Southern Namibia Explorer

Explore Southern Namibia at a leisurely pace and try not to blink, you won't want to miss a single second of this beautiful place.

A self drive safari that allows you to discover Namibia’s South! This trip takes you through the spectacular sandscapes of the Kalahari Desert, to the majestic Fish River Canyon, into the historical town, Lüderitz nestled on the edge of the “Prohibited Diamond Area”. From here you travel to Sossusvlei from where you can admire the highest dunes in the world. Your self drive safari ends with a few days in Swakopmund where you can and enjoy the charm of this quirky little holiday town.

Self driving gives you the flexibility to explore Namibia at your own pace and this tour can be easily tailormade to suit your own requirements.

• Experience the Red Sands and Wildlife  of the Kalahari
  
• Photograph the Fish River Canyon, second largest in the world
  
• Visit Luderitz and the Kolmanskop Ghost Town
  
• Sossusvlei , Sesreim Canyon and Namib Naukluft National Park
  
• Spend time in Swakopmund
  

Day 1 : Windhoek, Olive Grove Guest House

Arrival at Hosea Kutako (Windhoek International) airport, where you will receive your rental vehicle. Once you have sorted out all the formalities for your vehicle, drive to Windhoek, the capital city of Namibia. After check-in at the accommodation establishment, you will be taken on a city tour. Windhoek is a city of many contrasts. Modern skyscrapers blend with historic buildings dating from the turn of the century. Several buildings from the German colonial era have been preserved and restored to fulfil useful functions in the community today. Some of the sights you will see on your tour are the Ride Memorial, the Old Fort, the Parliament Building (also known as the “Ink Place”), the Lutheran Church, the Railway Station and many more.

Accommodation: Olive Grove Guest House
Meals: Bed & Breakfast

Day 2 : Mariental , Bagatelle Kalahari Game Lodge

After breakfast departure from Windhoek and drive via Rehoboth, the centre of Namibia’s Baster community into the red dunes of the Kalahari Desert to the Bagatelle Kalahari Game Lodge. Late afternoon you can participate in a guided game drive to learn about the flora and fauna of the Kalahari Desert.

Accommodation: Bagatelle Kalahari Game Lodge ( Strohbale Rooms )Meals: Dinner, Bed and Breakfast

Day 3 : Fish River Canyon, Canon Lodge

A full day’s journey takes you south through the desert-dominated landscapes to a picturesque Quiver Tree Forest. This prehistoric tree reaches skyward with graphically forked branches, their trunks peel and form intricate patterns as the tree matures, these are rewarding subjects to photograph. Giant’s Playground is an impressive jumble of massive boulders; a virtual maze where time can be spent wandering through the extensive rocky labyrinth. You proceed to Keetmanshoop and thereafter continue via the Naute Dam, to the Fish River Canyon, which is the second largest in the world.

Accommodation: Canon Lodge
Meals: Dinner, Bed & Breakfast Basis

Day 4 : Fish River Canyon, Canon Lodge

Today you can view the spectacular northern fringes of the Fish River Canyon from various vantage points. Here the impressive surrounding rock formation provides many interesting hours for enthusiastic nature lovers.

Partake (optional) in one of the various activities offered by the lodge, i.e. sundowner drives, walks, horse riding and magical scenic flights over the canyon.

Accommodation: Canon Lodge
Meals: Dinner, Bed & Breakfast Basis

Day 5 : Luderitz, The Nest Hotel

The next leg of your journey takes you via the small historic village of Aus and through the vast barren expanse of the Prohibited Diamond Area, to Lüderitz. Lüderitz is renowned for its old-world charm and distinctly German colonial architecture. Set around the bay, with their original gables, winding stairwells, verandas, turrets and bay- and bow windows still intact, these buildings have a unique character. After a short sightseeing tour of Lüderitz, enjoy an afternoon excursion to the Diaz cross where the daring Portuguese sailors erected a stone pillar in the 1480’s.

Accommodation: The Nest Hotel
Meals : Bed & Breakfast

Day 6 : Helmeringhausen, Farm Landsberg

After breakfast visit Kolmanskop, a ghost town that was abandoned over 40 years ago and now gives a fascinating insight into the area's great diamond boom. A few of the buildings have been restored, but many are left exactly as they were, and now the surrounding dunes are gradually burying them. Again you have to travel through the Diamond Prohibited Area via Aus and Helmeringhausen to Farm Landsberg. Experience the daily life of a farmer in the south.

Accommodation: Farm Landsberg
Meals : Dinner, Bed & Breakfast

Day 7 : Sossusvlei, Kulula Desert Lodge

Today you travel through some of Namibia’s most spectacular sceneries. Vast expanses of yellow savannah are dotted with bushes and solitary camelthorn trees. Distant mountain ranges take on different nuances of purple and blue as the day progresses. En route you visit the Duwisib Castle, which was built by Baron von Wolff for his American wife Jayta in 1909. The furnishings and paintings were imported from Germany.

Your destination is the Kulala Desert Lodge. Situated south of the Sesriem gate at Sossusvlei, lies the private 21 000 hectare Kulala Wilderness Reserve, the closest reserve to Sossusvlei itself. Kulala Desert Lodge is in prime location on the western side of the reserve. It offers magnificent dune scenery to the west and rugged Namib mountainous escarpment to the north and east with grassy plains and “fairy circles” filling the space in between.

Accommodation: Kulala Desert Lodge
Meals: Full Board Basis including activities

Day 8 : Sossusvlei, Kulala Desert Lodge

Activities are varied and numerous and include early morning guided game drives to the dunes (the journey takes you to the famous Sossusvlei, a clay pan surrounded by some of the highest sand dunes in the world), nature drives and walks on the private reserve. Day trips into the Namib Naukluft Mountains and early morning ballooning can be booked as an optional activity at an extra cost.

Accommodation: Kulala Desert Lodge
Meals: Full Board Basis including activities

Day 9 : Swakopmund, Hansa Hotel

The route takes you north via the Kuiseb Canyon to Swakopmund. Highlights en route include a drive to the “Moon Landscape” and the ancient desert plant, “Welwitschia mirabilis”. This quaint desert town with its old-world charm and relaxed atmosphere hedged by desert and sea, is enhanced by lush green lawns and palm trees

Accommodation: Hansa Hotel
Meals: Bed & Breakfast

Day 10 and 11 : Swakopmund, Hansa Hotel

Two Days are spend in Swakopmund. The sweep of the coastline and desert hinterland offers many options for adventure and relaxation. Speak to your Rhino Africa Safari consultant about the optional activities that you can enjoy in Swakopmund

Accommodation: Hansa Hotel
Meals: Bed & Breakfast

Day 12 : Windhoek, Olive Grove Guest House

Return journey via Okahandja to Windhoek. Okahandja is an important centre for woodcarvers from the north. They practice their ancient skills at the Woodcarvers Market next to the main road. This is a good place to pick a last souvenir. Arrival in Windhoek with check in at the Olive Grove.

Accommodation : Olive Grove Guesthouse
Meals: Bed & Breakfast

Day 13 : Day of Departure

Depending on the departure time of your flight, you will have time for some last minute shopping before driving to the Windhoek International Airport in time to drop off the rental keys, take care of all formalities before check-in on your outbound flight. Bid farewell to Namibia!

Please Note : Rhino Africa specialise in tailormaking itineraries to suit individual needs and requirements. Contact us to discuss your travel plans. Should our Southern Namibia Explorer itinerary not be exactly what you are looking to do, then contact us speak to one of our Namibia travel experts who will be delighted to provide you with a bespoke itinerary for you.

Includes:

All accommodation as indicated in the itinerary
Car Hire
All activities as indicated in the itinerary
All meals and drinks as indicated in the itinerary

Excludes:

Fuel
Items of a personal nature