6 Day Sand, Sea, and Etosha Budget Camping Safari in Namibia

Day 1: Windhoek - Sesriem Campsite - 320 km/199 mi

You will be collected from your accommodation within the Windhoek city limits at 07:00 and transferred to Chameleon Safaris Headquarters for a short pre-departure meeting. There is some lovely mountain scenery on the drive to Sesriem. The road climbs up onto and over Namibia’s central plateau and stops at the small town of Rehoboth for essential supplies. Back on the road, the route passes via the small community at BűellsPort, continuing through the desert landscape. Arrival at Sesriem is aimed for around lunchtime to make camp under a huge, ancient camelthorn tree from where the towering red dunes of the world’s oldest desert can be glimpsed. A late afternoon picnic-style lunch is enjoyed after setting up camp.

In the late afternoon, there is the option to start exploring the world’s oldest desert. A short drive will take guests to Elim Dune for the best golden light before sunset. From here, if desired, it is a relatively short walk back through the desert to camp.

• Accommodation: Twin share tents, shared ablution at the campsite
• Meals: Lunch, dinner

Day 2: Sesriem - Sossusvlei - Sesriem - 120 km/75 mi

Sunrise in the dunes is the name of the game this morning, and that means a pre-dawn start. The first stop will be at Dune 45, so named because it is 45 km from Sesriem, and this first distance is covered in darkness and early morning twilight.

The best time to photograph the dunes is around sunrise and sunset. This is when towering sand dunes can be seen illuminated in glowing orange and apricot red on one side and swathed in shadow on the other. The depth of field is amazing at this time of day.

Arrival at Dune 45 offers the opportunity to climb to a vantage point for sunrise, watching as the colours grow and change with the ever-altering light. Back at the vehicle for a quick breakfast before continuing for the last few kilometers to the 2×4 car park, where all 2-wheel drive vehicles have to stop. From here, the route enters the ancient Tsauchab Riverbed for the last 5 km leg to Sossusvlei itself.

There is a 4×4 shuttle service that will transport guests through the sandy terrain of the riverbed. A visit to Dead Vlei follows, an ancient pan completely surrounded by sand and strikingly populated with dead, skeletal camelthorn trees. These trees have been a feature of this landscape for over 1000 years. Sossusvlei is almost surrounded by dunes, with just one narrow path kept open by the Tsauchab River.

There is time to explore the area on foot and to climb one of the highest dunes in the world, some towering 300 m above the desert floor. The views are breathtaking and justly famous.

The drive returns to Sesriem for lunch and perhaps a dip in the swimming pool. In the afternoon, a short excursion takes place to see Sesriem Canyon.

Only four km from the campsite, this canyon has been carved out of the landscape by the Tsauchab River. Around two million years ago, there was an ice age in Europe. This caused glaciers to form and resulted in a worldwide drop in sea level. The knock-on effect at Sesriem Canyon was an increase in the length and water flow of the Tsauchab River. This greater force of water allowed the Tsauchab to begin cutting through the terrain, resulting in the canyon seen today.

Guests can easily walk into the riverbed, where it is usually much cooler in the canyon, and the river can be followed for some way along its journey to Sossusvlei.

• Accommodation: Twin share tents, shared ablution at the campsite
• Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner

Day 3: Sesriem Campsite - Swakopmund - 350 km/217 mi

Departing after an early breakfast, the journey heads west into the desert. The route first crosses the Namib gravel plains, large areas of flat and seemingly barren terrain broken up by huge mountain inselbergs. The first stop this morning is the tiny town of Solitaire, where guests can stretch their legs and sample the apple pie that has made this homestead famous, a quirky little place with amazing photo opportunities among the old farm vehicles scattered around the grounds. The route crosses the Tropic of Capricorn at 23.5 degrees south. There is a signpost at this auspicious spot, and a stop is made along the road for photos. Two mountain passes are traversed this morning, first the smaller canyon of the Gaub River, a tributary of the Kuiseb River at Kuiseb Pass. The road continues to the top of the mountains, dropping steeply down into the canyon carved over eons by the Kuiseb River on its way to debouch into the ocean at the port town of Walvis Bay. The route climbs up from the banks of the river and over the pass, traveling through the mountain peaks. Emerging from the mountains, a flat road leads all the way to the town of Walvis Bay. Lunch is enjoyed at Walvis Bay Lagoon before completing the final leg of the journey into Swakopmund.

Dinner tonight is for guests’ own account. Swakopmund boasts some truly excellent restaurants, and the guide will be able to help with recommendations and bookings.

• Accommodation: Twin share, en-suite bathroom
• Meals: Breakfast, lunch

Day 4: Swakopmund - Etosha National Park - 510 km/317 mi

After breakfast, departure is aimed for 09:00 today. Heading on the main scenic road, the route passes the small town of Outjo and continues onwards to Etosha National Park.

The park is introduced with a short game drive between the main entrance gate, Anderson Gate, and Okaukuejo Camp, with a good chance to spot big game right from the very start. Etosha is huge, covering just over 22,000 square km, and is home to 114 species of mammal, 350 species of bird, 110 species of reptile, uncountable numbers of insects, and, somewhat bizarrely, one species of fish.

After setting up camp, and depending on time, there will be a short late afternoon game drive in search of big game. Elephant, rhino, giraffe, and the big cats are often seen in this area. Smaller species are also abundant, with several types of antelope and gazelle, common zebra, and spectacular bird life.

All visitors must be back in camp at sunset, but the ‘game show’ does not stop when the sun goes down. Accessible on foot and only a short walk from the campsite, Okaukuejo is justly famous for its flood-lit waterhole, where guests are afforded the chance to see all of Etosha’s treasures. Big cats, elephants, and the whole spectrum of smaller game can be seen, but in particular, this is the best chance to get up close to a black rhino. Namibia is the last stronghold of these critically endangered creatures, and at Okaukuejo, they are regular visitors.

• Accommodation: Twin share tents, shared ablution at the campsite
• Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner

Day 5: Okaukuejo - Halali - Okaukuejo - Etosha National Park

The whole day is dedicated to exploring Etosha and making the most of it. The park gates open at sunrise, and after a quick cup of coffee and a snack, departure is planned as the sun breaches the horizon. Early morning is usually a productive time for game viewing and a good opportunity to catch big cats returning from the hunt. Today, guests will meet a local guide at the gates of the park and enjoy a full day of game driving on an open game viewer.

Etosha is a desert landscape, and water is the most scarce natural resource. There are, however, numerous waterholes here, both natural and man-made, and the game driving technique is to take in as many of these as possible. Here, it is hoped that the game will come to the vehicles as the animals attend for an early morning drink.

Along the way, a stop will be made at a designated picnic area for a quick breakfast before continuing the game drive en route to the camp at Halali. The name Halali is taken from a bugle refrain originally used during sport hunting with horses and hounds in Europe. The bugler would sound the Halali to signify that the hunt was over. This was considered appropriate for Etosha, as inside the protection of the park, the hunting of animals is over forever.

Lunch will be enjoyed at Halali. There is a small shop with basic merchandise and a few souvenirs, and there will also be time for a swim in the pool. There is also time to visit the Halali camp waterhole before heading back out into the park for the afternoon game drive.

On the way back to Okaukuejo, there will be a stop to take a closer look at the Etosha Pan. The name Etosha translates as ‘great white space,’ but this name does not do justice to the immensity of the pan. Over 4,700 square km of dazzling white mineral pan is so big that it can be seen from space.

Keeping a sharp lookout for game while winding back to Okaukuejo, arrival back at camp is aimed for just before sunset and in time for the best hour of the day at the Okaukuejo waterhole.

• Accommodation: Twin share tents, shared ablution at the campsite
• Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner

Day 6: Etosha National Park - Windhoek - 500 km/311 mi

After breaking camp for the last time, the journey continues with a game drive to the park exit, hoping to catch sight of some magnificent predators and plains game before heading south to Windhoek. A brief stop is made at the small town of Okahandja to refuel the vehicle.

This is also where Namibia’s largest wood carving market is found. Craftsmen from all over Namibia come here to showcase a wide variety of items, both large and small. Here, there is the opportunity to collect a truly Namibian souvenir and, at the same time, support local artists and communities.

Arrival back in Windhoek is aimed for the late afternoon. There will be a shuttle service to take guests to their accommodation within the Windhoek city limits. Chameleon Backpackers is recommended for great value, centrally located accommodation.

Departure flights are not recommended for today.

• Meals: Breakfast, lunch

Travel Insurance

Chameleon Safaris strongly recommends that all travelers obtain comprehensive travel insurance at the time of booking. In the event of a cancellation, they will provide a support letter to assist the traveler with their insurance claim.