Day by Day - Namib & Skeleton Coast

This safari begins and ends at Hosea Kutako (Windhoek) International Airport in Namibia.

DAY 1: WINDHOEK

On arrival in Windhoek you will be warmly welcomed by a member of the &Beyond team, who will drive you to the Olive Exclusive Boutique Hotel.

The capital of Namibia, the bustling metropolis of Windhoek is the main port of call for most tourists. Located in a picturesque valley, much of the town's architecture shows a distinct German influence. It's German inheritance is also strongly felt in the food, restaurants and - of course - the beer. The Namibian beer is said to be the best in Africa and is brewed in Windhoek.

Spend your first night in Namibia in an ensuite room at The Olive Exclusive Boutique Hotel on a bed and breakfast basis.     

Day 2: Huab River Valley

After breakfast you will be chauffeured to Eros Airport for a light aircraft flight to the Skeleton Coast via Conception Bay, with spectacular views of the Kuiseb Canyon and the adjoining red dunes. Weather permitting, the flight includes an aerial view of the famous Eduard Bohlen shipwreck at Conception Bay. After a refuelling stop at Swakopmund, the flight continues along the Skeleton Coast, landing near the seal colony at Cape Cross for a beach picnic.

After lunch, you will fly across the desert to the Ugab formations, a moonscape of black rock ridges that stands out in stark contrast to the white sands. The next stop is Kuidas Camp in the Huab River Valley, where you will stay the night. Take a gentle stroll to the ancient rock carvings just outside the camp before you retire for the night. 

Day 3: Hoarusib Valley

Spend the morning exploring the red and yellow sandstone formations of the Huab River and discovering unusual fauna and flora, including the welwitschia mirabilis. Enjoy lunch at Kuidas Camp before flying along the coast to Terrace Bay in the Skeleton Coast Park. At the coast, you will visit the beach with its multi-coloured pebbles and old bleached whale bones scattered above the high tide mark. Return to the aircraft and continue north to Purros Camp in the Hoarusib Valley in the Kunene region, where you will spend the night.

Day 4: Hartmann Valley

Take a scenic drive along the Hoarusib Valley, visiting a settlement of the nomadic Himba people. Continue north along the Skeleton Coast by aircraft, admiring scattered shipwrecks on the coastline and stopping for lunch at a scenic spot. After lunch, continue through the mountains and dunes of the Hartmann Valley to reach Kunene River Camp, where you will spend the night.

Day 5 - 6: Swakopmund

Indulge in an early morning boat trip on the Kunene River, admiring the desert landscape, and observing birdlife and crocodiles. Arrive back in at the camp for lunch before flying back to Swakopmund, where you will be driven to your hotel.

Swakopmund is a charming seaside town with a strong German flavour, from cobbled streets and picturesque buildings to typical German restaurants and pubs. A traditional holiday spot, Swakopmund is ideal both for adventure spots and as a place to simply relax.

Spend two nights in a suite at Hotel Zum Kaiser. Your stay includes breakfast. 

Day 7 - 9: NamibRand Nature Reserve

You will be collected from your hotel for another light aircraft flight to &Beyond Sossusvlei Desert Lodge, where you will spend three nights in a desert villa. Your stay is on a full board basis, including activities within the NamibRand Nature Reserve. 

Explore the Reserve on scenic drives in open 4x4 vehicles and encounter a variety of desert-adapted animals, including gemsbok, zebra, springbok, bat-eared fox, aardwolf, caracal and jackal. Venture into the dunes on quad bikes, learn more about the desert fauna and flora on guided nature walks and marvel at the starry desert sky brought to life through the Lodge’s high-powered telescope. You will also enjoy a complimentary excursion to the magnificent dune fields of Sossusvlei.  

Day 10: Departure

Enjoy a final flight over the desert landscape as you return to Windhoek, where your adventure with us will end.