The Best of Namibia 11-day Comfort tour explores vast deserts, dramatic canyons and resilient wildlife across one of Africa’s most striking landscapes. Beginning in the rugged Cederberg, travel through Namaqualand and along the Gariep (Orange) River, where peaceful scenery offers time to unwind before reaching the immense Fish River Canyon. Wander among the striking Quiver Tree Forest and the ancient rock formations of Giants Playground, then venture into the heart of the Namib Desert to climb Dune 45 at sunrise, explore the haunting beauty of Deadvlei and discover Sesriem Canyon in the Namib-Naukluft National Park. In Swakopmund, enjoy a refreshing coastal interlude before continuing to the Brandberg Mountains to view ancient San rock art. The journey culminates in Etosha National Park, where vast salt pans and wildlife-rich waterholes attract elephant, lion and antelope. Ending in Windhoek, this unforgettable adventure showcases Namibia’s raw beauty, rich heritage and sweeping desert landscapes.

Highlights

This Best of Namibia route is available in two travel styles: Explorer (camping) and Classic (accommodated). Both follow the same expertly guided itinerary, travelling through Namibia & South Africa, while offering different accommodation experiences.
Explorer is our authentic camping option, providing a spacious dome tent (2.4m x 2.4m) with a 5cm-thick mattress. Travellers will need to bring their own sleeping bag and participate in certain camp duties, creating a hands-on overland adventure.
Classic offers greater comfort, with accommodation in permanent tents, guesthouses, lodges and hotels along the route, while maintaining the same immersive safari and overland experience.

Classic Tents

 

Permanent Tents

 

Hotels & Resorts

 

Lodges & Guesthouses

 

Traverse through Namibia’s most captivating landscapes, where time and heat have preserved relics in the desert and resilient wildlife roams across sand-whipped salt pans. Leaving Cape Town behind, your escapade begins in the rugged Cederberg region. Renowned for its majestic mountains and Rooibos tea plantations, this vista introduces you to the rich natural and culinary heritage of South Africa with a traditional “padstal” visit and a hearty welcome dinner under the stars.

Continuing north through Namaqualand, you’re greeted by an arid landscape, and if travelling between July to September, a dazzling display of wildflowers. The road leads to the serene banks of the Gariep (Orange) River, offering a chance to paddle along its waters or simply luxuriate in this tranquil setting. Inland, the majestic Fish River Canyon, the largest in Africa and second in the world, beckons with wonderful views and a walk around its rim.

Taking a change for the surreal, we head to the Quiver Tree Forest and the Giants Playground, where these ancient trees and rock formations tell stories of time and the indigenous San people. The landscape shifts into the heart of the Namib Desert with warm dunes stretching out to the horizon. Climb the looming Dune 45, walk among the ghostly trees of Deadvlei, and wander the crags of Sesriem Canyon on a palette of deep oranges against clear blue skies.

Driving westward brings you to Swakopmund, a coastal town that offers daring optionals combined with old-world charm. Here, desert excursions, ocean cruises, and a taste of German-inspired pastries offer a refreshing change of pace. Heading north, we take a cultural detour into the Brandberg Mountains to hike to the prehistoric White Lady rock painting site.

The vivacious crescendo arrives in Etosha National Park, where vast salt pans, acacia woodlands, and abundant wildlife promise splendid safari moments. Renowned for its elephants, lions, and herds of zebra as you crisscross this incredible reserve spotted with watering holes where animals gather. Your journey finishes with a transfer to Namibia’s capital, Windhoek, carrying with you the memories of starlit nights and resplendent sunsets with Africa’s soul-stirring beauty in mind.

Beginning in Cape Town, we drive through the rooibos coated mountains of the Cedarberg. Namaqualand greets us with the beginnings of the desert, though it is famous for its fluorescent orange flowers that bloom in July till September, stopping at the banks of the Gariep River which is open to be paddled the next morning. Fish River Canyon offers an opportunity to stretch your legs along its rim on day three.

A day of the desert, this is a treat of eclectic sights. Wander the Quiver Tree Forest and Giants Playground before entering the Namib-Naukluft National Park, where you’ll ascend the red sands of Dune 45 and Deadvlei. Our next stop is the coastal hub of Swakopmund, where an array of daring activities await you, such as quadbiking where the sand dunes meet the ocean. We hike the Brandberg Mountains the next day to examine ancient rock paintings. Easing off our legs, we embark through the arid Etosha National Park, packed with wildlife like the Big Five and critically endangered black rhino, all gathering to the few waterholes in the area.

For a drastic change in scenery, we cross into Botswana and the Kavango Zambezi Transfrontier Conservation Area (KAZA), home to a stunning ecosystem. Taking a morning boat cruise along the Kavango River, our next destination opens into the heart of the Okavango Delta. Entering the Khwai Conservation Area, we take to the waterways by mokoro – a traditional canoe – hoping to see the resident elephants along its banks, followed by a full day safari in Moremi Game Reserve. We take a night in Makgadikgadi Pans before transitioning to the Chobe National Park, venturing out onto its golden-lit river on a boat cruise, giving exceptional sightings of the elephant and hippos that call it home.

After all the magnificent wildlife sightings, we drive to our final destination – the enthralling Victoria Falls, where the entirety of the Zambezi empties as a curtain of water into the gorge below. Choose from a variety of thrilling activities, from white water rafting to bungee jumping, the final day is yours to seize on the backdrop of the “Smoke That Thunders”.

Defined by its otherworldly landscapes, this tour is an unforgettable tableau marked by the Okavango’s sapphire waters and Namibia’s rolling dunes.