20 Days Across Namibia and South Africa’s Eastern Cape: Windhoek, Swakopmund, and Jeffreys Bay Itinerary

From Windhoek’s culture and cuisine to Swakopmund’s Namib Desert dunes and Jeffreys Bay’s surfing and safaris, this 20-day itinerary blends city life, coastlines, wildlife, and adventure.
A vibrant beach scene with clear blue waters and a rocky shore, perfect for travel imagery.
Photo by Summer Stock on Pexels

Namibia’s story is written across vast horizons: San rock art, German colonial architecture, and the Namib—the world’s oldest desert—meeting the Atlantic in a line of luminous dunes. Windhoek hums with craft markets and café culture; Swakopmund serves salt air and adrenaline; Walvis Bay teems with seals and dolphins. Across the border, South Africa’s Eastern Cape offers warm Indian Ocean swells at Jeffreys Bay and big-game encounters in Addo Elephant National Park.


Expect striking contrasts: cathedral-like dunes at Sossusvlei, copper sunsets over the Skeleton Coast, and green fynbos hillsides rolling toward the sea. Cuisine leans hearty and local—braai (barbecue), fresh Atlantic oysters, and South African wines—alongside excellent coffee scenes in both Windhoek and Swakopmund. With good roads and reliable domestic flights, combining city, desert, and surf town is delightfully straightforward.

Practical notes: Drive on the left; distances are long, so refuel often and avoid night driving outside cities. Tap water is typically safe in major towns. Namibia uses the Namibian dollar (pegged to the South African rand). In both countries, card payments are widely accepted, but keep small cash for markets and tips. Always check local weather for fog along the coast and strong winds on the dunes.

Windhoek

Windhoek, Namibia’s compact capital, blends storied landmarks—Christuskirche’s spire, the Alte Feste fort—with modern galleries and a vibrant food scene. It’s the ideal place to ease into the rhythm of southern Africa before heading for the desert and coast.

  • Essential sights: Christuskirche, Independence Museum, Parliament Gardens, Namibia Craft Centre (for locally made baskets, leather, and Himba jewelry).
  • Cultural touchpoints: Explore Katutura’s markets, meet San guides on a bush walk, and taste traditional staples like mahangu pap.
  • Dining snapshot: From game steaks and bistro fare to Portuguese comfort food, Windhoek’s menus are diverse and satisfying.

Days 1–2: Arrive, Settle, and See the City

Arrive in Windhoek and shake off the flight with a gentle city loop: Christuskirche, the Independence Museum’s panoramas, and the shaded Parliament Gardens. Swing by the Namibia Craft Centre to browse quality crafts direct from artisans.

Eat & drink: Start at Slowtown Coffee Roasters (single-origin espresso and fresh bakes). Lunch at The Stellenbosch Wine Bar & Bistro (excellent steaks and South African wines by the glass). For dinner, Joe’s Beerhouse is a Windhoek institution—wood-fired grills, Namibian beers, and a convivial, memorabilia-stuffed interior.


Days 3–4: Township Culture, San Wisdom, and a Taste of Namibia

Understand Windhoek’s past and present in Katutura—learn the city’s story through markets, street food, and everyday life. Then step into the veld with San guides to discover tracking, medicinal plants, and the ingenious “toolkit” of a hunter-gatherer lifestyle.

More eats: O Portuga (iconic piri-piri chicken and prawns), The Social (upmarket-casual with a buzzy bar), Skybar at Avani (sundowners with city views).

Day 5: Wildlife Close to the Capital

Spend a late afternoon on a nearby game drive to see giraffe, antelope, and, if you’re lucky, hippo at sunset. It’s a great warm-up before the coast and safaris to come.

Where to Stay in Windhoek

Getting to Windhoek

  • Flights: Search options into Hosea Kutako International (WDH) via Johannesburg or Cape Town: Trip.com flights | Kiwi.com flights. Typical fares (from Europe) ~$600–$1,100; (from North America) ~$900–$1,500.

Day 6 Morning Transfer to Swakopmund

  • Drive: 360 km via the B2, ~4.5 hours; leave after breakfast to arrive by lunch. Fuel/toll estimate: ~$35–$50 total.
  • Fly: 1-hour flight Windhoek (ERS/WDH) to Walvis Bay (WVB) + 40-minute transfer to Swakopmund; fares ~$100–$160. Check schedules on Trip.com or Kiwi.com.

Swakopmund

Part Bavarian seaside town, part adventure hub, Swakopmund sits where the Namib slides into the Atlantic. Its palm-lined promenade and half-timbered façades hide a playground of sandboarding, quad biking, and 4x4 dune routes.

  • Don’t miss: The jetty at sunset, Swakopmund Museum, Kristall Galerie’s crystals, and the Welwitschia-studded Moon Landscape east of town.
  • Local flavor: German-Namibian bakeries by day; fresh seafood and Namibian craft beer by night.

Days 6–8: Coastal Orientation and Desert Life

Stroll the sea mist past the Jetty, pop into the museum, and warm up on the dunes with a naturalist who reveals geckos, sidewinder tracks, and beetles harvesting fog. Cap a day with Atlantic oysters and a coastal sunset.


Cafés & meals: Slowtown Coffee Roasters (Swakop branch) for flat whites; Village Café for vibrant breakfasts; Brewer & Butcher at Strand Hotel (house-brewed beers, pork knuckle, and sea views). Dinner at The Tug (grilled line fish, just off the breakers) or Jetty 1905 (oysters and sushi perched over the ocean).

Days 9–10: Sandwich Harbour—Where Dune Meets Sea

Ride a 4x4 down knife-edge dunes to the waterline at Sandwich Harbour, one of Namibia’s most photogenic corners. Combine with a catamaran cruise for seals, dolphins, and cormorant fly-bys in a single epic day.

Evenings: Kücki’s Pub (old-school Swakop institution—excellent calamari), Ocean Cellar (seafood and sushi, strong SA wine list). Night owls can try a Namib Desert Night Walk for scorpions glowing under UV and star-gazing on clear nights.

Days 11–12: Skeleton Coast and Spitzkoppe Day Excursions

Head north to Cape Cross to see tens of thousands of fur seals and lonely shipwrecks, or inland to Spitzkoppe—dramatic granite domes with ancient rock art and a Martian glow at dusk.

Where to Stay in Swakopmund

Day 13 Morning Flight to South Africa (Jeffreys Bay via Gqeberha/Port Elizabeth)

  • Route: Walvis Bay (WVB) → via Cape Town (CPT) → Gqeberha/Port Elizabeth (PLZ); total journey ~5.5–8 hours including connection, typical fares ~$220–$420. Search on Trip.com or Kiwi.com.
  • Transfer: Drive PLZ → Jeffreys Bay ~80 km, 60–70 minutes along the N2.

Jeffreys Bay (Eastern Cape, South Africa)

Jeffreys Bay—“J-Bay” to surfers—is a laid-back beach town famed for Supertubes, one of the world’s best right-hand point breaks. Even non-surfers fall for warm-water beaches, dune-backed sunsets, and easy day trips to elephant country.


  • Why go now: Excellent year-round weather, reliable surf, and the Big Five within day-trip distance.
  • Beyond the beach: Walk the Seekoei River Nature Reserve, shop the Surf Village outlets, and taste the Eastern Cape’s seafood heritage.

Days 13–14: Arrive, Beach Walks, and Surf Culture

Settle into J-Bay with a boardwalk stroll at Dolphin Beach and sunset at Point. Pop into the Surf Village for outlet finds from local and global brands, and consider a beginner’s surf lesson at Kitchen Windows—gentle waves and sandy entry.

Eat & drink: Coffee at Infood Coffee Society (house roastery, great pastries). Brunch at Tasty Table Café (ocean-view eggs Benedict). Dinner at Kitchen Windows Beach Restaurant (butter-garlic prawns, excellent steaks) or Die Walskipper in nearby Aston Bay (toes-in-sand grills and potbrood bread).

Days 15–16: Addo Elephant National Park—Big Five Time

Drive or transfer to Addo for herds of elephants—often at arm’s-length—and plains game, with chances of lion and buffalo. Pair with Kragga Kamma for rhino and giraffe in a lush forested reserve.

Post-safari eats: Nina’s Real Food (big, wholesome menu, including vegan and hearty curries), JBay Bru Co (burgers, craft beer), and dessert at The Mexican’s churros window if open late.

Day 17: Coastline and City Heritage in Gqeberha

Take a coastal loop in Port Elizabeth (Gqeberha): Shark Rock Pier, Cape Recife Lighthouse, and the wind-strafed dunes beyond. It’s a good urban reset with marine conservation highlights.


Lunch tip: Grab fish and chips near the harbor or head back to J-Bay for calamari at Die Walskipper with sunset over the bay.

Day 18: Private Reserve Safari Upgrade

For a more exclusive game experience, book a day at Pumba Private Game Reserve—scenic savanna, quality guiding, and chances for lion and white rhino. It’s an indulgent finale to your Eastern Cape wildlife chapter.

Days 19–20: Beach Day, Surf Session, and Departure

Keep it light: morning surf or swim at Paradise Beach, a stroll along Kabeljous Nature Reserve, and a long lunch. Pick up local leather sandals and surf-inspired gifts before you go.

Farewell bites: Breakfast at Tasty Table (French toast with bacon and banana), last espresso at Infood Coffee Society, and early dinner at Kitchen Windows (sea views, excellent grills).

Where to Stay in Jeffreys Bay

Departing the Eastern Cape

  • Jeffreys Bay → Gqeberha/Port Elizabeth Airport (PLZ): ~1 hour by road. Connect to Johannesburg (JNB) or Cape Town (CPT) for onward international flights. Compare options on Trip.com or Kiwi.com. Domestic legs ~$60–$150; international connections vary by season.

Optional Extensions (if you want to tweak the 20 days)

At-a-Glance 20-Day Flow

  • Days 1–5: Windhoek (city, culture, San walk, nearby game drive)
  • Day 6: Morning transfer to Swakopmund
  • Days 6–12: Swakopmund & Walvis Bay (eco-dunes, catamaran, Sandwich Harbour, Skeleton Coast/Spitzkoppe)
  • Day 13: Fly to Gqeberha → Jeffreys Bay
  • Days 13–20: Jeffreys Bay (beach days, Addo/Kragga Kamma, Pumba day safari, coastal tour) → Depart

From Windhoek’s city pulse to Swakopmund’s dunes and J-Bay’s warm surf and safaris, this route strings together southern Africa’s greatest hits with smart travel days and plenty of breathing room. You’ll leave with red sand in your shoes, salt on your skin, and a memory card full of elephants, dunes, and perfect sunsets.


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