Classic Namibia: Sossusvlei, Damaraland, Etosha
Duration : 12 days
Route : Windhoek (1 night) → 4×4 Sossusvlei (3 nights) → Swakopmund (2 nights) → Damaraland (2 nights, desert elephants) → Etosha (3 nights, Big Four) → Windhoek (1 night)
Custom travel to Namibia
Namibia offers 825,000 km² of desert and savannah for 2.6 million inhabitants, one of the world's lowest densities. A former German colony (1884-1915), independent since 1990, the country places 14% of its territory in protected areas. The Namib Desert, the world's oldest, unfurls the orange-red dunes of Sossusvlei (UNESCO 2013, up to 325 m) and the surreal Deadvlei basin with its thousand-year-old dead trees. The Skeleton Coast lines up wrecks and whale carcasses along 500 km of wild shoreline. Etosha National Park (22,270 km², Africa's 4th largest) gathers elephants, lions, leopards and black rhinos around its waterholes. Damaraland, with its Martian landscapes, shelters desert elephants and the Twyfelfontein rock art (UNESCO 2007). Round it off with Fish River Canyon and the Caprivi Strip. 12-14 days.
Highlights
- Sossusvlei dunes (UNESCO, 325 m)
- Deadvlei (thousand-year-old dead trees)
- Etosha National Park (Big Four and salt pans)
- Skeleton Coast (wild coast)
- Damaraland (desert elephants)
- Fish River Canyon (world's 2nd largest)
Sample itineraries
Complete Namibia: add Skeleton Coast and Caprivi
Duration : 16 days
Route : Windhoek (1) → Sossusvlei (3) → Swakopmund (2) → Damaraland (2) → Skeleton Coast (2, Cessna flight) → Etosha (3) → Caprivi Strip (2) → Windhoek (1)
Exclusive Namibia: andBeyond and Wilderness
Duration : 12 days
Route : Windhoek (1) → andBeyond Sossusvlei Desert Lodge (3) → Hoanib Skeleton Coast Camp (3 nights, private flight) → Onguma Tented Camp Etosha (3) → Windhoek (1)
When to go
May-October is the best period (dry season, wildlife concentrated at Etosha water points, dunes perfectly lit). Avoid November-March (austral summer, extreme heat 40-45 °C, possible monsoon in north, Sossusvlei road sometimes closed).
- Austral winter (dry season) (May – August) — All sites, wildlife concentrated at Etosha waterholes
- Inter-season (September – October) — Etosha migration, end of dry season
- Austral summer (hot) (November – March) — Greenery after rains (Caprivi parts), births
- Austral autumn (April) — Dry season returns, verdant landscapes
Practical information
One of Africa's safest countries. No visa for French citizens < 90 days. Cards accepted everywhere (South African heritage, modern economy). Tap water drinkable (rare in Africa). English spoken everywhere. Left-hand drive (British heritage via South Africa). Long distances — prepare fuel and provisions. Antimalarial recommended for Caprivi/Kavango (rainy season). 10% tipping in restaurants, lodges, and rangers.
Frequently asked questions
When?
May-October (dry season). Avoid November-March (extreme heat 40-45 °C, possible monsoon).
How long?
12 days for Sossusvlei + Damaraland + Etosha. 16 days to add Skeleton Coast and Caprivi.
Budget?
€4,200-€5,500 per person for 12 days in comfort, excluding flights. Premium: €7,500-€11,000. Flights: €1,100-€1,500.
Visa?
No for French citizens < 90 days.
Family?
Yes, from age 8-10. Ideal family self-drive. Long distances to anticipate.
How to get around?
Self-drive 4×4 (Toyota Hilux) or with driver. Cessna flights for Skeleton Coast. Long distances (Sossusvlei-Etosha 800 km).
Self-drive: possible for Europeans?
Yes, one of Africa's easiest countries to drive. Left-hand drive (British heritage). Main paved roads, tracks in good condition.
See Big Five: possible?
Big Four in Etosha (no buffalo). For complete Big Five: combine with Botswana or South Africa.
Combine?
Yes: Namibia + Botswana (Okavango Delta), Namibia + South Africa (Cape Town), Namibia + Zambia (Victoria Falls).
Tips?
10% in restaurants. Appreciated for rangers and lodge staff ($5-$10/day).