5-Day Etosha & Swakopmund Safari
Private Guided Safari · Namibia

5-Day Etosha & Swakopmund Safari

Book this 5-day Namibia safari from Windhoek to Etosha and Swakopmund for wildlife viewing, Skeleton Coast, and Sandwich Harbour tours.

4.9/5 · based on traveller reviews
Duration
5 Days / 4 Nights
Route
Windhoek → Windhoek
Style
Private Guided Safari
Activity level
Easy-Moderate

Overview

See the best of Namibia's wild animals and beautiful ocean coast on this popular 5-day tour from Windhoek. Travel with a private guide to Etosha National Park for game drives to spot lions, elephants, rhinos, and giraffes. Stay at a famous resort where you can watch wild animals visit a lighted waterhole at night. Drive past historic shipwrecks on the Skeleton Coast to reach the pretty beach town of Swakopmund. Enjoy a great 4x4 drive at Sandwich Harbour and shop for handmade gifts at a local market. Book your amazing African vacation today.

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Trip highlights

  • Travel from Windhoek to Etosha National Park for afternoon game viewing
  • Enjoy a full day of animal spotting in Etosha from a private safari vehicle
  • Watch wild animals at night by the floodlit waterhole at Okaukuejo Resort
  • Drive down the Skeleton Coast to see shipwrecks and beautiful beaches
  • Explore the coastal town of Swakopmund on foot and enjoy the sea breeze
  • Take a half-day Sandwich Harbour tour and shop at Okahandja Craft Market

Detailed itinerary

Day 1: Windhoek to Etosha National Park

Your safari begins this morning when your guide meets you at your accommodation at 9:30 am and gives you a full briefing about the trip ahead. At 10:00 am, we hit the road toward Etosha National Park, one of the best wildlife parks in all of Africa, with lunch along the way. We arrive in the late afternoon, and the excitement starts right at the gate, where you may spot your first animals as we enter.

After you check in, you meet your guide at the main area and set off in your own private vehicle for a game drive to the nearest waterholes. If you are lucky, you will see predators, and you can also expect zebras, giraffes, elephants, rhinos, and many kinds of antelope. Later you freshen up for dinner. After dinner, you can relax in the main area and watch the animals come and go before a restful night.

Day 2: Etosha National Park

Today is a full day of exciting game viewing in the central section of Etosha, all from your own private safari vehicle. The park gates open at sunrise, so after an early and tasty breakfast, we aim to be out on the road as the sun comes up. Early morning is often the best time to see animals, since many predators are active in these cooler hours. With a bit of luck, you may even catch a hunt as it happens. We enjoy lunch along the way, then keep a sharp lookout for wildlife as we drive back toward Okaukuejo Resort.

We arrive just before sunset, in time for the best hour of the day at the famous Okaukuejo floodlit waterhole. After you freshen up for dinner, you can spend the evening watching animals gather at the lit waterhole, a sight that draws travellers from around the world, before settling in for the night.

Day 3: Etosha National Park to Swakopmund

After breakfast, your private guide takes to the road by 7:30 for a scenic drive to the Skeleton Coast. We first head south on the main road, passing the small town of Outjo, then travel through a region known as Damaraland. From there, we connect to the famous Skeleton Coast of Namibia. It is easy to see how this lonely shoreline earned its name, with its rugged mountains and bare beaches.

You will see some of the old shipwrecks scattered along the shore, with a stop for some photos. We enjoy lunch along the way and arrive in the late afternoon, leaving the rest of the day free to explore the town on foot and enjoy the sea breeze. Later you return to freshen up for dinner at one of Swakopmund’s well-loved restaurants.

Day 4: Swakopmund

This morning brings one of the highlights of your trip, a drive to Walvis Bay for an unforgettable half day Sandwich Harbour tour. You meet your local guide and set off, with lunch along the way, to see the giant dunes that meet the Atlantic Ocean.

We then return to Swakopmund, where the rest of the day is yours to enjoy. Swakopmund offers many fun activities you can add at an extra cost, so there is always more to do. In the evening, you enjoy dinner at one of the town’s famous restaurants.

Day 5: Swakopmund to Windhoek

After a tasty breakfast, we begin the drive back to Windhoek. On the way, we stop at the Okahandja Craft Market for some last souvenir shopping, so you can take home a real piece of Namibia. We then drop you off at your own arranged accommodation in Windhoek, where you say your goodbyes to your guide. We hope this is the start of many more journeys with us.

What’s included

Included

  • Park fees (For non-residents)
  • All activities (Unless labeled as optional)
  • All accommodation (Unless listed as upgrade)
  • A professional driver/guide
  • All transportation (Unless labeled as optional)
  • All Taxes/VAT
  • Meals (As specified in the day-by-day section)

Not included

  • International flights (From/to home)
  • Roundtrip airport transfer
  • Additional accommodation before and at the end of the tour
  • Tips (Tipping guideline US$10.00 pp per day)
  • Personal items (Souvenirs, travel insurance, visa fees, etc.)
  • Government imposed increase of taxes and/or park fees
  • Some meals (As specified in the day-by-day section)
  • Drinks

Namibia travel essentials

Namibia is good to visit all year round. The dry season, from May to October, is the best time to see wildlife. The land is dry, so animals come to the waterholes and are easy to spot. Days are warm and sunny, but mornings and nights can be cold. The green season, from November to April, is hotter and brings some short rains. It is quieter, the land turns green, many baby animals are born, and prices are often lower.

Most visitors now need a visa to enter Namibia. Since 1 April 2025, travellers from most countries must get one. You can get a visa on arrival at the main airport and border posts, or apply online before you travel using the Namibian e-Visa system. The fee is about 90 US dollars (around N$1,600). Children under 6 do not pay. A tourist visa lets you stay for up to 90 days. We suggest you apply online at least one week before your trip to avoid long queues. Your passport should be valid for at least 6 months and have two or more blank pages. Please check the latest rules for your own country before you fly, and we are happy to help.

Most visitors do not need any required vaccines. The only special case is yellow fever. You need a yellow fever certificate only if you are coming from, or passing through, a country where yellow fever is a risk. It is a good idea to be up to date on your normal vaccines, and many doctors also suggest hepatitis A and typhoid. The north of Namibia, including Etosha, has a malaria risk, mostly in the wet months. Malaria tablets are a good idea for this area. Please see your doctor or a travel clinic about 6 weeks before you travel for advice that is right for you.

Most visitors fly into Hosea Kutako International Airport. Its airport code is WDH. It is the main international airport and sits about 45 km east of Windhoek, the capital. The drive into the city takes about 45 minutes. For trips to the coast, you can also use Walvis Bay Airport. We can meet you at the airport and arrange your transfer. Good to know: the local money is the Namibian Dollar (N$), and English is the main language, so it is easy to get around.

Pack light clothes in soft, natural colours like brown, green and beige for game drives. Bring a warm jacket or fleece too, because mornings and evenings can be very cold, even in summer. Other useful items are a sun hat, sunglasses, strong sunscreen, insect repellent, comfortable closed shoes, swimwear, and a refillable water bottle. Do not forget your camera, binoculars, any personal medicine, and a plug adapter. Namibia uses 220 to 240 volts, with type D and type M plugs. A small torch and a light scarf for dust are handy as well.
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Final price depends on season and group size.
5 Days / 4 Nights
Windhoek • Etosha • Swakopmund • Sandwich Harbour • Windhoek
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