A guided driving tour of Namibia

One of the smallest capital cities in the world, Windhoek’s population numbers just 234,000. Begin your trip with an exploration of its German style architecture, artisanal craft markets and its impressive National Botanical Gardens. Windhoek’s culinary scene is a delightful fusion of international flavours and authentic Namibian cuisine, with game meat on the menu for those who fancy trying it. 

The NamibRand Reserve in southern Namibia is one of the largest privately owned game parks in Southern Africa, encompassing four distinct ecosystems over an area of 172,200 hectares. Spend your time here exploring the desert landscapes of dunes, mountains and plains, on the lookout for plains game including oryx, kudus, zebras and giraffes. By night, it’s a hub for spectacular stargazing, having been named Africa’s first International Dark Sky Reserve.

Located in the enormous Namib-Naukluft National Park, Sossusvlei is characterised by towering red sand dunes set against a deep blue sky. The rippling landscapes have been shaped by the winds and the underground Tsauchab River, and when the rains arrive the pans come alive with blooming greenery. Spend your days here exploring the desert sands on foot and by quad bike before winding down with expertly crafted drinks and watching the sun set in one of the world’s most striking locations.

Head to Swakopmund, where the golden Namib desert meets the vast Atlantic coastline. This coastal town presents a comfortable base from which to explore the region’s array of wonders. The Swakop River delta is a haven for birdlife, while the land offers a thrilling mix of adventure sports, including sky diving, dune boarding and quadbiking, as well as scenic balloon flights, horse riding and windsurfing. For one of the most electrifying sights of the Skeleton Coast, you can spot the Winston shipwreck off Durissa Bay not far from Swakopmund.

Your next stop is Damaraland, which promises a remote safari like no other. This exceptionally scenic region is home to desert–adapated elephants and black rhinos, which you can track on foot during a walking safari. Spot the ancient San rock art which adorns the rocks here, explore desert plains, ancient valleys and marvel at the towering peaks of Spitzkoppe and the Brandberg Massif.

Spend your time in this beautiful reserve enjoying the rolling hills and grassy plains from both  day and night game drives. Home to the Visiting the AfriCat Welfare Project, the reserve provides unique opportunities to learn about their important development work, including successfully introducing new cheetah, leopard, wild dog and hyena cubs into the wild. You’ll get to go on exhilarating drives to track these rehabilitated animals as well as self–guided walking trails and San Bushman walks. There are also fantastic bird watching opportunities to be enjoyed.