Safari in Etosha, climb desert dunes, and track rhinos in Africa’s most underrated destination
Vast, spectacular, diverse, Namibia is the best of Africa and more. The wildlife rivals any: spend two days spotting safari animals in Etosha National Park, track rhinos, and watch water holes for any welcome visitors. You’ll also climb a desert dune, hike to the ancient White Lady rock painting, and gaze into the Milky Way at night. Better yet, you’ll be joined by one of our expert tour leaders, eager to share their Namibia.
Highlights
Join our much-loved tour leaders to discover the best of Namibia
Spend two full days on safari in Etosha National Park
Climb the highest dunes in the world in the early morning light
Track rhinos with the help of an expert local guide
Hike to the ancient White Lady rock painting, created by San people
Watch over water holes and stargaze from our welcoming lodges
Key Information
Accommodation: 12 Classic nights (lodges, chalets or hotels)
Travel by purpose-built overland truck
Group normally 4 to 12, plus leader. Minimum age: 16
This ‘nature positive’ approach is designed to help nature and communities thrive in harmony through practical solutions, such as reducing carbon and waste on our trips, supporting conservation projects through the Exodus Adventure Travels Foundation, and rewilding 100 square metres for every Exodus traveller.
You’ll also find Thriving Nature, Thriving People moments across our trips. These experiences are often a highlight of your adventure, while also benefiting the natural world or local communities.
On this trip, we:
Spot cheetahs in the Namib Carnivore Conservation Centre, a research and educational project that works to return rescued animals to the wild
Track wild rhinos on foot with an expert guide who teaches you about the vital rhino conservation efforts and anti-poaching initiatives
Can join an optional township tour in Windhoek for an educational insight into the daily lives of the residents
Start
Finish
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Monday
Sunday
16 Feb 2026
15 Feb 2026
Saturday
Saturday
28 Feb 2026
28 Feb 2026
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Land Only Trip PriceUSD 5100
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This departure is guaranteed to go ahead and can be booked, although some components will need to be requested. Please click Continue to proceed with booking or contact our Sales team for assistance.
Land Only Trip PriceUSD 5100
Book with USD 1275 deposit
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Optional Single Supplement+USD 825
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Optional Single Supplement+USD 825
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Land Only Trip PriceUSD 5250
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Optional Single Supplement+USD 825
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This departure is available for new bookings, and will be guaranteed to go ahead once it reaches minimum numbers. Please click Continue to proceed with booking or contact our Sales team for assistance.
Land Only Trip PriceUSD 5400
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Optional Single Supplement+USD 855
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This departure is available for new bookings, and will be guaranteed to go ahead once it reaches minimum numbers. Please click Continue to proceed with booking or contact our Sales team for assistance.
Land Only Trip PriceUSD 5400
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This departure is available for new bookings, and will be guaranteed to go ahead once it reaches minimum numbers. Please click Continue to proceed with booking or contact our Sales team for assistance.
Land Only Trip PriceUSD 5400
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Land Only Trip PriceUSD 5400
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Land Only Trip PriceUSD 5400
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Land Only Trip PriceUSD 5400
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Land Only Trip PriceUSD 5400
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Land Only Trip PriceUSD 5400
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This departure is available for new bookings, and will be guaranteed to go ahead once it reaches minimum numbers. Please click Continue to proceed with booking or contact our Sales team for assistance.
Land Only Trip PriceUSD 5400
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Land Only Trip PriceUSD 5400
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Land Only Trip PriceUSD 5400
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Availability
This departure is available for new bookings, and will be guaranteed to go ahead once it reaches minimum numbers. Please click Continue to proceed with booking or contact our Sales team for assistance.
Land Only Trip PriceUSD 5400
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Optional Single Supplement+USD 855
Availability
This departure is available for new bookings, and will be guaranteed to go ahead once it reaches minimum numbers. Please click Continue to proceed with booking or contact our Sales team for assistance.
Land Only Trip PriceUSD 5400
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Optional Single Supplement+USD 855
Availability
This departure is available for new bookings, and will be guaranteed to go ahead once it reaches minimum numbers. Please click Continue to proceed with booking or contact our Sales team for assistance.
Land Only Trip PriceUSD 5400
Book with USD 1350 deposit
Book with USD 500 deposit
Optional Single Supplement+USD 855
Availability
This departure is available for new bookings, and will be guaranteed to go ahead once it reaches minimum numbers. Please click Continue to proceed with booking or contact our Sales team for assistance.
Land Only Trip PriceUSD 5400
Book with USD 1350 deposit
Book with USD 500 deposit
Optional Single Supplement+USD 855
Availability
This departure is available for new bookings, and will be guaranteed to go ahead once it reaches minimum numbers. Please click Continue to proceed with booking or contact our Sales team for assistance.
Land Only Trip PriceUSD 5400
Book with USD 1350 deposit
Book with USD 500 deposit
Optional Single Supplement+USD 855
Availability
This departure is available for new bookings, and will be guaranteed to go ahead once it reaches minimum numbers. Please click Continue to proceed with booking or contact our Sales team for assistance.
Land Only Trip PriceUSD 5400
Book with USD 1350 deposit
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Optional Single Supplement+USD 855
Availability
This departure is available for new bookings, and will be guaranteed to go ahead once it reaches minimum numbers. Please click Continue to proceed with booking or contact our Sales team for assistance.
Begin your adventure at Arebbusch Lodge in Windhoek. Spend the afternoon exploring or relaxing, perhaps taking a dip in the pool or watching the many native birds that swoop overhead.
Around 6pm, say helloto your tour leader and fellow travellers, when we gather as a group for the first time to get to know each other and learn more about the adventures ahead.
Your tour leader then ensures a big Namibian welcome by arranging a group dinner.
Accommodation: Arebbusch Lodge (or similar)
Want more time in Windhoek? Secure pre-tour hotel nights through your sales representative.
Meals included: Dinner
Day
2
Drive through Namib Nuakluft to Sesriem
Today we head southwest through the spectacular scenery of the Namib-Naukluft Park towards the Sesriem/Solitaire area.
This national park, one of the largest in the world, is home to one of the driest and oldest deserts on Earth. It also has towering, jagged rock formations and an incredible lunar landscape, so be prepared for great photo stops.
Driving: 186mi-217mi (300km-350km); seven hours
Accommodation: Weltevrede Guest Farm (or similar)
Meals included: Breakfast, Dinner
Day
3
Climb the world’s tallest dunes • See cheetahs at the Namib Carnivore Conservation Centre
Today we spend much of our time in the Namib Desert. Rising early, we visit the tallest dunes in the world and climb one of them in the early morning light for spectacular views.
We can then either walk to Hiddenvlei as a group (a round journey of 1hr 45min) or catch a 4×4 transfer (optional extra) to Deadvlei, where ancient acacia trees form an eerie desert scene. If we’re lucky, we may see gemsbok or ostrich among the dunes. In the afternoon, join a guide to see the cheetahs at the Namib Carnivore Conservation Centre; depending on time, we may go tomorrow morning.
Driving: 124mi (200km); three hours
Accommodation: Weltevrede Guest Farm (or similar)
Meals included: Breakfast, Dinner
Day
4
To Swakopmund via the flamingos at Walvis Bay
We take a long but very scenic drive through the Namib-Naukluft Park to Swakopmund. En route, we visit Walvis Bay for lunch and to see flamingos. Swakopmund is a small German colonial resort town with quaint cake shops and coffee houses and a centre for adrenaline activities.
Driving: 186mi (300km); 5hr 30min
Accommodation: Prost Hotel (or similar)
Meals included: Breakfast
Day
5
Free day for optional activities
Today is free to enjoy one of the many optional activities here. On the water, go deep-sea fishing; in the desert, try sandboarding and quad-biking; and in the sky, fly over the Skeleton Coast. Or spend the day enjoying the fantastic local Viennese-style cakes, walk along the beach or nearby dunes, or just watch the world pass in this town which seems strangely out of place in Africa.
Accommodation: Prost Hotel (or similar)
Meals included: Breakfast
Day
6
To Brandberg mountain in Damaraland
After a relaxing start, we leave the cool breeze of the Atlantic Ocean behind and head inland towards Brandberg, the highest mountain in Namibia, in Damaraland. The Damaraland area is best-known as being home to desert elephants that roam in the Ugab River. Depending on our arrival time, there may be the option of a 4×4 game drive looking for desert elephants.
In the evening, we can normally enjoy spectacular stargazing.
Driving: 149mi (240km); 3hr 30min
Accommodation: Brandberg White Lady Lodge campsite (or similar)
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day
7
Walk through Valley 45 to the ancient White Lady rock painting
We begin our day with a short drive to Brandberg, where we enjoy a walk through Valley 45 for approximately 90 minutes. Along the way, we view beautiful, granite formations and a variety of birdlife. The valley takes us to the White Lady rock painting which, along with several other small paintings and engravings, are thought to have been left by San hunter-gatherers at least 2,000 years ago (please note that if elephants walk into this area then it might be too dangerous to do the walk – in this case we will typically go on a game drive looking for elephants). After, we drive towards the Khorixas area, where we should pass various Himba and Herero women selling crafts from the roadside. We may also spot desert elephants and meerkats on the way.
Driving: 155mi (250km); 4hr 30min
Accommodation: Damara Mopane Lodge (or similar)
Meals included: Breakfast, Dinner
Day
8
To Etosha National Park • Late afternoon safari game drive
We begin with a short drive to Etosha, a huge national park of mixed forest and grassland centred around a large salt pan. We should arrive in time for a late afternoon game drive before reaching our accommodation for the night. The itinerary allows plenty of time to really enjoy this fabulous game park.
Driving: 125mi (200km); three hours
Accommodation: Lodge in/near Etosha (or similar)
Meals included: Breakfast, Dinner
Days
9 - 10
Spend two days spotting elephants, lions, giraffes and more in Etosha
Etosha is home to a great variety of species, which are generally easy to find as the animals congregate at different times around the waterholes. Wildebeest, zebras, impalas, springbucks, kudus, elephants, giraffes, lions and even rhinos are all common sights here. Bring plenty of camera memory and patience and you will be rewarded by one of the greatest game spectacles in southern Africa. Etosha is also a good place to spot birds, with plenty of water birds on the lakes (when filled with water), and weaverbirds and hornbills in the trees. In Etosha, we typically stay within the park on some or all the nights (subject to availability) and the camps are next to waterholes. These accommodations also offer optional night drives, which you can book and pay for on arrival.
Leaving Etosha, we head to Otjiwa Safari Lodge, which is ideally placed for our rhino-tracking tomorrow.
Today, you have several optional activities you can join at Otjiwa, including cycling, a night drive, cooking and spa.
Driving: 205mi (330km); 3hr 30min
Accommodation: Otjiwa Safari Lodge (or similar)
Meals included: Breakfast
Day
12
Rhino tracking led by an expert guide • To Windhoek
Start early today to see rhinos up close! We’re led by a well-trained guide who tracks the rhinos by vehicle; once they’re spotted, we carefully get closer to the rhinos on foot. This is an incredible experience, allowing the group to admire rhinos from a safe distance. Later, we head back to Windhoek, stopping at a crafts market on the way.
Driving: 199mi (320km); 4hr 30min
Accommodation: Arebbusch Lodge (or similar)
Meals included: Breakfast
Day
13
Adventure ends in Windhoek
You’ve camped under the Namibian sky, spotted iconic safari animals and seen the largest dunes in the world; but today, the trip ends after breakfast. Spend any free time before your flight relaxing at the accommodation or exploring Windhoek, where there are museums and shops. Alternatively, arrange a township tour of Windhoek or visit the nearby Daan Viljoen game reserve (see Optional Excursions section).
If you’d like to extend your adventure, speak to your sales representative about booking additional nights.
Meals included: Breakfast
Essential Info
Is this trip for you?
This trip has been rated Activity Level 2 (Easy & Moderate). For more information on our trip gradings, visit the Activity Level Guidelines page. If you have any queries about the difficulty of the trip, please contact us.
Most walks are of a Moderate difficulty, such as climbing Dune 45 and visiting the White Lady rock painting at Brandberg.
Travel: Transport is in a specially modified safari truck with 10 to 12 seats for group members. There is plenty of legroom and packing space plus a reference library, fridge and/or icebox. Smaller groups may be in a Toyota Hilux/Land Cruiser. By keeping the group size small, we maximise the exposure to the great African wilderness.
Road conditions: Eighty percent of Namibian roads are good gravel roads. However, road conditions are dependent on maintenance, so can be poor on occasions. This can have an impact on journey times and comfort and can be punishing on the vehicles. Drive times on this trip are moderate, and we normally arrive at our destination in the afternoon. The total distance covered is about 1,740mi (2,800km). Drive times below are approximations and do vary according to road conditions and the number of stops. We rarely exceed six hours of driving in one day.
Difficulty: There are some days where we have to get up before sunrise, but this allows us to get the most from our activities (for example, the game drives in Etosha where we are more likely to see wildlife in the early mornings before it gets too hot).
Following a review of all our trips we have categorised this trip as generally not suitable for persons of reduced mobility. However if you are a regular traveller on such trips, please contact customer services to discuss the trip and your personal condition.
Joining Instructions
Key information
Start hotel: Arebbusch Lodge, Corner of Golf & Auas Rd, Olympia, Windhoek, Namibia Phone: +264 61 252 255 Recommended arrival time: You can arrive at any time today. There will be a welcome briefing around 6pm in the evening. Airport: Hosea Kutako International Airport (WDH)
Getting to the start hotel
The start hotel is approximately 45 minutes’ drive from the airport. Exodus provides free arrival transfers to the start hotel from the airport for all customers.
Catching your return flight
Exodus provides free departure transfers for all customers to Hosea Kutako International Airport (WDH) from the end hotel.
Please note, unless specified otherwise, the transfers will be to the start (or pre-tour) hotel and from the end (or post-tour) hotel and will be on the date on which the tour starts/ends; transfers to other hotels in the same city and/or on different dates may attract an extra charge. Transfers should be booked with your sales representative at least two weeks before the tour starts.
Full joining instructions including local emergency numbers will be sent to you as part of our Final Joining Instructions. If you do not receive these at least a week before departure, or require them earlier please contact our office or your travel agent.
Location start: Windhoek Location end: Windhoek
Vaccinations and Health
Namibia
There are no required vaccinations. However, recommended vaccinations include hepatitis A, hepatitis B, tetanus, typhoid, cholera, rabies and tuberculosis. Malaria prophylaxis is essential, seek advice from your doctor about which malaria tablets to take. You will also need a yellow fever vaccination certificate if you’re arriving from a country with risk of yellow fever transmission or transiting for more than 12 hours through a country with risk of yellow fever transmission. Please confirm all requirements and recommendations with your doctor or travel clinic.
Passport
Remember to check the expiration date of your passport if travelling internationally. Many countries require your passport to be valid for at least six months after the date of your scheduled return.
Visa
Namibia
Travellers from the UK, US, Canada, and some EU states need a visa to enter Namibia (see the full list here).
Visas can be obtained online (https://eservices.mhaiss.gov.na/) and you should apply for the Visa on Arrival option. Please check all visa requirements.
Please note, visa requirements often change and it is your responsibility to obtain any required visas for this trip. Therefore, we recommend that you check with the nearest embassy or consulate of your chosen destination(s), including any countries you may be transiting or transferring through.
Some local governments provide guidance on what visas their citizens need. To help, we’ve gathered a selection of useful links below.
If you are transiting through South Africa and are a non-UK passport holder you may require a transit visa. Please check before travelling. Please note that if flying via South Africa you will probably have to pass immigration there.
Passports: To enter Namibia, your passport must have an ‘expiry date’ at least six months after the date you arrive. It must also have at least one blank page. If you’re travelling to South Africa, you will need an additional two blank pages.
Travelling with children: In addition to valid passports, parents travelling with children (under 18) should always carry the original or certified copy of the unabridged birth certificate (listing the child’s and both parents’ details). Adults travelling with children where they are not the biological or legal guardians of those children, should be in possession of an affidavit statement from the child’s parents giving consent for their travel. If a child is travelling with only one parent, the other parent should give consent for travel in the form of an affidavit.
Food & Drink
For meals not included, allow approximately 250-350 Namibian dollars (US$15-US$20) per person for dinner and 250 Namibian dollars (US$15) for lunch. Meals are in restaurants or at the lodges.
Meat plays a big part in Namibian cuisine. However, lodges/restaurants can cater for vegetarians if notified in advance. Please make let us know before departure if you have any dietary requests.
Weather
June to August: Clear and warm during the day, but temperatures can near freezing point at night.
September to May: Considerably warmer; October to March is the hottest, reaching the high 30Cs (around 100F). However, it is always a dry heat and the temperature drops at night. The wet season is between November and February, but this is not a bad time to go as the desert blooms after rainfall, there is plenty of birdlife to see and it never rains for very long.
Guesthouses and lodges
Throughout this adventure in Namibia, we mostly stay in two- and three-star lodges and occasionally in permanent tented camps. Most properties have swimming pools, so don’t forget your swimwear.
Below are a few of the standout accommodations.
Arebbusch Lodge
Our guesthouse is only a 10-minute drive from the city centre yet is spacious with two swimming pools and one of the best pizzerias in the capital. It also has a beautiful garden enlivened with indigenous trees, which provide a habitat for a wealth of birdlife, including black-throated canaries, laughing doves and red-headed finches.
Brandberg White Lady Lodge
Our Brandberg stay is in the middle of nowhere. From the viewpoint, you will not see another property, just the ruggedly beautiful landscape of Damaraland and possibly some desert elephants in the distance. There’s a dining area, well-stocked bar, lounge, and two swimming pools.
Lodges in/near Etosha National Park
In Etosha, some departures stay within the national park itself. The lodges we use, either Okaukuejo or Namutoni, are government run and are more basic. Each has a restaurant, swimming pool and bar, but the highlights are the flood-lit waterholes where the wildlife regularly stops to drink. Other departures stay just outside the park in Etosha Safari Camp. This is a quirky property themed on a ‘shebeen’, a much-loved informal bar with local colour and bric-a-brac feel.
Worth knowing
Wifi is available in several properties but not everywhere, notably not in Sesriem or Etosha.
Our rooms in Etosha are the only accommodation where mosquito nets are provided, as the park is in a low-risk malaria area.
Additional game drives may be available at the Etosha sites, which can be booked on arrival for an extra cost.
I really enjoyed getting to see all the animals you usually only see in books or Disney movies: Lions, meerkats, elephants, mongoose… the list goes forever. As if this wasn’t enough, the Namibian landscape is varied and impressive with sand dunes, mountains and the ocean. This trip takes you to all of these, and offers unforgettable adventures, such as tracking rhinos on foot or flying over the desert in a helicopter!
The pace of this trip is gentle enough that you will get some R&R in besides all the action, but is never boring – how could it be when there’s so much to see and do?
Most Inspirational Moment
I loved tracking the rhinos on foot, as it gave us a chance to experience these wonderful creatures in their natural environment without anyone else around.
Thoughts on Group Leader
I will nominate Shane as leader of the year! He was the most up-beat, fun guide with extensive knowledge on pretty much anything under the sun. No matter what we asked him (astronomy, flora, fauna, geography), he was ready with a detailed answer. He always took us to the best restaurants and made sure we had everything we needed. Intelligent and sunny, he's the ideal guide. Thank you for helping us have the best time, Shane! I miss you!
Advice for Potential Travellers
Be sure to bring your malaria pills as it can be tricky to get them in Namibia outside the bigger cities. It's best to buy your anti-mosquito spray in Namibia as a higher concentration of Deet is necessary than what is typically sold in North America and Europe. Also be sure to make loads of space on your photo-taking device of choice, as you will have plenty to take photos of! :)
Michael Nutt
Reviewed June 2025
A country of stunning diverse landscapes
We booked this trip to celebrate my 70th birthday, aware that it included some long days on rough bumpy roads and a couple of challenging walks. I am very fit for my age but did find the itinerary very intense, with numerous early morning starts (a 6:15 alarm felt like a lie in for us!) and little time for relaxation or recovery (apart from the free day in Swakopmund, when we declined all the optional activities). The walk in Brandberg was difficult underfoot, with lots of rocks to negotiate and boulders to scramble over, with the potential to twist an ankle with each step; we were rewarded by the sight of cave paintings dating over 2,000 years, which fascinated me but may not be to everyone’s interest. The walking trail at Waterberg is even more challenging, and nobody in our group completed it (one couple went part of the way up); most opted for a game drive that took us onto the plateau, and we were fortunate to come upon a group of giraffes at a waterhole / salt lick at close quarters, but otherwise there was little to see on the drive. I would have liked to have experienced and learned more about the history and culture of the country. Waterberg is a place of great significance in the Herero genocide and I think time could have been better spent exploring its historical aspects (there is a German cemetery there but we had no time to visit it), instead of the walking trail or the optional game drive. And the brief encounter with Himba and Herero people on day 7 was merely a photo and shopping opportunity (you had to pay to take photos – I declined – and nobody in our group bothered with the market stalls); I would have preferred to have spent time seeing their village and learning about their culture and history.
That’s the negative aspects of the trip dealt with. On the positive side, Namibia is a country of contrasting landscapes, each of them impressive in its own way: red ochre sand dunes, lunar landscapes, vast open plains and grasslands, strange granite outcrops, desolate mountains, limitless horizons … and the grandeur of the Waterberg Plateau, a table top mountain fringed with bare granite and best appreciated from below and a short distance away. We saw a variety of wildlife along the way, and a good deal in Etosha, although the recent rains after a three year drought meant that game was hard to spot in the tall grass and vegetation that had sprung up; we saw no leopards, briefly glimpsed a few cheetahs (although we got up close to a group in the cheetah conservatory early in the trip), and spotted the head of a lone male lion resting in the long grass and watching us for a short moment. But we had some amazing encounters with elephants, giraffes, wildebeest and zebra, and saw many different antelopes and other fauna. Unfortunately the flamingos had left Walvis Bay, and the desert elephants were no longer in the valley at Brandberg, which was disappointing. Wildlife watching is mostly a matter of luck, and nothing is guaranteed.The best wildlife encounter was the rhino safari at the end of the trip, when we walked to within 20 feet of three white rhino at Eagle’s Rest; an unforgettable experience.
There were many other interesting sights and experiences along the way: countless giant ground crickets, almost everywhere we went; walking through the Sesriem Canyon ; old German colonial architecture in Swakopmund; eating apple strudel and ice cream at Anton’s Cafe; the Zeila wreck on the Skeleton Coast; pet meerkats in Brandberg White Lady Lodge.
Most Inspirational Moment
Hard to say, but walking with three rhinos in Otjiwa takes some beating, with the huge animals watching us, no more than 20 feet away.
And the sight of thousands of zebra, with some wildebeest for company, stretched out in columns for more than a mile either side of - and on - the road in Etosha NP was very impressive.
And the apple strudel with ice cream in Anton’s Cafe in Swakopmund was simply divine!
Thoughts on Group Leader
What can I tell you about Shane? Simply to say that we couldn’t have asked for more from a group leader and guide. He was tireless in doing everything he could to ensure we had the best possible experience. He described the twelve of us in the group as his “family”, but trying to manage a group of British travellers (actually there was a Frenchman among us, but he’s an honorary Brit as resident in the UK for a while) with a number of eccentricities must have seemed a bit like herding cats to him! He has a great sense of humour, an infectious laugh, and was always approachable and responsive to the group’s wishes and needs. When my wife was taken ill on day 3, he ensured we got into Swakopmund the next day in time to take her to the pharmacy for antibiotics before it closed. When we had no hot water in our room at Okaukuejo Lodge in Etosha, he investigated the problem and arranged for it to be fixed straight away. His organisational skills guaranteed everything happened on time, in what was a very busy and tight schedule. He was an excellent driver on the long drives, often on very rough and rutted road, and his skills ensured we had a safe trip. He really is a great guy.
Advice for Potential Travellers
Be mindful of what you take with you: travel as light as possible and use the laundry facilities at the lodges wherever you can. Travel cubes are a great help to organise your clothing and accessories, as you will be living out of your bag.
Temperatures range from very hot in the daytime to chilly at early morning and evenings; it can get particularly cold in the open 4x4 vehicles used on optional game drives. Take clothes for both extremes.
Listen carefully to what your group leader says. There is often a lot of information to take in, so make sure you know what the arrangements and timings are for the group.
Buy an eSim for your mobile phone, as WiFi is unreliable and often unavailable in many locations. You can then set up a WhatsApp group to share information.
Be prepared for long days on the road travelling between lodges, so maybe take earbuds to listen to music, or podcasts or audiobooks on the bus.
Lawrence Mastin
Reviewed December 2024
Great trip to a fascinating country
From sand dunes to rock piles to boat trips to game safaris, there is so much to see in Namibia, albeit separated by several hours of less interesting drives through desert scrub. But this trip managed to make it all interesting, splitting the longer drives up with short stops. The converted truck/bus (“Gogga”) was comfortable enough, even though the AC had problems coping with the 35°C + heat. Accommodations were good, and vegetarians were accommodated well enough.
Most Inspirational Moment
Climbing the dunes just after dawn.
Thoughts on Group Leader
Shane was a great leader - organized, efficient, friendly, funny. He is also a great driver with apparently unlimited tamina, coping with hours of driving on bumpy dirt roads.
Advice for Potential Travellers
The long hours bumping along on dirt roads can be gruelling, even for passengers. Add in some early morning starts, and it can be a tiring trip for us old fogeys.
Sue Potter
Reviewed July 2024
Stunning scenery and Amazing Wildlife
A packed and varied itinerary with desert landscapes, mountain walks and a chance to see a huge range of wildlife (we got to see the Big 5). Accommodation was good: big rooms, mosquito nets when needed, always a fridge and kettle, tea, coffee. Pretty good for vegetarians. Breath-taking skies and vast plains and mountains.
Most Inspirational Moment
Climbing Dune 45. Seeing Deadvlei. Flying over the desert. Spotting leopard, lions, rhino (both black and white)...., including 4 cubs playing. waterhole in Etosha outstanding. The vastness of the landscape, the huge red skies.
Thoughts on Group Leader
Shane was wonderful: funny, organised, gave all the correct information, has a great knowledge and love for his country.
Advice for Potential Travellers
Take warm clothes for early mornings. Scarf or buff for the dust.
Some of the extra costs are out of date so check before booking (extra game drive at Etosha was double quoted price). Take Rand, they are accepted everywhere.
Tap Water not safe at White Lady lodge and we were advised not to drink tap water in Etosha. Malaria prophylaxis advice is variable: we were all told different things.
Felt very safe. Advice is not to go into Windhoek at night and only catch hotel shuttle. Food and drink costs very cheap. Lovely people.
Full on trip but you will love it.
Penny Hibbert
Reviewed June 2024
Amazing Holiday
Fantastic trip, saw such a range of wildlife. Really great to go to so many different locations on this trip. Great guide, comfortable and spacious vehicle and some very nice lodges and hotels. Would highly reccomend this trip.
Most Inspirational Moment
So many to choose from. One highlight was seeing rare mountain zebra at the waterhole outside our room at Weltevrede Guest Farm. Another was seeing multiple humpback whales during the optional scenic flight. Overall though just the vast amount of animals we saw throughout the entire trip.
Thoughts on Group Leader
Shane Katjirua was fantastic. He was very organised, patient, helpful and funny. He was a mine of imformation. His driving was exceptional and he was able to spot wildlife whilst on game drives that we missed. He really made the holiday.
Advice for Potential Travellers
Do take advantage of the optional trips. Especially the optional game drive in Etosha National Park. We also did the Sossusvlei Scenic Flight by Eagle Eye Aviation, depending on group size the plane can be very small and hot, but it was definitely worth doing. Also highly reccomend the Ocean Adventures seal and dolphin trip from Swakopmund.
Marianne Barratt
Reviewed May 2024
An excellent and most fascinating holiday
This was a well organised trip. Namibia is a vast country of great contrasts and spectacular scenery. Each area we visited was so different and fascinating and our guide (Shane Katjirua) was incredibly knowledgeable about the history, geology, people and wildlife of each particular region. This all contributed to a very interesting and most enjoyable holiday..
Most Inspirational Moment
There were so many highlights on this particular holiday.
Thoughts on Group Leader
I cannot rate our Group Leader Shane Katjirua more highly. He was extremely knowledgeable and shared so much of his expertise with us all. He was highly efficient in all his planning and organisation and was extremely helpful to all members of the group with any particular queries/questions they might have had. He was simply amazing in his ability to spot things of interest from afar, be it animals or birds and without his ‘eagle eye’ we would have missed so many things. During our time at Etosha he always seemed to have our vehicle at the right waterhole at the right time, thus enabling us to get the most enjoyment from our game drives and see so much varied wildlife. His driving, on the lengthy journeys and varying Namibian road surfaces was superb. He was always smiling and cheerful and he was particularly helpful to us with his efforts in trying to get to the root of a problem that occurred towards the end of the holiday. This involved our onward transportation, which we had paid for, in advance of the trip but which the company in Namibia, with whom we were taking the onward travel had, it seemed, not received payment for. Our guide spent some considerable time on our behalf trying to sort all this out.
Advice for Potential Travellers
On looking into various options for holidays in Namibia, I received advice from various holiday companies. Many suggested that the option to fly from camp to camp was advisable since, because of the huge distances to cover, more time could be usefully spent in the camps rather than long days travelling. I had initially thought that this sounded good advice. However, we ultimately chose Exodus and this Lodge holiday because, we have enjoyed excellent holidays with Exodus before and the timing of this trip suited us absolutely perfectly, tying in with another commitment we had in Namibia and which followed on from the ‘Discover Namibia’ group trip.
I would say, that although some of the driving days were lengthy, had we opted to fly from lodge to lodge as suggested by other companies, we would have missed so much of this wonderful country. We would not have seen so much wildlife as we travelled along the road, along with scenes of local African life in general and our experience of the country would certainly have been the poorer for that. There was just so much to see as we travelled along the road. The varying contrasts and impressive scenery would have been lost to us.
Neil Baker
Reviewed April 2024
Amazing Namibia!
A truly great trip. Namibia is a big country and that becomes apparent very quickly. You can drive for hours on dirt roads without ever seeing any sign of civilisation. There’s a whole lot to see you won’t be disappointed.
Most Inspirational Moment
That's a tough one as there were many. I'm not generally a big animal fan but here when you see a herd of giraffes in full gallop or a bull elephant about to attack the truck you are sitting in or a pride of lions making a complete blunder of attacking a large herd of zebras and wildebeast around a water hole, you cannot fail to be amazed!
Thoughts on Group Leader
We had a great tour guide in Ronney Kavari. I don't know how he managed to drive as well as be our guide. He an excellent game spotter and also knew his stuff on every aspect of Namibia.
Advice for Potential Travellers
Firstly regarding currency just buy South African Rand they don't tell you this but you can easily get it here in the UK and it works out as 1 Rand to 1 Namibian Dollar accepted throughout Namibia. Credit and debit cards are widely accepted but you will need some cash for some activities and some eateries. In the main though the card is good in most places.
Secondly there are early starts, the distances are huge and a lot of roads are rough which makes it rather tiring but worth it.
Thirdly we went on 24th March and didn't encounter any mosquitoes. I imagine that's a different story when it gets wetter.
Lorna Baker
Reviewed April 2024
Fabulous Namibian Adventure
A truly magical, memorable tour experiencing all Namibia has to offer. The scenery is spectacular with wide open skies inviting you further. The wildlife sightings surpassed my expectations thanks to our fabulous guide Ronney.
Most Inspirational Moment
So many highlights made this trip an adventure . I enjoyed treking to the White Lady rock paintings through Valley 45 , climbing the sand dunes in the Namib Desert, stargazing and viewing herds of zebra and giraffes move gracefully across the Etosha pan.
Thoughts on Group Leader
Ronney Kavari was fabulous. He looked after us throughout the trip , safely drove our overlander and informed us in depth about his beautiful country and people.
Advice for Potential Travellers
If you want to experience a stunningly beautiful remote region then go to Namibia. The accommodation and food is very good and in great locations. Yes there are long driving days but regular stops and incredible views make up for it and the overlander was fun.
Karen Foan
Reviewed February 2024
Beautiful Scenery and Fantastic Wildlife
This was a great trip overall. You really got to see the country, including the amazing red sand dunes, the Skelton coast and of course wildlife in Etosha National Park. This did mean that there were some long drives, but this all felt part of the adventure. We had a fantastic group and the accommodation was spot on in all places.
Most Inspirational Moment
There were so many amazing moments including: climbing Dune 45 in the early morning before seeing the otherworldly views of Deadvlei, watching for wildlife and spotting Zebra and Spring Boks at the small watering hole just behind our lodges near Solitaire, seeing the milky way and shooting stars on several clear evenings and of course seeing so much amazing wildlife on the game drives and around the watering holes in Etosha National Park. The amount of wildlife we saw really exceeded our expectations.
Thoughts on Group Leader
Our guide Omumborombonga (Sam) was fantastic. He really went above and beyond, sorting out any small issues, driving the truck and giving us a real insight into the country. In particular, in Etosha National Park he did extra games drives when he had heard that Lions were close by and ensured we had every opportunity to see as much as we could. This was to the point where we did not need to pay for any additional game drives as we saw so much. He was also relaxed and flexible in his approach.
Advice for Potential Travellers
We were there in July and you defo needed some warm clothes with you. Also be aware that in some places it took a while for the food to arrive once you had ordered, so maybe have a pre-dinner snack if you get hangry!!
Paul Hyland
Reviewed October 2023
Fantastic trip
A well paced trip through Namibia taking in the main highlights.
Most Inspirational Moment
The sand dunes on the ocean edge were awesome.
Thoughts on Group Leader
Very professional , funny and ensured we had a great trip
Advice for Potential Travellers
Make the most of each day, as it’s a fast paced trip through different environments.
