Namibia: Wildlife, Art & Ancestral Lands

Location: Africa
Duration: 11 Days
Price: From $8,995
Activity Level:

Namibia: Wildlife, Art & Ancestral Lands

Location: Africa
Duration: 11 Days
Price: From $8,995
Activity Level:

Level 2 – Moderate

For women who enjoy staying active, balanced with some downtime, our Moderate trips offer a blend of movement and relaxation, perfect for those eager to explore while trying something new.

On a Moderate trip, you might:

  • Enjoy walks or hikes along flat or gently rolling trails that are well-maintained for up to 3-5 hours some days
  • Experience a variety of uneven surfaces, with terrain that may include forest paths, flat meadows, or short muddy sections
  • Participate in moderate daily activity while still having time to relax each day

Overview

Discover the breathtaking diversity of Namibia, from salt pans visible from space to coastal towns and golden dunes. Embark on game drives, cruise where the desert meets the Atlantic, and soar above the sands in a hot air balloon. Connect with the Himba people, explore ancient rock carvings, and taste your way through Namibia’s culinary culture. This journey blends epic landscapes, desert-adapted wildlife, and meaningful cultural encounters into one unforgettable adventure, designed for women who crave both awe and connection. Travel by 4×4, boat, and sky and experience Namibia like never before, with AdventureWomen.

Main Attractions

Epic and Varied Landscapes

Marvel at surreal desert vistas and salt pans visible from space, and soak in the coastal beauty with oceanfront stays and scenic cruises along Namibia’s rugged shores.

Wildlife by Land, Sea, and Sky

Spot desert-adapted animals in Damaraland, opt for a sunrise hot air balloon ride over the dunes, and cruise the Atlantic where the ocean meets the vast Namib sands.

Living History and Culture

Meet the semi-nomadic Himba people, explore ancient rock carvings, and gain insight into Namibia’s rich cultural heritage that bridges centuries of tradition and modern resilience.

A map of Namibia highlights a travel route from Windhoek to Sossusvlei, Walvis Bay, Swakopmund, Outjo, and Etosha National Park, marked by plane, car, and boat icons.
A group of zebras drink from a waterhole while giraffes and wildebeest stand nearby under a colorful sunset sky in a savanna landscape.
Rocky terrain with scattered shrubs and grasses, featuring reddish boulders in the foreground and a mountain backdrop.
A person walks along the crest of tall orange sand dunes under a clear blue sky in a desert landscape.
A group of zebras drink from a waterhole while giraffes and wildebeest stand nearby under a colorful sunset sky in a savanna landscape.
Rocky terrain with scattered shrubs and grasses, featuring reddish boulders in the foreground and a mountain backdrop.
A person walks along the crest of tall orange sand dunes under a clear blue sky in a desert landscape.

Itinerary

A person pours red wine into a glass on a table with paintbrushes, paint, and easels, suggesting a painting and wine activity.

Welcome to Namibia and Paint and Sip!

Arrive at Windhoek’s Hosea Kutako International Airport (WDH) at any time today where you’ll be greeted by your guide. Then, this evening partake in “Paint & Sip”, where you’ll be guided step-by-step as you create your own masterpiece and savor wine. Connect with your fellow travelers and discover the unique reasons each guest in your group is excited to explore Namibia.

Meals dinner
A person holds a small bowl filled with reddish-brown powder, wearing earth-toned clothing and accessories.

Safari in Etosha National Park and Visit to Himba People

This morning, depart from Windhoek and set off on your Namibia safari, which today takes you through Okahandja, via the town of Outjo to reach the outskirts of the southern boundary of the Etosha National Park. On the way, visit a Himba Tribe to learn firsthand about their resilient way of life in Namibia’s challenging climate and signature red ochre body paint. Time allowing, you can enter the Etosha National Park for some exciting game viewing, exiting the park again before for dinner.

Meals breakfast, lunch, dinner
Three zebras stand on dry grass in a vast, open plain under a blue sky with distant clouds and a stretch of water in the background.

Etosha National Park Salt Pans

This morning is dedicated to memorable game drives within the southern section of Etosha National Park, covering 13,837 square miles, with over 3,000 square miles salt pans you can see from space. Head back to camp for lunch and an early afternoon rest before spending the afternoon on a game drive on the private Ongava Game Reserve. Return after sunset with enough time to freshen up and enjoy your ‘safari dinner’ overlooking the camp’s floodlit waterhole.

Meals breakfast, lunch, dinner
A dirt road stretches through dry grassland toward rocky mountains under a partly cloudy sky at sunset.

Exploring Wild Damaraland

Today, after breakfast, you’ll embark on your journey into Damaraland, a barren landscape filled with vivid colors, majestic flat-topped mountains, rock formations, and otherworldly vegetation. It’s the diversity, vastness, and raw beauty of Damaraland that captivates visitors, offering a profound sense of the word “wilderness” as you see desert-adapted wildlife. Along the way, you’ll visit the Damara Living Museum and learn about one of Namibia’s oldest nations, the Damara people. Then, head to Camp Kipwe (a 4-hour drive), and arrive just in time to enjoy a sundowner, soaking in the serene and breathtaking surroundings of the Damaraland wilderness.

Meals breakfast, lunch, dinner
Rock with ancient petroglyphs depicting several animals, likely antelopes or similar, etched into its surface in a rocky, arid landscape.

4×4 River Excursions and Rock Engravings

After an early breakfast, you’ll set out on an exciting 4×4 excursion along the Aba Huab and Huab river valleys, exploring this extraordinary landscape and searching for wildlife, including a variety of desert-adapted animals and hidden natural treasures. Return to camp for lunch, with an opportunity for a picnic lunch with potential animal sightings. Later, visit UNESCO heritage site Twyfelfontein where you can marvel at ancient rock engravings. Later, back at camp, you can take a guided walk in the surrounding area or simply relax and enjoy some well-deserved leisure time.

Meals breakfast, lunch, dinner
Aerial view of a long pier extending into the ocean with a coastal city and beach in the background under a partly cloudy sky.

Coastal Namibia and Gin Tasting

Today’s drive takes you south past Namibia’s highest mountain, the iconic Brandberg, then west to the coast at Henties Bay before continuing to the charming town of Swakopmund, your home for the next two nights. Enjoy the refreshing sea breeze as you explore this afternoon. Later, savor an exclusive tasting of small-batch handcrafted Stillhouse Gin, a true Namibian craft Gin from a boutique distillery founded in 2017. Standard gin tasting is included; other drinks are excluded. Non-alcoholic options are available—please inform your Guest Service Manager when booking. Dinner follows at the popular Tug Restaurant, known for its fresh seafood by the jetty.

Meals breakfast, lunch, dinner
Sand dunes meet the ocean under a clear blue sky, with waves breaking along the shoreline and desert stretching into the distance.

Marine Boat Cruise in Walvis Bay

After an early breakfast, your guide will take you to the Walvis Bay Waterfront for an unforgettable five-hour marine boat cruise, an experience that combines adventure, wildlife, and a touch of luxury filled with sights of abundant birds and marine life. You’ll then have lunch in a beautiful tent set up with a mouth-watering menu. Indulge in fresh oysters, a beach braai (barbecue), and sparkling wine, all enjoyed in the extraordinary setting of the Pelican Point Peninsula, where the Atlantic Ocean meets the vast dunes of the Namib. The afternoon is free for you to explore before another delicious dinner at one of the town’s fine dining establishments.

Meals breakfast, lunch, dinner
Two gemsbok walk across a flat desert plain with large orange sand dunes and a clear blue sky in the background.

Desert Journey to Sossusvlei

Today, you leave the coast behind and journey into the heart of the Sossusvlei region. Your fascinating drive takes you southeast through ever-changing desert landscapes, past the striking Kuiseb and Gaub Canyons, and through vast dune fields to the settlement of Solitaire. This drive is a full-day adventure with a group lunch on the way. You’ll arrive at your lodge in the late afternoon, just in time to enjoy sundowners while soaking in the breathtaking scenery as a welcome to this unique and awe-inspiring part of Namibia. Enjoy dinner with your group at the lodge.

Meals breakfast, lunch, dinner
A hot air balloon floats above a dry, brown desert landscape with rocky hills and distant mountains under a clear sky.

Sunrise in Namib Desert

Rise early for a sunrise excursion into Namib Naukluft National Park to capture the dunes’ dramatic curves or opt for a hot air balloon flight over the Namib Desert at an additional cost complete with a champagne breakfast at landing. If interested, please contact your Guest Services Manager as advanced booking is required. Return to your lodge for a late lunch, with the afternoon free to relax or join another guided activity. During your stay, you’ll also visit the Little Bugs Early Childhood Development Centre in Sossusvlei, a remarkable community initiative supporting education, skills development, and sustainability.

Meals breakfast, lunch, dinner
A person drizzles sauce onto plates of quiche, salad, and vegetables in a kitchen setting.

Culinary Exploration with Female Chef

After breakfast, drive northeast up the Great Escarpment and through the scenic Khomas Hochland highlands. Enjoy a tasty picnic lunch along the way before arriving in Windhoek by mid- afternoon. This evening, enjoy an exciting culinary adventure led by an experienced chef, Rhona Straussa, a leading figure in Namibia’s culinary world, founder of The Taste Academy, and renowned for her focus on quality ingredients, creativity, and warm hospitality Enjoy this farewell dinner with your new AdventureWomen friends. Reflect on the cherished memories you’ve created and celebrate the conclusion of an amazing journey through this truly remarkable country.

Meals breakfast, lunch, dinner
A cityscape with modern buildings surrounded by trees and hills, set against a backdrop of distant mountains under a clear sky at sunrise or sunset.

Farewell to Namibia

Depending on your departure time, you may opt for a guided Windhoek City Tour (additional cost). Explore the city’s history and daily life, from suburban neighborhoods to the vibrant Katutura township and its traditional market. Visit a local community project either the Penduka Project, which empowers destitute women through craft-making, or Mammadu, a school providing quality education to children from vulnerable families), then continue to central Windhoek to see landmarks and museums. You’ll also have time to browse the Craft Market before transferring to Windhoek International Airport (WDH) for your flight.

Meals breakfast
Orange sand dunes and sparse vegetation under a clear sky during daylight in a desert landscape, with distant mountains in the background.

Accommodations

Please note that all amenities were current when written and are subject to change at any time.

A lodge with thatched-roof huts and a small pool is built among red rocks in a desert landscape with scattered shrubs and distant hills.

Galton House

Galton House, named after explorer Sir Francis Galton, is a relaxed yet efficient guest house in Windhoek, just a 10-minute drive from the city center. Located on the edge of the Eros suburb, it offers a peaceful stay with nine well-equipped rooms. Guests can enjoy the large lounge, dining areas, garden, swimming pool, and shops nearby, ensuring a convenient and welcoming experience with friendly service.

Amenities: complimentary toiletries, coffee/tea station, safe, flatscreen TV, air conditioning, Wi-Fi

Three round, thatched-roof huts stand near a small outdoor swimming pool in a dry, desert landscape with rocky hills under a partly cloudy sky.

Ongava Lodge

Ongava Lodge is a well-established lodge in the private Ongava Game Reserve, bordering Etosha National Park. Perched on a hill in the Ondundozonanandana foothills, it offers stunning views over a waterhole and the plains beyond. Guests stay in 14 luxurious rock-and-thatch chalets with en-suite bathrooms. The main lounge, dining areas, and pool also overlook the water hole, providing an excellent spot to relax and watch wildlife. Meals are served in the dining area under thatch or on the deck under the stars.

Amenities: complimentary toiletries, hair dryer, air conditioning, Wi-Fi available in the main lounge

Outdoor patio area with two lounge chairs, a small pool, potted plants, and a wooden deck, surrounded by a white privacy wall.

Camp Kipwe

Camp Kipwe is a unique, eco-friendly camp tucked among the rocks with sweeping views over the Aba Huab valley. It features an intimate setting with a lounge where birds visit, a rock-sheltered pool, and scattered bungalows blending into the landscape.

Amenities: complimentary toiletries, safe, air conditioning, limited cellphone reception, limited Wi-Fi (due to remote location)

Outdoor wooden deck with tables and chairs overlooks a vast green landscape under a blue sky with scattered clouds.

Delight Swakopmund

Amongst the town of Swakopmund’s captivating contrasts and old traditions, Gondwana’s Delight is a fresh breeze in the desert. Conveniently located within short walking distance of the ‘Mole,’ this modern, uplifting, and inviting hotel is the ideal base for a stay where every effort is made to surprise and delight guests with thoughtful touches.

Amenities: complimentary toiletries, safe, flatscreen TV, air conditioning, Wi-Fi

A waterfront scene with modern buildings, palm trees, a rocky shoreline, and a red-and-white striped lighthouse in the background under a clear blue sky.

Desert Homestead Lodge

Desert Homestead Lodge is situated approximately 19 miles south-east of Sesriem and the entrance to Namib-Naukluft-Nationalpark. A great location from which to tour Sossusvlei and the famed sand dunes of Namibia, this lodge is located in a private nature reserve adjoining the UNESCO World Heritage site “Namib Sand Sea”.

Amenities: complimentary toiletries, safe, Wi-Fi

What People Are Saying

AdventureWomen creates great itineraries with a variety of activities and ensures an amazing experience. Their guides are terrific, the travel is seamless, the activities are engaging, the accommodations are excellent. The unexpected bonus is the friendships that I have made with women on every single trip. I can’t wait to join on future journeys!

What People Are Saying

I have taken a few trips with AdventureWomen and they were both fabulous. The company makes traveling seamless, and enables a solo traveler the opportunity to spend time with like-minded women.

What People Are Saying

I am a single traveler, and, with every trip, I have met the most amazing women! It is such an empowering feeling to travel solo and experience so many exciting places and amazing adventures! AdventureWomen plans every detail…all you have to do is show up! I highly recommend them and will continue to travel with them for years to come!!

Dates & Pricing

Start Date End Date Availability Starting At Booking Link
Mar 3, 2027 Mar 13, 2027
Only 4 Spots Left!
$8,995
Standard Double | Only 3 left
$8,995 total, $800 deposit
Standard Single | Only 1 left
$10,495 total, $800 deposit
May 13, 2027 May 23, 2027
Waitlist
$9,295
Nov 7, 2027 Nov 17, 2027
Space Available
$9,295
Standard Double
$9,295 total, $800 deposit
Standard Single
$10,995 total, $800 deposit

Arrival: Arrive at Windhoek’s Hosea Kutako International Airport (WDH) at any time on Day 1

Departure: Depart from Windhoek International Airport (WDH) at any time on Day 11

What's Included

  • Accommodations as per itinerary based on double occupancy
  • All meals as listed in the itinerary
  • Mineral water on board the safari vehicle
  • Activities as indicated in the itinerary
  • All ground transportation
  • Airport transfers on arrival and departure
  • Guided sightseeing and activities as indicated in the itinerary
  • English-speaking naturalist safari guide (from day 2 to 10)
  • Entrance fees

What's Not Included

  • International airfare
  • Optional activities
  • Meals not specified in the itinerary
  • All beverages apart from mineral water on board the safari vehicle
  • Alcoholic beverages (unless otherwise specified)
  • Fees for passport, visas, immunizations, or travel insurance
  • Cost of hospitalization or evacuation
  • Items of a personal nature
  • Gratuities and porterage

FAQs

Absolutely! You belong here. AdventureWomen welcomes all women and individuals who identify as part of the women’s community. We celebrate all races, backgrounds, orientations, abilities, and ages. Our adventures reflect the vibrant diversity of our travelers.

You can process your registration on our online booking system or over the phone. Most deposits are $800. In many cases, and unless otherwise indicated, your deposit is transferable if you notify us in writing 120 before your trip departs.

Be sure to check the ‘What’s Included’ section of the trip you are interested in. Once you get to the departure city and meet the group, we often include most meals, all accommodations, all activities (although there might be an optional activity at an additional cost), transportation while on the adventure, qualified local guide(s) and some trips also include an AdventureWomen Ambassador. Our trips do not include airfare to/from the arrival and departure cities. Internal flights are included.

Absolutely! In fact, we encourage it! Many of the women who travel with AdventureWomen come solo. For those that do not choose a single supplement, we pair you with a roommate. Usually, when we change accommodations on a trip, we will change roommates if we can, so you get a chance to know others in our group. A limited number of single supplements may be available for an additional charge.

That depends entirely on the trip! AdventureWomen adventure travel trips are rated according to the physical fitness level demanded by the included activities.

  • Level One: Easy Pace Our Easy Pace trips are thoughtfully designed for women who enjoy gentle activity, cultural immersion, and plenty of time to savor the scenery. They feature light walking, easy terrain like cobblestone streets or flat nature trails, and optional activities such as city tours, wildlife safaris, and scenic boat rides. This level offers a relaxed pace with flexible itineraries and minimal physical exertion.
  • Level Two: Moderate For women who enjoy staying active, balanced with some downtime, our Moderate trips offer a blend of movement and relaxation. Activities may include walking on gently rolling trails, with occasional uneven terrain like forest paths or shallow creek crossings. With activities like beginner kayaking or short e-bike excursions, this level is perfect for those eager to explore while trying something new.
  • Level Three: Dynamic Designed for adventurous women ready for a challenge, our Dynamic trips feature regular activity on varied terrain with moderate elevation gains. Expect natural obstacles such as rocky paths and shallow creek crossings. From glacier walks and whitewater rafting to ziplining and kayaking in calm to lightly-choppy waters, this level is perfect for those with hiking and outdoor experience and a sense of adventure.
  • Level Four: High Energy Our High Energy adventures are designed for women who crave being on the go! You should be prepared for full days of hiking across rugged, moderate-altitude terrain. With some steeper inclines and rocky paths, these trips often feature back-to-back adrenaline-fueled activities like canyoneering, multi-day treks, and Class IV whitewater rafting—perfect for experienced adventurers and hikers with good stamina and a passion for pushing their limits.
  • Level Five: Challenging Our Challenging trips are crafted for seasoned adventurers ready to take on remote, high-altitude terrain, and full-day treks. These trips are demanding yet deeply rewarding and designed for seasoned outdoor enthusiasts. You should be in excellent physical condition and be able to hike up to 14 miles per day with steep ascents, rugged trails, and elevations reaching 19,500 feet. These are strenuous trips that require endurance and a commitment to training before departure.

A trip extension is an optional add-on to your main AdventureWomen itinerary. Extensions allow you to explore a destination more deeply, visit nearby regions, or enjoy additional activities before or after your scheduled trip. You can request an extension by contacting your Trip Manager. We’ll confirm availability with our local partners and send you the details, pricing, and next steps. For more information about AdventureWomen extensions, please visit our FAQs.