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.
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.
Our scheduled tour trucks are equipped with 20 seats and extra space for storing camping gear. Perfect for
both small and large groups, the trucks also feature a club area with 4 additional seats, ideal for playing cards or socializing.
Additional features include:
Overhead luggage racks –
USB ports for charging devices –
Large dropdown tinted windows –
Window shading –
Locker space (35cm square, 80cm deep)
We offer a range of vehicles to enhance your safari or game drive experience. These include standard open-sided 4×4 vehicles and safari mini-vans with pop-up roofs.
Key vehicle features:
Pop-up roof or open sides –
4-wheel drive –
Comfortable seating –
Capable of traversing rugged terrain
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.
2026 & 2027 departures
Scheduled dates are a planning guide. Current availability should be reconfirmed through the booking page.
View Dates & BookCurrent route specials
This below itinerary is flexible and can be changed without notice. A detailed, up-to-date dossier itinerary is available to download for this tour.
06:00am – Arebbusch Lodge, Cnr of Golf & Auas Rd, Olympia, Windhoek, Namibia
Included – Meals as outlined in the itinerary – which are prepared and served at the Nomad truck / accommodation / qualified crew / filtered water / transport in the Nomad truck / included highlights as per the itinerary / entrance fees to National Parks.
Excluded – Items of a personal nature (snacks, alcohol, bottled water, soft drinks, tips) / entrance fees (associated with optional activities) / souvenirs
German Translator Available
The following optional activities are available to be pre-booked along with your tour.
Day 2
– Full day 4×4 safari in Etosha National Park
Day 6
– Swakopmund Quadbiking
– Dolphin Catamaran Cruise
– Living Dunes Tour
– Sandwich Harbour Dune Drive
– Skeleton Coast Cape Cross
– Spitzkoppe Adventure Drive
Day 9
– Orange River Canoe Trip
What is a single supplement?
On camping tours, single supplements are optional however on accommodated tours, single supplements are compulsory if you are travelling on your own. If you have purchased the single supplement, you will receive your own tent / room for the tour. However, in the event that your Activity Package includes an activity that involves accommodation, you will be required to share for the duration of that activity. The single supplement does not cover any Activity Package items and these are booked on a shared basis, regardless if you are on a camping or accommodated tour.
Only a maximum of 4 Single Supplements are allowed per tour. Any extra Single Supplements are on requests basis only.
When is a single supplement required?
All of our tours are priced on twin share accommodation. If you are booking one of our accommodated tours and you are travelling on your own, you are required to pay the single supplement. There are a maximum of 4 single supplements available on all tours.
If you require accommodation before or after your tour we can arrange this for you. We can also arrange airport transfers – contact your travel agent or Nomad to make these bookings.
Pre-Accommodation
Arebbusch Lodge – Windhoek, Namibia
Post-Accommodation
Double Tree Hilton – Woodstock, Cape Town, South Africa
Nomad has a non-profit Trust that looks after the people, animals and places that we visit. We realise that a footprint is left where we travel and for this reason, the Nomad Africa Trust was established. Your donation to the Trust is called a “Green Seat”. If you would like to help Nomad making Africa Greener, simply choose the tick box during your booking process (or contact us afterwards to add it) and we will take care of the rest. The Nomad African Trust is responsible for the administration of the funds collected from the sale of the green seats and these funds are distributed to various projects as identified by the Trust.
