Namibia 10-day Itinerary

The rooftop Skybar at the Hilton Windhoek is the city’s finest sundowner spot, with glorious views and a particularly impressive gin menu, with a collection of Namibian craft gins infused with local botanicals.

Locals dub this unusual building ‘The Coffee Machine’, but within the Independence Memorial Museum you’ll find stirring exhibitions and archives covering Namibia’s journey from colonialism through liberation struggle to independence. Entrance is free, and the top-floor café has excellent views of the city.

Set in the Old Breweries Complex in central Windhoek, the Namibia Craft Centre offers souvenirs and handicrafts from across Namibia. Home to more than 40 craft enterprises – largely community- or women-owned – you’ll find everything from Himba jewellery to hand-woven Zambezi baskets. Look out for the excellent collection of Namibian art and music too.

More inner-city nature reserve than manicured garden, the 12-hectare National Botanic Garden of Namibia offers a selection of walking trails to explore. Useful information boards highlight key species, from endemic succulents to the enigmatic quiver tree. Open Monday to Friday. Free entrance.

The region that earned its keep – and name – from whaling is now somewhat ironically better known for abundant wildlife and biodiversity than harpoons in the surprisingly rich waters offshore.

Boating and kayaking ecotours are top draw. Birdlife is prolific, and close-up encounters with pelicans, flamingos and petrels are all but assured.

The same goes for the ubiquitous Cape Fur seals, while dolphins, penguins and even sunfish are occasionally seen. Tours end with Champagne and a platter of fresh local oysters.

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.

While most hotels in Swakopmund are centred on the seafront, Desert Breeze takes advantage of the remarkable dune landscape that surrounds the town.

Just a few kilometres from the centre, this colourful lodge is a welcome break from the tourist bustle of town with 12 spacious bungalows – and a three-room ‘villa’ – gazing out over the desert.

The furnishing and décor are comfortable, rather than luxurious, but bungalows offer all the contemporary services you need, from Wi-Fi and minibar to tea/coffee stations. Although a hearty breakfast is included, there is no restaurant on site.

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.

Swakopmund has become one of Africa’s adventure playgrounds, and the low-key holiday town of Swakopmund is the best place to score sandy thrills in Namibia. The setting is the nearby, sand-covered dune-filled wilderness of the Namib desert.

Quad bike adventures through the oversized dunes (some of which have enticing names like ‘Big Billy’ or ‘Devils’ Dip’) are top of the list for most visitors and a thrilling way to experience the desert’s unlimited expanse. Tours range from 45 minutes to two hours and cover up to 55kms of desert.

It’s also a great place to try sandboarding, with half-day trips to giant sand dunes that even beginners can be slaloming down in no time.

You can also mountain bike on the dunes and ride on a camel.

As Namibia’s adventure capital, skydives are a popular option for adrenalin-charged travellers in Swakopmund. Unless you’re a qualified ‘jumper’, you’ll need to sign up for a tandem skydive, which offers a scenic flight, then half a minute of jaw-dropping freefall and a leisurely float back to terra firma. Panoramic views come as standard.

No, it’s not unlike skydiving anywhere else in the world, but those desert vistas from 10,000 feet are unbeatable.

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.

While most hotels in Swakopmund are centred on the seafront, Desert Breeze takes advantage of the remarkable dune landscape that surrounds the town.

Just a few kilometres from the centre, this colourful lodge is a welcome break from the tourist bustle of town with 12 spacious bungalows – and a three-room ‘villa’ – gazing out over the desert.

The furnishing and décor are comfortable, rather than luxurious, but bungalows offer all the contemporary services you need, from Wi-Fi and minibar to tea/coffee stations. Although a hearty breakfast is included, there is no restaurant on site.

The natural lagoon at Sandwich Harbour – 55kms south of Walvis Bay and within the Namib-Naukluft National Park – is renowned as one of the best birding locations on the African coast, attracting thousands of migratory fowl in early summer (October-November).

Designated a Ramsar ‘wetland of global importance’, the combination of dunes and lagoon is breathtaking, while the dramatic 4WD drive along the coast – with the chance to sight springbok and brown hyena – make this one of the Atlantic coastline’s natural wonders.

This deserted corner of north-western Namibia hides myriad charms beneath a façade of sun-baked desolation. Running for 500-kilometres south from the border with Angola, the coastline is named for the metal ribs of ships that have fallen foul of this treacherous coast and its enveloping fog.

Today, these wrecks are but one of the sights worth discovering: from a handful of eco-minded lodges in the region, visitors can also encounter raucous seal colonies and spot unique desert-adapted wildlife including elephant, rhino, lion and hyena. But the highlight is, quite simply, the enigmatic landscape of lonely beaches and shifting sands.

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.

While most hotels in Swakopmund are centred on the seafront, Desert Breeze takes advantage of the remarkable dune landscape that surrounds the town.

Just a few kilometres from the centre, this colourful lodge is a welcome break from the tourist bustle of town with 12 spacious bungalows – and a three-room ‘villa’ – gazing out over the desert.

The furnishing and décor are comfortable, rather than luxurious, but bungalows offer all the contemporary services you need, from Wi-Fi and minibar to tea/coffee stations. Although a hearty breakfast is included, there is no restaurant on site.

Break the long journey from Sossusvlei to Swakopmund in Solitaire, a middle-of-nowhere settlement famous for the apple pie at McGregor’s Bakery. The Solitaire Lodge also offers 25 en-suite rooms and wonderful desert views.

Set in a private concession bordering both southern Africa’s largest private reserve and the Namib-Naukluft National Park, the lodge offers a handful of luxury suites boasting private plunge pools and views out over desert plains.

A resident astronomer and on-site observatory ensure unforgettable stargazing. Daily game drives (andBeyond field guides are some of the best in the business) take in enigmatic desert landscapes, while quad bike adventures and nature walks fill the days not spent lazing by the pool.

Day trips to the magnificent dunes at Sossusvlei are also on offer.

If you’ve always dreamt of watching the sunrise over the dunes of Sossusvlei, you’ll want to book a room at Sossus Dune Lodge.

It’s the only lodge inside the Namib-Naukluft Park, which means you can get to Sossusvlei’s famous sand dunes long before the public gates at Sesriem open at sunrise.

The lodge’s 25 roomy chalets are strung out along a wooden boardwalk, offering wonderful desert views from the spacious suites. Chalets 13-25 have views of the dunes (preferable), while 1-12 look into Sesriem Canyon.

There are few more enjoyable ways to soak up Namibia‘s serene landscapes than from the silence of a hot-air balloon. Coasting on the airwaves doesn’t come cheap though, so if you’re going to splash out make sure the scenery’s worth the splurge.

In Sossusvlei, home to the world’s most beautiful dunes, that means dawn take-offs that have you soaring over the ochre sands for an hour, before a gentle touchdown and Champagne breakfast on the sands of one of the world’s oldest deserts.

The ancient dunes of Sossusvlei are amongst the highest in the world. These towering mountains of shifting ochre sand attract adventurous travellers from the world over, keen to climb the dunes – notably the lofty heights of ‘Big Daddy’ or Dune 45.

It’s worth the climb to admire the eye-watering views of this sandy sea stretching away to the Atlantic.

Set in a private concession bordering both southern Africa’s largest private reserve and the Namib-Naukluft National Park, the lodge offers a handful of luxury suites boasting private plunge pools and views out over desert plains.

A resident astronomer and on-site observatory ensure unforgettable stargazing. Daily game drives (andBeyond field guides are some of the best in the business) take in enigmatic desert landscapes, while quad bike adventures and nature walks fill the days not spent lazing by the pool.

Day trips to the magnificent dunes at Sossusvlei are also on offer.

If you’ve always dreamt of watching the sunrise over the dunes of Sossusvlei, you’ll want to book a room at Sossus Dune Lodge.

It’s the only lodge inside the Namib-Naukluft Park, which means you can get to Sossusvlei’s famous sand dunes long before the public gates at Sesriem open at sunrise.

The lodge’s 25 roomy chalets are strung out along a wooden boardwalk, offering wonderful desert views from the spacious suites. Chalets 13-25 have views of the dunes (preferable), while 1-12 look into Sesriem Canyon.

Set on Etosha Heights Private Reserve, bordering the Etosha National Park, this luxury lodge offers unrivalled bush luxury across nine spacious chalets (including one family suite). Perched on a dolomite hillside, you’ll enjoy memorable wilderness views from every angle, whether relaxing on your private terrace or tanning at the spacious pool deck.

Twice-daily game drives offer memorable encounters with endangered rhinoceros, and – because this is private land, not national park – bush walks and wilderness picnics can be arranged.

It’s a luxurious option close to the iconic national park, and a fine complement once you’ve ticked off the sights of Etosha.

For 50 years tourists were prohibited from exploring this scenic western third of Etosha National Park, but that all changed with the opening of Dolomite Camp in June 2011.

The most upmarket Namibia Wildlife Resorts camp in Etosha offers two tiers of chalets, with the pick of the bunch boasting private plunge pools and waterhole views. While self-drive safaris are not allowed, well-trained rangers offer daily game excursions into this unexplored corner of Etosha.

This previously restricted area of the Park is host to high numbers of Hartmann’s Mountain Zebra, Giraffe and Antelope. Once-endangered species like the Black-faced Impala and Black Rhino have been successfully bred.

Just 20 suites share this prime location, and the daily game drives into the bush ensure an exclusive peek into this wild world.

Epacha is one of the better private game reserves that dot the countryside outside the gates to Etosha.

Set on a 13,000-hectare private nature reserve, the 18 luxury chalets enjoy plenty of peace and quiet.

They all offer stunning bushveld views, whether you’re on the private balcony, ensconced in a romantic four-poster bed or cooling off in an outside shower.

Morning, afternoon and evening game drives are possible in Epacha – known for its black rhino and sable antelope.

There are also daily guided drives into Etosha, which has four of the big five – lion, leopard, elephant and a healthy population of endangered black rhino. Also look out for more than 400 species of birds.

Back at base, the small Mystique spa offers an open-air couples treatment room, that ups the romance factor.

Namutoni Camp emerges like a mirage from the shimmering heat of Etosha, with the white turrets of the old German fort dating back to 1897.

The history, combined with a beautiful location overlooking King Nehale waterhole, has made Namutoni a popular rest camp in the east of the Park.

There are campsites and simple double rooms on offer, but the best option is the spacious Bush Chalets.

Within the surrounds you’ll find all the services and facilities a traveller could ask for, including an on-site restaurant, swimming pool, curio shop and viewpoint over the floodlit King Nehale waterhole.

From Namutoni there’s easy access to a number of other wonderful waterholes, including Fisher’s Pan; a renowned birding hotspot that draws flocks of breeding flamingos during the wet season of late summer.

This government-owned camp in Etosha is the largest in the Park, with more than 100 rooms and chalets.

The upside of staying in such a busy camp is the raft of services available: from restaurants and a swimming pool, to the on-site petrol station.

You lose a little of that wilderness feel, but it’s perfect for those first-time safari-goers who want the comforts and security of a big resort.

The other plus is the camp’s floodlit waterhole, with grandstand seating, which brings all the big game to you. For the best game viewing, get to the waterhole 30 minutes before sunrise, when predators are often active.

Set on Etosha Heights Private Reserve, bordering the Etosha National Park, this luxury lodge offers unrivalled bush luxury across nine spacious chalets (including one family suite). Perched on a dolomite hillside, you’ll enjoy memorable wilderness views from every angle, whether relaxing on your private terrace or tanning at the spacious pool deck.

Twice-daily game drives offer memorable encounters with endangered rhinoceros, and – because this is private land, not national park – bush walks and wilderness picnics can be arranged.

It’s a luxurious option close to the iconic national park, and a fine complement once you’ve ticked off the sights of Etosha.

For 50 years tourists were prohibited from exploring this scenic western third of Etosha National Park, but that all changed with the opening of Dolomite Camp in June 2011.

The most upmarket Namibia Wildlife Resorts camp in Etosha offers two tiers of chalets, with the pick of the bunch boasting private plunge pools and waterhole views. While self-drive safaris are not allowed, well-trained rangers offer daily game excursions into this unexplored corner of Etosha.

This previously restricted area of the Park is host to high numbers of Hartmann’s Mountain Zebra, Giraffe and Antelope. Once-endangered species like the Black-faced Impala and Black Rhino have been successfully bred.

Just 20 suites share this prime location, and the daily game drives into the bush ensure an exclusive peek into this wild world.

Epacha is one of the better private game reserves that dot the countryside outside the gates to Etosha.

Set on a 13,000-hectare private nature reserve, the 18 luxury chalets enjoy plenty of peace and quiet.

They all offer stunning bushveld views, whether you’re on the private balcony, ensconced in a romantic four-poster bed or cooling off in an outside shower.

Morning, afternoon and evening game drives are possible in Epacha – known for its black rhino and sable antelope.

There are also daily guided drives into Etosha, which has four of the big five – lion, leopard, elephant and a healthy population of endangered black rhino. Also look out for more than 400 species of birds.

Back at base, the small Mystique spa offers an open-air couples treatment room, that ups the romance factor.

Namutoni Camp emerges like a mirage from the shimmering heat of Etosha, with the white turrets of the old German fort dating back to 1897.

The history, combined with a beautiful location overlooking King Nehale waterhole, has made Namutoni a popular rest camp in the east of the Park.

There are campsites and simple double rooms on offer, but the best option is the spacious Bush Chalets.

Within the surrounds you’ll find all the services and facilities a traveller could ask for, including an on-site restaurant, swimming pool, curio shop and viewpoint over the floodlit King Nehale waterhole.

From Namutoni there’s easy access to a number of other wonderful waterholes, including Fisher’s Pan; a renowned birding hotspot that draws flocks of breeding flamingos during the wet season of late summer.

No visit to Windhoek is complete without a stop at this offbeat eatery where the Windhoek lager is always cold and the enormous portions of grillhaxe (pork knuckle) fly out of the kitchen. Take a wander to admire the quirky décor between courses.