Sam

Thinking about joining a Namibia group tour? We spent nine incredible days travelling across the country with Chameleon Safaris on their Canyons, Dunes & Wildlife tour. From the wildlife of Etosha National Park and the towering dunes of Sossusvlei to the abandoned ghost town of Kolmanskop, this tour packed some of Namibia’s most iconic sights into one unforgettable adventure.

We booked the tour because we wanted to experience Namibia without the stress of driving ourselves, and it turned out to be one of the best tours we have ever done.

📌 We booked directly with Chameleon Safaris and we think you should too. We even have a discount code you can use if you want 10% off any of their tours, just use code PADDINGTON10 at checkout.

Where to stay in Windhoek

Before the tour started, we flew from Cape Town to Windhoek and stayed at Chameleon Backpackers. This turned out to be a fantastic choice. The hostel has a relaxed atmosphere, great staff, a swimming pool, bar, regular social events and daily walking tours. It was the perfect place to meet fellow travellers before setting off into the Namibian wilderness.

This place was so great! It’s a wonderful place to meet other travelers, share stories and relax before or after your tour. The have incredible staff who are always ready to help, the organize BBQ nights, quiz nights, they have a great bar and pool. They have daily walking tours in the city , they can do your laundry and even store your bags whilst you go exploring.

Day 1: Windhoek to Etosha National Park

We chose the 9 day Canyons, Dunes & Wildlife Camping & Accommodated Safari An interesting note is that Chameleon Safaris don’t have a minimum number to run each tour, so you might be on your own or within a group. The adventure began with a pickup from Chameleon Backpackers before heading to the Chameleon Safaris offices for a briefing. Over coffee, tea and cake, we met our driver, guide and fellow travellers. For the first section of our tour, we were joined by a lovely retired couple from New Zealand.

After loading up the truck, we began the long journey north towards Etosha National Park. It is roughly 500 kilometres from Windhoek, so there were several stops along the way to stretch our legs and use the bathroom, grab supplies and stock up on snacks and drinks. The scenery gradually became more remote as we headed deeper into Namibia. Even before reaching the national park we were spotting wildlife alongside the road, including giraffes and warthogs.

By late afternoon we arrived at Etosha National Park through Namutoni Gate and immediately started spotting animals. Within a short time we had already seen elephants, giraffes, zebras and various antelope species.

Our accommodation for the night was Halali Resort, operated by Namibia Wildlife Resorts inside the national park. We were pleasantly surprised by the facilities. The rooms were twin-share with private bathrooms, and after a long day on the road it was nice to settle in before dinner which was served buffet style and included grilled game meat, chicken, pasta, salads and fresh bread. Soft drinks were included, while alcoholic drinks could be purchased separately. After dinner, we headed to on-site watering hole to see if we could glimpse any animals, but it was mostly just birds. After that was bed and we were excited for our first full day of safari.

Day 2: Exploring Etosha National Park

We were up before sunrise for one of the highlights of the trip. After breakfast, we climbed aboard an open-sided safari vehicle and headed into Etosha National Park. There is something special about being in the park at sunrise. The air is cool, the light is beautiful and the animals are at their most active.

Our guide was incredible. We quickly realised that safari guides possess a completely different level of eyesight than the rest of us. Animals that looked invisible to us suddenly appeared after a quick point into the distance. Throughout the day we saw lions, elephants, giraffes, zebras, wildebeest, springbok, jackals and countless birds. Whenever a large number of vehicles gathered along the road, it usually meant there was something exciting to see. More often than not, it was worth stopping.

One thing worth mentioning is that Etosha is not technically home to the Big Five, as Cape buffalo are absent from the park. Leopards are also notoriously difficult to spot. Even so, the wildlife viewing was exceptional and far exceeded our expectations.

In the afternoon we left through Anderson Gate and travelled to our next accommodation, Okutala Etosha Lodge. This beautiful lodge felt considerably more luxurious than our previous stop. Along with a lovely pool, comfy beds and a amazing views, it features resident giraffe and a pair of rhinos that wander to the watering hole at dusk. After settling into our room, we enjoyed an excellent à la carte dinner before turning in for the night.

Day 3: Etosha to Swakopmund

Day three was another long travel day, covering roughly 500 kilometres as we crossed Namibia from north to west. We left Etosha after breakfast and headed towards the coastal town of Swakopmund. Along the way we stopped in Outjo, which proved to be a great place to pick up supplies, pastries and snacks for the journey ahead.

The landscape gradually changed as we entered Damaraland. The roads became rougher, the scenery more dramatic and the sense of isolation much stronger.

One of the more interesting stops along the route was meeting members of the Himba and Herero communities. The Himba visit was the most in-depth, giving us an opportunity to learn about traditional lifestyles, housing and culture. Another stop was some roadside craft stalls run by the Herero communities which also offered a chance to support local artisans and purchase some souvenirs.

Eventually the Atlantic Ocean appeared on the horizon. The moment we reached the coast, the temperature dropped noticeably. Namibia’s desert heat quickly gave way to cool sea air, and for the first time on the trip we reached for our fleece jackets.

Before arriving in Swakopmund we stopped at the famous Zeila Shipwreck, one of the most photographed landmarks on the Skeleton Coast. Sitting rusting against the shoreline, it provides a dramatic introduction to this rugged stretch of coastline.

That evening we checked into Hotel A La Mer, a comfortable and modern hotel within walking distance of the town centre.

It was nice to spend some time with cafés, restaurants and a bit of civilisation and dinner was left entirely up to the group. We ended up at Kücki’s Pub, where we enjoyed hearty German food, cold beer and plenty of conversation. Swakopmund has a fascinating German influence and nowhere is that more obvious than in its restaurants and bakeries. Another other great place we found was the Altstadt Restaurant, very informal, great German beer selection and great bar food. There’s so many great places to eat and enjoy a good coffee here. You can also get cash from an ATM (we found FNB was the most reliable and had at the time no fees for foreign cards)

Day 4: Swakopmund to Sesriem

Unlike previous mornings, there was no rush to leave. The hotel provided a buffet breakfast and we had plenty of time to make any last-minute purchases so we visited the supermarket and stocked up on snacks, it was also a great opportunity to have a wander around town, have a coffee and take some photos before heading off into the desert.

As we entered the camping part of our tour, so our group also changed. We said goodbye to our original guide, driver, truck and New Zealand travel companions and met our new driver and guide and truck for the southern half of the journey., also joining us was a solo traveller.

The drive to Sesriem covered approximately 350 kilometres and included several memorable stops. One of the highlights was crossing the Tropic of Capricorn, where we stopped for the obligatory photo at the roadside sign. Further south we reached Solitaire, a tiny settlement famous for McGregor’s Bakery. Their apple pie absolutely lived up to the hype. Fresh, rich and generously sized, it was exactly the kind of treat needed before continuing deeper into the Namib Desert.

By late afternoon we arrived at Sesriem Campsite, located on the edge of the national park. This would be our first proper camping experience of the trip. Everyone helps pitch the tents which is actually a great way to get to know the group and quickly became part of the experience.

Once camp was set up, we headed to Elim Dune for sunset. If you’ve never climbed a sand dune before, prepare yourself. Walking on soft sand is surprisingly exhausting. Every step forward feels like half a step backwards. The effort was totally worth it. Watching the sun set across the red dunes was our first real introduction to the landscapes that make Namibia famous.

After sunset we returned to camp for dinner prepared by our guide before settling into our tents for the night, ready for an extremely early start the next morning.

Day 5: Dune 45, Dead Vlei and Sossusvlei

If there was one day we had been looking forward to more than any other, it was this one.

The alarm went off long before sunrise and there was no time for breakfast. We grabbed a bottle of water, the camera and a museli bar before climbing into the truck in complete darkness. Our destination was Dune 45.

Named simply because it sits 45 kilometres from Sesriem, Dune 45 is one of the most famous sand dunes in Namibia. By the time we arrived, dozens of people were already beginning the climb towards the summit. The climb can take anything from 20 minutes to an hour, but this is depending on your fitness level and how often you stop to admire the view from exhaustion. Walking on soft sand is hard work, but reaching the top just before sunrise is worth every step.

As the sun rose over the Namib Desert, the dunes glowed shades of orange, red and gold. It was one of those moments where photographs simply don’t do it justice.

After climbing back down, we were greeted by our guide, who had somehow magically prepared breakfast while we were up on the dune. Coffee, breakfast and incredible desert scenery. Not a bad way to start the day. Next, we continued deeper into the park towards Sossusvlei. From there, we transferred into a 4×4 shuttle for the final stretch to Dead Vlei.

Dead Vlei is one of the most surreal landscapes we have ever visited. Ancient camel thorn trees stand frozen in time on a bright white clay pan, surrounded by towering red dunes and deep blue skies. The contrast of colours is almost unbelievable.

There are a few ways to approach Dead Vlei. You can take the easy flat walk, climb part of Big Daddy dune before descending into the pan, or tackle the entire climb to the summit of Big Daddy. We chose the middle option, climbing part of the dune before dropping into Dead Vlei. It gave us spectacular views without completely destroying our legs.

We spent a few hours wandering around, taking photographs and simply appreciating how unique the landscape was. It is easy to see why so many professional photographers make the journey here.

After returning to camp, we cooled off in the pool and relaxed with a cold drink before heading out again to visit Sesriem Canyon.

While interesting, the Sesriem Canyon wasn’t nearly as impressive as the dunes and Dead Vlei. It was a pleasant stop, but the desert landscapes remained the true stars of the day. That evening we enjoyed another excellent campfire dinner before sitting around the fire swapping travel stories under a sky full of stars.

Day 6: Sesriem to Klein-Aus Vista

After packing up camp, we set off south towards Klein-Aus Vista. The drive covered around 350 kilometres through increasingly remote landscapes. Namibia has a remarkable ability to make you feel very small. Hour after hour passes with almost nothing visible except mountains, gravel roads and endless horizons.

We expected another night of camping, instead, we were treated to a great suprise.

Rather than tents, we were staying in a cabin tucked into the mountainside at Klein-Aus Vista Desert Horse Campsite.

The cabin was comfortable, secluded and surrounded by beautiful scenery. Nearby stood the rusting remains of an old Hudson car from the 1930s, still peppered with bullet holes from an infamous diamond smuggling shootout. According to local stories, the smugglers still haunt the nearby Ghost Canyon. Whether you believe the ghost stories or not, it certainly added atmosphere to the location.

With a free afternoon ahead of us, we headed out on a walk to the Desert Horse Geoglyph viewpoint. The route winds through rocky terrain and offers fantastic views across the surrounding landscape. The sunset that evening was one of our favourites from the entire trip.

As darkness fell, the Milky Way emerged once again overhead. Namibia consistently delivered some of the clearest night skies we have ever seen.

Day 7: Kolmanskop and Lüderitz

Another early start brought us to one of the most fascinating places in Namibia. Kolmanskop.

If you’ve ever watched the Fallout television series, you may already recognise it. The abandoned town has appeared in countless films, documentaries and photography books. The story behind it is extraordinary.

In 1908, diamonds were discovered in the area, triggering a rush of German settlers who built a thriving desert town complete with a hospital, ballroom, theatre, school, casino, ice factory and even Africa’s first tram system. For a brief period, Kolmanskop was one of the richest settlements in the world.

Then the diamonds began to run out. By the 1920s, residents started leaving and the desert slowly reclaimed everything they had built.

Today, drifting sand fills abandoned homes while peeling wallpaper hangs from crumbling walls. Every room feels like a scene from a post-apocalyptic movie. For photographers, it’s paradise. There is also a guided tour which we enjoyed before spending a few hours exploring the buildings and taking photographs on our own.

From there we continued to Lüderitz, one of Namibia’s more unusual towns. Its colourful German colonial architecture feels completely out of place against the surrounding desert landscape. After lunch by the coast and a quick supermarket stop, we visited Diaz Point, named after Portuguese explorer Bartolomeu Dias, who landed here in 1487, the site contains a replica of the stone cross erected during his voyage.

Strong Atlantic winds and sea spray quickly convinced us it was time to head back inland. That evening we returned to our cabin at Klein-Aus Vista for another peaceful night in the desert.

Day 8: Fish River Canyon and Quiver Tree Forest

This was our longest travel day of the tour. Our destination was the Quiver Tree Forest, but first we made a significant detour to Fish River Canyon.

Often described as the second-largest canyon in the world after the Grand Canyon, Fish River Canyon is certainly impressive in terms of scale, the viewpoints offer spectacular panoramas stretching far into the distance. However, if we’re being completely honest, this was probably our least favourite stop of the trip, only because of the long detour.

The canyon is viewed from above and, unless you’re visiting during hiking season you cannot enter. you would also most likely need an extra night here to do that. We had a great lunch on the rim overlooking the canyon afterwards we continued back towards the Quiver Tree Forest.

This place felt almost alien. Despite the name, quiver trees are actually giant succulents rather than true trees. Their unusual shapes create one of Namibia’s most distinctive landscapes. Once camp was set up, we spent the evening wandering through the forest taking photographs as the setting sun transformed the landscape into shades of gold and orange, the atmosphere here was wonderfully peaceful.

Apart from a handful of other visitors, we largely had the place to ourselves. As darkness fell, the stars returned once again. Looking up at the Milky Way from our final campsite was the perfect way to spend our last evening in Namibia’s wilderness.

Day 9: Quiver Tree Forest to Windhoek

The final day arrived far too quickly. After breakfast, we packed away our tents for the last time and began the journey back to Windhoek. About halfway through the drive, our guide organised a surprise roadside celebration.

It happened to be my (Sam’s) birthday. Unknown to me, our guide, driver and Livia had secretly organised cake, drinks and a few extra treats. It was such a thoughtful gesture and a perfect example of the kind of people Chameleon Safaris employs.

The remainder of the drive passed quickly and before we knew it we were back in Windhoek.

Nine days earlier we had arrived knowing very little about Namibia, Now we were leaving with thousands of photographs, countless memories and a much deeper appreciation for one of Africa’s most spectacular countries.

What to Pack for This Tour

A few items made our trip significantly more comfortable:

• Camera with a Zoom Lens – If you enjoy photography, bring the longest lens you own. A lens of at least 300mm is ideal for Etosha.
• Head Torch – Camping is much easier when both hands are free.
• Inflatable Travel Pillow – Perfect for long drives and surprisingly useful in the tents.
• Warm Jacket or Puffer – Evenings can become surprisingly cold, especially in the desert.
• Binoculars – Not essential, but very useful during wildlife viewing in Etosha.

Group Tour Tips

This is a group tour, which means you won’t know exactly who you’ll be travelling with until the tour begins. Your truck might be full or nearly empty. You may be travelling with couples, solo travellers, retirees or backpackers.

Our advice is simple. Be social. Be helpful. Help pitch tents. Help wash up. Share snacks. Offer to take someone’s photo. The people around you will become part of the experience, and a positive attitude goes a long long way.

Also, don’t underestimate Namibia’s ability to absolutely destroy clothes. Dust, sand, sweat and desert wind get absolutely everywhere. You’ve been warned.

Final Thoughts: Is the Chameleon Safaris 9-Day Tour Worth It?

Yes, absolutely. If we were designing our perfect itinerary, we would probably skip Fish River Canyon.The tour was packed with a lot of impressions in a short time, but totally worth it! If we were to do it again, we’d probably do the slightly longer 10 day camped tour instead of the one we did – as it had a bit more relaxed pace and more stops.

Livia was quite concerened about camping, but as it turned out she loved it. Maybe it was the slower pace, maybe it was the camaraderie, maybe sleeping under canvas just suited us better. Camping also opened the door to our 8 day self-drive around Namibia where we did a mix of rooftop camping and lodges

The reality is that this tour delivered one incredible experience after another.

Etosha gave us unforgettable wildlife encounters. Sossusvlei and Dead Vlei completely exceeded expectations. Kolmanskop was one of the most fascinating abandoned places we have ever visited, and the Quiver Tree Forest provided some of the best night skies we’ve ever seen.

What really made the trip special, however, were the people. Every guide and driver we travelled with was knowledgeable, friendly and genuinely passionate about showing visitors their country. The truck was comfortable, the food was excellent and the itinerary struck a great balance between adventure, wildlife and scenery.

Yes, there are some long driving days. Yes, there is camping. And yes, you’ll probably return home with sand in places you didn’t know sand could reach, but if you’re looking for an affordable way to experience Namibia’s highlights without self-driving, we would happily recommend this tour.

It still remains one of the best organised and most memorable tours we have ever done.

📌 We booked directly with Chameleon Safaris and we think you should too. We even have a discount code you can use if you want 10% off any of their tours, just use code PADDINGTON10 at checkout.