Central Namibia

The capital Windhoek and the Atlantic coast's Swakopmund and Walvis Bay, with the Spitzkoppe granite peaks and the Waterberg Plateau inland.

This region is defined by administrative region and includes Khomas, home to Windhoek; Erongo on the coast; Omaheke in the east; and Otjozondjupa in the northeast.

Highlights: Windhoek's Christuskirche, Independence Memorial Museum and the barbecue at Joe's Beerhouse; Swakopmund's German-style architecture, jetty, and adventure activities such as dune 4x4 driving, sandboarding and skydiving; Walvis Bay's flamingo lagoon and seal and dolphin cruises, and Sandwich Harbour, where dunes plunge straight into the sea; Spitzkoppe, the "Matterhorn of Namibia," and its rock paintings; the Erongo Mountains; the rare species of Waterberg Plateau National Park; and the Cheetah Conservation Fund near Otjiwarongo.

Classic itineraries: 1 day in Windhoek; head north from Sossusvlei to Swakopmund for 2–3 nights (a Walvis Bay cruise and a Sandwich Harbour 4x4 trip, half a day each), then continue via Spitzkoppe to Damaraland and Etosha.

Getting there: Hosea Kutako International Airport is about 40 km east of Windhoek; the B2 highway links the capital with the coast. Note: the coastal road is often foggy, so avoid driving at night.

Destinations

• Swakopmund & Walvis Bay
• Windhoek
• Waterberg Plateau

Itineraries

• Coastal Town & Red Dunes Small Group Tour – Depart from Windhoek and cover the two major highlights of Swakopmund and Sossusvlei in four days.
• Namibia Classic Self-Drive Loop – A counter-clockwise loop covering dunes, the coast, rock petroglyphs, and Etosha, bringing together the best of Namibia…
• Kaokoland Himba & Kunene 4x4 Route – Drive north by 4x4 through Damaraland, Sesfontein, and Epupa Falls, ending with a traverse of Etosha from the west gate.
• Southern Namibia Canyon, Ghost Town & Dunes – Head south to the Kalahari, Fish River Canyon, and Lüderitz, then travel north to a dark sky reserve and the red dunes.
• Windhoek to Victoria Falls Overland Loop – Cross from Namibia along the Okavango River to the Delta and Chobe, ending at Victoria Falls.