Quiver Tree Self-drive Safari: Summary
Quiver Tree Self-drive in a nutshell
This is a trip for those after a real Namibian adventure. Driving yourselves on a loop around the country’s most spectacular sights and otherworldly desert landscapes, you’ll explore iconic highlights as well as some lesser known spots.
From the capital, head south for a first stop at a lodge surrounded by Kalahari dunes and dry savannah where you can spot wildlife like oryxes, giraffe, zebra and unusual desert specialists such as meerkats and bat eared foxes on drives and walks. Continue south to the vast Fish River Canyon which has carved a snaking path some 500 metres deep into the plateau. The area has some great hiking trails which you often have to yourself and the canyon, Africa’s largest, is particularly photogenic at sunset.
Turning north and west, follow a road flanked by rust-red sands towards the Atlantic coast and the scenic Desert Horse Inn, a great base for day trips to Kolmanskop, once booming diamond mining outpost that’s now an atmospheric ghost town, and colonial port town of Lüderitz from where you can take a boat trip to Halifax Island to see African penguins, flamingos, dolphins and whales.
Keeping the great Namib sand sea to you left, drive to Sesriem, the gateway to the iconic dunes that surround Sossusvlei and Deadvlei’s Daliesque trees, before continuing on to another quirky Germanic relic at Swakopmund, a town hosting an eclectic mix of adventure activities from skydiving to sea kayaking.
Your final stop before completing the loop back in Windhoek is beneath the bald granite peaks of Spitzkoppe Mountain in Damaraland. Relax in the pool, see rock art left here by the San bushmen who have sought refuge here for millennia, follow scenic trails or try your hand at rock climbing.
At a glance
| Starts: | Windhoek International Airport | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 night | Galton House - Windhoek, Namibia | Bed & Breakfast |
| 2 nights | Kalahari Red Dunes - Southern Namibia, Namibia | Half Board |
| 2 nights | Canyon Village - Fish River Canyon, Namibia | Half Board |
| 2 nights | Desert Horse Inn - Luderitz, Namibia | Half Board |
| 2 nights | Desert Quiver Camp - Namib-Naukluft National Park, Namibia | Room Only |
| 2 nights | The Delight - Swakopmund & Walvis Bay, Namibia | Bed & Breakfast |
| 2 nights | Spitzkoppen Lodge - Damaraland, Namibia | Half Board |
| 1 night | Galton House - Windhoek, Namibia | Bed & Breakfast |
| Ends: | Windhoek International Airport |
Galton House
Windhoek, Namibia
Kalahari Red Dunes
Southern Namibia, Namibia
Canyon Village
Fish River Canyon, Namibia
Desert Horse Inn
Luderitz, Namibia
Highlights
Our thoughts on five of the top experiences of this Quiver Tree Self-drive Safari.
- Watching the sunset over Fish River Canyon
- See a desert ghost town & penguins in the same day
- Spot desert wildlife on walks and drives
- Scrambling around Spitzkoppe's walking trails
- A proper desert adventure with incredible scenery
Activities
Some activities which can be included in the Quiver Tree Self-drive Safari: talk to us about those which interest you.
4WD Safari
Birdwatching
Boat trip
Cultural excursion
Dune-boarding
Fishing
Guided walking safari
Helicopter
Horse-riding
Hot air ballooning
Kayaking
Mountain biking
Private activities
Quad-biking
Self-guided walking
Key species to see on the Quiver Tree Self-drive Safari
Based on our travellers' observations, we’ve estimated the likelihood of seeing these species during the Quiver Tree Self-drive Safari. Click on the animals and our wildlife surveys page for more info.
100% chance
100% chance
95% chance
83% chance
82% chance
58% chance
7% chance
7% chance
0% chance
0% chance
0% chance
0% chance
0% chance
0% chance
0% chance
Side-trips whilst on this trip
We may be able to build in some of these optional excursions from the Quiver Tree Self-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
Plan and book your trip with Expert Africa
All of our trips are tailor-made, so we'll always adapt them to suit you.
Talk to an Expert and let us plan and arrange your perfect trip.
Talk to an Expert
Call or email 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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