travel route namibia

Ultimate Namibia Itinerary: Self-Drive Road Trip (+ Map & Tips)

By Author Jurga

Posted on Last updated: May 28, 2024

Namibia is a beautiful country that requires some slow traveling to truly appreciate it. It’s also a place that requires quite some advance research in order to make the most of your trip.

Planning a self-drive road trip in Namibia might look overwhelming at first. Distances are big, the roads aren’t great, and the accommodations are scarce and expensive…

So you are absolutely right looking for ideas for the Namibia itinerary and suggestions on how to best plan your road trip in advance!

We also struggled with the same questions before our trip. After a lot of research, we created an amazing itinerary and spent 4 weeks road-tripping in Namibia. It was the best road trip ever!

Below, you can find our detailed day-to-day Namibia road trip itinerary that covers all the must-see places and so much more. Our trip was very easy-going, so we also included suggestions for how you can see just as much in less time. You can also find Namibia itinerary tips for shorter trips. Find out!

Things to Consider When Preparing Namibia Itinerary

No matter how much time you have in Namibia, you will have to make choices when preparing your itinerary.

Here are a few things to consider:

• There are very few highways in Namibia and most other roads are gravel. So you will – literally – need to slow down. That being said, it doesn’t mean that you need a month to see Namibia. In fact, many ‘standard’ Namibia trip itineraries are no longer than 10 or 14 days.
• The distances between the main highlights are very big, so you cannot just visit the ‘top’ places and skip all the rest unless you opt for a fly-in safari.
• When planning your trip , you’ll have to decide if you want to visit more places at a fast pace or travel slower and see more at fewer locations.
• Before preparing your itinerary, consider if you also want to visit the South (Fish River Canyon) and/or the North (Caprivi Strip) of the country. Both these destinations are so far from all the rest that just driving there and back will add at least a few days to your trip.
• Another possibility is to combine your Namibian road trip with Botswana and Victoria Falls. But only do this by car if you have a lot of time.
• Or maybe you decide to just stick to the main highlights of Namibia and skip the less known locations… In that case, you can even see ‘the musts’ in a week.

The choice is completely yours to make depending on your interests, time, budget, and some other factors, like malaria risk, for example.

There are two main highlights that you absolutely shouldn’t miss in Namibia and that is Etosha National Park and Sossusvlei . Other highlights include Fish River Canyon , Kolmanskop , Swakopmund , and Twyfelfontein . But there are many other amazing places.

Having said all that, some of the very best, memorable experiences from our trip to Namibia had nothing to do with the most famous places… In our itinerary below, you can read all about it.

LEARN MORE: Best Places to Visit in Namibia

Our Namibia itinerary for 4 weeks

Before we continue with our Namibia road trip itinerary, you should know that this is a custom-made 4-week road trip itinerary that covers all of Namibia except the north. We prepared this Namibia itinerary for our family based on our interests and taking into account the fact that we were traveling to Namibia with three young children under 6.

Of course, we included all the landmarks and made sure to visit all the best places in Namibia! But we opted for multiple nights at several locations and for shorter driving days when we could. Also, we didn’t go to the Caprivi Strip in order to avoid malaria risk.

TIP: You could easily shorten this Namibia itinerary and still see about just as much as we did in about 3 weeks. And certainly, if you are camping and are less dependent on the location of accommodations. You can find some itinerary suggestions for 2 or 3 weeks in Namibia at the bottom of this article. Read on!

Here’s our Namibia road trip itinerary exactly as we did it:

Day 1: Arrival in Windhoek. Windhoek – Kalahari Desert. Eningu Clayhouse Lodge for 1 night. 110 km – 2hrs.

After picking up the rental car where we also got a short instruction video about driving on gravel, we headed to Windhoek for a short city walk and to stack on supplies of food and drinks for the next few days.

TIP: Check this website for an overview of some of the best options for car rental. We recommend getting a 4×4 for your Namibia trip.

We opted to spend our first night outside of the city. We stayed at Eningu Clayhouse Lodge in the Kalahari desert and I would recommend this to everyone. Not necessarily this specific lodge, but staying outside of the city.

We felt that we were in Africa the moment we left the highway. We saw wild animals next to the road and we spent our first afternoon in the hot tub. We saw an amazing sunset and spent our first evening dining under the stars.

TIP: Don’t stay in Windhoek. Choose one of the many lodges outside the city. If you decide to go straight down to the south and rather stay closer to the main road to Mariental, I recommend checking Auas Safari Lodge . It’s not too far from Windhoek and has great reviews! 

Day 2: Kalahari desert. Drive to Mariental. Gondwana Kalahari Anib Lodge for 1 night. 270 km, 4-5hrs.

Long drive through the Kalahari desert today. The scenery is nice, but there are no major points of interest along the way here, so we drove straight to our next accommodation.

We arrived at our next lodge, Gondwana Kalahari Anib Lodge , just in time for a late afternoon safari ride and a sundowner. It was the first one during this trip and we loved it! We got bitten by a sundowner bug and tried to go on as many sundowners as possible during the rest of our trip.

TIP: Don’t miss Namibian sundowners, do at least one! All lodges in Namibia organize sundowner/safari rides, so make sure you get to your lodge in time for the late afternoon ride.

Day 3 : Mariental – Fish River Canyon. Canyon Lodge for 2 nights. 410 km – 6hrs.

Long drive from Mariental to Fish River Canyon, but luckily the first part was on a tarmac road.

We stopped at the Quiver Tree Forest and made a short walk around the Giant’s Playground before continuing South towards the Fish River Canyon. The last couple of hours we were driving through the desolate and very uninspiring landscape, but the surroundings of our next lodge were so beautiful that we quickly forgot the long drive.

Our accommodation for two nights was a beautiful Gondwana Canyon Lodge – one of the nicest places we stayed during this trip!

A bit cheaper accommodation located in a similar spectacular setting is the nearby Gondwana Canyon Village .

TIP: If you are looking for accommodation with views over the Fish River Canyon, take a look at Fish River Lodge . It has an amazing location!

Day 4 : Fish River Canyon

There are many possibilities to explore the Fish River Canyon . You can also opt for some other excursions in the area. We simply chose to drive to the canyon and explore several viewpoints.

In the morning, we drove to a couple of lookouts and made a walk on the rim of the canyon.

TIP for families traveling with children: In the afternoon we headed to a nearby Canyon Roadhouse for lunch.

We chose this place because we knew our kids would love it there. They have a big collection of all kinds of old vehicles. A paradise for our boys!

In the evening, we opted for a sundowner walk at our lodge and enjoyed the most beautiful Namibian sunset in style.

Day 5 : Fish River Canyon – Klein Aus Vista. Desert Horse Inn for 2 nights. 290 km – 4hrs.

A long drive again with some beautiful landscapes along the way. Our lodge, Desert Horse Inn , was not half as nice as the previous one, but there wasn’t anything better available in this area when we traveled. Now I’d recommend staying at the highly-rated Bahnhof Hotel Aus .

There are lots of hiking trails in the area and so we spent the afternoon hiking. The walk was much nicer than we had expected.

TIP:   Go hiking in the area around Klein Aus Vista.

Day 6 : Klein Aus Vista – Luderitz/ Kolmanskop – Klein Aus Vista. 115 km – 1,5 hrs in one direction.

The highlight of the day was our visit to Kolmanskop . It’s a ghost town that was once the home to German diamond miners seeking to make their fortune in the Namibian desert.

Nowadays, Kolmansop is a real paradise for photographers. Our kids loved it too!

TIP: Go to Kolmanskop early in the morning for better pictures and fewer people.

We also paid a short visit to Luderitz , but found it a rather uninspiring little town. We also spent some time hoping to find the wild horses of Namib in Garub . No luck for us, but this place is known for that, so check it out if passing by.

Day 7 : Klein Aus Vista – Sossusvlei. Sossus Dune Lodge for 2 nights. 350 km – 5hrs.

Long ride from Aus to Sossusvlei, but it didn’t feel that long since we took the scenic route and drove through the most amazing landscape. Red sand roads, oryx antelopes, ostriches, and all kinds of other wild animals added plenty of distraction for the kids along the way.

TIP: Take route C27 and not C14+C19 – it might be slower, but it’s really worth it.

We opted to stay at the Sossus Dune Lodge as it’s the only lodge that is inside the park allowing the guests to get to the Sossusvlei before sunrise and after sunset. We went to Elim dune to watch the sunset. 

TIP:   Sossusvlei Lodge,  located just outside the park gates, is actually nicer accommodation and it’s cheaper too. The only disadvantage is that you can’t enter the park before sunrise.

Day 8 : Sossusvlei

Deadvlei, Sossusvlei, Dune 45, and the Sesriem canyon were the highlights today. Top day for the kids as well. They loved climbing the sand dunes and they loved rolling down the dunes even more…

We woke up very early and drove to Sossusvlei before sunrise. We then walked to Deadvlei in the dark and stayed there until sunrise. It was freezing cold, but an amazing experience. We had the popular Deadvlei all to ourselves.

TIP: If you are up for it, you can climb one of the dunes for sunrise views. Dune 45 along the way to Sossusvlei is a good place for that if you can’t make it to Sossusvlei or Deadvlei before sunrise.

Day 9 : Sossusvlei – Rostock Ritz Desert Lodge for 1 night. 140 km, 2 hrs.

TIP:   When driving from Sossusvlei to the north, stop at Solitaire petrol station/restaurant for some of their famous apple pie.

Most people drive from Sossusvlei all the way to Swakopmund in one day. We opted to break the long drive between Sossuvlei to Swakopmund and spend a night in Rostock Ritz Desert Lodge .

The lodge itself is not very special, but there are lots of excursion possibilities in the area and they have a meerkat encounter , which was again one of the highlights for the kids.

We ended the day with another beautiful sundowner ride and some incredibly delicious food. The restaurant at this lodge was probably the best of our entire 4-weeks trip in Namibia!

Day 10 : Rostock Ritz Desert Lodge – Swakopmund for 3 nights. 230 km – 3,5 hrs.

After 10 days in the desert, we were so glad to be back in the living world again! We stopped in Walvis Bay for lunch. We could even choose from more than one restaurant! What a luxury.

TIP: Walvis Bay Lagoon with thousands of wild flamingos was absolutely the highlight of the day. Don’t miss it!

We stayed in Swakopmund, alternatively, you can stay in Walvis Bay. The two towns are not far from each other, but we found that Swakopmund has a much nicer atmosphere, more hotel and restaurant choices, and more activities and day trips that leave from there.

We stayed at the Atlantic Sicht Apartment in Swakopmund and absolutely loved it. It was like a home away from home. 

Here you can find the best deals for Swakopmund accommodation  or Walvis Bay accommodation . This area is the only place in Namibia where you can find a big choice of quality accommodation for any budget.

Days 11 – 12 : Swakopmund and the area

Swakopmund is a nice little town with many shops, restaurants, and cafés. It’s definitely the nicest town in Namibia and 3 nights is certainly not too much for a stay here. In fact, you could easily stay here longer and find plenty of things to see and do.

TIP: Have lunch or dinner at the Village Café (Sam Nujoma Avenue).

There are many excursion possibilities in and around Swakopmund , so you will have no difficulties finding something that interests you. Here you can find some of the most popular tours from Swakopmund .

The most popular tours are the dolphin- and whale-watching catamaran tour from Walvis Bay, Moon Landscape and Welwitschia Drive , and 4×4 tour to Sandwich Harbour  (or this amazing kayaking and Sandwich Harbour combo tour ). There are many more possibilities too, but the above are worth your time the most.

TIP (just for our readers – don’t tell anyone ;)): Even though Spitzkoppe is not included in most Namibia trip itineraries, it’s one of our absolute favorite places in Namibia. It’s only 1,5 hrs drive from Swakopmund and you can make a nice half day-day trip to the area.

Take water, picnic lunch, and walking shoes with you and explore this beautiful area. If you are camping, Spitzkoppe has the most amazing campsites you could imagine. Don’t miss it!

You can drive there or take a tour to Spitzkoppe if you want a more relaxing day or don’t have a 4×4.

Day 13 : Swakopmund – Twyfelfontein via Cape Cross. 411 km – 6+hrs. Twyfelfontein Country Lodge for 1 night.

TIP: Leave Swakopmund early in the morning if you want to go to Cape Cross first. It’s a long drive to Twyfelfontein and Cape Cross is a bit out of the way. But it’s absolutely worth it!

Cape Cross is home to a huge seal colony (tens of thousands of seals live here) and you can get amazingly close to them. An experience like no other!

If you have time left, you can visit Petrified Forest on the road to Twyfelfntein or drive to the Burnt Mountain for sunset.

We stayed at Twyfelfontein Country Lodge – one of the very few lodging options in this area. Alternatively, check out Malansrus or  Madisa Camp  – both very unique tented accommodations, but Malansrus is a bit closer to Twyfelfontein.

Day 14 : Twyfelfontein – Palmwag. Palmwag Lodge for 2 nights. 115 km – 1h45.

Twyfelfontein UNESCO Heritage Site  is absolutely worth the visit. You will be assigned a guide who will take you to the cavemen’s paintings and will tell you all you want to know about ancient rock art.

TIP:  Go to Twyfelfontein early in the morning before it gets busy. The most recommended walk is the Lion Man Route . Take water with you.

If you are interested in the local culture, pay a short visit to the Damara Living Museum . It’s not an authentic experience as it’s not a real village you are visiting, but one with paid actors, but it’s still interesting to see how people used to live in the area.

We stayed 2 nights at Palmwag Lodge . A really nice alternative in this area is Grootberg Lodge , or otherwise a more simple accommodation – Etendeka Mountain Camp . 

Day 15 : Palmwag

Free day in the Palmwag area. There are several excursion and safari ride possibilities at the lodge.

We opted for the safari and Himba village tour and had the most amazing day. The Himba village we visited was not comparable to the Damara ‘living museum’ we saw the other day. We met a real Himba family, saw the way they really live, and the interaction with the people was real.

Our kids went to play with their children, they were chasing the goats and the chicken and seemed to be having the time of their lives. Safari in the Palmwag area was also one of the best ones of our whole trip.

TIP: Visit a local Himba village.

LEARN MORE: Visiting Namibia’s Indigenous Tribes

Days 16 – 19 : Etosha National Park

Etosha National Park is one of the best places to see in Namibia. So make sure to plan at least 2-3 days here. Here’s what our time in Etosha looked like:

Day 16 – Palmwag – Etosha. Dolomite Camp for 1 night. 230 km – 3.5hrs Day 17 – Dolomite Camp – Okaukuejo. 180 km – 4hrs. Okaukuejo Rest Camp for 2 nights. Day 18 – Etosha. Day 19 – Etosha: Okaukuejo – Mushara. 153 km – 2h15

There are plenty of possibilities to see wild animals in Etosha. The best times are early in the morning or late in the afternoon, and the best places are around the waterholes. The very best place to see lots of animals without much effort is the Okaukuejo waterhole.

READ ALSO: Safari Tips & Safari with Kids

We stayed at three hotels in Etosha NP: Dolomite Camp and Okaukuejo Rest Camp – government-run properties inside Etosha, and a beautiful Mushara Lodge outside the park. 

Etosha is absolutely the highlight of any Namibian trip, but I cannot say the same about the Dolomite Camp. It’s a beautiful but completely mismanaged place.

Okaukuejo Rest Camp  offers simple accommodation, but it has an amazing location that makes up for the simple rooms. 

Mushara Lodge  was absolutely incredible and we wished we had stayed longer there. 

LEARN MORE: Best Places to Stay in Etosha National Park

TIP: If you are looking for the best location for Etosha, stay at Okaukuejo Rest Camp or at one of the beautiful hotels just outside the park gates at Okaukuejo . If you want to stay at the eastern side of Etosha as well, I cannot recommend Mushara Lodge highly enough.

Day 20 : Mushara – Otjiwarongo area. 300 km – 4hrs. Frans Indongo Lodge for 2 nights.

The only place that was somewhat worth a visit on this day was Lake Otjikoto. It’s more of a place to stretch your legs a bit than anything else.

We stayed at the  Frans Indongo Lodge  for 2 nights. The area around Frans Indongo was not very spectacular, but it was well located for a day trip to see cheetahs next day.

There are several walking trails next to the lodge, but if I were to go to Namibia again, I would only stay here for one night (or find an alternative hotel).

Day 21 : Cheetah Conservation Fund and Crocodile Farm

Cheetah Conservation Fund (CCF) is a place you shouldn’t miss when planning Namibia road trip. It’s a serious honest project helping the animals and you have several possibilities to see cheetahs from close by. Count half a day for the visit.

TIP: If you are traveling without kids, try to get there for the Cheetah Run early in the morning. With children, we could go on a jeep ride and saw plenty of cheetahs from the safety of the car.

We also visited the Crocodile Ranch  in Otjiwarongo. You can see lots of crocodiles and even pet one so the kids liked it, but it’s not something you absolutely have to do. A good stop for half an hour for families passing by, but not more.

Days 22 – 23 : Erindi Private Game Reserve. Old Traders Lodge for 2 nights.

These two days were among the most memorable of the entire trip of 4 weeks in Namibia! Erindi is an amazing all-in safari lodge that truly has it all.

Day 22 : Otjiwarongo – Erindi Private Game Reserve. 270 km – 4 hrs. We drove to Erindi as early as we could so that we could join some of the activities on the first day already.

Day 23 : Erindi.  If there is one lodge I would love to go back to in Namibia, it’s Erindi Old Traders Lodge !

It was also the most expensive lodge on our Namibia itinerary, but absolutely worth it. We had an all-in package with two safari rides per day and all the meals included. There are many other activities that you can do in Erindi. Visiting the local San tribe was one of them, and also various safari rides, etc.

What we loved the most about our stay in Erindi was the restaurant terrace at the Old Traders Lodge. It overlooks a waterhole where we spent many relaxing hours eating cake, sipping cold drinks, and watching wild animals come and go.

If Erindi is above your budget, you can also just visit here for a day. The restaurant with the terrace overlooking a waterhole is accessible to everyone and they also offer safari rides and other activities to visitors who aren’t staying at the lodge. Erindi is a bit out of the way when driving from Etosha to Windhoek, but you’ll absolutely love it.

Day 24: Erindi – Windhoek. 220 km – 3hrs. Na’ankuse Lodge for 1 night.

Depending on your flight schedule, you could drive straight to the airport and skip Windhoek altogether on the last day.

We opted to stay at Erindi a bit longer and drove to Na’ankuse Lodge close to the airport towards the evening. The lodge proudly displays pictures of Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie who visited here back when they were a couple.

This lodge also has all kinds of activities including wildlife watching and they also have cheetahs. But we only arrived here in the evening, too late for any rides. So we only had dinner at the lodge and I cannot comment on the activities, however, customer reviews are excellent.

Day 25: Windhoek and departure

Since we had plenty of time before our flight, we headed back to the center of Windhoek. It was a bit livelier than on the first day of our trip and we enjoyed walking around the Post Street Mall . It’s a pedestrian mall lined with shops, restaurants, office buildings, and craft sellers and is probably the liveliest place in town.

We had a quiet late lunch at the famous Joe’s Beer House in Windhoek and headed to the airport for the flight home.

As you can see, our Namibia trip itinerary was a mix of seeing a lot and a more relaxing vacation. As I said, you could easily visit all the same places in Namibia in less time. 

What could you skip or shorten? See our suggestions for a shorter Namibia itinerary below!

Namibia Trip Itinerary Suggestions for 2 or 3 weeks

Following our 4-week itinerary above, here’s how you could adjust it to make it shorter:

• If Kolmanskop is not of much interest to you, you could skip day 6 of the itinerary.
• You could visit Sossusvlei in the morning and leave the area that same afternoon. If you don’t mind driving a lot (and I mean a lot), you could go straight to Swakopmund and skip days 9 and 10. In any case, you can easily skip one day here.
• If you have limited time, you could stay just 2 nights in Swakopmund instead of 3, skip Palmwag altogether (it’s a bit out of the way if you don’t go to the Dolomite Camp), and spend less time in Etosha.
• You could also stay just one night in the Otjiwarongo area, see cheetahs in the morning and drive straight to Windhoek.
• If you opt to stay at Erindi or one of the many other private reserves in the area, you can stay there till the last day of your trip and go straight to the airport from there.

I know that planning the Namibia itinerary can be overwhelming and this is a lot of information to digest, so feel free to ask questions. You can leave a reply below.

TIP: When planning your trip, make sure to also take a look at our essential travel tips for Namibia via the link below. That article has all the information about driving in Namibia, what kind of car you need, and other tips for touring Namibia on a self drive trip. Check it out!

READ ALSO: Namibia Travel Tips

Planning a trip to Namibia? Get the most out of your trip with these tips:

• Best Places to See in Namibia
• Namibia Packing List
• Etosha Hotels
• Namibia with Kids
• Our Favorite Pictures from Namibia
• Best Camera Equipment for Safari

If you found this post helpful, don’t forget to bookmark it and share it with your friends. Are you on Pinterest? Pin these images!

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Wednesday 21st of August 2024

Hi I love your article, I am planning a road trip in Namibia and you have been given me a lot of help with your detailed description. Do you know if it is possible to travel between Etosha national park and Chobe national park by plane?

Hi Helen, I really don’t know but I am sure you can find this information online. Good luck and enjoy Namibia!

Tuesday 19th of March 2024

Dear Jurga, Thank you for your article, it helped a lot with our planning. We will visit Namibia this summer with our 4 years old daughter and we had everything planned but unfortunately today we received an email from Erindi that they perform renovations which will last longer than expected and they had to cancel our reservation (beginning of August). So now i am looking for an alternative for 2 nights (we would have already spend 4 nights in Etosha and we want to spend two nights somewhere between Etosha and Windhoek). In your article you mention other private reserves in the area. Can you suggest any? Thank you Zafeira

Wednesday 20th of March 2024

@Jurga, Thank you, indeed i have checked some and either have 2 persons rooms or do not accept children below 6 years old - i will have a look to the ones you suggested as well and hopefully i will find something.

Once again thank you for the information.

Hi Zafeira, take a look at Okonjima Plains Camp or Okonjima Luxury Bush Camp. On a more affordable side, check out Ondudu Safari Lodge or Omurenga. On a lower budget, Omaruru Game Lodge looks great too. I'm just not sure how it works with 3 people sharing the room, so see what's possible for your family. I don't get it why so many lodges only have rooms for 2 people :(, but we found that most of them were accommodating enough to add an extra bed or mattress for a young child. It gets so much more complicated when your kids get older though... Anyway, hope this helps. Enjoy your trip!

Karin Eckhardt

Tuesday 5th of March 2024

Dear Jurga, I am so happy to came across your blog and have been reading it a lot. Very inspiring and love the pictures. I am planning my trip to Namibia in August with my son (will be driving by myself) and am struggling to make some final decisions. Would be great to hear your experience/suggestions. See day 7, 9 and Etosha. I can still change my depart from Windhoek 1 day later.

Day 1 Arrival Windhoek 11.00 / 1 night Day 2 >Sesriem / 1 night Day 3 > Solitaire / 1 night Day 4,5,6 > Swakopmund / 3 night Day 7 > Brandberg White lady lodge / 1 night However after booking I read about Spitzkoppe(which I don't want to visit as 1/2 day tour from Swakopmund as other activities planned) + San Living Museum Erongo/Omandumba. Wondering if it's realistic to visit both on our way to Brandberg? We wouldn't go hiking at Spitzkoppe, but do like to do a tour at San Museum. What do you think? If it's too much, I will try to move our whole schedule/bookings(challenging), and stay overnight around Spitzkoppe if it's worth it. But in case if I have to choose what do you think is nicer Brandberg or Spitzkoppe? Alternatively we could also stay 2 nights at Twyfelfontein country lodge. Day 8> Twyfelfontein country lodge Day 9, 10, 11 > Opuwo/ 3 nights Trying to visit Himba for the first time. Wondering if 3 nights is too much? Day 12 > Ondangwa Ongula homestead / 1 night Day 13> Namutoni NWR - 4 nights Etosho wondering if we should do 3 nights? if so which location should we skip? Or would you recommend to do 4 nights and rather stay 2 night at Okaukeujo and skip Namutoni NWR? Day 14 Namutoni Mushara lodge Day 15 Halali NWR Day 16 Okaukeujo Day 17 eod flighty to J'burg Hope to hear your thoughts, thank you Karin

Thursday 7th of March 2024

@Karin Eckhardt, Thanks again! Already postponed my flight to make it all happen. Reached out to Erindi, unfortunately they are closed due to big renovations. But will find an alternative. Enjoy all your future travels.

Wednesday 6th of March 2024

@Jurga, Thanks for your quick answer, really appreciated! Will take your advice on Etosha and Erindi. If we have to choose between Brandberg or Spitzkoppe, which one should we skip? Thanks

Hi Karin, first, I really have no time to look into your itinerary in detail or how it fits together, so just a few thoughts as you asked. Day 7, if you drive from Swakopmund to Spitzkoppe and San Living Museum to Brandberg, it's at least 6 hours of pure driving time. Plus, you'll need time to visit both places, even if just for half an hour or an hour. So it's a full day. Theoretically, it could work, but I would start very very early to make sure you don't have to drive in the dark. If all goes well, it's doable, but if you get any kind of delays, you won't have much daylight time to spare. Also, since you are the only driver, only you can feel what you are comfortable with. Days 9-11, two nights/one day could probably be sufficient depending on what you can actually do there. Etosha - If you can stay at Okaukuejo even for a night or two, it's well worth it. The rest depends on how much animal viewing you want to do. Some people see hundreds of zebras at one waterhole and are happy and others go on two safari rides for several days in a row and still don't have enough. So it's really up to you how much time you want to spend there. As for the lodges, it's good to have a mix of some simpler and nicer ones in between - some of our best memories from Namibia are from the nicest lodges we stayed at. Mushara is way nicer than Okaukuejo, but location wise, Okaukuejo would be my top choice over anything else in the area. Last day - I would stay somewhat closer to the airport and not do it from Etosha in one go. It's a long drive. We loved our stay at Erindi which is about halfway between the two. It was by far our favorite lodge in Namibia. Hope this helps. Good luck with the planning!

Sunday 14th of January 2024

Hi Jurga, Great article, I’m taking some inspo here! Would you recommend driving to Mariental area and spend the first night there? I and my boyfriend are planning a trip in late March to South Namibia. Our flight would arrive at 1:20pm and I was wondering if we have enough time to pick up the car and drive a couple of hours to get there. Thank you, Laura

Monday 22nd of January 2024

@Jurga, thanks for your feedback! After some evaluation I think we’ll definitely spend the first night close to the airport and begin our road trip the day after. Thanks again! Laura

Tuesday 16th of January 2024

Hi Laura, taking into account that your flight arrives in the afternoon and that the drive to Mariental is over 3 hours, I think I'd stay much closer to the airport on the first night. You have to foresee extra time to get out of the airport (luggage, rental car, etc.), not even to mention possible flight delays. I just checked and see that the sunset time at the end of March is around 7 pm, so ideally, you get wherever you have to be no later than that. While theoretically, it could work, I personally would opt to stay closer and not have to stress about having to drive in the dark. Better start earlier the next morning. Have a great trip and stay safe!

Charles Pringle

Monday 6th of November 2023

Great article, thank you, very useful how old is your youngest and how did her/she enjoy the trip. Our little girl will be nearly 2 and a half - is this too young? My feeling is it is given especially significant amount of driving - thoughts?

Friday 10th of November 2023

Hi Charles, our twins were 3.5 when we made this trip, and the oldest was 5.5. They don't remember much of it anymore, but they sure had fun during the trip. Having a 2-year old will not make things easier for you, definitely on longer rides, but if you know what to expect and prepare for long hours in a car, it might even be easier with a younger kid since they (hopefully) can sleep a bit in between the places/activities. Another issue is that often, you won't be able to do (m)any organized safari rides with a young child (usually at least up to 5-6 years, in some cases even 8). I can't really help you decide whether it's a right trip for your family. We are glad that we did it when we did it, but I'm sure it would be a totally different experience with older kids. Good luck!

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Ultimate namibia road trip: self-drive itinerary and top places to see.

Table of Contents

So, you’re planning a trip to Namibia? Yay! I think Namibia is one of the most underrated travel destinations (if not the most…) I have ever visited. I went to Namibia as part of a two-month overland camping trip with G Adventures . If I’m honest, Namibia was probably the country I researched the least, so I wasn’t sure what to expect. Turns out, Namibia is now one of my all-time favourite countries. In this post, I share some of the must-visit spots to visit on any road trip through Namibia to add to your self-drive itinerary.

Deserts, giant sand dunes, safaris, and adrenaline-filled activities… Namibia is one of the most adventurous and beautiful countries in Africa. Planning a trip there can be a little bit of a headache though, but don’t let that put you off. Despite its lack of modern infrastructure, Namibia is relatively easy to get around if you hire a vehicle or join a group tour. It really is somewhere you need to plan though to get the most out of it. This certainly isn’t a case of let’s hire a van and see where it takes us. It’s a good idea to have an itinerary in place with accommodation and activities booked, especially when it comes to popular spots like Etosha National Park and Dune 45.

Below, you can find the must-visit spots for any road trip through Namibia. All these spots are epic places to add to your self-drive itinerary. If you’re not keen on driving, see below for how to see Namibia as part of a group tour.

How to travel around Namibia

Travelling around many countries in Africa can be a challenge and Namibia is no exception. Many of the roads are unpaved/unsealed and there is a noticeable lack of infrastructure and services. Despite this, if you’re keen to do a road trip through an African country, Namibia is a great option. Self-drives and campervan hires are becoming more and more popular.

Road trip/self-drive 

Opting to hire a car or campervan and road trip around Namibia is growing in popularity and it means you have complete control of your itinerary. If you stick to the main route, you’ll find plenty of campsites along the way to aid with your journey. I did my road trip through Namibia as part of a group tour, but the guys over at Anywhere We Roam have an epic guide to self-driving in Namibia . 

Group Tours

If you’re worried about driving yourself around, the other option is to join a group tour (this is what I did). There are a few companies that operate in Namibia. I’d personally recommend looking at G Adventures as they offer several tours in Namibia which range from camping to hotels. You could also consider their huge 55-day camping trip through Africa . This is what I did, and it’s one of the best things I’ve done . 

Is Namibia safe?

This is a really hard question to answer. I was on an organised group tour so feel my view of this may have been sheltered. Even so, I never felt unsafe in Namibia. Everyone we met was incredibly welcoming. As with many less-travelled countries, the best thing to do is to stick to the major tourist spots which I’ve listed below. 

When’s the best time to visit Namibia?

You can visit Namibia all year round. The dry season is between June and October and is considered the best time to visit, especially if camping or going on safari. 

But it is a great year-round destination. 

The Best Places to Visit in Namibia

Fish river canyon.

Fish River Canyon was one of the first stops on my road trip in Namibia. I don’t think any words can truly describe this place. This gigantic canyon is the largest in Africa, and the second largest in the world (behind only the USA’s Grand Canyon). The canyon is believed to have been formed hundreds of millions ago and is beyond impressive.

I’ve been fortunate enough to have also visited the Grand Canyon and while I hesitate to compare natural wonders such as these, I have to say Fish River Canyon was truly breathtaking. We did a walk along the edge of the canyon just before the sunset. We then reached a viewing area where we shared some drinks as the sun set over the canyon. It was truly stunning and is an itinerary must on any road trip or self-drive through Namibia.

There is also the option of doing longer day hikes here. You’ll need to speak to a local guide about doing this as it can be very dangerous in the heat.

Swakopmund is a coastal town on the Atlantic coast of Namibia and is arguably the adventure capital of the country. I spent two days here and it didn’t feel like nearly enough time to truly tick off every activity. From skydiving, to quad biking, and dolphin cruises, there is an array of activities to choose from here.

If you’re looking for a base to do day trips from to minimise driving, Swakopmund could be a great option.

Here are just a few of the many things you can do in Swakopmund :

• Skydive over the Namibian desert: opting to skydive in Namibia gives you the unique opportunity to see this giant desert from above as you soar through the sky.
• Go sandboarding: Swakopmund is surrounded by desert which means there are plenty of fun activities right in the desert. I went sandboarding for the day and had so much fun. I couldn’t believe the height of some of the dunes we went down. Just be warned – it involves A LOT of walking uphill … in the sand…
• See the flamingos: Namibia is a hotspot for wildlife and a short drive from Swakopmund will take you to Walvis Bay where you can see hundreds, if not thousands, of flamingoes. November to April is the best time to see them.
• Go dolphin and whale watching: Swakopmund is right on the coast of the Atlantic Ocean and is a prime spot for dolphins and whales. Southern Right Whales and Humpbacks are known to frequent the area from June to October. There are several boat operators which offer tours.
• Quad biking: join a quad biking tour and explore the desert while riding up and down the dunes. I didn’t do this but someone in my group did and loved it.

There are also many day trips and overnight trips which take you out into the desert including to see the likes of the famous Dune 45.

Sandboarding in Swakopmund

Flamingoes in Walvis Bay

The last thing I ever want to do with my blog is oversell somewhere. So I don’t say this lightly… spending a day and night in Spitzkoppe is in my top 5 travel experiences of all time. I had zero idea of what to expect from Spitzkoppe. Our guide had told us it was great for hiking and we’d spend the night ‘bush camping’. As we pulled up at our campsite, I instantly fell in love with the area.

Spitzkoppe is a remote region of Namibia and consists of isolated granite peaks which create some breathtaking scenery. The area also offers some brilliant hiking and climbing. There area is also full of history and local guides can show you some of the world’s oldest cave paintings.

There are a variety of hikes you can do in the area – however many of the trails aren’t well-marked or easy to follow so it can be a bit of a challenge. Our guide told us we can either hire a hiking guide or just see how far we get. Seeing as it was late in the day, we opted to give one of the summits a go. It’s fair to say the hike quickly became borderline bouldering and without the right equipment, we turned around.

The area is also known for its stargazing. I’ve stargazed at dark sky reserves all around and nothing compares to the stargazing I experienced here. I’d suggest walking down to the Spitzkoppe Arch for some of the best views.

Stargazing in Spitzkoppe

Sunset in Spitzkoppe

Sossusvlei is one of Namibia’s most spectacular areas. It’s in the heart of the Namibian desert, the oldest desert on earth, and is home to some of Namibia’s most famous sights.

One of these spots is Dune 45 – a giant sand dune in the desert – which is a must-visit on any trip to Namibia. Dune 45 gets its name from being exactly 45km from the entrance to the National Park. You can climb up to the top of the dune for amazing views of the area. I’d highly recommend going as early in the day as possible to avoid the worst of the heat. Climbing the dune will require some effort as the towering dune reaches over 500ft.

Nearby to Dune 45 is Deadvlei, a clay pan near the sand dunes which is full of dead trees and offers otherworldly views. I’d highly recommend adding this to your trip in the desert.

If you’re visiting the area by yourself and not keen on joining a tour, here is a guide on how to plan your visit . 

Etosha National Park

Etosha National Park was the first time I ever had been on a true safari before. And one word… wow.

If you’re in Namibia and want to experience a true African-style safari, then Etosha is the answer. I spent two nights camping in the park and our campsite was right beside a water hole, meaning we could spend our evenings watching animals including rhinos and giraffes help themselves to water. During the day, we hopped onto a safari vehicle and were lucky enough to see an endless amount of animals including, white rhinos, lions, giraffes, elephants, and zebras.

The great thing about Etosha is that you can self-drive, so if you have your own car, you can use this to explore the park. I’d personally suggest hiring a guide and jumping in a safari vehicle. Your guide will know all the spots to find the animals and be able to give you information on what you’re seeing. Driving around Etosha is no easy task in a regular vehicle, and the last thing you want to happen is to run into trouble. If you have a flat tire and there are animals nearby… good luck.

If you’re keen to drive yourself, here’s a self-drive guide to Etosha . 

Etosha Safari

Tropic of Capricorn

This is a brief stop, but Namibia is home to the Tropic of Capricorn. You’ll find a stop on the road between Sossusvlei and Walvis Bay where you can pull over for a photo. It’s a quick stop, but fun nonetheless. For those who don’t know, the Tropic of Capricorn is the southernmost point where the sun can be seen directly overhead. This happens during the December solstice.

Skeleton Coast

The Skeleton Coast runs along the Atlantic Ocean and is one of the most unique places to visit in Namibia. The name came from the thousands of shipwrecks and whale skeletons which litter its beaches. The area is over 500km long and on your drive, you’ll encounter shipwrecks, seal colonies, and otherworldly scenery. Completing the desolate drive is a hefty feat considering its remoteness, but is one of the top things to do in Namibia.

Sesriem Canyon

The Sesriem Canyon is on the drive between Windhoek and Sossusvlei. It’s a narrow 100-foot-deep gorge that was believed to have been carved out around 2 million years ago. You can walk along the ridge of the canyon and hike down into it too. You won’t need long here, but it’s worth a stop if you have the time.

Roads to Spitzkoppe

Waterberg Plateau National Park

Waterberg Plateau is a giant mountain in the center of Namibia. We camped here for one night and I thoroughly enjoyed the area. ‘Waterberg’ means water mountain and it gets its name from the many springs which come from the mountain.

The area is known to have some of the best hiking in all of Namibia. We hiked the ‘Aloe Circle, Fig Tree Walk, and Mission Way’ hike which takes around two hours. The hike takes you up to the top of the mountain for awesome views of the surrounding scenery. You can also hire guides to take you further afield.

This area often gets missed on road trip itineraries, especially when self-driving. If you’re into hiking, it’s well worth a stop. Just beware of those pesky baboons. They are rife here and enjoy causing havoc.

Waterberg Plateau

Kolmanskop (ghost town)

The wild west of the USA may be known for its ghost towns, but none come close to Kolmanskop. It was once one of the richest towns in Africa but became abandoned in the 1950s when its inhabitants flocked elsewhere to find work. Some of the houses are open to visitors. It’s an eerie experience but cool nonetheless.

Windhoek is the capital of Namibia. Many use this as a stopover before starting/ending/continuing their journeys. If I’m being completely honest, this wasn’t my favourite place in Namibia. It’s very much a typical city and there isn’t a lot of things to do. I’d suggest staying only for a night or two to allow you to learn more about the country and the capital. Here are some of the best things to do in Windhoek.

Your Namibia Itinerary (self-drive)

Unless you’re doing a group tour, you’ll get to plan your Namibian itinerary exactly how you want it to be. Where you start and end the trip will have a big impact on your chosen route. Many people will travel across the South African or the Botswana borders which will have a big impact on the route.

If you’re starting and ending your trip to Windhoek, here is my suggested itinerary for your road trip through Namibia. It’s a circular loop and can either be done in reverse, or tweaked to be in a different order.

Stop one: Windhoek

How long to spend in Windhoek: one night

Land in the capital city and pick up your rental vehicle. There isn’t much to do in Windhoek, so don’t plan to spend a long time here.

Stop two: Fish River Canyon

How long to spend in Fish River Canyon: at least one night (or longer if you’d like to hike here)

Fish River Canyon is a LOOOONG drive (about 7 hours from Windhoek). If you don’t want to cover this distance in a day, look at spending the night in the Hardap region. They have the Quiver Tree Forest here. We didn’t get to visit here but I’ve heard great things.

Stop three: Kolmanskop

How long to spend here: you’ll only need a couple of hours in the town itself, plan to stay in the area for one night

This eerie ghost town is a must-visit for any trip to Namibia. It’s located between Fish River Canyon and Sossusvlei. I’d suggest looking for accommodation in the nearby town of Luderitz for the night.

Stop four: Sossusvlei

How long to spend in Sossusvlei: I’d suggest at least 2 nights and one full day

This is your chance to experience one of the world’s oldest deserts. Visit Dune 45 and the nearby Deadvlei. I’d personally suggest booking a tour for this. Driving in the desert can be a nightmare and cars often find themselves getting stuck in the relentless sand. It’s not somewhere you want to mess around.

Stop five: Swakopmund via Walvis Bay

How long to spend in Swakopmund: at least 3 nights depending on what you want to do

Welcome to the Adventure capital of Namibia! This is your chance to skydive, sandboard, quad bike or whale watch. On your way to Swakopmund, be sure to stop at Walvis Bay to see the flamingoes.

Stop six: Skeleton Coast

How long to spend driving the Skeleton Coast: I’d recommend two days to make sure you have enough time

Now it’s time for a real road trip as you make your way up the Skeleton Coast. Be sure to stop at Cape Cross to see the seals.

Stop seven: Spitzkoppe

How long to spend in Spitzkoppe: at least one full day

On to my favourite place in Namibia – Spitzkoppe. This is one of the most stunning places I’ve ever witnessed. You can camp here or look for nearby lodges. Read more in my guide to Spitzkoppe here. 

Stop eight: Etosha National Park

How long to spend in Etosha: plan at least one full day for safari, if not more

It’s safari time! This is your chance to see rhinos, elephants, zebras, and lions to name a few…

From Etosha, you can head back down to Windhoek. 

Etosha Sunset

How long to spend in Namibia

Namibia is MASSIVE. Like… HUGE. You can drive for hours along desert roads and not see any sign of life. You don’t want to spend every single day driving, so I’d recommend a minimum of 14 days so you can get the most out of your road trip.

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Namibia Self Drive Itinerary: Ultimate Namibia Road Trip + Map

February 24, 2024

Paula Martinelli

Wondering how to plan a perfect Namibia itinerary?

You have found the perfect spot in the internet! A road trip in Namibia is one of the most remarkable adventures of a lifetime. This Namibia self-drive itinerary uncovers the best of Namibia , from the mystic ghost town of Kolmanskop, exploring the mighty dunes of Sossusvlei, going on a self-drive safari in Etosha National Park, and all between.

This Namibia self-drive itinerary is packed with insider tips , such as the best way to get around the Namibia on a self-drive and the best accommodation options. You will also find alternative routes to fit your needs while taking a Namibia road trip on your own.

If you have more time, you can also combine a road trip between Namibia and Botswana , as both countries are very close and it makes a perfect dream destination . Namibia is a country custom-made for self-drive exploration and safari with (mostly) easily navigable gravel roads, minimal traffic, and an impressively low crime rate.

With great options for camping in Namibia from budget lodges to five stars hotels, Namibia is a good fit for any pocket . A well-planned Namibia road trip itinerary will take you to discover some of the mesmerizing places that Namibia has to offer.

If you are planning a Namibia itineray, these are a must-read:

• How to rent a car in Namibia
• Tips on how to drive in Namibia
• 15 most beautiful places to visit in Namibia

DAY 11: Windhoek Morning Relaxing and Departure

Self-driving in namibia.

Namibia Itinerary Overview

This Namibia self-drive itinerary covers some of the most amazing landscapes, a taste of the wildlife, and also a cultural experience with some of the beautiful local people in Namibia. I have also added alternative routes to give you options while planning your own itinerary.

My road trip in Namibia continued to Botswana – if you are also planning to travel to Botswana, check my 3-Weeks Namibia & Botswana itinerary.

I have also prepared a Complete guide on 20 Essentials tips on how to self-drive safely in Namibia that I recommend you to read before your trip, and How to Rent a car in Namibia is also a must-read.

Here is an overview of how to spend a perfect 11-day self-drive road trip in Namibia:

NOTE: I used a combination of campsites in Namibia with some budget accommodations along the way – Here I am also making recommendations for the best options for accommodations. 11 days doing a self-drive road trip in Namibia is an ideal amount of time to discover the  Best Places to Visit in Namibia 

Namibia Road Trip Map

** Click the icon at the top left of the map to see day-by-day route details **

How to Get Around Namibia on a Self-Drive

You can get a 15% off your rental car when you book through this site . I use and recommend Discover Cars because it is the most reliable rental car source, and it allows you to compare the prices of different plac es.

Starting your Namibia Self-Drive itinerary | Arrival in Windhoek

If you arrive in Windhoek in the morning, it’s possible to start driving that day. If your flight arrives in the afternoon or evening, make sure you spend the night in Windhoek before you start your Namibia self-drive adventure. Check below for the best accommodation recommendations in Windhoek.

I arrived at the airport in the morning. Between immigration, buying a cell phone SIM card at the airport, and meeting the car rental person that was there to pick me up was less than 1 hour. After arriving at the rental car, it took around 1-hour between the orientation to the truck,  how to use it, and signing the rental contract.

All packed, supplies in place, both gas tanks full, my camera in my hands, and the windows down. While keeping an eye on the road and the other on the side of the road to see if I could spot any animals – yes, you can start to spot animals as soon as you leave the airport.

Welcome…you are in Namibia!

PRO-TIP: I recommend stopping at the mall in Windhoek for supplies. I stopped for breakfast, grocery shopping, bought towels, sheets for the tent, and bug spray – all in one stop, and I was ready to go!

BEST ACCOMMODATION OPTIONS IN WINDHOEK

OVERALL TOP PICK: Urban Camp

Guests Rate : 8.9 Excellent

They have a tent accommodation style. Rated as “Superb” at booking.com, the Urban Camp features a bar, outdoor pool, and BBQ area. Located only 1.9 miles from Windhoek city center

MID-RANGE: Has Schwerinsburg Guest House

Set in Windhoek, 1,950 feet from Alte Feste Museum, Haus Schwerinsburg Guest House features rooms with city views and free WiFi with family rooms, and a sun terrace. Gorgeous mountain views and an outdoor pool

UPMARKET: Hotel Heinitzburg

If you are looking to stay at a castle for a very reasonable price, this is the accommodation for you. The Hotel Heinitzburg is a world-class hotel, decorated with classic finishes, a gourmet restaurant, and an outdoor pool. Excellent location and guests describe it as a ” delightful experience”.

Namibia Self-Drive Itinerary

Day 1: drive to keetmanshoop and visit the quiver tree forest.

• TRAVEL: from Windhoek to Keetmanshoop
• DISTANCE: 308 miles | 5 hours
• HIGHLIGHT: Stunning first views of Namibia / Quivertree Forest
• DRIVING: The drive from Windhoek to Keetmanshoop is long but easy. The entire drive is on paved roads with a 120 kph speed limit. On this route, you will pass several towns with good options for gas and basic necessities.

1. Long Drive from Windhoek, but appreciate the journey

Your first day of the Namibia road trip adventure can be tiring, especially if like me, you had a long trip from your home country to Namibia. But it is exciting as you start to feel familiar with driving in the desert and see what the breathtaking landscape in Namibia looks like. Stop for a classic picture in front of the Tropic of Capricorn sign.

PRO-TIP: I recommend picking up your supplies in Windhoek before you start your Namibia self-drive trip. But don’t worry if you forgot to buy something in Windhoek, as you will have the chance to do a few stops along the way. I had 2 stops for a cold drink and also for fuel. Watch for people wanting to “take care of your car” for some money.

2. Arrive in Keetmanshoop and visit the Quivertree Forest

Arriving in Keetmanshoop you can visit the  Quivertree Forest .  I had the chance to watch the sunset and this place is stunning. The trees are actually aloe plants and can grow as high as 10 meters, and they can be as old as 300 years.

The Quiver Tree Forest is a fascinating place to visit. Located only 10 km from Keetmanshoop, a large number of them grow in uncharacteristically close proximity, creating a forest-like landscape. It’s one of the only known naturally occurring such sites in the world.

BEST ACCOMMODATION OPTIONS IN KEETMANSHOOP

BUDGET: Keetmanshoop Self-catering

This was my accommodation option at Keetmanshoop. It has a great location, very clean bedrooms, and bathrooms, a BBQ area, and free parking. It is a great option if you are on a budget.

MID-RANGE: Quiver Inn Guesthouse

A very well-located guest house offers accommodations with free WiFi and free parking. All rooms have A/C, a TV with satellite, and a kitchenette and dining area. A full English breakfast is available in the morning

DAY 2: Visit the Ghost Town of Kolmanskop and Take the Road to the Coastline Town of Luderitz

• TRAVEL: from Keetmanshoop to Luderitz | from Luderitz to Helmerighausen
• DISTANCE: 175 miles (3 hours) | 145 miles (2.5 hours)
• HIGHLIGHT: Ghost town of Kolmanskop | Luderitiz coastal town | Wild horses
• DRIVING: The drive to the Luderitz area on B4 (paved roads) is beautiful but at the same time, it can be a little challenging, as strong winds blow and the sand can obscure visibility. Just respect the speed limits and take extra caution while driving if the wind starts blowing the sand across the road. Leaving Luderitz, you will backtrack along B4 before turning north on gravel roads to reach Helmringhausen and NamibRand Nature Reserve. You will slow down a little on the gravel roads and you will also want to decrease the pressure in your tires to avoid getting flats and improve handling.

1. Visit the Ghost Town of Kolmanskop

Start the day driving west to the ghost town of  Kolmanskop,  located near the Forbidden Zone in the Namib Desert –  one of the most fascinating things about abandoned places in the absence of life, and the profound sense of curiosity to know what its story is.

From diamonds to dust – What one day was a wealthy town, where diamonds could easily be found, but because of intensive mining the area became depleted and by 1956 was abandoned. Now the dunes fill the rooms of the town with banks of sand creating an intriguing landscape and a paradise for photographers.

PRO-TIP: Note that if you are visiting Kolmanskop, the gate closes at 1:00 PM every day, and you will need to reserve at least 2 hours to explore the whole town.

2. Visit the Town of Luderitz

After visiting Kolmanskop in the morning, you can continue down the road and visit  Luderitz . This cool and often foggy coastal town by the Atlantic coastline where the ocean meets the Namib Desert is a great stop for a fresh seafood lunch, and to visit the colorful German architecture buildings.

While driving near Luderitz pay close attention to the side of the road, as you can also see some of the only  Wild Horses  in Africa.

These horses were brought by European colonials and found a new home in the Namib desert in an area known as the Garub. I chose to spend the night at Helmeringhausen since it was a good distance to my next destination. This was my first night camping, how exciting!

BEST ACCOMMODATION OPTIONS IN LUDERITZ

MID-RANGE: Tranquility Guest House

Excellent location, near the main attractions. All rooms have a fully-equipped kitchen and TV with satellite channels. This property has been recently renovated and the rooms open to a beautiful garden

UPMARKET: Alte Villa Gästehaus

Offering a lush garden and a terrace with an excellent location. You can relax with a drink from the bar and enjoy lobsters and oysters at the on-site restaurant. A continental breakfast is included in the rate and served each morning. 

DAY 3: Drive to Sossusvlei and Start Exploring the Desert (2 Overnights here)

• TRAVEL: from Helmeringhausen to Sossusvlei
• DISTANCE: 100 miles | 2.5 hours
• HIGHLIGHT: Amazing views of Sesriem Canyon | Sossusvlei | Deadsvlei
• DRIVING: On the third day of this Namibia self-drive itinerary the driving will be on gravel roads on C27. The scenery is an amazing introduction to the drive in the desert, it is desolate and a great opportunity to already start spotting some animals. I saw many ostrich, zebras, oryx, and springboks . At the same time, the road is not bad at all, I end up getting 2 flat tires on my way to Sossusvlei. While it doesn’t require a 4WD to get to Sossusvlei, some skills are required to drive on this road.

1. Drive to Sesriem for Gas and Supplies

Sesriem is a settlement at the gate of the Namib-Naukluft National Park , and here is a great opportunity to fuel up and pick up basic supplies at the gas station.

There is no grocery store, but the campsites do have restaurants and very modest food supplies. I arrived early afternoon, checked in at my campsite, and went to explore the park and watch the sunset from the dunes.

2. Explore Sossusvlei

Visiting Sossusvlei was the highlight of my trip, and it was one of my bucket list places to visit in Namibia . Once you are inside the park, you can start driving on what one day was a riverbed, and today serves as roads among some of the tallest dunes in the world.

You can start to feel familiar with this mesmerizing place by climbing some of the dunes and hiking across the desert. I chose to visit the dune adjacent to Dune 45 , as there was no one there and it offered me spectacular views and a great opportunity to take stunning pictures.

PRO-TIP: Make sure you review the most important tips on how to drive in Namibia , and keep your tires are between 1.6 and 1.8 bar as it will most likely save you from a flat tire (I learned the hard way).

BEST ACCOMMODATION OPTIONS IN SOSSUSVLEI

BUDGET: Desert Camp

This camp is located at an incredible location with mountain views, just a few minutes from Sossuvlei dunes. It has a pool and a bar and a private kitchenette and bathroom attached to the bedroom.

MID-RANGE: Desert Quiver Camp

The location is great, only 3.3 km from the Sossusvlei entrance gate. Wonderful and very comfortable bedroom, with large private bathroom and an outside kitchen. Option for breakfast is available.

UPMARKET: Dead Valley Lodge

Now if you are looking to spoil yourself, this lodge is the best option. Large chalets available with incredible views, swimming pool, and ALL THE MEALS INCLUDED! It is located inside the Sossusvlei National Park.

DAY 4: Visit the Surreal Deadsvlei and Climb the Dunes in Sossusvlei

DRIVING:  Upon entering the park there is a single paved road for about 45 minutes, at which point there is a car park for vehicles who can’t/prefer not to make the short 4×4 trip to Deadvlei and Sossusvlei. Here drivers can park and take a guided tour in a 4×4 or be shuttled to different sections of Sossusvlei.

I saw drivers get stuck in the deep sand so take care to follow the tracks carefully and avoid any parts which look too deep. If you’re not comfortable driving a 4×4 off-road it may be wise not to attempt the deep sand and use the shuttle instead.

You absolutely need a 4×4 once you reach the end of the paved road at Sossusvlei/Deadvlei. Here I put my truck in 4-low and drove through the deep sand to a dirt parking lot with a sign that said, “Deadvlei 1.1 km, follow the markers”. I could not find any markers to follow, and you cannot see them from the parking area. Head straight into the desert toward the low dune between Big Daddy (on the left) and the high dune on the right.

1. Start your day at Deadsvlei for the Sunrise

On day 4 of my Namibia self drive road trip, I woke up at 4:30 AM as the park gate opens at 5 AM – and drove to Deadsvlei for the sunrise.

It is very rewarding to watch the shades of the petrified trees growing as the sun rises, and the dunes changing shades of orange color. The changing light conditions make continuous adjustments on your camera a necessity.

I left the campsite an hour before sunrise to arrive at the park gate for opening and made a beeline for Deadvlei, the open plain where the isolated and long-dead camel thorn trees stand.

2. Climb the Dune 45

The drive from the park gate to Deadvlei is about 50 minutes. After the spectacular sunrise, I headed back to Dune 45 and climbed it.

Climbing a dune is harder than I expected and for each step, I would take upward, I felt that I would slide 2 steps back…and it started to get hot.

In December, it is summer in Africa and the mid-day temperatures can get extremely hot, this is when I realized it was over 100 degrees I decided to head to the lodge and have lunch and sip cold water until the temperature dropped a little and I could continue to hike the desert.

PRO-TIP: If you want to see sunrise or sunset at the dunes note that only visitors who stay within the park are able to access it for sunrise or sunset as the park gates are otherwise closed for outside visitors. It can be very windy so be aware and I recommend having a scarf to cover your face from the sand. Mind your belongings because my hat flew away and I had to run to get it. Also, be aware of your electronic equipment, they really do not like san

DAY 5: Visit Solitaire | Drive to the Coastal Town in Walvis Bay (2 Overnights)

• TRAVEL: from Sossusvlei to Walvis Bay
• DISTANCE: 227 miles | 6 hours
• HIGHLIGHT: Solitare for photos | Walvis Bay for flamingos
• DRIVING: It’s a 4-hour drive from the Sossusvlei area to Walvis Bay on a gravel road. A large portion of the drive passes through a long and straight road in the Namib-Naukluft National Park – You will drive in the desert then the landscape starts to change dramatically and you will drive among canyon and rock formations. Approaching Walvis Bay and the Atlantic Coast you start to see the ocean and perhaps some mist.

1. Catch Another Sunrise in Sossusvlei (it is so worth it!)

This is another early morning watching the sunrise in Sossusvlei , and it never gets old. I decided to return to Deadvlei again, as it is a popular place to capture the first sunrises of the day while spotting some dunes, including the tallest one, Big Daddy just in front of your eyes.

After seeing the sunrise, I returned to the campsite to have some strong coffee, pack the truck, and hit the road again, it’s time to leave the desert and make the journey towards the Atlantic Coast , driving on the very dusty and open roads.

2. Make a Stop at the Solitaire

The first stop on day 5 of this Namibia road trip is at the Solitaire. Take some pictures of the old sunbleached cars, try the “best apple pie in Namibia” from Moose McGregor’s Desert Bakery, and don’t forget to fill your tank.

Head back to C14 and be surprised by the change of the landscape as you will pass through canyons and dry river beds, and enjoy the dramatic landscape driving. After you pass the canyon you will arrive at the flat desert plains again, and start to see little stands on the side of the road where you can buy things from handicrafts to local rocks.

You probably will not see anyone minding these stands, but they work on the honor system. If you find something you like, leave money in the jar or can.

PRO-TIP: Solitaire is home to the only gas station between Sossusvlei and Walvis Bay so fill up if you need to!

3. Arrive at Walvis Bay

Arriving in  Walvis Bay  I was not very impressed with the very industrial port town, with offshore rigs and salt companies marking the horizon.

One of the highlights is to visit the flamingo colony , where you can spot thousands of guess what? Pink and also white flamingos! as well as many other birds, are well worth the visit.

BEST ACCOMMODATION OPTIONS IN WALVIS BAY

BUDGET: Sunflower Self-Catering

Sunflower Self-Catering offers accommodations with free WiFi, BBQ facilities, a garden, and free private parking. Featuring a kitchenette with a microwave and a fridge, each unit also comes with a satellite flat-screen TV, ironing facilities, a desk, and a seating

MID-RANGE: The Iris Boutique Hotel

Gorgeous location, right by the lagoon where you can see the flamingoes. The bedrooms are modern, swimming poos and a bar with a garden view. They offer airport transfers and a wonderful breakfast included.

UPMARKET: Pelican Point Lodge

This is an oasis in Walvis Bay, located at an extraordinary spot on the peninsula, the rooms are beautiful and very comfortable. Restaurant with great food with BREAKFAST & DINNER INCLUDED.

DAY 6: Adventure Driving in Sandwich Harbor and Visit Swakopmund

1. adventure at sandwich harbor.

Today was absolutely one of my favorite things I have done ever! I drove to Sandwich Harbor and the experience was exhilarating!

It is so amazing that the best description is “Where the desert meets the ocean” – I could not even imagine a landscape as this existed.

Driving over golden dunes nestled beside the Atlantic Ocean, I passed some seals, jackals, and jackals eating seals. From Walvis Bay to Swakopmund is less than 30 minutes drive.

PRO-TIP: If you decide to self-drive to Sandwich-Harbor, note that a minimum of preparation is required. Have a proper 4×4, have great driving skills off-road, buy your permit to enter, and know the tide table before you go. I recommend booking the tour with a professional local tour company.

2. Visit the Town of Swakopmund

Swakopmund is the largest coastal town in the country and the perfect stopover between the desert and the Skeleton Coast. Also here is where the locals go for their holiday vacation, and it makes the perfect stop to stroll around the cute town and eat some good German food at  Swakopmund Brauhaus and have some beer in a boot!

Here is an adventure hotspot in Namibia offers many activities, such as driving on the dunes, quad biking, sandboarding, and skydiving. It is also a very popular destination to fish in the ocean.

PRO-TIP: T Swakopmund is a large town with pretty much all you need. Stock up on supplies before you continue your trip.

DAY 7: Drive the Skeleton Coast and Visit the Seal Colony at Cape Cross

• TRAVEL : from Walvis Bay to Khorixas
• DISTANCE: 200 miles | 4 hours
• HIGHLIGHT: Swakopmund Town | Seal colony | Damaraland and cave painting
• DRIVING: While along the coast, you will be driving in the mist created by the phenomena of having the heat of the dunes and the cold Atlantic ocean. The gravel roads that traverse the region can be both challenging and slow but are generally suitable for 2WD and 4WD vehicles, and today is the journey into the wilderness. Heading east towards Khorixas, the roads are wide dirt/gravel that can be quite dusty in the dry season. The roads are well maintained though you will want to make sure you are running lower pressure (1.8 bar) in your tires to avoid flats caused by the gravel.

1. Drive the Skeleton Coast

I started day 7 of my Namibia road trip driving on one of the most dreamed of destinations in Namibia is the Skeleton Coast , named for the whale bones that once littered this stretch of coastline, and the spot of many shipwrecks claimed by rough seas and harsh weather. Drive to Henties Bay, stopping en route to admire the wreck of the Zeila.

PRO-TIP: If you desire to visit the shipwrecks,  I recommend having the areas marked in advance, as while you are driving on the road, the mist makes it hard to see anything from the road.

2. Visit the Seals at Cape Cross

Then head to  Cape Cross to visit the seal colony. You will see thousands of Cape fur seals, which are considered the largest aggregation in the world.

Just watching the furry faces, and catching some sun while pups milk from their moms was a very special moment and a great place to visit.

Yes, it is true it can smell very strong, but after a few minutes I just got used to the smell and it didn’t bother me any longer. Along the Skeleton Coast, it is very misty in the morning, and the temperatures are much lower than in the desert, around 17-20 C.

3. Drive to Khorixas

Return to Henties Bay, and the road to Damaraland turns sharply inland. Here you will notice that the cold, moisture-laden air of the coast melts away, to be replaced by the hot desert sun. I spent the night at the Madisa Bush Camp since I was on my way to Etosha National Park.

BEST ACCOMMODATION OPTIONS IN KHORIXAS

BUDGET: Madisa Camp

This was my accommodation option. Located in Kalkbron, Madisa Camp provides accommodations on your own tent or they have comfortable tents to rent also. With an outdoor pool, a bar, and barbecue facilities, it is an excellent option.

MID-RANGE: Twyfelfontein Adventure Camp

The location is fantastic – the tents are right in front of a rock formation that you can also climb. There are stunning views of the surrounding mountains. Cozy restaurant and swimming pool. BREAKFAST & DINNER ARE INCLUDED.

UPMARKET: Ozondjou Trails

If you are looking for luxury, this ALL INCLUSIVE is for you! The luxury-style tents have mountain views with bathroom a shower. Restaurant with wonderful gourmet meals.

DAY 8 (OPTION 1): Immersion at Himba Village and Drive to Etosha National Park

• TRAVEL: from Khorixas to Etosha National Park
• DISTANCE: 82 miles | 4 hours
• HIGHLIGHT: Visit Himba Village | First day of safari in Etosha
• DRIVING: For the first half of the drive toward Etosha on C39 is a wide gravel road. You will then turn north at Outjo on C38 (paved road) to head to the Okaukuejo Gate inside Etosha National Park.

1. Visit a Himba Village in Khorixas

When you are in the Khorixas area, you will start to see many ethnic groups on the side of the road , supermarkets, and gas stations. If you wish to interact with them or to visit their villages, you may just ask them if they would accept a visit and you can negotiate how to pay for this experience.

On my way to Etosha, I saw these Himba ladies on the side of the road, and I stopped to make some donations and to check on some local items they were selling. Pow! I ended up changing my plan for the day and cut short one safari day in Etosha.

But I was so happy with this opportunity since I wanted to have an ethical encounter with the local tribes, and this was the perfect opportunity. They took me to their village, dressed me as “ Himba Paula ” and shared some of the amazing traditions of the Himba people. I ended up spending an amazing half day with them before I insisted they would allow me to leave to continue my journey.

PRO-TIP: If you also want to have a real authentic experience with the Himba people, keep an eye out and try to make connections. You will see them around this area and you can ask them if they would accept your visit to their village, and they will charge you a small amount to show you their homes, traditions and amazing hand-made clothes.

DAY 8 (OPTION 2): Spend an Extra Day in Damaraland

If you are in the Khorixas area, you have the option to spend another day and night and explore the rich surroundings.

Visit the  Petrified Forest  with tree trunks over 300 million years old. A bit further on you’ll find  Twyfelfontein  with its famous rock engravings (a World Heritage Site since 2007), which are best visited in the afternoon to ensure the best light for taking photos.

The  Brandberg Mountains  are found approx. 150 km south of Khorixas. Here the world-famous rock paintings (White Lady) are well worth a visit.

PRO-TIP: I visited a site in the Damaraland area to see ancient cave paintings. You will need to hire a guide and the tour takes around 2 hours, with the last tour leaving at 4 pm. I only had the chance to visit one of the rock paintings of 2,000 years old, and it took me around 1 hour for this short tour. This area has over 5,000 rock paintings that are centuries and millennia old.

2. Self-Drive Safari at Etosha National Park | First Day Self-Drive Safari in Namibia

Continue your road trip, driving for 4 hours to Etosha . Check in at the camp/lodge and head to the National Park gate to buy your permit. I did 3 hours of safari at the end of the day, and it was the best time to spot animals, especially during the summertime when the day is too hot to see animals, and the gates close at 7 pm.

I saw big groups of giraffes, springbok, wildebeest, zebras, a couple of jackals, and even an aardwolf. The best ” catch” of the day was to watch the king lion passing right in front of my car returning from a big meal (I could see by the size of his belly and some spots of blood in his paws).

After this exciting day, I returned to my lodge and enjoyed the amazing buffet of local food. The excitement was not over yet, as I had the pleasure to watch the first rain of the season , a memorable moment!

BEST ACCOMMODATION OPTIONS IN ETOSHA

If you are camping, the only option inside the gate is   Olifantsrus Campsite . There are also NWR lodges right at the gates for early access to the park but be prepared to pay for the convenience (and book way in advance).

There are  more options  for lodges inside the park like  Okaukuejo Resort ,  Halali Resort ,  and  Dolomite Resort , all run by the  NWR (Namibia Wildlife Resort) . The options outside the park are approximately 20-30 minutes from the entrance gate (not too far).

BUDGET: Toshari Lodge

This lodge has a spacious and luxurious room, with a private balcony looking on the bush. Restaurant with fresh daily breakfast included, and local cuisine. They also offer guided game drives.

MID-RANGE Tarentaal Guest Farm

Located in Outjo, it offers accommodations with free WiFi, air conditioning, and access to a garden with an outdoor swimming pool. BREAKFAST & DINNER ARE INCLUDED and it is only a short drive to Etosha National Park.

UPMARKET: Etosha Oberland Lodge

This is just an experience, being able to observe animals for your deck! Located only 1.1 miles from Etosha National park gate, this all-inclusive lodge offers an entire chalet with all the luxury you deserve when doing a safari in Etosha!

DAY 9: Self-Drive Safari at Etosha National Park (second day)

• TRAVEL: from Etosha to Grashoek
• DISTANCE: 300 miles | 5 hours
• HIGHLIGHT: Amazing number of animals at Etosha National Park
• DRIVING: Etosha National Park was designed for self-drives to easily navigate the park, and the park has all the structures provided by the government such as campsites, bathrooms, and gas stations. A 4×4 is not required to drive in Etosha.

1. Explore a Self-Drive Safari at Etosha National Park

Day 9 of my Namibia road trip itinerary was one of the most exciting! Etosha National Park means “Great White Place” and it is the most renowned wildlife area of Namibia with a salt pan so large that it covers 23% of the total size of the area.

Etosha is considered one of the best safaris on the planet , and it is very well known for the water holes, which are magnets for wildlife.

Etosha is one of the highlights of any destination for an amazing road trip in Namibia. Start your day very early, as chances to view the wildlife is best! If you visit Etosha during the high (dry) season, your chances are high to see the wildlife just congregated around the waterholes.

I visited during the low (wet) season, which means there is more water in the park, therefore, the animals are more spread around the park, and not only around the waterholes like during the dry season. But I still saw many animals, including a shy white rhino.

PRO-TIP: If you have the chance, spend at least 2 nights in Etosha, as the wildlife is vast and the landscape is from another planet.

2. Drive to Grashoek (option if you are continue your trip to Botswana)

After 10 hours of self-drive safari, I headed to my next destination and spent the night at the Bushman Living Museum campsite , and guess what? They are really in the bush. There is no electricity or running water at the campsite…but the next day I had a lot of excitement to make up for it.

This is an option only if you are adding Botswana to your itinerary , as the driving is long. If you finish your trip in Namibia, I recommend to spend another night and day at Etosha National Park

DAY 10: Active Day at the Bush with the Bushman Tribe (Alternative: Spend an extra day in Etosha)

• TRAVEL: from Grashoek to Windhoek | or from Etosha to Windhoek
• DISTANCE: 370 miles (6 hours) | 266 miles (4 hours)
• HIGHLIGHT: Spend the day with the bushman
• DRIVING: Be ready as today is a long day driving! You will leave the Living Museum and drive on gravel roads until you get to B1 towards Windhoek. B1 is in great condition. There is also a lot of activity happening along roads – you will pass a lot of villages, see kids playing, people walking to go collect water and just be aware of the animals (goats, cows, donkeys…) they can really cross in front of the car at any moment.

As a  big supporter of responsible and ethical traveling , I always search for opportunities to visit places where I can help support local communities.

The Living Museum is an ethical and cultural highlight in Namibia as well as a good example of sustainable development, as the visitors give back to the local community and support the preservation of their culture.

The San people provide an opportunity to learn about their culture and traditional way of life. You can participate in many activities during a visit as short as a half-day or as long as 3 days.

Activities range from a visit to their village, participation in a bushwalk, learning how they gather and hunt, making their own bow and jewelry, and watching their traditional dancing and songs. At the end of my activities with the Bushmen, it was time to head back to the road toward Botswana.

If you also continue your trip to Botswana, check my 10-day Botswana itinerary . If you are at the end of your amazing self-drive in Namibia, it is time to make your journey back to Windhoek.

NOTE: My complete itinerary continues to Botswana through the Caprivi Strip. Therefore this route fits perfectly if you also continue your adventure to explore Botswana. From here, you can end your trip in Etosha and the drive back to Windhoek is less than 4 hours. I chose to take a long journey to Grashoek at the  Living Museum of Ju/’Hoansi-San   to spend time with the San people (Bushman), and it was one of the bucket-list activities of my road trip to Namibia. Also, as my full itinerary continues to Botswana and I drove towards the Caprivi Strip and was along the route of my original itinerary.

• TRAVEL: from the lodge to the Airport
• DISTANCE: 43 miles | 1 hour
• HIGHLIGHT: Relax from your amazing trip to Namibia
• DRIVING: Driving back to Windhoek International Airport is only 43 miles.

If you opt to not visit the city of Windhoek,  a good option is to take this day to recharge from your amazing self-drive road trip in Namibia and relax by the pool at  Daan Viljoen Park resort .

They have beautiful chalets, a beautiful restaurant, and a nice pool area. But the best part is that you can still catch more safari views as the property is inside a game reserve. You can see hartebeest, wildebeest, kudu, ostrich, baboon, warthog, springbok, oryx, giraffe, and impala just walking around the area or from your chalet.

PRO-TIP: Windhoek doesn’t even offer a lot to see and can easily be skipped. Some of the highlights are the Christuskirche, the gingerbread-style church in the center of town, or visiting the local craft markets.

Namibia Road Trip in 3-Minutes

Travel Insurance for your trip

I never leave my home without travel insurance which is designed to help cover your expenses if something goes wrong on your trip. Things can go wrong, and you don’t want to get stuck paying tons of money if you get sick or have an accident without travel insurance. 

World Nomads Travel Insurance  has been designed by travelers for travelers, to cover their trip essentials. Especially if you are like me, travel insurance is ideal for adventurous travelers. Travel smarter and safer – You can do your quick quote below and find out how little you can pay for the essential benefit of Travel Insurance for your next trip!

Namibia Road Trip | Planning Resources

Planning a namibia road trip.

If you are going to travel to Namibia, pre-planning, researching, and understanding what you are looking for in a destination will help make your travels far more successful and safe. Here is some further information I think you might need to plan your trip to Namibia. Make sure you check the following too:

• Everything you need to know to rent a car in Namibia
• 20 Essential Tips on how to Drive in Namibia
• 15 Most Beautiful Places to visit in Namibia
• A complete road trip in Namibia and Botswana

Renting a Car for our Namibia Road Trip

This is the first step for your Road trip in Namibia – You will need to have a 4×4 vehicle to go on your Namibia road trip. It can be confusing renting a car in Namibia since there are different providers, offering different rental car options. For this reason, I have prepared a very detailed guide on everything you should know about renting a car in Namibia.

First of all, you will need to decide if you will rent a 4×4 truck or a 4×4 truck with a tent on top (if you are planning to camp around the country).

Namibia Road Trip| Tailor Made Tour

A popular alternative to visit Namibia is to hire an expert local company. They can incorporate any destination into your travels or even any animal species that you hope to see.

You can create a bespoke itinerary, and design your ultimate safari to match your interest, budget, and travel dates. I highly recommend Wild Wonderful World , as they put together incredible itineraries, and part of the profits are used on amazing conservation efforts in Africa

** NAMIBIA TOUR DISCOUNT ALERT **

I have great news for my readers, I used and I recommend Wild Wonderful World – I partnered with them to offer a discount to you! Just sign in below to receive a discount code directly in your email.

Best Time for a Self-Drive Road Trip in Namibia

DRY SEASON – MAY TO OCTOBER

• Wildlife congregates around rivers and waterholes, making animals easier to spot – it is the best time to do a safari in Etosha
• There are no clouds, it’s sunny, and there is virtually no rain
• Even though most tourists visit during the dry season, the parks still don’t feel crowded, except for Etosha

WET SEASON – NOVEMBER TO APRIL

• After the rains, the scenery is greener and the rates are lower because it’s low season
• This is the time of the year you can see newborn animals – migratory birds are present, and birding is at its best
• Best time to find accommodation and tours with lower prices, as it is low season for visitors.

What to Pack for a Namibia Self-Drive Road Trip

You want to pack light….but at the same time, you will be so remote for many days that you will want to pack heavy. So, let me help you PACK SMART! 

• GPS and a good Namibia map . 
• Extra flash lights and batteries 
• A well-equipped First Aid kit (including a snake bite kit)
• Rehydration solution
• Satellite phone
• Inflatable LED Solar Lantern. 
• Bring a warm blanket for cold nights.
• Camera and safari lens
• Toilet paper
• light hiking pants
• long sleeves shirts
• good face cover
• polarized sunglasses
• Hand sanitizer
• LifeStraw Filtered Water Bottle and Emergency water supply
• External battery charger

PACK SMART ALERT!

If you are planning to carry a backpack for your trip to Namibia, I have compiled a very detailed review of the Best Backpacks for Travel in the market today – Also, I recommend bringing a waterproof jacket for your trip, check my complete review guide on the Top Jackets for Travel and pack smart!

Price for Namibia Self-Drive Road Trip

Prices can vary dramatically depending on your travel style and budget – There are lots of options for accommodations from $ camping to $$$$ five-star lodges. My main costs were for 4×4 rental, fuel, accommodations, food, and park entry fees (in this order).

PRICES BELOW ARE THE AVERAGE FOR 11-DAY FOR 2 PEOPLE (IT DOESN’T INCLUDE INTERNATIONAL FLIGHTS):

Accommodations for a Self-Drive Road Trip in Namibia

There are plenty of accommodation options near the main attractions, it will depend on your personal preferences and your budget. For either camping or if you are staying in a lodge you are highly encouraged to make your reservations 6-12 months in advance during the high season. During the low season, you will want to book well in advance for the more visited areas of the country.

• CAMPING IN NAMIBIA:  There is a state-owned company that manages all camping/lodging inside the national parks (such as Etosha). NWR has exclusive tourism facilities in protected areas where private companies cannot operate. You can book camping or lodging with  NWR (Namibia Wildlife Resort)  directly for specific locations. I found their camping and lodging to be excellent. I recommend downloading the   iOverlander   app for an overview of all of them and booking them in advance. Camping is a great option if you are traveling on a budget or seeking a bigger adventure, and you can find camping sites pretty much everywhere in Namibia. Also, most of the accommodations stay true to nature and are unfenced, this means you will be visited by wildlife, especially at night.
• TOUR OPERATOR: If it doesn’t seem worth the trouble to you, you can always hire a third-party company to handle the booking for you – if you need any recommendations or have any questions, please leave a comment below and I will be happy to help.
• LODGES: If you are planning to stay at lodges, Booking.com   is the best option as it is a reliable source and they have a  24-hour cancellation policy  that I have used several times.

*Self-drive road trip conditions may vary between wet (November to March) and dry (April to October) seasons. Your self-drive itinerary will need to be tailored respecting the time of the year that you are visiting. 

Driving in Namibia is relatively easy. There are only a few roads that are paved and have a speed limit of up to 120 km/h and the majority of the roads have different levels of gravel roads, which some are really good and you still can drive at 80 km/h. Others can be challenging and too bumpy and/or sandy, and driving slowly with extra caution is required.

Make sure to go over your rental car company and follow all the instructions they will give you, such as tire pressure, speed limit, and what you should do when you get stuck in deep sand.

NOTE: Check this Ultimate guide with 20 Essential Tips on how to self drive in Namibia

Additional Tips for your Self-Drive in Namibia

• CURRENCY:   Namibia uses Namibian Dollar –  check here for the current exchange rate .  Different from some other countries, you will need to carry the local cash with you, an ATM can be found in the cities.
• FUEL:  Since you will be driving long distances, fuel regularly in the major towns as there can be long distances between stations. Credit cards are accepted in the larger stations but many smaller stops were cash only.
• SUPPLIES:  Snacks and drinks are available at most of the fuel stops and the bigger towns had a well-stocked Spar supermarket.
• MAPS + GPS:  My rental car came with a GPS and it worked wonders, even in remote areas. I also kept a paper map in the glove box just in case!
• SIM CARDS : it’s easy to pick up a pay-as-you-go SIM in the MCT store at the airports as well as local mobile network stores. Coverage was actually pretty good throughout much of the country and ranged from LTE to 3G.
• INTERNET & WI-FI:  The majority of the camping I stayed at had a Wi-Fi connection. You can also find access to some restaurants, shops and even gas stations (they charge a small amount for a password).

Namibia Self Drive Itinerary Conclusion

This is my very detailed 11-day Namibia self drive itinerary, and I hope this can help you to plan your Namibia Trip!

Namibia is a safe country to visit and to drive, you just need to make sure you have a good itinerary and a map with you. I also recommend renting a 4×4 truck, as you will be driving off-road, as well as on paved roads.

If you are looking for a tour operator to plan a trip for you, I highly recommend  Wild Wonderful World, and part of the profits is used on amazing conservation efforts.

If I forgot to cover something, or if you have any additional questions, please leave your comment below and I will be thrilled to get back to you.

If you are planning a trip to Namibia, make sure you check out my other posts:

• How to Self-driving in Namibia – 20 Essential tips
• Ultimate Namibia and Botswana Road trip itinerary
• 15 Must-visit places in Namibia: A photo journey

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Plan your Trip

You can plan your trip with this easy guide and have access to the best services I recommend and you can get discounted prices.

Ultimate Guide to Self Drive Etosha National Park, Namibia

Self-Driving in Namibia: 22 Essential Tips to Drive in Namibia

Namibia & Botswana Itinerary: Ultimate 3-Week road trip from the Dunes to Safaris

39 thoughts on “namibia self drive itinerary: ultimate namibia road trip + map”.

Simplesmente incrível, são de tirar o fôlego. Textos concisos e enxutos com muitas informações relevantes para os viajantes!!!! Parabéns pela disposição entre textos e fotos transformando esta experiência em algo único. Parabéns

O enjoyed reading itinerary road trip to Namibia, everything is put so well together and super informative. The trip sounds so exciting and exotic. The trip bullet points summarize the important aspects of each day. Great article. Well done.

Excellent blog, valuable tips to live the best experience of this wonderful place!!

Muito obrigada Patricia – Namibia é um destino perfeito para quem é amante de natureza, animais e que busca novas aventuras em uma das paisagens mais marcantes e incriveis do nosso Planeta.

Thanks Cathia and I am very happy you enjoyed this itinerary. Namibia is an incredible destination, and I hope to inspire more people to visit it.

I visited Namibia solo many years ago and loved it. Your post brought back memories.

I loved Namibia! It has such a unique and varied landscape that you captured beautifully. Sadly I only toured the south and Etosha NP but I would love to go back to see more of the country. Kolmanskop was just incredible, but those sand dunes….it’s truly one epic road trip.

The ghost town looks soooooo cool! In fact, it all looks amazing!

Isn’t it incredible? It was one of the best road trips and one of the most beautiful countries I ever visited.

Thanks so much! Yes, the ghost town was so incredible and I took tons of great pictures, so fascinating!

Thanks April! Hopefully you have the chance to go back to Namibia, it is an incredible country. I already want to go back again. You are right, the dunes are unreal, right?

Such a thorough guide! This eliminates the overwhelming task of planning/scheduling the itinerary of an adventure from across the world. Love the links! Love the photos! With this guide you are able to make a dream trip seem possible.

Thanks Maria – a road trip in Namibia is really an epic destination. We still need to pin the planet together sometime 😉

Wow, what a wonderful trip! There is so much to see and experience. Have to admit I am not that familiar with Namibia. Had no idea so many animal encounters were possible. I did know about the epic landscapes.

Thank you for such an inspiring post! I loved your pictures, especially the ones near Dune 45. I’ll be defo using this post as a reference, it pretty much covers everything I need to prepare a trip to Namibia.

I am so happy you enjoyed this itinerary Diana – I hope you travel to Namibia soon, and enjoy as much as I did. Namibia is an amazing destination.

Thanks Ruth – I learned so much about Namibia during my trip preparation, I didn’t know much about it before either. But I absolutely felt in love with this place!

What a dope article Paula! I love this road trip guide, with any luck I’ll be able to put it to good use one day!

This is such a detailed and comprehensive guide! And so helpful too, as Namibia is one of the countries that’s on my wish list to visit in the next few years 🙂 what a great idea to rent a 4×4 with a tent on top, as it means that you’ll always have somewhere to sleep and the distances between destinations over there are huge!

HI Kiara, I am glad you found this guide helpful. Yes, renting a 4×4 with a tent on top is the best way to explore the country. Hopefully you can visit Namibia soon, and take me with you again, please 🙂

Thank you Cierra. I hope you can visit Namibia soon, it is a must destination and I am sure you will love it too.

Such a magical and beautiful place; Amazing guide ??

Wow… this place is so magical, hope someday I can go there and use your schedule

Wow, unbelievable! You are just great! One, driving, super car trip. I have not seen such a trip! I wish you success! You inspire!

Thanks, Julia – yes Namibia is an incredible place to explore. I hope one day you can also visit it!

Mariana, I hope you can go too and I am sure you will love it as much as I did.

Thanks Tori, I really appreciate your feedback! This trip was so epic and Namibia is for sure one of the most incredible places I ever visited in my life. Hope one day I can go back and continue to explore it.

Namibia’s an extraordinary country. I’ve been to some of the places on your list, but I still need to go to a few – like Kolmanskop.

Sara – Namibia is incredible, right? I had one of the best road trips of my life and Kolmanshop is a must visit, you will love it!

Thanks for such informative blog. I am planning to do 2 weeks road trip between Namibia and botswana. Ideally fly into Windhoek and fly out of botswana. Can you help in planning the iterniary for this. This would mean lot of time on the road, that’s what I am something looking for long drives through wild savanna as well. I would like to rent car in Windhoek and leave in botswana. Let me know yours thought. It will be max of 2 or 3 of us. What do you recommend the cost without international flights with most being camping and few lodges

Thanks Aarti

Hello Aarti – Thanks for reading my blog. Actually I did Namibia and Botswana itinerary myself. It was hard to plan the Botswana part as not all the roads I drove have a map, and some do not even exist during raining season. I will be launching my full blog itinerary in the next week and I would encourage you to check my blog again as I will have all the information you are asking for – complete itinerary, rental car options, pricing, recommendations on accommodations and much more.

Absolutely stunning! Thank you on a detailed impressive guide!

You are welcome, I am so glad to hear you enjoyed this guide

This guide has everything that I would want to know before visiting Namibia. Saving it for when I am able to go in the future!

Namibia looks like an incredible part of the world to do a self-guided tour around. I love how much detail you put into this guide, it’s super helpful for trip planning! Also love all of your photos!

We’re planning a trip in May curious about the logistics of traveling there did you get vaccines?

Hello Celeste, I didn’t get the vaccine, but I visited Namibia in December 2019 (pre-Covid) so not sure how they are regulated now as far as vaccination.

Great article and very informative for whoever is planning a self drive visit to Namibia like myself. I have one remaining doubt, that others might have and I wonder if you can help clear: I know I need to book Sossusvlei and Etosha ahead but what about everywhere else? What was your daily routine regarding bookings? Did you have each and every step of your journey planned ahead before start and just cancel if needed? Did you just have 1 or 2 days planned ahead and went along as you felt right? Or did you just book the next campsite at midday or even walked in?

I would like to keep pre-bookings to a minimum and just follow my itinerary at the pace I decide at the moment, but the fact that the number of car hook-ups at campsites is preset, you can only camp in campsites and it’s August, makes me think if I should leave with every single day planned. So I would be very interested in knowing what was your routine regarding bookings, specially campsites during your trip. Obrigado!

Hello Luis – they are all great and very valuable questions. I booked all my accommodations in advance. Reason is because it can be tricky to book accommodations in Namibia, especially campsite, because they have limited spots available. I wouldn’t worry too much about hotels in towns, as you will have more options and most likely you can book a day or two in advance.

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The Ultimate 12 Day Namibia Road Trip Itinerary 

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Namibia is an exciting destination if you love history, nature, and 4×4 adventure. It is home to the world’s oldest desert – the Namib – and has 13 official languages, making it a cultural melting pot! If you’re ready to enjoy its diverse topography, explore age-old African rock art, and spot one of the free-roaming cheetahs, this 12-day Namibian itinerary is yours.

Table of Contents

Day 1: arrive in windhoek and explore (1 night), day 2 and 3 : windhoek – lüderitz (via quiver tree forest) (2 nights), day 4 and 5: lüderitz to sossusvvlei (2 nights), day 6 and 7: sossusvlei to swakopmund (2 nights), day 8 and 9: swakopmund to spitzkoppe , day 10 and 11: spitzkoppe to etosha national park , day 12 : etosha to windhoek, things to remember, the takeaway.

Fly into Hosea Kutako International Airport and arrive in the capital of Windhoek. The city is the largest in the country and home to over 460 000 inhabitants. Windhoek epitomises a fusion of cultural diversity, and there is so much for visitors to do. Before escaping the humdrum and heading for the open road and vast sandy wonders, check out some of these popular sites:

• Heroes Acre War Memorial • Namibia Craft Centre • National Museum of Namibia

You’ll also want to jump into the local food scene if you’re a foodie. These restaurants are worth a squiz!

• The Stellenbosch Wine Farm and Bistro • Joe’s Beer House

Places to stay:

$: Chameleon Backpackers or Urban Camp $$ : Belveder Boutique Hotel or Hilton Windhoek

Driving time: 7 hours and 32 minutes (with a stop, don’t worry!)

Distance: 684 KM

Day two is when the road trip truly starts, and I suggest starting bright and early. Put on some comfy clothes, load that playlist, and bring some so-called ‘patkos’ (road food) along, because it’s a bit of a drive. We are heading to the colonial coastal town of Lüderitz via the Quiver Tree Forest in Keetmanshoop.

Keetmanshoop (our first stop) is pretty interesting, amalgamating Gothic architecture with African stone. Here you’ll visit the Quiver Tree Forest, comprised of alienesque trees and dolomite rock formations.

It’s also a good time to grab a bite because what is a road trip without a snack (or ten!)? Stop at Kitchen 51 and devour some tasty delights like pulled lamb on ‘rosterkoek’ (barbeque bread/ grill cake) or a homemade pie. The coffee is also Brew-tiful and will give you that extra boost for the next leg of your drive!

Once you’ve refuelled the belly (and most likely the car), it’s time to head to Lüderitz in the late afternoon, where you’ll spend two nights. The coastal town is home to an abundance of wildlife – including flamingos and penguins – and houses colonial architecture plus some impressive Art Nouveau buildings.

Things to do:

• Explore the ‘ghost town’ of Kolmanskop that was abandoned in the 1950s. This once bustling diamond mining town has since been taken over by the desert. • Visit Diaz point and check out the red and white lighthouse that was built in 1915. • Relax on Agate beach, take a picnic, and enjoy a drink while you catch the sunset.

$: Element Riders Backpackers $$: Cormorant House or Alte Villa

Travel time: 6 hours and 29 minutes.

Distance: 497.7 KM

Next up, we are off to Sossusvlei. This salt and clay pan is situated in the Namib-Naukluft National Park and is home to the world’s most photographed dune – Dune 45. This really is a bucket list must for anyone who loves geography since the colours of the desert and diverse topography will blow your mind. It also happens to be a UNESCO World Heritage Site. You’ll spend two nights here.

• Climb Dune 45 (relatively easy and takes around an hour). Catch the sunrise/ sunset from way up high. • Wonder around Deadvlei and walk through the iconic 900-year-old trees in the white clay pan landscape. This is the stuff that guidebooks are made of! • Refresh at the Sesriem Canyon. If you visit after heavy rains, you can cool down and have a dip. • Gaze at the stars. Since there is hardly any light pollution, you are in a prime spot for stargazing. • Keep your eyes peeled, and you might spot an Oryx from the antelope family. Fun fact: These interesting creatures can cool the blood that goes to their brain with their nasal capillaries while they breathe. • If you are feeling extra fit, climb Big Daddy dune!

On your second day in Sossusvlei:

Wake up early, grab a take-a-way coffee, and catch the sunrise from atop the dunes if you’re feeling sprightly. (Also, this is a serious envy-worthy selfie spot.) If you’re feeling extra and aren’t afraid of heights, you can also catch a Namib Sky Hot Air Balloon ride and enjoy some bubbles as you soar over the savanna.

NB: Pack loads of water if you plan on climbing the dunes!

Places to stay

$: A Little Sossus Lodge $$: Sesriem Camp Site (Chalets and campsites available) and Agama Lodge $$$: Le Mirage Resort (48 KM away)

Travel Time: 5 hours

Distance: 403 kilometres

Now it is time to head to the coastal town of Swakopmund for two nights. The town was founded by the Germans in 1892 and was the main harbour at the time. The rest of day six and all of day seven can be spent exploring colonial-era architecture, meandering along the old sea wall, and visiting these must-see attractions:

• Explore Sandwich Harbour or take a scenic tour: Sandwich Harbour is a truly a picturesque location with its reed-lined lagoon, freshwater springs, and sandy dunes. It’s also abundant with bird life, and here you can find flamingos, pelicans, and dabchicks. You might even spot a dolphin or two in the bay or a jackal casually scurrying along the sandy shores.

• Cultural/Historical township tour: If you’re interested in the local culture and history, book a walking tour and learn more about the area on foot.

• Go quad-biking: Adrenaline junkies listen up, quad-biking is a must! There are loads of tours around, and you’ll be able to traverse Dune 7. Go at sunset for a particularly fantastical experience.

• Take in the architecture: If you love history and architecture, a stroll around Swakopmund will prove most interesting. Check out the old railway station, the Swakopmund Lighthouse, the Hohenzollern Building, and the State House.

• Visit Walvis Bay and see the flamingo colony: Located 30 KM outside of the town, Walvis Bay is home to a huge flamingo colony. This bustling port town is filled with fishing boats and houses the Pelican Point Lighthouse.

• Go seal kayaking: If you’re in Walvis Bay, book a kayaking trip and spot some seals.

• Swakopmund Museum: Learn about local history, tribes, minerals, plants, and animals.

Restaurants to try:

• Swakopmund Brauhaus • The Tug Restaurant • Jetty 1905 Restaurant

$: Hansa Hotel $$: Strand Hotel

Travel time: 2 hours and 5 minutes 

Distance: 161 KM 

Start out early and head to Spitzkoppe via the small fishing town of Henties Bay. Stop for a coffee or breakfast here and check out the Zeila shipwreck if you love maritime history. You can also visit Cape Cross with its 200 000 strong seal colony (during breeding season). Then it’s time to hit the road because there is loads to see in Spitzkoppe where you’ll spend two nights.

Side note: Film buffs may know that part of the film Space Odyssey was filmed here in 2001! 

Spitzkoppe is located in the mountainous region of Damaraland, and here you’ll find a plethora of geographical wonders and local delights, including the famous arch, granite peaks, Bushman rock art, and locals selling crystals like topaz and aquamarine. Top attractions include:

• Hike/climb the Spitzkoppe Mountain:  If you’re a strong hiker or climber, then you’ll love traversing this red granite mountain. I’d advise going with a guide or taking one of the gentler hiking routes.
• A scenic desert bike tour:  If you love cycling, explore some of the epic cycle tours around. What better way to take in the beauty of it all than cycling through the dunes?
• Spot a plethora of flora and fauna:  This region is home to a myriad of animals and plants, including the desert lion, Namaqua rock mouse, zebra, and more. 
• Stargazing:  This is another incredible stargazing spot. Snap some epic shots of the Milky Way as you forget the hustle and bustle of the city. 
• Unleash your inner photographer:  This is a photographer’s paradise. Golden hour offers the perfect opportunity to get some incredible photos of the landscape – and yourself featuring said landscape, of course!
• Visit the Spitzkoppe Arch. This natural rock formation is a must!

Where to stay:

$: Spitzkopf Tented Camp Site

$$: Spitzkoppen Lodge

Travel time: 4 hours and 17 minutes 

Distance: 417 KM 

We’re heading to the last leg of our trip now – two nights in the incredible Etosha National Park before we get back to Windhoek (and then, reality! Boo!) 

Leave Spitzkoppe early so that you can make the most of your time at the park. If you want to totally relax, it might be best to book a guided safari tour since the guides will know the best locations to spot animals and cover a larger area of the park. These two watering holes are definitely worth visiting: 

Okaukuejo and Moringa watering holes:  At night-time, the watering spots offer a fantastic opportunity to see numerous animals, including elephants, rhinos, giraffes, and perhaps even the elusive cheetah. If you stay at one of the chalets within the park, you might even spot a so-called ‘ghost elephant.’ They’re named ghost elephants because of the white clay and calcite sand in the park. When they cover themselves in this, their skin turns white, and a ghostly apparition with a trunk emerges. 

Spend the second day driving through the park and enjoying the vast array of wildlife. Etosha truly does boast an abundance! 

$: Etosha Safari Camp (around 75 KM from the national park) 

$$: Dolomite camp and Okaukuejo camp (these are both state-owned and located within the park.) While they aren’t the most luxurious camps, you’ll get to see nature in all its glory and have a better opportunity of seeing elusive creatures at night. They also both have restaurants, which is handy after a long-day of safari driving. Watch out for jackals, though; they love to steal snacks! 

$$$: Little Ongava Lodge (A super luxury lodge just 5 minutes from the park gates. Be prepared to spend the big bucks though!) 

Travel time: 4 hours and 3 minutes

Distance: 414 KM

It’s time to head back to Windhoek, where it all began. You can catch a late afternoon flight home, or enjoy a last evening in the capital.

Your 12-day, whirlwind Namibia trip has come to an end.  You’re most likely sun kissed and perhaps a little exhausted. You’ve made memories to last a lifetime and you’ve certainly gotten in those kilometres! 

While you can use public transport between the main centres, you’ll have to rent a car or join a tour to get to some of the natural wonders further afield. Many rental companies have drivers if you want to plot your journey but aren’t ready to navigate the long drives yourself. Whatever you decide, these sites are a must. All you need to do is plan the perfect road trip playlist and ensure you have enough ‘padkos.’

Top tip: If driving yourself, keep an eye on the fuel tank regularly. You’ll drive long distances between towns and attractions and might not see a fuel stop for hours. On this note, rent a fuel-efficient car that gives you more kilometres per litre. 4×4 vehicles are best to navigate potholes and, of course, the dunes!

This gorgeous country on the south-western coast of Africa will delight anyone with a penchant for the Great Outdoors. Its rich history, interesting architecture, and geographical wonders make it the ideal road trip destination. If you’re excited about a Namibian adventure, why not take a peek at our other Southern African escapades?

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Best 2 Week Itinerary In Namibia (+ Travel Tips & Maps) (2024 Review)

Last Updated on April 9, 2024 by Nicole

Namibia is a large African country located in the southwest of Africa, just above South Africa, on the Atlantic Ocean. It borders Angola, Botswana, South Africa, and Zambia. It is the driest country in Africa south of the Sahara and offers breathtaking scenery, a lengthy natural coastline, a wealth of African wildlife, expansive deserts and towering mountains. It is one of the most incredible African countries for safaris and exploration and you can easily spend weeks if not months exploring this mesmerizing county. We rented a car and did a 14 day road trip on a Namibian vacation in late January and early February and saw some of the best it had to offer. Here is our exceptional 2 week itinerary in Namibia.

This post may contain affiliate links. That means that I may earn a small commission, at no extra cost to you, if you buy something through my site. This helps me run my website and produce the articles that I hope you find helpful.

Other Articles About Africa

I have been to Africa several times over the last 38 years. Unfortunately, I only started writing this blog a few years ago, so I have not written about many of my experiences.

However, I have written about how to plan an African safari and a budget safari .

In my opinion, unlike most everywhere else in the world, there is too much mystery about traveling in Africa. In addition, when you rely on a travel agent or travel company, you often feel uncertain about whether you are going to see the animals that you want, or whether you are being charged a fair amount.

In my experience, you are often being massively overcharged. You contact a travel agent in your home country, who then contacts a travel agent or tour operator in Africa, and then, you are presented with an African safari where you are paying commissions to at least 2 different entities, if not more.

So, how do you avoid this?

Read the two articles listed above about how to plan an African safari, then try to do as much research as you can about where you really want to go and what you really want to do and see. Then, try and find a local travel agent.

That is what I did for our Namibian trip. I worked with Allison from Nature Travel Namibia and with her unbelievable guidance, we crafted an incredible Namibian vacation that took our breath away.

If you are looking for other helpful travel tips to help you travel CHEAPER, SMARTER AND EASIER, then join the thousands of subscribers who receive my weekly newsletter filled with the most up to date and best travel tips around. Sign up with this link

Other African Safaris

I have been on many African safaris but haven’t always written about them because I went on them before I started my blog. However, I did write about our ultra luxury safari in Zambia at Chongwe River House on the Chongwe and Zambezi Rivers.

In many respects, this African safari is the complete opposite to our experiences in Namibia. In Zambia, we spent huge chunks of our day on the rivers either traveling to and from the national park where we did our game viewing, or actually doing safaris on the water. According to my husband, it is still his absolute favorite trip that we have ever taken. For more information, please see:

• Chongwe Way River House: A Luxury African Safari With Kids ; and
• Luxury African Safari: 6 Different Types of Safaris The Must Be Experienced .

Other fantastic adventures that we have had in Subsaharan Africa include:

• Best 10 Day Itinerary In Ghana (+ Travel Tips & Maps) ; and
• Best 10 Day Itinerary in Uganda With The Mountain Gorillas (+ Travel Tips & Maps) .

My husband, son and I spent 14 days self driving around Namibia and it was an extraordinary experience. We cancelled our trip to Uganda a couple months earlier because of a deadly Ebola outbreak and scrambled to replace it with something else “nearby”.

I had always wanted to go to Namibia but really knew very little about it except that it had a dry arid and desert landscape with some unique wildlife.

Why Namibia?

I often hear people asking to which African country they should go for their first African safari. Kenya, Tanzania, and South Africa are often mentioned. Why?

They are relatively easy to reach from several airports in North America, Europe and Asia. They have an established safari tourism infrastructure and there are lots of tour operators offering trips. In addition, when you start doing your own research about where to go and stay, there is a lot written about these countries and their safaris.

Namibia is very different.

It is difficult to reach. You can only reach it directly from a couple of European and Middle East cities and those flights are long. In most instances, you have to fly to Johannesburg, then transfer and fly to Windhoek, the capital of Namibia.

Add in the time change (if you are coming from North America), a night’s stay in Johannesburg because you can’t easily make the transfer or you just want to be sure you don’t miss your flight because of a late arrival, and already 3 days have passed before you have actually started your vacation in Namibia.

In addition, Namibia is very untouched with a developing tourism industry. We sometimes drove for 3 hours without seeing another car, person or house. You spend hours being in the middle of nature surrounded by astounding natural wonders such as massive sand dunes or mountains. You truly feel like you have found an authentic untouched part of the world. Even more amazing, it never felt unsafe.

I have been on several African safaris over the last 38 years. I have been on safaris in Kenya, South Africa, Zimbabwe, Zambia, and Botswana. I have also explored other Sub-Saharan African countries, such as Tanzania (Zanzibar), the Kingdom of Eswatini (formerly Swaziland), and the Kingdom of Lesotho. Namibia is unlike any of these African countries and truly a magical find in this world of overtourism.

Best 14 Day Namibian Holiday

We drove over 1300 miles (2100 km) on our 2 week holiday in Namibia and saw about 40% of the country. I would have happily spent another few weeks exploring the rest if we had had the time. However, we saw a fantastic overview of what Namibia has to offer.

Below is a map of our 14 day Namibian itinerary. We started by driving north from Windhoek.

In the north, there is dense woodlands to vast plains attracting a variety of wildlife.

As you move southwest, it becomes arid and mountainous until it transforms into the desert and the coast. Wildlife becomes less common as you drive south, but we still came across oryx, giraffe, zebras, as well as others, when we least expected to.

Summer In Namibia

Our 14 day getaway in Namibia straddled January and February. This is summer in Namibia and the “rainy” season.

When I first heard it was the “rainy” season, I was like “no way – I do not want to go halfway around the world to be in the cold and rain.”

I live in Vancouver and if you know winter weather in London , England or Seattle, Washington, then you get an idea at what our rainy season looks like. The rain basically never stops. It’s gloomy and wet.

The “rainy” season in Namibia should really be called something different for tourists because it is barely noticeable. It was beautifully sunny and warm everyday. If it rained, it rained hard for about 15 to 30 minutes, often at night. That’s it.

Namibia is arid and dry so any rainfall is significant and important for the country. As a tourist, it did create some pretty big puddles of water here and there, but they quickly disappeared with the heat of the sun.

Overall, the rain was unnoticeable and had no impact on our days or our experiences. It should not be a factor against coming to Namibia in summer.

On the contrary, there are lots of advantages to traveling in summer. It is “low” season and you can find some fantastic hotel deals. The national parks are quiet and game viewing is amazing – you are often alone on a game drive even in Etosha National Park, the most popular game park in Namibia.

Some of the game viewing is “harder” as the animals do not have to go to man-made watering holes for their water. Instead, they can drink from the puddles that are created from the rain, off the beaten track.

However, I much prefer to find the animals more naturally and organically, and that is what you end up doing. For me, that is a plus, especially when the game parks are quiet and you can easily spreadout from other tourists during low season.

Rental Car In Namibia

We landed in Windhoek after a short flight from Johannesburg and picked up our rental car. We rented a Toyota Fortuner and got a phenomenal rate through Discover Cars .

A couple of issues related to your rental car and driving in Namibia for which you should be aware:

• The roads around cities and major highways are paved. However, many other roads are not. They are gravel. You should rent a 4WD car with large clearance underneath it, and make sure that you have at least one spare tire. We did not need our spare tire, but apparently that is unusual.
• Give yourself around 2 hours to pick up the rental car at the airport. You have to watch a video about driving in Namibia (a description of what the roads are like and how best to drive on them). They also do a thorough inspection of the car and intently explain its features. Make sure you build in that time into the total amount of time that you need to reach your first destination before dark.
• Read your rental car documents carefully. Make sure you are clear about what kind of insurance is already included in the price of the rental (we had lots automatically included in our rental price) and be aware of any extras that the rental agent tries to add that you don’t need.
• The rental agency will likely charge your credit card with the security deposit versus put a hold on the amount. That means that when you are ultimately charged your final amount upon your car rental return, your rental will be more expensive than originally quoted because you will be unfairly penalized by the currency exchange rate used by your credit card company. This can be avoided by accepting the rental agencies’ insurance. However, this means that your rental car will still cost more from the cost of the insurance.
• NEVER EVER leave a place without filling up your car even if you have 3/4 of a tank left. We almost ran out of gas when we were returned to Windhoek from the Sossusvlei region and we started with 3/4 of a tank. I couldn’t believe that we didn’t come across one gas station on our 4 hour drive back to the capital until we were almost in Windhoek. It was incredibly stressful.
• We felt very safe in Namibia. The only instance that anything unpleasant happened was when a police officer pulled us over for something ridiculous and then, said he would accept the equivalent of $50 USD to avoid taking us to the police station to pay the much larger fine. This happened to us once before in South Africa many years ago and we knew this could happen again. We recommend hiding all your money in your luggage and instead have around $20 USD or so in your wallet. If this happens, offer him the $20 while showing your wallet is otherwise empty. He will most likely accept the money rather than get nothing if he takes you to the station. It has worked for us.

Days 1, 2, and 3 at Okonjima Plains Camp

Windhoek to okonjima plains camp.

We drove straight from Windhoek airport to Okonjima Plains Camp . It was a very easy drive, mostly highways on paved routes that were easy to follow.

Okonjima Plains Camp is a luxury lodge that sits on the Okonjima Nature Reserve. It sprawls over 50,000 acres (200 square kilometres) of undulating plains, mountainous outcrops, and riverine thickets.

Its’ game viewing includes leopards and white rhinos, as well as other more commonly found African animals such as zebras, giraffes, and oryx. We stayed 2 nights here.

Leopard Trekking

What drew us here over other lodges in Namibia is the leopard trekking . This was an unbelievable experience and one that I would highly recommend doing on your trip to Namibia.

Leopards are solitary creatures who roam freely and are as happy sleeping in a tree as they are on the ground. Because of this, they are very difficult to find in the wild.

At Okonjima, once a leopard is fully grown, they safely capture the leopard in the wild (by placing a sedative in some food). Then, they quickly send out a veterinarian who checks on the health of the leopard and puts a collar on it. This collar is loaded with a tracking beacon which allows the guides to pinpoint the whereabouts of a leopard within a defined area.

Leopard trekking either takes place at dawn or a few hours before sunset. You head out in an open air safari jeep with a guide who is assigned a vast area where at least one leopard is located. There is only one safari jeep per area so it is an exclusive experience for all guests. Then, the guide uses his rudimentary tracking device to try and find the leopard.

Believe it or not, even with the tracking device it is incredibly hard to find the leopards. There is lot of underbrush and trees, and the leopard’s coloring and spots helps it blend into the scenery. But, once you do, you will never forget your thrilling encounters with this magnificent creature.

Overall Impressions Of Okonjima Plains Camp

This is an expensive lodge which ended up being my least favorite one on our whole trip. The attitude of the management and staff was aloof and unappealing. Everywhere else we went on our 2 week Namibian adventure, everyone was kind and intent on making our stay wonderful. At Okonjima Plains Camp, it felt like money was more important than anything else.

Having said that, you MUST do the leopard experience. It was truly one of the most incredible wild life encounters that I have ever had and I’ve had many.

Accordingly, I would recommend only staying one night, doing the leopard experience, and going elsewhere for your other safaris.

Days 3, 4 and 5 at Mushara Lodge Next to Etosha National Park

We drove from Okonjima Plains Camp to Mushara Lodge , located about 5 miles (8 km) from the Von Lindequist Gate on the eastern boundary of Etosha National Park on our 14 day road trip. The drive was easy with lovely views.

Mushara Lodge

Mushara Lodge is a beautiful small lodge with luxury accommodation and amazing staff. In the center of the property is a pretty pool with lots of shade, perfect for relaxing in between safaris at Etosha. We stayed 2 nights at Mushara.

Etosha National Park

Etosha National Park is one of the largest national parks in all of Africa (bigger than Kruger in South Africa). It is 13,670 miles (22,000 km) and offers a wide variety of game viewing such as lions, elephants, leopards, rhinos, giraffes, cheetahs, hyenas, springboks, two kinds of zebras, elands (and more).

We did two safaris in Etosha with a guide in an open air safari jeep booked through Mushara Lodge. Even though we had our own vehicle and the roads in the National Park were paved and well signed, we thought that we would get a better experience with a guide who knew the Park well.

I am glad with this decision. Our guide knew where to find elephants who are difficult to find in summer. In addition, he was in constant radio contact with other guides who helped direct us to an area where we could find a lion pride. It was also nice to have the high viewing seats offered by the jeep and the ability to take better photos.

Days 5 and 6 at Okaukeujo Camp

We spent the day game viewing while driving from Mushara Lodge to Okaukeujo Camp in Etosha National Park on our 14 day vacation in Nambia. Okaukeujo Camp is located in Etosha National Park, one of only a few lodges located within the Park.

Okaukeujo Camp

Okaukeujo Camp is owned and operated by the Namibian government. It is located in the southern part of Etosha and only 11 miles (17 km) from Anderson Gate.

Okaukeujo Camp had a very different feel to the other privately owned luxury lodges at which we stayed on our Namibian holiday. Accommodation is a lot more basic, service is sketchy, and food is just ok.

The reason that we chose to book a night here was the ability to stay in Etosha National Park after dark and go on a night safari. Also, it was close to one of the exits at the Park and enroute to our next destination on our 2 week vacation in Namibia.

Another reason for staying in Okaukeujo for a night was the enormous floodlit watering hole open to the guests. Animals from Etosha come and go and freely drink the water, allowing you to easily find and watch all kinds of animals just by sitting on a bench and waiting.

In summer, when there is rainfall, the watering hole is less of a draw for the animals as they can find water elsewhere in Etosha. However, most other times of the year, this watering hole is a fantastic and easy spot for animal viewing.

Overall Impressions Of Okaukeujo Camp

Compared to the other accommodation at which we stayed, this was the least impressive from an amenities perspective. However, we did love staying in Etosha for one night, going on the evening safari and seeing the animals around the watering hole. In addition, I also appreciated waking up in the Park, doing a bit more game viewing before exiting Etosha for our next destination.

Days 6, 7 and 8 at Palmwag Lodge

We drove from Etosha National Park to Palmwag Lodge , just over 4 hour’s drive, on our 14 day getaway in Namibia. The drive started on paved roads, but they shortly became gravel. Once we started driving on gravel, we barely saw houses, buildings, people or cars.

The scenery was gorgeous. It started somewhat lush with rolling plains and slowly turned extremely dry, mountainous with red rocks and very little vegetation. It was very beautiful.

Palmwag Lodge

Between Kaokoland and the Skeleton Coast, in the Palmwag Concession (a 550,000 hectare protected area located in the northwestern part of Namibia), lies Palmwag Lodge and Camp, where we stayed for 2 nights.

Palmwag Lodge and Camp offers 3 types of accommodation – in the luxury lodge, Camp To Go, or on a traditional campsite. We chose to spend 2 nights at Camp To Go. In North America, this would more commonly be called “Glamping”.

We had an enormous tent with very comfortable twin beds for each of us, a full bathroom, air conditioning, and a full outside kitchen. It was amazing and we loved this experience.

We chose to stay at Palmwag so that we could trek black rhinos on foot. It was extraordinarily hot while we were there, so although the Lodge offered other activities, such as other guided hikes and nature drives, we chose to relax by the pool in our spare time.

Black Rhino Trekking

The black rhino trekking was another remarkable experience on our 2 week road trip in Namibia and one that you should try to add to your Namibian itinerary.

Black rhinos are critically endangered and only found in a handful of places in southern Africa. They are very aggressive but have terrible eyesight. They are unable to see a motionless person at a distance of 100 ft (30m). They mainly rely on their strong sense of smell.

Their awful eyesight means that you can safely trek black rhinos on foot with the help of guides so long as you follow strict rules, such as staying a suitable distance away.

Our Experience Black Rhino Tracking

On our morning trek, a guide and driver from the Lodge drove us around 30 minutes in an open game drive vehicle to the area where the black rhinos roam. Along the way, we picked up two rangers who were experts in rhino tracking.

We dropped off one ranger so he could follow tracks while the other one stayed with us and we continued to drive and search for rhinos. Eventually, a rhino was found by the ranger on foot and we drove to meet him.

At this point, we got out of the jeep and started the trek. We had to walk in a straight line and were told what to do if the rhino charged. However, it was unwarranted.

The rhino that we were tracking was very shy. We followed it for about an hour and got some amazing photos, but we were never too close.

It was a spectacular experience. We were alone in the middle of this dry, rocky mountainous area following this magnificent creature. We didn’t see other animals while trekking, but later saw giraffes and zebras on our drive who somehow are also capable of living in this unforgiving terrain.

Days 8, 9, 10, and 11 at Atlantic Garden Boutique Hotel in Swakopmund

We drove from Damaraland to the Atlantic Garden Boutique Hotel in Swakopmund, a 6 hour drive (without stops), on our 14 day trip in Namibia.

However, we chose to drive through Skeleton National Park where the sand dunes meet the Atlantic Ocean and stopped a few times to explore various sites. Accordingly, the drive took much longer. Nevertheless, this was another astounding day.

Initially, our drive from Palmwag Lodge was over and through red rock mountains with spectacular views. However, as we approached the Atlantic Ocean, the landscape became flatter and lost its red color. Instead, it became mostly yellow sand that was either flat or part of enormous sand dunes.

Skeleton National Park

We entered Skeleton National Park at Springbokwasser Gate. It has limited hours of operation so make sure you double check what those are before you leave.

When we were there, it was open from 7:00 am – 3:00 pm. We exited the Park at the southern Ugab Gate and had to do that before it closed at 5:00 pm.

You must pay an entry fee to enter the Park and you should have cash on hand for this. In addition, make sure you have snacks and water, you have checked your tires and have a full gas tank. There is absolutely no services within the Park.

The road is paved. However, there is so much sand and wind coming off of the Atlantic Ocean that the paved road can quickly disappear under a coat of sand. You will likely see trucks that drive the roads all day long clearing the sand much like snow clearing vehicles.

On one side of the road is sand and the Atlantic Ocean and on the other side is more sand and sand dunes. Apart from the occasional attraction along the way, that is all that you see through Skeleton National Park.

Attractions In And Around Skeleton National Park

We stopped and explored an old abandoned oil drilling rig from the 1970s. Later, we also stopped and saw the shipwreck of the South West Seal, a fishing trawler that run aground in 1976. Both were very cool to see.

Cape Cross Seal Colony

About one hour from the Ugab gate exiting Skeleton National Park, you find Cape Cross Seal Colony .

This colony hosts hundreds of thousands of seals who come to frolic in the ocean, enjoy the good fishing provided by the nutrient-rich waters of the Benguela current, and mate and raise their babies.

For just a few dollars per person (in cash), you can purchase tickets to walk on a raised walkway over and around the seals.

You are absolutely surrounded by seals and in many cases, you are so close to some of them that you could reach out and touch them (which, of course, would be incredibly foolish and dangerous thing to do).

There are lots of seals sunbathing and sleeping on their backs and cute baby seals trying to keep up with their moms.

However, there are also fighting seals, even dead, rotting pups who for some reason, have not survived. In addition, the smell of rotten fish is overwhelming.

Atlantic Garden Boutique Hotel in Swakopmund

We drove just over an hour on our 2 week getaway in Nambia from the Cape Cross Seal Colony to the Atlantic Garden Boutique Hotel in Swakopmund for our three night stay.

Swakopmund is a beautiful colonial town filled with German architecture. It has a population of around 50,000 and offers sophisticated and internationally renowned restaurants, wine tastings, and fun shopping.

The Atlantic Garden Boutique hotel was a beautiful modern hotel right in downtown Swakopmund. Our room was large and luxurious and the breakfast was superb. We were able to park our car and walk everywhere. We were 5 minutes from the beach and just steps to excellent restaurants and shops.

Overall Impressions of Skeleton National Park and Drive

I loved Skeleton National Park, seeing the ocean and the vast sandy landscape and sand dunes. It was extraordinary watching how the landscape changed from Palmwag to Swakopmund. In addition, it was amazing seeing the unusual sight of the sand dunes meeting the Atlantic Ocean.

However, this was a long day, with several hours of the same view.

One of the reasons that we chose this route was to see Cape Cross Seal Colony. I would highly recommend including this attraction on your 14 day road trip. It was a truly unique experience.

Swakopmund Attractions

We spent the next couple of days enjoying Swakopmund. We did the Desert Safari which was exceptional. You spend a few hours in the nearby sand dunes with a guide uncovering and learning about all the tiny creatures that somehow live and survive in this seemingly barren ecosystem.

On another day, my husband and son went deep sea fishing and loved it. I took the sightseeing boat from Walvis Bay and enjoyed seeing the mainland from a different perspective, spotting sea life, and watching seals at another smaller seal colony.

When not on tours, we ate at some extraordinary restaurants and shopped. It was really fun and a welcome change to the outdoor adventure and wildlife experiences that we had had up to that point on our 2 week Namibian vacation.

Days 11, 12 and 13 at Desert Homestead Lodge at Sossusvlei

We loved our time in Swakopmund but also couldn’t wait to start on the next part of our adventure. We drove almost 5 hours on our 2 week holiday in Namibia to Desert Homestead Lodge , quickly leaving behind the Atlantic Ocean and entering the world of ginormous red sand dunes; white, salt, and clay pans; and yellowish stone mountains. It was a harsh landscape, empty of much vegetation or greenery, yet still very beautiful.

Desert Homestead Lodge

Desert Homestead Lodge is a pretty lodge offering individual and luxurious thatched cottages for accommodation. The main lodge includes a stunning bar and restaurant with patios offering spectacular views over the valleys, in addition to a pool.

The food was delicious and the atmosphere was elegant yet very friendly and easy going. We really enjoyed our 2 night stay here.

Sossusvlei is a salt and clay pan surrounded by high red dunes, located in the southern part of the Namib Desert, in the Namib-Naukluft National Park of Namibia (the largest conservation area in Africa). The dunes in this area are some of the highest in the world, reaching almost 1300 feet (400 meters).

The dunes of the Namib Desert were created by sand carried by the wind from the coast of Namibia. The sand here is 5 million years old and red in colour because of its iron oxide content.

The wind in the immediate area blows from all directions creating “star dunes”.  This is because the winds cause the sand to form a star shape with multiple arms.

Sunset Quad Bike Tour

We did a sunset quad bike tour offered by Le Mirage Resort and Spa on our first night. We wanted to do something totally different and thought that spending a couple of hours on a quad bike (ATV) zipping around the desert and the dunes while watching the sunset would be amazing. And it was! We saw several animals and had incredible views of the valleys.

Private Tour of Namib-Naukluft National Park

The next day, we did a one day private tour through Desert Homestead Lodge and explored all that Sossusvlei and Namib-Naukluft National Park had to offer. It was truly magnificent.

Our first stop on our private tour was Dune 45, named for its proximity to Sesriem Gate. It was located 45km (28 miles) from the gate, along a paved road. You are welcome to climb this dune, but we decided to conserve our energy and climb the biggest one – “Big Daddy”!

Big Daddy is the tallest dune in the Sossusvlei area and at 1066 feet (325 meters), it dwarfs the other dunes. You can trek to the top of Big Daddy where you can look down onto Deadvlei.

Big Daddy may be the highest dune in the Sossusvlei area, however it is not the highest in the Namib Desert. “Dune 7” has been measured at 1272 feet (388 meters). 

We climbed halfway up Big Daddy. It was very, very difficult. We were one of the first of the day and thus, on every step we took, our feet sunk deep into the sand.

On the occasion that we found existing footsteps, it was much easier as the sand became more compact with each footfall.

At halfway up, we had unbelievable 365 degree views of Namib-Naukluft National Park. In addition, just below us was Deadvlei. At the end of our hike, we literally ran and slid down Big Daddy to Deadvlei at the base, hooting and laughing all the way.

Deadvlei is a clay pan characterized by dark, dead (petrified) camel thorn trees contrasted against the white pan floor. The pan was formed when the Tsauchab River flooded, allowing for the trees to grow. However, the climate changed and the sand dunes rose, blocking the river from reaching the area. 

The trees are estimated to be approximately 900 years old, however they remain, foregoing decomposition because of the incredibly dry climate.

We walked around the area absorbing the contrasting beauty that the red sand dunes, white pan floor and black trees created. It was awe-inspiring.

Sesriem Canyon

At the end of our tour, we went and hiked in Sesriem Canyon, located approximately 4.5km from the entrance to Namib-Naukluft National Park. The Tsauchab River shaped the Canyon over millions of years and it is one of the few places in the area that holds water all year round.

The canyon is narrow at places and in some spots, you have to climb over rocks to continue your hike. However, it is worth exploring to see the significant differences between its stunning yellow rock formations and the red sand dunes just a few miles away.

Days 13 and 14 at Avani Windhoek Hotel And Casino

We drove back to Windhoek on our 2 week Namibian road trip. This is where we had over 3/4 tank of gas and didn’t come across one gas station until we were only minutes from Windhoek, almost running out. So, whatever you do, make sure you fill up your gas tank before leaving Sossusvlei.

We were mostly alone on the road on the drive back to Windhoek. We found ourselves on wide country roads, sometimes paved and sometimes not. We drove through tiny towns and villages watching children play and seeing how normal people lived. However, these towns were few and far between.

For the most part, we drove by empty barren land or the occasional spot with a house or car parked nearby. It got greener and more lush as we got closer to Windhoek.

Avani Windhoek Hotel And Casino in Windhoek

Windhoek is the capital of Namibia and not very attractive or interesting. I would not add any extra nights here if you are short of time.

Having said that, the Avani Windhoek Hotel was very nice with large comfortable rooms located in the center of downtown. We arrived in the early afternoon, walked and shopped in the nearby mall, and had fun exploring this other side of Namibia.

The next morning, we flew home.

Namibia was extraordinary. It is stunningly beautiful and offers exciting landscapes and wildlife for you to enjoy. It is an untouched paradise of nature, filled with kind and generous people. The next time you are trying to decide where to go for your next adventure, make sure that you consider Namibia.

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Wanderlust Movement | A South Africa Travel Blog

An Incredible 10-Day Namibia Road Trip Itinerary

September 5, 2021 by Lauren Melnick

Last Updated on March 12, 2024 by Lauren Melnick

If you follow me on Instagram , you’ll know I recently got back from a two-month trip to Namibia .

It was my second trip to the country this year, and my feed has been an explosion of desert landscapes, epic hot air balloon adventures, and ticking off some of Namibia’s top attractions.

And after doing a Namibia travel Q&A, I had an influx of people asking me two things:

• “Please make all this information a Story highlight.”
• “Hurry up and post your Namibia blog posts!”

So here it is.

All the tips, information, and destinations you need to know about to plan an unforgettable Namibia road trip itinerary!

Without further adieu, let’s dive into this behemoth.

Psst…Want more Namibia travel tips and road trip inspo? Check out these other posts:

• Staying at Desert Grace: A Top Luxury Eco Lodge in Namibia
• 20 Incredible Visa-Free Countries South Africans Need to Visit in 202 1
• The Ultimate Road Trip Essentials Packing List (+ Free Checklist!)
• 10+ Spectacular Road Trips in South Africa You Can’t Miss!
• 10+ of the Cheapest African Countries You Need to Visit

Table of Contents

Keep an Eye on Your Fuel Tank

Don’t drive at night, road trip namibia solo or in a group, pick the right car, travel & car insurance , get a local sim card, covid travel requirements for namibia, the best time to visit namibia, where to stay in windhoek, things to do in windhoek, where to stay in luderitz, things to do in luderitz, where to stay in sossusvlei, things to do near swakopmund, where to stay in swakopmund, where to stay in spitzkoppe, where to stay in etosha, etosha to windhoek (1 day), even more bucket list namibia attractions, what to pack for a namibia road trip, cost of accommodation in namibia, car rental and petrol costs in namibia, entrance fees for national parks, food costs in namibia, flights to namibia from south africa, travelling to namibia faq, namibia road trip safety tips.

“Is it safe to drive in Namibia?”

That’s one of the top questions in my DMs.

The short answer? Yes! Namibia is a safe self-drive destination. Hopping in your car and driving into the arid desert is one of the best ways to explore the country.

However, there are a few things you do need to keep in mind.

Namibia is the second least densely populated country in the world. With a population of only 2 million and an area of 825,400 square kilometres, you can drive for hours and not see another car.

When you couple this with the long drive times between attractions, and few and far petrol stations in between – you could run out of fuel in the middle of nowhere if you’re not careful.

Before you set out on your Namibia self-drive trip, go onto Google Maps and make a note of the petrol stations and where you’re going to fill up.

Tip: Work out your car’s fuel efficiency so you know exactly how many kilometres you’re going to get from one full tank of fuel.

Once you leave a big city like Windhoek, you won’t find a single street light until you reach the next town.

While no light pollution is music to any astrophotographer’s ears, it’s dangerous to anyone on the roads after dark.

You could hit big animals like Oryx or not see a pothole in time.

…And that’s a sure-fire way to spend your travel fund on insurance premiums.

Tip: Plan your Namibia road trip route to leave after sunrise and arrive before sunset.

Okay, hear me out.

You can self-drive Namibia alone, but only if you prepare for sh*t to the fan.

With how remote the country is and the lack of cell signal, if you get stuck or have an accident, you might have to wait hours for someone to drive past.

If you want to road trip Namibia solo, make sure you have:

• Satellite phone
• Emergency service numbers
• Tools for changing a tyre
• Knowledge to get your car unstuck from a sand dune

For everyone else, I’d recommend going in a group for safety. 

And if you want to go up to the Skeleton Coast, go in a convoy (not one car), so you have another vehicle to help in case you get stuck.

Do you need a 4×4 in Namibia? Yes and no.

You can reach some destinations with a normal vehicle. The road to Sossusvlei has been upgraded in recent years, and there is a tar road from the park gates until the first Dead Vlei parking lot.

But due to the conditions of the gravel roads, it’s better to use a 4×4. Plus, if you want to explore more remote regions and tackle the dunes, you’ll need an off-road vehicle. 

World Nomads Travel Insurance offers some of the best coverage for travellers. No matter where in the world you go, you’ll have cover for over 150 adventure activities and travel hiccups like unplanned hospital and doctor visits.

If you’re a digital nomad and travel to Namibia for a month or more, I recommend Safety Wing . It’s travel insurance for long-term travellers and has remote health care insurance as well.

For car insurance, you shouldn’t skimp on this option. We got caught in a sandstorm en route to Luderitz that stripped the paint off the car and pockmarked the entire windscreen.

World Nomads provides travel insurance for travelers in over 100 countries. As an affiliate, we receive a fee when you get a quote from World Nomads using this link. We do not represent World Nomads. This is information only and not a recommendation to buy travel insurance.

Grab an MTC sim card and sign up for the Supa Aweh package. It has the best value for money in terms of the amount of data and talk time you’ll get.

The only catch? It expires after a week.

If you plan to stay in Namibia for longer as I did, I topped up my data bundles as I ran out.

Namibia’s borders are open to international travellers, but there are a few travel requirements you’ll need to meet.

• 72-hour negative PCR test on arrival.
• 72-hour negative PCR test on departure.

You do not need to self-isolate or go into a mandatory government quarantine .

To get your negative COVID test to leave Namibia, you can go to Pathcare testing stations. Pathcare has depots in Walvis Bay and Windhoek, and you do need to pre-book a timeslot.

Cost: NAD 850

If you want to go private, I highly recommend NamibTest. There is no waiting in lines, you’ll have your tests back in 7 to 24-hours, and you can book your appointment online.

Note: There are only testing stations or home visits in Windhoek and Swakopmund.

Cost: From NAD 950

When is the best time of year to visit Namibia? October.

The heat of summer hasn’t arrived yet, the chill of winter has melted away, and the wildflowers are in bloom. 

And if that’s not enough to tempt you, this will. October is a shoulder season for Namibia. It’s coming right off the heels of the country’s busiest months (June to August) which means you can scoop up incredible accommodation deals, and the crowds at Dead Vlei are minimal.

But if you want to avoid melting like a popsicle, the winter months (June to August) are a firm favourite for a reason. You won’t have a rain cloud in sight, temperatures are cool, and you’ll have incredible wildlife sightings in Etosha National Park.

Namibia Road Trip Itinerary

Special thanks to Mat-Travel Safaris and Tours for helping me plan both my Namibia road trips, organising all the logistics, and driving me around!

I’ve only flown into Namibia for a road trip. However, it’s totally possible to drive up from Cape Town or elsewhere in South Africa .

There is a main road you can follow, and it’s in good condition. If you decide to drive, remember to read up on what you’ll need to present at the border (i.e. car paperwork) and what food you can and cannot take across into Namibia.

Here is my Namibia road trip itinerary starting from Windhoek!

Windhoek (1 Day)

Fly into Hosea Kutako International Airport (WDH) and spend one night in Windhoek, Namibia’s capital city.

Trust me. You’ll want a bit of a breather before the madness of the road trip kicks into full gear. It will also give you time to grab a local sim card and check out the food scene.

After a good night’s rest, buckle up and get ready to start driving towards Luderitz in the morning.

• Chameleon Backpackers
• Windhoek Country Club Resort
• Am Weinberg Boutique Hotel
• Have dinner at Stellenbosch Wine Bar and Bistro (not vegan friendly)
• Visit Christuskirche (a gingerbread looking church)

Windhoek to Luderitz (1-2 Days)

• Distance: 684 km
• Time: 7-hours 35 min

From Windhoek, you can drive straight through to Luderitz, BUT that’s a hectic 8-hour drive.

Instead, break up your trip with a stop in Keetmanshoop . It’s home to Namibia’s famous quiver tree forest! We originally planned to stay on the farm where these trees are found, but a COVID break at the accommodation meant we had to cancel our booking.

If you have more time, you can opt-in for a more popular route to Luderitz: Windhoek – Kalahari – Fish River Canyon – Luderitz.  

Once you get to Luderitz, you can spend one or two days exploring the Kolmanskop Ghost Town. Once a thriving diamond mining town, it was abandoned to the elements in the 1950s. Over the decades, the desert has slowly taken over the buildings.

I would recommend spending two days here if you’re a photographer. It will give you time to scope out your shots and two opportunities to shoot at sunrise.

An extra day also means you have a buffer day in case the weather is bad.

Cost: Permits for sunrise and sunset are NAD 300 or NAD150 if you go in during daytime hours.

• The Cormorant House

Lüderitz to Sossusvlei (2 Days)

• Distance: 498 km
• Time: 6-hours 27 min

Next, you’re off to one of my favourite places in Namibia – Sossusvlei! Here, you’ll find the petrified Dead Vlei and the famous Dune 45 (the most photographed dune in the world!)

There are so many incredible ways to experience the desert while you’re here:

• Go on a hot air balloon ride with Namib Sky
• Sign up for a sunset nature drive into the dunes (available at Le Mirage)
• Climb Big Momma and Big Daddy dunes
• See Deadvlei and Sossusvlei
• Take photos at the dunes lining the road up to Deadvlei
• Keep an eye out for the Oryx!

Tip: Come inside the park for one sunset and one sunrise to experience the dunes in a different light! And don’t forget water if you plan on climbing any of the dunes.

• Kulala Desert Lodge (private access to Sossusvlei)
• Sesriem Campsite (campsite inside the park)
• Le Mirage (an hour drive to Sossusvlei)
• Gondwana Desert Grace Lodge

Read More: Staying at Desert Grace: A Top Luxury Eco Lodge in Namibia

Sossusvlei to Swakopmund (2 Days)

• Distance: 403 km
• Time: 5-hours

After an incredible two days in Sossusvlei, drive up the coast to Swakopmund. This little town is an excellent spot to have a breather and experience more of Namibia’s top attractions.

But before you pull into town, add Solitaire to your GPS and stop by for the famous apple crumble pie. 😍

Feast your heart out! It’s 100% worth it!

If you’re short on time, you can end your Namibia road trip itinerary here and fly out of Walvis Bay Airport. It’s a 35-minute drive away, or you could drive back to Windhoek (3-hours away) and depart from Hosea Kutako International Airport.

Read More: How To Book Cheap Flights From South Africa To Your Dream Destination

• Sandwich Harbour: Sign up for a half-day tour with Mola Mola Safaris and experience the size of the dunes first-hand. You drive next to the waves breaking on the beach and go on a roller coaster ride into the dunes. 12/10 would recommend – just make sure you sit in the front if you get car sick.
• Seal Kayaking Tour: This takes place in Walvis Bay, but you can easily organise a pick up with the tour company.
• Quad Biking: Dune 7 Adventures has an amazing quad biking sunset tour! It’s one of the best things I did in Namibia, and the views were incredible!
• Flamingoes: Walvis Bay (a short 30-minute drive from Swakopmund) is famous for its gigantic flamingo population. Walk along the promenade, and you’ll see a sea of pink -heart eyes-
• Architecture: Walk around Swakopmund and explore the town’s beautiful German architecture. My favourite building is the old railway station. 
• Skeleton Coast: If you have an extra day, book a day trip up to the Skeleton Coast. You can see the shipwrecks that litter Namibia’s coast. Or, if you want to save time, you can book a scenic flight and see the wrecks from above.

Tip: The Skeleton Coast is super remote and has no cell signal. It’s best to go with someone who knows the area and can help if your car gets stuck.

• All African Colours
• Hansa Hotel
• Strand Hotel

Swakopmund to Spitzkoppe (1-2 Days)

• Distance: 152 km
• Time: 1-hour 38 min

Only a 3-hour drive from Swakopmund lies another firm favourite – Spitzkoppe. Located in Damaraland, a breathtaking mountainous region where you’ll find locals selling crystals, desert lions, elephants and zebras. 

With so much epicness going on, it’s not hard to see why it’s one of the most photographed places in Namibia!

And the star of the show? The famous “arch”.

For photographers, shoot the arch at sunrise. Sunset works as well, but I find that the sunrise photos look better.

If you’re not into boulders or landscape photography, Spitzkoppe is an incredible star-gazing destination in Namibia. Pack your tripod and plan your trip in line with the new moon for spectacular Milky Way shots !

On my first Namibia road trip, this was our final stop before driving back to Windhoek to fly back home. You can do the same or continue further north.

• Spitzkoppe Tented Camp : 12/10 would recommend staying here. It’s only a short drive to the entrance.
• Spitzkoppe Campsites : You can camp inside the park, but it’s wild camping, and you’ll need to bring everything with you.
• Spitzkoppen Lodge : A more luxurious option.

Spitzkoppe to Etosha (3 Days)

• Distance: 460 km

Got the time to explore more of Namibia? Head up to Etosha National Park.

You can start in Swakopmund, skip Spitzkoppe and spend one night at Madisa Camp in Damaraland (3-hour drive) before driving at Anderson’s Gate on the C38 (4-hour drive).

If you’re coming from Spitzkoppe, the drive is 5-hours to the gate.

Once you’re inside, I’d recommend spending at least three days in Etosha. It will give you more than enough time to explore the park, and if you book accommodation within Etosha, you’ll have extra time for spotting the famous ghost elephants, big cats, and all the other wildlife.

The downside? The chalets inside the park are government-owned and aren’t in the best condition. My rooms at different camps had cockroaches, I didn’t always have hot water, and you can hear other people showering.

Plus, if you book the breakfast and dinner option, it’s not super vegetarian or vegan friendly . Learn from my mistakes and pack your own food if you don’t like eating meat.

What are ghost elephants? Regular ol’ African elephants that bathe in the park’s white clay and calcite sand, turning their grey skin white.

• Okaukuejo Camp : Book the premium waterhole chalets if you can.
• Halali Camp : My favourite Etosha camp that was in a better condition than Okaukuejo and near to the one leopard’s local hangout.
• Mushara Lodge : A luxury camp outside of Etosha on the Eastern side of the park.
• Little Ongava : A luxury lodge 5 minutes from Etosha’s gates.

• Distance: 457 km
• Time:  4-hours 37 min

If you don’t want to spend a night in Windhoek, book an afternoon flight out. Etosha is only a 4-hour drive away, and if you leave early enough, you can make it in time for your final leg back home.

We did this on our first Namibia road trip.

There are a few other destinations you can check out for those that have more time for a longer Namibia road trip itinerary:

• Caprivi Strip
• Fish River Canyon
• Twyfelfontein
• Waterberg Plateau National Park
• Epupa Falls
• Hoba Meteorite
• Welwitschia Drive
• Sesriem Canyon
• Quiver Tree Forest

Before you start your Namibia road trip, there are a few essentials that you’ll want to make sure are in your car:

• Spare tyre, spanner, and jack
• Tyre repair spray for punctures
• A cell phone charger for the car and a power bank
• Credit card and cash (don’t forget to unlock your card for international travel)
• Downloaded Spotify road trip playlist (you won’t have signal the entire time for online streaming)
• Offline version of Google Maps, Garmin, or old school map book
• A torch or headlamp
• Sunscreen, sunglasses, and a hat
• Soy milk if you don’t drink dairy (pick this up in Windhoek or Walvis Bay)
• Snacks for the car

Read More: The Ultimate Road Trip Essentials Packing List (+ Free Checklist!)

Namibia Road Trip Cost

Your Namibia road trip budget will vary depending on your travelling style, how far you drive, and how many days you spend in the country. 

Here is a quick breakdown of what you can expect to pay in Namibia:

Camping: Camping is the cheapest accommodation option in Namibia. You can bring your camping gear, hire some from an overland company, or stay in tented camps. Prices for campsites in Namibia average around NAD 200.

Lodges: Staying in a lodge or guesthouse in Namibia varies widely. You can book at mid-range places for NAD 800 per person per night or splurge on an ultra-luxe lodge starting at NAD 7000 per person.

The cost of renting a car in Namibia depends on the type of car you choose and if you’re travelling during high or low season. On average, a 4×4 rental (without camping gear) for 7-days will start at NAD 1020 per day for a 7-day trip, and if you want camping included, it can go up to NAD 2500 during peak season.

Next, you’ll need to budget for petrol. Luckily, it’s cheaper than South Africa. The price per litre is usually around NAD 13. To give you an example, my trip from Walvis Bay to Etosha cost NAD 2,400 for three tanks of fuel. 

The entrance fees in Namibia aren’t crazy expensive.

SADC nationals will pay around NAD 50 – NAD 70 and everyone else NAD 100 to NAD 150. Car fees are between NAD 20 to NAD 50, depending on your nationality.

If you’re staying at self-catering places, you can keep your food costs pretty low. The prices for some food items are slightly more expensive in Spar or at petrol stations as many things are imported.

Eating out at restaurants is on par with South African prices. You can expect main meal dishes to be average around R80 to R150. Non-vegetarian meals do cost more.

I paid R3500 for a return flight from Cape Town to Walvis Bay and around the same amount for my flights from Johannesburg to Windhoek.

To get the best flight prices, use Skyscanner . You can quickly see what months are the cheapest to fly to Namibia and what days airlines hike up the prices.

• What injections do I need for Namibia? There are no required vaccines for Namibia. However, always double-check with your doctor what shots you should get before travelling to Namibia. Some of the advised vaccines are Hepatitis B, Rabies, Typhoid, and Cholera.
• Do I need malaria tablets for Namibia? There are some areas in Namibia where malaria is a high risk, especially during the rainy season. Again, speak to your doctor to get up-to-date medical advice and get malaria tablets that work best for you.
• Can I drink the water in Namibia? Yes, you can drink tap water in Namibia. However, always double-check when you are staying at lodges and campsites outside of the main cities.
• How many days should I spend in Namibia? With huge distances to cover between Namibia attractions, you should aim to spend between 10 to 14 days or more in Namibia.

Woo hoo! Congrats on making it to the end of this gigantic but EPIC Namibia road trip itinerary! Got any questions I didn’t answer? Hit ya gurl up in the comments below.

If you like it, then you should put a pin on it! 

About Lauren Melnick

Lauren Melnick is the founder of Wanderlust Movement, Wander to Here and is a South Africa travel blogger. She's been travelling the world as a full-time freelance writer since 2016 and has visited over 40 countries.

When she isn't typing up a storm, you can find her conquering overnight hikes around the Western Cape, rock climbing, and hosting sold out group travel trips around South Africa, Namibia and Morocco.

Reader Interactions

September 6, 2021 at 6:22 am

Love this! So helpful. Did you visit the skeleton coast? Will it be part of the trip you’re organizing next year? Also how’s the covid situation in Namibia?

September 6, 2021 at 8:26 am

I went as far as Henties Bay and saw one shipwreck. But I didn’t technically go into Skeleton Coast NP. For the trip, we are probably not going to do it just because of time and wanting to keep things at a specific price point.

Covid situation is more or less the same as SA and the rest of the world. You just need to wear a mask etc. like we do here.

December 24, 2021 at 11:05 am

Hello Lauren, its been my dream to visit Namibia with my family- we are 5 in total. however, after having looked at costs it seems to be an unreachable dream. I would love to road trip and would have to hire a 4*4 to do this, so that is definitely an additional cost as I don’t own one currently. Then its accommodation for 5 people, which I dont really mind rouging it out a bit, I’m not sure camping is an option for us though (but if it comes down to it we may have to) Then there’s the cost of all the covid tests. What would you recommend is best route for a family of 5 who wants to do a road trip (but preferably not alone as we are not too experienced). it must be the kinda trip youv’e described with the opportunity to take in all the key destinations and basically following your itinerary? we would have mx 10 days available to us to do this. tough question, but what should a trip like this cost me?

December 24, 2021 at 1:15 pm

Hey! I think the best option for you would be to sign up for a group tour of Namibia. You won’t be alone and you’ll have a clear idea of the costs upfront x

March 29, 2022 at 5:31 am

Hello Lauren, this is so helpful, thank you! Namibia sounds so magical – we’d like to book a road trip in May. Could you suggest any affordable group tour? We will fly from Joburg.

March 29, 2022 at 10:48 am

Hey Lara! I’m hosting a group trip to Namibia in May. You can see the trip itinerary and all the costs here: https://wandertohere.com/trips/namibia-7-day-overland-tour/

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Discover all Namibia’s Best Bits

Itinerary ‘route highlights’.

The perfect safari trip for those who want to see the famous pictures of Namibia coming alive through his or her very own eyes. Discover Namibia’s most scenic spots during Route Highlights.

Self-Drive Tour

14 Days (customizable)

Enjoy a beautiful sunset in a sea of the world’s highest dunes at Sossusvlei, explore life at the Atlantic Ocean with a kayak or catamaran visiting the seal colonies, and wander around ancient rock paintings in Damaraland.

Of course, the majestic Etosha National Park cannot be missed. Here, you will have the true African safari experience, full of beautiful wildlife! The Waterberg Plateau is a wonderful place to end your trip, walking one of the amazing hiking trails.

Brief Itinerary

• Day 1-2: Windhoek – Kalahari
• Day 3-4: Namib-Naukluft Park – Sossusvlei
• Day 5-6: Atlantic Coast
• Day 7: Cape Cross - Damaraland - Twyfelfontein
• Day 8-10: Etosha National Park
• Day 11: Waterberg Plateau
• Day 12-13: Windhoek - Departure
• Day 14: Arrival Home

Crossing through the country over beautiful, endless roads and being surprised by another highlight at each destination

Looking over the spectacular red dunes of the Namib Sand Sea from a hot air balloon flight

A typical 'Out of Africa' breakfast in the middle of nature

Drive through the dusted landscape of Damaraland

You will be the driver of your own safari at Etosha National Park

Joining a kayaking tour or catamaran cruise to meet seals, pelicans and maybe even dolphins

Visit to the Sossusvlei, the world’s oldest desert is an absolute ‘must’.

Detailed Itinerary

Route highlights.

Windhoek – Kalahari

After a night in Windhoek, your adventure starts by driving into the Kalahari Desert, consisting of beautiful colored savanna landscapes of red, yellow and, especially during the wet season, green.

The Kalahari Desert is home to the San-people. Despite its name, meaning “great thirst”, the region does attract wildlife. Go on a sunset safari and keep your eyes open for springboks, zebras and wildebeests. And relax on top of a dune with a cool drink in your hand, while this semi-desert reveals its most beautiful colors. End the day while gazing upon the starry sky.

Namib-Naukluft Park – Sossusvlei

A visit to the Sossusvlei, the world’s oldest desert is an absolute ‘must’.

Landscapes will change over and over again while you drive to your next destination, Sossusvlei. This awe-inspiring sea of sand is located within Africa’s largest protected area, Namib-Naukluft Park. The most famous pictures of Namibia are definitely taken here: sharp lines that separate the intense red dunes of Sossusvlei, in contrast with an eye blinding white salt pan and scorched black trees at Deadvlei.

It almost seems surreal! A climb on one of the world’s highest dunes of the oldest desert, will be rewarding by amazing views over the far stretching landscapes of the Namib sand sea, especially during an early sunrise or afternoon sunset.

Explore Namibia offers organised self-drive holidays and private guided tours. You can go on an adventure in a fully equipped vehicle of your own choice. We will arrange your accommodations in advance, whether you wish to stay in lodges and guesthouses, on campsites or both.

Low Season from: € 879,-

High Season from: € 1.090,-

Accommodation:

Low Season from: € 1.868,-

High Season from: € 2.112,-

What is included?

Accommodation (hotels, guesthouses, lodges or campsites)

Unlimited kilometres

Complete camping equipment (camping trip)

Car insurance with standard excess

Third party insurance

Most accommodations are booked with breakfast and camping is self-catering

Personal travel App for cell phone

24-hours emergency service

Tips and route information

Airport/hotel transfers

What is excluded?

International Flights

Park fees, entrance fees to museums

Personal expenses

Additional activities and excursions, e.g. game drives, boat trips, etc.

Meals (unless indicated as included)

Travel and cancellation insurance

Other Itineraries

9 Days Safari Tour

Route Storm Visit

21 Days Safari Tour

Route Central

22 Days Safari Tour

Route All in One

25 Days Safari Tour

Route Combi Botswana

28 Days Safari Tour

Route All Round

14 Days Safari Tour

Route Cross Border

Atlantic Coast

Enjoy a nice sea breeze at the Atlantic Coast while strolling around the coastal town of Swakopmund.

This historical town has some characteristics of a German seaside resort: apart from the ocean, beach and swaying palm trees, this town is still carries some of its colonial influences. Enjoy a coffee with an “Apfelstrudel” or a “Schwarzwälder Kirschtorte” and look at some typical German architecture.

Although Swakopmund is an urban area, it is surrounded by nature, offering plenty of experiences for nature lovers and for thrill seekers: a kayaking tour or catamaran cruise to meet seals, pelicans and maybe even dolphins! Adrenaline seekers can take a sand board or quad bike and go into the dunes. A `living desert tour` is a great way to get more understanding of the miraculous way in which life adapts to the harsh conditions of the desert climate.

Cape Cross - Damaraland - Twyfelfontein

The journey continues northwards, where you can make a stop at Cape Cross: as far as you look you will see seals scattered along the coast!

You will then turn back inland, where you will see an enormous mountain looming ahead of you: the Brandberg, best known for its ancient “White Lady” rock painting. Entering beautiful Damaraland feels like you are going back in time. These ancient landscapes, scattered with enormous boulders and dry riverbeds, house the more than 2,500 rock engravings of Twyfelfontein, once made by the San-people to inform their fellow tribe members about nearby waterholes and possible predators.

If you are lucky, you might bump into the largest inhabitants of the area, the mysterious desert elephants. These beautiful animals have remarkably adapted to the harsh conditions of the desert.

Etosha National Park

Have your binoculars ready while exploring the 22,270 square kilometers of protected nature within the Etosha National Park.

The accommodations and campsites in the park give you the opportunity to travel through the park at a slow pace. Also, outside the park you will find nice lodges. You will be the driver of your own safari, which is unique in Africa. However, camps in and around the park do offer guided game drives.

Look around for lions, cheetahs and leopards. With sunset, make yourself comfortable at one of the park’s waterholes at your accommodation, and see how elephants, giraffes, zebras and antelopes gather to drink some fresh water. This is a truly unforgettable experience! And what do you think about an exciting safari on foot in the Onguma Private Game Reserve located next to Etosha?

Waterberg Plateau

The Waterberg Plateau, rising up from the surface.

Leaving the animal world of Etosha National Park behind, your next stop is the Waterberg Plateau, rising up from the surface for about 400 meters high at some places. The Waterberg Plateau and 41,000 hectares of surrounding land was declared a Nature Reserve in 1972.

The areas nature is again different than you experienced earlier. The brick-red sandstone plateau is crowned with lush vegetation and supports a wide diversity of flora and fauna. This national park lends itself for some nice hikes. Not yet seen enough animals? Go on a game drive and look for buffalos or the white rhino.

Windhoek - Departure - Arrival Home

Relax and rewind from an amazing adventure.

Your journey comes to an end in Windhoek. On your way to Windhoek it could be worthwhile to make a stop over at the craft market in Okahandja. Here you find nice wood work. Once back in Windhoek will have enough time to relax and rewind. It is almost time to fly home after this amazing adventure!

Tailor-made Travel Advice

Every traveller has their own preferences. Do you need assistance in planning your self-drive trip to Namibia? Our experienced tour consultants are ready to assist you! Together we fully customize the tour to your personal preferences, wishes and budget. We can assist you in many different ways. Our team of friendly and service-oriented Tour Consultants is available in Europe and Africa to assist you in creating a personalized proposal for your tailor-made trip to Namibia and to answer all your questions you might have.

Experience the journey of a lifetime with a trip to Namibia

Below is an overview of what is included in your booking with Explore Namibia.

Detailed explanation of the car (4×4 only)

Information:

Information Meet and Greet upon arrival (Windhoek only)

Extensive information folder

Detailed route and road description

Description of places of interest

Tips and information

Standard accommodation tours include all rooms at middle-class hotels, guesthouses or lodges (mostly B&B), unless otherwise requested.

Standard camping tours include most nights at campsites, combined with several nights at middle-class hotels, guesthouse or lodges (mostly B&B).

Almost all campsites and accommodations have a restaurant and offer facilities like a pool, bar, info desk, etc.

If the trips includes visits to National Parks, then the nights will be spent inside the parks as much as possible.

Meals & Drinks:

Most accommodations are booked with breakfast and camping is self-catering. It will be clearly indicated what meals are included in your tour proposal.

With most accommodations it is also possible to book dinner in advance. If you would like to include this in your proposal, please let us know.

Below is an overview of what is excluded from your booking with Explore Namibia.

What is not included?

International Flights (book separately with Explore Namibia)

Park fees, entrance fees to museums and personal expenses

Optional Extras?

Below is an overview of the optional extras you can add to your booking with Explore Namibia.

Reduced excess on vehicle insurance

Satellite phone, which can be used everywhere in Africa

GPS-navigation system

Two-way radios

Also refer to our  Extra Options Car Rental

Explore one of the most fascinating and diverse countries in the world

Other favourite routes to inspire.

The Route ‘Highlights’ is just one of our sample itineraries. The itineraries we offer are fully customizable to your needs. You can book these, or you can use them for inspiration to build your own, tailor-made adventure. See below some of our other sample itineraries that we have put together. Explore Namibia will always make sure that you will experience the journey of your dreams!

Length: 9 Days (customizable)

Price from: €633,- EUR

Length: 21 Days (customizable)

Price from: €1.239,-EUR

Length: 22 Days (customizable)

Price from: €1.281,- EUR

Length: 25 Days (customizable)

Price from: €1.539,-EUR

Length: 28 Days (customizable)

Price from: €1.597,- EUR

Get behind the wheel and explore Namibia’s stunning landscapes!

Africa , All Destinations , Namibia , Overland Itineraries

The perfect two week namibia road trip itinerary.

There’s nothing like the sense of freedom that you feel when on a road trip, the car bounding through the constantly changing wilderness along a winding gravel path that looks like it could lead to nowhere.

Small towns are few and far between, popping up every now and then to give you a taster of the diverse culture, so different to that back home.

But what’s completely unrivalled about a road trip is the fact that you get to choose exactly where you go, a freedom that nothing I’ve experienced has yet to come close to beating. When I decided to go on my first-ever road trip, there was one continent that stood out to me. Africa.

What has undoubtedly drawn me into this vast continent is the range of diverse wildlife that you can encounter. I had been to Africa a handful of times before but never on my own agenda.

Normally I booked into a pre-planned schedule with a group which was good but I just had a sense that travelling to the exact places that I wanted to go to, in my own time, would be even better. Every country in Africa has its own unique beauty.

No two countries are the same, that’s for sure. I decided on Namibia as I had heard some snippets about it.

I had heard about the towering, red dunes of Sossusvlei, the white salt pan of Etosha and the abandoned mining town of Kolmanskop. I had longed to visit the eerie Skeleton Coast, famed for its countless shipwrecks and travel through a country so sparsely populated that you have to fill up with fuel every time you pass a fuel station.

Have I convinced you to road trip Namibia yet?

Let’s delve into the perfect 2-week itinerary for a Namibia road trip!

Suggested time – 2 days (3 nights)

Etosha National Park is normally at the top of everyone’s to-do list when visiting Namibia. In fact, it’s one of the most famous landmarks in Africa .

Due to its location at the very north of Namibia, it makes sense to visit it first. Plus, why not jump straight into the juicy stuff?

Etosha National Park is Namibia’s main national park and one of the best safari destinations in Africa .

You can visit on guided safaris or partake in your own self-drive safari, making it an ideal part of a road trip.

The park is home to a vast array of animals including 4 of the big 5: lion, leopard, rhino and elephant. The park consists of numerous watering holes which make for perfect game viewing.

You can see up to thousands of animals at a single waterhole. One of my favourite aspects of Etosha was just how quiet it was.

There are very few vehicles travelling through the national park which makes it a relaxing experience for both the animals and you.

There are several rules in place such as, you are not allowed to get out your car (both for safety and to keep the animals relaxed) and not to drive off the designated paths (to preserve the landscape and not to distress the animals).

It’s important to note that Namibia is one huge country. Therefore it may take up to 2 days to drive from the capital of Windhoek up to Etosha.

It actually took me 9 hours to get there spanning across 2 days. Given, I did get lost. But it’s a great idea to over-estimate driving time as the roads are not always in tip-top condition.

Now the real question is guided drive or self-drive safaris?

I must admit, I did book myself on a guided safari.

It was going to cost a whopping £70 per person.

There are a few things that you can expect on safari , like a guide and very early starts, but I didn’t actually end up doing any of that. In the end, I cancelled it to go on a self-drive safari instead.

I am so happy I made that decision. I saw so much wildlife including: zebras, ostriches, kudu, wildebeest, giraffes and a lion! That’s just to name a few as well.

My main concern with the self-drive option was if we would actually see any animals. I knew that guides have an intercom system where they can radio to other vehicles to let them know if there are any interesting sightings.

Mostly, I got lucky with my sightings and took various routes around the park out of sheer choice. This was often perfect as we’d be the only vehicle at a sighting.

I remember just rounding a corner and suddenly there was a giraffe beside us, casually nibbling at the leaves at the top of a tree. The only exception was when we saw the lion. I noticed a couple of safari vehicles heading in one direction and decided to follow on the off-chance that they’d been informed of a sighting. Sure enough, they took me straight to a lion sighting!

You can read more about my incredible self-drive safari here .

What I was most happy about was how relaxed the animals were in our company.

All of these animals have grown up with vehicles driving round the park and as a result accepted the vehicles as a regular part of the scenery.

All vehicles I encountered were respectful of the animals, sticking to the paths and driving very slowly when an animal was nearby, as not to startle them.

The lion we saw was laying under a tree right by the gravel road. I was surprised that she didn’t even bat an eyelid to the four vehicles which were stationary on the road nearby.

She yawned and groomed herself before resting her head on her paws to sleep, shaded from the afternoon sun.

I was surprised that she’d selected a tree so close to the road but each to their own, I guess.

The road that drives through Etosha only drives through a mere fraction of the national park, near the southern border.

Therefore, the animals have the option to stay as far away as possible from humans unless they want to drink from one of the many watering holes which are close to viewing spots. In terms of accomodation, there are several options within the park itself.

However, I opted to stay at a campsite just outside the park as it was half the price and I didn’t have to pay a permit to the park to stay the night. There are many accommodation options to choose from including Onguma which I highly recommend.

Suggested time – 1 day

Oh, Damaraland .

I must admit, I fell in love with this part of the world.

The scary part is I only visited this area by chance because it’s an area that doesn’t seem to get talked about that much.

Damaraland is located southwest of Etosha, on the way to the Skeleton Coast.

If you are looking for a splash of Namibian culture you have to visit Damaraland as you really get a sense of how Namibians live in very remote regions.

Cute, small shops are often visible from the road, located beside shopkeeper’s home. In these remote areas, few people have cars and so the two main forms of transport or on horseback or by donkey-driven cart. Whilst driving through Damaraland, you will likely encounter both.

My favourite aspect of the culture was seeing the bushmen villages. These villages consist of several small huts made of material like straw.

One village we saw had set-up a stall at the side of the road selling handmade crafts. I regret not stopping off here on my trip. I did however see a couple of tourists there, talking to the bushmen dressed in traditional tribal gear. As well as culture, the landscape blew me away.

Damaraland is to the north of the Namib desert so the terrain is rather sandy.

The most incredible aspect of the landscape is the frequent rock formations made out of numerous red boulders, perched precariously atop one another. It honestly felt like I’d found myself on another planet!

I booked to stay at the Madisa Desert Campsite in Damaraland for one night.

I would highly recommend this accommodation for its breathtaking scenery and location. If you don’t want to camp, they also have lodging accommodations.

There are several exciting walks which you can take including one where you climb to the top of a rock formation.

Damaraland is known for its desert elephants so if you’re lucky, you might even see some as this campsite is located along their route.

The Skeleton Coast

Suggested time – 2-3 days

The Skeleton Coast was one of the items at the top of my Namibian bucket-list. It’s around a 3 hour drive southwest of Damaraland.

The main attraction of the Skeleton Coast to me was its name. A place known as ‘the gates of hell’ has a sense of mystery around it and I love anything mysterious.

Its name comes from the numerous shipwrecks which have washed long its shores. A combination of rough seas, strong winds and thick fog have caused these ships to become encased in the sands of the Skeleton Coast. The drive from Damaraland to the Skeleton Coast is incredible.

Watching the little greenery and settlements there fade away into nothing but golden sand is breathtaking and eerie. The quantity of abandoned rusting cars at the side of the road is also something to gawp at. It’s also a creepy reminder of why you don’t want to run out of petrol in Namibia.

I started to regret not stopping off for petrol at the most recent town we passed! You can read more about what this incredible drive has to offer at my blog here.

The towns which line the Skeleton Coast are beautiful. The buildings come in an array of colour. Red, pink blue and green buildings all stood boldly in the sand. Swakopmund is the largest town on the Skeleton Coast, in fact it’s the largest the whole of Namibia (after the city of Windhoek).

The key activity that I wanted to take part in was searching for shipwrecks. Sadly, most of the shipwrecks along the Skeleton Coast are inaccessible or have disappeared altogether. The same conditions that cause the wrecks force them to fade into the sand after a few decades.

One wreck called the ‘Zeila’ is easy to access. It is 17 km south of the town Hentiesbaai and clearly signposted off the main road between Hentiesbaai and Swakopmund. However, there are many, many hawkers here which put me off.

As I tried to turn towards the shipwreck, I suddenly found myself surrounded by people leaping and waving at my car.

Aside from the shipwrecks, there is a lot to do in the Skeleton Coast. Swakopmund is an adventure town filled with activities including quad biking and sandboarding.

You may also wish to take a boat tour to the the seals of the Skeleton Coast.

The Namib-Naukluft National Park

Suggested time – 2 days

The Namib desert is one of the best places to visit in Namibia. It’s the oldest desert in the entire world and home to some of the world’s tallest sand dunes.

You’ll be awed at the dramatic landscape when driving through the Namib Naukluft National Park . Not only that, but it has a unique range of wildlife including oryx which are incredibly rare elsewhere in the world.

Here, you will pass numerous oryx and other animals such as springbok, mountain zebra and jackals. What I loved the most about this region of Namibia was the lack of fences.

This area truly was wild with animals roaming as they pleased. They do frequently cross the road in front of you, so you have to constantly be on the look-out whilst driving through.

There are several incredible canyons that you have to pass through when driving from the Skeleton Coast.

I highly recommend stopping off at the various look-out points as the views are incredible. Standing atop the canyon it truly looked like the pointed mountains stretched forever.

Once you have driven through the two canyons, Kuiseb canyon and Gaub canyon, the next stop that you can’t miss out on is the Tropic of Capricorn sign. Taking a photo with the Tropic of Capricorn sign is normally on everyone’s to-do list.

The Town of Solitaire

The town of Solitaire is situated in the middle of the Namib desert.

It’s labelled as a town but this town is by far the smallest I have ever seen! It consists of little more than a petrol station and cafe. It’s fabulous! You can easily identify the town because it has several rusted cars at the entrance, perfect for Instagram photos!

The apple pie at the bakery within the cafe is a must-try. I didn’t try it myself as I’m not a fan of apples but I’ve been told it’s the best apple pie in the world!

The Dunes of Sossusvlei

The red dunes of Sossusvlei are by far one of the best places in your Namibia itinerary to visit.

I was practically squealing with excitement as we drove into the national park. It’s recommended that you enter Sossusvlei at either sunset or sunrise. I went at midday (against everyone’s warnings that it would be too hot) and was actually thrilled with my choice. It takes a lot longer than you think to drive to the dunes, at least an hour.

Once you reach them you then have to either drop off your 2×4 at the designated car-park (as 2x4s are not permitted to go any further), or let some air out of your tyres if you have a 4×4 and are prepared to drive through the desert. I had a 4×4 and so deflated my tyres which I really enjoyed.

We were then ready to explore the dunes and my, it was a fun drive! Based on this experience alone, I would thoroughly recommend renting a 4×4 as opposed to a 2×4 as my drive through the desert was easily one of my favourite parts to my Namibia road trip.

Once we’d actually reached the foot of the dunes, 2 hours must have passed from entering the park. There are 2 main activities that you can’t miss out on. First of all, climbing ‘Big Daddy’, the highest sand dune in Sossusvlei.

The second must-do activity is finding the iconic Deadvlei. Deadvlei translates to ‘dead marsh’.

It’s a clay pan in the desert, surrounded by towering dunes. It is famous for its dead camel-thorn trees which are estimated have died between 600 and 700 years ago. They died as a result of becoming encased by sand dunes. The dunes blocked off the river that used to flow to the trees and give them life.

Without any water, the trees soon perished. The only reason that these trees are still standing today is also down to the sand dunes. They stop any wind from reaching the pan which prevents weathering. Thus the trees are continually preserved. I sadly didn’t make it to Deadvlei.

It’s not clearly signposted and not visible from the 4×4 car park. As a result I actually got lost and spent hours looking for it. As a result of my tight schedule for my road trip, I didn’t have chance to come back to the next day to continue my search.

But at least this gives me a reason to come back!

For accommodation, I highly recommend staying at the ‘Sesriem’ campsite as it’s the only campsite situated within the gates to Sossusvlei national park. Not only is it a shorter drive to the dunes but campers are given exclusive access to them an hour before the rest of the public and an hour after.

The Perfect 2-Week Road-Trip

That wraps up my perfect itinerary for a 2-week long Namibia road trip! Namibia is such a vast country with so much to offer. 

You’ll notice that all those nights added together don’t equal 2 weeks and that’s because Namibia is so large that it will sometimes take you a couple of days to get to each stop on our itinerary.

It is possible to zoom through these stops quicker than suggested but unless you want to spend the entire day driving, with no time to stop, I strongly recommend taking the road trip in your stride.

Namibia has so much to offer that it would be a real waste to race through it and not notice the small details. Plus, I always find the best places are the ones that you are not expecting to find.

Booking.com

Here is a map showing the exact route I took round Namibia during my 2-week road-trip.

Namibia Car Rental and Driving Tips

I rented a car from ‘Savanna Car Hire’. Finding a car was nowhere near as easy as I thought it would be.

I booked my trip 2 months in advance but was dismayed to find that my first-choice car rental companies were completely booked up. In fact, out of the near 40 companies I must have contacted, only a small percentage had any cars available and they often responded with “You are very lucky – we have only 1 left.”

I also wouldn’t say that I was visiting Namibia at peak time either. The most important lesson, therefore, is to book your car in advance. I’d go as far to say hold off booking the flights until you’ve found out what car availability is like.

Would I recommend ‘Savanna Car Hire’? Honestly, I wouldn’t leap to recommend them as they were a little incompetent. The first car they gave us wasn’t really fit for use as the anti-breaking-assist, hand-brake and air-con were not working.

Plus it had nearly done 200,000 miles! Needless to say, we took it back almost immediately and they gave us a replacement which was perfect and had done a fraction of the milage. The other slight down-side to this company was that they were located in Windhoek which was 30 minutes from the airport.

Therefore picking up and dropping off the car took a lot of time. It took us around 4 hours from landing in Namibia to getting to our campsite which was only 15 minutes from the airport!

However, the companies at the airport were more expensive so when weighing up the pros and cons, this may not be such a bad option after all.

Each rental company has completely different requirements for car rentals.

Some companies I had to walk away from as they only accepted drivers who were over 25 years of age and with some, you had to be over 30!

Most were happy if you had a valid driving license in your possession, whereas some would state you had to have had it for at least 5 years.

Savanna accepted anyone who was over 23 and had a valid driving license (it was lucky as I literally just turned 23 a couple of days before!).

Basically, each company is different so it’s very important you have a thorough read of their terms and conditions before contacting them. 

Ideal Packing List for A Namibia Road Trip

As usual with adventures, I overpacked way too much, and there was me thinking I’d packed too little! With a road-trip, you are essentially living out of a suitcase, never unpacking as you are constantly on the move.

Therefore, you’ll really need to pack light and only take what you’ll really use and wear. Rental companies are very much geared up to camping road trips and if you opt to camp, they provide you with a tent, fridge, table, chairs and more cooking equipment than you need.

You can also request bedding if you wish but extra items come at a cost. So here’s my packing list for my Namibia road trip.

1. A couple of T-shirts:

I seriously mean a couple. I didn’t wear more than 4 throughout my 2-week period.

Anything more than this is unnecessary as, trust me, you’ll just be wearing what’s easily accessible in your case. I recommend T-shirts as opposed to crop tops and other fancy tops as Namibia is very much a conservative country and you wouldn’t want to offend any locals.

Furthermore, your clothing will likely get scuffed about by the relentless sands and wind so you wouldn’t want anything too pretty getting damaged.

T-shirts also cover your shoulders to help prevent you get burnt which can easily happen, especially whilst on safari or whilst driving for a couple of hours each day.

2. Three pairs of shorts

As with the T-shirts, keep these at a minimum. Honestly, I wore the same pair of shorts every day! You may want to bring 3 in total as not everyone is as lazy as me.

3. One Pair of long pants such as leggings

Whilst it is generally hot in Namibia, sometimes there can be high winds or a slight chill to the air and you will want to wear something slightly warmer.

I brought one pair of leggings with me for these moments. Plus they were also super comfy for travel days to and from Namibia.

4. One Pair of walking boots

There are several exciting hikes you can take in Namibia so you’ll want something comfortable on your feet. I brought Timberlands and lived in them the entire time.

However, walking boots aren’t always the coolest footwear for your feet so for days where you’ll not be walking around too much you’ll need something else.

5. One Pair of comfortable footwear such as Converse

I lived in my Timberlands but I did bring my Converse as well, for those more relaxing days as these are slightly more comfortable. Plus, if you wear the same shoes every day, they will start to smell bad!

6. Flip-flops

Hear me out with this one – you will not want to walk around in flip-flops as snakes and scorpions are in abundance. However, flip-flops are perfect for showering in, especially if you are camping.

Communal showers are likely riddled with germs and if you’ve ever had a verruca before, you’ll know how easy they are to pick up. Therefore, always shower in flip-flops.

7. Lots of underwear

You’ll likely have to handwash your clothes, especially if you are camping, so take plenty of underwear so you don’t have to engage in this activity often.

I brought at least a week’s worth of socks and underwear and cleaned them a couple of times throughout my two week trip.

8. One Jacket

You just never know when it will get really cold, especially in the winter.

9. A couple of jumpers

I brought two jumpers with me as it can sometimes get chilly.

If you are visiting in Namibia’s winter (May – September), the nights will be awfully cold so bring several jumpers to keep you snug. You may also need to wear them in the mornings and evenings.

10. Sunglasses

Namibia is a sunny country and so sunglasses are an absolute must, especially as you will be doing a lot of driving.

Caps are great at protecting your head from getting too hot or burnt. I always bring one of these with me when heading to warm climates such as Namibia. They also help prevent mosquito or midge bites on your head, where you can’t normally put repellant. As well as being practical, they also add to that awesome safari-look too!

Other Essential items

1. Cameras and chargers

Without a doubt, the most important thing you can take to Namibia with you is cameras, and as many as you own! There is so much to photograph, you’d be kicking yourself if you forget them.

Whilst there are charging ports at some campsites, there are a few that don’t have any spots for charging and elsewhere in the day there is nowhere to charge your camera or phone so bring spare batteries and spare cameras.

By spare cameras, I mean your phone, a GoPro if you have one and your usual camera. I use and recommend the Fuji X-A3 ,  GoPro Hero 5 and BLU Vivo 5R smartphone , which takes great photos!

Don’t forget your chargers and adapters! Namibia uses the same plug-socket as South Africa so don’t forget to buy a couple of South African plug adapters – grab one on Amazon through this link .

2. A zoom lens

If you are keen into your photography, bring a zoom lens, especially if you plan on going on a safari.

You are never super close to any animals so you’ll want a lens that can zoom right into them from a distance.

I have a 70-300mm Canon lens which I love. Check out a great zoom lens here .

3. An updated map

My car rental company actually gave me one of these but that doesn’t mean all will, so I recommend purchasing a map of Namibia. I opted to have a sat-nav as well which was a terrible idea!

The sat-navs do not know where several roads are so are practically useless. Do not get a sat-nav! I had to use the old trusty paper maps instead which were very useful and reliable. Here’s a great Namibia road atlas .

If you’re travelling in other southern African countries, check out Lonely Planet’s Southern Africa guidebook .

4. Mosquito repellant

This is a must-bring! I’m actually not a fan of DEET as it’s so strong and toxic. It can melt plastic, for goodness sakes! Instead, I opted for a natural insect repellent which did the trick perfectly.

I didn’t get a single bite on this trip so one could say this was a success. However, do not forget that parts of Namibia are high-risk malaria zones so you may not want to chance using an all-natural option as they are claimed to be not as effective as high DEET products.

5. Anti-malarial tablets

Like I just touched upon, parts of Namibia are high-risk malaria zones. The areas of risk are the very north of Namibia from just above Windhoek upwards.

If you are visiting Etosha or Damaraland, you will be travelling to a malaria zone.

There are several antimalarials on the market so do visit your travel clinic for best advice. I was recommended malarone (or a non-branded alternative) as these supposedly have the least side effects of all options.

There are other options available as well which may work better for you. Please see your travel clinic or doctor for the best advice.

Other than those items, I just recommend bringing your usuals such as your wash bags, shampoos, medicines etc. I hope you enjoyed this article and have learnt a lot about road tripping Namibia.

If you’ve been on a Namibia road trip and you have something you’d like to add, please leave a comment or drop a message over on Facebook !

4 thoughts on “ The Perfect Two Week Namibia Road Trip Itinerary ”

Hey great article, really enjoyed it and has made me even more excited for my travels. You didn’t mention anything about cost of car rental. Would you be able to give the rough cost of what you paid for it… Maybe the whole trip if you don’t mind? Thanks in advance. Ub

Sure! This is a guest post, but I’ll ask Ella and get back to you. 🙂

I would love to know costs too if possible. Thanks!

Love the article too. If you did have anything on costs you could share that would be amazing ?

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In-Depth Namibia Travel Guide: What’s it Like to Travel in Namibia?

My road trip around Namibia is the best travel experience I’ve ever had.

Hands down.

I can’t even find the words to describe how fantastic my time in the country was. Namibia has everything. It’s easy to explore independently, it’s safe, it’s beautiful, the locals are lovely, the landscapes are diverse, the wildlife is exciting, and there are so. few. tourists.

I’ve got a dozen posts planned about my time in this amazing country, so brace yourself for an onslaught of information! By the end of the month, you’ll have everything you need to book a trip to this kickass country. And hopefully you’ll decide to do exactly that.

This is what it’s like to travel in Namibia.

Where is Namibia?

Let’s start off with a little bit of context. Where even is Namibia?

Namibia is a Southern African country on the west coast of the continent. It’s located above South Africa , below Angola, and to the west of Botswana.

Interestingly, Namibia is where you’ll find the world’s only quadripoint, which is defined as the place where the corners of four different countries meet. Yes, in the far north-eastern reaches of this country, Namibia nestles up against Botswana, Zambia, and Zimbabwe. There are over 150 tripoints in the world, but only one quadripoint, making this a very special place on the planet.

Unfortunately, it’s in a part of the country that few tourists choose to visit, at the eastern end of the Caprivi Strip, which is isolated from many of the main tourist activities. Somewhere that’s much easier to visit, however, is the Tropic of Capricorn! Most visitors end up driving past the iconic Tropic of Capricorn sign while driving around Namibia, and fortunately, it’s marked on Google Maps, so you won’t have to worry about missing it.

Namibia is the Perfect Introduction to Africa Travel

If you’re dreaming of travelling in Africa but have no idea where to go first, head to Namibia. It’s one of the safest and least intimidating countries I’ve travelled through.

One of my aims with my recent Africa travels has been to prove you can easily travel around much of the continent independently. So many people opt to jump on overland truck tours in this part of the world, but what I’ve found so far is that it’s really not necessary. And in Namibia you definitely don’t need to join a tour in order to visit.

With the exception of the bad roads, I found it no more difficult or dangerous to travel in than the U.S., Europe, or Australia. And when you’re traveling independently, you’re in control of your schedule and where you stay and what you do.

On top of that, the official language of Namibia is English, which makes independent travel even easier. You can ask questions, you can get directions, you don’t have to mime all the time… it’s all so easy .

Namibia also felt like the safest country in Africa I’ve been to so far. Outside of Windhoek, you really don’t need to worry about much at all. The locals are friendly and welcoming, theft is rare, and your only real concern will be how many flat tyres you’ll end up with on the seemingly-endless gravel roads.

Not only is Namibia safe and easy to travel through, but it also has just as much to offer as other countries in Africa. Head to Etosha National Park and you’ll get to drive alongside elephants, giraffes, lions, black rhinos, and more. You can hit up the Namibian desert for sand dune climbing at sunrise. There are beaches and coastlines full of shipwrecks to explore. The darkest skies in the world are in Namibia, so the Milky Way is always shining brightly above your head at night. Oh, and there’s a ghost town in the middle of the desert. Badass.

In other words: Namibia is the best!

Not Many People Will Know Where You’re Going

I couldn’t believe it: after six years of travel, Namibia was the first country nobody seemed able to locate on a map. In my digital nomad community here in Portugal — so, y’know, people who have travelled full-time for many years — a surprisingly number of people had never even heard of Namibia.

I get it: it’s a country that isn’t often spoken about outside of travel blogging circles, but it was still surprising to be met with blank faces when I spoke about where I was visiting next.

The bonus of this? Hardly anybody decides to visit the country, so there are hardly any tourists around!

It’s Ridiculously Sparsely Populated

Namibia is the second-least-densely populated country in the world, with an average of just five people for every square mile. And it’s easy to see why: desert takes up the bulk of the country and so outside of its short rainy season, it’s a very arid place.

This was one of my favourite aspects of travelling around Namibia, though: you could drive for four hours straight and not see a single human, car, or building over that time. As an introvert with a love of wide, open spaces, I couldn’t get enough of the isolation.

Planning Where to Stay Is… Interesting

Because the country is so sparsely populated, the majority of places you’ll stay at will be lodges that feel as though they’re in the middle of nowhere. Because they kind of are.

There aren’t many major towns and cities in the country — and honestly, the best parts of Namibia are outside of them — so that makes finding accommodation tricky. The best places to stay at are often hours from the nearest signs of civilisation and miles down a tiny gravel path.

I found booking.com  best for finding places to stay. First, decide on which major destinations you want to hit in Namibia. For us, this was: Windhoek – Etosha National Park – Swakopmund – Sesriem – Luderitz – Windhoek. Most of these destinations are so far from each other that you’ll have to break up the drive into two days.

Next, on Booking, search for all hotels in Namibia, and once you’re on the search page, click on view on map. Once you’ve got a map view of every hotel listing in Namibia, zoom in on the route you’re planning to take and see which lodges pop up close to the midpoint between two distances. We did this for almost everywhere we stayed in Namibia and found some incredible lodges as a result. In fact, some of the highlights from my time in the country were getting to stay outside of the main tourist trail.

And if you can’t find anything suitable or affordable on the drive, just googling “where to stay between Swakopmund and Sesriem”, for example, will bring up a ton of forum threads with recommendations from other people. Not everywhere is listed online, so there were a few places we had to book through email.

Frustratingly, It’s Tough to Visit on a Budget

In Namibia you have two options: expensive or camping.

I’m all about that budget travel life, but in Namibia I had to give up my aim of spending $50 a night on accommodation and quadruple it for much of our trip. Yep, almost every lodge we stayed at in Namibia was well over $100 a night, and we were nearly always booking the cheapest option we could find. And we were visiting in low season, where accommodation prices are around half what they’d be in high season!

Unfortunately, if you want to save as much money as possible on your trip, your only real option in Namibia is to camp. Most lodges will offer a camping option for around $30 a night, so if you’ve got your own gear, this is an easy way to save money on accommodation.

The only exceptions to the crazy prices are the cities: Windhoek has cheaper options  ($50 a night), and so did Swakopmund  ($40 a night) and Luderitz  ($50 a night).

Everything else wasn’t too bad when it came to price. Our rental car — a Toyota Corolla — had us up for $30-a-day, which is pretty standard for most countries around the world. Activities and entrance fees (around $6) were also affordable. Food could get a little pricey at the camps and lodges, which made sense because they were so isolated, but nothing was over-the-top extreme. We’d usually pay around $10-15 for dinner each night.

But the Lodges are Amazing

Some of the best hotels I’ve ever stayed in are in Namibia. And while you’ll pay a lot for them, they’re worth every penny.

At Ovita Wildlife Restcamp , we fell asleep listening to hippos in the lake outside our room. At Vingerklip Lodge  (pictured above), we ate dinner on a towering cliff top, looking over Namibia’s version of Monument Valley. At Sesriem Desert Camp  (pictured above Vingerklip Lodge), we slept in luxury tents in the desert with wild oryx roaming outside.

I loved every single place we stayed in in Namibia, and even though they were ridiculously expensive, it felt as though we were still receiving fantastic value for money.

You Will Need Your Own Transport

Public transport doesn’t really exist in Namibia, so if you’re not going to take a tour, you’ll most likely need to hire a car. As for what type of car, it depends a lot on the time of year you’ll be visiting and how confident you are on gravel roads.

My Kiwi boyfriend grew up racing falling-apart cars on gravel roads in New Zealand, so he had the driving skills of a Namibian and we were happy opting for a tiny Toyota Corolla to make the trip for us. Guesthouse owners were always shocked to see us rocking up in it, but honestly, we had next to no problems with it. If you’ve got the cash, opting for a two wheel drive with higher ground clearance would be a smart idea, as part of the bottom of our car fell off on our second day of driving, thanks to all the rocks that had been flicked up into the undercarriage.

People advise to go with a 4×4, and especially if you’ll be visiting in the rainy season, but we decided against it for several reasons. First, it’s over double the price for a 4×4 (around $100 a day), second, being so high up makes the car easier to roll, and third, um, did I mention it’s expensive?

If you can’t drive? You won’t be able to visit Namibia without taking a tour or hiring a driver. You could take a bus between major destinations, but I believe you’d miss out on a lot of the wonderful lodges that make travelling in Namibia so wonderful. There are also reports of travellers rocking up in a hostel, getting together with a group of travellers, and car-sharing their way around the country, so this could be an option if you’re willing to take the risk of potentially finding nobody to travel with.

The Roads are So Bad

We drove 4000 kilometers in Namibia and probably only several hundred of them were sealed.

Yes, in Namibia, get used to urging your car over gravel, sand, rocks, and more. Because of this, travel days are long and bumpy — we rarely drove for less than six hours each day, and even listening to podcasts was a struggle over the crunching noises of driving over gravel while rocks pinged into our car

Get Yourself a SIM Card, But Expect to Rarely Use It

Getting connected is tough in Namibia, so if you work online like I do, resolve to spend most of your time on vacation.

Wi-Fi was sometimes around, was always slow, and often expensive. It’s worth getting a SIM card, though, as although we rarely got more than an EDGE signal, leaving our phones on while we were driving around usually meant we’d pick up a signal here and there to download emails.

We picked up a SIM card at Windhoek Airport upon arrival and it was super simple to do. The SIM card costs 50 US cents and 1 GB of data is a whopping $2.50. Too Many Adapters has a comprehensive guide for buying a SIM card in Namibia  if you need any extra information. When it’s that cheap, there’s no reason not to get one.

You’ll Get to Try Some Interesting Game Meat

One of my favourite aspects of eating in Namibia was getting to try so many of the delicious game meats on offer. The biggest surprise was warthog, which was delicious, but I also loved kudu, impala, oryx, zebra, and more. Most of the lodges will have some kind of unusual game meat on offer each evening, so it’ll be easy to access and you’ll soon grow used to it.

If you’re vegetarian, you’ll most likely struggle to eat super well in Namibia. Everything was very meat based at the lodges although bizarrely, Greek salads were available in basically every single restaurant, so you won’t have to go hungry. Just prepare yourself for a hell of a lot of feta cheese!

Namibia Has the Best Road Signs Ever

One of the highlights from our time in Namibia was the kickass road signs we came across while driving. The giraffe one above was one of my favourites. In addition to that, we saw signs for zebras, elephants, warthogs, and more. And even better: we actually saw some of those animals wandering around in the wild! There’s nothing quite like seeing a desert-adapted giraffe wandering through the sand.

The Bradt Namibia Guide is Invaluable

If you’re planning a trip to Namibia, you need this guidebook .

Not only was it essential for planning our trip, but we used it on an hourly basis while we were in country. When it comes to Africa, Bradt guidebooks are king, so don’t even consider picking up a Lonely Planet for this part of the world; almost all of them have terrible reviews as well as outdated and too-condensed information.

Because you’ll be unlikely to have data coverage while you’re driving, and sometime even in lodges, the guidebook made our trip so much less stressful. When we wanted to figure out which animal we’d just spotted by the side of the road, the wildlife section had a photo to help us out; when we decided to stop for a lunch break in a tiny village, we could look up if there was anywhere to eat, and if so, which place was best; when we were planning our driving for the day, we could look up route recommendations and find out which attractions we might want to stop at along the way.

I don’t often recommend using guidebooks (I think I’ve only done it twice before!) because I believe you can get a lot of the information online for free, but in Namibia, this guidebook definitely helps. We struggled to find detailed information about the country both before we arrived and while we were there, so our Bradt book was 100% invaluable.

Two Weeks is the Perfect Amount of Time to Spend in the Country

I spent just under two weeks in Namibia, and feel as though I saw almost all of the highlights. If I’d had three weeks, I would have spent time at Fish River Canyon in the south, a few extra days in Damaraland, and some time exploring the Caprivi Strip in the northeast .  Still, I feel as though two weeks is a good amount of time to dedicate to the country, which is refreshing as most places I visit have me feeling as though I need to explore for a minimum of three months just to start scratching at the surface.

I wanted to share my two-week itinerary here, because I feel as though I got it pretty close to perfect.

Day 1: Landed in Windhoek, picked up our rental car, and drove straight to peaceful  Ovita Wildlife Restcamp . You can read about my first day in Namibia in my article, The Perfect First Day in Namibia . Day 2: Time for wildlife! We drove north to Etosha National Park and stayed within the park at Halali . We spent the afternoon sitting at the camp’s waterhole to see if any animals emerged. You can read about my experience in Etosha National Park in the dry season: Desperately Seeking Elephants at Etosha National Park . Day 3:  For our first full day at Etosha, we drove around the eastern region of the park for almost 12 hours. We saw dozens of giraffes, zebras, and a rare black rhino, then spent the night back at Halali. It was magical. Day 4:  On day four, we opted to drive around the central parts of Etosha for the entirety of daylight hours, then switched up our accommodation to spend the night at Okaukuejo . Day 5:  For our final morning in Etosha, we decided to explore the western region of the park, then at lunchtime, drove to beautiful Vingerklip Lodge to spend the night. You can read about how incredible Vingerklip was in my article, Finding Paradise in Vingerklip: Africa’s Monument Valley . Day 6:  Day 6 brought a long drive to Swakopmund, where we spent much of the day on terrible roads. Still, getting to drive part of the Skeleton Coast was amazing, and we even got to see a shipwreck stranded off the coast. We spent the night in an Airbnb apartment. Day 7:  For day 7, we took a day trip out to nearby to Walvis Bay to see its seal colony, which is one of the largest in the world. You can read about this wonderful experience in the article, Seals, Swakopmund, and the Skeleton Coast . Again, we spent the night in our Airbnb apartment. Day 8:  We spent this day relaxing and exploring Swakopmund. You could use this day to get your adventure on if you wanted, as Swakopmund is the adventure capital of the world. You could try your hand at quad biking on the nearby sand dunes , for example. Once more, we spent the night in an Airbnb apartment. Day 9:  The following day, we drove to Sesriem and spent our afternoon climbing Dune 45. I highly recommend doing this, as we practically had the entire park all to ourselves. We slept at Sesriem Desert Camp , which was magnificent. Day 10:  We got up at sunrise to enter the park, climb Big Daddy sand dune, and explore Deadvlei. This day was spectacular and you can read about the experience in the article, Climbing Big Daddy: An African Travel Highlight . That afternoon, we drove south to Betta Camp to spend the night. Day 11:  The following morning, we drove down to Luderitz. We spent the afternoon exploring this adorable town and spotting pelicans as we drove around the areas just outside of Luderitz. It was a fairly relaxed day after all of the movement, and we spent the night at Kairos B&B . Day 12:  We saved the best for last, because for day 12, we drove to Kolmanskop at sunrise and and had the entire place to ourselves. Kolmanskop is an old mining town that has since been abandoned and is now being taken over by the desert. It was incredible and we spent a full three hours taking photos. I wrote about it in-depth in the article, Exploring Kolmanskop: Namibia’s Ghost Town in the Desert . In the afternoon, we drove to Maltahohe Hotel  to break up the long journey back to Windhoek. Day 13: Final day! Sad face. We spent this day driving from Maltahohe to Windhoek and left Namibia in awe of how much the country has to offer.

This was one of the best trips of my life and I highly recommend putting together a similar itinerary if you’re planning a trip to Namibia.

Yeah, You Should Definitely Get a Zoom Lens

The biggest regret of my trip? Not splashing out on a zoom lens for my camera and then getting uniformly awful photos in Etosha.

I ventured into Namibia with my Sony 28-70mm  lens and while it was absolutely fantastic for landscape photos, it was nowhere near good enough for the wildlife. Had my boyfriend not packed his 80-300mm lens, I would have had close to zero photos of any animals. Because we were in Namibia in the rainy season (more on that below), the animals at Etosha were hiding in dense grass and hard to spot, so it was rare for us to get up close to them.

If you’re going to Namibia and will be hitting up Etosha while you’re there, make sure you’ve got a decent zoom lens for the trip.

Get Yourself Some Excellent Travel Insurance

You know I’ll always yell at you if you’re dumb enough to skip out on travel insurance , but in Namibia, it’s an essential.

Why? Because Namibia has the highest car-accident death rate in the world, with 45 people killed on the road for every 100,000 citizens. On top of that, malaria hangs out in the northern parts of the country, and there are several other awful-sounding tropical diseases you definitely don’t want to contract. 

Travel insurance  will cover you if your flight is cancelled and you need to book a new one, if your luggage gets lost and you need to replace your belongings, if you suddenly get struck down by appendicitis and have to be hospitalised, or discover a family member has died and you need to get home immediately. If you fall seriously ill, your insurance will cover the costs to fly you home to receive medical treatment.

I use  SafetyWing  as my travel insurance provider, and recommend them for trips to Namibia. Firstly, they’re one of the few companies out there who will actually cover you if you contract COVID-19. On top of that, they provide worldwide coverage, don’t require you to have a return ticket, and even allow you to buy coverage after you’ve left home. If you’re on a long-term trip, you can pay monthly instead of up-front, and can cancel at any time. Finally, they’re way cheaper than the competition, and have a clear, easy-to-understand pricing structure, which is always appreciated.

With SafetyWing, you’ll pay  $1.50 a day  for travel insurance.

On top of standard travel insurance, you’ll also want to make sure you get some of the best car insurance money can buy. Most tourists get a flat tyre in Namibia at some point at a minimum (we got one roughly an hour from the airport on our final day) and replacing them/repairing the rental car can be pricey. We rented our car through  rentalcars.com , bought their insurance, and they refunded us for all of our car disaster expenses in Namibia.

You’ll Never Have Seen This Many Stars Before

Namibia is home to some of the darkest skies in the world , and I couldn’t believe how magical the night sky was. With the exception of the cities we stayed in, we fell asleep every night with the Milky Way twinkling above our heads. And with the lack of light pollution in the country, you didn’t even need to wait for your eyes to adjust.

If you’re all about stars, this is one destination not to miss.

I Loved Visiting During the Low Season

Well, low-ish season. We hit up Namibia in March, which is typically the final month of the rainy season.

We experienced just one hour of rain and the rest of our trip was full of gloriously blue skies. There were fewer tourists, prices for accommodation were almost half what they’d be in high season, and the weather wasn’t bad at all. I highly recommend considering a shoulder-season visit because of this.

Surely there has to be a downside? Yep. We struggled to see anything at Etosha. There are thirty-odd waterholes inside the park and during the dry season, they usually look like this:

Well, over three whole days of 12-hour drives, Dave and I saw literally nothing at any of the waterholes. Our waterholes looked like this:

We didn’t even see a bird.

The problem is: during the rainy season, there’s no reason for the animals to go to the waterholes because there’s water everywhere. And being on the tail end of that meant that instead we had to drive around in search of animals in the bushes. We didn’t come up empty handed, though: while we didn’t see a single elephant, we managed to see three black rhinos (super rare) and countless giraffes (my favourite animal).

It was funny, though, to have seen so many spectacular photos of Etosha before arriving, then to end up spending 90% of our time driving from deserted waterhole to deserted waterhole.

Have I Convinced You to Visit Yet?

I’m not exaggerating when I say travelling in Namibia is one of the best experiences of my life, and I can’t wait to start sharing every incredible minute of my time there. Next up: a detailed itinerary guide followed by dozens of stories to convince you to add Namibia to your bucket list! :-)

Have you been to Namibia before? Would you like to visit?

Related Articles on Namibia 💰 The Cost of Travel in Namibia: My Detailed Budget Breakdown 🦛 The Perfect First Day in Namibia 🐘 Desperately Seeking Elephants in Etosha National Park 🏜 Finding Paradise in Vingerklip: Africa’s Monument Valley 🦭 Seals, Swakopmund, and the Skeleton Coast 🥾 Climbing Big Daddy: An African Travel Highlight 🏚 Exploring Kolmanskop: Namibia’s Ghost Town in the Desert

Lauren Juliff

Lauren Juliff is a published author and travel expert who founded Never Ending Footsteps in 2011. She has spent over 12 years travelling the world, sharing in-depth advice from more than 100 countries across six continents. Lauren's travel advice has been featured in publications like the BBC, Wall Street Journal, USA Today, and Cosmopolitan, and her work is read by 200,000 readers each month. Her travel memoir can be found in bookstores across the planet.

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Exploring Kolmanskop: Namibia’s Ghost Town in the Desert

100 comments.

I have never heard a bad thing about Namibia, and though we haven’t hit Sub-Saharan Africa, it would definitely be atop our list – maybe alongside Botswana? And on top of all you’ve listed, I’ve also heard that they have some decent German beer there since it was a German colony for a while. Any truth to that rumor?

There was *amazing* beer in Namibia! I’ve heard Botswana is pretty expensive and really tough to visit independently, but it’s very high on my list nonetheless. I know you guys would definitely love Namibia though!

Windhoek Lager (best beer in Africa)

Have you convinced me? Actually you have, I would have never thought of visiting there but it looks super amazing and peaceful! It sort of reminds me of Arizona. It sounds like heaven compared to NYC where I am currently at!

-Rachel @ Backcountry Petite

Score! I actually commented several times to Dave that I felt as though we were driving through the U.S. Southwest a lot of the time.

Great post, Lauren! I love all your pictures – especially the one of the night sky and the doors with the sand. It looks SO different than the places I’ve visited in Africa (Uganda and Zanzibar) that I’m very intrigued.

I think you’d love Namibia, Ashley! It’s very different to the other African countries I’ve been to, as well — so arid and empty!

Wow your pictures are absolutely stunning! Namibia has been calling my name lately but as you said it’s so darn expensive. Hopefully one of these days I’ll save up enough to see it. Did you find the food expensive even at local restaurants?

The problem was there often wasn’t any local restaurants. You’ll stay at lodges where the nearest town is several hours away, so you usually have to eat where you’re staying. In Swakopmund and Luderitz, food was slightly cheaper at around $8-10 per meal.

Wow Namibia looks wonderful! Thanks for writing this complete guide. Good to know it is safe. x

It really is the perfect introduction to travel in Africa :-)

Yep! I’m convinced! All I knew of Namibia was the rockin’ sand dunes. But with all this extra awesomeness (aside from the lodging prices) sound right up my alley! What city do you fly into?

I’ve heard of Namibia before, I’m surprised so many others haven’t. It looks wonderful! You have 100% convinced me!

I was there in march and I loved it. I highly recommend it to every one. It’s very safe!

Best regards!

Glad to hear you enjoyed it as well, Rui! :-)

You have definitely convinced me to go to Namibia. I had never thought of it before, but I think I will have to look into a bit now. Look forward to reading more posts about your trip.

I’m so happy to hear that! It’s definitely worth the visit :-)

I enjoyed the read! Amazing photos. Thanks for the tips <3

Glad you enjoyed it, Nadia!

I’ve been to Namibia on honey moon in 1995. Afraid to go back and see it changed. Apart from the occasion, it has been the most fabulous trip I have made. Did you miss the Skeleton coast?

We saw a small part of it while we were driving down to Swakopmund. Managed to see one shipwreck on the beach, but didn’t have enough time to get anywhere else. I would be interested to know if it has changed — it didn’t feel like the type of place that was changing quickly, but that’s totally just me guessing!

Namibia was my first ever solo trip abroad (around 8 years ago) and it was incredible. Yes the driving days are long but it is definitely worth it. The landscapes and hiking are fantastic, like nowhere else I’ve been, and the wildlife is so diverse. Other than South Africa I don’t know what country you can see penguins at one end and all the traditional safari animals at the other end. Looking forward to reading more posts to relive my trip/see how it’s changed.

Totally agree with you, Laura! I was surprised by how diverse the landscapes and wildlife were, and how empty the country the feels.

Looks and sounds like a great trip. Thanks!

It was amazing :-)

Wow, it really looks amazing. Must have been an incredible experience visiting the country.

As I said, the best trip I’ve ever taken. I loved every second I spent in the country :-)

I have to say Namibia looks amazing – it’s never particularly been on my radar, but it definitely is now! Looking forward to more posts on your time there. :)

I’m so happy to hear that, Clazz! It’s one of the coolest countries I’ve ever been to.

And great for children too. The number of ‘cute’ animals identified for airlifting to a proposed zoo in our back garden was extensive! Animals are everywhere: on the beach, by the side of the road, wandering around your lodge or tent. The whole family loved every bit of the holiday.

Ooh, I can imagine! I was filled with childlike excitement over every animal I spotted in Namibia.

I haven’t been before but you have me just about convinced! I’ve heard that the oysters from Namibia are something else as well.

Yes! Oh my god, I had the best oysters of my LIFE in Namibia!

Yep, I’m convinced! Everything looked amazing! Where did you flew from and how much did it cost you?

I flew from Portugal for $250 return with TAAG.

To be honest, this is the first time I’ve heard of Namibia. Probably because I’m from the other side of the globe.. or maybe I need to travel more! Nevertheless, thank you for this post! Very inspiring!

Well, you’re definitely not alone! But hopefully it convinced you to try to make it there one day :-)

Awesome photography. Thank you for sharing these amazing pictures and your experience in Namibia. I can’t wait to visit.

This place looks so stunning. I am one of those who had never heard of Namibia…..glad you shared this post. Thanks!

Glad you enjoyed it, Alex!

Namibia is terrific. I have been there only once but I still remember its beauty…yes it does gives you a lot of pocket pinch but then it’s worth it.

100% worth it!

I’m really excited to delve into the rest of your blog posts about Namibia. I have to confess I knew nothing about it before you visited but it looks like such an incredible country. Loved this introduction into what it’s like the travel there.

Happy to hear you enjoyed the post! Namibia is so underrated!

Namibia has been on my bucket list since I first set foot in Africa, After seeing your images and reading your blog I need to get there! Perhaps it will be the destination booked when I visit Africa again rather than the Safaris I did in 2010 or the Gorilla trekking in Rwanda! Great post!

I highly recommend it! :-)

Good to know, where would you suggest other than sousevlei and kolmanscop?

Walvis Bay, Vingerklip, and Etosha!

Honestly I don’t think it’s that expensive in the grand scheme of things. Sure, it’s not backpacking on a tight budget, but the prices aren’t that bad compared to the rest of the world. And if you compare what you get for the money with what you’d pay in somewhere like Australia, it seems like you definitely got your moneys worth.

That’s true. I guess the only problem is that there isn’t a super easy way to visit on a budget without missing out on a ton of awesome stuff. Most countries around the world will have hostels in most destinations. In Namibia, there isn’t really that option if you want to get outside of the cities and towns. But I agree: if you usually spend this amount of money in other countries as you travel, you’d feel as though you got a lot for your money in Namibia.

If Namibia is ‘Africa for beginners’, as is often said, what a wonderful place to start. Stunning photos, especially the view from the Sesriem Desert Camp. It’s perfect.

Absolutely! It was so easy to visit, and probably my favourite country I’ve now been to in Africa.

Fantastic post about a country I don’t know a lot about. Do they have a dress code in Namibia at all? Do women have to cover up while travelling in the country?

Not really. I would cover up my shoulders sometimes, but usually wandered around in a t-shirt and shorts. Almost all of the tourists I saw in the country were wearing shorts and t-shirts.

Wow it does sound amazing, how many days was this trip? My hubby turns 60 in October, after much nagging he has chosen Namibia.

Great decision! We spent 12 days in the country. Ovita for 1 night – Etosha for three nights – Vingerklip for a night – Swakopmund for 3 nights – Betta Camp for 1 night – Sesriem for 1 night – Luderitz for 1 night – Maltahohe for 1 night – drive to Windhoek and out!

Dear Lauren I am a Namibian, who often enjoys reading visitor’s blogs about my beloved country. It is always interesting to see Namibia through the eyes of other’s…..your photos and posts have been great fun to read. Thanks for the free advertisement……..might I add, Namibia is quite clean, it helps to have a small population density. Nonetheless, we do take pride in keeping it clean, hope you noticed that! Enjoy your travels, hope you make your way back here for an extended journey and with many other wide-eyed visitors in tow! P.S. the dust gets to me too!!! Regards Indileni

Yes, I definitely noticed that! I’m so glad to hear you’ve been enjoying my posts — it’s been a fun country to write about :-)

Hi! Looks like it was a great trip to Namibia. In search of things about this country I found your article. I am interested to go this year there. Can you tell me if you took pills for malaria or vaccine for yellow fever. Thank you

I took malaria pills for my time in Etosha. No yellow fever vaccine — they don’t have it in Namibia.

Hi Lauren, I’m currently finding out as much as I can about Namibia from books and the net, which is where I stumbled on your blog, which I’ve got to say, is excellent. I’d really like to hire a car and go camping, probably with a roof top tent, and only in campsites. My main concern is waking up in the middle of the night, wandering out to go to the toilet and having a close encounter with wild animals. Any advice? Thanks, Tony

It’s not my area of expertise, as I didn’t camp when I was in Namibia, but I’d imagine that you’d be okay in campsites. The animals are very spread out across the country, so it was extremely rare to see them while we were staying anywhere.

Your pictures are so amazing that I want to cry. This is on my list of possibilities for next summer. Thanks for the information!

Ah, thank you! It was easy to take great photos of such a beautiful country :-)

Thanks for a great blog series on Namibia! Great information and very helpful. I’m planning on doing a big road trip in the fall of 2018 and am really looking forward to it!

Sweet! You’ll have an amazing time, Rand :-)

I would like to drive myself through Namibia as I like the independence. However, I know nothing about mechanics and shamefully I’ve never been able to change a flat tire (I’ve tried but I’ve never had the strength to get the bolts off.). So is a tour package the only way to go for me?

You could look into hiring a guide to drive you. That’ll be cheaper than a tour and then you won’t have to worry about tackling the bad roads yourself.

Greetings for Oranjemund,Namibia Lauren,

Thanks so much for highlighting our beautiful country, I see you made Luderitz. Next visit head down to the deep South , Oranjemund was a forbidden town since 1936 due to the vast diamond deposits and only opened to the public towards the end of 2017. We walk amongst the Gemsboks in our streets down here. On the way to the beach last night, I had to stop and shout out the window at all the wild springboks hogging the road. They did not even scatter, but rather stood there giving me the evil eye…. Anyhow, Next time if you make it down here, give us a shout! Thanks again.

Ooooh, I would love to go! Sounds amazing :-)

Awesome read! Namibia is really one of the those countries people don’t seem to know about unless they’ve travelled to Southern Africa, or actually come from the area, like myself. ;) Well, South Africa, but I spent a good few years in that amazing country. Atleast South Africa gives you an idea of where it is directly in the name!

The endless nothingness on the roads is amazing, especially when you drive for hours without seeing a soul.

The amount of wildlife is another incredible thing about Namibia, unfortunate time to travel there in March, whilst you got to experience Nam at its greenest (or there abouts), the animals had plenty of watering holes to choose from, which is a pain when you want to see them ;)

For travelling during the low season, guided tours really are worth it, as the guides all communicate with one another and give each other live information about animal sightings etc. They can be rather pricey though :/

For anyone making a short trip, Erindi Private Game Reserve is a good stop, especially during the low season, the park is one of the largest privately owned reserves, but it is also tiny compared to Etosha, with a lot of the animals you could see in Etosha, the guides are very informed and make a real effort to get you to the animals you want to see (and the tours aren’t too expensive), it’s probably the most worthwhile 1 or 2 nights stay for anyone looking into some wildlife during the low season.

Otherwise, October/November is probably the best time to visit Etosha.

So I think the real question is, when are you visiting again? ;)

Amazing! Thank you so much for sharing! I’d love to get back within the next couple of years — especially because I need to have a better Etosha experience!

Awesome pictures that reminds me of my journey to Namibia although it’s been almost 6 years meanwhile… would go there again any time.

I’ve also published some of my black & white pictures in a Blurb photo book.

Maybe that would be an option for you as well? :)

For all the would-be tourists out there: I am a Namibian and love my country with all my heart! The reasons for my addiction to Namibia`s wild open spaces, spectacular scenery and incredible wildlife are numerous, but the ones standing out for me is the silence (you hear yourself breathe), the fact that you can stop anywhere alongside the road for a cuppa or to pitch your tent without fear of any danger (be it human or nature) and above all….the solitude! Take your 4×4 for an excursion into Damaraland and the Kaokoveld and have your soul completely rejuvenated! The friendly and helpful locals are just the icing on the cake – Namibia for ever. Hope to host you guys soon in our beatyfull paradise – so peacefull, quiet and serene.

Thank you for this post, Lauren! My grandparents lived in Namibia and I was lucky enough to visit them when I was 16. We stayed for 2 months and did a little bit of traveling. Now, 20 years later, I’ve been dreaming of a trip to Namibia with my 14 & 15 yr old daughters and decided to do a little research to see if it was still as empty and beautiful as I remember… From your post it looks like it’s still the perfect place to visit and I’m looking forward to planning a visit next summer. Thanks again.

I just came back from South Africa and that has made me want to visit Namibia. Your blog has now convinced me, although it seems like the dry season is best for animals. What’s the best way to get to Namibia? Is it best to fly to Cape Town and then catch a flight to Windhoek?

Either that or via Angola with TAAG Angola Air — they have some seriously cheap flight deals from Lisbon.

So glad to have come across this overview…

I nabbed a cheap ticket to Cape Town for May of 2019 and am planning on a 3-week Namibia road trip as the focus of my visit.

Looking forward to digging into the accompanying posts soon!

You’re going to have the best trip ever, Chris! Namibia is one of my favourite countries in the world :-)

I recall learning about the Welwitschia plant of Namibia while in school. Recently, an opportunity to travel to Namibia came up and I actually might be able to visit this intriguing country. This post got me even more excited. And the photos are crazy beautiful. thank you!

Oh, wow! I hope you do get to visit, Misael! It’s such a beautiful country :-)

I’m a bit worried that we haven’t booked enough in between stops for our upcoming trip! I have only allowed one day to get from Walvis Bay to Sesriem and one day between all our other destinations. Hopefully our experience of travelling in the Australian outback will help us in Namibia – we have driven over 1,000 sand dunes in our Simpson Desert and tackled corrugated roads like the Gibb River in the Kimberley. We have hired a 4×4 and will be camping – my only fear is meeting a lion in the shower when we do a side trip to Rooiputs in Botswana. I might just use baby wipes for those 2 days!

I have just come across this blog – and just WOW! Namibia looks amazing and the thorough description and itinerary is superb. I’ve recently watched Romesh Ranganathan’s Misadventures where he went to Ethiopia which is another astounding yet non touristic place that people would not think of visiting. I have travelled around the majority of Morocco in a 4×4 over a month and that wasn’t enough time. I’ve travelled all around Australia and NZ over a year – in the outback, NT and WA which have some similarities in terms of plenty of driving and not seeing anyone else for miles and plenty of unsealed road. Both in Aus and Morocco we didn’t seem to have problems with flat tyres but we were deflating / inflating when appropriate. Crazy how you did the trip in a Toyota Corolla.

Sorry for waffling on, I get excited with planning new trips – especially when you say you only need 2 weeks! Anyway just a few questions if you still remember from your time there – How much did you roughly spend during the two weeks, excluding flights, travel insurance, vaccinations. Although these details would be handy to know. – What was the heat like, was it still cool (ish) after rainy season? And were there places to buy / stock up on bottled water or did you kind of need to ration to make it to the next lodge or gas station. – What was the price of gas roughly? – Apart from flat tyres, did you have any major problems or was there anything you were worried out before you went or whilst you were travelling through the country – malaria, insects, the heat etc?

Maybe I need to check out your travel anxiety course again and stop asking questions and just dive right in. It’s been almost a year since I got back from Aus, so I’m gagging to travel properly again but still anxious about Africa. Thank you!

Your website/blog is a true gift. I stumbled on it while planning my trip to hike Hadrians wall and went exploring to see if you had been to Namibia. BINGO. You have an itinerary and everything I need to know for both trips. I can’t tell you how excited and fortunate I feel to have found this site. Thank you!!!

Hi Lauren…We are starting our “Journey Down That Path” yearlong family trip around the world July 1st. Our first month we are renting a 4×4 and touring Namibia.. It’s been on my bucket list since I gave up an opportunity to do Peace Corps work there in the early 90s. We can’t wait to experience all these sites. Thanks for your inspiration!

Hi Lauren. We are travelling to Namibia for the first time in October. I’m just wondering about travel injections. We will be getting Typhoid, Hepatitis A and advised to take Malarone anti malaria tablets as we are visiting Etosha National Park and staying outside of it at El Dorado Guest Farm. Is it necessary to get the rabies vaccine? There are a lot of dogs at this farm. Maybe I’m just being over cautious. Any advice would be greatly appreciated for first timers. Itinerary is arrive in Windhoek, drive to El Dorado Guest Farm in the morning, spend two nights there and then head southwards. Many thanks

I wouldn’t bother with the rabies vaccine. It’s highly unlikely you’ll even be bitten by a dog, and I can’t imagine the owners would be keeping rabid dogs on their property, either! You can tell when a dog has rabies, so the owners wouldn’t just let them hang around their other animals and endanger them and themselves :-)

I don’t see how you would get bitten because I doubt anyone would allow wild dogs roam free on commercial property. You would be fine, don’t just overthink it.

Great tips! In retrospect, would you have splurged on a bigger car better suited for the roads, are was the struggle with the bad roads in your little car worth it? And did you get any flats or have other car troubles?

There are definite pros and cons for each option. If we’d had a bigger car, there’d have been a greater chance of it rolling on the bad roads, for example, and they can be much more expensive to rent while also using more fuel. We really didn’t have too many problems with our car, so would stick with what we drove. We had one flat tyre, right at the end of our trip (on the first bit of paved road we’d had in a fortnight, haha), but it was no big deal. A local actually pulled over within two minutes of us stopping and changed the tyre for us!

If you don’t have much experience on gravel roads, maybe go for the 4WD option, but we didn’t really have any major problems with our Corolla. And the rental cars are definitely well-equipped for any flats you might have, with a spare tyre and a jack.

It just looks like the most beautiful country in the world! I can see why you loved it so much. I bet they’re probably doing ok with COVID with their population all spread out!

I spent 4 months in this beautiful country; 25 years ago. I would highly recommend Waterberg plateau, you would struggle to find a more stunning place on the planet. I will never ever forget this country, I have travelled around the world and visited some fantastic countries, and I can say without a shadow of a doubt, Namibia is by far the country that I will never forget. The stars, the sunset and sunrise, the scenery and the tranquility are my cherished memories.

Namibia has been on my wishlist for several years. You don’t mention renting the jeeps with tents attached. Are you familiar with this option?

Greetings from Canada, perhaps i missed this ,but what would you pack? i see you in jeans in pictures, certainly I dont need safari attire? off to Namibia in September.

Nope, no need for safari attire; I just wore my normal clothes that I wear at home! Jeans and a t-shirt, shorts and a t-shirt, a hoodie in the evening, etc. Everybody else that I saw was just wearing typical clothes, too — very casual. There’s no need to try to camouflage yourself from the animals in Etosha as it’s usually a dusty plain so everything stands out against it!

Hi Lauren, Great article, thanks so much. I was wondering if you booked your hotels before you left for Namibia or just booked as you went during your trip. I’ll probably just follow your itinerary, but I wasn’t sure if I should book ahead. Planning to go in May or June. Thanks, Peter.

I booked in advance. I don’t think any of the places I stayed in were fully booked but I was there during the low season. If at all possible I would recommend booking in advance, though! In some parts of Namibia, the accommodation is spread so sparsely across the country that if you turned up somewhere and couldn’t get a room, you might have to drive for an hour or two to get to the nearest property!

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Home > Namibia > Namibia Blog Itinerary

Namibia Itinerary and Travel Blog: 14-Days, 4,274km, 1 Big Problem

14 Days, 72 Hours Driving, 4,274 Kilometers, and Only 1 Big Complaint

This Namibia blog shares the highlights, lowlights, and honest insights of our two-week itinerary. See our Namibia Travel Tips , Cape Town to Namibia Guide , and Is Namibia Worth Visiting? for more trip-planning info.

There's only one thing that could've made our Namibia road trip itinerary better.

Other than it, our itinerary was fantastic and we have no real regrets. Given our limited time and budget, we discovered as much of Namibia as we could have hoped. We saw more than our share of dunes, animals, cool plants, and unusual landscapes.

This one thing— our one BIG complaint—was the roads . They're miserable, torturous, wretched, and evil.

Maybe by the time you read this the Namibian government will have gotten their act together and graded them. Either that or hovercrafts will have become affordable to rent.

The latter's probably more likely.

Whatever the case, use this travel blog of our Namibian itinerary to plan yours as perfectly as possible.

Namibia Itinerary Outline

Skip Day 1 if you're not coming from Cape Town like we did.

• Day 1: Cape Town to Vredendal (Day Rating: 7/10)
• Day 2: Orange River (6.5/10)
• Day 3: Fish River Canyon and Aus (8/10)
• Day 4: Namibrand (7.5/10)
• Day 5: Sossusvlei (6/10)
• Day 6: Camp Gecko (7.5/10)
• Day 7: Moon Landscape (5/10)
• Day 8: Swakopmund (6/10)
• Day 9: Spitzkoppe (7/10)
• Day 10: Kamanjab (5/10)
• Day 11: Etosha (the Good Day) (7.5/10)
• Day 12: Etosha (the Bad Day) (5/10)
• Day 13: Windhoek (5/10)
• Day 14: Departure (3/10)

Namibia Blog Day 1: Cape Town to Vredendal

369 km in 5 hours.

So Naive, So Innocent

How sweetly naive we were when we complained that the dirt roads into and out of Lamberts Bay were rough.

By the end of our trip, we would've given our left thumbs for all the roads in Namibia to have been so good.

Fryers Cove

Our biggest highlight of the day was Fryers Cove , "the world's only vineyard this close to the Atlantic Ocean." The tasting room, on a fishing pier beside a lighthouse and an abalone farm, seemed better suited for a fish and chips restaurant, which made it so special.

So special that it easily made our list of the 10 Most Unique and Unforgettable Wine Tastings in South Africa .

Lambert's Bay

Tasting at Teubes Family Wines' at Lambert's Bay surprised us in a couple ways too. First, the lady who led the tasting is studying to be a sommelier but… she doesn't even drink! Second, Lambert's Bay seemed like a funky, fun town with plenty of good restaurants—notably seaside Muisbosskerm.

If we return to Cape Town, we'll come for a weekend.

Fast Forward:

• Highlights: Wine tasting at Friar’s Cove.
• Lowlights: Losing precious wine tasting time waiting for the rental car company to get our paperwork in order.
• Best Food: Chef Keith Burger for me and hake for Kim at Thi Art in Vredendal, which looks like a strip-mall restaurant but doesn't act like it.
• Where We Stayed: Super friendly Airbnb in Vredendal
• Road Quality: About 150km of good-quality dirt road. The rest was paved.
• Day Rating: 7. If only we could've hit the road sooner.

Quick Tip: Load up on wine during this day if you're doing your Namibia road trip from Cape Town because selection decreases and prices increase as soon as you cross the border.

Bonus Ideas if Coming from South Africa

We skipped a ton of huge highlights north of Cape Town because we'd done them previously and wanted to try new things. Strongly consider adding these to your itinerary:

• Darling for its brewery, sweet shop, wine farms, and, especially Pieter-Dirk Uys ' satirical Evita Se Perron performances
• Cederberg , especially around the Sanddrif Resort , where there's an awesome swimming hole, some fun hikes (Wolfberg cracks was much more of an adventure and challenge than we expected), and where they produce excellent wine and beer that's perfect for late-day refreshments.
• West Coast National Park . Worth it for the wildlife, flamingos viewed from lagoon bird hides, easily-accessed hilltop viewpoints, and colorful lagoon.
• Paternoster . A few quirky shops, a nice beach, and a very famous restaurant, Wolfgat .

And definitely read our tips specifically for Cape Town to Namibia road trips.

Namibia Itinerary Day 2: Orange River

426 km in 4.5 hours.

Goodbye South Africa

We felt nostalgic on this last day of our six "hectic" months in South Africa.

And it ended with a whimper.

There wasn't much to see on the long highway between Vredendal and Springbok.

But the scenery stepped it up a notch and gave a glimpse of what was to come as we approached the South Africa-Namibia border at Noordoewer, which we crossed with surprisingly little fuss.

Orange River Kayaking and Chilling

After a quick check in at Felix Unite, change, and sunscreen lather, we followed our guide Beaumaris on a 3-kilometer paddle down the Orange River. There were a couple of rapids but nothing strong enough to flip our boat, even though we hit pretty much every rock along the way.

A van picked us up at Amanzi Trails, which had nicer campsites than Felix Unite but none of the amenities, and drove us back, where we chilled by the river and the pool, played some pool, enjoyed a sunset drink, and had a fairly-priced meal at the restaurant.

• Highlights: Kayaking on the Orange River. It didn't live up to all the praise our friends had given it but was definitely a nice way to spend a couple of active hours.
• Lowlights: The lack of attractions on the long road between Vredendal and the South Africa-Namibia border. Unable to find an interesting restaurant, we resorted eating take-out supermarket lasagna at a highway-side rest stop.
• Best Food: Kim's chicken caesar salad at Felix Unite. I had the "famous" peri-peri chicken, which wasn't worth the extra wait.
• Where We Stayed: A bungalow at the Felix Unite Provenance Camp , whose pool, restaurant, bar, and riverside location were perfect for rinsing off and fueling up for the dusty deserts of Namibia.
• Road Quality: 100% paved roads.
• Day Rating: 6.5. Relaxing, almost too much so for our tastes.

Quick Tip: Fill up on gas on the Namibian side of the border, where the price per liter is quite a bit cheaper.

Namibia Blog Day 3: Fish River Canyon to Aus

513 km in 6.5 hours

A Great Start

Enhancing our eager anticipation as we ventured into Namibia's desert for the first time was the fact that we couldn't see anything but stars in the pitch-black early morning.

As we passed the gas-station-less settlement of Aussenkehr, the sun broke the horizon and we had to turn off our audiobook to fully embrace the awe-inspiring scenery that we had all to ourselves. Optimistically, we thought this was just the beginning and expected the rest of our Namibia road trip to get better and better.

This section of road ended up being the most pleasant of our entire trip , largely because we were all alone and the roads weren't trashed by a steady stream of tourists in camper trucks.

Fish River Canyon

We arrived at Fish River Canyon three hours after setting off.

The view of the canyon didn't take our breaths away, as the breathless blogs and guides claimed. But at least we had the opportunity to stretch our legs on the ridge trail and take photos of the canyon and the quiver tree beside it.

We stopped at Cañon Roadhouse , which is as kitschy as advertised and had better-than-expected homemade burgers, then at Naute Kristall Distillery , where the owner Katherine gave us samples of a variety of schnapps and the world's only date cognac.

On Katherine's suggestion, our next stop was Alte Kalkofen , home of the world's only lithop sanctuary… which probably means as little to you as it did to us.

We'd never heard of these crazy little "living stones" before, either.

But as soon as the manager Marika led us into the nursery and explained lithops to us, we were enthralled. Some looked like hippos' mouths, some like brains, others like rocks, and they were all so delightfully weird.

We had some apple pie at Alte Kalkofen's restaurant, thinking the cabins there would be a good spot to spend a night if we ever returned, then drove on to the one-garage, one-shop, one-restaurant town of Aus, where we took advantage of each of those establishments.

The food at the restaurant, part of the Banhof Hotel, was good if a little overpriced.

• Highlights: The lithop sanctuary at Alte Kalkofen and the early morning drive from Orange River towards the canyon.
• Lowlights: The Fish River Canyon wasn't a negative, but it didn't impress us as much as the bad road into it from Hobas annoyed us.
• Best Food: The apple pie at Alte Kalkofen was the best of our Namibia road trip.
• Where We Stayed: Airbnb in Aus .
• Road Quality: Good quality dirt road with a big exception of the road between Hobas and Fish River Canyon. The last 180km to Aus on the B4 is paved.
• Day Rating: 8. Pleasant surprises and mostly good roads made for one of the best days of our entire Namibia road trip.

Quick Tip: Fuel up and take some air out of your tires in Noordoewer because the next garage isn't until the Cañon Roadhouse.

Namibia Blog Day 4: NamibRand

275km in 6 hours.

Klein Aus Vista Hiking

Once again, we got up before the sun to go for an early-morning hike at Klein Aus Vista and get a head start on what we had been warned would be a long day of driving.

The 1-hour, 6-kilometer Mountain Trail hike at Klein Aus Vista wasn't nearly as noteworthy as ones we were to do later in our trip at Spitzkoppe, Sossusvlei, and Goanikontes, but the setting of the cabins they have there is worth considering a night or two.

Helmeringhausen

After showering back at our Airbnb and buying supplies for tonight's braai (a.k.a. barbecue), we took off for a slow, empty, initially-interesting-but-soon-becoming-boring ride north.

The drive was made extra slow by Kim's cautiousness (today was her turn to drive) more so than the quality of the dirt roads, which was fine.

Just over 100 km in, we hit Helmeringhausen , another middle-of-nowhere outpost like Canon Roadhouse and Solitaire that somehow was busy with a couple of busloads full of French and German tourists. We had another self-proclaimed "best apple pie in the world," which wasn't as good as yesterday's from Alte Kalkofen, then hit the road.

And the road hit us back.

Namibian Desert Torture Begins

From Helmeringhausen, the road steadily deteriorated for four hours. We felt each and every one of those 14,400 seconds. Eventually, our speed (around 35 km/h) was lower than the temperature outside (around 40°C).

I coined it "Namibian desert torture," a dry version of Chinese water torture that we were to face a lot of in the coming days of our Namibian road trip.

But in this case our destination, NamibRand Family Hideout , made it all worthwhile.

NamibRand Family Hideout

Our Venus campsite was in the middle of nowhere with a huge private bathroom area that we could've easily slept in and backed by our own private sand dunes.

At sunset, we brought a blanket and the bottle of Hectic Route wine we'd saved for a special occasion to the top of the dunes.

And man was this occasion, with the 360-degree views of the technicolor desert and not another human in sight, special.

Amateur Campers

This was our first night camping of our Namibia road trip and it showed.

Our biggest mistake was not bringing any fire starter. The bag of wood we bought only had big pieces that a match could never get aflame and, since we were in the middle of the desert, finding kindling was a major challenge. We resorted to using up almost all our matches and every piece of paper we could scrounge up to get it started.

Dinner Under the Stars

Once we got the fire going, Kim worked her magic and made us a magnificent meal that we ate under the stars.

We were all alone…

…aside from a bunch of fearless dune hairy-footed gerbils (mice with a fancy name) that at first were cute but soon became a nuisance for nibbling at our feet.

• Highlights: Dune-top sunset views and wine at NamibRand Family Hideout will likely remain our most lasting positive memory or our entire Namibia road trip.
• Lowlights: The frustration of trying to make a fire without fire starter.
• Best Food: The meat, veggies, and potatoes Kim made over the braai were worth the struggle to get the fire going.
• Where We Stayed: NamibRand Family Hideout's Venus campsite.
• Road Quality: Ok to start then degrading down to really bad by the end.
• Day Rating: 7.5. The road took away from what would otherwise be an unforgettable day.

Quick Tip: NamibRand doesn't sell wood or food, so buy everything beforehand, including some fire starter.

Namibia Itinerary Day 5: Sossusvlei

279 km in 5.5 hours

Cornelius from NamibRand Family Hideout came over in the early morning to show us around the reserve. As the sun started to shine on the desert in a display that equaled last night's performance, Cornelius also enlightened us. He taught the history of these, the oldest dunes in the world, and interesting facts about the plant and wildlife.

We would've loved to spend another day in paradise at NamibRand , but we had to pack up and leave for another looooong drive.

Following Cornelius' advice, we took the longer route from NamibRand to Sesriem , the gateway to the famous sand dunes of Sossusvlei , along the D827 instead of the D27 (which a couple we met later confirmed was virtually impassable).

The D827 was in decent shape but the C19 and then the D826 into Sesriem was a different story.

What may one day have been a road had devolved into a sea of sharp gravel and stones with waves of corrugations that endlessly ate away at our good mood until we were at each others' throats.

Even as the scenic dunes of Sossusvlei and the colorful Naukluft mountains came into view, we could barely appreciate them because we were too distracted by the road.

A Hard Truth in Sesriem

Once we finally arrived at Sesriem, we confronted a hard truth:

The gates only open at sunrise then it's 60km from there to the dunes, so even if we got to the entrance ahead of the other 60 to 100 other cars who start lining up as early as 1.5 hours in advance, there was no way to truly see the dunes in the perfect light.

Well, no way other than staying inside the gates at the official NWR (Namibia Wildlife Resorts) camp , whose spots had sold out months ago.

Sunset was out of the question too . Sesriem's gates close before sunset, which at this time of year meant 6:30 pm.

So we swallowed this hard truth we made what turned out to be an excellent decision….

We went to the dunes in the middle of the day.

We were car number 146, but almost everyone before us had already come and went. There were only a few cars on the perfectly paved road to the dunes and only two others at the parking lot at the end of it, where we were all alone on the overpriced (170 each) but necessary shuttle to Sossusvlei.

From the shuttle drop-off point, it was a 1.1km walk in 39.5°C (103°F) heat through the sand to Deadvlei .

At least it was a dry heat and there was a bit of a breeze so I barely broke a sweat. Kim didn't tolerate the heat as well, but not enough to affect her mood.

There was only another pair of friends when we got to Deadvlei. We took photos for each other then they left and we had the whole place, Namibia's number one tourist attraction, to ourselves!

It's like being alone in Machu Picchu, the Great Wall of China, or the Pyramids. We couldn't believe it.

Unwinding in the Wind

On our drive back to Sesriem the breeze became a full-on sand storm and we could barely make out the dunes to the side of the highway.

It also made it impossible for us to start a fire back at our camp, Sossus Oasis , so we settled on buying some crappy bread and making sandwiches in front of the gas station.

On the table beside us was a group of cyclists who'd come all the way from Egypt on a Cairo to Cape Town tour . They told us the road they'd just cycled—the same as we had come in on—were easily the worst they'd encountered.

Way to go Namibia!

Congrats on the ignominious title of having worst roads in Africa.

• Highlights: Having Deadvlei all to ourselves at 3 p.m. in the afternoon.
• Lowlights: The C19 "highway" didn't break our car but certainly broke our spirits.
• Best Food: Macadamia nuts we brought with us from Cape Town.
• Where We Stayed: Sossus Oasis . Nothing special, but the best alternative to the NWR Campsite inside the gates.
• Road Quality: The worst. Like driving in a gravel pit.
• Day Rating: 6. The undeniable highlight of Sossusvlei couldn't overcome the lows of the bad roads.

Quick Tip: The Sossusvlei sand's hot in the middle of the day, so wear decent walking shoes if you want to hike around the dunes.

Namibia Itinerary Day 6: Camp Gecko

178 km in 4.5 hours

Road Blocked

As we left Sesriem after sunset and just as the Sossusvlei gates opened, we counted 56 trucks in line, waiting to race each other and the sun for photos. This reinforced our happiness for deciding to go yesterday afternoon instead.

The shitty roads quickly stole that happiness from us.

Fed up, we stopped at the nearest lodge, Hoodia Desert Lodge , to ask the owner how the roads are between there and the Olive Trail we hoped to hike that morning.

She crushed our dreams.

Even with her top-notch off-road truck she told us she avoids that road, which is the direct route to Windhoek, to takes another that's twice as long and still no good but not as bad.

No Olive Trail for us. We took her advice and abandoned our plans.

Three hours later, we got to Solitaire . As the only pit-stop between Sossusvlei and Swakopmund, it may be in the middle of nowhere, but there was nothing solitary about it. Fellow road-shaken travelers were everywhere.

We had a snack at McGregor's Bakery . The game meat pies (only NA$30 each) were much better than the chalky-crusted but once-renowned apple pie (NA$35).

And at the gas station ATM machine was broken. "Maybe later," said the employee we asked if it would be fixed anytime soon.

The roads improved after we turned off towards Camp Gecko , where we were spending the night.

Since we missed out on our hike, we did the fly-infested but entertainingly-interactive 3km Adventure Walk loop at the camp. The trail ended by the beautiful campsites on the other side of the hill that looked over a wild, 20 kilometer mountain-backed plain.

Our campsite was not nearly as beautiful but was close to the natural swimming pool, where we cooled off with the tadpoles.

Spreetshoogte Pass

With time to kill before dinner, we did the unthinkable:

We went for a drive.

Voluntarily.

Our Rough Guide , our hosts at Gecko, and a fellow camper all recommended Spreetshoogte Pass , so we folded ourselves back into our car to brave the roads again.

But the roads turned out to be fine on the 25-minute drive to and up the pass. The pass itself was even paved. And the late-afternoon views from up top were spectacular.

Back at the camp, we joined Camp Gecko's Swiss owners, Renee and Heidi, and an Austrian couple for a sunset drink then dinner in the spectacularly-situated lapa atop the hill.

The wood-fire-cooked oryx potjie ( oryx is an animal and potjie is a local stew) was extra tasty for us spice enthusiasts because Renee had mistaken chili for paprika.

It was a bit pricy (NA$250 each), but easily worth it for the chance to get to know Heidi and Renee, hear stories about their zaniest guests, and get the inside scoop on the struggles of trying to run a business in corrupt, inefficient Namibia.

• Highlights: Dinner and conversation at Camp Gecko. Honorable mention to Spreetshoogte Pass.
• Lowlights: Having to abandon our initial plans because of bad roads.
• Best Food: The meat pies at Solitaire.
• Where We Stayed: Camp Gecko campsite.
• Road Quality: More horribleness, but at least less time on it.
• Day Rating: 7.5

Quick Tip: Spreetshoogte Pass would be even more incredible at sunrise with the sun behind you. Try to plan an early morning breakfast at the picnic site there.

Namibia Blog Day 7: Moon Landscape

334 km in 7 hours

Zebra Mountain

Have you ever noticed that many places are named after animals you never actually see?

For example, we didn't see any geckos at Camp Gecko.

But Zebra Mountain, where we did a 3-hour morning hike, lived up to it's name.

There was no missing the zebras. It was so quiet out in the middle of desert scrub and rocks we could hear their footsteps and snorts from hundreds of meters away.

The quiet, the sunset, the animals, and the exercise was all magical.

Civilization

After four hours of miserable driving and one hour of regular paved road driving later, everything changed.

As we hit the coast, the weather went from dry and hellaciously hot to foggy and freezing. Relatively freezing. 15°C (60°F).

And we hit civilization.

Houses! Grass! People not in camping apparel! Other small sedans like ours! Traffic signals!

There was nothing appealing about the suburban spread of the Walvis Bay / Swakopmund area, but it was quite the contrast. We had pizzas at recently-opened Godenfang in Walvis Bay to mark the occasion.

Dunes and the Moon

We passed two underrated landscapes after lunch.

First was the ocean-side dunes between Walvis Bay and Swakopmund. We'd heard about sandboarding and ATVing the dunes, but their proximity to the ocean and scope impressed us more than we'd expected.

Second, was the moon landscape . Before coming to Namibia we'd heard all about its unique landscapes, but not a peep about this one. To us, it was among the most unique as we'd seen, especially with the late-afternoon shadows.

Goanikontes

In the middle of the moon landscape, and only 30 minutes from Swakopmund on atypically well-maintained dirt roads, was Goanikontes Oasis . We were excited to spend a couple nights in one of its A-frame cabins there.

The friendly staff seemed excited to have us too. They welcomed us warmly and we had the pleasure of having a long chat with René, the matriarch of the family that recently purchased and refurbished the property.

It was actually more of a listen than a chat.

She entertained and impressed us with more tales of Namibian incompetence and her ability to work around it to get Goanikontes up and running so fast.

• Highlights: Hiking and zebras on Zebra Mountain
• Lowlights: Not having enough time to look around Walvis Bay because of bad roads.
• Best Food: Pizza at Godenfang in Walvis Bay
• Where We Stayed: A-framed cabin at Goanikontes Oasis
• Road Quality: Just as bad as the previous two days up until 100km before Walvis Bay, when the roads flattened. From then on, the roads were good.
• Day Rating: 5. Nice hiking but too much driving.

Quick Tip: We were glad to have decided to stay at Goanikontes instead of some hotel or Airbnb in Swakopmund. Consider doing the same.

Namibia Itinerary Day 8: Swakopmund

100 km in 1.5 hours

Moon Walking

For the first time in Namibia, we weren't rewarded with a sunset for waking up early. The fog from the coast beat the sun to Goanikontes.

On the bright side, it made for a uniquely eerie atmosphere during our easy, 1.5-hour, early-morning hike on the moon landscape's Weitzenberg Trail.

From Fears to Reality

The inevitable happened.

Our car, which so valiantly survived the dozens of hours of painfully corrugated roads it wasn't made for, had a flat tire. Two of them actually.

One was ok to drive on into town. The other, we replaced with our spare and the help of two well-intentioned but poor-planning Goanikontes employees. They broke our jack by using it upside down.

Luckily we had time to spare, René was around to lend us her jack, and at TyreRack in town they had true professionals who made our wheels good as new for just NA$100 each.

Enough of Swakop

Any concerns we had about the time we wasted fixing our tires dissolved when we got into central Swakopmund and found little to do.

Swakop may be nice compared to other Namibian towns. But not compared to anywhere else in the world.

We found very little to do . We wandered around, stopped in some souvenir shops in the pedestrian mall by the Brauhaus , the Kristall Galerie , and Peter's Antiques , but couldn't find the appeal of the place.

We enjoyed our meals at Tiger Reef and Tug , and their settings, though.

Equally enjoyable was getting a day off from driving, as spent a second night at Goanikontes.

• Highlights: Taking photos in the abandoned buildings towards the end of our moon walk.
• Lowlights: Seeing our car's flat tires for the first time.
• Best Food: Calamari from Tiger Reef and the solid-sized serving of stir-fried veggies it came with.
• Where We Stayed: Second night at Goanikontes
• Road Quality: Great!
• Day Rating: 6.

Quick Tip: Get a puncture repair kit like this one for your car. René gave us this tip when we were putting on our spare, we bought one in Swakopmund, and we soon put it to good use.

Namibia Blog Day 9: Spitzkoppe

323 kilometers in 5 hours

Amusement Park

As we approached Spitzkoppe , two hours from Goanikontes, its unnatural-looking big boulders and giant-pointy mound looked like an amusement park.

And, fitting of an amusement park, people outside tried selling us trinkets and souvenirs. Except it was kids (pushed forward by their parents) trying to sell to adults, not the other way around.

Inside, was a lot of fun. For us, more fun than an amusement park.

Scrambling up, down, around, and sometimes under the grippy rocks was the most fun activity of our whole Namibia road trip . And, contrary to many other reports we'd read, we didn't need a guide to scramble along the mountains. You only need guides to see the rock art.

Something's Erongo

We sped along the paved roads to Outjo where just outside of town was the most peculiar place: Erongo Mountain Winery , the biggest of the only four wineries in Namibia.

The vines were ragged and sparse and the surrounding farms were suffering from drought but somehow this sparkling new facility's cellars were full of wine.

We heard quite a few conspiracy theories about where it all came from.

The wine itself was unexceptional, but Boppie, who led our tasting did an excellent job and the other drinks we tasted like the Gravino, brandy, and cream liquor were nice to try.

Camp Mara had easily the nicest room of our entire Namibia road trip .

The person who designed them obviously put a lot of thought into the details, like the little lights and switches built into the live edge bathroom mirrors. And the kitchen was better stocked than ours back home!

That designer turned out to be Ecki, Camp Mara's very-German but born-and-raised-in-Namibia owner. During our pleasant candle-lit dinner with him and the camp's two other German guests we tried to loosen him up, but could barely crack him. He was probably thinking of the next addition to his rooms.

• Highlights: Climbing around Spitzkoppe.
• Lowlights: The unanticipated 45-minute wait for our sandwiches at Namib Oasis when we were in a hurry to make our appointed tasting at Erongo.
• Best Food: It's too bad the wait ruined our experience and we had to scarf it down too fast to fully appreciate it, but Namib Oasis's food was good.
• Where We Stayed: Camp Mara
• Road Quality: All good and mostly paved, with the exception of the 30 kilometers from the B2 highway to Spitzkoppe and back, which was in rough condition.
• Day Rating: 7

Quick Tip: Take advantage of the showers at Spitzkoppe's camp if you come as a day visitor and get sweaty from bounding up and down its boulders.

Namibia Itinerary Day 10: Kamanjab

490 km in 6 hours

Boring's Better than Bad

With a large distance to cover we made a depressing decision : to take the long route on boring paved roads rather than risk a shorter, potentially more exciting route on bad dirt roads.

The other way would've taken us by Brandberg Mountain , but some fellow bloggers said it was the biggest disappointment of their own Namibia road trip itinerary and other attractions in the area like the Organ Pipes had especially bad reviews .

We tried to throw in a bit of spice by making a detour to Vingerklip and the Ugab Terraces , but for us it was one of those places where the photos look better than real life.

Kaman-Giraffes

After seven hours of driving, we made it to our destination, Kamanjab Rest Camp .

There, we were happy to have the chance to stretch our legs with a 3-kilometer loop around Kamanjab Rest Camp's reserve. The first two-and-a-half kilometers were nearly as uninspiring as our drive until…

Kim spotted the giraffes.

They were so still at first that Kim thought they were fake, but as we moved in for a closer look, they moved away.

We'd seen plenty of giraffes before in Kenya and at Kruger but the novelty of seeing them, especially when on foot instead of in a vehicle, made our day (even though that didn't take much doing.)

All's Well that End's Well

We booked at Kamanjab Rest Camp first because of its convenient location en route to Etosha game reserve but second because of the good reviews of its food.

The dinner delivered.

I had a three-course meal with zebra (my second zebra steak of the day!) and Kim had a two course with oryx. Both steaks were superbly seasoned and topped with a tasty pepper sauce, and accompanied by a nice salad and fresh fries.

After dinner, we chatted with Elodie and M.D. the younger-than-us Belgian-Namibian couple who'd taken over Kamanjab Rest Camp in August.

Elodie shared her experiences of settling into Nambia and M.D. outlined his own perfect Namibia road trip itinerary. It didn't overlap with ours at all. It centered around the rarely-visited far-northwest of the country and required serious off-roading expertise.

• Highlights: Spotting giraffes on our walk around Kamanjab Rest Camp.
• Lowlights: "Giving up" on adventure and staying on paved roads.
• Best Food: Belgian-cooked zebra and oryx food at Kamanjab Rest Camp.
• Where We Stayed: Kamanjab Rest Camp
• Road Quality: All paved roads except the detour to Vingerklip, which was in ok condition.
• Day Rating: 5. At least we weren't home on our computers.

Quick Tip: Go to the Farmhouse instead of Outjo Bakery in Outjo. The Farmhouse used to be the only spot in town, got too comfortable, then Outjo Bakery came along and stole all its business. Now, the tides have turned. Outjo Bakery seemed charm-less and uninspiring while Farmhouse's food was tasty, well-priced, and had excellent service. Oh and apparently "the best coffee in Namibia."

Namibia Blog Day 11: Etosha (The Good Day)

225 km in 7.5 hours

Forty-five minutes after we'd hastily packed up because I set my alarm for 6 p.m not 6 a.m., we made it to the Galton Gate entrance to Etosha National Park .

We didn't see many animals for the first hour-and-a-half in the remote western edge of the park…

…But over the following five hours we saw more wildlife than we'd seen at any park in Kenya or in South Africa's Kruger Park .

By 3 p.m., we'd seen every animal we had extra tentatively, because we were visiting off peak season, included on our wishlist!

Around 11 a.m., we stopped at the Olifantrus Camp where we lost track of time watching wildebeest, oryx, zebra, and red hartebeest jostle over drinking spots from the two-story animal hide.

Aside from the hide the camp was basic and had "sold out" of all its firewood and meat, so we regretted having reserved a night there. Luckily, the manager managed to change our reservation and get us the last campsite in Okaukeujo instead.

Unbelievably, the road from Olifantrus to Okaukeujo was worse than any we'd experienced on our Namibia road trip.

When we finally made it to Okaukeujo camp, we found and fixed two punctures in our back left tire. Thank goodness we purchased the tire repair kit in Swakopmund. Without it we would have had to abandon our next day in Etosha and drive 117km to Outjo to get it fixed.

Okaukeujo is more of a village than a camp with shops, various types of accommodation, a big tower in the middle, and, most importantly, an animal viewing area.

Sitting on benches semi-encircling a waterhole, we watched oryx and elephants drink at sunset and, after a braai with some new Spanish photographer friends where an opportunistic jackal circled for our scraps, returned at night to watch more elephants, giraffes, and black and white rhino under the floodlights.

What a show!

• Highlights: Watching three female lions saunter into Jackalswater waterhole as all the other animals there lost their shit and fled.
• Lowlights: The long, featureless, animal-less, and miserable road from Olifantrus to Okaukeujo, especially from Ozonjuiti on.
• Best Food: We grilled our own food rather than pay a premium for whatever uninspired food was available at the camp restaurants.
• Where We Stayed: Okaukeujo (o-ka-koy-yo). Dirty, crowded, and overpriced, but worth it for the animal viewing at sunset, sunrise, and at night.
• Road Quality: Until Olifantrus, the roads were OK, but the roads from there to Okaukeujo almost gave us and our car a K.O.
• Day Rating: 7.5. Four hours of bad driving was worth it for animals.

Quick Tip: Book at a camp inside Etosha well in advance to ensure you get a spot. Watching animals from the hides at sunset, sunrise, and at night is an incredible experience you cannot have if you stay at better, cheaper camps outside the park.

Namibia Itinerary Day 12: Etosha (The Bad Day)

271 km, 8.5 hours

Fewer Animals, Too Many Bad Roads

We saw plenty of animals—elephants, a honey badger, lions, and all the other common game—but made even more mistakes on our second day in Etosha.

• Starting our day driving to Pan's Edge, a "viewpoint" at the edge of Etosha's salt pan that, from our point of view, was a complete waste of time.
• Forgetting to download and bring the guide to Etosha waterholes our friends had sent us the link to. We should have gone through it and carefully planned our route.
• Electing to drive a loop to Halali Camp and back. The bad roads were too much for us. We would've enjoyed our time more had we picked a couple waterholes near Okaukeujo and stayed there.

Quick Tip: Get The Photographer's Guide to Etosha National Park . Our friends told us it was super handy for learning about Etosha's watering holes, animal patterns, and some added photography tips.

Halali Camp

In the mid-day heat, we took a break at Etosha's Halali Camp .

The camp itself isn't much more than a big dusty parking lot of campsites, basic cabins, and a restaurant but we relished the opportunity to cool off in the swimming pool then watch a big group of elephants do the same at the waterhole while bullying away the oryx and zebra who wanted to join.

• Highlights: The elephants at Halali Camp's waterhole.
• Lowlights: Realizing our mistake of not planning our day better before we set out.
• Best Food: Vegetarian braai at our campsite to finish off everything we'd bought.
• Where We Stayed: Taleni Etosha Village , just outside Etosha's Anderson's Gate on the road to Outjo. So much nicer in every way than the campsites in Etosha… except for the all-important waterholes.
• Road Quality: Rock bottom.
• Day Rating: 5

Quick Tip: Don't get over-eager like we did. We would have enjoyed Etosha much more had we spent less time driving and more time sitting at waterholes watching animals.

Namibia Blog Day 13: Windhoek

443 km in 5 hours

Driving from Etosha to Windhoek

We looked hard for things to do in the 400 kilometers between Etosha and Windhoek, but found little.

Waterberg Plateau Park is the biggest attraction, but we'd heard mixed reviews and that you can't go on unguided hikes there, so we skipped it.

Discouraged, we sped straight to Windhoek. The roads are great and straight so it took us only 4.5 hours including stops for gas in Outjo, for food at Bohemia Books & Coffee , and for some biltong and dried fruit in Okahandja.

We had low expectations for Windhoek , Namibia's capital and most populous (around 350,000 people) city.

And Windhoek failed to live up to them.

We found it to be a character-less sprawl of traffic, strip malls, walled homes, and a ratty downtown center.

For one evening, though, it was fine.

We were treated to a sunset thunderstorm (!) at Hotel Thule and found Joe's Beehouse lived up to its legendary reputation thanks to its wild knick-nack decor and decent food.

• Highlights: Watching and experiencing a rare Namibian thunderstorm while enjoying a fantastic sunset and cheap beers at Hotel Thule.
• Lowlights: The lack of attractions between Etosha and Windhoek.
• Best Food: My oryx schnitzel from Joe's Beerhouse in Windhoek.
• Where We Stayed: An Airbnb that wasn't as well-located as advertised.
• Road Quality: Perfect and paved the whole way.

Quick Tip: Feel free to skip Windhoek entirely. You're visiting Namibia for the wilderness anyway.

Namibia Itinerary Day 14: Departure

48 kilometers in 1 hour

Windhoek Craft Centre and Cafe

Unlike similar shopping centers in other cities, Windhoek's Craft Centre didn't sell junky, made-in-China stuff. Each of the 38-or-so stalls sold what looked to be high-quality, original products.

So even though we had no space in our bags, Kim felt compelled to buy a couple things.

Our Airbnb host highly recommended the café there too. The upstairs patio seating was a plus, but everything was 20-40% more expensive than it should be.

Airport Shenanigans

Annoyingly, Windhoek's Hosea Kutako International Airport is 45 kilometers outside of town.

Much more annoyingly, nobody told us that rental car companies don't accept patched tires. Even though we'd gotten our tire professionally patched and it survived a further 2,000 km on Namibia's horrible roads, the agent told us they'd have to replace it. We were charged accordingly: NA$1,100 for the tire and NA$500 for "administration."

One last bump in the road for our very bumpy but undeniably scenic Namibia road trip.

• Highlights: The Craft Center actually had some nice stuff.
• Lowlights: Dealing with rental car issues.
• Best Food: The 25 foods we ate during our 24-hour layover in Taiwan on the way back to Canada.
• Where We Stayed: Seat 52F and 52E of the airplane.
• Road Quality: 100% paved.
• Day Rating: 3. Who likes airports and traveling?

Quick Tip: If you're returning your rental car at the airport, fill up your tank in Windhoek. We didn't get penalized for using up the 45 km worth of gas to get from there to the airport.

Read This Next:

Namibia Travel Tips: 20 Things to Now Before Your Self-Guided Trip

Before Planning a Cape Town to Namibia Road Trip, Read This

Is Namibia Worth Visiting? Yes, But Prepare Yourself

Disclosure: Whenever possible, we use links that earn us a cut if you pay for stuff we recommend. It costs you nothing, so we'd be crazy not to. Read our affiliate policy .

2 thoughts on “Namibia Itinerary and Travel Blog: 14-Days, 4,274km, 1 Big Problem”

Too critical You should research your destination before arriving. Namibia’s tarmac roads are among the best in Southern Africa. There are many thousands of kilometers of gravel roads and it is very expensive keeping them in perfect condition. Don’t you appreciate that you contributed virtually nothing to Namibia and the majority of the population while there and expect services to be equal to what people living in cities Europe and USA have. You hired a car that was cheap and unsuitable for your route when research before arriving would have.made it obvious that a 4×4 (and knowledge of how to adjust tyre pressures depending on road conditions) was a much better choice. You are financially very fortunate to live in the cosseted West and have spare money for leisure trips around Africa. Namibia (and the rest of Africa can be an amazing experience but if you are not super rich you should not arrive with a critical mind. Accept it as it is even if it might take you out of your comfort zone. Don’t you appreciate that your lifestyle is partly at the expense of exploited countries around the world. Corruption mainly benefits major foreign companies who approach incompetent and corrupt politicians (traitors) who are prepared to sell their countries future prosperity for a relatively minute amount. I lived in Namibia for five years and know some of the difficulties there. My opinion is that if you can appreciate being away from suburban life, temporary solitude, and amazing nature and wilderness you will probably want to return again and again. If you are a committed suburbanite you are probably better to stay away.

I think my perspective is worth sharing and closer to my real experience than the fawning stuff others write. Readers can balance my perspective with others for their planning.

What do you think? (Leave a Comment.) Cancel reply

Namibia road trip: 6 most scenic roads in Namibia

Written by Maartje

Namibia is the perfect country for an awesome road trip. Public transport is scarce and we don’t prefer to join a tour company. With our 4×4 we explored all corners of this beautiful country. We saw the most beautiful places and drove on the coolest roads. What are the most beautiful roads of Namibia that you really shouldn’t miss on your Namibia road trip?

Note: you don’t need 4WD for these roads. They are dirt roads like in most of Namibia, but of good quality. The Peninsula near Lüderitz and the Fish River Canyon are the only exceptions to this, although you can also explore quite some part of it without a 4WD.

#1 The C34 along the Skeleton Coast

The Skeleton Coast is the most beautiful coastline in Namibia. This rugged coastal strip in the north of Namibia is named after the many ships that have stranded on the cliffs over the centuries. If the crew already survived shipwreck, chances were high that they wouln’t survive this rugged area anyways. It is a fascinating coastal strip with high sand dunes, empty beaches, mysterious shipwrecks and Africa’s largest seal colony . A road trip through this national park is absolutely a must on  your travel itinerary  for Namibia.

The C34 takes you from the northern tip of the coastline via Hentiesbaai to the city of Swakopmund. On a one day mini-road trip you can easily drive the whole road and make stops at the shipwrecks, the seal colony, etc. Read this blog for all our tips for the Skeleton Coast.

#2 The C27 by NamibRand Nature Reserve

From Sesriem – the base for a visit to the famous Sossusvlei – this road takes you to the south of Namibia. You’ll drive mainly through the NamibRand Nature Reserve. It’s is the largest privately owned nature reserve in Namibia. On this site you can read more about the nature reserve ánd the possibilities to stay there.

You can drive the C27 through this park (free of charge). Along the way you have beautiful vistas over the mountain desert landscape . The reserve also has lots of game to spot. We saw ostriches, oryx and springbok during our car ride.

#3 The Kuiseb Pass in Namib Park

If you drive from Swakopmund to Sesriem to visit the sand dunes of the Sossusvlei , you will probably pass through the beautiful Namib Park. We already wrote an extensive blog about a mini road trip in Namib , including the best camping options. Our main tip: if you want to get off the main roads, you have to buy a permit in advance in Swakopmund or Windhoek at the NWR.

But the main roads themselves are beautiful as well. The most beautiful part is the Kuiseb Pass, all the way to the east of the park. The river Kuiseb has carved a canyon through landscape, creating a beautiful landscape of a winding road and impressive mountains.

Look on your map for the C14 in the east of Namib to find this mountain pass. Besides the Kuiseb Pass, Namib itself is also a must on your road trip in Namibia!

#4 The Welwitschia Drive on the D1991

Namibia is not just home to impressive wildlife, but also to the most extraordinary plants. The Welwitschia Drive in the Namibpark is dedicated to two of them. It is named after the Welwitscha Mirabilis and you’ll also get the chance to spot the colourful lichenplant, both very fragile and only to be seen on few places in the country!

The drive can be found near Swakopmund and is one of the best day trips to make from this coastal town. Go for a day, read ahead about the unique flora and get ready for beautiful nature! In this blog we tell you all about the Welwitschia Drive, including practical tips for the required permit and the camping options.

#5 The 4×4 trail through the peninsula near Lüderitz

One of the highlights of the coastal town of Lüderitz is the peninsula directly next to it. How about a deep blue ocean against a clear blue sky, tough 4WD roads, penguins and flamingos, a red saltwater lake and a light house. And all of that is located in a rugged environment with only sand and stone. We drove around this desolate area for a morning, driving on cool 4WD roads to the most beautiful blue bays. We didn’t go for a swim there though, as the water is ice and ice cold.

You can visit the peninsula without a 4×4, but we liked the 4×4 trails on the beaches and to the small bays with their viewpoints the best. You can drive around the peninsula – in your 2WD or 4WD – in half a day.

#6 Fish River Canyon 4×4 Trail

One of the greatest sights in southern Namibia is the Fish River Canyon, an impressive snake-like canyon in the vast Namibian landscape. Of course, the Fish River Canyon is much visited, but not touristy. The most famous viewpoint is perhaps a bit crowded in high season, but in other places you will be able to sit undisturbed on the edge of the canyon to absorb the natural beauty in peace and quiet. A must!

Along the canyon, from the starting point at Hobas, multiple viewpoints offer magnificent views of the canyon. In one day you have plenty of time to visit all viewpoints. The main viewpoint is near Hobas and can be visited with all modes of transport. For the other points you need  a 4WD  though. At some points the road is so difficult and steep that you can not get any further there without 4WD. A full day gives you plenty of time to visit all the viewpoints.

Continue reading in this comprehensive guide to the Fish River Canyon to prepare your visit. Including all camping and lodge options, the hike through the canyon ánd the most beautiful viewpoints .

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Extraordinary Namibian stories.

Discover the wonders of the land of endless horizons with this travel guide to Namibia. From vital information needed to plan your trip, accommodation options, details on destinations across the country and inspiring travel ideas. Namibia is a one-of-a-kind tourism experience. From breathtaking landscapes and diverse wildlife to rich culture and history, Namibia offers something for everyone. Whether you’re seeking an exciting adventure or a peaceful retreat, This is Namibia provides all the information and resources you need to plan the ultimate Namibian vacation. Explore the country’s stunning deserts, savannas and coastlines, and immerse yourself in the unique culture and heritage of the people who call this place home. Start planning your journey to Namibia today and experience the magic for yourself.

FLY-IN-SAFARIS

Places to Go

The Land of Open Spaces, as Namibia is affectionately known, with its undiscovered landscapes and unspoiled nature, makes for a perfect and widely diverse travel destination. The well-developed road infrastructure, the abundance of scheduled tours and charter companies, and the friendly, welcoming people will ensure that your visit to Namibia is an unforgettable experience. Whether you’re in search of the perfect romantic breakaway, ultimate adventure or just wish to lose yourself in the wildlife, cultural diversity and mesmerising scenery reflecting Namibia’s untouched beauty, the following information and tips will leave you well-equipped to explore even the remotest parts of the country.

WINDHOEK, SURROUNDINGS & CENTRAL EAST

NORTHEAST, KAVANGO & ZAMBEZI

ETOSHA NATIONAL PARK & OWAMBO

KAOKOLAND & KUNENE REGION

WATERBERG, KHAUDUM & NYAE NYAE

DAMARALAND, BRANDBERG & TWYFELFONTEIN

SOSSUSVLEI & NAMIB-NAUKLUFT NATIONAL PARK

COASTAL STRIP

DEEP SOUTH, COASTAL & THE FISH RIVER CANYON

About namibia.

Discover the wonders of the land of endless horizons with this travel guide to Namibia. From vital information needed to plan your trip, accommodation options, details on destinations across the country and inspiring travel ideas. Namibia is a one-of-a-kind tourism experience. From breathtaking landscapes and diverse wildlife to rich culture and history, Namibia offers something for everyone. Whether you’re seeking an exciting adventure or a peaceful retreat, This is Namibia provides all the information and resources you need to plan the ultimate Namibian vacation. Explore the country’s stunning deserts, savannas, and coastlines, and immerse yourself in the unique culture and heritage of the people who call this place home. Start planning your journey to Namibia today and experience the magic for yourself.

ENVIRONMENT

PEOPLE OF NAMIBIA

PLAN YOUR TRIP

Things to do.

Namibia is for the active. For the energetic spirit. For soul-searching and delving in deep. It’s for the adventurous among us, but also for those who seek respite from the overwhelming modern world. Namibia is for the free and young at heart. For those looking to truly touch, feel and experience nature. It will never leave you wanting. It will never leave you bored. Whether you’re looking for epic adrenaline-fuelled quests, to convene with the wilderness or to enjoy the thrill of a sporting activity, there’s something for everyone in the land of dramatic landscapes and open spaces. Here are some of the most enticing and exciting adventures to partake in on your visit to this special corner of Africa.

• Windhoek, surroundings & Central East
• Damaraland, Brandberg & Twyfelfontein
• Coastal Strip

• Waterberg Khaudum & Nyae Nyae
• Sossusvlei & Namib-Naukluft National Park
• Deep South, Coastal & the Fish River Canyon

HORSE-RIDING

• Northeast, Kavango & Zambezi
• Etosha National Park & Owambo
• Kaokoland & Kunene Region

BOAT CRUISE

NATURE WALKS

TIGER FISHING

BIRD WATCHING

ROCK CLIMBING

HOT-AIR BALLOON

CAMEL RIDING

OFF-ROADING

Surfing / Kitesurfing / Windsurfing

QUAD BIKING

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9 things to know before visiting Namibia

Oct 16, 2023 • 6 min read

Find out everything you need to know to start planning your trip to Namibia © Buena Vista Images / Getty Images

Vast and sparsely populated, Namibia is full of otherworldly desert landscapes and wildlife that has adapted to some of the harshest conditions on the planet.

Its well-maintained roads, good tourism infrastructure and magnificent desertscapes make the country a fine destination, whether for adventurers, families or anyone with an interest in the offbeat.

While touring around is generally relatively predictable and hassle-free, here are a few tips to consider when planning your travels.

1. Self-drive is one of the best ways to explore

Namibia has a handful of tarmac roads and an extensive network of mostly well-maintained gravel roads. These, combined with excellent camping facilities countrywide and the availability of fully equipped rental vehicles make self-drive itineraries straightforward to arrange. A lack of public transportation to many of the country’s most interesting areas also means self-drive is the most practical way to visit many places.

2. Budget for a 4WD with high clearance and allow plenty of time for your itinerary

When exploring, you’ll almost certainly have to leave the tarmac and it’s well worth budgeting extra for a 4WD rental with high clearance. While sedan-style vehicles will handle main routes, the extra traction and height offered by 4WD vehicles will make Namibia’s long distances and rough surfaces much more comfortable. The extra tire and windscreen coverage offered by most insurance companies (or a more economical alternative arranged before travel to cover the excess) is also well worth it.

Whatever type of vehicle you use, be sure to allow plenty of time. Namibia journeys invariably wind up taking longer than expected – if for no other reason than that you’ll want to stop frequently for photos. When calculating your routes, 80kph (50mph) is considered the maximum safe speed on gravel routes, with 50kph (30mph) or less more realistic in remote areas such as the northwest.

3. Drives are almost always traffic-free

…and actually free of pretty much everything. Namibia’s beauty is in its sparseness and sense of space, and you’ll have plenty of time to enjoy this. It’s common to drive for hours without seeing another vehicle: just you, the occasional oryx, and magnificent, open panoramas stretching in all directions to the horizon. Bring along extra water and food, and tank up on fuel whenever you get the opportunity. If you’re traveling with younger children, bring along snacks and amusements to keep them busy, and try to build in days with no or only minimal driving.

4. Most nationalities don’t need a tourist visa

Most nationalities don’t need a visa to enter Namibia for itineraries of less than 90 days. Instead, you’ll be given a free Visitor’s Entry Permit on arrival, with the validity tailored to your stated itinerary (so it’s best to request a few extra days at the outset if there’s a chance you will extend your travels). Check your passport to make sure it is valid for at least six months beyond your intended stay and that it has sufficient blank pages for entry and exit stamps.

5. Landscapes may look empty and barren, but there is plenty of life

Etosha National Park is Namibia’s main wildlife-viewing destination, but creatures big and small are everywhere, from tiny beetles to desert-adapted elephants and rhinos. Namibia’s wild Atlantic shoreline is home to thousands of Cape fur seals and large flocks of flamingos, and colorful fields of lichen and ancient Welwitschia mirabilis plants dot the desert.

Learning about the adaptations that allow these plants and animals to thrive in such harsh environments is one of the most fascinating aspects of travel in Namibia. If you’re camping, rooftop tents – which can be arranged together with your vehicle rental – are ideal for raising you above the wildlife.

6. You will need to pack a jacket

Namibia boasts an average of 300 days of sunshine per year, with high temperatures, no matter the season. Expect daytime temperatures to reach 40°C (104°F) in the summer, and to hover around 25°C (77°F) during the winter. At night in highland areas, such as around Windhoek, temperatures frequently drop to freezing in the coldest months of June to August. At any time of year, a light jacket comes in handy for chilly early mornings and evenings.

The coast and the Namib desert are the driest areas of the country, and in some places, such as Skeleton Coast National Park, years can pass between rains. Instead, the cold Benguela current running up the coast brings dense, life-giving fog that rolls in many mornings, carrying precious water droplets to lichen and desert-dwelling creatures. The rainiest part of the country is the northeast, which is laced with waterways and receives an average of 50 to 60cm (20 to 23.5 inches) of rainfall per year, mostly falling between January and March.

7. Namibia is a healthy destination

Yellow fever vaccine is only required if you’ll be arriving from a country with a risk of yellow fever transmission. Check with the CDC or similar international health entities for the latest requirements. Tap water is safe to drink in Namibia’s major towns, although most visitors prefer buying purified water. Large 5L jugs are readily available for refilling water bottles. Malaria is only considered to be a risk when visiting the north and northeast regions of Namibia during the wet season from December to March . 

8. Stay vigilant of your belongings, especially when visiting cities

Namibia is a peaceful, stable country, but there are great income disparities. Stay aware of your surroundings and keep an eye on your possessions, particularly when exploring Windhoek and other town centers where pickpockets may target foreign tourists. Beware of scams, such as someone trying to divert your attention while an accomplice snatches your bag or phone.

Keep your doors locked while driving in the city and don’t leave anything of value in the car when parking. When paying by credit card, keep your card in full view to avoid the risk of cloning. On city streets and in parking lots, it’s worth making use of the parking attendants who will offer to watch your vehicle. A tip of about N$10 is expected.

9. Ask your hotel to recommend reputable private taxi services

If you don’t have a rental car, shared taxis are a cheap and convenient way to get around in cities like Windhoek, Swakopmund , and Walvis Bay . To operate legally, they must have a government registration. But that doesn’t stop anyone with a car from driving a “pirate taxi” in search of a fare.

Rather than hailing a taxi on the street, ask your accommodation or tour operator to call one for you or to recommend a reputable company. While riding in a cab, never place your bag or other belongings on the seat next to an open window, to avoid someone reaching in and grabbing it at a stoplight.

This article was first published Sep 9, 2022 and updated Oct 16, 2023.

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• Namibia: The Ultimate Travel Guide to One of Africa’s Most Stunning Destinations

Namibia, located in the southwest corner of Africa, is a country of stunning landscapes, endless horizons, and an abundance of wildlife. Known for its otherworldly desert scenes, vast national parks, and rich cultural history, Namibia is a must-visit destination for anyone looking for a true African adventure. Whether you’re seeking Namibia tours, wildlife safaris, or simply a relaxing vacation, this country offers something for every traveller.

This comprehensive guide will explore everything Namibia has to offer, from the top attractions to the best times to visit, transportation options, and expert travel tips. Whether you’re planning a guided Namibia tour , a self-drive adventure, or a luxury safari, we’ll provide all the information you need to make the most of your trip.

Introduction to Namibia

Namibia is one of Africa’s most unique travel destinations, offering some of the continent’s most iconic landscapes, from towering red dunes to endless salt pans. Bordered by Angola, Botswana, South Africa, and the Atlantic Ocean, the country is home to remarkable national parks, vibrant cities, and ancient tribal cultures. Namibia is also one of the least densely populated countries in the world, which only adds to the sense of adventure and remoteness that travellers experience.

From its famous Namib Desert , where dunes stretch as far as the eye can see, Namibia offers unparalleled opportunities for exploration. Whether you’re visiting for the dramatic landscapes, the diverse wildlife, or the rich cultural heritage, Namibia has something to offer every traveller.

In recent years, Namibia tours have become increasingly popular, providing travellers with well-organised itineraries and expert guides to explore the country’s vast beauty. For those seeking adventure, Namibia is home to some of the world’s most extreme activities, such as sandboarding, quad biking, and skydiving over the desert.

Top Attractions in Namibia

Namib-naukluft national park and the sossusvlei dunes.

No trip to Namibia is complete without a visit to Namib-Naukluft National Park , home to the iconic Sossusvlei and Deadvlei . These towering red sand dunes are some of the highest in the world, reaching heights of over 300 metres. Sossusvlei’s dunes are famous for their ever-changing colours, which shift from orange to red and purple throughout the day.

Visitors can climb the famous Dune 45 or explore the eerie Deadvlei , a white clay pan scattered with dead trees, creating a surreal landscape against the backdrop of the dunes. Many Namibia tours include a stop at Sossusvlei, and it’s a photographer’s dream come true.

Swakopmund: Adventure and History on the Atlantic Coast

Swakopmund is a charming coastal town where the desert meets the Atlantic Ocean. Known for its colonial architecture and adventure sports, Swakopmund offers a mix of relaxation and excitement. Visitors can enjoy sandboarding down the dunes, quad biking, or skydiving for a bird’s-eye view of the desert. The town also offers a variety of cultural and historical tours, including visits to its fascinating museums and galleries.

Swakopmund is the perfect stopover on a Namibia tour , especially for those interested in adventure sports or enjoying the coastal vibe. It’s also a great place to relax after exploring the desert, with plenty of restaurants, cafes, and shops to enjoy.

The Skeleton Coast: Namibia’s Untamed Wilderness

The Skeleton Coast is one of Namibia’s most mysterious and hauntingly beautiful areas. Stretching along the Atlantic coastline, this desolate region is famous for its shipwrecks, fog, and the skeletons of animals that have perished in the harsh conditions. Despite its eerie name, the Skeleton Coast is home to a surprising amount of wildlife, including seals, desert-adapted elephants, and even lions.

Many Namibia tours include a visit to the Skeleton Coast, either as part of a scenic flight or a guided overland safari. For those seeking solitude and untouched wilderness, this is the place to be.

Damaraland: Prehistoric Rock Art and Desert Elephants

Damaraland is a region of stark beauty, home to Namibia’s famous desert-adapted elephants and ancient rock engravings. The Twyfelfontein site is one of the country’s most famous attractions, featuring thousands of prehistoric rock engravings that date back over 6,000 years. Visitors can also explore the dramatic landscapes of Brandberg Mountain , Namibia’s highest peak, and the Petrified Forest .

Damaraland is a favourite destination for cultural and historical Namibia tours , offering visitors a glimpse into the ancient history of the region while enjoying the spectacular desert scenery.

Fish River Canyon: Africa’s Largest Canyon

The Fish River Canyon is Africa’s largest canyon and the second-largest in the world, after the Grand Canyon. Carved by the Fish River over millions of years, this dramatic landscape is a must-see for anyone visiting southern Namibia. The canyon stretches for over 160 kilometres and plunges up to 550 metres in places, offering breathtaking views from the rim.

Hiking the Fish River Canyon is a popular activity, with a 90-kilometre trail that takes several days to complete. For those looking for a more relaxed experience, many Namibia tours offer scenic drives along the canyon’s rim.

The Caprivi Strip: Lush Wetlands and Rare Wildlife

The Caprivi Strip , also known as the Zambezi Region, is a lush and green area of Namibia that contrasts sharply with the desert landscapes of the rest of the country. This region is home to a variety of wetlands, rivers, and wildlife, including hippos, crocodiles, and an abundance of birdlife. The Caprivi Strip is also a gateway to other popular safari destinations, including Chobe National Park in Botswana and Victoria Falls in Zimbabwe.

For travellers looking to experience Namibia’s waterways and wildlife, Namibia tours to the Caprivi Strip offer a unique opportunity to explore this lesser-known part of the country.

Best Namibia Tours

Whether you’re looking for a guided tour, a self-drive adventure, or a luxury safari, there are a wide variety of Namibia tours available to suit every traveller’s needs. Africa Moja Tours offers a range of curated tours that provide excellent value and memorable experiences.

Guided Namibia Tours

For first-time visitors or those who prefer a structured itinerary, guided Namibia tours offer the perfect way to explore the country. These tours are led by experienced guides who provide insights into Namibia’s landscapes, wildlife, and culture.

• 3-Day Namibia Tour from Cape Town : For travellers starting in South Africa, this short yet captivating tour provides a perfect introduction to Namibia’s stunning desert landscapes. You’ll journey through the dramatic desert and experience the rugged beauty of southern Namibia.
• 3-Day Namibia Tour from Johannesburg : This tour is ideal for those short on time but eager to explore Namibia’s iconic destinations. Departing from Johannesburg, it offers a compact yet enriching Namibia experience.

Longer Namibia Tours

For travellers who want a deeper dive into the diverse landscapes of Namibia, longer tours offer more time to fully experience the country’s wonders.

• 6-Day Namibia Tour from Cape Town : This immersive tour offers the best of Namibia, from the haunting beauty of the Namib Desert to the thriving wildlife. It’s perfect for those who want a more comprehensive experience but have limited time.
• 6-Day Namibia Tour from Johannesburg : Departing from Johannesburg, this six-day adventure covers Namibia’s top attractions, including Sossusvlei and Swakopmund . It offers a well-rounded view of the country’s landscapes and wildlife.
• 8-Day Namibia and Victoria Falls Tour from Johannesburg : For a longer and more diverse experience, this incredible tour combines the beauty of Namibia with the majesty of Victoria Falls . It’s a perfect choice for those wanting to combine two bucket-list destinations into one unforgettable trip.

These tours, along with custom itineraries, make exploring Namibia with Africa Moja Tours seamless and stress-free, whether you’re embarking on a quick getaway or a more extended journey.

Accommodation Options in Namibia

Namibia offers a wide range of accommodation options to suit every budget, from luxury lodges and boutique hotels to more affordable guesthouses and campsites. Some of the most popular types of accommodation include:

• Luxury Lodges : These are often located in remote areas and offer private game drives, gourmet meals, and stunning views of Namibia’s landscapes. Lodges in Sossusvlei and Damaraland are particularly popular.
• Guesthouses : For a more intimate and affordable stay, guesthouses are available in most towns and cities, including Windhoek , Swakopmund , and Lüderitz .
• Campsites : Camping is a popular option for self-drive travellers, with many campsites located in national parks and nature reserves. These sites often offer basic amenities such as showers and cooking facilities.

Getting Around Namibia

One of the best things about traveling in Namibia is the ease of getting around, whether you’re on a guided tour, a self-drive adventure, or using Namibia shuttle services .

Namibia Self-Drive Tours

Driving is the most popular way to explore Namibia, with well-maintained roads connecting most of the country’s major attractions. Renting a 4×4 vehicle is recommended for those planning to visit more remote areas, such as the Skeleton Coast or Damaraland .

Namibia Transfers from Airports

For those flying into Windhoek or Walvis Bay , Namibia transfers from airports are available to take you to your accommodation or directly to your next destination. These transfers can be booked in advance and are a convenient option for travellers arriving late at night or early in the morning.

Namibia Shuttle Services

Namibia shuttle services are available between major towns and cities, offering a comfortable and affordable way to travel if you don’t want to drive. Shuttles are also available for airport transfers, making it easy to get to your hotel or lodge.

Best Time to Visit Namibia

Namibia is a year-round destination, but the best time to visit depends on what you want to experience. The dry season (May to October) is the most popular time for wildlife viewing, as animals gather around waterholes and other game reserves.

For those interested in seeing the famous Sossusvlei Dunes , the cooler months of April to September offer more comfortable temperatures for hiking and exploring the desert. However, the rainy season (November to March) can also be a beautiful time to visit, as the landscape becomes lush and green, and birdwatching opportunities are at their best.

Family-Friendly Activities in Namibia

Namibia is a great destination for families, offering a wide range of activities that cater to all ages. Some of the best family-friendly attractions include:

• Swakopmund : The town offers a variety of adventure activities, including sandboarding, quad biking, and camel rides.
• Damaraland : Families can visit the ancient rock engravings at Twyfelfontein and spot desert elephants on a guided safari.

Many Namibia tours are family-friendly, with options for private tours that allow for a more personalised and flexible experience.

Namibia’s Culture and People

Namibia is home to a diverse mix of cultures and ethnic groups, each with its own unique traditions and customs. The Himba people, who live in the northwestern part of the country, are known for their distinctive red ochre body paint and traditional way of life. Visitors to Namibia can visit Himba villages as part of cultural tours to learn more about their customs and daily life.

The San people, often referred to as “Bushmen,” are one of the oldest indigenous groups in Africa, with a rich history of rock art and traditional hunting practices. In southern Namibia, visitors can explore San rock art sites and learn about their history and connection to the land.

Namibia’s colonial past is also evident in its architecture and culture, particularly in towns like Windhoek and Swakopmund , where German influence is still visible in the buildings, food, and festivals.

Why Book with Africa Moja Tours

When planning your Namibia adventure, Africa Moja Tours offers a range of Namibia tours designed to provide the best possible experience for travellers. Whether you’re looking for a guided safari, a self-drive tour, or a cultural experience, our expert guides and personalised service ensure that you’ll have an unforgettable journey.

Some of the benefits of booking with Africa Moja Tours include:

• Expert Guides : Our knowledgeable guides provide insights into Namibia’s wildlife, landscapes, and culture, ensuring that you get the most out of your trip.
• Customised Itineraries : We offer a variety of Namibia tours that can be tailored to suit your interests and schedule.
• Luxury Accommodations : For those seeking a more exclusive experience, we offer luxury tours with stays in some of Namibia’s most stunning lodges.
• Convenient Transfers : We offer Namibia transfers from airports and Namibia shuttle services to make your journey as smooth and comfortable as possible.

Tips for Travelling in Namibia

• Book Tours in Advance : Popular Namibia tours can fill up quickly, especially during peak season, so it’s a good idea to book your tour and accommodation in advance.
• Pack for the Weather : Namibia’s climate can vary greatly depending on the time of year and the region you’re visiting. Be sure to pack layers for the cool desert nights and lightweight clothing for the hot days.
• Carry Cash : While credit cards are widely accepted in major towns and tourist areas, it’s always a good idea to carry some cash for smaller purchases or when travelling to more remote areas.
• Stay Hydrated : The Namibian sun can be intense, especially in the desert, so be sure to drink plenty of water throughout the day.
• Respect Local Cultures : When visiting traditional villages or cultural sites, be respectful of local customs and ask for permission before taking photographs.

Namibia is a land of contrasts, offering travellers the chance to experience everything from vast deserts to lush wetlands, ancient cultures to modern cities, and abundant wildlife to tranquil solitude. Whether you’re looking for adventure, relaxation, or a cultural immersion, Namibia has something to offer.

By booking a Namibia tour with Africa Moja Tours , you can ensure that your trip is both enjoyable and hassle-free. Our expert guides, flexible itineraries, and commitment to providing top-notch service make us the ideal choice for your Namibian adventure.

So, pack your bags and get ready to discover one of Africa’s most captivating countries. Namibia awaits!

Frequently Asked Questions

Namibia is generally considered a safe destination for tourists, but like anywhere, it’s important to take basic precautions, such as not leaving valuables unattended and being aware of your surroundings.

The best way to get around Namibia is by renting a car for a self-drive tour, although Namibia shuttle services and guided tours are also popular options.

Visitors from many countries, including the USA, UK, and EU, do not need a visa to enter Namibia for stays of up to 90 days. However, it’s always a good idea to check visa requirements before travelling.

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The Perfect Namibia Packing List

09/06/2024 by Kristin Addis Leave a Comment

Namibia is one of my favorite countries in this world. I’ve visited five times now in several different seasons – March (rainy season), July (winter), and September, October, and November when it’s hot and dry.

Like any desert, Namibia experiences great swings in temperature from day to night, and when it comes to sand, footwear can make all the difference.

Here’s everything to plan for at each of Namibia’s major destinations:

Table of Contents

Namibia Essentials:

• Sweatshirt and Sweatpants.
• Beanie, gloves, and light puffer (if May – July).
• 3-4 sets of T-shirts and shorts.
• 1-2 leggings.
• 1-2 dresses for tea and Sossusvlei (optional).
• 2-3 sets of neutral clothes for safari.
• Enough underwear and socks for a week (can do laundry in Swakopmund and Windhoek).
• 1-2 bathing suits, as almost every lodge has a pool.
• 1 Pair Chacos or similar.
• 1 Pair closed-toed ankle boots with tread ( Doc Martens or similar).
• 1+ wide brim hat.
• Binoculars (our group liked this brand ) and/or camera with zoom lens.
• Rechargeable power bank.
• Power adapter M ( this one covers almost any outlet you’ll find in Africa).
• Refillable water bottle.
• Optional: Older phone or hot spot for Namibia SIM card, as eSIMs don’t work well there.

Great places to find clothes for the trip: ThredUp , Poshmark , or rent them !

Luggage: It’s easiest to travel with a backpack with straps here, as the gravel ground can be tough for wheeled luggage and duffels are less comfortable than backpacks. Consider an Air tag for your luggage (can be useful anywhere in the world).

Connectivity: If you want a SIM card, it’s best to buy physical SIMs in Namibia, which has poor eSIM coverage. You can get one at the airport when you land (bring an older phone or hot spot that takes physical SIMs). Generally these work better than WiFi for those who need to be connected, though some areas are so remote that neither WiFi nor cell signal will work.

Toiletries: Hand wipes, hand sanitizer, thick lotion and lip balm, sunscreen, mosquito repellant, your own hair conditioner (many hotels lack conditioner but provide shampoo and body wash), and a small container of hand soap for gas station restrooms can be handy.

Windhoek is most visitors’ entry point to Namibia, and since it’s at about 5400 feet in elevation, it can feel cooler than much of the rest of Namibia . Plan on chilly mornings and warm temperatures during the day regardless of time of year.

On our women’s Africa trip (which this post closely follows), we stop by Na’ankuse Lodge and do high tea with giraffes.

Afternoon game drives can be warm. A wide-brimmed hat, sunscreen, closed-toed shoes, and neutral colors are best for these. On the Naankuse carnivore feeding, you’ll be getting in and out of the truck into dirt, so sun protection and closed shoes are a good idea.

Morning game drives like the meerkat sunrise are best in layers, when the weather can be chilly. I often just wear sweat pants and a sweatshirt, and may use a lap blanket, gloves, and beanie if it’s May – July.

For the giraffes, high tea is the time to dress up! I love a light-hued romper or dress for this (mine is from Free People, but I bought it on Thredup !), as it blends in perfectly with the scenery. A bold color like red can be amazing, too! Bring your hat, sunnies, and sunscreen as the tea usually takes place around 3pm.

Other things to know:

• Though never a guarantee, this will likely be the best WiFi of the trip.
• If your luggage is delayed, Windhoek mall is a good place to shop.

Etosha National Park

Etosha is a dry, dusty part of Namibia, and most of the time, you’ll be in a vehicle as you enjoy it.

Footwear and style is less important here, but comfort is key. Most game drives take place throughout the day, when it can get boiling hot. I like layers in the morning with shorts underneath for the afternoon, as is often my Namibia uniform.

It’s also important to stay in neutral colors on game drives, as bright colors can distract the animals, and nobody wants that!

This is a good time to have cameras fully charged and binoculars ready to go.

• Etosha is in a remote area, which is great for wildlife viewing, but not always great for a strong WiFi connection.
• Make sure you have plenty of water along, but know that bathroom breaks will be infrequent (and bush pees are a no-no in wildlife areas for safety reasons).
• It’s mostly a gravel road which can be quite dusty and bumpy.

A collection of dramatic granite rocks, rock arches, and ancient cave drawings in the middle of the country, Spitzkoppe is worth a stop!

It can also be quite hot, averaging 90+ degrees F during the warmer months. Bring a sun hat, sunscreen, and closed-toed shoes with some tread to walk on the rocks with.

• A shade umbrella might be helpful if you’d like to avoid the sun.
• Make sure you have plenty of water along.
• It’s mostly a gravel road for the 45-minute or so drive in, which can be dusty and bumpy.

Swakopmund + Walvis Bay

Namibia’s adventure capital, Swakopmund and Walvis Bay directly south of it offer a cooler coastal temperature that can, at times, be 20 degrees cooler than the rest of Namibia!

Whether you’re out on an ATV or exploring Sandwich Harbor, prepare for it to be a sandy day with gorgeous views, and not much shade cover, particularly for activities like quad biking, kayaking, and sand boarding.

A hat, sunglasses, light layers, shoes appropriate for the activity, and sunscreen are great to have on hand. If you’re doing Sandwich Harbor, consider medication if you get motion sickness.

• A day might start foggy in Swakopmund, but it can burn off throughout the day, so always be prepared for sun.
• WiFi might be better here. This is a great spot on the trip to get laundry done.

Sossusvlei and Deadvlei are what I’d consider the most unique part of the trip. You’re about to visit the oldest desert on earth, full of dark orange sand and the haunting acacia trees in the pan. It’s a photographer’s dream, and/or a great spot to hike some dunes.

The best light will be right when you arrive, so if you’re into photography, you may want to head straight to Deadvlei to take photos. I find the best contrast here is to wear white or black. If you want to be extra , consider hiking in or with a dress (worth it!).

Or if you just feel like hiking, light layers, especially leggings if you’ll be climbing the dunes, are a great option.

Remember you’ll only want to bring what you feel like carrying around Sossusvlei, so pack a light backpack with some water, a breakfast pack, sunscreen, sunglasses, a hat, and some light layers.

The best footwear is chacos since boots take on too much sand. Once you get to the dunes, you can always walk barefoot or just with socks (but be alert for animals in the sand, like snakes and scorpions).

• Once you arrive at Sossusvlei, you’ll be boarding vehicles that drive you through the sand to the start of the hike into Deadvlei. You can only bring along what you can carry as you can’t leave anything on these vehicles.
• Make sure you have plenty of water as there’s nowhere to refill.
• You can take a dress and still hike the dunes after. Just make sure the dress is easy to put into a backpack and pack some leggings or wear them underneath.
• Although the morning can be chilly, it can get very warm once the sun comes up.

Photography

Namibia is a great place for astrophotography, and of course wildlife and landscape photography.

Bring a tripod, long-range telephoto lens (mine goes up to 600mm), wide lens for astrophotography, and something closer to the 35-100mm range for landscapes.

Final Thoughts

Namibia is a such a unique country to travel through. It’s the remoteness and the haunting landscapes and incredible animal life that make it so famous, though some of the same things that make it great can also make it challenging. Though the ruggedness makes it magical, it also means some of the roads are bad, and distances can be vast. Deserts are dry and often hot, and Namibia is no exception.

As long as you’re prepared and ready for an adventure, it’s one of the best places in the world to explore.

*Some links in this post are affiliate links that support us at no extra cost to you when you purchase through them. We only recommend products we love and use ourselves. Your trust always comes first!

About Kristin Addis

Kristin Addis is the founder and CEO of Be My Travel Muse, a resource for female travelers all around the world since 2012. She's traveled solo to over 65 countries and has brought over 150 women on her all-female adventure tours from Botswana to the Alaskan tundra.

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