Fly-in Safaris
9-Day Southern Namibia Luxury Safari
Details:
This is an unforgettable experience designed to give you a comprehensive safari around the main highlights of southern, central and western Namibia. It is a great itinerary for families and friends alike, who might be contemplating a complete trip of Namibia. This experience leaves one with memories of beautiful landscapes, adventure, wildlife and most importantly, unique and worthwhile cultural experiences.
Departures:
Any Day of the week.
Price:
Available on request.
Includes:
- Accommodation as specified in this itinerary and subject to availability at the time of reservation
- Meals as indicated on this itinerary
- Vehicle air-conditioned SUV 4×4
- All vehicle insurance – tyres and glass
- Sundowner Game Drive in the Kalahari
- Fish River Canyon excursion
- Kolmanskop Excursion
- NamibRand Nature Reserve entrance and park fees
- Professional English speaking Guide and Driver
- Administration fees, Roadbooks and Maps
Excludes:
- International flights
- Insurance for lost luggage, cancellation, medical repatriation, visas…
- Extra activities not displaying in this quotation or marked by the symbol “Not Incl.”
- Drinks, tips, curios etc…
Itinerary Details
Day 1: Hosea Kutako Int. Airport to Windhoek – 40km (25miles) - ±35min
You will be collected at the airport and transferred to Windhoek, which is the capital and largest city of Namibia. It is located in central Namibia in the Khomas Highland plateau area, at around 1,700m (5,600 ft) above sea level and is almost exactly at the country’s geographical centre. Your guide will familiarize you regarding the area and provide all crucial information.
Windhoek has developed at the site of a permanent hot spring known to the indigenous pastoral communities. It developed rapidly after Jonker Afrikaner, Captain of the Orlam tribe, settled here in 1840 and built a stone church for his community.
You are booked for a lovely dinner tonight overlooking the city, where you will be met by your guide to discuss organizational matters.
Day 2: Windhoek to Kalahari Desert - 252km (157miles) - ±3H25min
We begin our journey with an early departure time this morning as we leave for the Kalahari this morning, as we will conduct a short Windhoek city tour first. We do not particularly have too much of a long drive by Namibian standards to the south easterly Kalahari area. We transit via a few small towns and settlements, with Rehoboth being directly south of Windhoek and a short stop for us.
The Kalahari Desert is a large semi-desert area in Southern Africa extending for around 900,000 square kilometres (350,000 sq mi), and covering much of western Botswana, a big part of eastern Namibia and some areas of South Africa. Upon arrival at our beautiful accommodation, we can take some time to admire the uniqueness and beauty of our lodge before a guided afternoon game drive to familiarize you with the landscape, the fauna and flora of one of the most iconic deserts in Africa.
A wonderful dinner at our lodge will bring this first day to a close.
Day 3: Kalahari Desert to Fish River Canyon - 453km (281) - ±4H35min
The vast Fish River Region with its impressive landscapes is situated in the far south of Namibia and stretches from the South African border up to the area of Aus and further to Keetmanshoop in the south-eastern part of Namibia.
Prominent to this area are the two vegetation zones, the Succulent and the Nama Karoo that belong to the semi deserts. Moreover, some of the region stretches into the Namib Desert. Many plants can be found in the region which have adapted to the harsh environment. The best known are the picturesque quiver trees, the euphorbias and the aloes.
Many animals also managed to survive in the conditions of this hostile environment like giraffe, mountain zebra, oryx, kudu, springbok, ostrich, leopard and the fascinating feral horses of the Namib. We are in transit for most of our drive and looking to arrive in the afternoon hours.
Day 4: Fish River Canyon
The Fish River Canyon in Namibia’s South is one of the world’s largest canyons and one of Namibia’s most recognised natural wonders. For more than 160km (99miles) the Fish River, Namibia’s longest river, washed into the ground up to 550m (1804ft) deep and up to 27km (17miles)wide.
The Fish River has its source in the Eastern Naukluft Mountains and in Richtersfeld flows into the Orange River, after travelling for more 650km (404miles) through the desert of Southern Namibia. In its lower part (between Seeheim and Ai-Ais) it crosses a mountain range and thereby forms the Fish River Canyon. Today nearly all of the Canyon is preserved by nature reserves: in the south where the deepest part is located by the Ai-Ais/Richtersveld Transfrontier Park, in the north by private nature reserves such as the Canyon Nature Park or Vogelstrausskluft.
Today your guide will take you to the viewpoints along the Fish River Canyon.
Dinner will be at our lodge this evening!
Day 5: Fish River Canyon to Aus – 223km (139miles) - ±3H45min
Today we make our way to Aus. There is something extraordinarily special about the landscape around Aus in the Sperrgebiet Rand park. It is where streaks of Namib sand fuse with the bleached grasses of the Pro-Namib in a sensuous slow dance of splendour. The Namib’s, as the free horses of the Namib Desert are called, hold a powerful fascination.
Living on the barren plains around the Garub on the eastern frontier of the Namib Desert, their origin is shrouded in mystery, yet, despite the harsh, arid landscape, the wild horses of the Namib Desert have adapted and survived against all odds.
One source of the origin of the Namib’s is that the herd stems from the bombing of the Union of South Africa Troops stationed at Garub in 1915. The grazing herds scattered in the ensuing turmoil.
The remarkable similarities in conformation and markings of horses from Emil Kreplin’s stud farm at Kubub, just south of Aus, suggests this as another source of their origin.
Upon arrival, we will have some downtime before going on a scenic guided drive in order to familiarize ourselves with this incredible place.
Dinner tonight will be at our lodge.
Day 6: Aus/Kolmanskop
This morning we will head to the town of Lüderitz, and also visiting Kolmanskop. Kolmanskop used to be a small railway station in 1908, when the railway between Lüderitz and Keetmanshoop was constructed. The station derived its name from a Nama man named Coleman, who got stuck at the site with his ox wagon and consequently died of thirst.
It was in 1908 that a railway worker Zacharias Lewala found a shiny stone and took it to the chief railway foreman August Stauch. Stauch was a hobby mineralogist and had advised his workers to bring any unique stone they might find to him. He immediately assumed the find of Lewala to be a diamond, which was later confirmed, after the stone had been examined by his friend and future partner Söhnke Nissen, a mining engineer. Stauch and Nissen did not announce their special find, but rather quit their jobs and secured claims of 75 km² at Kolmanskop. They successfully continued their search for diamonds.
We will head to Kolmanskop in the morning before exploring Lüderitz. A late afternoon return to our lodge will offer some relaxation time before dinner.
Day 7: Aus to NamibRand Nature Reserve – 273km (170miles) - ±3H45min
We will enjoy one of the most scenic drives transiting through the NamibRand Nature Reserve. Approximately 100 bird species are found on NamibRand Nature Reserve, furthermore oryx, ostriches, golden mole, barking gecko, scarabaeus, bat eared fox just to name a few. You’ll also transit some of the most captivating mountain ranges.
NamibRand Nature Reserve is one of Southern Africa ’s largest private nature reserves and the only Dark Sky Reserve in Africa, how incredible!
A sunset nature drive is on the cards this afternoon.
Day 8: NamibRand Nature Reserve
NamibRand Nature Reserve, located in southern Namibia, is a private nature reserve established to help protect and conserve the unique ecology and wildlife of the south-west Namib Desert. Conserving the pro-Namib, the area along the eastern edge of the Namib Desert, is critically important in order to facilitate seasonal migratory wildlife routes and to protect biodiversity. It is probably the largest private nature reserve in southern Africa, extending over an area of 188,980 ha (466,979acres).
Various distinct habitats are found on the Reserve, namely dunes and sandy plains, inselbergs and mountains, gravel plains, and sand and gravel plains interface. The predominant large mammals on the Reserve are the oryx gazelle and the springbok. Other large mammals include kudu, Hartman’s and Burchell’s zebra, giraffe, klipspringer, steenbok, hartebeest and baboon. Predators include leopard, spotted and brown hyena, black-backed jackal, aardwolf, bat-eared fox, Cape fox, African wildcat, caracal and genet.
A wonderful sunset and a lovely dinner is something to look forward to this evening.
Day 9: NamibRand Nature Reserve to Windhoek - 381km (237miles) - ±4H50min
There are lots of attractive green areas in the centre of Windhoek flanked by both modern buildings and fine German-colonial architecture. This city in Namibia is clean and orderly, and the pace of life is busy but not overwhelming.
Historically known as a residential area for racial segregation during apartheid, Katutura symbolizes Namibia’s dark past (and even in some way present). While the city has left that chapter behind, Katutura became the backbone of Windhoek.
“It’s time to say goodbye, but I think goodbyes are sad and I’d much rather say hello. Hello to a new adventure.”
Ernie Harwell
Gallery
Programme Overview
| Day | Location | Accommodation | Food |
|---|---|---|---|
| Day 1 | Windhoek | Hotel ★★★★ | – |
| Day 2 | Kalahari Desert | Lodge ★★★★ | D |
| Day 3 | Fish River Canyon | Lodge ★★★★ | HB |
| Day 4 | Fish River Canyon | Lodge ★★★★ | HB+ |
| Day 5 | Aus | Lodge ★★★ | HB+ |
| Day 6 | Aus | Lodge ★★★ | HB+ |
| Day 7 | NamibRand Nature Reserve | Lodge ★★★★ | FI |
| Day 8 | NamibRand Nature Reserve | Lodge ★★★★ | FI |
| Day 9 | Windhoek | Hotel ★★★★ | B |
B – Breakfast
L – Lunch
D – Dinner
SC – Self Catering
FB – Full Board (All meals)
FB+ – Full Board Plus (All meals & Activities)
HB – Half Board (Breakfast & Dinner)
HB+ – Half Board Plus (Dinner, Breakfast & Activities)
Price Per Person
Price On Request
Solo travellers and groups welcomed
Prices Effective From:
Jan 1, 2025 – Dec 31, 2026
