Namibia 15-Day Big Five Safari & Fish River Canyon Tour

Cross Namibia's deserts, canyons and wildlife reserves in one continuous journey

A 15-day guided tour of Namibia departing from Windhoek that moves through the country's major landscapes: Etosha National Park for multi-day game drives; the towering red dunes and white clay pan of Sossusvlei and Deadvlei; the coastal town of Swakopmund; Fish River Canyon at sunrise and sunset; and the Kalahari Desert. The itinerary includes all accommodations, meals, an air-conditioned vehicle with professional driver, fuel, and airport transfers. A Himba community visit and stops at Twyfelfontein rock engravings, Sesriem Canyon, Kolmanskop ghost town, and Quiver Tree Forest break up the driving days. Travelers should have moderate physical fitness. The minimum age is 12.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1: Windhoek to Otjiwarongo and Game Drive

• Travel from Windhoek to Otjiwarongo
• Settle into accommodation
• Afternoon game drive near Otjiwarongo

Day 2: Otjiwarongo to Namutoni and Game Drive

• Travel from Otjiwarongo to Namutoni
• Settle into accommodation
• Afternoon game drive in Etosha National Park

Day 3: Game Drive in Etosha National Park

• Morning game drive near Namutoni
• Full day game drive around Namutoni waterholes

Day 4: Namutoni to Okaukuejo Full-Day Game Drive

• Full-day game drive from Namutoni to Okaukuejo
• Settle into accommodation at Okaukuejo

Day 5: Full-Day Safari in Etosha National Park

• Early morning departure for full-day safari
• Picnic lunch inside Etosha National Park
• Afternoon game drive continuing safari

Day 6: Damaraland Himba Visit and Rock Engravings

• Travel from Okaukuejo to Damaraland
• Visit Himba community
• Explore Twyfelfontein rock engravings
• Settle into accommodation in Damaraland

Day 7: Travel to Swakopmund and Leisure Time

• Travel from Damaraland to Swakopmund
• Settle into accommodation
• Free time to explore Swakopmund

Day 8: Walvis Bay Cruise and Leisure

• Morning boat cruise in Walvis Bay
• Return to Swakopmund
• Free afternoon at leisure

Day 9: Scenic Drive to Sossusvlei and Leisure

• Travel from Swakopmund to Sossusvlei via Kuiseb Canyon and Gaub Pass
• Photo stop at Tropic of Capricorn
• Stop in Solitaire
• Settle into accommodation at Sossusvlei
• Free afternoon at leisure

Day 10: Explore Deadvlei, Dune 45 and Sesriem Canyon

• Early sunrise over Namib Desert dunes
• Visit Dune 45 and surrounding dunes
• Explore Deadvlei clay pan
• Visit Sesriem Canyon

Day 11: Drive to Lüderitz and Wild Horses

• Travel from Sossusvlei to Lüderitz
• Stop at Aus settlement
• Observe wild horses at Garub waterhole
• Settle into accommodation in Lüderitz
• Free afternoon at leisure

Day 12: Kolmanskop and Sunset at Fish River Canyon

• Visit Kolmanskop abandoned diamond town
• Travel inland toward Fish River Canyon
• Stop at Garub for wild horses
• Arrive at Fish River Canyon
• Sunset viewing at Fish River Canyon
• Settle into accommodation

Day 13: Sunrise and Sunset at Fish River Canyon

• Sunrise visit to Fish River Canyon
• Leisure time at accommodation
• Sunset visit to Fish River Canyon viewpoints

Day 14: Travel to Kalahari Desert and Game Drive

• Travel from Fish River Canyon to Kalahari Desert
• Visit Quiver Tree Forest
• Settle into accommodation
• Afternoon sunset game drive in Kalahari

Day 15: Return to Windhoek and Departure

• Travel from Kalahari Desert to Windhoek
• Transfer to airport for departure

The experience

You arrive in Windhoek and depart the same afternoon for Otjiwarongo, where a game drive introduces you to Namibia's wildlife on a private reserve. The next two days anchor in Etosha National Park's eastern section around Namutoni, with full-day safaris built around waterholes where elephants, lions, giraffes and zebras gather. A third day crosses the park's central expanse to Okaukuejo, moving through open grasslands and salt pans that stretch to the horizon. The pace is deliberate: you stop when animals appear, and your guide explains behavior and conservation as the day unfolds.

From Etosha you head southwest into Damaraland's rocky terrain for a morning visit to a Himba community, learning about their semi-nomadic traditions and connection to the land, then walk among the ancient rock engravings at Twyfelfontein, a UNESCO site carved thousands of years ago. The route then turns west toward the Atlantic, arriving in Swakopmund for a free afternoon and evening. The next morning brings a boat cruise in Walvis Bay to watch dolphins, seals and seabirds. The afternoon is yours to explore the town or rest. You then drive inland across the Kuiseb Canyon and Gaub Pass, two of Namibia's most dramatic gorges, toward the Namib Desert heartland, stopping at the Tropic of Capricorn and the remote outpost of Solitaire before reaching Sossusvlei.

An early start at Sossusvlei catches sunrise turning the dunes deep red and gold. You climb Dune 45 for views across the desert, then walk into Deadvlei, where ancient fossilized trees stand ghostly white against towering dunes: the landscape feels otherworldly and photographs exceptionally. A short walk into Sesriem Canyon reveals layered rock and cool passages carved by the Tsauchab River over millennia. The drive south to Lüderitz crosses remote desert plains and passes the Garub waterhole, where wild horses adapted to extreme aridity still gather. In Lüderitz you have a free afternoon to wander colonial architecture or rest by the coast. The next morning includes a visit to Kolmanskop, an abandoned diamond-mining town slowly reclaimed by sand, before you turn inland toward Fish River Canyon. You arrive in time for sunset over Africa's largest canyon, when the chasm glows in deep reds and earth tones. A full day at the canyon lets you experience sunrise and sunset at separate viewpoints, absorbing the scale and silence between them.

The final leg moves north through the Kalahari Desert, stopping at Quiver Tree Forest (a striking site of aloe trees sculptured by harsh conditions and set against wide desert skies) before an afternoon game drive where you may encounter oryx, springbok and giraffe as the sun sets over red dunes. You return to Windhoek the next morning for airport transfer, completing the loop through Namibia's most significant landscapes and wildlife areas.

What’s included

• All accommodations based on availability.
• all meals as stated in the itinerary.
• the air-conditioned rental vehicle with full risk insurance and professional driver for the entire 15 days.
• fuel for all travel.
• airport transfers in Windhoek.
• a local SIM card.
• a first-aid kit.
• 24/7 assistance during the trip.
• a meet-and-greet service with briefing on the itinerary and vehicle.
• game drives in Etosha National Park, the Kalahari Desert and private reserves.
• a boat cruise in Walvis Bay.
• visits to Twyfelfontein rock engravings, Sesriem Canyon, Kolmanskop ghost town and Quiver Tree Forest.
• a Himba community visit.
• Namibia VAT and tourism levy.

Options for this experience

2 options

Sharing option, price per person09:00Sharing option, price per person, includes pickup

Solo09:00Solo option, pickup is included

You'll see the exact price of each option when you check availability.See dates and prices

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDeparts at 09:00

Book up to2d before

AgesAdult (12 to 80 years) · Under 12: can't be booked

GroupPrivate

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.You can choose from 39 pickup points.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.

Prices and times updated today

Good to know

Moderate physical effortStroller-friendlyInfant seats availableNot recommended with heart problems

Operated by Motema Tours and Safaris Namibia

Is this one for you?Pick the solo option if you want your own tent and meals separate from other travelers. Pick the shared option to bunk with a roommate and split accommodation costs.

Traveler reviews

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Top questions

What animals might I see on the Etosha game drives?

Etosha's waterholes attract elephants moving in steady lines, lions resting near the pans, giraffes browsing acacia trees, zebras in tight family groups, and various antelope species. Your guide shares insights into their behavior and the park's conservation efforts as you spend multiple days exploring different sections of the reserve.

How much driving is involved each day?

Days vary: some are full-day game drives within a single park or reserve, while others involve longer transfers between regions. Such as the scenic drive from Swakopmund to Sossusvlei via Kuiseb Canyon and Gaub Pass, or the remote journey south to Lüderitz across desert plains. Free afternoons in Swakopmund, Sossusvlei and Lüderitz break up the travel rhythm.

What is Deadvlei and why is it worth visiting?

Deadvlei is a white clay pan surrounded by towering red dunes, dotted with ancient fossilized trees that create a surreal, otherworldly scene. The contrast between the pale pan and the deep-colored dunes, combined with the eerie dead trees, makes it one of Namibia's most photographed landscapes and a striking natural phenomenon.

Is the Himba community visit respectful, and what does it involve?

The visit is framed as a cultural encounter to learn about the Himba's semi-nomadic traditions, customs, daily life and deep connection to the land. You gain insight into their ancestral way of life and distinctive attire during a morning stop in Damaraland before continuing to Twyfelfontein.

What is included in the tour price, and what costs extra?

The tour includes all accommodations, meals, the air-conditioned vehicle with professional driver, fuel, airport transfers, a local SIM card, and activities listed in the itinerary such as game drives, the Walvis Bay boat cruise, and visits to Twyfelfontein and Kolmanskop. National park entrance fees, international and domestic flights, optional activities like hot air balloon rides or scenic flights, alcoholic beverages, personal expenses and tips are not included. Personal medical insurance and repatriation are mandatory but not provided by the operator.

Can I book this tour solo, or do I need to travel with others?

You can book solo or share the tour with other travelers. The operator offers both options at checkout, priced per person. Either way, you travel in the same air-conditioned vehicle with the same professional driver and itinerary.