- Namibia Escorted Tours
- Namibia: Dunes, Wildlife and Desert Coast
Discover a country of remarkable contrasts, from the wildlife-rich plains of Etosha National Park to the vast, otherworldly Namib Desert. Experience some of the world’s oldest and most dramatic scenery, where towering sand dunes and stark clay pans create iconic vistas. Gain insight into nature’s resilience as you encounter desert-adapted elephants and explore UNESCO-listed rock art as you learn about the enduring traditions of the Damara people, reflecting Namibia’s rich cultural heritage. This tour showcases Namibia’s spectacular natural beauty and ancient landscapes in one carefully curated journey.
Depart on your scheduled overnight flight to Windhoek.
Dinner
On arrival at Hosea Kutako International Airport, you will be met by your guide and transferred to your hotel in central Windhoek, passing landmarks such as Christuskirche and the Parliament Gardens. Spend the afternoon at your leisure, unwinding after your journey and taking in Namibia’s charming capital. In the evening, enjoy a welcome dinner at Joe’s Beerhouse, a celebrated Namibian institution, offering a relaxed introduction to local cuisine and culture.
Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Following breakfast, depart Windhoek and head north toward Etosha. En route, stop at the Cheetah Conservation Fund (CCF), where the study and sustenance of the country’s cheetahs has made the population the largest and healthiest in the world. Enjoy a guided educational visit, gaining insight into conservation success stories and predator–farmer coexistence programs, followed by lunch. Continue to the eastern boundary of Etosha National Park, arriving at your lodge in the late afternoon with time to relax before dinner and your overnight stay.
Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Today is dedicated to a guided safari in Etosha National Park, world-renowned for its spectacular wildlife and home to over 100 mammal species, 400 recorded bird species, and scores of reptiles. Explore the eastern and central sections of the park’s sweeping savannah, stopping at waterholes surrounding the vast Etosha Pan. Wildlife sightings can include elephants, lions, giraffes, zebra, wildebeest, and—with luck—rhinos and leopards. Return to your lodge in the late afternoon to relax and enjoy your beautiful surroundings.
Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
After breakfast, further opportunities for game viewing await as you travel through Etosha toward the southern exits. Your journey offers not just additional wildlife encounters, but a chance to admire the park’s changing landscapes, from arid mineral-rich terrain to dense mopane woodlands. Exit the park and proceed to your next lodge, where you can enjoy the remainder of the afternoon at leisure before dinner.
Breakfast & Dinner
Depart your lodge and journey southwest into the dramatic scenery of Damaraland, a sparsely-populated region between the Brandberg, Namibia’s highest mountain, and Skeleton Coast. As you travel, the landscape becomes increasingly rugged, characterized by volcanic rock formations, dry riverbeds, and wide-open vistas. Arrive at Twyfelfontein Country Lodge in the afternoon to enjoy sunset views over the Aba Huab Valley, followed by dinner.
Breakfast & Dinner
Today, embark a fully-guided exploration of Damaraland’s highlights. Begin with a guided walk through the UNESCO World Heritage site of Twyfelfontein Rock Engravings, home to some of southern Africa’s most significant ancient rock art. The site boasts over 2,500 well-preserved petroglyphs carved by hunter-gatherer communities over the two millennia, depicting rhinos, elephants, giraffes, and human figures. Continue to the Damara Living Museum for an immersive cultural experience that offers insight into traditional Damara customs, lifestyle, and heritage; the museum features a traditional village complete with cottages and cattle, cultural performances, crafts, and a functioning blacksmith’s shop. Your day concludes with a captivating guided desert elephant drive, venturing by 4x4 along ephemeral riverbeds in search of resilient desert-adapted elephants and other wildlife uniquely suited to this rugged environment. Return to your lodge in the late afternoon.
Breakfast
Following breakfast, travel toward the Atlantic Ocean, passing through dramatic desert scenery and small traditional settlements to arrive in Swakopmund, Namibia’s principal coastal resort town. The remainder of the day is at leisure to admire the town’s colonial German-influenced architecture and relaxed seaside atmosphere.
Breakfast & Dinner
Enjoy a relaxed day exploring Swakopmund on foot or join one of the many activities on offer locally. Perched between the Namib Desert and the Atlantic Ocean, Swakopmund is a haven for adventure activities and marine excursions. Unwind at one of the town’s restaurants, cafes, and art galleries, soaking up cool coastal breezes and strolling soft sandy beaches.
Breakfast & Dinner
Depart the coast and head south into the Namib Desert, thought to be the world’s oldest desert and featuring some of Africa’s highest sand dunes. The driving route traverses gravel plains and mountain passes, providing the opportunity to admire stunning desert panoramas. Arrive at your lodge near the Namib-Naukluft Park in the afternoon to enjoy time at leisure before dinner.
Breakfast & Dinner
This morning, set out on an early guided excursion into the dunes to experience the iconic landscapes of the Namib Desert, starting with a visit to spectacular Sossusvlei, home to some of the world’s highest red sand dunes, with some reaching up to 350 metres tall. Continue to the striking Deadvlei, renowned for its ancient, dark camelthorn trees silhouetted against white clay pans and towering dunes, before walking through Sesriem Canyon, a dramatic gorge carved by millennia of erosion. Return to your lodge in the afternoon for time to relax and soak up your desert surroundings.
Breakfast & Dinner
After breakfast, return to Windhoek, travelling through scenic desert and mountain landscapes. On arrival enjoy time at leisure to unwind or explore Windhoek independently before a farewell dinner.
Breakfast
Transfer to Hosea Kutako International Airport for your return flight to the UK, or to continue on to your chosen extension.
Your flight lands back in the UK today.
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The order of events and sightseeing may vary according to local conditions or for operational purposes. The schedules of the domestic airlines in country are subject to frequent changes. For this reason, we have indicated approximate times only. Your local guide will inform you of any schedule changes as they are informed of them. The driving times listed are point to point and do not include the duration of excursions or stops en route. Some road construction and/or weather conditions may lengthen the driving times. Our intention is to adhere to the day-to-day itinerary as printed; however, order of events and sightseeing may vary according to local conditions.
If booking more than 12 weeks before departure a deposit of £295.00pp will need to be paid at the time of booking with the full amount payable at 12 weeks prior to departure. The deposit applies to adults and children. If you are within 12 weeks of travel then the full balance of the holiday will be payable.
You will need a visa to visit Namibia. The Namibian authorities have launched a visa on arrival scheme, which is extended to UK passport holders.
You can either apply for a visa on arrival when you arrive at a Port of Entry for Namibia, or you can apply online before you travel for an e-visa. For either route, the cost is 1,600 Namibian dollars (approx (£70) for travellers over 11 years old. Children between the ages of 11 to 6 will be charged 800 Namibian dollars. Children under the age of 6 will not be charged a fee for a visa on arrival. When granted a visa on arrival, you will receive a multiple entry visa valid for the period that you have requested.
We work closely with The Travel Visa Company who will be able to arrange your visa on your behalf. Please call them on 01270 250 590 and quote 'Mercury Holidays'. When calling the Travel Visa Company, they will advise you of any changes to the fees or the procedure, they will also advise you of all information they will require in order to apply for the visa. We recommend you check with your destinations' Tourist Board or Embassy prior to departure for the most up to date guidelines regarding these.
Please note your final documentation will be sent to you approximately 21 days before departure. Check in baggage is included with your flight. Weight restrictions will be finalised on your final documentation. Should you wish to take additional luggage you will need to pay extra at check-in. Check-in should be at least 3 hours before departure. If you wish to arrange Airport car parking or accommodation at preferential rates, we recommend you book this in advance with Holiday Extras on 0333 188 0407, quoting HX313.
IMPORTANT: A printed E-ticket is no longer required at check-in, all you need to do is present your passport to the staff at the desk and your boarding pass will be given to you. Please note that you should carry your invoice with flight details on it as you will need to show this at the airport.
We strongly recommend that you and all members of your party are suitably insured as soon as you book your holiday. It is a condition of booking that you must have suitable travel insurance. It is important that you purchase travel insurance that suitably covers your participation in whatever activities you may undertake at the time that you make your booking. To assist you with this, we have arranged travel insurance in partnership with Holiday Extras, including up to a 20% discount, which is given to all Mercury Holidays customers. To arrange your insurance with Holiday Extras, please visit https://www.mercuryholidays.co.uk/info/insurance for more details. Please ensure you provide us with the name of your insurer, policy number and their 24 hour emergency contact number as soon as possible. Mercury Holidays will not be liable for any costs incurred by you due to your failure to take out suitable travel insurance from the date of booking.
It is your responsibility to check any health and vaccination requirements applicable to your booked arrangements. We can only provide general information about this. Health and hygiene facilities and disease risks vary from country to country. You should take health advice about your own needs as early as possible and in good time before your departure. Sources of information include; www.fco.gov.uk, http://travelhealthpro.org.uk/, www.hpa.org.uk, or your General Practitioner.
All our tours feature a “Tour Pace” to help find the right holiday for you. To travel on any of our tours requires unaided mobility and the ability to stroll around the sights, climb stairs and get on and off coaches and boats. The tour pace is rated Active. A good level of fitness is required as you will have early mornings, and some long days driving on uneven terrain. You will be walking around the sights (some have long distances to reach them or stairs to climb) and getting on and off coaches and boats and walking on uneven terrain. You will stay in variety of hotels throughout the tour that may have stairs or uneven walkways. Our guides will always endeavour to provide the highest level of service and assistance; however, they cannot be expected to cater for customers who are unfit to complete the itinerary.
The currency in Namibia is the Namibian Dollar. The South African Rand is also widely accepted. Cash machines will also be available throughout your stay in Namibia to withdraw money in the local currency.
We recommend that you exchange your currency before you leave the UK. Some local banks will not change money back into Pound Sterling, so do not exchange too much. It is advisable to carry smaller note denominations as some outlets and vendors may not accept the larger notes.
As normal practice you may be asked for your credit card details on check-in at the hotel in order to cover any extras incurred during your stay. If you do not have a credit card, you may be asked for a cash deposit. MasterCard and Visa are widely accepted in hotels.
You will need to take money with you to cover any personal purchases such as souvenirs, laundry, any meals not included in the itinerary as well as drinks and any additional snacks. We recommend you bring along a minimum of £400-£500 per person to change to local currency. It is a good idea to try and maintain a supply of small notes and change in the local currency for tipping or small purchases.
It is at your discretion to tip both your driver and guide. We would recommend tipping approximately $5 per person per day for the guide. $5 per person for the external rangers. This is a total of $90 per person to budget for tips on your trip. Tips are accepted in the local currency.
The minimum number of travellers in your group will be 6, and the maximum will be 22. In the unlikely event there are less than 10 people booked on your tour date, we will endeavour to reduce any disruption to your holiday and try to operate your tour with lower passenger numbers. If we are not able to operate your departure date, then you may be asked to change to a different date, and a full refund will be made available to you should this alternative not be suitable.
This is an escorted tour, meaning that you will be met on arrival by your national guide who will remain with you for the duration of your trip. If your group consists of 6-9 people, you will have a Driver Guide accompany you. If your group consists of 10 or more people, then you will have a Driver and a Guide accompany you.
Your accommodation is selected for convenience, location or character, and can range from business hotels to leisure hotels or lodges. Hotel accommodation is generally rated as local three to four-star standard, but please note there is no international classification system for hotels, and differences in facilities and quality do exist compared to what you might expect in the UK. Scheduled power outages, commonly referred to as load shedding, can be a common occurrence in South Africa. While most hotels and lodges are equipped to mitigate the effects of load shedding, ensuring that your comfort and convenience are maintained to the best of our ability, it's important to acknowledge that not all establishments may be fully functional during these times. As a result, you may experience temporary disruptions to certain amenities such as air-conditioning, television services, the operation of electric kettles, etc. The hotels/lodges and your guide however, will do their utmost to minimize any impact on your stay. Rest assured that all accommodation used by Mercury Holidays is regularly inspected by our staff and partners to ensure that standards meet your needs
Western and international food will be served however some establishments will serve traditional meals giving you a chance to experience local flavours. Vegetarian and Vegan options available, please request prior to departure. Please contact Customer Experience for questions about other dietary requirements or allergy information.
It is not recommended to drink the tap water, even in developed countries water may contain unfamiliar elements that can cause upset stomachs. In less developed countries water is not filtered in the same way. Bottled water will be available at shops and hotels/lodges.
On your arrival you will be met by a representative from our local agent, Sense of Africa Namibia, holding a sign displaying: “Mercury Holidays”. The Mercury Holidays/Sense of Africa Namibia representative will show you to your transfer vehicle. Your national guide will be on hand 24 hours a day should you have any queries.
Please find below the emergency contact details for Sense of Africa Namibia
Telephone number 24 hr: +264 (0)81 127 0102.
E-mail: etosha@tourvestdm.com
