7-Day Southern Namibia Tour: Sossusvlei, Kolmanskop & Quiver Tree

Climb Dune 45, walk Deadvlei, track wild horses, and explore an ancient canyon at sunrise.

This 7-day camping tour of Southern Namibia starts in Windhoek and loops through Swakopmund, Sossusvlei, Kolmanskop and Quiver Tree Forest before returning to Windhoek. You travel in a custom safari vehicle with a professional guide, camp at three sites, and spend one night in a hotel. The route covers some of Namibia's most remote landscapes: towering sand dunes, a ghost town from the diamond boom, wild horses roaming the desert, and the second-largest canyon on earth. The tour suits budget travelers and small groups who want guided access to these sites without arranging transport or logistics separately.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1: Swakopmund on the Skeleton Coast

• Meet at Chameleon Backpackers
• Travel Windhoek to Walvis Bay Lagoon
• Visit Walvis Bay Lagoon and picnic lunch
• Arrive Swakopmund and explore town
• Group dinner at seafood restaurant

Day 2: Namib Desert

• Optional morning activities in Swakopmund
• Depart Swakopmund via Kuiseb Pass
• Stop in Solitaire for snack
• Arrive Sesriem camp and set up tents
• Enjoy sunset and dinner at camp

Day 3: Sossusvlei in the Namib Desert

• Pre-dawn departure to Dune 45
• Climb Dune 45 and have breakfast
• Explore Sossusvlei on foot
• Visit Dead Vlei
• Return to Sesriem for lunch and rest
• Visit Sesriem Canyon in afternoon

Day 4: Klein Aus Vista, Namib Desert

• Pack camp and have breakfast
• Drive south to Klein Aus Vista
• Set up camp and leisure time
• Enjoy sunset and dinner at camp

Day 5: Kolmanskop & Luderitz

• Early breakfast and travel to Kolmanskop
• Tour ghost town Kolmanskop
• Visit Luderitz town
• Stop at Diaz Point
• Look for wild horses en route to camp
• Return to camp and relax
• Dinner at camp

Day 6: Fish River Canyon & Quiver Tree Forest

• Pack camp and travel east
• Stop at Fish River Canyon viewpoint
• Continue to Quiver Tree Forest
• Camp and dinner under stars

Day 7: Windhoek

• Sunrise at Quiver Tree Forest
• Travel back to Windhoek
• Picnic lunch en route
• Arrive Windhoek and drop off

The experience

You meet at Chameleon Backpackers in Windhoek on day one and travel west through small towns to Walvis Bay Lagoon, where flamingos gather at a RAMSAR-listed wetland. By mid-afternoon you're in Swakopmund on the Skeleton Coast. Dinner is organized as a group meal, and you have the option to add sandboarding or quad biking before leaving town the next morning.

Day two takes you south through the Namib Desert via Kuiseb Pass and across the Tropic of Capricorn. You arrive at Sesriem campsite late afternoon and set up your tent. On day three, a pre-dawn departure gets you to Dune 45 for sunrise, then you explore Sossusvlei on foot: walking into the white expanse of Deadvlei with its skeletal camel thorn trees and towering dunes that shift color through the day. You return for lunch and a swim, then visit Sesriem Canyon in the afternoon. Days four and five move south through desert landscapes to Klein Aus Vista, where you can hike unguided trails at leisure. From there you visit Kolmanskop, a ghost town abandoned after the diamond boom ended in the early 1900s, then drive to Luderitz on the Atlantic coast and watch for wild horses on the return journey: animals whose presence in the desert remains unexplained.

Day six heads east to Fish River Canyon, where you overlook the second-largest canyon in the world from Hell's Bend viewpoint. You continue to Quiver Tree Forest near Keetmanshoop, home to roughly 250 trees estimated at 200–300 years old and Namibia's national tree. Your last night is camping under the stars with meals prepared by your guide. On day seven you explore the Quiver Tree at sunrise, then drive back to Windhoek via Mariental and Rehoboth, arriving late afternoon at your accommodation.

What’s included

• Camping equipment and tent setup.
• professional English-speaking guide and driver.
• transport in a custom-built safari vehicle with pop-up roof.
• pickup and drop-off within Windhoek.
• one night hotel accommodation in Swakopmund and five nights camping at Sesriem, Klein Aus Vista and Quiver Tree Forest.
• guided tour of Kolmanskop Ghost Town.
• visits to Dune 45, Walvis Bay Lagoon, Sossusvlei, Deadvlei, Sesriem Canyon, Fish River Canyon viewpoint and Quiver Tree Forest.
• meals prepared by your guide at camp.
• tap water.

Before you book

Days and timesThursdayDeparts at 07:00

Book up to2d before

AgesAdult (5 to 80 years) · Under 5: can't be included in the booking

GroupUp to 10 · max 6 per booking

Live guideEnglish

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup is optional; you can also go straight to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.You can choose from 21 pickup points.

Cancellation and refundsNo refund if you cancel.

Paid on siteUS$ 17.44

Prices and times updated today

Good to know

Moderate physical levelPublic transport nearbyNot for pregnant travelersNot for heart conditionsNot for back problems

Operated by Chameleon Safaris

Is this one for you?Book this if you're traveling with a group who can share vehicle and guide costs, and you're ready for tent camping with early starts and long driving days to hit all the major sites in one loop.

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Top questions

What's included in the camping nights on this 7-day tour?

Camping equipment, tent setup and meals prepared by your guide are included at Sesriem, Klein Aus Vista and Quiver Tree Forest campsites. You'll need to bring your own sleeping bag. One night is in a twin-share hotel room in Swakopmund.

Do I need to book optional activities like sandboarding in Swakopmund in advance?

Optional activities in Swakopmund (sandboarding at 60km/h or quad biking) are available on day two before the group departs at 11:30. You can arrange these with your guide when you arrive, so advance booking isn't required.

What's the physical fitness level needed for this tour?

At least moderate physical fitness is recommended. The tour includes early morning departures, climbing Dune 45 at sunrise, walking through Sossusvlei and Deadvlei, and a long drive on day seven back to Windhoek. It's not recommended for travelers with spinal injuries, pregnancy or poor cardiovascular health.

How long is the drive from Swakopmund to the Sossusvlei campsite?

You leave Swakopmund at 11:30 and arrive at Sesriem campsite late afternoon, driving through the Namib Desert via Kuiseb Pass and crossing the Tropic of Capricorn. The journey includes a stop in Solitaire for snacks and stretching.

Will I see the wild horses of the Namib Desert?

The tour passes through the area between Luderitz and Klein Aus where wild horses roam, and the guide keeps watch for sightings on the return from Kolmanskop. While spotting them is never guaranteed, any sighting is celebrated as a rare encounter in the harsh desert conditions.

What happens if I arrive in Windhoek on the morning of day one?

Pickup and drop-off within Windhoek city limits are included. The pre-departure briefing happens at Chameleon Backpackers before the group departs, so arrange your arrival to meet the group there on day one morning.