A woman in a blue dress walking along the ridge of a towering red sand dune under a clear sky

Safari 11 days Small group in a 4x4

Namibia Small Group Tour: Desert & Etosha

On this Namibia small group tour, you cross the red sand worlds of the Namib and the wide plains of southern Africa in a small circle of 4 to 12 guests.

Dates and price

The Journey

Namibia Small Group Tour: Namib & Sossusvlei

Your Namibia small group tour begins in Cape Town and takes you north through the Cederberg and Namaqualand to the Gariep. On this Namibia round-trip safari, long days on dirt tracks alternate with quiet moments by the water. On the Fish River Canyon hike, you stretch your legs on the edge of one of Africa's biggest gorges. Deeper in the Namib comes the Sossusvlei and Deadvlei tour: early in the morning you climb Dune 45 and walk to the trees of Deadvlei. After that, the coastal town of Swakopmund, the rock paintings at Brandberg and the wildlife of Etosha await you.

Duration
11 days
Travelling
Small group in a 4x4
Sleeping
Tent or lodge
Group
4 to 12 guests
Safari days
4 of 11
Demands
Moderate
2 countries
Namibia South Africa
1 national park
Etosha National Park
A large red sand dune rising above the Namib Desert with smaller dunes in the distance Table Mountain rising above Cape Town city under a clear blue sky Bare dead trees standing in a white clay pan with red dunes behind them Hikers walking among red sand dunes with parked 4x4 vehicles in the valley below A weathered dead tree beside a red sand dune with hikers in the distance under a cloudy sky Namibia Small Group Tour: Desert & Etosha
Wildlife

Key Highlights of the Trip

What the itinerary names. Wild animals cannot be ordered, but the parks, the season and the hours at the water are chosen so the odds are good.

Big Five 2 of 5 on this route
  1. Lion Named in the itinerary
  2. Leopard Not on this route
  3. Elephant Named in the itinerary
  4. Rhino Not on this route
  5. Buffalo Not on this route
Also along the way
  • Zebra
  • Springbok
  • Antelope
01 Hike the Fish River Canyon
01
Hike the Fish River Canyon
On the Fish River Canyon hike, you stand on the rim of Africa's biggest gorge. The view reaches deep into the rugged rock walls, and a walk along the edge brings home the dimensions of this natural spectacle.
02 Sossusvlei and Deadvlei
02
Sossusvlei and Deadvlei
The Sossusvlei and Deadvlei tour takes you into Namib-Naukluft National Park early in the morning. You climb Dune 45, walk across the white clay pan of Deadvlei and stand among centuries-old, dead camel thorn trees.
03 Swakopmund on the Atlantic
03
Swakopmund on the Atlantic
In the coastal town of Swakopmund, you swap desert dust for cool sea air. Between colonial facades, German bakeries and windswept beaches, there is time for sandboarding, a marine safari or a quiet stroll.
04 Brandberg and the White Lady
04
Brandberg and the White Lady
On a Brandberg rock painting hike, you climb through the Tsisab valley to the highest mountain in Namibia. On the rock waits the famous White Lady, one of over 45,000 paintings by the San, about 2,000 years old.
05 Etosha National Park Safari
05
Etosha National Park Safari
For the finale, you explore the park's huge salt pans on an Etosha wildlife watching drive. Elephants, lions, zebras and antelopes gather at the waterholes, and every game drive brings new encounters with Namibia's wildlife.
Adventure Tours

Parks on this route

More trips through Etosha National Park

Namibia adventure tour from Cape Town to Windhoek
Namibia

Namibia adventure tour from Cape Town to Windhoek

11 days
Namibia group tour by overland truck
Namibia

Namibia group tour by overland truck

12 days
Days 1-11
Cape Town - Namibia Small Group Tour
Cape Town - Namibia Small Group Tour

Cape Town - Namibia Small Group Tour

Your Namibia small group tour starts in Cape Town. As you leave the city, you take a last look at Table Mountain from Table Bay. On the way, you stop at a traditional "padstal", a roadside farm stand with homemade treats. The Cederberg region welcomes you with rugged mountains, orange farms and the native rooibos bush. At the shared dinner, you get to know your travel group over South African hospitality.

Namaqualand & Orange River - Namibia Round-Trip Safari
Namaqualand & Orange River - Namibia Round-Trip Safari

Namaqualand & Orange River - Namibia Round-Trip Safari

On this Namibia small group tour, Namaqualand gives you your first desert landscapes. After a short supply stop in Springbok, you continue north to the camp on the bank of the Gariep (Orange). If you travel in the spring months from July to September, you can experience the sea of flowers the region is famous for. In every season, the barren expanses make a quiet backdrop for your day at the river.

A wide view over the layered rock walls of Fish River Canyon
Fish River Canyon - Hike on the Rim

Fish River Canyon - Hike on the Rim

Today the Gariep carries its original name from the KhoeKhoe language again. In the morning, you can optionally set off on a canoe trip on the river. Around midday you leave the water and drive inland to the Fish River Canyon, the biggest canyon in Africa. On the Fish River Canyon hike, you stretch your legs on a walk along the edge, before you drive on inland to Keetmanshoop and stay overnight there.

Quiver Tree Forest - Namib-Naukluft
Quiver Tree Forest - Namib-Naukluft

Quiver Tree Forest - Namib-Naukluft

You spend the morning in the Quiver Tree Forest and at Giants Playground, where mighty dolerite blocks lie piled up as if by a giant's hand. Then comes one of the long travel days deeper into the Namib Desert. Long gravel roads and widely scattered farms show you the vastness of rural Namibia. The landscape changes from the grasslands in the east to the red dunes in the west, until you set up your camp for two nights at the edge of the dune fields.

A dead camel thorn tree in Deadvlei backed by a tall orange dune
Sossusvlei & Deadvlei - Dune 45

Sossusvlei & Deadvlei - Dune 45

Early in the morning, you drive into Namib-Naukluft National Park and reach the famous Dune 45 shortly after sunrise. The steep climb rewards you with a wide view over the changing colours of the desert. Then a 4×4 transfer takes you to the Sossusvlei and Deadvlei tour, where you explore the clay pans of Sossusvlei and Deadvlei on foot. To finish, you visit Sesriem Canyon and spend the night under the starry sky of the desert.

A tall red sand dune with a sharp ridge line under a clear blue sky
Namib to Swakopmund - The Coast

Namib to Swakopmund - The Coast

On your last day in the desert, a local expert joins you on an insightful Namib excursion. As you cross the Tropic of Capricorn, you stop briefly for a photo, before you drive west to the coastal town of Swakopmund. The lively town on the Atlantic welcomes you with a welcome dose of civilisation and plenty of adventure options. In the evening, you go to a local restaurant for dinner.

Tour expert

Questions about the tour itinerary?

Our tour guide is happy to answer any questions about the day-by-day route, stops, and details.

Swakopmund - Adventure on the Atlantic
Swakopmund - Adventure on the Atlantic

Swakopmund - Adventure on the Atlantic

After the camp nights of the Namibia camping safari, you enjoy the comfort of a town in Swakopmund. Today you explore it at your own pace, as there is something for every taste. Don't miss the well-known cafés and bakeries with their German-inspired treats. With all the amenities of a small town, Swakopmund is the ideal starting point for the journey on to the north of the country.

A lone oryx standing in dry grassland with mountains in the distance
Brandberg - Rock Paintings of the San

Brandberg - Rock Paintings of the San

Your desert exploration continues north to Brandberg. With your guide, you go on a Brandberg rock painting hike and see the rock art of the San. Brandberg is considered the highest mountain in Namibia and is home to the famous White Lady, one of more than 45,000 paintings in the region. The roughly two-hour hike leads over rough terrain along the gorge of the usually dry Tsisab, and the painting is about 2,000 years old.

Two elephants touching trunks at a waterhole with springbok drinking nearby
Brandberg - Etosha National Park

Brandberg - Etosha National Park

With wide salt pans, savannah and woodland, Etosha National Park is one of the best wildlife parks in Africa. At 18,000 square kilometres, it is one of the largest protected areas in southern Africa. The name Etosha means "great white place" and refers to the huge, dried-out pan in the centre of the park. Today you reach the area and get in the mood for the game drives ahead.

Etosha - Game Drives at the Pan
Etosha - Game Drives at the Pan

Etosha - Game Drives at the Pan

The second day in Etosha gives you full time to explore. On the Etosha wildlife watching, you look for the park's animals along the edges of the salt pan. No safari day is like another, and the excitement before the next sighting keeps your eyes wide open. At the waterholes, you can watch elephants, lions, zebras and antelopes.

Aerial view of Windhoek's Christuskirche church tower surrounded by city streets and buildings
Etosha to Windhoek - Departure

Etosha to Windhoek - Departure

The morning is free for you at the camp. Between 11 and 12 o'clock a representative picks you up and takes you to Windhoek, to close your Namibia small group tour. The transfer takes about four to five hours and is offered exclusively for guests. Lean back and enjoy the ride to the capital of Namibia, where your tour ends in the late afternoon.

Want a detailed description of all tour days?

Our expert will walk you through the full itinerary and answer all your questions.

Verified Reviews

What riders say about Safari in Namibia

5.0

1 reviews

Michael N.

The support from the qualified team on the small group trip through Namibia was consistently professional and engaging. During the day tours to Dune 45 and Dead...

Translated from German · Show original

Die Betreuung durch das qualifizierte Team auf der Kleingruppenreise durch Namibia war durchweg professionell und ansprechend. Während der Tagestouren zu Düne 45 und Deadvlei sind die Guides klar auf die unterschiedlichen Interessen der maximal 12 Teilnehmer eingegangen. Regelmäßige Briefings vor den Aktivitäten sowie individuelle Tipps zur Erkundung der Wüstenlandschaften trugen dazu bei, dass die anspruchsvollen Streckenplanung gut umgesetzt werden konnte. Die Unterstützung war durchweg hilfreich und gut organisiert.

Michael N.
Offroad adventure

PRICE

from

€ 3,099 / person

Price Options

COMFORTABLE € 3,099

Additional Options

Single tent supplement (Explorer) € 299

Trip includes

  • Meals as per itinerary: 10 breakfasts and 8 dinners, freshly prepared and served in the truck
  • Vehicle: premium minibus or 4×4 safari vehicle
  • Overnight stays as per programme
  • Qualified guides and drivers
  • Filtered drinking water
  • Transport in the truck
  • All highlights as per itinerary
  • Entrance fees for the national parks
  • What accommodation awaits you along the way?
    On this Namibia camping safari, you stay overnight in comfortable lodges and camps equipped with basic amenities.
  • How demanding is the small group tour?
    The tour is moderately demanding. Hikes range from easy to challenging, such as the climb up Dune 45 in the Namib Desert.
  • How long are the driving stages?
    The stages vary. On this Namibia round trip, you should expect several long driving days of four to six hours per day.
  • Which activities are included?
    Included are, among other things, an Orange River canoe trip, the Fish River Canyon hike and guided excursions to the dunes of Sossusvlei and Deadvlei.
  • Which optional activities are there?
    Optionally, you can book boat trips, quad tours and scenic flights over the dunes or the Fish River Canyon.

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