Pelican Fly & Drive Safari: Summary
Pelican Drive & Fly in a nutshell
After a first night in Windhoek, begin your adventure with a drive through the desert to the beautifully set Hoodia Lodge to explore the majestic Namib Sand Sea’s towering dunes at Sossusvlei and Sesriem Canyon.
Then follow the road to the coast to a remote peninsular jutting out into the Atlantic and the utterly unique Pelican Point Lodge. Beside a lighthouse and all but surrounded by the ocean, it’s a great base for kayaking with the local seal colony, dolphin spotting, birdwatching, kite surfing and more.
Next, hop in a light aircraft for a scenic flight north and inland over Damaraland’s rocky hills to the Palmwag Concession, an enormous protected area that’s a sanctuary for all manner of rare wildlife. Staying at Desert Rhino Camp, this is one of only of the only places in Africa where you can track rare black rhino on foot.
The final hop takes you to the edge of Etosha’s lunar salt pans and Ongava Private Game Reserve. White rhino are a speciality here, as are lions, which you can spot on day and night game drives as well as walking safaris.
It’s also a great jumping off point for a game drive into Etosha where elephant, giraffe, zebra, wildebeest, oryx and impala immerge out of the dusty heat haze to gather in their dozens around waterholes – perhaps Namibia’s most unforgettable sight.
At a glance
| Starts: | Windhoek International Airport | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 night | Galton House - Windhoek, Namibia | Bed & Breakfast |
| 2 nights | Hoodia Desert Lodge - Namib-Naukluft National Park, Namibia | Half Board |
| 3 nights | Pelican Point Lodge - Swakopmund & Walvis Bay, Namibia | Half Board |
| 2 nights | Desert Rhino Camp - Damaraland, Namibia | Full Board & Activities |
| 2 nights | Ongava Tented Camp - Etosha National Park, Namibia | Full Board & Activities |
| Ends: | Windhoek International Airport |
Galton House
Windhoek, Namibia
Hoodia Desert Lodge
Namib-Naukluft National Park, Namibia
Pelican Point Lodge
Swakopmund & Walvis Bay, Namibia
Desert Rhino Camp
Damaraland, Namibia
Ongava Tented Camp
Etosha National Park, Namibia
Highlights
Our thoughts on five of the top experiences of this Pelican Fly & Drive Safari.
- Exploring Sossusvlei and the Namib Desert
- Coastal adventures from the unique Pelican Point Lodge
- Tracking rare black rhino in Damaraland
- Safari on the Ongava Reserve & Etosha National Park
- Mix the adventure of driving with the luxury of flying
Activities
Some activities which can be included in the Pelican Fly & Drive Safari: talk to us about those which interest you.
4WD Safari
Birdwatching
Boat trip
Cultural excursion
Dune-boarding
Fishing
Guided walking safari
Helicopter
Hot air ballooning
Kayaking
Mountain biking
Night drive
Quad-biking
Key species to see on the Pelican Fly & Drive Safari
Based on our travellers' observations, we’ve estimated the likelihood of seeing these species during the Pelican Fly & Drive Safari. Click on the animals and our wildlife surveys page for more info.
100% chance
100% chance
100% chance
100% chance
100% chance
97% chance
95% chance
95% chance
51% chance
45% chance
38% chance
21% chance
19% chance
18% chance
15% chance
8% chance
4% chance
0% chance
Side-trips whilst on this trip
We may be able to build in some of these optional excursions from the Pelican Fly & Drive Safari. Talk to us: they’re usually best arranged when you book.
Ballooning in the Namib Desert
Half day, including breakfast
Ballooning over the world’s oldest desert is an experience you shouldn’t miss. Enjoy spectacular views as the sun rises over the dune-covered plains and rocky mountains of the Namib Desert. You may even spot the occasional oryx or black-backed jackal punctuating the landscape below.
More about Ballooning
Kayaking with seals
Morning incl. tea, coffee & sandwiches
Get up close and personal with a colony of Cape fur seals on a kayaking excursion from Walvis Bay. Enjoy a gentle morning’s paddle in Walvis Bay Lagoon as seals surround and interact with you and your kayak. If you’re lucky you may even catch a glimpse of some Heaviside’s or bottlenose dolphins.
More about Kayaking with seals
Coast and Sandwich Harbour
Full day
Experience this usually inaccessible part of the Skeleton Coast, where the dunes of the Namib plunge into the Atlantic Ocean. One of our top recommendations, this is an adventurous 4WD trip, guided by experts. You'll explore the Kuiseb Delta and (tides permitting) traverse dunes and the beach to reach Sandwich Harbour, a remote freshwater lagoon with abundant birdlife.
More about Coastal tour
Dolphin and seal cruise
Half-day inc brunch
A boat cruise around Walvis Bay lagoon is a must for lovers of wildlife and the great outdoors. Seek out the ‘marine big five’ – from Cape fur seals to bottlenose dolphins – and marvel at the range of bird species for whom this haven on the Skeleton Coast is home. Then round off the morning with an oyster brunch.
More about Dolphin & seal cruise
Desert tour
Variable, depending on the tour
Discover the unexpected on a trip into the desert surrounding the coastal towns of Swakopmund and Walvis Bay. A must for wilderness lovers, this extraordinary landscape encompasses the Welwitschia Plains, sculpted dunes, the magic of the Kuiseb Delta – and much more. There are plenty of options, each with its own unique focus.
More about Desert tour
Scenic flights in Namibia
Variable, depending on the flight
Namibia is famed for its stark beauty and boundless desert vistas and there is no better way to soak these in than from the air. A scenic flight gives you a unique perspective on this stunning and varied country, and may even provide a bird’s-eye view of areas that are out of reach to those restricted to terra firma.
More about Scenic flights
Windhoek City Tour
three hour Windhoek City Tour
The 3 hours includes Independence Museum and Katutura
More aboutLet us help you customise your trip
All of our holidays on this site are just ideas; none are fixed. All of our trips are tailor-made, so we'll always adapt them to suit you. Talk to an Expert and let us help you to work out your perfect trip.
Talk to an Expert
Call us now! We’ll match you with the Specialist in our team who is best suited to help you. Then together we can start planning your trip.
Set up your itinerary
Based on our experience and your ideas, your specialist will create a detailed, costed itinerary. We’ll refine it together, until we have a trip that you’re perfectly happy with.
Prepare for your trip
The same Specialist will make the seamless arrangements for your trip, send you detailed travel documents, and be available to answer any questions before you depart.
Travel with peace of mind
After you set off, you’ll be cared for by our partners in Africa, most of whom have worked with Expert Africa for decades. And if you ever need us urgently, we’re available 24/7.
When you return
We love to learn about your trip, and so will always be grateful if you’ve the time to give feedback to your Specialist when you return.
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