Sand Dunes, Sailing and Safari: A Namibia Self-Drive Family Adventure

On arrival into Johannesburg you connect across to the two-hour onward flight to Windhoek, arriving in the Namibian capital in the early afternoon. You will be met at the airport and transferred into the capital where you will have your car delivered to you. One of our representatives will be there to teach you how to use the vehicle and maps and then it's a short drive to your hotel where you will be spending the night.

After your long journey to get here, treat yourselves to a hearty family dinner in the city - our Concierge can recommend and reserve the best spots - then head back for an early night at your homely guesthouse ready for a busy day tomorrow.

Today is the first full day of your Namibia self-drive family safari, and you will be driving two-and-a-quarter-hours south from Windhoek towards the iconic dunes of Sossusvlei. Along the way, stop off at a lovely game reserve for your first experience of the unforgettable Kalahari Desert. You'll be spending the night in a luxury lodge surrounded by nature and complete with an expansive infinity pool perfect for little ones to splash around in.

After settling in and enjoying a leisurely lunch on the veranda, head off for a 4x4 sundowner drive accompanied by a knowledgeable guide to see the sights as the sun sets. The reserve is home to a wonderful variety of wildlife from stripy zebras and leaping springboks to lazing lions and long-necked giraffes so there's plenty to spot.

Feast on tasty snacks and drinks in the bush before heading back to the lodge for an early night ready for another adventure-filled day tomorrow.

After fuelling up with breakfast at the lodge, drive four hours west to your next lodge which boasts a dramatic location in a wide grassy valley bordered by mountains in a private nature reserve. Get settled into your thatch-roofed chalet and then take your pick from a range of activities for an adventure-filled afternoon. We recommend booking yourselves in for a family riding safari which sees you setting off on four hooves (they can cater for most experience levels) in time to catch the sunset.

Return to the lodge for a farm-style dinner by candlelight on the veranda after a sundowner cocktail (mocktails for the children) beside a crackling fire, the perfect way to end day three of your Namibia self-drive family safari.

Armed with a tasty picnic lunch, set off on an unforgettable trip to Sossusvlei today accompanied by an experienced guide who will fill the family with fascinating facts about the region. The highlight today is a visit to the iconic Dune 45, one of the most photographed natural wonders in the world. Formed by million-year-old sand blown in from Namibia's coast, the 280ft-tall dune offers incredible panoramic views from the top. Afterwards, if you've got the energy after the lung-busting hike to the top, race the children to the bottom.

Wave goodbye to Sossusvlei today as you drive four-and-a-half hours north to the coastal city of Swakopmund, the next port of call on your Namibia self-drive family safari. On arrival at your tranquil family-run guesthouse where you will be spending the next two nights, unpack and get settled in. We've left the rest of the day free for you to spend as you wish.

We recommend setting off on foot to explore this pint-sized city, only a short distance away from where you're staying, before treating yourselves to a family dinner in one of the many great restaurants. Naturally our Concierge will be on hand to recommend and reserve a table at the most family-friendly.

Hit the water today for a family catamaran cruise which sees you sailing along the coast spotting seals, sunfish, dolphins and whales. As well as the abundance of marine life, see lonely lighthouses and the abandoned shipwrecks that earned this coastline the title: The Skeleton Coast, all while tucking into fresh oysters and sipping on sparkling wine (or fresh juice for the nippers). Soak up some sun on the decks as you sail along and then once you're back on dry land, continue the coastal theme with a seafood dinner in town.

After a tasty breakfast, head north towards the sensational Aba Huab Valley, the next stop on your Namibia self-drive family safari, and a four-hour drive away. Here, tucked away in the boulder-strewn landscape, you will be staying in a luxury camp for the next two nights. After a tasty breakfast, head north towards the sensational Aba Huab Valley, the next stop on your Namibia self-drive family safari, and a four-hour drive away. Here, tucked away in the boulder-strewn landscape, you will be staying in a luxury camp for the next two nights.

After a slow start this morning with a leisurely breakfast and cooling dip in the outdoor pool, set off with a local guide to discover the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Twyfelfontein, an absolute must on your Namibia self-drive family safari. Step back in time as you gaze at ancient San Bushmen rock paintings. There are over 2,500 in total, depicting everything from animals to hunting scenes, so there's plenty to see here.

Once you return to camp, if you have the energy we recommend exploring the surrounding trails on foot on a self-guided nature walk. Immersed in nature, spot the indigenous plants and trees and learn about the surroundings from handy information boards dotted along the way. Alternatively, treat yourself to a lazy afternoon with plenty of pool time for the children.

After breakfast, pack up the car and drive three-and-a-quarter-hours towards Etosha National Park, one of the country's greatest wildlife sanctuaries. Your base for the night is a luxurious camp complete with a floodlit waterhole, where you and the children can spot some of the area's wonderful wildlife, and an outdoor pool where your own wild beasts can cool off.

Enjoy a relaxing afternoon at leisure in the camp and come evening, head to the restaurant for sundowners and a delicious dinner beside a crackling fire - the best way to end the day on this Namibia self-drive family safari. Then it's off to bed for an early night ready for a day of wildlife watching on safari tomorrow.

Today is guaranteed to be one of the highlights of your Namibia self-drive family safari as you set off on an unforgettable safari through Etosha National Park. Year-round, the park offers exceptional wildlife watching opportunities. During the dry season (May to October) game viewing is at its best with an abundance of animals making their way to the waterholes. Meanwhile, the rainy season (November to April) is a wonderful time for bird watching as the park's salt pan transforms into a lake, attracting wetland birds and flamingos.

Accompanied by a guide, you will set off to explore the park. Along the way, stop off for lunch at Namutomi Camp, an old German fort complete with a fabulous viewing deck overlooking King Nehale Waterhole. Another must today is visiting Fishers Pan, one of our favourite spots for wildlife and bird watching.

Come evening, make your way to your family-friendly bush camp where you will be spending the night in the east of the park.

Today, on the penultimate day of your Namibia self-drive family safari, make your way to Okonjima Nature Reserve, nestled in the Omboroko Mountains approximately four hours away. Famed for its frequent cheetah and leopard sightings, this is more than just a lodge. With its AfriCat Foundation, Okonjima is a leading light in carnivore conservation as well as pangolin and brown hyena research. This is the perfect place to enjoy a responsible safari experience and learn about what threatens these incredible species.

After getting settled into your cosy villa, enjoy a leisurely late-afternoon lunch then, as evening draws in, wrap up and set off to explore the park after dark on an unforgettable nocturnal game drive accompanied by a knowledgeable guide. You'll get the chance to see everything from bat-eared foxes and aardwolves to leopards, hyenas and owls, all under the cover of darkness.

Return to your luxury lodge in time for a candlelit dinner and sundowners beside a crackling fire before heading to your villa to drift off to the sounds of an African night.

Sadly your Namibia self-drive family safari has come to an end. Get up early to squeeze in a final activity - perhaps another game drive or a visit to the AfriCat Carnivore and Information Centre - before packing up and driving approximately two-and-a-half-hours to Windhoek to drop off your hire car. You will then be transferred to their airport ready for your afternoon flight back to Johannesburg, which takes two hours.

On arrival, connect across to the overnight flight to London, which leaves Johannesburg in the evening, and takes 11 hours.