Deserts and Canyons Namibia Explorer

Itinerary

Day 1: Kalahari Desert, Namibia

Stop At: Kalahari Desert, Tshabong Botswana
While Namibia is more famous for being the home of the Namib Desert, it must be remembered that much of eastern and southern Namibia is covered by another - the Kalahari Desert. The Kalahari is not a true desert as it receives too much rain, but it is actually a fossil desert. So do not expect to find the tall sand dunes associated with Sossusvlei, the landscape is more one of golden grass and small red dunes.
Duration: 30 minutes

No meals included on this day.
Accommodation included: Bagatelle Kalahari Game Ranch or similar

Day 2: Kalahari Desert, Namibia

Stop At: Kalahari Desert, Tshabong Botswana
The Kalahari Desert - or Kgalagadi, as it is known in Botswana – stretches across 7 countries – Botswana, Zambia, the Republic of South Africa, Zimbabwe, Namibia, Angola and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). It's coverage in Namibia is called a ‘desert' principally because it's porous, sandy soils cannot retain surface water, but in some areas annual rainfall can be as high as 250mm, which accounts for the luxuriant grass cover during good years.
Duration: 30 minutes

Meals included:
• Breakfast
• Dinner
Accommodation included: Bagatelle Kalahari Game Ranch or similar

Day 3: Fish River Canyon

Stop At: Quivertree Forest and Giant's Playground, Keetmanshoop Namibia
The Quivertree Forest, with its curious and picturesque trees, can be viewed on the Farm Gariganus, about 13 km north-east from Keetmanshoop. On the farm, visitors can explore the ancient and famous Quivertree Forest, and the Giants Playground. The quiver trees are so named because the ancient Bushmen used to manufacture quivers from the bark from the trees, in which to carry their arrows. These trees are also known as Kokkerboom in Afrikaans, and they produce a bright yellow flower common in the southern Namib Desert and the Northern Cape of South Africa. The trees in the forest are not trees at all. They do look like a weird kind of tree, but are in fact the genus Aloe, called Aloe dictoma in Latin. The second site of interest in the area is the Giants Playground. Here you can see a massive collection of amazing Dolerite balancing rock formations, piled up on top of each other, primarily by millions of years of wind erosion. The Giants Playground is well-named, as visitors can just imagine giants playing with these massive stone toys.
Duration: 1 hour

Meals included:
• Breakfast
• Dinner
Accommodation included: Canyon Lodge or similar

Day 4: Fish River Canyon

Stop At: Fish River Canyon, Ais-Ais Namibia
The main view point of the Fish River Canyon
Duration: 1 hour

Meals included:
• Breakfast
• Dinner
Accommodation included: Canyon Lodge or similar

Day 5: Lüderitz / Aus

Stop At: Wild Horses of Aus, 4 National Rd B, Aus Namibia
An attraction in the southern part of the Namib are the Feral Horses of Garub. These horses have successfully bypassed their role as working or breeding horses. They are independent of humans (more or less) and they fascinate us with their adapted live in a very inhospitable area and infinite freedom.
Duration: 15 minutes

Meals included:
• Breakfast
• Dinner
Accommodation included: Lüderitz Nest Hotel / Klein Aus Vista - Desert Horse Inn or Eagles Chalet

Day 6: Lüderitz / Aus

Stop At: Bogenfels, Namibia
Safari into the Restricted Diamond Area - Day tour from Lüderitz. The Sperrgebiet (also known as the Restricted Diamond Area) is and will always be a mystic place that is hard – and without a permit not at all – accessible.The highlights of this tour are visits to the diamond ghost town Pomona and the prominent rock arch called Bogenfels.
Duration: 8 hours

Meals included:
• Breakfast
• Dinner
Accommodation included: Lüderitz Nest Hotel / Klein Aus Vista - Desert Horse Inn or Eagles Chalet

Day 7: Sossusvlei

Stop At: Sossusvlei, Namib-Naukluft Park Namibia
Sossusvlei is a salt and clay pan surrounded by high red dunes, located in the southern part of the Namib Desert, in the Namib-Naukluft National Park of Namibia. The name "Sossusvlei" is often used in an extended meaning to refer to the surrounding area, which is one of the major visitor attractions of Namibia.
Duration: 4 hours

Meals included:
• Breakfast
• Dinner
Accommodation included: Sossusvlei Lodge or similar

Day 8: Sesriem Canyon

Stop At: Sesriem Canyon, 4.5km from the entrance gate of the Namib-Naukluft National Park, Sossusvlei, Namib-Naukluft Park Namibia
Sesriem is a small settlement located in the Namib Desert, in Namibia, close to the southern end of the Naukluft Mountains. It is especially known because the "Sesriem gate" is the main access point to the Namib-Naukluft National Park for visitors entering the park to visit the nearby tourist attraction of Sossusvlei
Duration: 1 hour

Meals included:
• Breakfast
• Dinner
Accommodation included: Sossusvlei Lodge or similar