The Namib Desert
Get off grid in your own 4X4, following expert guides through the oldest desert on earth
Namibia 4x4 Self-Drive Adventure: The Diamond & Skeleton Coasts
A desert expedition through ghost towns, diamond lore, rolling dunes and wreck strewn shores…
| Start date | End date | Days |
Prices from
ex. flights |
Tour Expert | Group Size | Status | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 03/05/26 | 15/05/26 | 13 days | £10,995 pp | Local Guides | 8 Max | AVAILABLE | Reserve place |
This 13-day 4×4 adventure ventures deep into the world’s oldest desert, into areas only accessible with special permits. In your own 4×4, follow expert guides through the Sperrgebiet, the restricted diamond area, snaking across vast dunes and remote coastline, retracing the steps of early diamond prospectors.
Starting in Lüderitz, spend six days exploring the former heart of the diamond rush, where ghost towns and abandoned settlements stand as reminders of the 1908 diamond boom. Wind-blown sands continue to reveal traces of these times. Camping under the stars and dining around open fires, this off-grid part of the journey offers a raw, extraordinary experience. Led by expert guides, this is Namibia at its wildest. Encounter Cape fur seal colonies near Swakopmund, before following the Skeleton Coast to the beautiful Shipwreck Lodge, nestled in sand dunes. The adventure concludes with a return journey through Damaraland to Windhoek.
Key Highlights of this Itinerary
Diamond History
Only accessible with special permits, trace early diamond miners to abandoned mines, ghost towns, and stranded ships
Kayak with Seals
See colonies of some 60,000 Cape fur seals on the windswept Atlantic and kayak among them
Canvas to Comfort
Sleep under the incredible southern hemisphere skies and stay at Shipwreck Lodge among the Skeleton coast dunes
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Day 1
Arrival Windhoek (Windhoek Luxury Suite)
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Day 2
Windhoek to Luderitz (Cormorant House)
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Day 3
Luderitz (Cormorant House)
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Day 4
Luderitz to Ford Lorry (Mobile Desert Camp)
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Day 5
Ford Lorry to Sylvia Hill (Mobile Desert Camp)
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Day 6
Sylvia Hill to Meob Bay (Namab Camp Huts)
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Day 7
Meob Bay (Namab Camp Huts)
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Day 8
Meob Bay to Swakopmund (Namib Guesthouse)
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Day 9
Swakopmund (Namib Guesthouse)
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Day 10
Swakopmund to Mowe Bay (Shipwreck Lodge)
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Day 11
Shipwreck Lodge
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Day 12
Mowe Bay to Damaraland (Mowani Mountain Camp)
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Day 13
Damaraland to Windhoek
Day 1
Arrival Windhoek (Windhoek Luxury Suite)
Arrive into Windhoek and transfer to your accommodation to check in and rest. This evening meet with the rest of the group and our partners on the ground for a welcome dinner.
Day 2
Windhoek to Luderitz (Cormorant House)
Transfer to the airport for your flight south to Luderitz. On arrival, check into your accommodation. This afternoon, your 4×4 vehicle will be delivered to your hotel along with a thorough briefing in readiness for your desert adventure. Spend some time at leisure exploring Luderitz.
Day 3
Luderitz (Cormorant House)
An early start to meet with your 4×4 guides today and begin exploring, a day of easy driving to familiarise with the landscape and vehicles. Cross diverse desert landscapes to Tsau //Kaeb National Park (the slashes represent click sounds in the local indigenous language) to explore historic railway sites, ghost towns, and diamond rush remnants. Visit Bogenfels Arch, a spectacular 55-metre-high natural rock arch that rises dramatically from the Atlantic coastline before returning to Lüderitz for dinner.
Day 4
Luderitz to Ford Lorry (Mobile Desert Camp)
After breakfast and refuelling the vehicles, depart Luderitz, heading north into uncharted terrain. After passing through flat stony desert and the Khoichab pan you will stop to deflate tyres and conduct a safety briefing before continuing along a section of soft sand. Set up camp in the afternoon with time to relax before dinner.
Day 5
Ford Lorry to Sylvia Hill (Mobile Desert Camp)
After breakfast, continue north, exploring the fading remnants of early diamond mining pioneers. The 1908 diamond rush led to the establishment of the Sperrgebiet, pushing prospectors further north to Spencer Bay and beyond. Pass through the Uri-Haugab Valley, following in the tracks of the legendary Mose Kahan, before setting up camp near Sylvia Hill, and enjoying dinner cooked over an open fire.
Day 6
Sylvia Hill to Meob Bay (Namab Camp Huts)
After breakfast visit Sylvia Hill with its 60,000 resident Cape Fur Seals. From here continue north to Meob through the dune belt. With dunes getting progressively higher, driver experience and skills acquired during the previous two days will be tested and honed to perfection. Reach Namab tented camp near Meob Bay late this afternoon. Spend the evening star gazing and relaxing around the fire before dinner.
Day 7
Meob Bay (Namab Camp Huts)
Today, delve into the rich diamond history between Meob and Conception Bay. At Meob Bay, once a key landing site, explore relics including rowing boats and a former police station-turned-museum. Exploring abandoned mining settlements like Grillenberger and Holsatia and at Fischersbrunn, a vital freshwater source during the diamond rush, take time to reflect on the hardships faced by miners. Enjoy a sundowner on the beach or dunetop with fresh Namibian oysters and sparkling wine, before returning to camp for the evening.
Day 8
Meob Bay to Swakopmund (Namib Guesthouse)
This morning, journey towards Swakopmund, driving along the beach to the Eduard Bohlen wreck, a 1909 shipwreck now stranded 600 metres inland. Further along the shoreline lies the Shawnee, a 1976 tug, now home to seabirds and black-backed jackals. Passing Langewand, where towering dunes meet the sea, navigate this dynamic landscape before venturing into vast dunes near Sandwich Harbour. Along the way, there will be time to pause for photographs, taking in the ever-changing scenery and spotting wildlife. On arrival into Swakopmund check into your accommodation.
Day 9
Swakopmund (Namib Guesthouse)
This morning head to Walvis Bay and onto Pelican Point from where you will board kayaks to explore the bay alongside playful Cape fur seals and birdlife. Stop for a picnic brunch on the beach before returning to shore for some time at leisure.
Day 10
Swakopmund to Mowe Bay (Shipwreck Lodge)
After breakfast head north in your 4×4 along Namibia’s Skeleton Coast. This region, stretching from the Swakop River to southern Angola, features a unique landscape where the desert meets the cold Atlantic, often enveloped in fog and dotted with shipwrecks. Look out for Cape fur seals, zebras, and desert-adapted elephants along the way. Upon arrival at Mowe Bay switch vehicles for a scenic two hour transfer to Shipwreck Lodge.
Day 11
Shipwreck Lodge
Experience some of the activities on offer from Shipwreck Lodge today – go quad biking across the dunes, take a sunset drive, or just take time to relax.
Day 12
Mowe Bay to Damaraland (Mowani Mountain Camp)
A full days driving today, crossing diverse terrains from the desert into the rugged landscapes of Damaraland, a region that is home to the desert adapted elephant and black rhino. Check into your accommodation and after time to refresh meet with the group for one last meal under the stars.
Day 13
Damaraland to Windhoek
Drive around five to six hours to the airport in Windhoek, for onward travel.
Where Sand Meets Sea
The Namib
The Namib Desert, one of the driest and oldest on Earth, has remained arid for at least 55 million years. Spanning 81,000 square kilometres across Namibia, Angola, and South Africa, the landscapes of the Diamond and Skeleton Coasts are among the most dramatic and desolate on Earth. Namib-Naukluft National Park, one of Africa’s largest, is home to immense sand dunes, some nearly 300 metres high—the tallest in the world. Along the Skeleton Coast, shipwrecks litter the shore, victims of dense fogs and treacherous currents created by the clash of dry desert air and moisture-laden winds from the sea.
Desert Biodoversity
Fauna & Flora
The wildlife of these coastal deserts has adapted remarkably to one of the harshest environments on Earth. Dew from desert grasses and small creatures sustains many species. The ancient Welwitschia mirabilis plant, along with gemsbok, oryx, ostriches, sand grouse, vultures, and warthogs, thrive in these arid landscapes. The gemsbok’s light coat and cooling system enable it to withstand extreme heat and survive without water for days. Around 70 reptile species, including five endemic ones, and numerous rodents are also well adapted to the rocky terrain. Along the coast, huge seal colonies thrive, while jackals and elusive brown hyenas scavenge the rugged shoreline.
11.7% of the world’s diamonds
The Diamond Rush
The diamond rush along Namibia’s coast began in 1908 when railway worker Zacharias Lewala discovered a sparkling gem at Grasplatz. Shaped by ancient rivers and rich in alluvial diamonds, this arid region sparked a mining frenzy. Lured by the promise of wealth, prospectors flooded in, quickly establishing settlements and finding diamonds by the handful. The rush brought both prosperity and hardship, prompting the government to impose strict regulations. Today, remnants of this boom remain—ghost towns like Kolmanskop and Pomona, now abandoned, stand as haunting relics of a once-thriving industry.
Is there a minimum age for this trip?
There is no minimum age to join the trip, although vehicle drivers should be experienced.
What is the camping accommodation like?
While travelling through the restricted diamond area, you’ll spend two nights in mobile camps with dome tents, equipped with folding canvas beds and sleeping rolls, and two nights in simple fixed huts. Each camp has a shared dune toilet and shower, set up for the duration of the stay. Camp locations are chosen based on the weather and may be set within the dunes or right on the beach.
What will the food be like when camping and can dietary requirements be catered for?
Expect three hearty meals a day, with evening dishes cooked over an open fire—think lamb chops, beef fillet, or grilled fish, served with fresh vegetables, salads, and desserts such as milk tart or ice cream. Lunches are generous cold platters, while breakfasts include eggs, fruit and freshly brewed coffee. Sundowners often feature fresh oysters and crisp sparkling wine in spectacular settings. Dietary requirements can also be catered for with advance notice.
Is petrol included?
Petrol is included for the Diamond Coast section between Luderitz and Swakopmund. From Swakopmund to Windhoek it is not included and we estimate a cost of around £130-150 for that portion of the journey.
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Includes / Excludes
Important Information
Activity Level
Low Activity
What is included
- 4x4 expedition vehicle hire from day 3 to day 13
- Accompanied by an English speaking guide in a lead vehicle from day 3 to 13
- Accompanied by camp assistants and chefs from days 3 to 8
- Special Diamond Coast permits
- Two way radios during the Diamond Coast section
- Accommodation throughout (Mixture of camping, guesthouses and lodges)
- 12 breakfasts, 10 lunches and 10 dinners
- Domestic flight from Windhoek to Luderitz
- Kayaking in Walvis Bay
- All activities at Shipwreck Lodge
What is excluded
- International flights
- Vehicle fuel from day 10, estimated at around £130 for the duration and payable locally
- Vehicle excess deposit
- Travel insurance
- Lunches on day 2 & 10 and dinner on days 2 & 8
- Items of a personal nature
- Gratuities
Other available dates
For further information about any of these tours please call 01285 880 980
| Start date | End date | Days |
Prices from
ex. flights |
Tour Expert | Group Size | Status | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 03/05/26 | 15/05/26 | 13 days | £10,995 pp | Local Guides | 8 Max | AVAILABLE | Reserve place |
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