Hotel Helmeringhausen

Namibia's Wildlife & Conservation

Family Classic + 2 more + 3 more

Namibia’s big skies, rare wildlife & real conservation in action.

12 days

from £5,835 pp

Flying Namibia's Skeleton Coast

Wildlife & Nature Luxury + 3 more + 3 more

An unforgettable sky high adventure through one of the world’s most remote landscapes.

9 days

from £12,100 pp

Namibia on a Shoestring

Classic Wildlife & Nature + 2 more + 3 more

A simple, self-drive introduction to Namibia.

9 days

from £4,525 pp

Namibia Northern Explorer

Classic Wildlife & Nature + 2 more + 3 more

Wildlife, conservation and Namibia's dramatic northern landscapes.

13 days

from £5,135 pp

Classic Namibia Self Drive

Family Classic + 3 more + 3 more

Our classic self-drive adventure through deserts, dunes & wildlife.

13 days

from £4,875 pp

Canyons & Ghost Towns

Off-the-beaten-track Adventure + 1 more + 2 more

A road trip through Southern Namibia’s lesser-visited highlights.

13 days

from £5,145 pp

Quirky excursions

View all excursions in Namibia

Desert Ghost Town

Kolmanskop is an abandoned ghost town gradually being swallowed by the unforgiving Namib. The centre of the German diamond mining industry after their discovery in the early 20th century, a thriving village was established as chancers and professionals moved in, driven by avarice and ambition. The erstwhile wealth and decadence is still apparent in the grand colonial buildings, with a hospital, ballroom, school, theatre, casino and even an ice factory all constructed. Some have been restored for tourism, such as the concert hall, but most are exactly as they were left in 1954, when the supply of diamonds finally ran out. It is fascinating to witness how time and the elements are gradually wearing the buildings down, and enjoyable to plough knee deep in sand through some of the more consumed buildings. Overall, the effect is frequently eerie, particularly the black and white photography adorning some of the walls, offering a potted history of German colonialism in Namibia. There are stunning photo opportunities, with the early morning desert shades contrasting vividly with pastel coloured buildings. Please bear in mind that you need a pre-booked permit to enter Kolmanskop, but we can either secure this for you in advance, or you should be able to procure it through your accommodation. It is possible to explore under your own steam with a permit, but there are two guided tours per day on Monday to Saturday and one on a Sunday. The site closes after 1pm, so get your sightseeing done early!

Luderitz City Tour

Although far less accessible than Swakopmund on a conventional self-drive itinerary, Luderitz boasts Namibia's finest examples of German colonial architecture. Sleepy, safe and welcoming, it is perfectly easy to explore Luderitz on foot at your own leisure, although we can book guided walking tours in advance and you should be able to arrange them through your hotel. The old colonial houses of the centre are delightfully painted in pastel shades, giving a pleasing splash of colour to a place that is otherwise battered by the elements. Other than the buildings themselves, highlights include a small historical museum, a couple of Luterhan churches, sweeping views over town from Diamantberg and a visit to Goerke Haus, the grandest and best preserved colonial building in town. Previously owned by diamond magnate Hans Goerke, this now contains a small information centre.

Commonwealth War Graves & POW Camp

Incongruously located just a few kilometres east of Aus, a small cemetery and the remains of a First World War POW camp speak of Namibia's unique, little known history. It's intriguing to note that Great War hostilities travelled this far, with South African Commonwealth troops crossing the border into German controlled South West Africa in 1915 to overwhelm a token Schutztruppen force sent by the Kaiser. All of the captured officers were made to build their own POW camp amidst the harsh desert conditions, but reports indicate that they were not too unjustly treated and gradually adjusted to their lot. Ironically, it was influenza rather than combat which killed a number of people in 1918, both German and South African. Their graves can be seen in a reasonably well preserved cemetery at the end of a challenging road off the B4, buried together and with dates suggesting that many died within the same October fortnight. A short way south-east from here are the slightly underwhelming remains of the POW camp, although their story and the smattering of identifiable brick constructions can still evoke a sense of what it must have been like to be imprisoned in this inhospitable land far from home, a place to all intents and purposes utterly irrelevant to the politics of the time.

Gondwana Sperrgebiet Nature Drives

Five farms were amalgamated to form the private 50,000 hectare Gondwana Sperrgebiet Rand Park, part of the family run Klein Aus Vista project that also incorporates the best accommodation in the area. Just north is the Namib-Naukluft National Park, and there are areas within the reserve where soft, high dunes can be found. Overall though, the landscape is usually more reminiscent of the Nama Karoo to the east, dominated by rugged granite boulders, dry riverbeds and panoramic gravel plains. After the winter rains which descend on the desert between July and September, a dazzling array of wild flowers can carpet the desert floor to bring an explosion of welcome colour. No matter the time of year, a nature drive within the park will bring superb photo opportunities and serene sundowners, with all the usual desert wildlife to seek out and the odd quivertree set starkly against an arid backdrop of broad plains.