namibia railway safari

Namibia Safari

11 NIGHTS • 3400km This journey takes the train from the savannahs of the Highveld to the Atlantic in the west. Departing from Pretoria, the first stop is Kimberley, centre of one of the world’s famous diamond rushes where there is an opportunity to savour the 1870s atmosphere of the mining village. The train traverses the stark vistas of the Northern Cape to the Fish River Canyon – second in size to the Grand Canyon – and Garas Park with its quiver-tree forest. Guests continue across the untamed beauty of the Kalahari Desert to a cheetah conservation project and a stop in Namibia’s capital for a tour; Windhoek is a lively, cosmopolitan city with a strong German flavour. Then it’s a short flight to Sossusvlei, a stunning pan in the Namib Desert, for an overnight stay followed by a night in the game-rich Etosha National Park. On the last morning, the train travels the Namib to the perfectly preserved 19th-century German Hansa town of Swakopmund and Walvis Bay – an unforgettable end to a remarkable journey. Available in reverse.

PRETORIA-WALVIS BAY ITINERARY > WALVIS BAY-PRETORIA ITINERARY >

View our special route on offer in 2026 between Walvis Bay and Cape Town: WALVIS BAY-CAPE TOWN ITINERARY > 21 Feb-4 Mar 2026 CAPE TOWN-WALVIS BAY ITINERARY > 9-20 Nov 2026

• Cheetah conservation project visit
• Deadvlei visit
• Etosha game drives and overnight stay
• Fish River Canyon visit
• See the quiver trees at Garas Park
• Traverse the edge of the Kalahari Basin
• Traverse the Karoo
• Kolmanskop visit
• Lüderitz visit
• Traverse the Namib Desert
• Sossusvlei game drives and overnight stay
• View Star Dune 45
• Visit the Trans-Namib Museum
• Upington walking tour (optional)
• Windhoek tour

As of 2024, the Namibia Safari and Shongololo Dune Express merged to become 11 NIGHTS . The running times were tweaked with the addition of a visit to Kolmanskop and Lüdertiz, known for its museum, architecture and coastal wildlife. BOOK ENQUIRE

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Namibia Luxury Train Journey

Accommodations

Similar trips.

Explore the mine village of Kimberley, one of the world's famous diamond rushes.

Discover Fish River Canyon, second in size to the Grand Canyon and Garas Park with its Quiver Tree Forest.

Experience the dunes of the stunning Namib Desert and its 5 million year old red sand

1. Rovos Rail

South Africa, Cape Town

Rovos Rail's unique rail safari combines some of the most magnificent scenery with the glamour and excitement of the golden age of rail travel. These beautifully restored trains can be drawn by steam, diesel or electric locomotives operating at various stages of the journey. Use of traditional furnishings and period decor, with exquisite craftsmanship evident in fine wood paneling has ensured that the atmosphere of elegance and grandeur is still maintained. The air conditioned suites are the epitome of luxury and offer every modern convenience and comfort. In the ensuite bathrooms original fittings combine with the modern technology of hot showers, hair dryers and shaver plugs. Rovos Rail harks back to a simpler, more elegant era with discreet and friendly service. Full breakfasts are served each morning with dishes made to order, while lunch and dinner are complemented by a selection of the finest South African wines. All meals are served in one sitting in the charming Victorian atmosphere of the dining cars.

2. Sossuslei Lodge

Situated at the entrance gate to the Namib Naukluft Park,  Sossusvlei Lodge  offers direct access to the towering red sand dunes, the famous pan of Sossusvlei, the scorched black trees of Dead Vlei and the remarkable depths of the Sesriem Canyon.

Each spacious and air-conditioned room features a patio from which you can enjoy views over the desert landscape.  Experience the true art of hospitality with the thoughtful touch of attentive staff who contribute to a truly memorable experience. Lodge facilities include a sparkling pool, bar, sundowner deck, beer garden and an al fresco terrace where one can enjoy exquisite food, award-winning wines and magnificent views of the floodlit waterhole.

3. Mokuti Etosha Lodge

Namibia, Etosha National Park

On the eastern doorstep of world-famous Etosha National Park, lies Mokuti Etosha Lodge.  Charming thatched buildings in the classic safari style are nestled among vast indigenous gardens, lending credence to the name “Mokuti” which in Ovambo means “in the forest”. Beautifully appointed rooms are comfortably furnished and feature en-suite bathrooms with showers or baths, complimentary WiFi, television, air-conditioning and much more.

The Pool Bar & Terrace is open all day and serves à la carte snacks, teas and coffees as well as lunch. Spend your evenings around an open fire, or make a visit to the Marula Bar & Lounge or enjoy a round of pool or billards in the Billiards Room. Dinner is served in the Tambuti Dining Room and Terrace, the African Boma or even al fresco under the towering trees in the garden.

Day 1. Pretoria, South Africa

This morning depart on your exciting journey to Namibia on the famous “Pride of Africa” Rovos Rail train. This 10-day journey is a perfect journey through the highlights of Namibia. Experience the extravagant elegance of rail travel on the most luxurious train in the world. Rovos Rail's unique rail safari combines some of the most magnificent scenery with the glamor and excitement of the golden age of rail travel. The beautifully restored trains can be drawn by steam, diesel or electric locomotives operating at various stages of the journey. The atmosphere of elegance and grandeur is enhanced by period décor and traditional furnishings with exquisite craftsmanship. Full breakfasts are served each morning with dishes made to order, while lunch and dinner are complemented by a selection of the finest South African wines. All meals are served in one sitting in the charming Victorian atmosphere of the dining cars. During the day, the dress is smart casual. Evening attire is more formal, with a jacket and tie required for the gentlemen and cocktail or evening dresses for the ladies. In maintaining the spirit of travel of a bygone era, there are no radios or television sets on board and the use of cellular telephones, laptops and essentially anything that can disturb other passengers is confined to the privacy of your suites. (L,D)

Rovos Rail - Deluxe Suite

Day 2. Kimberley

Arrive in Kimberley, the historical diamond rush city, this morning. Here you disembark for a tour of the “Big Hole” and the mine museum. The museum depicts Kimberley in its Victorian heyday during the greatest diamond rush in history. In the area is a church, digger’s tavern complete with honky tonk piano, the De Beers directors' private railway coach, shops, houses and other relics of the early mining days. Return to the train and travel through the Karoo, a vast semi-desert region that was once an enormous inland sea. Over millions of years, volcanic matter was ground down and deposited as silt upon the seabed to form what geologists call the Karoo system. (B,L,D)

Day 3. Upington

After breakfast enjoy an optional 2-hour walking tour of the town of Upington. The town is known for its high-quality fruit production and delicious wines produced from the fertile soils found on the banks of the Orange River. This afternoon the train enters Namibia. High tea is served daily in the lounge and observation cars, and dinner is served in the dining cars, often a formal affair. (BLD)

Day 4. Fish River Canyon & Garas Park

Off train excursions today include a visit to the Fish River Canyon, second only to Arizona’s Grand Canyon in terms of size. The vast rocky landscape breaks up into a series of spectacular cliffs. Its size is impressive: 100 miles long, up to 16 miles wide and almost one third of a mile at its deepest. Also included today is Garas Park (Quiver Trees), home to roughly 300 specimens of the Aloe dichotomy. These prehistoric trees have forked branches that reach up to 5.5-yard-high, making for great photographic opportunities. (BLD)

Day 5. Windhoek / Sossusvlei

Arrive in Windhoek early this morning. Windhoek is an attractive city surrounded by clusters of hills and the impressive Auas and Eros Mountains. Visit the Trans-Namib Transport Museum which outlines Namibian transport history, particularly that of the railway, followed by a city tour en route to the airport. Fly to Sossusvlei where the iconic red sand dunes tower more than 900 feet above the surrounding plains. Enjoy an afternoon desert drive and bush dinner after sunset. (BLD)

Sossuslei Lodge

Day 6. Sossusvlei

An early wake-up call with tea and coffee and then you are off on a desert drive with breakfast in the vlei. The dunes of the Namib were created by sand carried by the wind from the coast. The sand here is over 5-million years old and is red due to its iron-oxide content. As the light changes during the day so does the appearance of the dunes’ characteristic color allowing for interesting photographs at any time. Return to the train via flight to Windhoek. The train travels onward to the next destination. (BLD)

Day 7. Cheetah Conservation Project

Visit a cheetah conservation project in Otjiwarongo. Founded in Namibia in 1990, the Cheetah Conservation Fund (CCF) is dedicated to saving the cheetah in the wild.

Day 8. Etosha National Park

Arrive in the Etosha area and proceed to your overnight lodge accommodations. This afternoon a game drive reveals the incredible desert adapted species that call Etosha home. Keep a look out for elephant, lion, giraffe, the bat-eared fox and the black-back jackal. (BLD)

Mokuti Etosha Lodge

Day 9. Etosha National Park

Enjoy a morning game drive in Etosha National Park, meaning ‘Great White Place,’ the name refers to the Etosha pan, which makes up a large part of the park. Large mammals in the park include leopard, rhino, wildebeest, hyena, zebra, springbok, kudu, gemsbok and eland. Return to the train for lunch and proceed through the Namib Desert towards the coast. (BLD)

Day 10. Walvis Bay

Your journey through the Namib Desert concludes this afternoon as you arrive in Walvis Bay. (B)

Land Arrangements (Price per person)

Air Arrangements (Internal Airfare)

*Please check with our Safari Specialist for International airfares.

**Surcharges Apply .

Deserts and Dunes of Namibia

10 days from $26,595 per person

Sightseeing

On this flying safari, scale the iconic red dunes of Sossusvlei and explore desert landscapes spending time with the Himba people. Track black and white rhino, learn about ground-breaking giraffe research, sleep in a shipwrecked lodge and marvel at the magnitude of your surroundings.

Namibia Desert Escape

8 days from $13,195 per person

This flying safari promises a one of a kind wilderness experience for seekers of the remote and profound. Marvel at the stark scenery, desolate coastlines endless ancient valleys and desert adapted wildlife.

Currently there are no add-ons for this tour

© 2024 AFRICAN TRAVEL,INC. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. CST #2071444-20

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Namibia Safari aboard Rovos Rail’s Pride of Africa

The highlights.

NEW for 2024: Itinerary is now 12 days. Running times have been tweaked, and visits to Kolmanskop and Lüdertiz, known for its museum, architecture and coastal wildlife, have been added.

Other key highlights include:

• Nine nights aboard the Pride of Africa, one of the world’s finest luxury trains;
• The Big Hole in Kimberley, site of one of the world’s most famous diamond rushes;
• Visit the Fish River Canyon, second largest canyon in the world;
• Tour of Windhoek, a cosmopolitan city with a strong German influence;
• Game drives and overnight at Mokuti Lodge , located in the game-rich Etosha National Park;
• Overnight stay at the world-famous Sossusvlei, a stunning pan in the Namib Desert surrounded by massive red sand dunes;
• Visit to a cheetah conservation center;
• All accommodations, meals, alcohol (on board) and off-train excursions included.

The 12-day Namibia Safari is an unforgettable 1,500 mile (3,400 km) trek through one of the earth’s most interesting and alien landscapes, all aboard Rovos Rail’s Pride of Africa luxury train.

Departing from Pretoria, the first stop is Kimberley, center of one of the world’s famous diamond rushes, where there is an opportunity to savor the 1870s atmosphere of the mine village. The train traverses the stark vistas of the Northern Cape to the Fish River Canyon – second in size to the Grand Canyon – and Garas Park with its Quiver Tree Forest.

Continue across the untamed beauty of the Kalahari Desert to Namibia’s capital for a tour; Windhoek is a lively, cosmopolitan city with a strong German flavor. Next, take a short flight to Sossusvlei, a stunning pan in the Namib Desert, for an overnight stay, followed by a night in the game-rich Etosha National Park .

On the last morning, the train travels the Namib to the perfectly preserved 19th-century German Hansa town of Swakopmund and Walvis Bay – an unforgettable end to a remarkable journey.

Imagine a country so vast and sparsely populated that it’s possible to find places devoid of everything: plants, animals, people, rocks: just endless miles of wind-swept sand.

Namibia is much more. Namib-Naukluft, Africa’s largest game park, is home to Sossusvlei’s brilliant red dunes. Etosha National Park is one of Africa’s largest, both in terms of its size and in its plethora of different kinds of animals.

And there’s no finer way to explore this desert land then by luxury train.

As the former German Southwest Africa, Namibia retains much of its colonial heritage—it’s also well-known for its great lager beers.

IRT Report: IRT’s Angela Walker and Rachel Hardy loved their time on Rovos Rail’s Pride of Africa . Click here for part one of their report on the train ,  here for part two .

Countries Visited

• South Africa

Day 1: Depart Pretoria

Gather at Rovos Rail’s private Capital Park station in Pretoria. Board the Pride of Africa for a late morning departure. Settle into your private cabin, and enjoy lunch and dinner on board as the train travels south toward the goldfields of the Witwatersrand.

Day 2: Kimberley

Arrive in Kimberley this morning. Capital of the Northern Cape, Kimberley is well known for the discovery of diamonds that led to its establishment in 1871. Enjoy a tour of the Big Hole and Diamond Mine Museum.

Back on the train, lunch is served as you travel through the Karoo, a vast semi-desert region that was once an enormous inland sea. Over millions of years, volcanic matter was ground down and deposited as silt upon the seabed to form what geologists call the Karoo system. Afternoon tea and dinner are served on board.

Day 3: Upington & the Orange River

After breakfast, disembark for a walking tour of Upington, oasis town on the Orange River, surrounded by the Kalahari Desert and famous for its wine. Next, enjoy a sunset cruise on the Orange River.

Back on board, lunch is served and Namibian border formalities will take place. Dinner is served en route to Holoog.

Day 4: Fish River Canyon

Enjoy a leisurely breakfast and lunch on the train this morning. This afternoon, explore the gigantic Fish River Canyon, largest canyon in Africa. The vast rocky landscape breaks up into a series of spectacular cliffs. Its size is impressive: 100 miles (161 km) long, up to 17 miles (27 km) wide and 1,800 feet (550 m) at its deepest.

Return to the train for dinner on board.

Day 5: Kolmanskop & Luderitz

After breakfast, transfer to the ghost town of Kolmanskop, followed by lunch in Lüderitz. Lüderitz is known for its museum, colonial architecture and wildlife including seals, penguins, flamingos and ostriches. Look out for the illusive legendary horses rumored to roam the Namib.

Return to the train for dinner.

Day 6: Keetmanshoop & Garas Park

After breakfast, visit Keetmanshoop and Garas Park, home to the famous Quiver Trees, and roughly 300 specimens of the Aloe dichotomy. The prehistoric trees have forked branches that reach up to 16 feet (5 meters) making for great photographic opportunities.

Return to the train for a relaxing day on board. Enjoy lunch, afternoon tea, and dinner as the train rolls onward.

Day 7: Sossusvlei

After breakfast, transfer to the airstrip for your short flight to Sossusvlei.

After check-in and lunch at the lodge, embark on an afternoon desert drive followed by a bush dinner after sunset.

Day 8: Sossusvlei & Windhoek

Enjoy an early morning desert drive with breakfast in the vlei (dry marsh).  The dunes of the Namib were created by sand carried by the wind from the coast. The sand here is over 5-million years old and is red due to its iron-oxide content. As the light changes during the day, so does the appearance of the dunes’ characteristic color, allowing for interesting photographs at any time. The wind in the Sossusvlei area blows from all directions causing the sand to form a star shape with multiple arms, hence the name “star dunes.”

Depart Sossusvlei on the one-hour flight back to Windhoek. Have lunch at Windhoek Country Club, followed by a city tour. Visit the Trans-Namib Transport Museum, the Independence Memorial Museum, the Evangelical Lutheran Church — a striking landmark in the city — and the Namibia Craft Centre.

Rejoin the train early evening for dinner.

Day 9: Cheetah Conservation Project

After a leisurely morning onboard the train, visit a cheetah conservation project in Otjiwarongo this afternoon.

Founded in Namibia in 1990, the Cheetah Conservation Fund (CCF) is dedicated to saving the cheetah in the wild.

After, return to the train for dinner.

Day 10: Etosha National Park

After breakfast, transfer to Mokuti Lodge in Etosha National Park , home to 114 mammal species, including the rare and endangered black rhino and black-faced impala. Lunch, afternoon game drive, dinner and overnight at the lodge.

Day 11: Etosha National Park

Early morning game drive in the Etosha National Park, where blue wildebeest, mountain and plains zebra, giraffe, hyena, lion, cheetah, leopard as well as 340 species of birds may be spotted. Return to the lodge for breakfast and check-out.

Transfer to Tsumeb station where the Pride of Africa  awaits. Lunch and afternoon tea are served as the train travels southwest towards the Atlantic Ocean. Enjoy a 1920s-themed dinner on board this evening.

Day 12: Walvis Bay

Enjoy breakfast as the train traverses the Namib Desert. Midday arrival at journey’s end, Walvis Bay.

Day 1: Depart Walvis Bay

Depart Walvis Bay aboard Rovos Rail’s Pride of Africa late afternoon and settle into your private cabin. Enjoy lunch on board as the train travels east across the Namib Desert. Afternoon tea and dinner on board while traveling across the Namib Desert towards Otjiwarongo.

Day 2: Cheetah Conservation Project

After breakfast, visit a cheetah conservation project in Otjiwarongo this afternoon.

After, return to the train for lunch, afternoon tea, and dinner.

Day 3: Etosha National Park

Day 4: etosha national park.

Early morning game drive in the Etosha National Park, where blue wildebeest, mountain and plains zebra, giraffe, hyena, lion, cheetah, leopard as well as 340 species of birds may be spotted. Return to the lodge for breakfast and check-out.  Rejoin the  Pride of Africa  at Tsumeb station for lunch, afternoon tea and dinner on board.

Day 5: Sossusvlei

After breakfast, disembark the train in Windhoek, where you will board a light aircraft for the short scenic flight to Sossusvlei. After check-in and lunch at the lodge, embark on an afternoon desert drive followed by a bush dinner after sunset.

Day 6: Sossusvlei & Windhoek

Day 7: keetmanshoop & garas park.

After a leisurely breakfast and lunch, visit Keetmanshoop and Garas Park, home to the famous Quiver Trees, and roughly 300 specimens of the Aloe dichotomy. The prehistoric trees have forked branches that reach up to 16 feet (5 meters) making for great photographic opportunities.

Return to the train for afternoon tea and dinner as the train rolls onward.

Day 8: Luderitz & Kolmanskop

Day 9: fish river canyon.

After breakfast, explore the gigantic Fish River Canyon, largest canyon in Africa. The vast rocky landscape breaks up into a series of spectacular cliffs. Its size is impressive: 100 miles (161 km) long, up to 17 miles (27 km) wide and 1,800 feet (550 m) at its deepest.

Return to the train for lunch, afternoon tea, and dinner on board. Border formalities will be conducted on arrival in South Africa.

Day 10: Upington & the Orange River

Re-board the train for lunch, tea, and dinner.

Day 11: Kimberley

Breakfast on board, followed by a morning tour of Kimberley. Capital of the Northern Cape, Kimberley is well known for the discovery of diamonds that led to its establishment in 1871. Tour the Big Hole and the Diamond Mine Museum before returning to the train for lunch and tea. Enjoy a 1920s-themed dinner on board this evening.

Day 12: Pretoria

Enjoy breakfast as the train continues to travel northeast through the goldfields of the Witwatersrand via Krugersdorp, Germiston and Johannesburg. Arrive at Rovos Rail’s private Capital Park station in Pretoria midday.

Dates & Prices

November 15 - 26 *

*This departure runs Walvis Bay to Pretoria.

NEW for 2024:  Itinerary will be lengthened to 12 days.  Click here for details of Pretoria-Walvis Bay itinerary ;  here for Walvis Bay-Pretoria itinerary .

Running times have been tweaked, and visits to Kolmanskop and Lüdertiz, known for its museum, architecture and coastal wildlife, have been added.

Royal Suites are not available on the following 2024 departures: March 15-26, May 17-28, and November 15-26.

• Prices are per person
• Tour priced in South African Rand (ZAR). For approximate exchange rates, visit  http://www.xe.com .

March 21 - April 1 *

April 1 - 12

April 14 - 25 *

May 12 - 23 *

November 14 - 25 *

February 3 - 14 *

March 19 - 30 *

April 7 - 18

November 22 - December 3 *

Book Your Journey

• Royal Suite
• November 15 , 2024 - November 26 , 2024
• March 21 , 2025 - April 1 , 2025
• April 1 , 2025 - April 12 , 2025
• April 14 , 2025 - April 25 , 2025
• May 12 , 2025 - May 23 , 2025
• November 14 , 2025 - November 25 , 2025
• February 3 , 2026 - February 14 , 2026
• March 19 , 2026 - March 30 , 2026
• April 7 , 2026 - April 18 , 2026
• November 22 , 2026 - December 3 , 2026

Reviews From Our Travelers

In a word, wonderful. I am so happy. I have traveled my entire life, but aging has put limits on my mobility. I was beginning to despair--would I be able to make more of my dreams come true? With the help of Rachel Hardy, the IRT team, and their associates at Remote Lands, I was able to see everything I had hoped for--and more--in comfort. Amazing! I am so grateful.

Diane G., Customized trip to China

Eleanor and her staff are enthusiastic and provide information that is additional to that provided by the particular tour agency. She makes an effort to know her clients and makes sure that the tour is appropriate for each client and follows up on details.

Jody H., Sea Cloud journey

Excellent! They took care of every detail and made sure we didn’t had any inconvenience at any time. Their hard work and personal attention to every detail was obvious. In a complicated country like India, they made sure we had the maximum enjoyment in every place we visited. Their professionalism and hard work assured it was an unforgettable experience.

Orlando H., Deccan Odyssey

Rates include all accommodation, meals, beverages on board (except international/French champagne), room service, limited laundry service on board, excursions, entrance fees, flights to/from Sossusvlei and government tax.

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