Namibian Adventure - Self-drive

 

Due to Namibia's safe and secure surroundings, excellent road infrastructure, frequent and easy road signs, accurate maps, low traffic density and comfortable climate conditions for most of the year, Namibia serves as a great self-drive destination.

Camps and lodges are easy to find, fuel and, where necessary, food are obtainable in all towns and most major regions have mobile phone coverage.

Namibia encompasses a tremendous variety of culture, people, geology and history. The awesome and constantly contrasting landscapes are best viewed from the ground, and a self-drive itinerary offers you the flexibility of enjoying these at your own pace. The vibrant colours, sounds and smells as well as the captivating and thrilling sights combined with Namibia's warm hospitality will leave you wanting to return time and again.

DAY 1 HEATHROW-WINDHOEK
Fly overnight from Heathrow via Johannesburg to Windhoek.

DAY 2 WINDHOEK
On arrival proceed to your pension situated close to the city centre. Overnight: Pension Moni, or similar.

DAY 3 KALAHARI DESERT
See the red sands of the Kalahari en route to your lodge (260 km) situated in a private game reserve. In the late afternoon experience the Kalahari on an optional nature drive. Overnight: Anib Lodge, or similar. (b)

DAY 4 FISH RIVER CANYON
Visit the Quivertree Forest before arriving at your lodge, situated close to the Fish River Canyon (430 km). In the late afternoon enjoy a scenic walk where you can enjoy an unforgettable view of the sun setting over the desert landscape. Overnight: Cañon Roadhouse, or similar. (b)

DAY 5 FISH RIVER CANYON
Visit the world's second largest canyon with its awesome splendour and adapted fauna and flora on a scenic walk along the ridge of the canyon. Overnight: Cañon Roadhouse, or similar. (b)

DAY 6 LUDERITZ
Continue down the open plains of the Great Escarpment to Lüderitz looking out for the Wild Horses of the Namib (420 km). Overnight: Zum Sperrgebiet Hotel, or similar. (b)

DAY 7 HELMERINGHAUSEN AREA
Visit the 'ghost town' Kolmanskop, the remnant of a bustling diamond town that flourished from 1908 to 1950. Your next stop is situated in a more densely vegetated area along the foot of the stunning Tiras Mountains (270 km). Overnight: Helmeringhausen Hotel, or similar. (b)

DAY 8 SOSSUSVLEI AREA
After breakfast you travel along stretches of grassplains interspersed with huge mountain ranges into the area of Sossusvlei, where your lodge is situated (240 km). Overnight: Desert Homestead, or similar. (b)

DAY 9 SOSSUSVLEI AREA
Watch as sunrise paints the world's highest sand dunes at Sossusvlei into an artwork of awe-inspiring proportions. Stop at the Sesriem Canyon on the way back to your lodge (240 km). Overnight: Desert Homestead, or similar. (b)

DAY 10 SWAKOPMUND
After breakfast, travel through two rugged passes and via the Welwitschia plains and the Moon Landscape to Swakopmund (340 km). Overnight: Intermezzo Guesthouse, or similar. (b)

DAY 11 SWAKOPMUND
Known as Namibia's playground, this idyllic town is wedged between the sweltering Namib Desert and the cold Atlantic Ocean, and enjoys a distinct German architecture and atmosphere. Overnight: Intermezzo Guesthouse, or similar. (b)

DAY 12 DAMARALAND
Visit Cape Cross and experience up to 80,000 seals frolicking in the waves. Visit the geological phenomena Burnt Mountain and the Organ Pipes in the afternoon (340 km). Overnight: Twyfelfontein Lodge, or similar. (b)

DAY 13 DAMARALAND
Discover Twyfelfontein, a National Heritage site that boasts over 2500 Bushman rock engravings and rock paintings, then to the Petrified Forest where prehistoric tree trunks jut out between patches of Welwitschia (270 km). Overnight: Toko Lodge, or similar. (b)

DAY 14 ETOSHA NATIONAL PARK
Visit a traditional Himba village and meet these proud people who are one of the last truly nomadic tribes on earth, then drive to the Etosha National Park (190 km). Overnight: Etosha Safari Camp, or similar. (b)

DAY 15 ETOSHA NATIONAL PARK
Travel further north in to the Etosha National Park, which, with its numerous water holes, is home to the array of 114 different animal and 340 different bird species that thrive here. Overnight: Etosha Safari Camp, or similar. (b)

DAY 16 ETOSHA NATIONAL PARK
Drive to the eastern section of the park, with its dense Mopane forests which support a large variety of browsers and specialised predators such as leopards (325 km). Overnight: Etosha Aoba Lodge, or similar. (b)

DAY 17 WATERBERG
Travel to the Waterberg Plateau, one of the most scenic locations in Namibia and perfect for walks or guided nature drives (380 km). Overnight: Waterberg Camp, or similar. (b)

DAY 18 WATERBERG-WINDHOEK-HEATHROW
Visit one of the large craft markets in Okahandja, on your route back to Windhoek airport (275 km) and your flight via Johannesburg to Heathrow. (b)