13-Day Shadow's of the Namib

• Clients collect their self-drive vehicle at the airport.
• Accommodation before the tour starts can be arranged for an extra cost.

Windhoek

Upon arrival at the Hosea Kutako international Airport, a representative from Cherut Travel & Safaris will be waiting for you ready for your briefing and rental collection. After vehicle inspection, make your way to your first accommoation in Windoek. Check into your accommodation. Depending on your arrival time in Windhoek, after check in make your way to one of our shopping mall's to restock on fresh food and snacks for your safari ahead. (If an accommodation is fully booked, we'll suggest a comparable alternative.).

Main Destination:

Windhoek (City)

Accommodation:

Budget camping

Meals & Drinks:

• Meals at own expense
• Drinks not included

Kalahari Desert

Your scenic journey begins leaving Windhoek, heading south past Rehoboth toward the endless red dunes. This drive transitions from central highlands to the glowing fossilized sands of the Kalahari. The Kalahari derives its name from the Tswana word “Kgalagadi” which means “the place without water”. But despite the arid conditions, the Kalahari in Namibia is home to a variety of animals and plants who survive in this harsh and stunningly beautiful region. (If an accommodation is fully booked, we'll suggest a comparable alternative.).

Main Destination:

Kalahari Region

Accommodation:

Budget camping

Meals & Drinks:

• Meals at own expense
• Drinks not included

Sesriem

Leave behind the rolling, rust-colored sands and acacia-dotted grasslands of the ancient Kalahari to cross the vast, sun-bleached gravel plains of Namibia’s interior. As you travel west, the horizon ripples and rises into the dramatic, rugged silhouettes of the Naukluft Mountains, signaling your approach to the edge of the world's oldest desert. The earth gradually shifts from deep brick-red to stark, shimmering golds and whites before giving way to the monumental, apricot-hued dunes of Sesriem. This journey transitions seamlessly from a living savannah to the breathtaking, silent majesty of the Namib-Naukluft gateway.

Main Destination:

Sesriem Canyon (Highlight)

Accommodation:

Budget camping

Meals & Drinks:

• Meals at own expense
• Drinks not included

Sesriem

Awaken before the sun to pass through the Sesriem gate into a world of waking shadows, watching the first rays of dawn ignite the crisp, knife-edge spine of Dune 45 from a cool plum to a blazing apricot. Your morning unfolds on the blindingly white clay pan of Deadvlei, where you will marvel at 900-year-old, sun-blackened camelthorn trees frozen in time against a brilliant blue sky and the towering orange walls of Big Daddy dune. After escaping the midday heat, descend into the cool, subterranean depths of Sesriem Canyon to wander past narrow conglomerate walls sculpted by an ancient river over millions of years. Finally, end your day atop the solitary sands of Elim Dune, watching the distant Naukluft Mountains turn deep violet as the desert fire fades into a brilliant, unpolluted canopy of stars.

Main Destination:

Sesriem Canyon (Highlight)

Accommodation:

Budget camping

Meals & Drinks:

• Meals at own expense
• Drinks not included

Swakopmund

Leave the towering orange sands of Sesriem behind to cross the stark, gravel plains of the Namib Desert, where the earth unfolds in a mesmerizing display of vast horizons and prehistoric geology. Your journey cuts through the rugged, moon-like terrain of the Kuiseb Canyon, a dramatic labyrinth of deep rock chasms carved out over millennia, before crossing the symbolic Tropic of Capricorn. Stop for a legendary slice of apple pie in the quirky desert outpost of Solitaire, an isolated oasis that feels frozen in time. As you approach the Atlantic coast, the shimmering desert heat gives way to a refreshing, salty ocean breeze, leading you into the charming coastal enclave of Swakopmund, where historic German colonial architecture meets the crashing waves of the sea.

Main Destination:

Swakopmund (City)

Accommodation:

Budget camping

Meals & Drinks:

• Meals at own expense
• Drinks not included

Swakopmund

Wake to the crisp Atlantic mist rolling over Swakopmund’s historic German colonial architecture, starting your day with a scenic stroll along the iconic wooden jetty as the crashing ocean waves surge beneath you. Your morning accelerates into an unforgettable desert adventure, racing over the roaring, golden dunes of the Namib Desert on a quad bike or sandboard where the massive sands dramatically plunge straight into the sea. Spend a relaxed afternoon wandering through the town's vibrant craft markets, stopping at a seaside café to savor fresh oysters and local pastries cooled by the refreshing ocean breeze. As twilight approaches, head to the shoreline to watch the sun drop beneath the Atlantic horizon, painting the coastal sky in pastel hues of pink and gold before diving into the town's lively culinary scene.

Main Destination:

Swakopmund (City)

Accommodation:

Budget camping

Meals & Drinks:

• Meals at own expense
• Drinks not included

Cape Cross

Leave the misty German charms of Swakopmund behind to journey north along the desolate, salt-crusted highway of the Skeleton Coast, where the bleak beauty of the Namib Desert meets the wild Atlantic Ocean. As you drive, watch the coastal fog battle the desert sun over a coastline littered with the rusted ribs of ancient shipwrecks and pounding surf. Your destination is Cape Cross, a historic and rugged headland where the air hums with the wild energy of hundreds of thousands of Cape fur seals lounging on the rocky shores. Here, you will walk along the boardwalk amidst the raw, roaring spectacle of the colony, standing precisely where Portuguese explorers first stepped onto Namibian soil over five centuries ago.

Main Destination:

Cape Cross (Seals)

Best Time To Visit October to March (Warmer nights and less fog)

High Season July to October (Busier, and higher rates apply)

Best Weather October to March (Warmer nights and less fog)

Wildlife in Skeleton Coast NP

HyenaOccasional

ElephantVery Rare

Black RhinoVery Rare

LionVery Rare

LeopardVery Rare

ZebraRare

Show more

GiraffeNone

White RhinoNone

CheetahNone

BuffaloNone

WildebeestNone

HippoNone

Wild DogNone

Accommodation:

Budget camping

Meals & Drinks:

• Meals at own expense
• Drinks not included

Cape Cross

Wake to the raw, wild energy of Cape Cross, where the dramatic Atlantic surf crashes against a desolate, sun-bleached shoreline steeped in maritime history. Begin your morning on the wooden boardwalk, immersed in the roaring, chaotic spectacle of one of the world's largest colonies of Cape fur seals, watching thousands of pups and bulls play in the churning waves. In the afternoon, stand beside the historic stone crosses that mark the exact spot where Portuguese navigator Diogo Cão stepped ashore in 1486, feeling the profound isolation of this ancient desert edge. Conclude your day with a contemplative beachcombing walk to spot the skeletal remains of nearby shipwrecks, watching the sun sink into a misty ocean horizon as the stark desert plains fade into absolute silence.

Main Destination:

Cape Cross (Seals)

Accommodation:

Budget camping

Meals & Drinks:

• Meals at own expense
• Drinks not included

Twyfelfontein

Turn away from the misty Atlantic coastline of Cape Cross and journey inland toward Damaraland, watching the stark, salt-bleached gravel plains gradually shift into a dramatic landscape of rust-red mountains and balanced granite boulders. Your drive climbs through the rugged beauty of the desert, bypassing the towering silhouette of the Brandberg massif—Namibia's highest peak—as you venture deeper into an ancient, sun-baked wilderness. Keep your eyes on the dry riverbeds for a chance encounter with rare, free-roaming desert-adapted elephants moving silently through the arid valleys. Arrive in Twyfelfontein by late afternoon, where the warm, glowing light of the setting sun illuminates a vast geological gallery of prehistoric rock engravings, connecting you deeply to the footsteps of the ancient hunters who gathered here thousands of years ago.

Main Destination:

Twyfelfontein (Rock Art)

Best Time To Visit May to October (Animals are easier to see)

High Season July to November (Some places can get quite busy)

Best Weather May to August (Less hot during the day)

Wildlife in Damaraland

ElephantOccasional

GiraffeOccasional

Black RhinoRare

LionRare

LeopardVery Rare

ZebraRare

Show more

CheetahVery Rare

HyenaVery Rare

White RhinoNone

BuffaloNone

WildebeestNone

HippoNone

Wild DogNone

Accommodation:

Budget camping

Meals & Drinks:

• Meals at own expense
• Drinks not included

Twyfelfontein

Spend a captivating day immersed in the rugged, sun-baked grandeur of Twyfelfontein, where ancient history is etched into the very bones of the rust-red landscape. Begin your morning with a guided walk through Namibia's premier open-air gallery, marveling at the thousands of prehistoric rock engravings that whisper tales of ancient hunters, shamans, and long-gone wildlife. In the heat of the afternoon, explore nearby geological wonders, standing before the geometric basalt pillars of the Organ Pipes and the mysterious, ash-colored mounds of the Burnt Mountain. As the fierce desert sun begins to soften, embark on a scenic nature drive along the ephemeral Aba-Huab riverbed to track the legendary, free-roaming desert-adapted elephants. Conclude your day atop a warm granite koppie, watching the rugged Damaraland valleys ignite in a blaze of crimson and gold as the vast African sky transitions into a brilliant tapestry of stars.

Main Destination:

Twyfelfontein (Rock Art)

Accommodation:

Budget camping

Meals & Drinks:

• Meals at own expense
• Drinks not included

Otjiwarongo

Leave the ancient, rust-red valleys of Twyfelfontein behind as you journey southeastward, watching the dramatic, rugged peaks of Damaraland soften into the vast, golden savannas of Namibia’s central plateau. Your route cuts through a sun-drenched wilderness of thornbush acacia and sprawling bushveld, passing the distant, dramatic silhouettes of the Erongo and Paresis mountains. Here, the arid plains give way to tranquil wetlands and rich lakes, where the evening air hums with life and wild animals gather at the water’s edge beneath the shadow of historic, flat-topped cliffs.

Main Destination:

Otjiwarongo (City)

Accommodation:

Budget camping

Meals & Drinks:

• Meals at own expense
• Drinks not included

Okahandja

Depart the dramatic sandstone cliffs and rich wetlands, journeying south through the sweeping, sun-drenched savannas of Namibia’s central highlands. Your route traverses rolling hills adorned with golden grass and hearty acacia trees, where the wild bushveld gradually softens into peaceful, open farmland. Watch for elegant giraffes and bounding antelopes framing the horizon as you approach a tranquil valley steeped in early pioneer history and thermal wonders. Arrive by late afternoon at a serene rural oasis, where subterranean natural hot springs bubble beneath the earth, promising deep relaxation amid the quiet, whispering shadows of the Namibian countryside.

Main Destination:

Okahandja (City)

Accommodation:

Budget camping

Meals & Drinks:

• Meals at own expense
• Drinks not included

Windhoek

Leave the peaceful, open savannah behind as you embark on your final journey through the rolling, sun-bleached hills of Namibia’s central highlands. Your route winds through a rugged landscape of golden grass and scattered acacia trees, where the wide African sky stretches out to bid you a vast, silent farewell. As you bypass the capital city, the untamed bushveld gives way to smooth tarmac, carrying you seamlessly toward your departure gate. Drink in the last views of distant, violet mountains shimmering in the afternoon heat, carrying the warmth of the red desert sands and the whisper of the wilderness with you as you prepare for you departure.

Main Destination:

Windhoek (City)

Accommodation:

No accommodation (End of tour)

Meals & Drinks:

• Meals at own expense
• Drinks not included

• Additional accommodation can be arranged for an extra cost.
• Clients return their self-drive vehicle at the airport.