Namibia 10-day Itinerary
Namibia
Where to go and what to see in Namibia to get the most from your trip – a 10-day itinerary from destination expert and travel writer Richard Holmes.
Bucket list experience:
Stretching away from the town, is the glorious, sand-filled wilderness of the Namib desert. ‘Namib’ in the local dialect means ‘vast and empty’, and the visitor’s initial impression is one of dune-filled isolation. But there is life here, and fascinating wildlife tours offer the opportunity to go out and discover the incredible and unusual endemic wildlife that somehow manages to survive here.
Expert guides, driving 4WDs, will take you deep into the dunes to discover ancient rock formations, dune geckos and sidewinder snakes. As you go, they’ll explain the unique geology and ecology of this exceptional landscape.
Full-day tours will also include a visit to the famous ‘Moon Landscape’ outside of Swakopmund, where you’ll encounter welwitschia mirabilis plants, famous for their long, strap-like leaves.
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Destination Guide >Tours are organised by the reliable Living Desert Adventures, based in Swakomund. They’re conducted in well-equipped and comfortable 4WD vehicles, and led by qualified nature guides, skilled at driving in the harsh desert environment.
Children under the age of 12 join the tour at half-price. It’s possible to drive in some desert areas in your own 4WD vehicle, but you’ll see far more – and avoid getting lost – on a professional guided tour. Hotel pick-up within Swakopmund is included.
Tours run all year round, seven days a week, usually departing around 8am and returning by midday.
Morning tours are often best, as the regular fog lends an ethereal quality to the desert.
Recommended itineraries by our writers that include this experience
Namibia
Where to go and what to see in Namibia to get the most from your trip – a 10-day itinerary from destination expert and travel writer Richard Holmes.
Our selection of the best Viator tours of this attraction or activity
Swakopmund
$51 | Rating 4.62 / 5 [56 ratings]
Tour supplied by:
Swakopmund
Z900 | Rating 4.83 / 5 [93 ratings]
Tour supplied by:
Our writer’s recommended tour operators to book with
Swakopmund, Erongo Region, Namibia
Locally-based, reliable Swakopmund tour operator and wildlife experts that run excellent wildlife safaris into the dunes between Swakopmund and Walvis Bay.
Our writer’s picks of the best places to stay near this experience, closest first
Swakopmund, Erongo Region, Namibia[5.3 miles]
This colourful lodge offers a welcome break from the tourist bustle of Swakopmund, with 12 spacious bungalows gazing out over the desert.
Official star rating:
Destination guides including or relevant to this experience
Namibia
Desert adventure and desolate coastlines meet game-rich reserves and quirky towns in this unique and atmospheric country.
Our writer’s recommendations of other bucket list experiences our writer says you must do in this destination, closest first
Swakopmund, Erongo Region, Namibia[5.4 miles]
The giant dunes of the vast, sand-filled Namib desert offers some of the world’s best desert activities – quad biking, mountain biking, sandboarding, camel riding, wildlife tours and more.
Best for ages: 6+ | £20 | 45mins - 2 hours
Swakopmund, Erongo Region, Namibia[7.4 miles]
One of the best places to skydive in the world, starting from 10,000 feet above unbeatable desert vistas.
Best for ages: 16+ | £150 | 2 hours
Walvis Bay, Erongo Region, Namibia[26.9 miles]
This former whaling town is now a marine ecotourism hotspot. Birdlife is prolific, and close-up encounters with pelicans, flamingos Cape Fur seals, dolphins and penguins are all but guaranteed.
Best for ages: 5+ | £40 | Half-day
Namib-Naukluft National Park, Erongo Region, Namibia[74.6 miles]
A pristine and bird-filled wetland of international significance, backed by goliath sand dunes, on Namibia’s most dramatic and breathtakingly beautiful coastline.
Best for ages: 13+ | £75
Other worthwhile experiences near this experience if you have time or interest..
Swakopmund, Erongo Region, Namibia[5.6 miles]
With Adirondack chairs set just metres from the sea, this rustic beach bar in the mouth of the Swakop River is the best place in Swakopmund for sundowners. Make like the locals and drink beer, not Bellinis.
Best for ages: 13+ | Free | 1-2 hours
Swakopmund, Erongo Region, Namibia[6.2 miles]
If you’re not devouring your weight in eisbein at the Brauhaus, beachfront seafood eatery The Tug is the best place to eat in Swakopmund. Phone ahead for a window seat.
Best for ages: 4+ | Free | 1-2 hours
Swakopmund, Erongo Region, Namibia[7.4 miles]
Set in the dry Swakop River, with the Namib Desert as a backdrop, the Rossmund Golf Resort offers an 18-hole par-72 layout with striking views, grassy fairways and wildlife to keep players on their toes.
Best for ages: 8+ | £12 | 2+ hours
Cape Cross, Erongo Region, Namibia[119.5 miles]
One of the largest seal colonies in the world, Cape Cross is a worthwhile day out from Swakopmund, and the lonely 200km round-trip offers fantastic sea and desert panoramas.
Best for ages: 4+ | Free | 1 day