Day 1: Windhoek - Kalahari Desert (250 kilometers)
The pick up time is between 08:00 and 08:45 from Windhoek. You shall take the B1 road that goes to Rehoboth. After a few kilometers, turn to the left into the C21 and head towards the Camelthorn Lodge which is situated on the D1268 road. The lodge is strategically situated in the center of the Kalahari Desert. The lodge is built with thatch and blessed with a staggering stone pool.
- Accommodation: Camelthorn Lodge or similar
Day 2: Camelthorn Kalahari Lodge - Namib Desert
You shall proceed with the D1268 road and later join the C20. You will later join the B1 road as you make your way into the gravel road that will take you past small villages and spectacular scenery. Lunch is to be served somewhere along the road. Blue Crane Safaris aims to arrive at the lodge early in the afternoon. Dinner will be served at the lodge.
- Accommodation: Namib Desert Lodge or similar
Day 3: Namib Desert - Sossusvlei (250 kilometers)
You shall start early to catch the soft light of the sunrise over the desert. In the cool of the morning, you will take a walk through the desert, with a good chance to see gemsboks, springboks, and ostriches. You will spend the morning in and around Sossusvlei and drive to Sossusvlei lodge for lunch, passing by the famous ‘Dune 45’. As the day cools in the late afternoon, you will make a short excursion to Sesriem Canyon before returning to the lodge.
- Accommodation: Namib Desert Lodge or similar
Day 4: Namib Desert - Swakopmund (300 kilometers / 4 hours and 25 minutes)
Namibia is a country of contrasts. Today, you barter the desert for the sea. You shall cross the Tropic of Capricorn and transverse both Gaub and Kuiseb passes, driving down to the dry river bed at the bottom of the Kuiseb Canyon before climbing up the other side, watching the spectacular desert landscape unfold before you. Having arrived at the coast, you will make a stop in Walvis Bay to enjoy the view of flamingoes and other birds in the lagoons and to visit the salt works. Dinner tonight is at your own expense in a local restaurant.
- Accommodation: Atlantic Villa Guesthouse or similar
Day 5: Swakopmund
This is a free day with plenty of time to explore the town. Swakopmund is a very pleasant seaside town with lots of shops, a good stretch of beach (although the Atlantic is quite cold here), and an open-air curio market. There is also a very good museum and the Namibian National Marine Aquarium is located in Swakopmund.
Alternatively, there are various optional activities that can be arranged. These include a boat-tour (with oysters and champagne!), scenic flights, micro-light flights over the desert, quad-bike trips into the desert and over the sand dunes around Swakopmund, sand boarding, skydiving, and many other activities.
Your guide will discuss all the possible optional activities with you and offer to make pre-booking in advance. Please note that all extra activities in Swakopmund are subject to availability and are made at your own risk and expense. Dinner and lunch tonight are not included in the price of the safari and will be at your own expense.
- Accommodation: Atlantic Villa Guesthouse or similar
Day 6: Swakopmund - Twyfelfontein (430 kilometers / 6 hours)
Heading for Damaraland along the Skeleton Coast, you will stop at the seal colony of Cape Cross where you may have a close encounter with thousands of fur seals. You shall continue to the small town of Uis for supplies. Uis is an old mining town and a good place to buy semi-precious stones. You will pass by the Brandberg, the highest mountain in Namibia, and arrive in Twyfelfontein in time for sunset. On the way, you will spend some time to experience the old rock engravings that may be found in the area.
- Accommodation: Twyfelfontein Lodge
Day 7: Twyfelfontein
You will be driving on the gravel road that connects so many places in the Kunene Region. You will pass by the village of Bergsig and proceed for another 45 kilometers to Palmwag. This part of the world is blessed with Table Mountains and the spectacular scenery. Dinner is going to be served at the propitious Palmwag Lodge.
- Accommodation: Palmwag Lodge or similar
Day 8: Palmwag - Okaukuejo, Etosha National Park (200 kilometers)
You will enter Etosha National Park and drive through the restricted ‘West Etosha’ zone. West Etosha is a huge area that has been set aside for wildlife research to allow the animals to breed without any disturbance from game drive vehicles. With a special permit, Blue Crane Safaris is allowed to transit through this area of the park.
However, their special permit does not allow you to leave the main road or to make too many stops along the way. You should be lucky to see many animals including elephants, maybe both white and black rhinos, and mountain zebras as well as other species that usually do not seen in the main tourist areas of Etosha. You will also have a good chance to see black rhinos at the waterhole of Okaukuejo.
- Accommodation: Okaukuejo Camp
Day 9: Okaukuejo - Namutoni, Etosha National Park
You will start the day early and get a game drive on your way to Namutoni via Halali Middle Camp. Time is on your side to explore the camp and visit the waterhole and perhaps also the swimming pool, the bar or the mini-shop. Along the way to Namutoni, you got to stop to experience the vast Etosha Pan with its shimmering salt crust. You will get another short game drive in the late afternoon, stopping at some of the famous waterholes and waiting for the animals to come and drink will be undertaken.
- Accommodation: Namutoni Camp
Day 10: Namutoni - Okonjima (300 kilometers)
You will get morning game drives before leaving Etosha. You will drive through small towns via Lake Oshikoto to Okonjima and Africat Foundation, where you will make an afternoon excursion to see cats and wild dogs and learn about the work of the foundation.
- Accommodation: Okonjima Plains Camp Lodge
Day 11: Okonjima - Windhoek (300 kilometers)
You will be back to Windhoek through the small town of Okahandja with the biggest craft market in Namibia. You shall stop to explore the market and perhaps buy some souvenirs before heading back to Windhoek. The stalls are operated on a co-operative basis by the local community and the market is a good place to do last-minute-shopping for truly Namibian souvenirs. The aim is to arrive back in the city in mid-afternoon and get dropped off at your accommodation.
