Explore the beautiful country of Namibia on this tailor-made self-drive itinerary and experience the very best of the country’s fascinating variety of wildlife and spectacular landscapes.
The appeal of this sparsely populated country has never been greater. The stunning landscapes, wonderful lodges, resplendent night skies and remarkable desert-adapted wildlife are just some of the reasons to visit the remarkable country of Namibia.
Arguably, the best way to explore and experience Namibia is by self-drive in your own all-terrain vehicle. The itinerary can be filled with a variety of outdoor guided excursions as you make your way round the country, ranging from tracking desert-adapted elephants and black rhino to experiencing the gigantic Cape fur seal colony at Cape Cross. Some are comfortable driving themselves, but we know that this can be quite a daunting prospect if it's something that you’ve never done before. So, it's possible also possible to look into options of escorted self-drive itineraries as well, which you can discuss with our experienced travel consultants.
If you're looking for somewhere to explore and encounter fantastic wildlife alongside awe-inspiring landscapes whilst being away from the crowds, then Namibia is certainly the place for you. This itinerary includes some of the most iconic locations in Namibia, but it can also be tailored to suit your requirements.
Suggested Itinerary
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Day 1:
Depart UK
Today, you depart the UK on overnight flights to Windhoek, the capital city of Namibia.
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Day 2:
Arrive Windhoek
On arrival in Windhoek, once you have passed through immigration, you collect your hire vehicle and drive the short distance to your first hotel in the city. The rest of the day is free to spend as you wish.
Accommodation: Avani Windhoek Hotel, 1-night
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Days 3-4
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Drive northwards to Okonjima & explore the reserve
You drive north of Windhoek towards the Okonjima Private Reserve. This drive will take you through some spectacular scenery, and you may see some intriguing wildlife en route including ostrich, Verreaux's eagle and rockrunner.
On arrival at Okonjima, you check in for a two-night stay, and you have the rest of this afternoon and the following to explore this reserve. Okonjima is home to the AfriCat Foundation, one of the world’s largest cheetah and leopard rescue-and-release programmes during your stay you can not only learn about the welfare and conservation work conducted here, but also have an opportunity to go out into the private reserve to track cheetahs on foot, and see leopards from vehicles. AfriCat's work also includes vital conservation work to research and rehabilitate other carnivores, such as wild dogs and hyenas.
All excursions at Okonjima are optional and be arranged at reception if you would like to join one of the activities which are available here.
Accommodation: Okonjima Plains Camp, 2-nights.
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Days 5-6
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Continue to Etosha & explore this famed national park
This morning you drive further on to Namibia's premier wildlife destination, Etosha National Park. Famed for its dazzling saltpan, abundance of big cats and large herds of plains species, Etosha is a must-visit for any wildlife enthusiast.
You have the next day and half to explore this wonderful national park in search of wildlife. One of Africa’s largest protected areas, Etosha has superb wildlife, particularly in the dry winter months. Among the mammals you're likely to see here are black-faced impala, gemsbok (oryx), Damara dik-dik, eland, greater kudu, hartebeest and springbok, together with large numbers of elephant, lion, leopard, black rhino, giraffe, Burchell's zebra and wildebeest.
Please note that the entrance fee for the park will need to be paid at the gate.
Accommodation: Etosha Camping 2 Go, 2-nights
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Day 7:
Drive to Palmwag in Damaraland
After breakfast, you start driving westward towards the Damaraland region of Namibia and specifically the small settlement of Palmwag for an overnight stay.
Accommodation: Palmwag Camping 2 Go, 1-night
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Days 8-10
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Explore Damaraland & the ephemeral rivers in search of wildlife
This morning, you check out from your accommodation and drive to the Palmwag or Etendekka concessions, where you meet your guide team who will help you to explore Damaraland and the ephemeral rivers of Kaokoland which are known for their populations of desert adapted elephant and other intriguing species.
Arriving by the late morning, you leave your own vehicles at the lodge and rendezvous with the local guiding team, who will lead a 4x4 expedition into the heart of the Kunene. For the next three nights you're driven by your guide in search of desert adapted elephant, rhino and perhaps some of the more elusive predators that roam this painfully beautiful region.
During this safari, you head into the breath-taking landscapes of a mountainous area teeming with game. Springbok, oryx, kudu, ostrich, jackal, zebra, giraffe, hyena, occasionally lion, leopard and cheetah provide excellent photographic opportunities for wildlife photography in this vast open wilderness area. With a bit of luck, you may encounter the endangered black rhino and the famous desert elephant, which roam the area in absolute freedom.
The trail continues through game rich valleys and river beds, through gorges and past springs in search of fresh tracks and, if lucky, you can follow the guide for a few kilometres on foot and hopefully have the opportunity to enjoy the spellbinding experience of finding the rhino or the elephant in its natural habitat.
Accommodation: Mobile tented camp, 3-nights
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Day 11:
Return to Palmwag
You start the day with another morning of exploring the Damaraland region for a herd of desert-adapted elephant as well as a variety of other species before returning to collect your vehicle.
Once you've said goodbye to your guide team, you return to Palmwag for another overnight stay.
Accommodation: Palmwag Camping 2 Go, 1-night
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Day 12:
Drive to Swakopmund via Cape Cross
This morning it will be a relatively early start as you depart Damaraland and drive to the coastal town of Swakopmund which will take up a good chunk of the day. However, along the way, you stop at Cape Cross on the Skeleton Coast which is home to a huge colony of Cape fur seals; in fact this is the largest breeding colony of this pinniped species in the world.
After spending some time with the fur seals, you continue onwards to Swakopmund and your overnight accommodation in the town.
Accommodation: Organic Square Guesthouse, 1-night
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Days 13-14
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Drive to Sossusvlei & explore the majestic sand dunes
To start the day, you have some time to enjoy the sights of Swakopmund before beginning the drive south to Sossusvlei passing by the great sand dunes of the Namib-Naukluft National Park. Once you reach Sossusvlei, you check in for a two-night stay at a comfortable desert camp with glorious views of the surrounding landscape.
The following day, soon after dawn, you head into Sossusvlei, home to the world’s highest dunes. In the soft morning light the dunes are flushed an intense red colour that gradually fades as the sun rises higher and contrast is lost. You have plenty of time to appreciate the spectacular scenery and search for any wildlife, such as oryx and ostrich, that might be in the area before returning to the camp for lunch. For the rest of the afternoon, you can relax at camp and enjoy the facilities as well as admire the spectacular view.
Accommodation: Desert Hills Glamping Camp, 2-nights
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Day 15:
Drive to the edge of the Kalahari Desert
For your penultimate drive of the itinerary, you depart Sossusvlei and head eastward to the fringes of the Kalahari Desert where you spend your last night in Namibia under what should be a resplendent night sky filled with stars. As with all the drives on your Namibian adventures, you can stop on the way to observe any wildlife that you may come across and appreciate the multitude of stunning vistas you find.
Accommodation: Kalahari Anib Camping 2 Go, 1-night
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Day 16:
Return to Windhoek & departure
Today, you drive back to Hosea Kutako International Airport in time to catch your return international flights or connect with any onward arrangements.
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Day 17:
Arrive UK
