Namibia – 6-day Desert, Ghost Town & Canyon Safari – Group camping

This morning, our guide will collect us from our accommodation in Swakopmund at 11:15, and we aim to leave by 11:30. From Swakopmund, we head east into the desert. We have two mountain passes to traverse this afternoon. We emerge from the mountains onto a flat road, and almost immediately we cross the Tropic of Capricorn at 23.5 south degrees. Onwards again to our destination for today, the gateway to the dunes and Sossusvlei at Sesriem.

We make our campsite, anticipating our day tomorrow, in the shadow of the towering red dunes of the world’s oldest desert.

Driving time: ~3 hours

Our first stop will be at Dune 45. We arrive at Dune 45 and climb to a vantage point for sunrise, watching as the colours grow and change with the ever-altering light. Back to the vehicle for a quick breakfast, and we carry on for the last few kilometres to the 2x4 car park, where we board the 4x4 shuttle vehicles into the vlei. From here we enter the ancient Tsauchab River-bed for the last 5km leg to Sossusvlei itself. 

The 4x4 shuttle service will transport us through the sandy terrain of the river-bed. We will visit Dead Vlei on foot led by our guide, an ancient pan surrounded by sand, that is strikingly populated with dead, skeletal camel thorn trees. 

We drive back to Sesriem for lunch and perhaps a dip in the swimming pool, and in the afternoon we take a short excursion to see the Sesriem Canyon. In the late afternoon, a short drive will take us to Elim Dune, for the best golden light before sunset.

Driving time: ~1 hour

We have a scenic drive today through ever-changing desert scenery, mountains and open grassland. We are continuing our long drive south and our destination is the tiny community of Aus, located in the Aus Mountains above the plains of the Namib Desert. Aus was formally the site of a prisoner of war camp set up by the South African army to house German prisoners during the second world war.

Our actual destination today is Klein Aus Vista, located just outside Aus and just inside the private Gondwana Sperrgebiet Rand Park. We aim to arrive in the early afternoon and set up camp, giving us time to stretch our legs on the unguided hiking trails on the property. The landscape is wide open vistas, and we are hoping for a spectacular sunset.

Driving time: ~3 hours

Today we travel through grasslands and wide-open desert scenery on our easy drive towards the ocean. Desert-adapted horses run wild in this area, and we need to keep a good look-out for these wonderful creatures.

We are en-route to the ghost town of Kolmanskop for a guided tour of the town and the opportunity to photograph this unique and interesting site.

On departure from Kolmanskop we quickly cover the last few kilometres to Luderitz itself, well known for its unique and colourful colonial-style buildings. We drive out on to the Luderitz peninsula and enjoy the scenery on the way to the historical monument at Diaz Point.

We head back to our accommodation at Klein Aus Vista, taking a second opportunity to see the desert horses and arriving in time for a sundowner at Klein Aus Vista.

Driving time: ~2 hours.

Our first main stop this morning will be the incredible Fish River Canyon located in the Ais Richtersveldt Transfrontier National Park. Second only in size to the Grand Canyon in Arizona, the vistas across this most immense of nature’s sculptures are breathtaking. 

We journey onwards to Keetmanshoop, the main commercial and political centre of Namibia’s south. A short stop here and then on to our overnight camp at the Quiver Tree Forest. 

The campsite tonight is a rustic camp, but we have the great benefit that is within the Quiver Tree forest. This allows for a stunning sunset as well as the opportunity for some night photography. This is the last night of our safari and time to reflect on our amazing adventure as we sit around our camp-fire one last time.

Driving time: ~5 hours.