Namibia: safari and desert between Etosha and the Namib dunes

First day

Departure from Italy, bound for Windhoek. Overnight stay on board. We begin this two-week journey through the most authentic and ancient parts of Africa.

Second day

Arrival in Africa: Welcome to Namibia
Arrival in Windhoek after an overnight flight from Italy. After the transfer, we will reach a historic farm, a tangible testament to Namibia’s agricultural colonization. Here we will have dinner and spend the night, immediately beginning to savor the open spaces, the silence, and the atmosphere of the Namib Desert. Weather permitting, we will take a short excursion in the surrounding area to gradually attune ourselves to the African landscape.

Third day

Namib-Naukluft NationalPark: Exploring the Desert
We set off for Namib-Naukluft National Park, one of the largest national parks on the planet. Located in western Namibia, the park covers part of the Namib Desert and the Naukluft Mountains. It is one of Africa’s largest national parks and home to some of the world’s most iconic desert landscapes, including the red dunes of Sossusvlei. During the journey, we will traverse various desert ecosystems, observing how the landscape slowly changes. Once we arrive, we will set up camp and take our first exploratory hike at sunset, when the desert changes color and comes alive with silence. Dinner and overnight stay at the camp.

Fourth day

The Olive Trail Canyon
After breakfast, we’ll hikethe Olive Trail, one of the most picturesque trails in the area, which winds through a canyon carved out by water and time.
Lunch in the bush—a term widely used in Africa to describe the wild, uninhabited wilderness, far from cities, roads, and infrastructure. In the afternoon, leaving the mountains behind, we’ll descend toward the sea of dunes of the Namib, exploring the Sesriem Canyon during the most magical hours of the day. We’ll continue to the campsite, set up camp, have dinner, and spend the night.

Fifth day

The Dunes of Sossusvlei
We depart at dawn, when the light transforms the dunes into a play of hues ranging from red to pink to ochre. The entire day is dedicated to exploring Sossusvlei: we’ll climb up and down the dunes, walk through surreal landscapes and endless expanses, experiencing the desert with a sense of slow wonder. Return to camp for some relaxation, followed by a short excursion to Elim Dune, the last dune, to admire the sunset. Dinner and overnight stay at the camp.

Sixth day

Sea of Dunes and Stars
After breakfast and breaking camp, we’ll head to a farm on the edge of the sea of dunes. From there, we’ll begin a trek on foot—a deep, silent exploration that will lead us to an extraordinary place: a campsite set atop the dunes, where we’ll have dinner and spend the night, surrounded only by sand, sky, and stars.

Seventh day

Swakopmund: From the Desert to the Ocean
In the morning, we’ll return to our vehicle with a walk through the still-sleeping desert, then begin a day of transition between different landscapes.
Along the way, we’ll spot oryx, zebras, and the first Welwitschia mirabilis—a species famous for its unique trait in the plant kingdom of having only two leaves that grow throughout the plant’s entire life, which can exceed 2,000 years! We will uncover the mystery of the Fairy Circles, mysterious circular patches of sandy soil devoid of vegetation, surrounded by a ring of grass. Arrival in Swakopmund, the most “Bavarian” city in Africa. Check-in at the lodge and dinner in town.

Eighth day

Toward Cape Cross: Among Skeletons and Sea Lions
Leaving Swakopmund behind, we will travel along a stretch of the Skeleton Coast within Dorob National Park: famous for the thick fog that shrouds the bones of whales and seals lying on the sand, as well as for the rusted shipwrecks caused by the Benguela Current, it is an area of spectacular and inhospitable beauty that is almost surreal, designated a National Park in 1973. Here we will visit one of the continent’s largest sea lion colonies at Cape Cross. We’ll take a walk on the beach and have lunch by the ocean. Transfer to Walvis Bay to admire the sunset among flamingos and lagoons, fog permitting. Dinner in town and return to the lodge.

Ninth day

Dorob: Life in the Desert
After breakfast, we’ll set out to explore the life that inhabits the Namib Desert, both above and below the sand: insects, reptiles, and small mammals perfectly adapted to this extreme environment. Lunch in town and transfer inland to the foothills of Spitzkoppe, the“Matterhorn of Africa.” Setting up camp and an evening walk on the pink granite, illuminated by the sunset. Dinner, campfire, and conversation under the stars.

Tenth day

Spitzkoppe: The San People
For those interested, we’ll wake up at dawn to watch the Spitzkoppe massif come alive with light. Then we’ll all have breakfast together before setting out to explore the area dominated by Spitzkoppe, visiting San rock art sites among rock formations, quiver trees, and natural granite arches. The San are also known as Bushmen and are an indigenous hunter-gatherer people of Southern Africa, among the region’s oldest inhabitants. Return to camp for lunch and transfer to the Erongo Mountains, where we will set up our new camp. Dinner and campfire.

Eleventh day

Erongo: Among the Last Nomads
After breaking camp, we’ll head into the Erongo Mountains, one of Namibia’s most stunning landscapes. The variety of elevations and microclimates supports a rich biodiversity: iconic species include the leopard, the kudu, and numerous endemic birds. Here we will meet a San clan, with whom we will hike, watch their dances, and discover their crafts and deep connection with nature. Dinner and overnight stay at the camp.

Twelfth day

Etosha National Park
Departure forEtosha National Park, one of southern Africa’s major nature reserves and Namibia’s most important tourist destination. Established in 1907, it covers over 22,000 km² and is home to one of the continent’s richest concentrations of wildlife, centered around the spectacular Etosha Pan, a vast salt pan visible even from space. Along the way, with a bit of luck, we’ll encounter a Himba village—a tribe of semi-nomadic herders, also known as the “Red People” because of the clay they smear on their bodies. Upon arrival, we’ll set up camp and take an initial reconnaissance tour. Dinner and overnight stay.

Thirteenth day

Safari in Etosha National Park
Wake up at dawn to experience one of the most intense moments of an African safari, when night gives way to day and the savanna comes alive: predators return from their nighttime hunts, and large herbivores begin moving toward the waterholes. The entire day will be dedicated to a safari in Etosha National Park, one of the best places in Africa for wildlife viewing. We’ll have the opportunity to spot African elephants, rhinos, lions, antelopes, and numerous bird species in a spectacular, largely untouched natural setting—ideal for a photo safari as well. Return to camp at sunset, dinner under the African stars, and an overnight stay immersed in nature.

Fourteenth day

Waterberg: History of the Herero People
Transfer to the Waterberg Plateau, a spectacular highland region steeped in history: in 1904, it was the site of the Battle of Waterberg between German colonial forces and the Herero people, a pivotal event in Namibian history. Today, monuments and memorial sites honor the victims and commemorate the event’s national significance. After setting up camp, a short sunset hike to watch the plateau turn red. Dinner and overnight stay.

Fifteenth day

Trekking in the Waterberg
We will explore the many trails of the Waterberg, a landscape reminiscent of a natural fortress, observing dik-diks, buffalo, and stunning vegetation.
After lunch, we will depart for Windhoek. Dinner and overnight stay in the city.

Sixteenth day

Departure at dawn and a brief tour of Windhoek. Return flight to Italy in the afternoon.

Seventeenth day

arrival in Italy.