Category: Windhoek

Your epic encounter with Namibia kicks off in its capital, Windhoek. On arrival, transfer to your hotel and enjoy a day at leisure – play a round of golf on the superb 18-hole golf course or relax in the swimming pool before meeting your Travel Director and fellow travellers for a Welcome Reception and dinner.

Embrace the freedom of the open road as we venture into the Kalahari Desert – Namibia’s boundless, sandy beauty. We make our way through the historic town of Rehoboth, a former mission station just north of the Tropic of Capricorn, then take our front-row seats on a scenic nature drive through this ‘thirst land’, where trees loom and rocky shadows stretch out on the horizon against the setting sun. Arrive later at one of Trafalgar’s ‘Stays with Stories’ – the elegant Zebra Kalahari Lodge, located within the Intu Afrika Private Game Reserve.

See the iconic forest of Quiver Trees – the towering aloes from which the San people fashion their quivers to this day. After a short stop in Keetmanshoop with free time for lunch, travel to Naute Dam before arriving at your motor-themed lodge to savour a spectacular Namibian sunset.

Peer over the ancient chasm carved by the Fish River to form Africa’s largest canyon. Carved over millennia, the Fish River Canyon’s gigantic ravine provides sanctuary to klipspringer, zebra and even wild horses. We continue our journey to the spectacular Auas Mountains where you’ll spend the afternoon getting close to nature.

Immerse yourself in the Southern Namib region admiring desert vistas and expansive skies as we conquer the open road. We pay a visit to Baron von Wolf’s Duwisib Castle to learn about its history as a gift of love for his American wife. After a day of exploring, you’ll want to settle in to the comfort of your lodge and spend the afternoon relaxing.

In a country renowned for its epic landscapes, competition for the top spot is tough. But it is Sossusvlei that rightly deserves this crown and it is where we begin our adventure today. Gaze up at the towering Dune 45 surrounded by the eerie, but beautiful salt pans, then explore the ravine walls of the Sesriem Canyon, carved out by the Tsauchab River. We journey past the Namib Naukluft Mountains that are a haven for the rare Hartmann’s mountain zebra, then set off on a 4×4 drive into the depths of the Namib Desert under whose glittering canopy of stars we’ll stay tonight at one of Trafalgar’s ‘Stays with Stories’ – the Namib Naukluft Lodge.

After breakfast, we drive to the German-inspired seaside town of Swakopmund with its colonial buildings and encroaching desert. After a leisurely afternoon, we embark on a sundowner tour into the sands of the desert and an opportunity to snap a selfie on the crest of Dune 7, the highest dune in Namibia.

Live life in the fast lane and embark on some of Swakopmund’s action-packed activities such as quad-biking, sand-boarding, or a catamaran trip. Make the most of your free time by sampling Black Forest cake and Florentiners at one of the town’s quaint German Bäckerei or indulge in some locally brewed Windhoek Lager. Then it’s time to ‘Connect with Locals’ and savour some hearty vetkoek with a Damara family in Swakopmund’s Mondesa Township during our Be My Guest experience. Watch how the dough rises in a traditional three-legged potjie pot as you learn about life in the township.

Follow Namibia’s salt route en route to Damaraland, a place where mysterious flat-topped lava mountains and petrified trees cast shadows across the terracotta-coloured terrain. We make an important stop at Twyfelfontein to admire its ancient rock engravings, then explore the rocky-red Organ Pipes carved into the face of the mountain before arriving at our lodge this afternoon.

Enjoy free time today until it’s time to join a drive along the Aba Huab River in search of kudu, oryx, springbuck, ostrich and herds of rare desert-dwelling elephant. These elephants have adapted to living harsh desert conditions and can only be found in Namibia and Mali.

As we journey north, we meet the OvaHimba tribe with whom we’ll ‘Dive into Culture’ to gain insights into their hunter-gatherer traditions that have spanned thousands of years. Your visit will make a difference by contributing to funds used for food and other necessities. Despite vast desolate landscapes, Namibia is renowned for its wildlife and there’s no better place to encounter the array of animal and birdlife that live within its borders than Etosha National Park. This afternoon, we venture out on our first game drive through the park.

Explore one of the world’s great wildlife sanctuaries on a full-day safari to gain an understanding of its diverse eco-system. Enjoy a deep connection with your natural surrounds, joining a guide who will uncover the secrets of the bush and maximise your game viewing chances.

We bid farewell to Etosha and travel south back to Windhoek. This evening enjoy a Farewell Dinner at your resort to celebrate the end of a magical journey through Namibia.

With our journey at its close, we say goodbye to our new-found friends and transfer to Windhoek airport.