Day 1: Cape Town
Arrive at any time for your orientation with Matador Trips and transportation service provider G Adventures.
Day 2: Cape Town/Lambert’s Bay
Head up the Cape’s west coast, stopping at the Khwa ttu San Culture and Education Centre. Arrive in Lambert’s Bay and opt to visit Bird Island, or stroll through this charming town.
Traveling from Cape Town, continue north toward Namaqualand, keeping an eye out for fields of Namaqualand daisies (in season August and September).
At Clanwilliam, head toward the coast again and on to Lambert’s Bay, a picturesque town South Africa’s west coast.
Private Vehicle
Cape Town – Lambert’s Bay, 5 hours and 30 minutes, 217 miles
Traveling from Cape Town to Lambert’s Bay, with a stop along the way at !Khwa ttu San Culture and Education Centre.
The San people of southern Africa have historically faced centuries of political and cultural oppression. The !Khwa ttu San Culture and Education Centre provides tailor-made training for young San women and men of southern Africa. Travelers learn about San culture and history at the interpretive museum. Visits help trainees gain experience with international clients while garnering support for the center’s efforts to preserve San culture and history.
Day 3: Lambert’s Bay/Orange River
Continue north and cross into Namibia. Settle in by the banks of the Orange River with time to swim or just relax.
Traveling north, enjoy a full day’s travel through this dry and remote part of South Africa.
In the mid-afternoon, cross into Namibia and a more arid region and stop at the scenic Orange River for the evening.
After getting settled, enjoy the late afternoon by the river bank.
Private Vehicle
Lambert’s Bay – Orange River, 7 hours, 279 miles
Settle in and scan the scenery from the convenience of a private vehicle.
Border Crossing (South Africa – Namibia)
Vioolsdrift – Noordoewer
Ready for a little more ink in your passport? Grab your bags and get ready to check another country off your bucket list.
Accommodation
Norotshama River Resort (or similar)
Resort
Meals included: Breakfast
Day 4: Orange River/Ai-Ais
Spend the morning relaxing on the banks of the Orange River, then continue on to Ai-Ais, the small hot springs resort at the southern end of the Fish River Canyon. Spend the rest of the day relaxing in the healing waters.
Ai-Ais, which means “scalding hot” or “burning water” in one of the local Nama dialects, is a sulfur rich mineral spring at the southern end of the Fish River Canyon. Ai-Ais is also a part of the Ai-Ais/Richtersveld Transfrontier Park, covering a large piece of land in northern South Africa and southern Namibia.
The hot springs resort is a popular gateway to Namibia from the south and the endpoint of the grueling five-day Fish River Canyon hike. The spring water is piped to a number of indoor and outdoor pools and jacuzzis.
Private Vehicle
Orange River – Ai-Ais, 2 hours, 49 miles
Settle in and scan the scenery from the convenience of a private vehicle.
Accommodation
Ai Ais Resort NWR (or similar)
Lodge
Meals included: Breakfast
Day 5: Fish River Canyon/Namib Desert
Start early with a visit to the breathtaking Fish River Canyon, then travel north, enjoying dramatic Namibian landscapes as you head up towards Sesriem.
Arrive in the area in the late afternoon, where the towering red sand dunes of Sossusvlei form the gateway into the Namib Desert.
Private Vehicle
Ai-Ais – Namib Desert, 9 to 10 hours, 372 miles
Settle in and scan the scenery from the convenience of a private vehicle.
Accommodation
Sossus Oasis Campsite (or similar)
Campground
Meals included: Breakfast | Dinner
Day 6: Namib Desert
Visit Sossusvlei Dunes and Sesriem Canyon. Opt to climb up the breathtaking Dune 45.
Enjoy a visit to Sossusvlei, a clay pan enclosed by the world’s largest sand dunes, up to 300 m (984 ft) high. Here, use some free time to enjoy the sand dunes on your own. Visit the Sesriem Canyon, a small canyon typical of the area.
Head out and start exploring this unusual environment.
This area is famous for its high, red sand dunes. This clay and salt pan is surrounded by the dunes, making it a spectacularly beautiful sight with a remote and isolated feel.
Sesriem Canyon Visit
Namib Desert
Enjoy a short stop at Sesriem Canyon, a small canyon typical of the area. The Tsauchab River flows through the canyon every five to 10 years, and this creates the nearby salt and clay pan of Sossusvlei. Venture out into Deadvlei; these drylands boast incredible contrasts of black dead trees amid the white clay soil, surrounded by red sand dunes reaching up to 300 meters high. We don’t want to spoil too much; go and see this unique site for yourselves – it’s a must for any traveler to Namibia.
Accommodation
Sossus Oasis Campsite (or similar)
Campground
Meals included: Breakfast | Dinner
Day 7: Namib Desert/Swakopmund
Enjoy the views of the Namib desert before arriving in the historic town of Swakopmund.
Get a real feel for the Namib Desert as we spend hours crossing this empty region.
En route to the Namibian coast, take a coffee break in Solitaire, a mystical village consisting of a filling station, general dealer/coffee shop, and small mechanical workshop. Before arriving to Swakopmund, drive through Walvis Bay, the only town on the Namibian coastline that boasts a deep-sea harbor.
Spend two nights in the area exploring this historical town or trying some of the numerous activities available, such as sandboarding or skydiving.
Swakopmund has bizarre lunar landscapes, unforgettable sunsets, and prehistoric Welwitchia plants.
Private Vehicle
Namib Desert – Swakopmund, 4 hours and 30 minutes, 161 miles
Settle in and scan the scenery from the convenience of a private vehicle.
Accommodation
Europa Hof (or similar)
Hotel
Meals included: Breakfast
Day 8: Swakopmund
There’s plenty to see and do in Swakopmund, and we wanted to make sure that you had some time to take it all in. Feel free to relax or try optional activities like quad biking, sandboarding, and skydiving.
Hotel
Day 9: Swakopmund/Etosha National Park
Enter Etosha National Park and enjoy an afternoon wildlife safari drive in our touring vehicle. Keep an eye out for lions, giraffes, elephants, rhinos, and antelopes. Opt to explore more on an open safari vehicle drive.
Begin moving east into the interior of Namibia. On this route, pass through a lunar landscape and see the imposing Spitzkoppe, also known as the “Matterhorn” of Namibia, in the distance.
After sunset, some animals may head to the watering holes near the campground.
Private Vehicle
Swakopmund – Etosha National Park, 7 hours and 30 minutes, 379 miles
Settle in and scan the scenery from the convenience of a private vehicle.
Etosha National Park Wildlife Safari Drive
Etosha National Park
Set off into the wilds of Etosha National Park in the touring vehicle for a wildlife safari drive. Over 100 species of mammals call Etosha home, including elephants, giraffes, lions, rhinos, and hyenas.
Accommodation
Etosha NP Okaukuejo Restcamp (or similar)
Campground
Day 10: Etosha National Park
Enjoy another wildlife safari drive in our touring vehicle and keep your eyes peeled for the vast array of incredible animals.
Etosha National Park Wildlife Safari Drive
Etosha National Park
Set off into the wilds of Etosha National Park in the touring vehicle for a wildlife safari drive. Over 100 species of mammals call Etosha home, including elephants, giraffes, lions, rhinos, and hyenas.
Accommodation
Etosha NP Okaukuejo Restcamp (or similar)
Campground
Day 11: Etosha National Park/Windhoek
Arrive in Windhoek and visit Penduka Village Restaurant & Shop for an included lunch, then spend the rest of the afternoon exploring the German-influenced capital city.
Leave Etosha National Park and head south through the Namibian countryside to Windhoek.
Etosha National Park – Windhoek, 5 to 6 hours, 257 miles
Settle in and scan the scenery from the convenience of a private vehicle.
Penduka works with women from the Katutura township, and surrounding rural communities, by helping them develop livelihoods through working in their handicraft workshops and cafe. Penduka trains and employs women disadvantaged through poverty, disability, ill-health, or lack of education, empowering them to develop skills in textiles, beading and pottery. Pick up a fresh-packed lunch at the cafe to help support the center before touring the facilities and purchasing some of these crafts.
Accommodation
Auas City Hotel (or similar)
Hotel
Meals included: Lunch
Day 12: Windhoek
Depart at any time.
Meals included: Breakfast
