12 Day Southern Namibia Tour

Namibia is a big country with vast blue skies and unimaginable scenery. On this 12 day tour we focus on the southern half of Namibia. The itinerary makes sensible use of time and distance and gives the visitor a very good insight into the gems that exist in this half of Namibia, including places like Fish River Canyon, Sossusvlei, The Kalahari and Swakopmund. It starts and ends in Windhoek, and we can also offer a fully guided version of this itinerary if you prefer.

12 Day Southern Namibia Tour
Itinerary at a Glance:
  • Day 01

    Arrive Windhoek - The Weinberg

  • Day 02

    Windhoek to Intu Afrika Camelthorn Lodge, Namibia

  • Day 03 & 04

    Camelthorn Lodge to Fish River Lodge, Fish River Canyon

  • Day 05 & 06

    Fish River Canyon to Luderitz Nest Hotel, Luderitz

  • Day 07 & 08

    Luderitz to Desert Homestead Lodge, Namibia

  • Day 09 to 11

    Desert Homestead Lodge to Swakopmund Luxury Suites, Swakopmund, Namibia

  • Day 12

    Swakopmund to Windhoek

Day 01

Arrive Windhoek - The Weinberg

You will be met by the car rental company representative on arrival and transferred to their offices in Windhoek to complete all rental procedures, you will then meet with our representative to hand over your travel documents. The remainder of the day can be spent relaxing at your leisure, for dinner tonight, you can head into town for a bite to eat at one of Windhoek’s well known restaurants.
The city of Windhoek is located almost dead centre of the country, and was initially developed around a permanent spring that local pastoral communities would use. Today the city is a clean, safe and orderly city with a strong German influence that dates back to the late 1800s. There are lots of shops and restaurants as well as historical buildings that can be experienced.

The Weinberg Boutique Hotel, Namibia
The Weinberg Boutique Hotel, Namibia

Day 02

Windhoek to Intu Afrika Camelthorn Lodge, Namibia

Travel Time: 245km - approximately 3 to 4 hours
After breakfast, you can still pop into town for anything you might need and then depart heading south from Windhoek to the red sand dunes of the Kalahari.
Spend the remainder of the day at leisure in this beautiful setting.
Optional activities here include game and nature drives as well as a Bushman experience.

View of the chalets at Camelthorn Kalahari Lodge
Breakfast by the pool at Camelthorn Kalahari Lodge
Camelthorn Kalahari Lodge, Pool
Camelthorn Kalahari Lodge chalets

Day 03 & 04

Camelthorn Lodge to Fish River Lodge, Fish River Canyon

Travel Time: 440km - approximately 7 to 8 hours
Head south via Mariental and Keetmanshoop to the Karas region, the Fish River Canyon area. Detour en-route to Giant’s Playground and Quiver Tree Forest, a beautiful site where three large aloes grow between rocks. Enjoy the view from the lodge at sunset to end the day.

The fish River Canyon, Namibia
Swimming pool with a view at Fish River Lodge
Dining and lounge area at Fish River Lodge

Carved by centuries of erosion this rocky chasm in the south of Namibia, the world’s second largest canyon. Hot, dry and stony, the Fish River Canyon measures a whopping 160 kilometres in length, at times 27 kilometres in width and 550 metres in depth. Hot springs, hiking trails and many different view points along its rim are just a few of the attractions around this natural spectacle.

Day 05 & 06

Fish River Canyon to Luderitz Nest Hotel, Luderitz

Travel Time: 385km - approximately 5 to 6 hours
Enjoy a morning canyon view before heading west through harsh but beautiful terrain which changes to wide open desert plains as you make your way to the coast. Your drive will take you via Aus, where you may be lucky to view the wild desert horses in the area
1 full day is set aside to enjoy the historic town of Lüderitz and visit the amazing Kolmanskop Ghost Town. Lunches and dinners can be enjoyed at any of the local restaurants in town

The jetty into the ocean, Luderitz Nest Hotel
View of Luderitz Nest Hotel
Luxurious and comfortable rooms at Luderitz Nest Hotel

Day 07 & 08

Luderitz to Desert Homestead Lodge, Namibia

Travel Time: 505km - approximately 7 to 8 hours
After breakfast, you will depart to the “sea of sand” backtracking to Aus and then heading north via Helmeringhausen. Wake up early for breakfast and then head to the entrance to Sossusvlei, the Sesriem Gate, spend the whole day in the beautiful Sossusvlei area, exploring the highlights: Sossusvlei,  Dead Vlei, Dune 45, Big Daddy, Elim Dune and the Sesriem Canyon. Return to the lodge for lunch or arrange a lunch pack to enjoy in the dunes and return late afternoon for a well-earned rest. Optional extra activities: Guided Sossusvlei excursion, Hot air balloon safari, Nature drives

Aerial view of Desert Homestead Lodge
Lounge with uninterupted views of the area
Luxury suites at Desert Homestead Lodge

The Homestead is located in a wide grassy valley against the Nubib, Tsaris and Naukluft Mountains and has far reaching vistas to the dunes that this area is famous for. The Desert Homestead offers traditional Namibian hospitality that you will know becoming to expect. Fresh farm cuisine, a cool swimming pool and string of amazing sunsets & sunrises are standard.

Day 09 to 11

Desert Homestead Lodge to Swakopmund Luxury Suites, Swakopmund, Namibia

Travel Time: 350km - approximately 5 to 6 hours
Depart after breakfast and head north to Solitaire, then west crossing the Tropic of Capricorn, through the Gaub and Kuiseb Canyons via the Namib Gravel Plains to the coast. Either via Walvis Bay to Swakopmund, or (recommended) detour via Ganab to the Welwitschia Plains and Moon Landscape.
The Namibian coastline is generally known as The Skeleton Coast due to the barren areas, ship wrecks and, in days gone by, whale skeletons left on the beach
2 full days are set aside for this lovely area where Swakopmund and Walvis Bay offer a wide range of activities such as: Dolphin cruise, Sandwich Harbour excursion (a real Skeleton Coast experience), Dune quad biking, Sand boarding, Sea kayaking, and lots more… Lunches and dinners can be enjoyed at a café or restaurant overlooking the sea

Bedrooms at Swakopmund Luxury Suites
Suites at Swakopmund Luxury Suites

Day 12

Swakopmund to Windhoek

Travel Time: 350km - approximately 4 to 5 hours
Head back to Windhoek today, where the vehicle is dropped off and your holiday comes to an end. You will then be transferred to the airport to catch your departure flight. (Keep in mind that you need to be at the airport 2 hours prior and the airport is still a 45 minute to 1 hour drive from town).

Tour Cost

Jul - Dec 2025
R51,969 per person sharing (Based on 2 adults)
R41,607 per person sharing (Based on 4 adults)
R13,495 Single supplement


Jan - Jun 2026
R53,310 per person sharing (Based on 2 adults)
R43,194 per person sharing (Based on 4 adults)
R14,232 Single supplement

Jul - Dec 2026
R56,316 per person sharing (Based on 2 adults)
R45,017 per person sharing (Based on 4 adults)
R14,531 Single supplement

Cost Includes

Accommodation as indicated - can change depending on availability and request at time of booking
Meals as indicated
Meet and greet upon arrival
Car hire as below
Airport transfers on arrival and for departure
Activities as indicated
Tour file with detailed itinerary, map with route descriptions, vouchers etc.
24 hour personal and friendly support
Fast and efficient response to service providers

Vehicle Hire:
4X4 Toyota Fortuner – Automatic Transmission
Which includes GPS, ZERO excess - maximum insurance, tyre & windscreen cover, unlimited mileage, 2nd spare tyre, additional driver, cell phone with local sim

Cost Excludes

Items of a personal nature
Optional extra activities
International flights
Holiday or personal insurance
Staff gratuities
Park entry fees
Fuel for vehicle rental
Visas and visa applications

Your Safari Planning starts here.

Learn from our experience.

Expert advice on safaris & logistics.

Supportive ‘one on one’ service.

Quick Enquire

Read Why Our Clients Love Us

Profile logo
Mark Crawford
01 August 2026
Wow! That is the best word to describe our fantastic safari experience crafted by Petru and the team from African Travel Gateway. Every detail was perfectly executed: from flights, to transport, to game lodges. We stayed at Notten’s and Bateleur Safari camps - both were spectacular lodges with wonderful accommodations, terrific staff, great food and fantastic daily game drives that provided up-close wildlife viewing. Thank you African Travel Gateway for the trip of a lifetime!
Profile logo
Lisa Wilson
31 July 2026
Petru is the absolute best African Safari Travel agent! We have used her three times with a group of 4 twice and recently with a group of 10, July 2026. Petru is full of knowledge, very organized and has made each and everyone one of our safari trips flawless and perfect. I highly recommend Petru and give her +5 stars
Profile logo
Mary Johnson
31 July 2026
We just returned from South Africa with the King Party of 10 people. Petra arranged and coordinated every detail of our time which was wonderful! She really went beyond the call of duty trying to locate my missing iPad . Thank you so much for an out of this world experience !
Profile logo
Char Putvin
31 July 2026
Our agent, Petru, was amazing. She suggested the perfect itinerary based on our interests. Arrangements were flawless from start to finish. She checked in during our trip to make sure all was going as planned. She really cared about our group of 10 and wanted this trip to be everything we dreamed about and more.
Profile logo
Angie King
31 July 2026
I've been fortunate enough to use this agency 4 times; just as with the other trips, this one was spectacular. Petru is simply a rock star. This time, Petru organized a trip for 10 from the United States. This trip was flawless. Petru provides excellent communication, is extremely detailed oriented and she is very patient. She is committed to customer service. I absolutely love the app that has all our documentation and important information right on your phone. She helped me choose two extraordinary bush camps for our group and negotiated prices. She makes the process very easy to plan on our end. I do think it benefits anyone from outside South Africa to use a local travel agency. I do hope to return for a 5th time and when I do I will not hesitate to use this agency and Petru again.
Profile logo
Sirisha Durbhakula
13 July 2026
Lize was a wonderful agent. Incredibly responsive and adaptive to an intergenerational trip to Zimbabwe and South Africa. Worked within our budget and gave us the best experiences!
Profile logo
Tane Taylor
05 June 2026
Some trips are great, and some stay with you forever. My journey through Cape Town, the Okavango Delta, and Victoria Falls was definitely the latter. Each destination offered something completely different. The beauty and energy of Cape Town, the magic of the Okavango Delta, and the sheer awe of Victoria Falls. Despite moving between such diverse places, everything flowed seamlessly from start to finish and for that I have to thank the team at African Travel Gateway who took care of every detail with an incredible level of care and professionalism. Communication was clear throughout, every arrangement worked perfectly, and the planning behind the scenes was evident at every stage. I felt completely stress-free for most of the tour and wouldn't hesitate to recommend African Travel Gateway to anyone looking to travel to Africa. Thank you guys! I could not have done it without you and I will be in touch to plan another one soon. I have far too many wonderful photos from the trip to share, but here are a few I hope you like.
Profile logo
Diogo Miranda
08 April 2026
I booked a trip to Botswana through African Travel Gateway – Customized Safaris, including a 3-day stay at Amber Camp, and I couldn’t be happier with the experience. From start to finish, everything ran smoothly and without any issues. The entire journey met — and in many ways exceeded — my expectations. The level of organization and attention to detail gave me complete peace of mind throughout the trip. What truly stood out was the exceptional support from the team. They were always available, attentive, and genuinely committed to ensuring everything went perfectly. This was easily one of the best trips I’ve ever had, and I would highly recommend African Travel Gateway to anyone looking for a seamless and memorable safari experience.
Profile logo
Ali Bararsani
22 January 2026
I had a bucket list trip. African Travel Gateway is first class all the way. I travel extensively. +/- 100,000 miles for business & pleasure in 2025. I live in Los Angeles & wanted to plan a trip of a lifetime for my girlfriend ( as a surprise birthday present in September 2025 ) I worked directly with Lize Enderstein through the entire booking/travel process. She was delightful. Personable. Communicated in a timely manner in spite of 10-11 hour time difference with Los Angeles. There was a hiccup on our trip at Mostwari Game Reserve ( i.e., hot air balloon ride that had to be canceled due to bad weather ). Balloon ride was scheduled for January 2. Lize communicated me real-time on New Years Day & worked with me to process refund for that portion of the trip. The attention to detail that Lize & African travel gateway provided was impeccable. Top notch. They will be my "go to" travel agency for any & all trips to African continent on a going forward basis. Go Lize!
Profile logo
Driss Moumni
30 December 2025
We had an absolutely incredible experience working with Petru at African Travel Gateway. Our two-week trip (South Africa, Botswana, Namibia & Zimbabwe) was truly once-in-a-lifetime, with memories we’ll cherish forever. Everything went smoothly from start to finish. Botswana was the clear highlight of the trip. The sheer quantity and variety of wildlife we saw was amazing, and the standard of the safari lodges — especially Moremi Game Lodge — exceeded our expectations. We really felt we benefited from Petru’s experience when it came to selecting the right safari lodges, striking a balance between comfort, amenities, and overall value for money. Petru was incredibly attentive and thoughtful in putting this trip together, especially on fairly short notice, and it really showed. We were also very glad not to have to deal with booking flights, transfers, and activities ourselves — having everything seamlessly organized made the entire journey much more relaxing. Highly recommended!
Profile logo
William McCormack
20 November 2025
I cannot say enough about the service received from African Travel Agent Petru. From beginning to end it was excellent. The detail and the professionalism is to be attained by others. Ive had 3 trips over number of years and each time I am delighted with the engagement, suggestions, etc and most importantly the trips we highlights to me. Ive recommended Petru to friends and those who did reach out were also very pleased. I highly recommend this agent and company. Till we engage again, Thank you Petru and continue delivering a top service.
Profile logo
Guy Hudson
20 November 2025
We’ve been booking through African Travel Gateway for over 25 years now and honestly, they’ve never dropped the ball once. They have looked after us for ages and just get what works for our family. This last trip we took the three kids (11, 9 and 6) to South Africa – Cape Town, a few nights camping in the Karoo, and then Kruger. They put the whole thing together perfectly: nothing felt rushed, everything suited the kids, and the logistics were completely painless. Cape Town was great fun (Table Mountain, penguins, the works). The Karoo nights were something else – massive sky full of stars, big campfire, total peace and quiet the kids still go on about. And Kruger… wow. We saw the Big 5 – lion, leopard, elephant, buffalo, rhino – plus heaps of giraffe, zebra and everything else, pretty much every single drive. The guides were brilliant with the children and kept everyone safe. Everything just worked – flights, transfers, the lot. They checked in along the way and tweaked little things when we needed. Proper personal service. If you’re thinking of taking kids to South Africa, we can’t recommend African Travel Gateway enough.
Profile logo
Pierre Boucher
30 September 2025
A heartfelt thank you to Bianca for arranging our unforgettable journey through South Africa, Zimbabwe, and Botswana. Everything went smoothly from start to finish, and your attention to detail made all the difference. Alex and I enjoyed every moment — from the breathtaking landscapes to the incredible wildlife and the welcoming people we met along the way. It was truly the trip of a lifetime, and we are so grateful for all the care and effort you put into making it perfect. With sincere appreciation,
Profile logo
Mark Montague
04 August 2025
We had a wonderful time visiting South Africa, Zimbabwe and Botswana. We had a party of 10, including 4 grandchildren ages 10 and 8 and everything went beautifully. Lize did a great job helping us plan the itinerary, booking flights within Africa and identifying the best lodging and camps for us to visit. We saw the Big 5 on two separate days and also saw African wild dogs. Each of our camps in Sabi Sands, Victoria Falls and Moremi Game Reserve had a distinct style but all were welcoming and comfortable and animals proliferated. We would definitely use African Travel Gateway if we return to Africa. Thanks Lize!
Profile logo
Andrew Beardmore
18 July 2025
Working with Lize, we crafted our second fully customized self-drive adventure through Southern Africa - this time in Northern Namibia. The itinerary was a perfect blend of rugged campsites and luxurious lodges. Lize’s expert knowledge and thoughtful advice were invaluable, everything was planned to perfection. We had the most incredible time, experiencing so much of what this stunning region has to offer, yet it feels like we’ve only just scratched the surface. We can’t wait for our next adventure!

Recommended on