5 Day Namibia Explorer Safari

Guests are met at any location of their choice in Johannesburg or Pretoria and transferred to O.R. Tambo International Airport for a flight to Walvis Bay on Namibia’s Atlantic coast. On arrival you are greeted by an African Sky representative and transferred north along the shoreline and coastal dunes to Swakopmund, a historic town framed by the Namib Desert on one side and the ocean on the other. The drive introduces you to the stark beauty of Namibia’s coastline, with fog rolling in from the cold Benguela Current and desert landscapes stretching inland.

In Swakopmund you check in at the Hansa Hotel, one of the town’s classic properties, located within easy walking distance of shops, restaurants and the seaside promenade. Founded in 1892, Swakopmund still showcases striking German colonial architecture, wide beaches and a relaxed holiday atmosphere. Spend the late afternoon recovering from your travels, perhaps with a gentle stroll through town or along the pier, before enjoying dinner and a restful night at the hotel.

Today’s excursion explores the dramatic meeting point of desert and ocean between Walvis Bay and Sandwich Harbour. After breakfast we travel south along the coast, passing the extensive salt works near Walvis Bay before heading onto the beach and into the Namib dune sea by 4x4, conditions permitting. Where the towering dunes spill directly into the Atlantic, we follow the shoreline towards Sandwich Harbour, a coastal lagoon and wetland recognized as a Ramsar site and one of Namibia’s most important bird areas, supporting tens of thousands of migratory shorebirds and flamingos in season.

If high swells or tides make the beach route unsafe, we instead climb nearby dunes for sweeping views of the lagoon and coastline from above. There is time for a leisurely walk to appreciate the contrast of sand, sea and birdlife, and you may spot seals offshore or even dolphins and whales in the right season. A picnic-style lunch is included before returning to Swakopmund in the afternoon. The remainder of the day is at leisure to explore the town’s German-influenced architecture, browse local craft shops or simply relax at the hotel ahead of dinner.

After breakfast you are transferred from the Hansa Hotel to the Swakopmund airstrip for a scenic charter flight to the Sossusvlei area. Weather permitting, the route offers striking aerial views of the Namib Desert’s dune fields and rugged mountain ridges before you descend towards the NamibRand Nature Reserve. On landing, you are met and transferred to Sossusvlei Desert Lodge, a luxurious property set against rocky outcrops with wide-open desert vistas and big skies in every direction.

The Namib, often called the “living desert”, is a realm of vast open spaces, seemingly endless horizons and dramatic contrasts. After settling into your suite, you join an afternoon desert activity with the lodge’s expert rangers and naturalists, typically a scenic drive in open 4x4 vehicles. Along the way, learn about desert-adapted plants and animals that survive in this harsh environment, from gemsbok and springbok to smaller nocturnal species, and watch the light change as the sun sets over the ochre dunes and gravel plains.

This morning is devoted to an excursion into the iconic Sossusvlei dunes, among the highest in the world and a highlight of the Namib-Naukluft Park. We set off early to make the most of the cool morning air, following the course of the Tsauchab River’s dry valley towards Sossusvlei and Deadvlei. Here the red dunes rise steeply from the pan, and keen guests may opt to hike partway up a dune for a remarkable view over the landscape while photographers capture the shifting play of light and shadow on the sand.

After time at Sossusvlei and Deadvlei, we visit Sesriem Canyon, a narrow gorge carved over millennia by the Tsauchab. Its sheltered depth often retains water longer into the dry season, making it a vital source for wildlife and historically for early settlers. A walk along the canyon floor reveals sculpted rock formations and welcome shade from the desert sun. We return to the lodge for lunch and some relaxation, after which you may choose an optional quad bike or e-bike excursion, another guided nature drive or simply enjoy the lodge’s famous stargazing after dark in one of the clearest skies on earth.

Following a final breakfast at Sossusvlei Desert Lodge, there is time for one last quiet moment taking in the sweeping desert views from your suite or main deck. You then transfer to the nearby airstrip for your charter flight to Windhoek, enjoying a last glimpse of the Namib’s dunes and mountain ranges from the air. On arrival in the capital, you connect with your onward flight to Johannesburg.

In Johannesburg an African Sky representative meets you on arrival and transfers you to any location of your choice in Johannesburg or Pretoria, depending on your onward plans. As your short but diverse journey comes to an end, you leave with vivid memories of Swakopmund’s cool Atlantic coastline, the wild beauty of Sossusvlei’s towering dunes and the quiet majesty of Namibia’s desert landscapes.