10 Day Southern Kalahari & Desert Focus

This route explores the wild south, combining red sand Kalahari dunes, the vast Fish River Canyon, and the dramatic coastal dunes of Sossusvlei.

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Itinerary

Depart Windhoek and head southeast into the red dunes of the Kalahari Desert. Enjoy late-afternoon sunset drives across the red ridges.

Drive south to the Fish River Canyon, the second largest canyon in the world. Continue west toward thecoastal town of Lüderitz, passing wild desert horses along the way.

Tour the ghost town of Kolmanskop, where abandoned diamond mining buildings are slowly being

swallowed by sand dunes.

Travel north along scenic desert routes to Sesriem. Dedicate a full day to exploring Sossusvlei, Deadvlei, and the Namib-Naukluft Park.

Drive north to Swakopmund to experience the ocean breeze, colonial architecture, and fresh seafood

before taking a desert excursion.

Cross the Central Plateau back to Windhoek for your flight home.

What's Included

Professional naturalist safari guide.
4x4 Vehicle rental for the duration of the tour.
Camping / Self-Catering: Highly accessible and well-maintained campsites across the country.
Mid-Range & Boutique Lodges: Comfortable lodges positioned just outside national park gates.
Meals, drinks and refreshments.

Not Included

International and domestic flights.
Additional transport that deviates from the route.
Travel insurance (mandatory), medical expenses and emergency evacuation.
Visas, passport expenses and other travel documents.
Personal expenses, gratuities and laundry services.
Gratuities for safari guides and lodge staff.
Alcoholic beverages (available from lodges and guesthouses).

Accommodation Tiers

Wild Camping and Rentals
Highly accessible and well-maintained campsites across the country. Key sites include NWR Sesriem Camp (granting early sunrise entry into Sossusvlei), Okaukuejo inside Etosha

(famous for its illuminated night waterhole), and Spitzkoppe Community Rest Camp.
Mid-Range & Boutique Lodges
Comfortable lodges positioned just outside national park gates. Popular

choices include Sossusvlei Lodge, Etosha Safari Camp, and guesthouses in Swakopmund.

Best Travel Season

May to October (Dry Winter Season)

Best overall time. Cooler daytime temperatures (20–25°C) and cold desert nights. Sparse vegetation makes game viewing around Etosha's waterholes exceptional.

November to April (Summer / Green Season)

Hotter conditions (30–35°C+) with occasional afternoon thunderstorms. Ideal for birdwatching and seeing newborn wildlife, though animals disperse away from main water sources.

May to August (High Water & Dry Season)

The Okavango Delta fills with floodwaters, offering prime mokoro canoeing. Victoria Falls reaches peak water flow between March and May, producing massive spray.

September to October (Peak Wildlife Safari)

Extremely dry and hot, forcing game into dense concentrations along the Chobe River and Delta channels. Victoria Falls water volume drops significantly on the Zambian side, though Zimbabwean viewpoints maintain steady flow.

November to April (Green Season)

Summer rains arrive, creating lush landscapes. Excellent for birding, though some unpaved 4x4 tracks in Moremi and Chobe become heavy mud.

Namibia gravel roads (C and D routes) are generally wide and well-graded, but loose stones require maintaining speeds under 80 km/h to prevent rollover or tyre blowouts. Lower tyre pressures slightly on gravel and sand to improve grip and ride comfort.

Sand & Mud Recovery: Deflate tyres down to 1.2–1.5 bar for deep sand sections in Sossusvlei or Chobe. Carry a 12V air compressor to re-inflate before returning to hard tarmac.

Driving Conditions, Navigations

Toyota Hilux Double Cab 4x4 (2.4L or 2.8L Diesel)
The gold standard across Southern Africa. High ground clearance, excellent low-range capability for sand/mud, and dual-fuel tanks (140L total capacity), providing a range of 1,000+ km without refuelling.
Toyota Fortuner 4x4
Suitable for standard gravel and paved roads with up to 4 adults. However, for remote gravel tracks or deep sand (e.g., Sossusvlei riverbeds, Okavango transit), a Hilux with a reconfigured canopy offers far better gear capacity and durability.
Toyota Hilux Double Cab 4x4 with Roof Top Tents
Camping-equipped Hiluxes come fitted with 1–2 fold-out roof tents, built-in

fridge/freezers, dual-battery systems, gas cookers, and recovery gear (compressor, tow straps, sand

ladders).