Self-drive Classic Namibia - 14 Days

(Camping)

Namibia, a country of unrivalled desert landscapes, rich cultures, wild seascapes and cutting edge conservation strategies, has many highlights and with this trip you will visit the very best of them. First up immerse yourself in the spectacular flaming red sand dunes of Sossusvlei, the largest in the world, before moving on to the quint-essentially German seaside town of Swakopmund with its promenades, art galleries and museums. The epic desert landscapes of Damaraland come next where you can admire the work of the Himba and Herero communities who have ensured the survival of desert elephants and black rhino in the region. Finally, visit Etosha, one of the world’s great wildlife-viewing destinations, where wildlife encounters include cheetah, black rhino, elephant, lion, leopard, giraffe, springbok, black-faced impala and more.

A word of advice - travel distances in Namibia, whilst not being huge, take longer than Google Maps suggest, as the majority of roads you travel on are gravel.

Kalahari Desert – Namib-Naukluft National Park – Sossusvlei, Sesriem, Dead Vlei & Dune 45 – Swakopmund – Spitzkoppe – Damaraland desert rhino and elephant – Etosha wildlife and birdlife – Waterberg Plateau National Park

4x4 hire – 4x4 dual cab with 1 rooftop tent including all camping equipment (Toyota Hilux or similar). Pick up and drop off Windhoek International (Hosea Kutako) Airport. For details of the vehicle types available please see - Self Drive Safaris.
4x4 hire vehicle cover - unlimited kilometres, collision damage waiver (NAD$30,000 excess), second driver, taxes and tourism levies, introduction to vehicle, travel pack and GPS unit.
Accommodation as indicated below.
Relevant Travel Africa Information sheets.

With Travel Africa you are safe in the knowledge that you are working with people who are experts in self-drive travel. We have driven the types of vehicles you are looking to hire and driven them in the places, and on the road conditions, that you will experience. We have enjoyed all kinds of self-drive trips in southern Africa for over 25 years – from quick flits along the Garden Route to 8 month adventure trips with fully equipped 4x4s and roof top tents throughout southern Africa.

We give you peace of mind by working closely with you to custom-make and book your itinerary – ensuring you have the most appropriate type of vehicle and accommodation for your trip. We also provide you with detailed trip dossiers, which include routes, directions, tips and hints on driving in southern Africa, ensuring you have all the information you need to enjoy every minute of your trip and feel comfortable and secure with your holiday plan!

Our in-depth knowledge of destinations, conditions, vehicles and equipment, based on extensive personal experience, gives you the peace of mind you need for your self-drive safari.

Interactive standard itinerary

Detailed itinerary

Travel distance: Approximately 45kms, main roads.

Collect your vehicle upon arrival and drive to your guesthouse. Depending on your arrival time you may choose to wander into the centre of Namibia’s capital city. It’s often described as having a continental atmosphere - mixing African lifestyle with European history; picturesque German architecture, European influenced restaurants and shopping centres combined with street vendors make it unique. Alternatively relax by the pool or join an optional township tour.

Stay at:
Elegant Guesthouse or similar

Travel distance: Approximately 320kms, good main roads plus some dirt roads.

Enjoy a leisurely morning before setting off on a relatively easy 3-4 hour drive south onto the Kalahari basin. The campsites are privately situated so you can relax, enjoy a self-guided walk or perhaps join a nature drive through the reserve and learn about this beautiful region.

Stay at:
Kalahari Anib Campsite, Kalahari Basin or similar

Travel distance: Approximately 330kms, good dirt roads

Enjoy the stunning scenery on the drive to Sesriem, the main campsite and entry to the famous sand dunes of Sossusvlei, perhaps take walk to the nearby Elim’s Dune for sunset. The following day rise early to venture into the world heritage Sossusvlei dune fields (recommend leaving before sunrise to ensure you are in the dune sea for sunrise). Ensure you visit nearby Dead Vlei, where the ancient and skeletal camel thorn trees stand on the white pan with the backdrop of orange sand dunes and blue sky - a photographer’s delight. Return to camp and later this afternoon visit the nearby Sesriem Canyon

Stay at:
Sesriem Campsite or similar

Travel distance: Approximately 360kms, good dirt roads.

Drive through the desert to Swakopmund, stopping at Walvis Bay on the way to visit the lagoon, a protected RAMSAR wetland site, where you may see many species of birds including greater and lesser flamingos, pelicans, avocets, plovers and the endemic Damara tern. From here it is a short coastal drive to the historic seaside town of Swakopmund where the German colonial influence still permeates. Soak up the atmosphere or participate in one of the many adventure activities on offer including quad biking and sand boarding and a living desert tour.

Stay at:
Swakopmund Guesthouse or similar (camping not recommended as Swakopmund can get very cold and foggy)

Travel distance: Approximately 180kms, good dirt roads.

Drive north along the Skeleton Coast, stopping at a shipwreck close to Henties Bay and visiting the Cape Cross Seal Colony, where thousands of seals congregate on the beach. Rising an impressive 700m above the Namibian plains, Spitzkoppe is a well known landmark formed by the collapse of a volcano millions of years ago. The campsites are secluded, some with ablution facilities and hidden between the boulders of the mountain offering privacy and spectacular views. This afternoon climb the rocks and gaze over the gravel plains or take a local community guide from the camp site to show you the ancient Bushman rock art of the area.

Stay at:
Spitzkoppe bush camping - well spread out campsites, may be a distance to ablutions

Travel distance: Approximately 440kms, combination good dirt roads and main roads.

Head north into Damaraland. Stop enroute at World Heritage Listed Twyfelfontein to visit the famous rock engravings. Spend 2 nights at Palmwag Lodge in the vast Palmwag Canservancy. Optional activities include desert elephant and black rhino tracking, Himba community visits, nature drives, hiking and horseriding.

Stay at:
Palmwag Lodge Campsite or similar

Travel distance: Approximately 300kms, combination good dirt roads and main roads.

Onward to Etosha National Park, a place of unspoilt nature and wildlife. Enjoy your first game drive to the rest camp perhaps stopping at a waterhole en-route, later you can relax by the floodlit waterhole and see what wildlife comes to drink. During the dry season, Okaukuejo waterhole is generally very active with hordes of animals such as springbok, zebra, wildebeest, giraffe and kudu congregating and drinking. Around sunset it’s common for herds of elephant, as well as the endangered black rhino to enter the fray. Lion and other predators are, of course, frequent visitors as well. Spend the following day driving to and enjoying the animals around Halali. On your third day in the park continue east to Namutoni built around an old German fort.

Stay at:
Okaukuejo, Halali and Namutoni Rest Camps or similar

Travel distance: Approximately 370kms, combination good dirt roads and main roads.

After a short game drive, sadly leave behind this magnificent park and start your journey back to Windhoek via the Erindi Private Game Reserve. Erindi, meaning ‘place of water’ is a sustainable, protected reserve in central Namibia. It is home to a prolific amount of endemic species and multiple conservation projects to help protect Namibia’s wildlife including aardvark, African wild dog, leopard, pangolin, honey badger and more. The reserve offers many optional activities (at additional cost) including game drives (both self-drive and guided), bush walks, leopard tracking, cultural activities with the local San bushmen and more. You will have time to take part in one of these exceptional activities on the afternoon of your arrival and before you depart for Windhoek (time permitting).

Stay at:
Camp Elephant campsite or similar

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