10 Days in Namibia - 4 Unique Itinerary Ideas

Itinerary #1: Highlights of Namibia 

This guided 10-day tour is for those looking for a balance of cultural activities and natural attractions—it takes you from the sweeping dunes in Sossusvlei to the coastal Swakopmund and the ancient engravings of Damaraland. Visit rescued cheetahs at the AfriCat Foundation before taking part in a two-day safari through Etosha National Park, the best place in the world to see endangered black rhinos.

Welcome to Namibia! Travel from Windhoek to Okahandja to visit the country's largest wood carving market. Continue through farmland to Okonjima, home to the AfriCat Foundation, a private reserve dedicated to conserving local animals, then head to Etosha National Park, where you'll split your time between the Namutoni and Halali camps. Among the abundance of wildlife in the park, you're likely to spot elephants, zebras, leopards, lions, and black rhinos. Take a game drive from here to Okaukuejo—renowned for its floodlit watering hole and one of the best game viewing spots in South Africa. 

Next, visit Himba Village for an introduction to the traditional Namibian way of life, then on to the Hoada community to spend a cozy night camping under the stars. Beautiful Damaraland awaits on Day 5, with its imposing Brandberg mountain and endless expanses of desert. You'll then venture to the seaside Swakopmund to see German-colonial architecture before reaching Walvis Bay to spot its vast marine birdlife. Make your way to the red dunes of the Namib afterward and rise early on Day 9 for an excursion into the "Sand Sea," including the famous Sossusvlei dune belt, with its monumentally high dunes and vivid hues. Learn more

Itinerary #2: Namibia & Botswana Safari Road Trip 

If you're interested in venturing to two countries, consider this multi-destination trip and take in both Namibia and Botswana's top parks. Drive through verdant landscapes and scope out the wildlife and natural attractions along the way, including the sand dunes of Sossuvlei, Damaraland's rock formations, and the Okavango Delta's expanse.

Begin in Windhoek and make your way to Sossuvlei via grand scenic passes and the infinitely vast Namib Desert. Catch the sunrise over the dunes before driving on to Swakopmund, keeping an eye out for the endemic Hartmann's mountain zebra and stopping at Kuiseb Canyon for a picnic with a view. From here, head along the Skeleton Coast and past Cape Cross to Damaraland, where you can enjoy game drives on private reserves in search of the famed desert elephants, black rhinos, and giraffes. Explore the region's geologic formations, including the Twfylefontein Rock Paintings, Vingerklip, and the Petrified Forest.

On Day 5, you'll head to Etosha National Park, then drive east to the Zambezi Region, stopping to see Otjikoto Lake, Guinas Lake, and the Hoba Meteorite—the largest of its kind in the world. Transfer to your safari lodge in Botswana's Chobe National Park, taking in the lush riverine flood plains where herds of animals gather to drink. Next, drive to Makgadikgadi Pans National Park, an expansive region with numerous salt pans and sandy deserts. Finish the trip with a two-night, fully-inclusive stay in Maun, where you'll take a breathtaking aircraft flight over the Okavango Delta to your lodge. Learn more

Itinerary #3: Namibia Luxury Safari

Discover the best of Namibia's wild coastline, deserts, and national parks on this luxury 10-day safari. You'll drive through the rugged Tiras Mountains to star-studded NamibRand and Sossusvlei's world-famous dunes. A luxury safari in Etosha National Park and a trip to the AfriCat Foundation round out this memorable trip.

After driving from Windhoek, begin your adventure in style at Kwessi Dunes Lodge in NamibRand Nature Reserve in the Namib Desert. The gravel plains, rust-red dunes, and savannas stretch into the horizon. Spot wildlife on nature walks and 4WD game drives, stargaze under the clear, unpolluted skies, and take an optional horseback safari or scenic helicopter flight. Venture into the Namib-Naukluft National Park, tour the Sossusvlei dune belt, and discover the dried-up, white-clay valley of Deadvlei with its 900-year-old trees. Afterward, unwind with a relaxing massage and spa. 

Head to Skeleton Coast, where the Atlantic collides with the Namib dunes, and hop in a 4WD vehicle to tour Walvis Bay Lagoon, a magnet for flamingoes, then onto the wildlife-dense Kuiseb River Delta. Staying in coastal Swakopmund, on Days 4 and 5, a former German port, you can stroll along the beach and feast on bratwurst and Bavarian beer. Day 6 takes you to Damaraland to see prehistoric rock paintings before the adventure culminates with two nights in Etosha National Park. You'll check into your lavish lodge in Ongava Private Game Reserve, home to safaris, guided evening drives, and beautiful African sunsets. Learn more

Itinerary #4: Namibia Off-the-Beaten-Track Safari

Step off the tourist trail and discover Namibia's lesser-visited treasures on this 10-day safari. Witness Spitzkoppe's ancient rock art, track endangered rhinos in Palmwag, bathe in crashing waterfalls, and meet Namibia's Indigenous communities. End the adventure with a wildlife-studded safari in Etosha and a hike up Waterberg Mountain.

Drive west from Windhoek through Namibia's seemingly limitless plains to your first destination, Spitzkoppe, where you'll explore a collection of hulking granite mountains in the world's oldest desert on a 4WD sunset tour. The following day, drive north to Palmwag Lodge in Damaraland, a dramatic region of grasslands, gorges, and mountains. Here you can see a diverse array of wildlife sustained by the Uniab River. Spot the resident animals on a game drive, and head off the tourist trail to seek out Africa's largest free-roaming population of black rhinos.

On Day 4, you'll venture to the lesser-known Kaokoveld, a remote land of vast savannas, valleys, and mountains. Use the capital Opuwo as your base for exploring the tiny villages and unforgiving yet beautiful landscapes the local Indigenous communities call home. Take a dip in one of Epupa Falls' natural rock pools. Then drive east to Ovamboland on Day 6, a slice of untouched Africa where you can meet with local elders before traveling to Etosha National Park. You'll stay in a remote corner of the park near a private hide that overlooks one of its largest waterholes, finishing with a hike up the dramatic Waterberg Mountain. Learn more

More Great 10-Day Namibia Itineraries

Looking for more inspiration for your trip to Namibia? Check out these other 10-day Namibia itineraries, with outdoor adventures, luxury safaris, and best-of tours to hit the highlights.