Windhoek: 6-Day Safari & Sossusvlei Dunes with Etosha

Six days hunting lions and climbing red dunes across Namibia's two greatest reserves

You spend six days moving between Etosha's game-rich plains and the Namib's red dunes, sleeping in lodges and one hotel, with a professional guide driving a small group in one vehicle. Two full days of game drives, a dawn visit to Deadvlei and Sossusvlei, a cheetah encounter, and a Himba village stop are all arranged. You just show up at the office at 7:15am on day one.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1: Afternoon game drive in Etosha

• Pick up and pre-departure meeting
• Arrive Ombika Gate and game drive
• Check in accommodation inside Etosha
• Visit floodlit waterhole before dinner
• Dinner at Rest Camp restaurant

Day 2: Full day game driving Etosha

• Morning game drive searching predators
• Mid-morning drive to Etosha Pan
• Stop at Okaukuejo for break
• Exit park and drive to Etosha Village
• Overnight at Etosha Village lodge

Day 3: Travel via Damaraland to Swakopmund

• Travel through Damaraland and visit local people
• Stop at roadside lunch
• Visit Zeila Shipwreck on coast
• Arrive and check in Swakopmund hotel
• Explore Swakopmund town on foot

Day 4: Swakopmund to Namib Desert

• Optional morning sand boarding activity
• Depart Swakopmund via Kuiseb and Gaub Pass
• Arrive Solitaire and continue to camp
• Relax and short sunset walk at camp

Day 5: Explore Sossusvlei and surroundings

• Dawn departure to park gate for sunrise
• Drive ancient river bed to 2x4 parking
• 4x4 shuttle into Sossusvlei region
• Explore Sossusvlei and Dead Vlei on foot
• Climb Big Daddy dune for views
• Brunch at Sossusvlei
• Stop at Dune 45 for photos
• Visit Sesriem Canyon and climb down
• Return to camp for overnight

Day 6: Return to Windhoek via conservation

• Early breakfast at camp
• Visit Solitaire conservation project
• Learn about and photograph cheetahs

The experience

The vehicle pulls away from Chameleon Safaris office at 7:15am, and by 2pm you're rolling through Ombika Gate into Etosha National Park for your first afternoon game drive. Two full days follow: morning hunts for predators, afternoon crossings of the Etosha Pan where the park gets its name, stops at the floodlit waterhole where animals gather at dusk. You sleep in twin rooms inside the park itself, which means no commute, just the sound of the bush at night and another drive at dawn. It's the kind of immersion that makes the difference between seeing wildlife and being in it.

Day three is a long one through rural Namibia, heading west toward the coast. The road takes you through Damaraland where you meet Herero, Damara and Himba people at their local markets, not a performance, just a real stop where your money goes to them. There's a roadside lunch, then the Zeila Shipwreck on the way to Swakopmund, where you get a night in a proper hotel to walk around town and sleep without the dust. It's a reset day, and you need it.

The Sossusvlei section starts early. You leave camp before dawn, drive down an ancient riverbed flanked by towering dunes, then take a 4x4 shuttle the last 55 kilometers to the park. Deadvlei comes first: bleached clay, skeletal trees, dunes that shift color as the light moves. If you have the legs for it, Big Daddy dune is the highest in the area and the view justifies the climb. Then Sossusvlei itself, a brunch stop, Dune 45 for photos on the way back, and finally Sesriem Canyon, a narrow slot where water once pooled and animals came to drink. You climb down into it, stand in the cool, and understand why it mattered.

The last morning includes a one-hour cheetah experience at a local conservation project near Solitaire: animals that can't be released, handlers who explain the work, and a chance to photograph the world's fastest land mammal without the chase. Then the drive back to Windhoek, where you're dropped within the city limits. Five nights in twin rooms with en-suite bathrooms, a professional English-speaking driver and guide, all transport in an air-conditioned safari vehicle, tap water, and meals as noted in the itinerary. You'll need at least moderate fitness (the dune climbs are optional but real, and the vehicle days are long), and a current passport on the day you travel.

What’s included

• Your six days include five nights accommodation in twin share rooms with en-suite bathrooms across four lodges and one hotel.
• pickup and drop-off within Windhoek city limits.
• transport in a custom-built air-conditioned safari vehicle with a professional English-speaking driver and guide.
• one afternoon and one full day of game driving in Etosha National Park.
• a full day exploring Sossusvlei, Deadvlei, Dune 45 and Sesriem Canyon.
• a one-hour cheetah experience at a local conservation project.
• a one-hour Himba village visit.
• and tap water throughout. Meals, activities beyond those listed, and travel insurance are not included.

Before you book

Days and timesTuesday and ThursdayDeparts at 07:00

Book up to2d before

AgesAdult (17 and older) · Youth (12 to 16 years) · Child (5 to 11 years) · Under 5: can't be included in the booking

GroupUp to 12

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.

Prices and times updated today

Good to know

Moderate physical levelNot for pregnant travelersNot for heart conditionsNot for back problems

Operated by Chameleon Safaris

Is this one for you?Book this if you want the two best wildlife and landscape experiences in Namibia without arranging transport, lodges, or timing yourself: the fixed six-day schedule fits both Etosha's game drives and Sossusvlei's dawn visit into one trip, which is what makes it possible to do both well in limited time.

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Top questions

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Youth (12 to 16 years); Child (5 to 11 years). Under 5: they can't be included in the booking.

What's the physical fitness level required?

At least moderate fitness. Dune climbs like Big Daddy are optional but steep, and vehicle days run long. Not recommended for travelers with spinal injuries, poor cardiovascular health, or if pregnant.

Do I need a visa for Namibia?

You'll need a current valid passport on the day of travel. Visa requirements depend on your nationality. Check with the Namibian embassy for your country.

What's the best time to book?

Game viewing is best in the dry season (May–September). Sossusvlei is accessible year-round, but temperatures in the Namib can exceed 40°C in summer (December–February).

Are meals included?

The itinerary mentions breakfast, lunch stops, and dinner at lodges, but the inclusions list doesn't detail which meals are covered. Confirm dietary requirements at booking.