SMALL GROUP JOURNEYOFFERS

The Classic Icons & Kaokoveld

2026▾
10
Days
9
Nights
Private
Charter / Transfer

Private aviation through Namibia's most iconic landscapes — Deadvlei at dawn, rhinos at dusk, desert elephants, and the Himba

See Pricing & Inclusions ↓
10 Days
Small Group
from $12,300 pp
Home  ›  Namibia  ›  The Classic Icons & Kaokoveld

OverviewThe quintessential Namibian safari for discerning travellers who wish to experience the country's most iconic landscapes and wildlife in absolute luxury. Flying by private charter, guests journey from the towering red dunes of Sossusvlei to the wildlife-rich plains of Etosha, and finally into the remote, untamed wilderness of the Kaokoveld — one of Africa's last true wilderness areas. Three world-class lodges form the backbone: Little Kulala for private Namib access; Ongava Lodge for exceptional rhino tracking on the Etosha border; and Serra Cafema, an ultra-exclusive oasis on the Kunene River. The itinerary is defined by its breathtaking variety — a champagne breakfast in Deadvlei, desert elephant tracking, and a deeply respectful non-commercial encounter with the semi-nomadic Himba people.

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Private access to Deadvlei at sunrise via the lodge's private gate — no queues, no crowds

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White-linen champagne breakfast set up in the middle of the Namib Desert by your private guide

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Skeleton Coast scenic flight over haunting shipwrecks and massive Cape fur seal colonies

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Private rhino tracking — on foot or by open vehicle — at Ongava Lodge's exclusive concession

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Full-day private safari in Etosha National Park with espresso machine, crystal glassware and picnic lunch

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Serra Cafema: ultra-exclusive oasis camp on the Kunene River, one of Africa's most remote lodges

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Tracking desert-adapted elephants in the Kaokoveld — longer legs, larger feet, completely unique to this region

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Exclusive non-commercial Himba village encounter — authentic, unscripted, and arranged with deep respect

The Classic Icons & Kaokoveld

Why Choose Finders & Keepers Safaris for Namibia

Private charter flights throughout — scenic, efficient, and intimate, with your pilot as expert guide

Expert trackers with decades of experience in rhino, elephant, and predator tracking

Three of Namibia's finest lodges selected for exclusivity, service, and extraordinary location

Non-commercial cultural encounters arranged with genuine respect for Himba traditions and privacy

Dedicated photographic opportunities — Deadvlei at dawn, waterholes at night, and desert light

All park fees, charter costs, and lodge experiences included in a single transparent price

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Namibia

Sossusvlei · Etosha National Park · Kaokoveld · Kunene River

Day by Day

Your Itinerary

Windhoek, Namibia

Day 1 | Arrival in Windhoek & Bespoke City Tour

VIP tarmac assistance on arrival at Hosea Kutako International Airport expedites you through customs seamlessly. Your private guide transfers you in a luxury vehicle to the Hilton Hotel in Windhoek. For arrivals before 4:00 PM, an exclusive private tour takes you through Windhoek's iconic landmarks: the historic Christuskirche, the Tintenpalast gardens, and the vibrant craft markets. The day culminates in a curated gin-tasting lunch or sundowner at Am Weinberg, followed by a fine-dining dinner and briefing with your private pilot over the journey ahead.

Lunch, Dinner
Arrival in Windhoek & Bespoke City Tour
Namib Desert — Little Kulala

Day 2 | Private Fly-In to the Namib Desert & Dune Sundowner

After breakfast, your private charter departs Eros Airport, flying southwest over the Khomas Hochland highlands before descending into the vibrant red sands of the Namib. Landing on a private airstrip, a luxury open 4x4 transfers you to Little Kulala lodge. The afternoon is yours for a gourmet lunch and a dip in your private plunge pool before an afternoon nature drive culminating on a private desert ridge — premium cocktails as the sun dips below the horizon, painting the sand in deep crimson hues.

Little Kulala, Sossusvlei
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Private Fly-In to the Namib Desert & Dune Sundowner

Day 3 | Dawn in Deadvlei & White-Linen Dune Breakfast

Departing before sunrise, you use the lodge's private gate to enter Namib-Naukluft National Park, bypassing public queues entirely to reach Deadvlei as the first morning sun illuminates the apricot dunes. Explore the stark white clay pan and climb the spine of Big Daddy, then settle into a private white-linen champagne breakfast set up in the middle of the desert — far from any other tourists. The afternoon is reserved for relaxation, a luxury spa treatment, or a guided quad-bike excursion.

Little Kulala, Sossusvlei
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Dawn in Deadvlei & White-Linen Dune Breakfast
Etosha — Ongava Lodge

Day 4 | Skeleton Coast Scenic Flight to Etosha Border

A world-class scenic flight takes you low over the Skeleton Coast — where dunes meet the Atlantic — passing over haunting shipwrecks and vast seal colonies before turning northeast over Damaraland. Arrival at Ongava Lodge on the border of Etosha. The afternoon brings a private game drive within the exclusive reserve: high-probability tracking of endangered white and black rhinos on foot or in open vehicles, accompanied by an expert tracker.

Ongava Lodge, Etosha
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Skeleton Coast Scenic Flight to Etosha Border

Day 5 | Full-Day Private Safari in Etosha National Park

A full-day private photographic safari inside Etosha National Park. Your luxury vehicle is fully stocked with an espresso machine, crystal glassware, and an artisanal picnic lunch. Spend the day parked at high-traffic waterholes — Okaukuejo or Olifantsrus — witnessing the spectacular convergence of elephants, lions, and giraffes drinking against the vast Etosha Salt Pan. Return to Ongava Lodge for an elegant dinner, then watch predators visit the lodge's own floodlit waterhole at night.

Ongava Lodge, Etosha
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Full-Day Private Safari in Etosha National Park
Kaokoveld — Serra Cafema

Day 6 | Flying to the Edge of the World — Kaokoveld & Kunene

Your charter heads deep into the rugged, mountainous northwest — the Kaokoveld. Landing on a remote strip near the Kunene River (bordering Angola), you check into the ultra-exclusive Serra Cafema oasis camp. The day culminates in a magical late-afternoon private boat cruise on the Kunene River, navigating past resident crocodiles and lush riverine forest surrounded by the stark desert landscape. One of Africa's last true wilderness areas.

Serra Cafema, Kunene River
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Flying to the Edge of the World — Kaokoveld & Kunene

Day 7 | Tracking Desert-Adapted Elephants & Dune Quad Biking

Morning in a custom 4x4 tracking Namibia's legendary desert-adapted elephants — a unique species with longer legs and larger feet for traversing vast desert distances. A family herd feeding in a dry riverbed, with no other vehicles in sight. In the afternoon, an exhilarating guided quad-biking excursion across the shifting quartz dunes before returning to Serra Cafema.

Serra Cafema, Kunene River
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Tracking Desert-Adapted Elephants & Dune Quad Biking

Day 8 | Hartmann's Valley Exploration & Star-Bed Sleepout

A deep-wilderness drive into the breathtaking Hartmann's Valley — total silence amidst vast, empty plains. A luxury setup lunch on a mountain crest with views stretching into Angola. Tonight, the option to sleep on an open-air luxury star-bed, falling asleep under the unpolluted, glittering Milky Way canopy.

Serra Cafema, Kunene River
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Hartmann's Valley Exploration & Star-Bed Sleepout

Day 9 | Exclusive Non-Commercial Himba Cultural Tour

Serra Cafema arranges exclusive access to a remote, non-commercial Himba village — completely authentic and unscripted. Invited into traditional homesteads, you interact with the Himba women and learn about their customs: the preparation of otjize, their sacred fire traditions, and semi-nomadic life in one of Africa's harshest landscapes. The day concludes with a celebratory multi-course farewell dinner prepared by the executive lodge chef, paired with vintage wines.

Serra Cafema, Kunene River
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Exclusive Non-Commercial Himba Cultural Tour
Return — Windhoek

Day 10 | Scenic Return Flight to Windhoek & Departure

A relaxed luxury breakfast overlooking the river or desert mountains. Board your private charter for a final scenic flight back to Windhoek. Transfer to the Hilton Hotel for a complementary spa session before your international departure. If your flight departs the following day, the hotel is booked for overnight comfort.

Breakfast
Scenic Return Flight to Windhoek & Departure

Want to adjust the pace, swap a lodge, or extend this journey?

We are here for that. Every Finders & Keepers Safaris itinerary is a starting point, not a fixed departure — the pace, the lodges, the length, the dates and the party travelling can all be reshaped around you. Tell us what you would change and a specialist will rebuild the journey and price it honestly, before you commit to anything.

Tailor This Journey →
Safari experience
Your Accommodation

Exceptional Lodges Across Three Wilderness Areas

Hilton Hotel Windhoek
NIGHT 1 & DEPARTURE
Windhoek

Hilton Hotel Windhoek

★★★★★ — City gateway hotel offering VIP arrival services and a complementary spa session on departure day
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Little Kulala
NIGHTS 2–3
Namib Desert

Little Kulala

★★★★★ — Private lodge with direct gate access into Namib-Naukluft National Park and a private plunge pool per suite
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Ongava Lodge
NIGHTS 4–5
Etosha Border

Ongava Lodge

★★★★★ — Private concession bordering Etosha with exceptional rhino tracking and a floodlit waterhole
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Serra Cafema
NIGHTS 6–9
Kunene River

Serra Cafema

★★★★★ — One of Africa's most remote lodges — ultra-exclusive oasis on the Angolan border with private boat cruises
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Why This Journey

What sets this journey apart

Namibia’s greatest hits at a private pace: Deadvlei before the crowds, Etosha with crystal glassware, and the remote Kunene River at the edge of the world.

01

Deadvlei without the queue

Private access at sunrise through the lodge’s own gate, followed by a white-linen champagne breakfast set up by your guide in the middle of the Namib.

02

The coast from the air

A Skeleton Coast scenic flight over shipwrecks and Cape fur seal colonies, and private rhino tracking on foot or by open vehicle at Ongava’s exclusive concession.

03

Serra Cafema, at the edge

One of Africa’s most remote lodges, an oasis camp on the Kunene River, with desert-adapted elephant tracking and a star-bed sleepout.

Best ValueJan – MayWarmer, quieter, occasional desert rain
Peak SeasonMay – SepPeak dry winter — clearest desert skies
Shoulder SeasonSep – DecCooling down, wildlife still concentrated
Best forPhotographersCouplesRemote-lodge lovers
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Inclusions & Pricing

Deposit Offer

Hold 2027 for half the usual deposit

Confirm any 2027 departure with a 15% deposit instead of the usual 30%, booked before 31 December 2026.

  • Your balance is not due until 60 days before departure.
  • The reduced deposit holds your camps, permits and internal flights at today’s rates, so a mid-year price movement does not reach you.
  • Applies to new 2027 bookings only and cannot be combined with a group discount on the same booking.
Solo Travellers

30% off the single supplement

Travelling on your own? We cut the single traveller supplement by 30% across selected 2027 departures.

  • The supplement covers the sole-occupancy cost a camp charges when a room sleeps one rather than two.
  • Available on selected camps and dates — your specialist will tell you which of your nights qualify before you commit.
  • Nothing changes about the journey itself: same guide, same vehicle, same rooms.
Group Offer

Bring three, the fourth travels free

Book four guests on a 2027 group departure and the fourth guest’s safari cost is on us.

  • The waiver covers the land portion — camps, meals, guiding and game drives.
  • International flights, visas, gorilla and chimpanzee permits and personal spending are excluded, as those are paid to third parties per head.
  • All four guests must travel on the same departure date and book together.
What's Included
  • VIP meet and greet at Windhoek Airport
  • All private charter flights within Namibia
  • Luxury accommodation at all properties
  • All meals as specified — breakfast, lunch and dinner
  • All private guided game drives and safaris
  • All activities listed in the itinerary
  • All park and conservancy fees
  • Complementary spa session at Hilton Windhoek on final day
  • Private guide and expert tracker throughout
  • All transfers between airports and lodges
  • Quad-bike excursion in the Namib Desert
  • Star-bed sleepout option at Serra Cafema (weather permitting)
  • Private Kunene River boat cruise
  • Non-commercial Himba village cultural encounter
  • ✓Travel insurance facilitated on your behalf (adjusted in your quote if you are already covered)
What's Not Included
  • International flights to and from Namibia
  • Travel insurance (strongly recommended)
  • Personal shopping and souvenirs
  • Premium imported alcohol beyond what is provided
  • Optional activities not listed in the itinerary
  • Tips and gratuities
  • Visa fees (processed on arrival for most nationalities)

Package Pricing

Per Person Sharing$14,500
Single Traveller SupplementOn Request
ⓘ Price is per person based on two guests sharing. All charter flights, lodge accommodation, meals, park fees, activities, VIP airport handling, and complementary spa session on departure day are included. International flights to Windhoek are not included.

2027 Season Pricing

The same unforgettable journey, priced by season.

Jan – May Best ValueWarmer, quieter, occasional desert rain
$12,300
May – Sep Peak SeasonPeak dry winter — clearest desert skies
$17,100
Sep – Dec Shoulder SeasonCooling down, wildlife still concentrated
$14,950

Flexible Payment Plan

1

Reserve today with a low early deposit to lock in your 2027 dates and pricing.

2

Spread the rest across convenient instalments, at a pace that suits you.

3

Final balance due one month before departure — nothing more to pay once you fly.

Speak To Us

Journey Details

Minimum Age

Varies by camp, activity and national park

  • Camps and lodges — Most safari camps accept children from six years, with shared game-drive vehicles usually from eight to twelve. Many properties will take younger children on a privately booked vehicle.
  • Walking safaris — Guided walking safaris carry a firm minimum of fifteen or sixteen years across most reserves. This is set by the licensing authority, not the camp, and is never waived.
  • Gorilla and chimpanzee trekking — Uganda and Rwanda both enforce a strict minimum of fifteen years. It is a national park regulation and there are no exceptions.
  • Hot-air balloon safaris — Operators generally require children to be at least seven, and tall enough to brace unaided in the basket on landing.
  • Family and exclusive-use camps — A number of our camps run dedicated family units, child-minding and tailored activity programmes, and will relax their usual age limit for a sole-use booking.
  • Talk to us first — Age limits vary from property to property and from activity to activity. Speak to our experts before you book, and we will pre-arrange the details with each lodge around the ages of the children travelling with you.

Safari Duffel

Duffel, safari hat, vest and hooded jumper

  • Your duffel — A soft-sided Finders & Keepers Safaris duffel, sized for the 15 kg limit on the light aircraft that move you between camps. Rigid suitcases cannot be carried on those flights at all.
  • What is inside it — A branded Finders & Keepers Safaris safari hat, a safari vest, and a hooded jumper for cold dawn starts and balloon mornings.
  • Yours to keep — The bag and everything in it is a gift, not a loan. Nothing is returned at the end of your journey.
  • Packing around it — Soft luggage, neutral colours, and layers. Laundry is included at nearly every camp, which is why 15 kg goes further than it sounds.

Note

Vast distances mean long overland transfers

Namibia's dramatic landscapes are spread across huge distances — some days include extended drive times or light-aircraft transfers between camps. Nights can be very cold in the desert regardless of daytime heat.

  • Early starts — Safaris begin very early in the morning. Your guide will confirm what time you will be collected from your camp or lodge.
  • Tailoring this journey — If you would like this package with more or fewer days, arranged for a group, a family or a solo traveller, or with add-ons, reach out and we will tailor it for you.
  • Route changes — Your guide or driver may alter the route in certain circumstances, but every destination set out in the itinerary will be covered.

Documents

Visa-free for most nationalities

  • Passport — Valid for at least six months beyond your departure date, with several entirely blank pages. Namibian immigration is notably strict about blank pages.
  • Visa on arrival since April 2025 — From 1 April 2025 US passport holders, and citizens of a number of other previously exempt countries, must take a visa on arrival valid for up to 30 days. Many European, Commonwealth and African nationals still enter visa-free.
  • Take the eVisa instead — A pre-arranged eVisa is available and well worth having — the visa-on-arrival queue at Hosea Kutako can be long after a night flight.
  • Travelling with children — An unabridged birth certificate showing both parents is required for every traveller under 18. Where a child travels with one parent only, or with neither, a sworn parental consent affidavit is also needed.
  • We file it for you — Whether you are flying in from overseas or travelling from elsewhere on the continent, we complete and submit your visa application on your behalf. You hand us your documents once. We do the filing, chase the approval, and carry the confirmations in your travel pack so nothing rests on you remembering a reference number at a counter.
  • Most of Africa is open to you — The great majority of our African destinations are now either visa-free or issue a visa on arrival, so an embassy queue is rarely in your future at all. Where a visa on arrival does apply, we prepare and lodge the paperwork ahead of you — you reach the desk with a finished file rather than a blank form and a biro.
  • Before you travel — Entry rules change frequently and without much notice. Your specialist confirms the current requirements for every passport in your party at the time of booking, and checks them again before you fly.

Guaranteed Departures

Private, tailor-made departures on your dates, or join a small group

  • Once confirmed, you travel — When your departure date is confirmed, it is guaranteed. We do not cancel, merge or reschedule a confirmed departure for commercial reasons, however the final numbers fall.
  • What confirms a departure — A departure becomes confirmed once the agreed number of travellers has been reached and paid for in line with the agreed payment schedule. Places held without payment do not count towards it.
  • If the minimum is not reached — Where a group departure has not reached its agreed numbers, we tell you early rather than late, and you choose: move to the next available date, continue at a revised small-group rate, or take a full refund of everything you have paid.
  • Solo journeys — Solo and tailor-made itineraries carry no group minimum at all. Your dates are confirmed the moment your deposit is received.
  • Visas — We prepare and submit your visa application on your behalf. Please note that the granting of a visa rests solely with the immigration authority of the country concerned, and is never guaranteed by us.
  • Medication — We arrange malaria prophylaxis, together with anti-nausea and anti-anxiety tablets, for your journey. Any prescription medicine should be confirmed with your own doctor before you travel — they remain the final authority on what is suitable for you.
  • Africa is not always hot — Despite the stereotype, Africa moves through distinct seasons and mornings at altitude can be genuinely cold. A hooded jumper is provided for cold conditions, and for every guest joining a hot-air balloon safari.
  • Dietary requirements — If you have strict dietary needs, please tell us at the time of booking. This includes vegans, guests in recovery, non-drinkers, and anyone following a prescription from their doctor.
  • Travel insurance — We facilitate travel insurance for our clients. If you are already covered, please say so during booking so we can take it into account in your final quote.
  • Tailoring your quote — Some of our inclusions — hot-air balloon safaris, for example — may not be what you want. Point these out and we will adjust your final offer accordingly.
  • The Maasai massage & spa recovery — Guests travelling the safari circuit by road rather than by air should expect long and tiring days. The rough terrain of the jungle gives the vehicle a constant jolting ride, known affectionately as the Maasai massage. A spa session is provided at the end of your safari to recover.
  • What to pack — Neutral colours are the rule on safari: khaki, olive, stone and brown. Avoid black and dark blue, which draw tsetse flies, and leave camouflage at home entirely — it is reserved for the military and illegal for civilians in several African countries. Bring layers for cold dawn game drives, long sleeves and trousers for dusk when the mosquitoes are out, closed walking shoes, a sun hat and sunglasses. Lodge dinners are smart-casual; nothing formal is needed.
  • Your safari duffel & kit — The duffel bag is used when flying into the parks, where luggage is limited to 15 kg per person. A branded Finders & Keepers Safaris safari hat and safari vest are also provided.

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