Namibia Trip Packages: Dunes, Shipwrecks, and Culture Vacation

Explore the highlights of Namibia, plus exclusive, off-the-beaten-path adventures! Visit the red dunes of Sossusvlei, meet members of the ancient Himba tribe, enjoy an exclusive stay on the remote Skeleton Coast, and much more. This journey to Namibia will take your breath away!

This Namibia Trip Packages: Dunes, Shipwrecks, and Culture Vacation was designed for 2 sisters and their friends as a bucket list trip to Namibia. They wanted to see highlights like the Sossusvlei dunes, while also enjoying some unique and off-the-beaten-path adventures. This trip showed them the very best of Namibia and exceeded their expectations!

They started their trip at Namib-Naukluft National Park, home to enormous red sand dunes, Sossusvlei, and Deadvlei. Climbing the famous “Big Daddy” dune and running down the other side to Deadvlei was the first item to check off their bucket list! Next, they had an incredible scenic flight to the coastal town of Swakopmund, where they enjoyed a wonderful wildlife cruise and found unique souvenirs at the boutique shops.

They had hit the popular highlights—now it was time to venture into the more remote Namibia where few tourists ever set foot. They flew over the magnificent Skeleton Coast, where the beaches are strewn with bleached whale bones and the wrecks of over a thousand ships. This nearly inaccessible region is typically only seen from the air. They spent 2 nights at the extremely exclusive Shipwreck Lodge, the only accommodation on the Skeleton Coast, and spent their days tracking rare desert-adapted wildlife on safari and exploring the eerily beautiful, abandoned beaches.

Continuing their Namibia Trip Packages: Dunes, Shipwrecks, and Culture Vacation, they traveled to the remote reaches of northwest Namibia, home to the stark Namib Desert and ancient Himba tribes. They spent 3 nights at the luxurious Sera Cafema camp overlooking the Kunene River—an oasis in the midst of otherworldly desert landscapes. Here, they went quad biking through the sand dunes and experienced another trip highlight: interacting with a local Himba tribe and witnessing their famous beauty rituals.

The last stop on their journey was Otjimbondona Kalahari, a group of luxury villas located on a private nature reserve on the fringes of the Namibia Kalahari basin. They enjoyed game drives on the reserve, gorgeous sunset views, evening campfires, and a visit to nearby cave systems.

At last, their Namibia Trip Packages: Dunes, Shipwrecks, and Culture Vacation came to an end. They enjoyed a private transfer to the Windhoek airport, where they began their journey back home.

Suggested Itinerary

Day 1
Welcome to Namibia! Fly into Windhoek, where you’ll meet the private guide who will accompany you for the duration of your trip. Your guide will pick you up at the airport and drive you to the fabulous Olive Exclusive Boutique Hotel. Enjoy stylish decor, indulgent cuisine, fine wines, and air conditioning during your stay here.
Olive Exclusive Boutique Hotel

Day 2
You’re in for a treat today: your first scenic flight of the trip! Fly to the Namib-Naukluft National Park region, with breathtaking aerial views of the desert and sand dunes down below. Make your way to Little Kulala, a luxurious permanent tented lodge bordering the national park. In your fabulous thatch roof suite, enjoy air conditioning, an outdoor shower, and your own private verandah with a plunge pool. Time permitting, enjoy a game drive or a guided nature walk to see the amazing desert-adapted wildlife, finishing with a scenic sundowner. Adventurous travelers can opt to spend a night on the open-air star bed for dazzling views of the night sky.
Little Kulala

Day 3
Rise early today for a visit to the famous Namib-Naukluft National Park—home to the world’s highest sand dunes, which are highlighted beautifully by the early morning light. Escape the crowds using Little Kulala’s private park entrance. Climb the red-hued sand dunes and run down the other side to Deadvlei, a striking white clay pan where the remains of ancient trees stand in stark contrast to the surrounding dunes. Once you have explored Sossusvlei, Deadvlei, and surrounding dune fields to your heart’s content, you can enjoy a relaxed picnic brunch in the shade of a camelthorn tree. Return to the lodge in the afternoon and enjoy the rest of the day at your leisure.
Little Kulala

Day 4
Enjoy another scenic flight today over some of the world’s most remote and inaccessible areas. Watch in awe as sand dunes give way to the Atlantic coast, where you’ll get an aerial view of ancient shipwrecks, diamond beaches, and wildlife like whales, flamingos, and Cape fur seals. Arrive in the lovely coastal town of Swakopmund, where you can enjoy the cooler seaside air for the next 2 nights.
Strand Hotel Swakopmund

Day 5
After an early breakfast, your guide will drive you along the scenic coastal road to Walvis Bay for a memorable seal and dolphin cruise. This is an ideal way to see Cape fur seals, dolphins, pelicans, flamingos, and a wide variety of other sea birds. If you’re lucky, you might also see whales, leatherback turtles, and sunfish!
Strand Hotel Swakopmund

Day 6 – 7
Take a private, scenic flight over the eerily beautiful Skeleton Coast. Described by the San Bushmen as “the Land God Made in Anger,” the beaches are strewn with bleached whale bones and the wrecks of over a thousand ships, and the interior is an uninhabited desert of rolling, endless sand. This unique, mysterious, and practically untouched landscape will be your home for the next 2 nights. Shipwreck Lodge is actually crafted in the shape of an abandoned ship, and is the only accommodation in this remote region which is normally only seen from the air.

Go on game drives to see desert-dwelling elephants and track elusive desert lions; discover the enchanting desert flora; sit atop the dunes as the sun sinks below the horizon; spend a day beach-combing for whale bones and debris from centuries of shipwrecks; or marvel at the remarkable Clay Castles. Shipwreck Lodge provides a luxurious oasis where you can relax and unwind between activities.
Shipwreck Lodge

Day 8
Today, enjoy a private road transfer to the extremely remote, northwestern tip of Namibia and your lodgings at Serra Cafema. Nestled on the banks of the Kunene River under the shade of the albida trees, Serra Cafema is an intimate, peaceful camp inspired by the area’s Himba people, featuring a unique mix of rustic and luxury elements. Cool off in the swimming pool, enjoy a delicious meal overlooking the river, and rest up for the next few days of adventure!
Serra Cafema

Day 9 – 10
Spend the next 2 days exploring your incredible surroundings: Hartmann’s Valley, the Kunene River, and the stark Namib Desert. Quad biking through the dunes and cruising along the river are camp highlights. You’ll also have the chance for an authentic cultural interaction with nearby Himba tribe members. This ancient culture has been virtually untouched by Western civilization. Learn about the famous Himba beauty rituals, which involve coating the hair and skin in a layer of thick red ochre, and get an in-depth look at one of the world’s longest surviving cultures.
Serra Cafema

Day 11 – 12
Take 2 short flights back to Windhoek today and enjoy a short road transfer to Otjimbondona Kalahari luxury villas, located on a private nature reserve on the fringes of the Namibia Kalahari basin. Your villa contains elegant and cozy decor, a fireplace for chilly evenings, and a private deck with plunge pool—the perfect place to sip champagne and take in the stunning sunset. Camp activities include game drives, nature walks, cave excursions, stargazing, and more.
Otjimbondona Kalahari

Day 13
Today marks the end of your incredible Namibia adventure. Enjoy a transfer to the Windhoek airport, where you’ll begin your journey home.

About this vacation
Cost Per Person

Based on
13 day stay
2 travelers

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