Deadvlei in Southern Namibia

Surreal Wonders of Southern Namibia Tour

Ratings of Zicasso's Service
Customizable Itinerary

This is a sample itinerary to inspire a personalized trip designed with your travel specialist

Countries Visited

Namibia

Places Visited

Windhoek, Okonjima, Southern Kalahari, Luderitz...

See all

Suggested Duration

12 Days

Southern Namibia is like a great novel. At first glance it's too big to comprehend, thousands of untamed scenes encased within a colorful cover. But open the book and the details jumps from the page. Moments of beauty entwine with ferocious drama, epic scale is broken down into poignant intimacy, and the world's most surreal wonders come alive before your eyes. This unique 12-day itinerary is all about page turning, about experiencing the rich detail of an ancient world.

Customizable Itinerary

Expand All

Trip Highlights

  • Experience one of Africa's greatest big cat landscapes, the leopards and cheetahs of Okonjima providing two days of stunning safari adventure
  • Go on a walking safari into big cat territory, skilled Bushmen guides getting you close while keeping you safe
  • Discover the endless beauty of Fish River Canyon, the world's second largest canyon and a gaping expanse of hiking trails and surreal panoramas
  • Take a thousand indelible photographs as you wander through the sand engulfed ghost town of Kolmanskop, dunes filling kitchens and faded wood lost in the mist
  • Spend two days in astonishment as you experience the gaping beauty of Sossusvlei and the Namib Desert, hundreds of miles of achingly red dunes extending in every direction
  • Meet a huge colony of Cape fur seals and delight at their antics on the beach, before jumping in a kayak and admiring them in the water
  • Gaze up at the world's highest sand dune and then soak up the colonial charms of Swakopmund, the coastal oasis a fitting final stop on this unique vacation

Detailed Description

Southern Namibia's scale is beyond baffling. Lost within this ancient region you'll find the world's second largest canyon, thousands of predatory cats, ghost towns lost to the sand, and then the planet's greatest collection of red sand dunes. And this is just the start, the famous scenes that would grace a novel's blurb. You can't breeze over this region and expect to understand the novel's plot. Deep within this untouched world you'll find the nuances and the subtleties, the surreal wonders that come alive before compelled eyes. Breathtakingly authentic and serenely intimate, this unique 12-day journey provides a complete immersion in one of the planet's few remaining untamed landscapes. Like the greatest novels, Southern Namibia feels and seems fictitious. Yet its heart is raw and indelibly real.

Your adventure starts in Windhoek, the village-come-capital city offering a stepping stone to predatory big cats. Africa means safari and few places can rival Okonjima for its wild leopards and rehabilitated cheetahs. An isolated boutique lodge is surrounded by the action and a thrilling walking safari gets you perilously close to these majestic predators. Another selection of unique desert dwellers accompanies you in the Southern Kalahari, before the gaping scar of Fish River Canyon epitomizes the infinite beauty of this sparsely populated region. Driving between destinations is a huge part of the experience, gaping vistas extending in every direction, landscapes dancing with color as the sun makes its irrevocable fall. A modern Land Rover makes light of the adventurous roads, while your skilled driver knows the hidden spots that burst with life.

Namibia's great barrier of sand is integral to the country retaining its ancient charm. When colonial explorers landed they were greeted by 300 meter high dunes. They quickly turned around and left life as it was in desert paradise. Even today the sand still rules, sweeping in and engulfing the diamond towns of Luderitz and Kolmanskop. This photogenic spot exemplifies nature's hold over man, wooden remains overrun and overtaken by burning red dunes. Head north and the sand doesn't relent, the ridges cutting distinct lines from hinterland to sparkling ocean. Stand amidst it all in Sossusvlei, a surreal panorama of dunes punctuated by dead trees and ancient clay riverbeds. The landscape holds you captive, pulling you in with promises of size and then continually delivering a new angle. Because it's always changing, each ridge and every dune succumbing to the sweeping Atlantic wind.

Silence takes on new definitions as you're immersed in Southern Namibia, the phantasmal tranquility complimented by handpicked accommodation that elegantly gazes out onto the landscapes. Here, no there, wait...how about a photo over there? Every mile brings new perspectives as you're left wondering how this novel will end. Thousands of Cape fur seals provide the penultimate chapter, impishly covering the beach and then swimming beside your kayak. The world's highest sand dune offers adventure and the colonial charm of Swakopmund provides a fitting finale.

Gaze at your photos and Southern Namibia still feels fictitious. Yet lingering long in the memory are those personal moments, eclectic scenes that epitomize an ancient world; the solemn stare of a prowling leopard, an empty dune flickering at sunset, gazing up and being overcome by the feeling of insignificance, or opening the curtains to a springbok skipping across the desert. Fully customizable and completely unique, this 12-day journey is all about marrying the personal charm with the endless scale of a destination that doesn't need a superlative blurb.

Starting Price

$7,015 per person (excluding international flights)

Your Zicasso trip is fully customizable, and this sample itinerary is a starting place for your travel plans. Actual costs are dynamic, and your selection of accommodations and activities, your season of travel, and other such variables will bring this budget guideline up or down. Throughout your planning experience with your Zicasso specialist, your itinerary is designed around your budget. You can book your trip when you are satisfied with every detail. Planning your trip with a Zicasso travel specialist is a free service.

What's Included

  • Accommodations
  • In-country transportation
  • Some or all activities and tours
  • Expert trip planning
  • 24x7 support during your trip

Your final trip cost will vary based on your selected accommodations, activities, meals, and other trip elements that you opt to include.

Reviews of Zicasso's Referral Service

4.95 stars based on 75 reviews.

South Africa & Namibia Travel Review: Cape Town, Kirstenbosch...
"...Richelle's excellent guidance and the warmth of the...

Reviewed By George L.

South Africa, Namibia Luxury Trip Review: Robben Island,...
"The Zicasso travel agent was amazing! He spent lots of...

Reviewed By danny k.

Luxury Namibia Travel Review: Deadvlei, Sossusvlei, Wildlife,...
"We had an incredible journey through Namibia..."

Reviewed By Christine S.

Namibia, Botswana Travel Review: Victoria Falls, Okavango...
"Every aspect of our trip was truly unforgettable, from...

Reviewed By Johanna F.

South Africa, Namibia Luxury Travel Review: Cape Town, Swakopmund,...
"It was amazing seeing the animals..."

Reviewed By Mauricio M.

Your Dream Vacation

in 3 simple steps

  1. 1

    Describe your dream trip

  2. 2

    Get matched with top travel specialists

  3. 3

    Book the trip

Free service - no credit card required