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Discover Namibia - Camping

Name: Discover Namibia - Camping
Brand: Exodus
SKU: AZN
Availability: LimitedAvailability
Rating: 4.6 (73 reviews)

73 reviews

Overview

Experience desert dunes, coastal wilderness and wonderful game viewing in Africa’s most underrated destination

Journey into the wilderness of Namibia, where deep canyons, towering dunes, and dry deserts form a unique and extraordinary adventure destination. See the best of it on this immersive trip: spotting iconic African animals in Etosha National Park, climbing the world’s tallest dunes in Sossusvlei, and enjoying spectacular scenery throughout. We end most nights sleeping under the stars, sharing the land with the animals who rule it and admiring the Milky Way as we relive our day’s adventure together.

Itinerary also available as Discover Namibia – Lodges

Key Information

Travel Style Originals: Raw, rugged adventures with back-to-basics stays and a real sense of achievement: Originals
Activity: Culture
Activity Level: Easy & Moderate
See our Activity Level Guidelines to check if this holiday is right for you.
Trip Code: AZN
Ways to Travel: Guided Group, Originals
Countries: Namibia
Carbon Footprint: 15.8kg CO2e per person per day

What's Included

All accommodation: 4 Comfort nights (guesthouses), 8 Simple nights (full-service camping)
All breakfasts, four lunches and six dinners
Immersive itinerary with all transport (purpose-built overland truck) and listed activities
Expert tour leader to enhance your adventure
Arrival and departure transfers

Positive Impact

We donate to our Foundation and rewild 100 square metres for every Exodus traveller. Find out more about how our adventures support nature and people to thrive.

Don't Forget To

Request a single room if required, purchase travel insurance and arrange any visas and vaccinations.

Highlights

Immerse yourself in wild Namibia, where extraordinary animal encounters await

Safari in Etosha National Park, with two full days searching for elephants, lions and more

Admire the world’s highest dunes at sunrise – the most beautiful time to visit

Step back 2,000 years and see the White Lady rock painting made by San hunter-gatherers

Track rhinos with the help of an expert local guide

Camp under the starry Namibian sky, visiting floodlit waterholes where wildlife gathers

Itinerary

First Destination: Windhoek
Next Destination: Windhoek

Accommodation:Arebbusch Lodge (or similar)
Meals included:Dinner

Accommodation:Sesriem Campsite (or similar)
Meals included:Breakfast, Lunch

Accommodation:Solitaire Guest Farm Campsite (or similar)
Meals included:Breakfast, Dinner

Accommodation:Prost Hotel (or similar)
Meals included:Breakfast

Accommodation:Prost Hotel (or similar)
Meals included:Breakfast

Accommodation:Brandberg White Lady Lodge campsite (or similar)
Meals included:Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Accommodation:Sophienhof camp (or similar)
Meals included:Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Accommodation:Etosha Safari Campsite (or similar)
Meals included:Breakfast, Dinner

Accommodation:Etosha Safari Campsite (or similar)
Meals included:Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Accommodation:Namutoni NWR Campsite (or similar)
Meals included:Breakfast

Accommodation:Otjiwa Safari Lodge - camping (or similar)
Meals included:Breakfast

Accommodation:Arebbusch Lodge (or similar)
Meals included:Breakfast

Meals included:Breakfast

First Destination: Windhoek
Next Destination: Windhoek

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 to 7pm, say hello to 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.

Want more time in Windhoek? Secure pre-tour hotel nights through your sales representative.

Accommodation:Arebbusch Lodge (or similar)
Meals included:Dinner

Today we head southwest through the spectacular scenery of the Namib-Naukluft Park to Sesriem. 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:Sesriem Campsite (or similar)
Meals included:Breakfast, Lunch

Today we spend much of our time in the Namib Desert. Rising early, we catch the tallest dunes in the world in the best light and can climb one as the sun rises. 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. We then continue to our next camp approximately one-hour away.

Driving: 124mi (200km); three hours

Accommodation:Solitaire Guest Farm Campsite (or similar)
Meals included:Breakfast, Dinner

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

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

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

Upgrade from camping to a room today – speak to your sales representative for more details

Accommodation:Brandberg White Lady Lodge campsite (or similar)
Meals included:Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

We begin our day with a short drive to Brandberg, where we enjoy a walk through a valley 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 (if elephants walk into this area then it might be too dangerous to do the walk – in this case we typically go on a walk in another area with San engravings). 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

Upgrade from camping to a room today – speak to your sales representative for more details

Accommodation:Sophienhof camp (or similar)
Meals included:Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

We begin with a short drive to Etosha, a huge national park of mixed forest and grassland centred around a large salt pan. En route, we stop in Outjo for coffee and German pastries.

We arrive around lunch time, allowing plenty of time to enjoy this fabulous wildlife-watching destination.

Driving: 93mi (150km); two hours

Upgrade from camping to a room today – speak to your sales representative for more details

Accommodation:Etosha Safari Campsite (or similar)
Meals included:Breakfast, Dinner

Today is dedicated to exploring the wildlife of Etosha National Park, 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.

Upgrade from camping to a room tonight – speak to your sales representative for more details

Accommodation:Etosha Safari Campsite (or similar)
Meals included:Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

A second day in Etosha gives us even more opportunity to witness the rhythm of the park. Wildlife movements change constantly as animals travel between waterholes, and returning to different areas increases our chances of spotting species we may have missed the day before.

Our guide adjusts the route depending on recent sightings and seasonal conditions, guiding us to productive corners of the park where animals are most active. With more time on safari, we can linger at waterholes, watch animal behaviour unfold and continue building an ever-growing wildlife checklist.

Upgrade from camping to a room tonight – speak to your sales representative for more details

Accommodation:Namutoni NWR Campsite (or similar)
Meals included:Breakfast

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 and a night drive.

Driving: 205mi (330km); 3hr 30min

Upgrade from camping to a room – speak to your sales representative for more details

Accommodation:Otjiwa Safari Lodge - camping (or similar)
Meals included:Breakfast

See rhinos up close this morning! Starting around 9am, we’re led by an expert 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 and learn about rhino conservation and anti-poaching efforts. Later, we head back to Windhoek, stopping at a crafts market on the way.

Drive: Four hours

Accommodation:Arebbusch Lodge (or similar)
Meals included:Breakfast

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. Additionally, you can add on a township tour of Windhoek (see Optional Excursions section).

If you’d like to extend your adventure, perhaps even adding a visiting to Cape Town, speak to your sales representative who can go through our range of extensions with you.

Meals included:Breakfast

Dates & Prices

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Accommodation

Full-service camping and guesthouses

Namibia is a fantastic destination for camping. The landscapes are grand and unpopulated, wildlife is widespread plus the campsites are clean and well maintained. We spend eight nights full-service camping and four nights in guesthouses. We sleep in spacious, two-person tents fitted with thick foam mattresses. Properties are either well located for our activities or to break up the long drives that are necessary to explore the highlights of Namibia. Below are some of the places we stay.

Upgrade from camping to a room on Day 6, 7, 8, 9 and 10 of the itinerary – speak to your sales representative for more details.

Arebbusch Lodge

Discover Namibia – Camping

Our guesthouse in Windhoek 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

Discover Namibia – Camping

Our Brandberg stay is in the middle of nowhere. From the viewpoint at our campsite, 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.

Camps in/near Etosha National Park

During our time in Etosha, we spend one night at Namutoni, a government-run camp. It is basic, but has a restaurant, swimming pool and bar, plus a flood-lit waterhole where the wildlife regularly stops to drink. We also spend two nights 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

Wi-fi is available in several properties but not everywhere, notably it is not available in Sesriem or Etosha.
All camping equipment is provided except for sleeping bags and pillows.
Additional game drives may be available at the Etosha site, which can be booked on arrival for an extra cost.

Extend Your Trip

Exclusive Add-ons

Cape Town Hotels

With its iconic Table Mountain backdrop, world-class food scene and vibrant waterfront, additional nights in Cape Town can make your adventure feel even more extraordinary. Here are a few of our favourite hotels to inspire your stay:

Bay Hotel: Set along the palm-lined shores of Camps Bay, this stylish beachfront hotel offers elegant rooms with stunning views of the Atlantic Ocean. With multiple pools, a relaxed coastal atmosphere and easy access to cafés and restaurants, it’s perfect for unwinding after your tour.

V&A Hotel by Newmark: Located in the lively V&A Waterfront, this contemporary hotel blends historic charm with modern comfort. Spacious rooms, harbour views and direct access to shops, dining and attractions make it an ideal base for exploring Cape Town.

Mount Nelson, A Belmond Hotel: A luxury retreat at the foot of Table Mountain, the Mount Nelson offers lush gardens, refined rooms and classic afternoon tea on its iconic pink terraces. Its serene setting, exceptional service and rich heritage make it one of Cape Town’s most memorable places to stay.

This is just a glimpse of what’s possible. Speak to your sales representative, who can guide you through the options and arrange everything for you.

Essential Information

This trip has been rated Activity Level 2 (Easy & Moderate). For more information on our trip gradings please visit the Activity Level Guidelines page. If you have any queries about the difficulty of the trip please do not hesitate to contact us.

Most walks are of a Moderate difficulty, such as climbing Dune 45 and visiting the White Lady rock painting at Brandberg. The walks on the Waterberg Plateau are classified as Moderate to Challenging, as it can get a bit steep and rocky.

Travel: Transport is in a specially modified safari truck with 10 to 12 seats for clients. There is plenty of legroom and packing space plus a reference library, refrigerator 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, weather and traffic levels, so can be bumpy 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 will rarely exceed six hours’ driving in one day.

Early starts: There are some days we must get up before sunrise, but this will allow 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).

Camping: As this is a fully supported camping trip, all cooking and camp chores are done for you. We camp everywhere, except in Swakopmund and Windhoek, in the well-equipped campsites common to Namibia.

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 in the evening, but if you miss it the leader will update you separately
Airport: Hosea Kutako International Airport (WDH)

Getting to the start hotel

The start hotel is approximately 45 minutes’ drive from the airport. We provide free arrival transfers to the start hotel from the airport for all customers.

Catching your return flight

We provide 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.

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.

Australia: www.smartraveller.gov.au/destinations/africa/namibia
Canada: www.travel.gc.ca/destinations/namibia
United Kingdom: www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/namibia/entry-requirements
USA: www.travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/international-travel/International-Travel-Country-Information-Pages/Namibia.html

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.

For each meal not included, allow approximately 225 Namibian dollars (US$15) per person. Some meals are in restaurants, while others will be prepared by the tour leader and assistants. Camp meals are cooked over the campfire. They are wholesome and plentiful, but do not expect cordon bleu cuisine; please note, it is not always easy to get fresh meat.

Below is what you can typically expect from the included meals:

Breakfasts: Cereals, coffee, yoghurt, muesli, fresh fruit or the occasional fried breakfast
Lunches: Cheese, cold meats, pasta, salads, bread or rolls
Dinners: Potjie (stew), braai (barbecue) or stir fries

Vegetarians are well catered for on this trip though sometimes options might be more limited.

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.

As a certified B Corp, we’re on a mission to improve our social and environmental impact across all our adventures.

We do this through our innovative Thriving Nature, Thriving People plan.

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:

Visit the Namib Carnivore Conservation Centre to learn how conservation programmes protect Namibia’s large carnivores through research and rehabilitation.
Track wild rhinos on foot with an expert guide who teaches you about the vital rhino conservation efforts and anti-poaching initiatives.
Join an optional township tour in Windhoek for an educational insight into the daily lives of the residents.

In addition, we support the conservation of African elephants through our Foundation’s Free to Roam Project.

Reviews

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andrew denton

Our group leader was excellent, friendly and knowledgeable. He was well organised and ensured that the trip ran efficiently.

Advice for Potential Travellers

I went in June and had sunny weather every day with a dry heat so with a hat and sunscreen it was comfortable. It did get cold some nights and so its worth taking a decent sleeping bag. We all purchased blankets in Windhoek, which ensured that we slept well on a couple of the colder nights and then donated these at the end of the trip. There are some long drives on bumpy roads that can't be avoided, but there was usually something of interest to see out of the window and we did make a number of stops.

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USD 3595

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