Desert Expeditions

Guided desert walking safari across golden gravel plains, Sossusvlei

Namibia’s deserts invite exploration of some of Africa’s most dramatic wilderness. At Sossusvlei, dunes rise like sculpted fire, while the Skeleton Coast fuses sea and sand in haunting beauty. From the remote Kunene River at Serra Cafema to Damaraland’s rocky outcrops at Doro Nawas, desert expeditions reveal stark landscapes alive with adapted wildlife.

Plan Your Journey

Desert-adapted elephant and calf at a waterhole in Namibia's arid wilderness

Where Sands Shape Horizons

Climb Sossusvlei’s towering dunes from Little Kulala as dawn lights the sands. Later, trace elephant trails through dry riverbeds at Hoanib Skeleton Coast before reaching the Atlantic surf. At Desert Rhino Camp, track elusive desert rhino across vast plains, while evenings at Doro Nawas unfold around campfires, desert skies ablaze with stars.

QUICK FACTS
Towering dunes
Desert wildlife
Desert rhino
Remote lodges
Star-filled skies

Hot air balloons floating over the Namib Desert at dawn near Sossusvlei

Black rhino tracking in Damaraland with expert guides, Namibia

Tented suite deck at Desert Rhino Camp with sunrise over the Namib

Experiences & Highlights

Desert expeditions reveal quiet beauty and remarkable wildlife adapted to arid places. Around Sossusvlei, stays at Sossusvlei Desert Lodge or Little Kulala bring early starts for the dunes, soft light for photography and gentle walks that explain geology and desert plants. Balloon flights and scenic helicopter tours add sweeping views over salt pans and glowing sand seas. Zannier Omaanda near Windhoek and Zannier Sonop in the Namib offer calm bases with guided drives for oryx, springbok and smaller specialists like bat eared fox.

Far to the northwest, Hoanib Skeleton Coast links desert lion research with striking riverbeds and occasional drives to the wild Atlantic coast, while Serra Cafema on the Kunene River combines boat outings, dune walks and hosted visits with Himba communities. Doro Nawas in Damaraland offers rooftop sleepouts and visits to ancient rock engravings among stark hills. Evenings bring exceptional stargazing, mornings are slow and clear, and teams plan each day around conditions, so the desert feels welcoming, varied and deeply memorable.