Planning a trip to Namibia but undecided on the details?
With our first hand experience of both travelling around Namibia and organising many holidays for customers, we'll not only save you hours of planning but also give you a perfect itinerary that will provide wonderful photos and memories, all at a great price.
We specialise in tailor made itineraries but also have a wide range of guided tours, usually as part of a small group.
All of the photographs on this page are from our own tour around Namibia, so it really is very easy to get some incredible shots.
Make an enquiry today and start the ball rolling by letting us know your initial plans and thoughts.
For expert advice in booking your holiday, please contact Tom:
Call 01462 677 111
Email holidays@onyourtravels.co.uk
Sossusvlei
This is a magical area with a world famous sand dune, a breath taking canyon, and most mysterious of all, Deadvlei, an extraordinary white clay pan with skeletons of trees dating back several hundred years. When the river was cut off, the trees died, and have been blackened over the centuries to leave behind a photographer's paradise.
We'll tell you the best way to see Deadvlei and the best place to stay so that you'll (hopefully!) see the most incredible sunrise.
Nearby is Dune 45, the biggest and most photogenic of the dunes in this area which are amongst the tallest in the world.
And don't miss a visit to Sesriem Canyon which anywhere else would be the highlight of the area, but when we went there were very few other tourists.
Etosha National Park
Enjoy world class wildlife viewing at Etosha National Park with the best chances to see the animals being around one of the many waterholes. You'll see elephants, giraffes, lions, wildebeest, rhino, impala, antelope, zebra, wildebeest, warthog and many more.
On our own trip it was striking that Etosha doesn't yet have the crowds that are seen elsewhere, and often we were on our own watching the \wildlife.
Self drive is popular although the roads are bumpy in places, but at least a couple of days here will be included on almost all small group tours if you prefer not to drive.
If you decide on an independent trip, we'll advise where to stay in Etosha for the best game viewing and where you can even watch the waterhole from the comfort of your own room!
Swakopmund
A charming coastal resort and a chance to stock up on any essentials you might be needing as there's quite a good selection of shops and cafes in the town.
You may also see a strange mist that often engulfs the town, and causes it to feel much cooler than elsewhere. There are a number of pleasant beach walks close by, but a short drive away.
For something extra special, about half an hour away is a place you can kayak among hundreds of seals, or alternatively just go to watch them!
And on the way here is a great place to stop for lunch and see vintage car wrecks in the sand (see picture).
Damaraland
Another stunning part of Namibia and one that is famous for it's ancient rock art carvings and desert elephants.
It's often a great place to stop for a night to break the journey to Etosha - you'll be rewarded with stunning scenery but may also catch a glimpse of wildlife along the way.
Kalahari
Enjoy the spectacular scenery of the Kalahari's yellow and red plains in an area that's a bit less frequented by tourists.
There are some wonderful places to stay where you can see cheetah up close in an ethical way, or enjoy a horseback ride in the desert.
It's also a fantastic place to see the night sky - the air is extremely clear here, so you get a spectacular view of the stars and planets, and some hotels provide a telescope and local astronomer.
Windhoek
This is the city you will fly in and out of. The airport is around 45 minutes outside the centre, and depending on the times of your flights there are many great small places to stay for your first and/or your last night.
Some of these small hotels have amazing views over the mountains as in the picture.
1 - Tailor made Itineraries
We'll put together a wonderful itinerary which is tailor made based on the time you have and the key places you want to visit. Plus, we'll suggest hotels and lodges that fit in with budget.
- We'll advise how long you'll need in each place so that you see everything you want but without it being too rushed
- We'll book all the flights, hotels, lodges, car hire for you.
- We'll liaise with hotels and suppliers for any special requests, dietary requirements or mobility issues
- We'll deal with any forced changes that may occur
- You'll get 24/7 emergency contact for when you are away
- Includes full ATOL protection
- Includes full package protection - this ensures you receive the holiday you paid for
A typical circular route might be as follows:
Windhoek (1 night) → Kalahari (2 nights) → Sossusvlei (2 nights) → Swakopmund (2 nights) → Damaraland (1 night) → Etosha (3 nights) → Windhoek (1 night)
But there are lots of variations on this we can discuss with you.
guide price - average of £5,000 per person for a 12 night trip
2 - Small Group Tours
We have a wide range of small group tours that take away all the anxiety about driving yourself. These are great fun and normally excellent value for money!
- Classic Namibia Tours
- Extended tours including South Africa and / or Botswana
- All flights, transport and many activities included
There are also a number of speciality tours:
- Rail journeys - for example the Rovos Rail trip from Pretoria to Walvis Bay
- More active trips, e.g. hiking or cycling
- Family adventures
- Young people focused (18 to 30+)
- More basic accommodation including camping which significantly reduces the cost
Because there are so many different tours available we haven't listed them here - please contact us with a few details (approximate dates, budget, standard required etc) and we'll send you a selection that you can look over in detail. If you then want to book one of them, we'll get everything sorted for you.
When to go? 🔆
Here's a quick guide to all the months of the year. Assuming wildlife viewing is one of the most important factors in determining which month to travel, then September and October would be ideal, but most months of the year are still good.
As Namibia is in the Southern hemisphere, its winter is in our summer months. It will be cooler, and even very cold in desert areas especially at night, but the reduced humidity means less rain, and so better for watching wildlife.
January - ok time to travel - can be hot and humid, possible rain, wildlife a bit more spread out
February - ok time to travel - can be hot and humid, possible rain, wildlife a bit more spread out
March - ok time to travel - starting to get a little cooler and less rain
April - good time to travel - cooler and less rain
May - very good time to travel - with less rain the wildlife viewing is better
June - excellent time to travel although starting to get cool
July - excellent time to travel although can be cool
August - excellent time to travel although can be cool
September - perfect time to travel - it's been dry for some time so water is more scarce meaning excellent game viewing
October - perfect time to travel - it's been dry for some time so water is more scarce meaning excellent game viewing
November - good time to travel, starting to get hotter, bit more chance of rain
December - ok time to travel - some rain which means wildlife a bit more spread out
Tom's Own Trip
I've wanted to go to Namibia ever since reading about the incredible wildlife and seeing the surreal desert landscapers in various photography magazines, and a few years ago I finally made it!
We hired a car and travelled over 13 days in a circular route, everywhere being a completely different stop with lots of unique experiences. The roads were for the most part excellent, but with no mobile phone signal in some areas I did wonder what I'd do if we broke down.
I've seen Deadvlei in many photographic books and magazines over the years, but until you actually get there it's hard to appreciate the beautiful light especially first thing in the morning when the sun has just come up. Going at that time was a very good move as there weren't many people about.
One of the highlights has to be Etosha National Park where we sat and watched an enormous amount of wildlife at some of the many waterholes and took some wonderful photographs. All the images on this page are from this trip!
The park was also a bit more challenging in terms of the driving as the roads aren't paved and were quite bumpy. I was quite surprised how few other cars and vehicles were there (this was high season) compared to other game parks in Africa. Only once did it feel crowded, and that was when there was a long stand off between lions and elephants, lasting for a tense couple of hours, and nobody wanting to miss what happened.
Back at the camp, there was a waterhole just a 2 minute walk from our room with constant coming and going of wildlife. The location of it was unbelievable although it had by far the most basic rooms on the trip.
FAQ
Q. How long do you need in Namibia?
A. As a general guide, you'll see most of the highlights on an 11 or 12 night trip, but we can arrange shorter journeys if you don't have so much time or want to keep costs down.
Q. What is the accommodation like on a tailor made holiday?
A. We generally use lodges, sometimes with an upgraded room if there's a good reason and the supplement isn't too great.
Q. What cars are recommended?
A. We recommend and will include a 4x4 on a self drive holiday because of the superior grip if you are going over any bumpy roads. Often all you need to do is press a button to switch between 2WD and 4WD.
Q. Do UK passport holders you need a visa?
A. Yes - this can be done online before you travel - we will send you the appropriate link. Currently the cost is around £67.
Q. How long is the flight?
A. The most usual route is via Johannesburg (11 hours) and then a short onward flight to Windhoek (2 hours). There are no direct flights from the UK.
Q. What is the currency?
A. Namibian Dollar, although South African Rand is also widely used.
Make an Enquiry
| Call | 01462 677111 |
| holidays@onyourtravels.co.uk |
