Highlights of Namibia

Self-Guided, Self Drive, Mininmum 2 people Seasonal Bi-weeky Departures

'Namibia' - the name alone evokes images of vast desert plains, surreal uninhabited landscapes, monumental sand dunes and a barren Atlantic coastline evocatively titled the 'Skeleton Coast'. It is a vast and impressive country that holds some of Africa's most spectacular scenery such as the Naukluft Mountains, the Waterberg Plateau, Damaraland with its craggy Brandberg peaks and the ancient Namib Desert home to the famous Sossussvlei dunes and Sesriem Canyon.

It also contains some incredible wildlife in one of Southern Africa's finest game reserves, Etosha National Park. There is a surprising amount of indigenous culture and history in evidence as well from the largest concentration of San rock art in Africa to the modern day Herero women parading the Bavarian town of Swakopmund in their Victorian dress. It is among these inspirational landscapes that you will spend your time exploring and walking. Namibia is a breath of fresh air where each day brings different terrain, scenery, wildlife and experiences.

This self drive tour, either camping or lodge/hotel based gives you the flexibility to move as you please in a safe country, where driving the largely deserted roads is a pleasure and other drivers wave as they pass.

Days 1 and 2. Outbound

Fly overnight from the UK to Windhoek. Collect your vehicle and transfer to your game lodge in the tranquil countryside outside the city.

Days 3 and 4. Waterberg Plateau

Various hikes take you into the grounds of the famous Waterberg Plateau Park, a sanctuary and breeding area for rare and endangered animal species and containing rocks 850 million years old, on which the dinosaurs left their tracks. The trails will often show you the fresh signs of leopard, rhino, buffalo and antelope. By hiking up onto the plateau, towering 400 metres above the surrounding plains, you can enjoy spectacular views. Discover striking sandstone formations, massive fig trees, bubbling springs and San rock engravings.

Days 5 and 6. Etosha National Park

A short drive brings you to Etosha, meaning "Great White Place". It is one of the world's finest Game Reserves. The perennial springs along the edges of the Etosha Pan draw huge concentrations of wildlife and birds. Game drives in the park will view its large array of animals and birdlife including rare Black Rhino, elephants, giraffe, lions, Cheetah and numerous birds. The evenings can be spent at floodlit waterholes adjacent to the camps.

Days 7 and 8. Twyfelfontein and the Brandberg Plateau

Twyfelfontein contains an amazing array of rock paintings dating from 300BC. A local Damara guide will give you a memorable walking tour and explain the meaning and origins of the rock engravings. The Brandberg massif is a grizzled plateau containing Namibia's highest peak, Konigstein (2573 metres) whose outline, crimson and burnt purple at dawn and dusk, can be seen from many miles away. There are numerous hiking options available including a walk into the massive open-air rock art gallery containing over 40,000 San rock paintings to view the world famous image of 'The White Lady'.

Day 9. Swakopmund

The town of Swakopmund rises up through the mists of the Namib Desert, an eclectic mix of Bohemian and Bavarian. An overnight stop allows you to shake off the dust of the desert and enjoy the seafood in this 'summer resort' on the cool Atlantic Skeleton Coast.

Days 10 to 13. Namib Naukluft Park

Drive south to the Namib Naukluft Park, one of the largest national parks in Africa covering the massive wilderness area of the Namib Desert and the Naukluft Mountains. It is home to some of the rarest (and weirdest) plant and animal species in the world. There are two fantastic hiking trails - the Waterkloof Trail, a 16 kilometre circular route that takes in some of the highest points of the entire park, and the Olive Trail which brings you to the top of the central massif at 1500 metres. The Sossussvlei area of the Namib Desert must be the ultimate Namibian experience where you can climb up the vast 'Dune 45' and into the desolate 'Vleis' that make up the fascinating sand dune landscape. Soak up the solitude of this mesmerising area and watch the colours of the setting sun reflected in the vast sea of sand.

Days 14 and 15. Homeward

Continue to Windhoek, where you will have an opportunity for some last minute shopping before returning your vehicle and catching your overnight flight back to the UK.