Day 1 — Windhoek/Sossusvlei & Sesriem

Arrive in the capital city of Windhoek, where you will be met and escorted to a light aircraft for your flight to Sossusvlei. Land in an otherworldly desert landscape of clay pans and sand dunes, and enjoy a scenic drive to your lodge. (D)

Day 2 — Sossusvlei and Sesriem

The Sossusvlei clay pan is part of the Namib Desert, which stretches the full length of Namibia’s Atlantic Coast. Your lodge here is set within a wilderness reserve at the foot of Sossusvlei’s immense sand dunes, known for their vibrant shades of orange and red. Enjoy your choice of excursions today. Explore the reserve in 4x4 vehicles, watching for desert-adapted species such as oryx, springbok, ostriches, and hyenas, as well as unusual reptiles and insects. Learn about the area’s geology on a hike through Sesriem Canyon, or encounter the eerie skeletons of camelthorn trees in Dead Vlei. Sip a sundowner with stunning views of the dunes at sunset. Tonight, you’ll have the option to sleep under the stars on the roof of your private bungalow. (B,L,D)

Day 3 — Damaraland

Your light aircraft whisks you north to Damaraland today, where you’ll settle into an elegant tented camp in the Palmwag Concession. This vast basalt landscape was created by ancient volcanic eruptions and harbors unusually lush plantlife, fed by the mists off the nearby ocean. Sit around the campfire tonight under the constellations of the Southern Hemisphere. (B,L,D)

Day 4 — Damaraland

Set out today to track free-roaming desert-adapted black rhinos with monitors from Save the Rhino Trust. As you seek out this critically endangered species by vehicle and by foot, learn about the threats they face and the organization’s efforts to protect them. You’ll also have the opportunity to go on game drives and guided nature walks to see the wildlife of Damaraland, including Hartman’s mountain zebras, giraffes, and lions, as well as rare bird species such as Ruppell’s korhaan and Benguela long-billed lark. (B,L,D)

Day 5 — Ongava Game Reserve and Etosha National Park

Your next flight by light aircraft brings you to the Ongava Game Reserve, a private reserve adjacent to Etosha National Park. This afternoon, head out with the camp’s expert guides on a game drive in the reserve or in Etosha itself. (B,L,D)

Day 6-7 — Ongava Game Reserve and Etosha National Park

Enjoy two full days to discover Ongava and Etosha by open-vehicle safari. Seek out a wide range of flora and fauna, including a hundred distinct mammal species. Watch for black-faced impala, lions, black and white rhinos, and unusual birds and plantlife; and learn about research and habitat restoration efforts that have returned former farmland to the wild. Relax back at your camp, keeping an eye on the nearby waterhole, where animals often pass for a drink. (B,L,D)

Day 8 — Return Home

Fly by light aircraft from the Ongava Reserve to Windhoek Airport today, and connect to your onward flights. (B)