12 Days Luxury Namibia Safari

This 12-day Namibia luxury safari connects the country’s defining desert landscapes with wildlife-rich reserves, scenic flights, and carefully selected lodges from Windhoek to Etosha.

Trip Highlights

• Game drive in the private Omaanda Reserve
• Scenic light aircraft flight over the Namib Desert
• Sunrise visit to Sossusvlei and Deadvlei
• Exploration of the wider NamibRand Nature Reserve
• Desert hiking, biking and stargazing opportunities
• Coastal scenery and activities around Swakopmund and Walvis Bay
• Sundowners among the boulders of Damaraland
• Search for desert-adapted elephants
• Visit to Twyfelfontein’s ancient rock engravings
• Game drives in Ongava and the Etosha region
• Rhino tracking opportunities in the private reserve
• Conservation insight at the Ongava Research Centre

Overview

The journey begins near Windhoek before flying into the Namib Desert for several days around Sossusvlei and the wider NamibRand landscape.

From there, the route follows Namibia’s Atlantic coast to Swakopmund before turning inland towards the rocky landscapes of Damaraland.

The final part of the safari moves into the Etosha region, where game drives in the private Ongava Game Reserve provide opportunities to see rhino and other wildlife in a very different environment from the desert landscapes encountered earlier in the trip.

Light aircraft flights connect several of the destinations, making it possible to cover considerable ground without spending the majority of the safari on long road transfers.

The result is a varied itinerary with time for wildlife, landscapes, photography, cultural heritage and the quieter pleasures of Namibia’s remote lodges.

Day-by-Day Itinerary

Day 1: Arrival in Windhoek

Arrive at Hosea Kutako International Airport, where you will be met by a Petnah Africa Tours representative and transferred to your lodge.

After settling in, head out on a game drive in the private Omaanda Reserve. The reserve provides an immediate introduction to Namibia’s wildlife and landscapes before the journey turns towards the desert.

Return to the lodge around sunset for dinner and an evening at leisure.

Overnight: Omaanda Lodge
Meals: As provided by the safari package

Day 2: Windhoek to Sossusvlei

After breakfast, transfer to Eros Airport for your light aircraft flight towards Sossusvlei.

The flight offers an aerial perspective of the changing Namibian landscape as the highlands give way to increasingly arid terrain. On arrival at the local airstrip, transfer to your lodge and settle into your surroundings.

The afternoon is deliberately unhurried. Relax beside your private plunge pool, take in the desert views or simply enjoy the lodge before beginning your Sossusvlei exploration the following morning.

Overnight: &Beyond Sossusvlei Desert Lodge
Meals: As provided by the safari package

Day 3: Sossusvlei and Deadvlei

Set out before dawn with your guide towards Sossusvlei and the surrounding vleis.

The early morning light changes the appearance of the dunes as the sun rises, creating long shadows across the ridges and highlighting the contrast between the sand and the pale clay pans.

If conditions and your interests allow, climb one of the dunes or take a more leisurely walk along the ridges. Continue to Deadvlei, where the remains of ancient camel thorn trees stand against the white floor of the pan.

Around midday, begin the return journey, stopping at Sesriem Canyon before heading back to the lodge.

Overnight: &Beyond Sossusvlei Desert Lodge
Meals: As provided by the safari package

Day 4: NamibRand Nature Reserve

Spend the day exploring the wider NamibRand Nature Reserve or enjoying the facilities at your lodge.

The reserve provides opportunities to experience the Namib beyond the better-known Sossusvlei dunes, with desert wildlife, hiking and biking routes and expansive open landscapes.

Alternatively, take advantage of the lodge’s spa, swimming pool and other facilities. With minimal light pollution, the desert is also well suited to stargazing, and the lodge’s resident astronomer can provide additional context on the night sky.

Overnight: &Beyond Sossusvlei Desert Lodge
Meals: As provided by the safari package

Day 5: Sossusvlei to Swakopmund

After breakfast, transfer to the airstrip for your flight towards Swakopmund.

The journey provides a different aerial perspective of Namibia, including the transition towards the Atlantic coastline.

On arrival, transfer to your hotel and spend the afternoon at leisure. Swakopmund has a distinctive architectural character shaped by its German colonial history, alongside a strong contemporary tourism and adventure scene. Rather than treating that history as a decorative backdrop, the town is an opportunity to consider the different layers of Namibia’s past and present.

You may also enjoy the town’s restaurants, coastline and relaxed atmosphere.

Overnight: Strand Hotel Swakopmund
Meals: As provided by the safari package

Day 6: Swakopmund and Walvis Bay

Head towards Walvis Bay for a day of coastal activities.

Depending on the selected arrangements, activities can include excursions into the dunes, boat trips and kayaking, while other optional activities around Swakopmund include quad biking, horse riding and skydiving.

The Atlantic coastline creates a sharp contrast with the dry inland desert. Walvis Bay’s lagoon and surrounding coastal wetlands are also important habitats for marine and birdlife, making the region worthwhile for travellers interested in photography and nature as well as adventure.

Return to Swakopmund for the evening.

Overnight: Strand Hotel Swakopmund
Meals: As provided by the safari package

Day 7: Swakopmund to Damaraland

After breakfast, leave the coast and travel inland towards the Twyfelfontein region of southern Damaraland.

The landscape changes dramatically as the coastal desert gives way to rocky plains, dry river valleys and enormous granite formations.

Arrive at Mowani Mountain Camp and settle in before enjoying time around the lodge. Later, head to the clifftop bar for sundowners while taking in the surrounding landscape.

Overnight: Mowani Mountain Camp
Meals: As provided by the safari package

Day 8: Desert Elephants and Twyfelfontein

Begin early with a search for desert-adapted elephants in the dry river valleys and surrounding plains.

These elephants are African elephants that have adapted their movements and behaviour to survive in the arid conditions of northwestern Namibia. Their presence is closely tied to the availability of water and food, so sightings are never guaranteed, and guides adjust their search according to recent signs and movements.

Continue to Twyfelfontein to see its ancient rock engravings, then visit the distinctive geological formation known as the Organ Pipes.

Twyfelfontein is a UNESCO World Heritage Site recognised for its extensive collection of rock art, providing an important connection between Namibia’s present-day landscape and its human history.

Return to Mowani Mountain Camp for the evening.

Overnight: Mowani Mountain Camp
Meals: As provided by the safari package

Day 9: Damaraland to Ongava

After breakfast, continue towards the Etosha region and the private Ongava Game Reserve.

Ongava borders the southern side of Etosha National Park and provides a private setting for wildlife viewing. The reserve is particularly associated with rhino conservation, while its broader habitats support species including elephant, lion, giraffe, zebra and several antelope species.

On arrival, check into Anderssons at Ongava and take some time to settle in. The lodge’s position overlooking a waterhole provides opportunities to watch wildlife even when you are not out on a game drive.

Overnight: Anderssons at Ongava
Meals: As provided by the safari package

Day 10: Safari in Ongava

Set out with your guide for a full day of wildlife viewing in the Ongava Reserve.

Game drives provide opportunities to look for lion, leopard, elephant, rhino and other wildlife, with your guide interpreting tracks, behaviour and recent sightings as you move through the reserve.

Where conditions, guide availability and reserve protocols permit, there may also be an opportunity to track white rhino on foot. Walking around large wildlife requires strict adherence to professional safety procedures and is always subject to current conditions.

Return to Anderssons at Ongava for the evening.

Overnight: Anderssons at Ongava
Meals: As provided by the safari package

Day 11: Etosha National Park and Conservation

Today offers another opportunity to experience the Etosha region.

You may choose to venture into the main Etosha National Park for a game drive, where wildlife viewing is strongly influenced by the distribution of water across the park. Alternatively, spend the day at Anderssons and enjoy a slower final day around the reserve.

The Ongava Research Centre also provides an opportunity to learn about research and conservation work associated with the reserve, adding useful context to the wildlife experiences of the preceding days.

Overnight: Anderssons at Ongava
Meals: As provided by the safari package

Day 12: Ongava to Windhoek

Enjoy an early departure from Ongava and begin the drive back towards Windhoek.

You will be transferred to the airport for your onward flight, bringing your Namibia luxury safari to an end.

Meals: Breakfast

End of the 8-Day Namibia Safari

What’s Included

• Regional flights
• Light aircraft flights within Namibia
• All applicable transfers
• 4×4 safari vehicle with experienced driver-guide
• Park and reserve access as specified
• Safari experiences listed in the itinerary
• Accommodation as specified in the itinerary
• Full-board meals
• Applicable taxes and levies

What’s Not Included

• Accommodation before or after the safari
• International flights
• Personal expenditure
• Extra activities not specified in the itinerary

Frequently Asked Questions

1. Why use light aircraft flights on a Namibia safari?

Namibia is a large country, and flying between several destinations can substantially reduce the amount of time spent travelling by road. It also provides an aerial perspective of the country’s changing landscapes.

2. What is special about Sossusvlei?

Sossusvlei is best known for its enormous red-orange dunes, pale clay pans and the stark trees of Deadvlei. The wider Namib Sand Sea is part of a UNESCO World Heritage Site recognised for its extensive dune landscape and distinctive desert ecology.

3. Can I see desert-adapted elephants in Damaraland?

They are one of Damaraland’s most distinctive wildlife attractions, but sightings are not guaranteed. Guides search dry river valleys and surrounding areas based on recent signs, water availability and elephant movements.

4. What wildlife can I expect around Ongava?

Ongava supports a range of wildlife, with rhino being one of its principal attractions. Game drives can also produce sightings of elephant, lion, leopard, giraffe, zebra and various antelope, although wildlife encounters are never guaranteed.

5. Is this a good itinerary for photography?

Yes. The route combines major photographic environments including the dunes of Sossusvlei, the stark landscapes of Damaraland, Atlantic coastal scenery and wildlife around Ongava and Etosha.

The light aircraft flights also provide opportunities for aerial landscape photography, subject to flight conditions and operator policies.

Ready to start planning your safari in Namibia? Send us an inquiry through our contact page or WhatsApp us on +256 705 161344. The itinerary can be tailored around your preferred travel dates, activities, and accommodation arrangements.