9 Day Namibia Desert and Ocean Tour
Price
Package Features
- 9 Days / 8 Nights
- Southern Namibia
- Starts: Windhoek
- Ends: Windhoek
Overview
The Namib Desert covers most of Namibia, and it has become the nation’s single most exceptional attraction, drawing in millions of excited travellers every year. Paired with the country’s few beautiful coastal attractions, you have an extravagant 9-day odyssey that will show you the very best of this ancient African destination.
Tour Features
- A tour through the Kalahari Desert
- A visit to Fish River Canyon
- A guided walk through Kolmanskop
- A stop at Garub
- An excursion to Sossusvlei and Deadvlei
- A visit to Sesriem Canyon
- A city tour of the coastal town of Swakopmund
- Comfortable, country-appropriate vehicles throughout, with an experienced guide by your side
Activities and Transport
Activities: A visit to the Quiver Tree Forest and Giant’s Playground, a walk at Fish River Canyon, a guided tour of Lüderitz and the Kolmanskop ghost town, a stop at the Garub watering hole to look for the wild horses of the Namib, an excursion to Sossusvlei and Deadvlei with a 4×4 shuttle to the dunes, a visit to Sesriem Canyon, and a city tour of Swakopmund
Optional Activities
- A sunset nature drive in the Kalahari
- Dune boarding in Swakopmund
- A catamaran cruise with dolphins in Swakopmund
- Time to explore Swakopmund’s cafes, galleries and iconic jetty at your own pace
Transport: comfortable road transport in a vehicle suited to the country’s terrain, with fuel and insurance included, and an experienced Namibian guide behind the wheel throughout
A private transfer from your Windhoek accommodation is included on arrival, with the tour concluding by road transfer back into Windhoek.
Rates
Rates (Valid Until 31 October 2027)
| Paying Guests | Rate per Person Sharing |
|---|---|
| 2 paying guests | N$ 71 000 |
| 3 paying guests | N$ 56 900 |
| 4 paying guests | N$ 52 500 |
| 5 paying guests | N$ 46 600 |
| 6 paying guests | N$ 42 750 |
| 7 paying guests | N$ 39 900 |
| 8 paying guests | N$ 36 800 |
| 9 paying guests | N$ 35 440 |
| Single Supplement | N$ 4 475 |
Accommodation and Meals
The tour includes some of Namibia’s finest lodges, all chosen for their luxury appeal as well as for their unique locations.
In the Kalahari, you’ll be settling into the peaceful surroundings of Kalahari Anib Lodge, where you’ll be treated to the best introduction to Namibia.
As the tour moves to the Fish River Canyon, you’ll be staying at Canyon Village, which sits just a short drive from the dramatic Fish River Canyon, before you spend 2 nights at Desert Horse Inn in Aus, surrounded by the wide-open spaces and brilliant night skies of the southern Namib.
You’ll then spend 2 nights at Hammerstein Lodge, where you’ll have a tranquil base from which to experience the spectacular landscapes of Sossusvlei.
Finally, the scenery changes once more as you reach the Atlantic coast and spend 2 nights at Swakopmund Sands Hotel, the perfect place to end this desert and ocean experience.
Breakfast is included each morning, and dinner is also included, with one delicious exception: when you are staying in Swakopmund.
Route
- Day 1 - Kalahari
- Day 2 - Fish River
- Day 3 - Aus
- Day 4 - Aus
- Day 5 - Sossusvlei
- Day 6 - Sossusvlei
- Day 7 - Swakopmund
- Day 8 - Swakopmund
- Day 9 - Windhoek
Day By Day
Day 1 – Kalahari Desert
Your guide will be waiting to welcome you warmly at your Windhoek accommodation, and once you are on board the tour vehicle, the city will fade away behind you as you set out into the desert.
Travelling south through Rehoboth, you’ll have your first taste of Namibia’s astounding scenery, as the earth slowly changes colour around you, from rich shades of burnt orange to red and amber as the kilometres pass.
As you draw closer to the Kalahari, you’ll enter a world of rolling red dunes dressed in golden grasses and ancient camelthorn trees.
Interestingly, the Kalahari isn’t a true desert at all; it’s classified as a semi-arid savannah, which is part of why it supports such an exceptional variety of grasses, trees and wildlife despite its dry reputation.
You’ll be met by an inviting oasis when you arrive at your lodge.
The afternoon is entirely yours, and you can cool off in the lodge pool, sit with a cold drink and gaze out at the desert or join an optional sunset nature drive, where you’ll get your taste of the days to come.
In the fading light, you’ll keep a lookout for springbok, oryx and ostrich, and if you look closely, you may also spot the enormous communal nests of the sociable weaver bird tucked into the camelthorn branches. These are among the largest nests built by any bird in the world.
As darkness falls, a canopy of stars stretches overhead, brighter than most travellers have ever seen. Tonight marks the beginning of your epic Namibian holiday, in a place that is unlike anywhere else.
Day 2 – Fish River Canyon
After a scrumptious breakfast, you’ll leave the Kalahari and take the road south, travelling through Mariental and on to Keetmanshoop.
Along the way, the group will stop at the fascinating Quiver Tree Forest, home to hundreds of quiver trees, some believed to be over two centuries old!
Despite their name, these striking plants aren’t trees at all, but a species of aloe, named for the way the San people once hollowed their branches to create quivers for their arrows.
You’ll also have time to visit the Giant’s Playground, where enormous dolerite boulders are scattered across the earth as though a giant had set down their toys and wandered off.
Back on the road, you’ll feel the anticipation building as you approach one of Namibia’s most iconic natural wonders, the magnificent Fish River Canyon.
Carved over hundreds of millions of years, this huge gash in the earth stretches some 160 kilometres in length and reaches depths of up to 550 metres, making it the second-largest canyon on the planet, after the Grand Canyon.
Upon your arrival at the lodge, you’ll have the rest of the day to settle in before having dinner.
Day 3 – Aus
Rising early, you’ll enjoy the fresh mountain air and a hearty breakfast before spending sometime exploring the canyon.
After ample time enjoying sights that will put most photos of the Fish River Canyon to shame, the tour will carry on, travelling further into southern Namibia toward Aus, a small mountain town with a rather fascinating past.
Aus holds the record for some of Namibia’s coldest winters, with snow even settling here once in 1963, a rare sight indeed in this hot, sun-drenched country.
During the First World War, the town was also home to a prisoner of war camp, a more sombre chapter of the town’s history that now rests beneath the peaceful landscape you see today.
As you arrive at your lodge for the next two nights, you’ll probably notice just how quiet it is. It is quite something, and it’ll do wonders for your busy mind.
After check-in, you can relax on the beautiful terrace and take in the never-ending scene stretching out in front of you, before settling down for dinner and a peaceful night.
Day 4 – Lüderitz & Kolmanskop
Today you’ll be taking a step back through time and also slowing down a little bit after a couple of days spent out on the road.
The first stop today will be the coastal town of Lüderitz. Founded in 1883 by the German merchant Adolf Lüderitz, the town still has the ornate turrets, gables and pastel facades of its early days. The town also happens to have some of the very best seafood restaurants.
After ample time spent in the town, you’ll travel to Kolmanskop, one of Namibia’s most hauntingly beautiful and thoroughly unforgettable places.
The history of the town dates back to 1908, when a railway worker moving sand from the tracks noticed a single diamond glinting in his shovel, a find that sparked a diamond rush and, within a few short years, the town grew into a thriving settlement complete with a ballroom, a casino and even a bowling alley.
Once richer deposits further south drew the fortune seekers away, the town was abandoned, left to the desert, and it has been slowly reclaimed ever since.
Kolmanskop is a real-life ghost town.
Sunlight streams through broken windows, soft dunes spill into empty rooms and hallways, and there’s nothing but the soft sound of wind in spaces once booming with daily life.
With the thoughts of a bygone era in mind, you’ll drive back to Aus, stopping along the way at the watering hole at Garub.
If you are fortunate, you might just spot some of Namibia’s legendary wild desert horses.
Over the centuries, they have become adapted to their harsh surroundings, and these horses can go without water for up to five days, making them one of the only truly desert-adapted horse populations anywhere in the world.
In the late afternoon, you’ll return to your lodge, with time to relax before dinner.
Day 5 – Sossusvlei
You’ll be travelling north today, into the Namib Desert.
After a filling breakfast, the group hits the road, and you’ll be driving past spectacular distant mountain ranges, a weathered escarpment, and plenty of sandy scenery.
Then, somewhere along the way, you’ll enter the Namib, an ancient elemental wilderness believed to be around 55 million years old, and widely regarded as the oldest desert on Earth.
Here, in the sandscape, you can almost feel the weight of time.
You’ll spend some of your time exploring the sights and sounds of the region, taking in the spectacular vistas, and as the day comes to a close, you’ll arrive at the lodge where you’ll have time to settle in and have a sundowner.
Nights in Sossusvlei are particularly extraordinary. Far away from city lights, the stars will be on display in a way that you might not have seen them before.
Dinner will be at the lodge tonight, and you might want to have an early night this evening, because tomorrow you’ll be out early, exploring the dunes.
Day 6 – Sossusvlei
The day begins in the quiet hours before dawn, when the Namib Desert is still wrapped in darkness, and the world feels wonderfully still. Enjoy a freshly brewed coffee or tea before setting out, travelling beneath the fading stars toward the iconic landscapes of Sossusvlei.
With the desert still wrapped in darkness and there’s barely a sound, you’ll start your day with coffee or tea before setting out into Sossusvlei.
You’ll reach Sossusvlei just as the sky begins to lighten, entering the park just after dawn as the first rays of sunlight spill gently across the desert, catching sight of the beautiful red dunes just as the dunes are lit up and at their most dramatic.
While here, you’ll take a walk around the area and wander into the otherworldly white clay pan of Deadvlei.
Here, the ancient dead camelthorn trees stand frozen in time, their blackened silhouettes believed to be somewhere between 6 hundred and 9 hundred years old, kept perfectly preserved by the desert’s relentless dry weather.
From here, there’s time to explore Sesriem Canyon on the way back. The canyon’s walls have been slowly carved over millions of years by the Tsauchab River.
The name Sesriem comes from early travellers who needed six leather straps, tied end to end, simply to lower a bucket down to the water at the base of the canyon below, and the name has stayed ever since.
Returning to your lodge, the rest of the day is yours to enjoy, and you can spend it relaxing by the swimming pool or settling into the peaceful garden setting. In the evening, you can tuck into a delicious dinner.
Day 7 – Swakopmund
There is no need to rush today; instead, you can relax and enjoy a slow, mouthwatering breakfast before you climb aboard the tour vehicle to head out to the next destination.
Out on the open road, you’ll enjoy all sorts of sightings before your first stop at the wonderfully eccentric settlement of Solitaire, a tiny outpost surrounded by desert and a place that has gained an almost legendary status among those who travel to this remote corner of Namibia.
Solitaire is most famous for having only 92 residents, and for its bakery.
Passing through Solitaire and not stopping for a piece of apple pie would be a sin. McGregor’s Bakery’s apple pie is world-famous in certain culinary circles, and it’s served with a dollop of fresh cream or ice cream, depending on your preference.
Once you’ve had your fill of pie, you’ll hit the road again, the road that will take you to Namibia’s picturesque coast.
By the time you reach Swakopmund, the contrast between desert and coastline is very much noticeable.
This elegant coastal town looks almost unexpected, sitting there on the edge of the desert, with its distinctive colonial architecture, palm-lined avenues and relaxed seaside vibe. Swakopmund has a German heritage that meets African character, while the Atlantic Ocean provides a constant backdrop of movement, sound, and refreshing sea air.
There’s time for a short sightseeing tour through Swakopmund, where you’ll visit some of the town’s most enchanting streets and landmarks before checking into your guesthouse.
This evening, you’ll decide where you’d like to dine. Swakopmund has a number of exceptional restaurants, including a handful that serve fresh seafood.
Day 8 – Swakopmund
It’s your last full day on tour and how you spend it is entirely up to you.
After breakfast, you can set out and about, or you can spend your day relaxing with your feet up.
If adventure calls to you, then you are certainly in the right place. Swakopmund is known for being Namibia’s adventure capital, and just outside the town you can go sandboarding, set out on a catamaran cruise where you might see dolphins swimming happily alongside your boat, or you can even go skydiving.
Swakopmund is also a great place to explore on foot. The town’s jetty is a particularly popular spot with travellers, and so are the town’s art galleries and boutiques. And when you feel snakish, you can stop at one of the town’s many cafes.
Once again, in the evening, you can decide where you’d like to have dinner.
Day 9 – Departure
After breakfast, your transfer will return you to Windhoek.
This tour ends in Windhoek, Namibia.
Inclusions/Exclusions
Inclusions
- 8 nights of accommodation in locally standard lodges and guesthouses
- 8 breakfasts and 6 dinners (Swakopmund excluded)
- Comfortable road transport, with fuel and insurance included
- An experienced Namibian tour guide throughout
- All national park entry fees as per the itinerary
- A visit and short walk at Fish River Canyon, the second largest canyon in the world
- A guided walk through Kolmanskop, Namibia’s “Diamond Ghost Town”
- A stop at Garub, the watering hole of the Namib Desert’s wild horses
- An excursion to Sossusvlei, home to the highest dunes in the world
- A 4×4 shuttle for the final 5 kilometres to the dunes
- A visit to Sesriem Canyon
- A city tour of Swakopmund
Exclusions
- Flights
- Travel insurance
- Optional and recommended Excursions
- Expenses of a personal nature
- Visa fees (where applicable)
Getting There
This tour begins and ends in Windhoek, Namibia’s capital, where you’ll arrive at Hosea Kutako International Airport, around 45 minutes drive from the city centre. The airport connects easily with regional flights from Johannesburg and Cape Town, along with long-haul routes from European cities such as Frankfurt and Amsterdam.
On arrival, a short transfer will bring you into Windhoek, where your tour through southern Namibia begins the following morning.
The tour also ends in Windhoek, from where Hosea Kutako International Airport once again connects you onward to Johannesburg and other regional hubs for your flight home.
Offered By
Founded by Kurt Schultz, Kurt Safari is a Hazyview-based company inspired by his 7 years spent working as an overland guide across East and Southern Africa.
Over the past 17 years, the company has grown into one of the park’s most established tour operators, with local guides and staff drawn from the Greater Kruger region and a long list of tour options that stretch as far as Namibia.
9 years running as TripAdvisor’s top Kruger Park safari company, and backed by SATIB insurance and SATSA accreditation, Kurt Safari keeps every safari as authentic and wild as possible.
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Do I need a visa to visit Namibia?
Many nationalities, including UK, US, EU and Canadian passport holders, now need a visa to enter Namibia, following changes introduced in April 2025. Visas can generally be obtained on arrival at Hosea Kutako International Airport or arranged online in advance, so it’s worth checking the requirements for your specific passport before travelling.
Is southern Namibia a malaria risk area?
Southern Namibia, including the Kalahari, Fish River Canyon, Sossusvlei and Swakopmund, falls outside the country’s malaria zone, which is limited mainly to the far north. This makes it a comfortable choice for travellers who would rather avoid malaria prophylaxis altogether.
What currency is used in Namibia?
Namibia uses the Namibian Dollar, pegged one to one with the South African Rand. Rand are widely accepted throughout the country, so travellers coming from South Africa need not exchange currency before their trip.
What is the best time of year to visit southern Namibia?
Southern Namibia can be visited comfortably throughout the year, though the cooler, drier months from around April to October tend to bring the clearest skies and the most pleasant daytime temperatures for exploring the desert landscapes.
Do I need any vaccinations before visiting Namibia?
No vaccinations are compulsory for most travellers, though a yellow fever certificate is required if arriving from a country with a risk of yellow fever transmission. It’s worth checking with a travel health clinic a few weeks before departure for guidance suited to you personally.
