The Namibia to Cape Town 11-day journey showcases the dramatic contrasts of southern Africa, from wildlife-rich salt pans and desert dunes to the vast chasm of Fish River Canyon, finishing beneath the iconic silhouette of Table Mountain. Departing Windhoek, travel north into Etosha National Park, where pale, shimmering pans stretch to the horizon and animals gather at scarce waterholes, with a full-day game drive offering sightings of elephant, lion and black rhino against stark desert backdrops. Continuing south, the granite mass of the Brandberg Mountains glows at sunset, and a guided hike reveals the ancient White Lady rock painting before reaching the Atlantic coast at Swakopmund, known for its German colonial architecture and optional desert adventures, from quad biking across towering dunes to guided walks uncovering the Namib’s smaller desert-adapted wildlife. In Namib-Naukluft National Park, climb Dune 45 at dawn, cross the cracked clay pan of Deadvlei and explore Sesriem Canyon’s narrow rock walls before travelling via the Quiver Tree Forest and Giant’s Playground to stand on the rim of Fish River Canyon. The route continues along the Gariep River and through Namaqualand and the Cederberg before concluding in Cape Town.

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

 

Beginning in Namibia’s dynamic capital Windhoek, you’ll be collected mid-morning for a scenic drive north to Etosha National Park. Known for its stark beauty, you’ll explore its shrubbery and open pans for wildlife on a full-day drive in our cushy Nomad truck against the backdrop of shimmering salt pans and acacia-dotted plains. Keep your camera ready and eye out for the elephants that roam the park.

Continuing south, you’ll arrive at the Brandberg mountains as the sunsets across its rugged hills, making for gorgeous, golden vistas. The following day, you’ll scale its trails to admire the prehistoric rock art decorating its overhangs.

Next, travel west to the Atlantic coast and the seaside town of Swakopmund. Sandboarding, quad biking, or ocean cruises are among the many adrenaline-filled activities to choose from, or simply unwind at a café with a slice of apple strudel. A guided desert walk with a local expert offers fascinating insight into Namibia’s hidden ecosystem within the sands. En route, you’ll pause at the Tropic of Capricorn for a classic photo op.

The journey continues inland to a fan-favourite highlight: Namib-Naukluft National Park. Admire the rippling red dunes of the Namib Desert, climbing up the famous Dune 45 in the morning before walking the desolate Deadvlei and wandering the labyrinthian canyon of Sesriem Canyon. Be awe-struck by the stars overhead, falling asleep to the quiet whisper of desert winds and the chirping of barking geckos.

Heading eastward, you’ll wander the dolerite boulder formations of Giants Playground and the peculiar Quiver Tree Forest. Making our way the following day to Fish River Canyon it offers sweeping views of the roughened terrain from the canyon rim on a scenic walk. The afternoon takes us to the Gariep River, with the opportunity to paddle its waters by canoe during the afternoon haze. From here, we take to the rolling hills of shrubland in Namaqualand and, if you’re lucky, catch the springtime bloom of desert wildflowers.

Taking in the fresh air in the Cederberg region, where mountain vistas and citrus orchards frame your view, we enter into South Africa. Our journey wraps up in Cape Town, where we will enjoy warm South African hospitality with a delicious meal, raising a glass to the excellent desert memories you’ve made.