11-Nights Namibia: Epic Wilderness Adventure - Tailormade Journeys — CALL

1 Arrive Windhoek, Namibia

Palm-shaded parks and Lutheran churches: even at first glance, Windhoek has a decidedly German flavor to its architecture, befitting the origins of this once-colonial desert station. It is no coincidence the capital rises from the ochre sands in the center of the country; this is Namibia's political and cultural heart, where galleries showcase the nation's artistic talent and museums recount the long and winding Namibian story.

Deep in the Namib Naukluft Park lies Sossusvlei — a surreal wilderness where nature's extremes collide. Towering orange dunes rise like burning waves against a backdrop of rugged mountains and salt-crusted pans, creating a harsh yet hauntingly beautiful landscape that begs to be explored. An ecological marvel, this extreme habitat that is nonetheless home to wildlife including Hartmann’s zebra and the delicate swallow-tailed bee-eater. After your flight touches down, travel overland to your lodge, settle in, and then set out on a game drive with an expert guide who helps you gain a new understanding of the African safari.

Set out into a fascinating desert ecosystem this morning on an interpretive nature drive. Learn what lies hidden beneath an austere arid landscape where stark, black-limbed trees and desert-adapted animals, including elephants, are but a few of the contrasting elements on display. After lunch, you may opt for a quad biking adventure or a visit to the Kulala Wilderness Reserve. As night falls, a guided stargazing experience unveils the brilliance of the Milky Way.

Get a bird’s-eye view of Sossusvlei and its dramatic sandscape on an unforgettable aerial adventure, soaring above the red and orange dunes in a hot air balloon, the ultimate photographic vantage point. Seen from the air, Sossusvlei is a colorful expanse as endless as the night sky. Lift off at sunrise, when everything glows in shifting shades of red, then touch down for breakfast in the wilderness.

Fly to the isolated, sparsely populated desert region called the Kaokoveld, on the Skeleton Coast, and then continue overland to your remote lodge in the heart of the arid desert wilderness, where you settle in and relax. Alone in Namibia’s wild northwest, Puros Conservancy encompasses a vast stretch of untouched terrain where wildlife big and small, native and migratory, thrives in its natural habitats. Spread across the banks of the transient Hoarusib river, Puros is accessible only by 4x4 or light aircraft, offering a more exclusive adventure for nature enthusiasts.

Venture forth on a scenic drive accompanied by our knowledgeable local guides and get one step closer to the mesmerizing fauna and the region's breathtaking landscapes. Keep watch for gemsbok, springbok and Hartmann’s mountain zebras. Rarely, sightings might include desert elephants, lions and the occasional black rhino. Scan for the sky as well for birdlife such as the Gray’s lark, Monteiro’s hornbill and the endemic Cinderella waxbill. These avian wonders are often found near the Kunene River, where you may also see Nile crocodiles basking on the sunbaked banks.

Continue exploring the Puros Conservancy, the home of the Himba — among the last semi-nomadic peoples in this hauntingly beautiful country. They are one of the most isolated but culturally rich ethnic groups in the world. Visit their community for a once-in-a-lifetime experience. Meet the Himba in an authentic setting and learn about their pastoral lifestyle, as well as their age-old traditions of preparing incense and crafting jewelry from ostrich eggshell beads, grass, cloth, and copper.

Fly by light aircraft to the Skeleton Coast and then continue overland to your impressive lodge. Settle in and relax with the rest of your day free. Get your first ground-level view of this unique landscape where sand dunes run right down to meet the Atlantic Ocean shore. Between the sun-bleached bones of whales and other sea mammals once found here and the still-visible rusting hulks of merchant ships that ran aground in turbulent, foggy conditions, you realize quickly why this dynamic region is called the Skeleton Coast.

Lose yourself in the coast’s otherworldly landscapes. Strap in for a thrilling 4X4 drive leads to the wild Hoanib River floodplain and beyond, where the meeting point of desert and Atlantic causes the region’s famed fog. Accompanied by an expert guide, spot rare desert-adapted animals and seal colonies or comb the sands for whale bones and debris from centuries of shipwrecks. Drop into the fascinating museum that celebrates the area’s unique setting.

On a narrow ribbon of vegetation that borders the edges of the Hoanib River, join an expert guide on a nature drive that deepens your understanding of your surroundings, spotting desert-adapted animals, vegetation and more along the way.