44 lbs (20 kg) or less and may be as low as 25 lbs (11,45 kg), depending on aircraft type and destination. Guests are responsible to arrange and pay to store excess baggage. Luggage and personal effects are at the owner’s risk throughout travel. African Travel is not responsible if the luggage is not permitted to be carried.
Travel Protection
Proof of Travel Protection Plan is mandatory and required at the time of final payment. Travel documents will not be released without this information. African Travel requires all travelers purchase travel insurance to obtain coverage that includes reimbursement for cancellation, interruption, trip and baggage delays and more.
Safety
The client must ensure you and those under your care are medically and physically able to travel. African Travel may impose safety requirements. We may exclude from participating in travel or from any activity, an individual whose participation poses a direct threat to health or safety that cannot be eliminated by a reasonable modification of our policies, practices or procedures or by the provision of auxiliary aids and services. A decision to exclude an individual will be our assessment. The probability that potential injury will occur and whether reasonable modifications of policies, practices or procedures will lower the risk. African Travel does not provide personal devices (such as wheelchairs, hearing aids or prescription eyeglasses) or services of a personal nature (such as eating, dressing or toileting). A client who requires services of a personal nature (eating, dressing or toileting, as examples) should bring a companion to provide the assistance and understand that other clients and staff will not be available for such purpose.
We do not employ or provide medical personnel. Any needed medical attention must be sought at a local facility, if available, at client’s expense. African Travel is not responsible or liable for loss or cost incurred due to unavailability of medical services, inability to obtain or delay in obtaining medical services if available, medical services obtained, or level of care or services received. You must bring an adequate supply of your medication, if any, for the duration of The Tour. Medical services abroad are not the same as you may be accustomed to. African Travel is not responsible for the lack of, or the provision of medical services.
Some guided tours can include rough terrain, walking over unpaved or uneven pavement, steps, locations that may not be easily accessible or accessible by wheelchair, bumps, and other challenging conditions.
For various parts of the travel, arrangements are made with carriers, hotels and other independent suppliers. They are independent entities that African Travel does not control. We cannot ensure its ability access or accommodations outside the United States. Smoking is generally not permitted on our tours except for approved smoking areas. Smoking is never allowed on coaches, vans, or safari vehicles. African Travel has the right, in its sole discretion, to terminate your tour if your behavior or actions are so disruptive or negatively impacting the tour. If this happens, you are responsible for your travel costs home and no refund shall be given.
Additional Risks
Additional risks and dangers may arise including, but not limited to, hazards of traveling in undeveloped areas, hazards of travel by boat, train, automobile, aircraft and other means of conveyance, forces of nature, political unrest, other unrest, terrorism, hazardous local customs and practices, differing levels of sanitation, differing standards of safety, risks associated with water, food, plants, insects and animal, accident or illness in areas lacking means of rapid evacuation or medical facilities, terrorist acts, force majeure and acts of national and local governments and unrest and acts of others against governments. These risks are not an exhaustive list but are examples of many kinds of risks. You are voluntarily participating in these activities with the knowledge that there are significant dangers involved, and you hereby agree to accept any and all risks. As lawful consideration for the agreement with African Travel to participate in such tours and activities you agree you will not make a claim against African Travel or its personnel or sue for bodily injury, emotional trauma, death, property loss or damage or other loss, cost or expense, however, caused, as a result of or related to your contracting for, traveling to or from, or in any and every other way participating in the tour. You release African Travel and its personnel from any and all claims, known or unknown, arising from contracting for, traveling to or from, and in any and every way participating in a tour. This release of liability and assumption of risk agreement is entered into on behalf of you and all members of your family and party, also including minors accompanying you. This agreement also binds your heirs, legal representatives and assigns.
Force Majeure
Force Majeure Event means any event or circumstance beyond the control of African Travel, including but not limited to: (a) an act of god (such as earthquake, flood, fire, explosion, landslide, lightning, the action of the elements, the force of nature, washout, typhoon, hurricane, cyclone, tsunami, storm or storm warning or natural disaster); (b) industrial disputes, work ban or other labor dispute or difficulty; (c) acts of terrorism, political unrest, war or threat of war, riots or civil strife; (d) failure or delays to scheduled transportation and the closure of airports or ports; (e) pandemic, epidemic or health risk; (f) governmental and administrative actions (including the closure of borders and travel warnings and restrictions).
