Self-drive Complete Namibia - 23 Days

(Camping)

Experience Namibia’s entirety from Fish River Canyon in the south to the Kunene River in the north and from Kalahari Desert in the east to the Atlantic Coast in the west. Not only visiting the country’s highlights - the vistas of Fish River Canyon, the red dunes of Sossusvlei, quint-essentially Gernan Swakopmund and the incredible wildlife of Etosha this tour will take you to some of Namibia’s lesser known gems. On you travels visit the Kalahari Desert to spend time with the SAN bushmen, Luderitz and the mining ghost -town of Kolmanskop, Damaraland’s rock engravings at Twyfelfontein, Kaokaland and the Himba culture, Epupa Falls right on the Kunene River overlooking Angola and the Waterberg Plateau for great hiking country and wildlife. This is a self-drive camping trip that covers the length and breath of this fabulous country, so if you have a bit more time for your travels and are keen to experience all that Namibia has to offer this is the trip for you!

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 - Fish River Canyon - Luderitz & Kolmanskop - Namib-Naukluft National Park – Sossusvlei, Sesriem & Dead Vlei - Swakopmund - Twyfelfontein & Damaraland (desert elephant and rhino) - Kunene River (Epupa Falls) - Etosha's wildlife and birdlife - Waterberg 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 / campsites as indicated below.
Meals 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 50kms, 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 280kms, good main roads plus some dirt roads.

After stocking up with supplies head south and you will soon see the red sand of the Kalahari interspersed with yellow grasses, shepherd’s trees and acacia’s. Your campsite is situated on a private game reserve in close vicinity to a frequented waterhole where oryx, springbok, zebra, and a variety of smaller game species abound. In the late afternoon experience the Kalahari and its symbiotic components on a sundowner / nature drive (optional, extra charges apply)..

Stay at:
Bagatelle Kalahari Campsite, Kalahari Basin or similar

Travel distance: Approximately 300kms, good main roads plus some dirt roads.

Proceed south to Canyon Roadhouse, situated on the privately owned Gondwana Canyon Park just 20kms from the main viewpoint of the amazing Fish River Canyon - the second largest canyon in the world. Walk along the rim of the canyon, enjoy its magnificent viewpoints and witness how water-starved quiver trees eke out an existence a few metres from lush ferns and mosses. Optional activities include afternoon scenic drive, walks and canyon drives.

Stay at:
Canyon Roadhouse Campsite or similar

Travel distance: Approximately 320kms, main roads and good dirt roads

Today head west to Namibia's Atlantic Coast. Travel past the Naute Dam, where the Naute Kristal Distillery is a stop not to be missed for lovers of Gin, which is locally produced here together with numerous other fine spirits and can be bought as tasteful and original souvenirs. Continue to the edge of the Namibian escarpment and via the succulent Karoo to the coastal town of Lüderitz. En route you can stop at Garub to try and find some of the unique Namib Desert Horses that survive in the desert due to their acquired adaptations.

Stay at:
Kairos Cottage Guest House or similar

Travel distance: Approximately 210kms, good dirt roads.

Before continuing on your journey to the southern Namib Desert, a visit to Kolmanskop, located just outside of Lüderitz, is very rewarding for all those who wish to travel back in time to a unique remnant of a bustling diamond town that flourished here from 1908 to 1950. Traveling north, your next stop is situated in a more solitude desert landscape along the foot of the stunning Tiras Mountains and the scenic D707 route.

Stay at:
Namtib Biosphere, Little Hunters Rest Campsite or similar

Travel distance: Approximately 250kms, 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 340kms, 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 and sight-seeing activities 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 290kms, 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. Head east, inland into Damaraland, one of Namibia’s most geologically diverse areas. Game such as rhino, desert elephant and giraffe roam freely, just as they did hundreds of years ago. Enjoy your evening along the banks of the ephemeral Ugab River, where, with some luck, you may be able to view the rare desert elephant.

Stay at:
Brandberg White Lady Lodge Campsite or similar

Travel distance: Approximately 370kms, good gravel / dirt roads.

Start your morning with an excursion to Twyfelfontein, a World Heritage Site where over 2,500 rock engravings and rock paintings cover the boulders of a pre-historic desert. Travel further north into the Kaokoveld, a large tract of pristine wilderness and uniquely adapted wildlife. This is the home of the Himba. Your camp for the night is situated along a lush, deeply eroded dry riverbed that is inhabited by a range of browsers such as kudu and duiker.

Stay at:
Ongongo Waterfall Campsite or similar

Travel distance: Approximately 320kms, good dirt roads.

After a glorious sunrise and a hearty breakfast travel further north through landscapes where huge baobab trees stand like giants in the midst of the mopane savanna. Once at the Epupa Falls, this spectacular water wonderland in an arid environment will have you gasping in awe. Optional activities (additional charges apply) from your camp include visits to traditional Himba villages, scenic walks and excellent birding opportunities.

Stay at:
Epupa Camp Campsite or similar

Travel distance: Approximately 190kms, good gravel / dirt roads.

This morning travel south to the capital city of the Himba - Opuwo. On your way you may come across migrating Himba people in search of better grazing for their cattle as well as wildlife species such as springbok, kudu, oryx and baboon. Just before reaching Opuwo you may wish to stop at a Living Museum of the Himba to experience their traditional and unique culture.

Stay at:
Opuwo Country Lodge Campsite or similar

Travel distance: Approximately 360kms, combination good dirt roads and main roads.

Travel into the Etosha National Park, Namibia’s most famous wildlife park. The park surrounds a parched salt desert known as the Etosha Pan, which shimmers with mirages during the heat of the day. Waterholes in the park support a diversity of mammals and birds, including endangered species such rhino and cheetah. From your campsites you have access to floodlit waterholes that attracts a vast amount of game in the evening, unequaled to anywhere else. On Day 19, after sunrise you again travel through the park to another camp, enjoying the sight of pronking springbok and playful animals announcing the start of another glorious day. The dense stands of Mopani forests support a large variety of browsers and specialised predators such as leopards, while it offers a variety of migratory as well as non-migratory bird species safe cover and nesting sites.

Stay at:
Olifantsrus Campsite (1 night) and Okaukuejo Resort Campsite (2 nights) or similar

Travel distance: Approximately 300kms, 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 Waterberg Plateau Park. Waterberg Plateau was created as a sanctuary for rare and endangered species such as the Damaraland dik-dik. Enjoy game drives in the park or head to the top of the sandstone plateau for incredible views.

Stay at:
Waterberg Plateau Park campsite or similar

Travel distance: Approximately 250kms, good main roads.

After a leisurely morning, sadly leave the Waterberg behind and start your journey back to Windhoek. Enroute, take time to stroll through one of the large craft markets in Okahandja. Your route takes you between high mountain ranges back to the capital city, Windhoek, where you check into your hotel for the night.

Stay at:
Elegant Guesthouse or similar

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