Information
7-day budget camping Safari exploring Southern Namibia and its mesmerising desert landscapes. This magical Namibian safari departs from Windhoek travelling into the arid Kalahari Desert and on to the immense Fish River Canyon. Journey to the coast and through scenic landscapes into the Namib Desert, to experience the towering, orange-red Sossusvlei Dunes and the Sesriem Canyon. Other tour highlights in Namibia include the coastal town of Lüderitz with its colonial buildings, the desert ghost town of Kolmanskop and Klein Aus and an optional visit to the Mesosaurus Fossil Site and quiver trees. Your scenic Southern Namibia Camping Safari ends back in Windhoek.
Itinerary
Windhoek to Kalahari Desert (Camping)
Day one of our Southern Namibia Camping Safari you will be collected from your pre-tour accommodation in Windhoek, between 07:30 and 08:00am in the morning. From Windhoek we drive south, passing through the narrow finger of Kalahari in the east of Namibia. Our route takes us via the small town of Rehoboth, the traditional home of the Baster people, and other hamlets. Reaching Kalkrand we make our way into the Kalahari Desert, a vast semi-arid land. The Kalahari is home to a surprising variety of animals and plants, as it receives more rainfall than a true desert. Arriving at the farm where we camp overnight there is time to unwind and watch wildlife and birds at the local watering hole. We then embark on a sunset nature drive in the wilderness, going in search of the wild animals roaming the farm. Exploring the sparsely vegetated red-sand dunes of this fossil desert you get to experience the wide open spaces, typical of Namibia's landscapes. The game farm hosts some thirty wildlife species from rhino, giraffe and zebra to cheetah and a variety of antelopes, including oryx, kudu, gemsbok, blesbok, impala and springbok. We spend our first night camping under expansive African skies, twinkling with stars. Travel: 270 km / Meals: Lunch & Dinner.
Kalahari to Fish River Canyon (Camping)
We drive to the small market town of Mariental and further south to Keetmanshoop, the administrative capital of the Karas Region in Namibia. This town, founded in 1860 by the Rhenish Mission Society, still features remnants of the original colonial German buildings, along with buildings dating back to the first European expeditions in 1791. Here you can visit the Mesosaurus Fossil Site, on the outskirts of Keetmanshoop. The Mesosaurus Fossil Site offers some of the best evidence to support the theory of continental drift. Then we drive through Keetmans, as Keetmanshoop is known, making our way to our overnight camp located near the Fish River. The Quiver Tree Dolerite Park is in the Keetmanshoop area, known for these unusual plants. The Quivertree Park hosts around 5000 specimens of living fossils, in the form of strange looking plants. These aloes occur commonly here, but are in fact one of the rarest floral species in the world. The unique succulents, with their finger-like branches, are actually indigenous aloes, not trees. The area is scattered with these rare quiver trees, which are endemic to this part of Namibia. Travel: 400 km / Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner.
Fish River to Aus (Camping)
This morning we go to the Fish River Canyon to admire the sheer scale of this massive canyon, dropping up to 550m deep. The sight of the world's second largest canyon is awe-inspiring with its sheer cliffs and distant floor. Formed by millions of years of erosion this 160 km long canyon is one of nature's true marvels. Returning from the edge of the impressive Fish River Canyon we break-up camp and hit the road for the little town of Aus. Set in the scenic Aus Mountains of the Huib-Hoch-Plateau Region, this small town served as a First World War prison camp for German military in 1915. We overnight at a camp on a private game reserve on the fringes of Aus. Travel: 350km / Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner.
Aus to Luderitz to Aus - Namibia (Camping)
On day four we get up at sunrise, journeying into an area called the “Forbidden Zone”. This zone was off limits back in the day when alluvial diamonds simply lay scattered across the desert in the area, hence the name. A highlight of travelling in this part of Namibia is the chance to spot Namibia's only wild horses. We look out for these unique, desert-adapted horses of the Namib as we drive. In the coastal town of Luderitz you have the option of taking a boat trip on the The Sedina, an old-fashioned sailing ship. The wooden ship cruises out into Luderitz Bay, visiting Halifax Island - hosting a colony of Jackass Penguins. Engines are cut and we sail back to the mainland (depending on the weather). After the optional boat trip we travel to Kolmanskop, a deserted town in the desert, some 20 km outside of Luderitz. The town sprung up during the diamond rush of the 1920's only to be abandoned when diamond mining prospects elsewhere along the coast showed more promise. Today the desert is slowly encroaching on this small ghost town, giving it an other-worldly and haunting atmosphere. Back in seaside Luderitz you can enjoy lunch at one of the local cafes and explore the historic town. Here colonial-era buildings perch on the rocky coastline, looking out over the bay dotted with small fishing boats. The town of Lüderitz is tinged with a surreal atmosphere as the moods of the ocean change from sparkling blue to stormy grey. The fresh seaside climate is a welcome relief after our time in the hot deserts. In the afternoon we go to Diaz Point where we look out for seals, enjoy some bird watching and view an old stone cross, erected by the Portuguese explorer Bartholomew Diaz. Driving back to Aus we watch the sun set over the desert mountains and put our feet up at camp. Travel: 250km / Meals: Breakfast & Dinner.
Aus to Sesriem (Camping)
Today we drive north into the mesmerizing Namib Desert, passing small rural settlements en route. The landscapes become more stark as we enter the harsh desert terrain, characterized by striking rock formations and rocky hills, called koppies. From this arid area of austere beauty we move into gentle grassland savannahs and farming lands, before heading deep into the ancient Namib. Towering red-orange sand dunes rise up around us in this immense desert wrapped in silence. In the late afternoon we reach our camp and settle in as the sun sets over the glowing ochre desert, casting shifting shadows and changing the hues of the desert sands. Sleeping out under the starry skies of the empty Namib is a remarkable experience, imbued with great solitude and peace. Travel: 350km / Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner.
Namib Desert - Sossusvlei & Sesriem (Camping)
On day six we rise at dawn and head into this famous desert of Namibia to explore. Our early start ensures that we get to see the warm colours of the dunes as the light of sunrise bathes the sea of red dunes. We drive via Sesriem into the rolling dune fields and take a memorable 5km walk to Sossusvlei. Walking in the cool morning air we get to watch the desert light up in a spectacular show of contrasting light and shadow. The Sossusvlei Dunes are said to be some of the tallest deserts in the world, towering over the surrounding pans. We keep our eyes open for gemsbok and ostriches on our walk through ancient pans scattered with camel thorn trees. This walk into the dunes is ideal for taking photographs of the magical Namib. The morning is spent exploring Sossusvlei and surrounds and we also visit the well-known Dune 45 in the area. We head back to Sesriem in time for lunch, retreating during the heat of the day. Later in the afternoon we embark on a short outing to the Sesriem Canyon, before returning to our overnight Namib Desert camp. Travel: 120km / Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner.
Sesriem to Windhoek - Namibia
On our final day we have breakfast before journeying back to Namibia's capital city, Windhoek. Driving back to Windhoek we pass over the Naukluft mountain range, an ancient geological site. Our scenic drive also takes us via beautiful mountain passes in the Khomas Hochland mountains. At about 4:00pm we arrive in Windhoek, where this affordable Southern Namibia Camping Safari ends. Travel: 350km / Meals: Breakfast & Lunch.