Itinerary - Namibia 360°: Wildlife, Etosha Safari, and the Namib Desert

Round trip flights are not included in the package, so you can choose from where and when you want to fly. This is to give you maximum freedom of choice!

Check-in at your accommodation in Windhoek and have your welcome meeting! We are in the vibrant capital of Namibia and from here our journey begins : first let's grab some dinner - the perfect way to break the ice and get to know each other better. What's on the menu? How about some local specialties... Zebra, kudu or crocodile?!

It’s our first day in Namibia, and we’re ready to immerse ourselves in the beauty of African nature. After bidding farewell to the capital where we spent the night, we head north. Get comfortable—it’s a long drive, but it’s the perfect chance to take in the vast, unspoiled landscapes of Africa. Here, nature’s laws still reign, untouched by mankind, and it’s a privilege to witness the pure essence of Mother Nature.

As we leave Windhoek, you’ll notice the scenery gradually change. After about two and a half hours, we’ll arrive at Okonjima Nature Reserve, home to the Cheetah Conservation Fund, an organization that has been protecting big cats, including cheetahs, since 1990.

We’ll spend the next few hours learning about the predators of the African savannah. For those eager, there’s the option to go on a safari and observe these majestic animals in their natural habitat—let’s hope we spot at least one! What’s most inspiring is the foundation’s work in rehabilitating injured or traumatized animals to help them survive once they’re released back into the wild.

As evening falls, we’ll leave the reserve and head to our accommodation for the night.

We wake up, enjoy a hearty breakfast, and set off. Today, we have quite a few kilometers to cover, but it’s absolutely worth it: our destination is Etosha National Park, the most famous park in all of Namibia. Once again, we’ll soak in the stunning African landscape flowing past our windows until we reach the park entrance—Etosha, which means "great white place" in the local language, and we soon see why. Much of the area is covered in a blinding white salt desert.

As we enter the park, we’re ready to explore this natural wonder: we have two days to spot as many animal species as possible! Like yesterday, we won’t be lacking in wildlife. We’ll have the chance to see elephants, zebras, giraffes, kudus, lions, hyenas, leopards, and cheetahs. It’ll feel like we’re in the cast of The Lion King!

The skies won’t disappoint either, as we look for vultures, snake eagles, and many other bird species. The landscape will take our breath away: within Etosha, we’ll find the Etosha Pan, a vast salt pan that gives the park its name. It’s believed that around 12 million years ago, this area was home to a lake fed by a river, which eventually changed course, transforming the region into a desert.

Our next destination? We love the name—it even reminds us of a famous musical—but we didn’t choose it for that reason: Damaraland is one of the most scenic areas of Namibia, a vast, wild, and ruggedly beautiful region that reveals a completely new side of this country.

This area is prime for spotting desert-adapted megafauna, such as elephants and rhinos. We also can’t miss Twyfelfontein, a remarkable rock site in the Kunene region, which boasts around 2,000 petroglyphs—and it’s Namibia’s only UNESCO World Heritage site!

Another highlight of Damaraland, though we could go on, is the Petrified Forest, which dates back millions of years and presents an eerie landscape filled with gigantic fossilized trees, some reaching heights of up to 30 meters.

So, have we convinced you? Let’s go!

Hello Africa! We wake up early, full of energy and ready for another day of discovering Namibia. Today, we’ll travel many kilometers, but don’t worry: there will be plenty of stops to stretch our legs and breathe in some fresh air.

Our first stop is an incredible location: we’ll journey along the last stretch of the famous Skeleton Coast to reach Cape Cross, where we’ll find... seals! This promontory along the Atlantic coast is home to a protected area housing a large colony of seals—tens of thousands of them, not just a few! Be cautious, as these animals are definitely not friendly; it’s best to enjoy the sight of the sea lions from a safe distance.

In the afternoon, we’ll arrive in Swakopmund. After checking into our hotel and dropping off our backpacks, we’ll take a stroll through the city center, admiring its German colonial architecture—Swakopmund was founded by the Germans in 1892. We’ll find a spot to sample some typical dishes and then enjoy the evening—no stars in the sky, but maybe a nice cold beer!

Swakopmund is a coastal town in Namibia, situated about 225 miles west of Windhoek. Nestled between the vast Namib Desert and the South Atlantic Ocean, this charming town offers plenty of outdoor adventures to keep visitors entertained for several days. While we don’t have that much time, since we have a day to ourselves, here are some suggestions for filling that day with...

• A relaxing boat ride

• An exciting quad excursion among the sand dunes

• A day of total relaxation on the beach

• A gastronomic tour to discover the best restaurants in the city, complete with tastings of local beers...

…and many more fantastic adventures!

We’re nearing the end of our adventures here in Namibia, but something feels like it’s missing, right? So let’s get moving! We wake up early and set off once again. We still have quite a journey ahead, with our compass pointing south as we enter the Namibian desert, characterized by towering sand dunes in incredible shades ranging from pink to orange to red. We have all the time in the world to soak in the view: the trip will take about five hours, and the morning will fly by as we keep our noses glued to the windows, eager not to miss a single detail of what Mother Nature has crafted in this part of the world.

We arrive at our destination in the early afternoon, entering Namib-Naukluft National Park, where we’re immediately surrounded by the towering sand dunes we had only imagined or seen from afar earlier. The colors are simply breathtaking: each dune is unique, with their hues resulting from the ferrous composition of the sand and its oxidation—those that are the oldest appear a deep red. We don’t waste any time and set off to explore the area: here lie some of the highest dunes in the world, reaching almost 400 meters in height!

Once again, we find ourselves in the park that enchanted us yesterday. However, two of the most spectacular locations are still on our list: Sossusvlei and Deadvlei. First, we head to Sossusvlei, a lake that is mostly dry and covered with a crust of salt sand. Will it feel like we’re on Mars? The impression is spot on!

Next, we move to one of the most famous and photographed spots in all of Namibia: Deadvlei. This depression of white sand is surrounded by towering red sand dunes. The most striking feature here is the dead acacia trees, whose dark brown or black silhouettes create an incredible contrast against the vibrant landscape. Once, there was an oasis of acacias fed by a river that eventually changed course, leaving behind one of the most evocative places on Earth. Let’s grab our cameras; in this stunning setting, it’s impossible to take a bad photo!

After two days immersed in the surreal landscapes of the Namibian desert, it’s time to return to reality. We settle into our cars and set off back to where our journey began. The capital, Windhoek, awaits us, but first, let’s enjoy the African landscapes one last time from our windows. The drive will take about five and a half hours, giving us plenty of time to choose our favorite playlist and kick off a singing competition!

Around lunchtime, we arrive at the hotel, drop off our backpacks, and find a place to grab a bite to eat.

We have the afternoon free, allowing us to explore the city center and check out various points of interest. One highlight is Christuskirche, a church uniquely located amid the streets. We also can’t miss the Namibia Craft Center, where we can admire local craftsmanship and stock up on souvenirs to take home. If we’re craving a touch of nature, the botanical gardens are a perfect spot to revisit the days spent on the road among Africa’s stunning landscapes.

In the evening, we’ll gather for dinner one last time: the perfect opportunity to relive the best moments of our adventure and end on a high note!

Check-out and goodbye – until your next WeRoad adventure!