Itinerary Highlights
- Experience adrenaline-racing fun with sandboarding and quad biking in Swakopmund
- Look out for desert-adapted elephants in some amazing scenery across Damaraland
- Spend time at Etosha National Park to see abundant game like giraffe at the waterholes
- Visit the cheetah rehabilitation project at Okonjima to see first-hand their important work
What's Included
- Flights
- Accommodation Throughout
- Car Hire
Candice Buchan
Travel Specialist
Do you have limited time, but still want to explore some of Namibia's striking highlights? Then consider this shorter, yet still comprehensive 12-night self-drive that focuses on the extraordinary northern areas of Etosha National Park and Damaraland.
Pick-up your hire car after landing in Windhoek before winding down with a one-night stay at Olive Grove Guest House.
From here, make your way along the well-maintained roads through spectacular scenery to the coastal town of Swakopmund. Choose from a host of land and ocean activities, and be on the lookout for desert-adapted wildlife and ancient rock-art in the vast rocky deserts of Damaraland.
Next, see the abundant game at Etosha National Park – one of the world's best places to view animals as they jostle to get to the waterholes. In Etosha, you’ll find all of the Big Five, with an especially high concentration of lions. Black rhinos thrive here, and the reserve boasts one of the largest remaining populations of this critically endangered animal anywhere in Africa.
Your journey ends at the inspirational AfriCat Foundation project in Okonjima, where you can get close up to rescued big cats. When you stay in Okonjima, the cost of your accommodation goes directly into their work, so you’re helping every minute that you’re there.
This is a wonderful experience and one we highly recommend.
Please note, this is an example tour. To create your own tailor-made itinerary, speak with our Travel Specialists by calling us today.
Itinerary
Day 1 | Fly UK to Namibia
Day 2 | Windhoek
On arrival at lunchtime, collect your hire car and drive to Olive Grove Guest House for a one-night stay in a Standard Room, with breakfast included.
This afternoon will be at leisure, so you can enjoy the city and have a self-drive briefing.
Namibia’s capital city is a small, relaxed town of about 200,000 people. It lies in a valley in the exact centre of Namibia, and is well-organised and tidy, with German and South African architecture overlaid with a modern African culture.
Day 3 - 4 | Swakopmund
Head out on an early morning departure in an easterly direction, driving about four-and-a-half hours to the coastal town of Swakopmund for a two-night stay at Villa Margherita, with breakfast included.
There are many things on offer here, from adrenaline-pumping activities such as sandboarding and quad biking to boat trips during which you can see the marine life and inland attractions like the ancient Welwitschia plants.
The coastline near Swakopmund is also fantastic for birding, with resident populations of oystercatchers, Cape teals, Cape shovelers, black-winged stilts and pelicans.
Day 5 - 7 | Damaraland
A five-to-six-hour drive north through the rocky Damaraland desert takes you to Damara Mopane for a three-night stay, with breakfast included.
Highlights include the rock engravings, Organ Pipe rock formations and Petrified Forest. Look out for desert-adapted elephants along the way.
Day 8 - 10 | Etosha National Park
Journey northwards for about four-and-a-half hours to Etosha Safari Lodge for a three-night stay, with breakfast included.
This lodge is an ideal base for daily trips into the national park, either full-day with packed lunch or morning and afternoon drives, returning in the day to enjoy some time relaxing at the lodge.
Day 11 | Okonjima, AfriCat
Drive south for about three hours to your final base where you learn about the hands-on work done by the AfriCat Foundation project to save cheetah, lion and leopard.
Stay one night at Okonjima Main Lodge in a View Room, with breakfast and dinner included.
Day 12 | Flight Home
Return to Windhoek for an afternoon flight back to London via Johannesburg.
This final drive is about three hours.
Candice Buchan
Travel Specialist
Pricing Information & Dates
20th Dec 2025
Candice Buchan
Travel Specialist
Price Includes
- Return International Flights as per the itinerary
- All airport taxes and security charges
- Accommodation and meals as specified
- Transfers as specified
- Activities and excursions as specified
- All entrace fees on sightseeing tours as specified
Price Excludes
- Travel Insurance
- Any meals not specified in the itinerary
- Tips and gratuities
- Optional excursions
Pricing Notes
Why Choose Us?
Passionate travel experts
- We've been leading wildlife travel since our first South Africa tours over 25 years ago
- Our Travel Specialists have lived in their specialist area for years
- We work with local guides to immerse you deeper in our diverse range of experiences
Personal & tailor-made
- You'll speak to your own expert who'll share their first-hand knowledge
- We'll make your itinerary seamless with 24/7 emergency contact available
- Your Travel Specialist will listen to ensure you have the best chance of seeing the wildlife you love
Responsible by nature
- We take care to actively contribute to the conservation of environments we visit
- For select countries, we make a charitable donation on your behalf when you make your booking
- We've partnered with conservation experts and NGOs to curate responsible tours
For the latest travel advice from the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office check www.gov.uk/travelaware
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