Southern Swing Camping Tour

Ask our expert Robyn about this destination

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Day 1

We start our long journey south on the main B1 highway, travelling through the thin strip of Kalahari Desert that protrudes onto the eastern side of Namibia. Stopping at small towns along the way including Rehoboth, traditional home of the Baster people, we aim to arrive at the Quiver Tree Forest in the middle afternoon. Located just north of the southern centre of Keetmanshoop, (officially the sunniest town in the world), we make camp and have time to explore the area on foot.

Quiver trees are not in fact trees, they are a type of aloe, (Aloe Dichotoma), so called because the branches fork "dictomously". These weird looking plants dot the landscape in this part of the world and are locally common, however they are one of the world’s rarest flora species.

Driving time: approx. 6.5hrs (500 km)
Overnight: Quiver Tree forest.Communal ablutions / camping.Lunch and Dinner.

Day 2

Before leaving the Keetmanshoop area we visit another local site of interest this morning, the Giants Playground, an area filled with massively eroded dolorite rocks that are precariously balanced in tottering towers. After a short stop in Keetmanshoop itself we continue south, leaving the main road far behind us and join the extensive network of gravel roads that unite rural Namibia.

Arriving at Fish River Canyon, the second largest canyon in the world, in the early afternoon, we drive to the main look out where the views of need to be seen to be believed. We can see the river sparkling in the sunlight far below us, and can barely imagine how many millennia it took for the forces of erosion to carve such a magnificent vista.


Driving still further south, we travel all the way to the southern border with South Africa, the mighty Orange River. Coming from the arid desert regions that have formed the landscape for most of our journey, it is an amazing sight to see green vegetation and bright ribbon of flowing water appear out of seemingly no-where.

Driving time: approx. 4,5hrs (400 km)
Overnight: Orange River. Rustic ablutions / camping.Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner.

Day 3

An easy drive this morning so we have a leisurely start. There is time for a dip in the cool waters of the Orange, (very cold waters in the winter time). Our road follows the scenic course of the river for the first part of the day’s journey before heading back into the desert and the beautiful landscapes that Namibian has to offer.

Our route takes us past the zinc mines of Rosh Pinah where we will take a short break before arriving at our destination, the tiny town of Aus in the middle to late afternoon. We sleep tonight at Kline Aus Vista, a private reserve, beautifully located in the Aus Mountain Range, (Huib-Hoch-Plateau region).

There is time to explore this stunning area on foot and to find a lofty perch in the mountains to watch the sun slip over the western horizon.

Driving time: approx. 3.5hrs (200 km).
Overnight: Klein Aus.Communal ablutions / camping Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner.

Day 4

We are up with the dawn this morning for the short drive to Luderitz, we travel on the main road and keep a sharp look out for the unique Namib wild horses. These horses are the only feral horses in Namibia and have, very unusually, become adapted to an existence with very limited water. Where they originated from is un-clear, some people think they are the descendants of the horses used by the German cavalry during the First World War. Another theory is that they originally came from a horse farm that used to be run by a German Barron, (von Wolff), in the very early colonial days.

We arrive in Luderitz in time to join an optional extra excursion, a trip on an old wooden sailing ship, "The Sedina". We take a cruise around Luderitz bay and, weather permitting, to Halifax Island to see the Jackass Penguins. If the weather conditions are suitable we turn off the engines come back to Luderitz under sail.

Straight after the Sedina trip we drive out to Kolmanskop, a desert ghost town about 20 km out of Luderitz. It was built in the 1920’s during the diamond rush and was abandoned when bigger and better diamonds were found further along the coast. The area is still abandoned and the desert has encroached over the entire town, giving an eerie feeling and real meaning to the word "ghost".

Lunch today is not included in the programme, this is to allow everybody as much flexibility with their time as possible and to give us the opportunity to sample some of the excellent local cafes.

During the middle of the day there is time to explore Luderitz Town with its traditional German architecture and later we will take a drive out to Diaz Point to see the bird life, hopefully a few seals and the stone cross replica, originally erected by the Portuguese mariner Bartholomew Diaz.

Returning to Klein Aus Vista in the late afternoon, the road takes us through the "forbidden Zone" so named because in years gone by, the alluvial diamonds found in Namibia were simply scattered across the desert and we again have time to enjoy sunset over the mountains.

N.B: The "Sedina" excursion is subject to availability and, if undertaken, will be for the clients own risk and expense.

Driving time: approx. 3hrs (240 km).
Overnight: Klein Aus.Communal ablutions / camping.Breakfast and Dinner. (Lunch in Luderitz or Kolmanskop at own expense.)

Day 5

Turning north, we once again head deep into the ancient southern Namib, travelling on small gravel roads and passing some tiny rural communities along the way. The scenery is harsh, and sometimes forbidding. The process of erosion in these areas is well advanced and we pass time rounded "koppies" arid terrain and outcrops of tortured rock.

Our destination is Sesriem, the gateway to the sand dune see and one of the most remarkable landscapes on Planet Earth. Tonight we are guarded by the massive sand dunes of the Namib to our west and the towering Naukluft Mountains to the east.

We arrive in time to drive the short distance to one of the close by dunes to watch the colours on the distant mountains to the east, glow and change in the sunset.

Driving time: approx. 5hrs. (350 km).
Overnight: Sesriem.Communal ablutions / camping.Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner.

Day 6

A pre-dawn start to see the sunrise in the dunes. We drive a further 60 km into the desert and have our breakfast as the colours grow across the landscape.

To reach Sossusvlei itself we walk for the last 5 km through the dunes. The walk is like nothing else, in the cool of the morning, with soft sunlight just beginning to play over the dunes creating a sharp light and shadow contrast across the whole desert. Ancient mineral pans, stunted camel horn trees and the chance of seeing a gemsbok or maybe an ostrich make the photo opportunities perfect.

We spend the morning in and around Sossusvlei, also visiting "dune 45", and as the day wears on we return to Sesriem for lunch and to escape the heat of the afternoon. As the day cools off in the late afternoon we will take a short excursion to the Sesriem Canyon.

Driving time: approx. 2hrs (150 km).
Overnight: Sesriem.Communal ablutions /camping. Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Day 7

After breakfast we begin our journey, over the mountains and along scenic roads, back to Windhoek. We will travel over the Naukluft Mountains and also the Khomas Hochland Range, through beautiful mountain passes on our way back to civilization.

We are due back into the city around 16:00 and you will be dropped off at your accommodation on our return.

Driving time: approx. 5,5hrs (350 km)
Overnight: Breakfast and Lunch