Namibia Expedition

Cheetah tracking, desert-adapted elephants, Himba tribes, sea kayaking, sleeping under a the star-filled desert sky—this is a dream expedition to wild Namibia! With expert Trip Leader Orlando Haraseb, one of Namibia’s top guides, we track leopards and cheetahs at Okonjima then set out by 4WD to view the fascinating wildlife in Etosha National Park’s newly opened western reaches, where once only wildlife researchers could go. In Damaraland, we search for desert-adapted elephants, visit a Himba village, and hike amid the exquisite prehistoric rock art of Twyfelfontein, a World Heritage Site. After a wonderful day of sea kayaking amid whales and dolphins in Walvis Bay, we top off our journey with dune climbing at sunrise in Namib-Naukluft National Park and a 3-day walking safari across the stunning wilderness of the NamibRand Nature Reserve.

Itinerary at a Glance

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Days 1-2
Windhoek, Namibia / Okonjima Bush Camp / AfriCat Foundation

From Windhoek, we head to Okonjima, home to the renowned AfriCat Foundation, for amazing leopard- and cheetah- tracking by vehicle as well as visits to the cheetah rehabilitation project.

Days 3-5
Etosha National Park

We explore game-filled Etosha, including the remote western reaches of this world-class reserve, previously restricted to wildlife researchers. Etosha’s famed salt pans attract an immense variety of wildlife in a concentrated area, making for fantastic gameviewing.

Days 6-7
Damaraland / Himba Village / Twyfelfontein

In Damaraland, with its magnificent table-topped mountains, we make a special trip to remote Himba settlement where our Trip Leader’s connections with the local community help create wonderful cultural encounters. Further explorations by 4WD bring us into the land of Namibia’s rare desert-adapted elephants, and we view the remarkable rock art at Twyfelfontein.

Days 8-11
Swakopmund / Sossusvlei

From charming and historic Swakopmund, we head to the dune-lined coast at Walvis Bay, one of the most important coastal wetlands in southern Africa, to sea kayak among seals and dolphins. The next day, we head into the heart of the Namib Naukluft National Park for dune-climbing at sunrise and sunset to capture the fantastic colors of Sossusvlei in perfect light.

Days 12-15
NamibRand Nature Reserve / Tok Tokkie Trail

The perfect grand finale is our leisurely three-day trek in NamibRand, a vast private wilderness bordering Namib-Naukluft National Park. The trail offers incredible mountain views as well as sandy desert and wonderful nights amid the sand dunes under an amazing canopy of stars. We return to Windhoek on the afternoon of Day 14 and depart Day 15.

For a more complete description, Download Full Trip Brochure

What the Trip is Like

The trip is Level 2+, Easy to Moderate, according to our trip grading system. This is a camping and lodge safari with gameviewing by 4WD vehicle and nature walks. There are a few long driving days over rough roads and rugged dirt tracks. On Days 12, 13, and 14, we will be walking on desert trails (1-2 hours on Day 12, up to 7.5 hours on Day 13, up to 3 hours on Day 14 ). The walking is not particularly strenuous (and there is a backup vehicle available should you wish to cut a day’s walk short), but you will need to bring well broken-in hiking boots for these days as well as for hikes on the Sossusvlei Dunes. Although this is not a particularly rigorous trip, we still recommend that each participant undertake a preparatory program of physical conditioning (especially if you want to climb the sand dunes in Sossusvlei, which can be quite challenging). Daily walking or regular hiking, jogging, and stair-climbing are excellent preparatory exercises. Any African safari is an adventure, and the traveler to Africa should bring along flexibility, a sense of humor, curiosity about new peoples and places, and an openness to the unexpected.

Explanation of Trip Levels