namibia tour 2 weeks

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2 Weeks in Namibia: Planning an EPIC Namibia Self Drive Trip

August 27, 2020

Planning for a trip of 2 weeks in Namibia? This itinerary has got you covered.

I spent a full 2 weeks traveling Namibia without a tour, and have compiled the best things to see on your first trip to this unique country.

Whether you come by tour or do Namibia self-guided, you may be surprised that you’ll spend a lot of your days on the road while here. Don’t worry, it’s still possible to experience the highlights with just 2 weeks in Namibia.

For those planning to do Namibia by self drive, rest assured. I followed this route myself, and have taken all the long distance driving and logistics into consideration to give you the perfect 2 week itinerary in Namibia!

When to go to Namibia

Namibia is home to a dry, desolate and extreme desert climate.

For the most part, it stays that way the whole year. So it can be argued that any month is a good time to for a self drive Namibia tour.

But many sources state that the timeframe between July to October is the best time to visit, as this time sees the lowest temperatures and the least rainfall.

For this self drive Namibia itinerary, you’ll mostly visit the south and the desert areas in Namibia, since thats what most first time visitors want to see.

If you visit outside of this window of time, you’ll probably be fine since the desert stays pretty dry year round. I visited in February, and did not have a single day of rain.

But for those who want to visit more of the north and Etosha Park, visiting in dry season becomes more important, as those areas are more affected by rain season.

Getting to Namibia

Most travelers will fly in via Windhoek airport.

For those who are already in South Africa, you may opt to drive. We did this drive from Cape Town, and it was easy enough to complete in a full day of driving.

I’d advise starting early in the morning though, to avoid the borders closing for the evening. Otherwise you may put yourself in a dangerous position of having to camp out by the border overnight.

Visas for Namibia

If you are arriving in Namibia by air, most travelers who require a visa can get a one on arrival. But if you arrive via land border, please note that they cannot provide visa services here.

This is important, so you check your visa requirements before arriving in Namibia.

Americans don’t require a visa, and can stay in the country up to 90 days.

This meant I was fine, but the person I was traveling with was from Czech Republic, a country that requires a Namibian visa.

They denied his request for a visa on arrival, so we had to drive back to Cape Town and fly to Windhoek (ouch).

Coming from Cape Town? Read this Guide to Cape Town

Things to Know Before You Go

1. bring spare tires.

When renting your car from Windhoek, be sure that your car comes with one or even two spare tires.

They usually provide this without you asking, but its best to be sure. That’s because Namibia’s roads are notoriously bad. It’s very common to pop a tire at least once during your self drive Namibia tour.

In fact, I’d go as far as to say you should expect to pop a tire at some point. With that in mind, it’s best to be sure you know how to change your tires before your road trip.

The roads are very deserted in many areas, with little phone signal to phone for help if you get stuck somewhere so preparation is key.

2. Buy a Local SIM Card

Namibia is a country where I don’t advise trying to forgo getting a local SIM card. Although data is patchy throughout the country, you will have cell signal about half of the time.

You will need that safety net in the event you have a problem on the road and need to call for assistance, or even medical aid.

On top of that, it’s handy to have access to Google Maps when you do have data (usually when passing cities and towns).

You can buy a SIM card directly at the airport for convenience, or if you prefer to save a couple bucks, you can find a shop in Windhoek after you rent your car.

3. Plan Your Itinerary for Daytime Only

When planning your Namibia self drive itinerary, it’s important to only plan your movements for daylight hours.

It’s not advisable to drive at night in Namibia, largely due to how bad the roads can be in some areas. If you find yourself in a bind, help will likely not be able to come for you until morning. So, it’s best to limit the chances of that happening.

There’s also the risk factor of hitting wild life crossing the roads at night. Most of Namibia’s roads don’t have the luxury of any lighting, so it’s pretty hard to see any sudden obstructions in the road at night.

4. Stock up Supermarket Before Hitting the Road

Before you leave Windhoek after renting your car, you should go straight towards a supermarket.

You’ll want to stock up on your food, water and supplies for the trip. There are long stretches of road in Namibia where you don’t have a single rest stop, let alone food. Be sure to have enough snacks and nonperishable food on hand.

At the very minimum, you’ll want to have a lot of water in the car in the event of an emergency situation. We opted to have several 6 liter jugs of water at all times, and refilled whenever we ran low.

As for food, a combo of canned food, carbs and snacks will work for the most part.

Sadly, unless you have a cooler, any fresh fruit, veggies or animal products won’t last more than an hour in the Namibian heat.

5. Don’t Forget Bug Spray

For some reason, I did not expect to find any mosquitoes in Namibia. Don’t make the same mistake, and be sure to pack some mosquito spray.

I found many mosquitoes in Sossusvlei, which made going out at night unbearable.

6. Don’t Speed

In many instances, you’ll come across very bad dirt roads full of large stones and potholes, where you can’t drive over 30 km even if you tried.

The other times, you’ll find very well paved roads across vast areas and not a car in sight.

On these roads, its very tempting to speed to make up for lost time, but I really can’t stress enough why you should not speed.

Speeding is the number one reason many travelers crash their cars. It happens all too often. It happened to me.

This is so common, that all rental cars in Namibia are equipped with an event tracker. So if you do end up scuffing up your car even a bit, they will know you were speeding at some point, blame you for that, and charge you the fullest amount.

See More: Important Tips for Staying Safe in Namibia

Where to Stay

Namibia is a fantastic country to vary up the types of accommodation you stay in.

From hostels where you can meet other travelers, to car camping spots, to ultra luxury desert camps, here are some of the best places I’d advise looking into for Namibia:

Where to Stay in Windhoek

The best place to stay in Windhoek is The Weinberg Windhoek . This place is amazing and makes an ideal base for when you first land in Namibia, or to unwind before flying out.

It has 5 stars on booking.com, but with rooms starting at $115 a night. A total steal!

This hotel has its own restaurants onsite, and no less than 3 lounges. This includes the sky lounge, which offers amazing views.

Where to Stay in Sossusvlei

If on a budget, car camping is your best bet. Be sure to camp inside the park gates to have early access into the park for sunrise. A good option is Sesreim Oshana Camp . It comes with clean indoor bathrooms and hot showers for $50 for two.

Book Oshana Camp here

If your budget allows and you want a luxurious experience, the Dead Valley Lodge nearby was fabulous. Stylish in design, and equipped with wifi, a pool and cocktail bar.

All meals are provided as well. You could spend a day or two here sipping cocktails by the pool where I fondly remember watching oryxes grazing from nearby.

Book Dead Valley Lodge here

Where to Stay in Etosha Park

In Etosha park, many travelers opt to stay several days to get the most out of their wildlife viewing. It is a bucket list activity for most after all, so you’ll want to be as comfortable as possible.

For the best possible experience in Etosha, you can look no further than Etosha Oberland Lodge . This lodge leaves no stone unturned when it comes to your comfort.

From a pool where you can spot animals from, to an a la carte breakfast included. The lodge is also sustainably operated, a total win all around.

Book Etosha Oberland Lodge here .

Getting Around Namibia

If you are planning a Namibia self drive trip, you’ll have to rent your car once you arrive.

Choosing the right car for your trip is crucial, and I really didn’t realize myself how important it was until we totaled our car on the first day.

If you plan to visit all the major sites designated in this itinerary, you will need a 4 wheel drive car. Don’t let the car salesman tell you otherwise.

The rental car company may allow you to rent a 2 wheel drive, but this is not only detrimental to your safety, but going to be a huge struggle for you when driving across the dirt roads and sands in the desert.

On top of a 4 wheel drive car, you need to get a car with optimal insurance coverage because its all too common for things to go wrong on the roads here. You’ll want to be taken care of.

How to Find a Good Rental Car

I would strongly advise not just waiting until you land to rent whatever is available. That’s what we did, and long story short, I paid the price and still do.

The rental car company (that I am trying really hard not to mention) overcharged us when we got into a car accident. Although it was our fault, they definitely made a traumatizing experience worse by milking the situation and overcharge two dumb tourists (me) who didn’t know better.

To this day, I’m still battling fraudulent charges that randomly pop up on my bank account from them.

How to avoid this? You should read the online reviews and book from a trustworthy source.

For that, I’d advise using Rental Cars . They have a good reputation and will allow you to review, compare and rent a car prior to landing.

2 Weeks in Namibia Self Drive Itinerary

Windhoek – 1 day.

The capital city is where you’ll spend your first day on your Namibia self drive itinerary.

After picking up your rental car, your next mission should be trying some Namibian food. There are more options for dining in the capital than the rest of the country, so I’d honestly dedicate the first day to eating.

Some staple Namibian dishes to try are pap, oshiwambo and curried tripe. The food may look really unfamiliar at first, but everything is actually very good!

Aside from eating and doing your supermarket run, there isn’t a whole lot to do in Windhoek for travelers.

There are a few cool churches you could check out if curious, otherwise the first day should be pretty chill.

Sossusvlei – 2 or 3 Days

Since its not advisable to drive at night, spend the night in Windhoek and start your road trip on day 2. If you start at dawn, you could easily (and safely) arrive at Sossusvlei by the afternoon.

The drive starts off on well-paved city roads, then switches to dirt roads after the first hour or so and stays like this for the rest of the drive mostly.

Once you hit the dirt roads, there won’t be any food stops, so plan ahead for that. This stretch of road is largely uneventful apart from the views into the vast wilderness and trees. You’ll quickly get used to this in Namibia though.

If you arrive in Sossusvlei in the afternoon, this is enough time to check in, grab your camping spot or check into your hotel, and still have time to catch the sunset atop one of the dunes.

The next day, wake up early to climb up dune 45 to watch the sunrise. Unlike what this photo suggests you won’t have this view to yourself.

It’s more likely that you’ll be up here with about 30 – 40 other tourists. That’s because this dune is designated on the visitors map, so everyone knows about it. It’s still worth seeing, as it’s a very high dune with amazing views.

But, if you’re feeling adventurous, opt to find another dune to climb up to have the view to yourself. There’s no shortage, and I’m sure all of them offer great views.

You may recognize this place from a screensaver you’ve had before. Heads up, you’ll need to drive through a lot of deep sand to reach it.

If you are inexperienced with this (we got stuck multiple times), there is a shuttle from the parking lot that takes you in, just ask the reception about the timetables.

Pro-tip: Release from air from your tires so they are a little soft/deflated. This helps you not get stuck in the sand

Once you arrive, you’ll have to hike for about 20 minutes on the dunes until you reach the salt pan. Again, this part is best done with others who know what they are doing, as we somehow managed to get lost at this part too.

Once you arrive onto the salt pans, you’ll be able to take in one of the most famous landmarks in Namibia. It’s amazing to just take off your shoes and feel the crystalized salt and sand under your feet.

For photographers, this is like a literal playground where you’ll capture stunning photos, one after another. Play around with the shadows, stark contrasting colors and shapes of this surreal place.

After Deadvlei, you can continue driving further into the Sossusvlei desert, and later visit the Sesriem Canyon near the entrance on your way out of the park.

Honestly, we saw other people doing this, but had no idea how they weren’t getting stuck in the sand, like we had done a million times at this point.

If opting not to continue into the desert, head back to your campsite or hotel lodge for the sunset. If you do choose to stay at Dead Valley Lodge, staying at the lodge is honestly a whole activity in and of itself. The views are just too good!

It’s a magical place to lounge by the pool to relieve the midday heat. Or better yet grab a sundowner while watching the sunset and if lucky, you’ll see oryxes grazing nearby.

Ready to Book: Book Dead Valley Lodge HERE!

Optional: Fish Hook Canyon – 3 Days

This canyon is at the very south of the country, and adds an extra 14 hours of driving, round trip from Sossusvlei.

Since we lost some time due to crashing our car on the first day ( a story for another day), we had to skip this. If you haven’t seen the Grand Canyon yet, this is probably the next best thing and very much worthy of the extra drive.

We met a few other travelers who had seen it, and heard mostly positive feedback. For adventurous folks, hiking is possible in Fish Hook Canyon in the coolest months of July and August.

For that you may opt to take a tour, as the conditions are still treacherous, so you’ll want someone who knows the area well to guide you.

Walvis Bay – 1 or 2 Days

Walvis Bay is a small, coastal city on the western side of Namibia. Most people choose to visit Walvis Bay because it is the gateway into exploring the marine attractions in Namibia.

To get here, it’s 5 hours of driving from Sossuvlei, but prepare for delays. The roads are challenging and mostly unpaved gravel. This is precisely where we popped our one and only tire of the trip (thankfully).

There was nothing we could have done to avoid it either, the roads are really just that bad. On the upside, we did spot some ostriches on this stretch of road, and even a few walking nearby while we fixed our tires.

On arrival, this beachside city (yes, this is considered a city!) of 60,000 people is your jumping point to exploring the seas of Namibia, and where you’ll find that famous view of where the sand dunes meet the ocean.

Sandwich Harbor

To get to sandwich bay, you’ll have to take a tour. Its not illegal to self drive here, its just really really dangerous.

This drive is almost impossible if you don’t have the proper car and experience, as it involves driving up the dunes, on the beach through the water, and not to mention, quicksand.

It’s really just better to go with a tour to avoid getting stuck or sucked out into the ocean in your car. A group tour costs about $141 per person. Private tours are available too.

Sand Dune Viewpoint

The tour takes you up and over countless sand dunes, a very nausea inducing activity for some of us. Then, you’ll drive across the very narrow beach, an event that I’m told results in many cars being swept out to sea by sneaker waves (fun!).

Once you arrive at the viewpoint, you’ll get those iconic views of the sand dunes touching the ocean. If you do take a tour, you will spend the day exploring these dunes, and likely have lunch on the beach below.

On the drive in, you’ll also encounter wildlife such as ostriches, springboks, oryxes and jackals. 

Walvis Bay Lagoon

Walvis Bay is actually a shallow part of the beach that connects to the sea.

Here is where you’ll see the famous flamingos of Namibia. Depending when you go, you might see a few, or you might have a huge flock. It’s really about luck unfortunately.

I was able to see a few scattered across the lagoon, not the giant swarm that you se in the pictures online. You can try coming earlier in the day when they are usually feeding, to try your luck at seeing more.

Make a quick stop by the pink lagoon to view a quirky, salt lake as pink as cotton candy. Trust me on this, the lakes are really this color! Go during midday to see the lake at its brightest.

The drive there is a bit of a nuissance, but not too bad. You may spot more flamingoes on the way here too.

Swakopmund – 1 Day

45 Minutes from Walvis Bay, is another coastal town about the same size. Swakopmund is an old Germanic settlement, and you’ll see plenty of German influences in the historic architecture.

Swapokmund is known as a hub for adventure sports, so if that isn’t your thing, one day here is definitely enough.

Boating Tour

While here, you can take a cruise to go dolphin watching and to visit the sea lion colonies offshore at Cape Cross. These tours usually leave in the morning, when the animals are more active.

Alternatively, you can take a sunset cruise to sail around the coast of Namibia for a more leisurely experience.

You can book a boating tour easily by heading to the docks and asking around (there aren’t that many companies). Or for more convenience, book a tour prior to arrival.

Go ATVing in the Dunes

Another popular activity to do while in Swapokmund is renting an ATV and going ham in the sand dunes. This is an exciting way to epxlore the desert and get some adrenaline going.

Tour the Township

An alternative activity to enjoy in Swakopmund is to join a tour into the township. The townships in Namibia are not as dangerous as the ones in South Africa, but offer a unique insight into the local life in the country.

It was in the township in Swakopmund where we had the best food of the entire trip.

After a full day of activities in Swapokmund, be sure to eat at Hafeni Traditonal Restaurant and Olupale Restaurant before you leave. Both have authentic Namibian food and great service. We loved every dish!

Spitzkoppe (Damaraland) – 1 or 2 Days

2 hours from Swakopmund, you’ll find Spitzkoppe a martian like landscape of dramatic red rock formations.

You can opt to do a day trip, but we choose to stay overnight to experience the desert night vibes. It was worth it alone just to see the stars at night, under the arch rock.

The Rock Bridge

This unique rock formation is worth the small hike it takes to reach it. From inside the hole, you have amazing views of the desert all around you.

For photographers, you may come back a few times throughout the day to capture the rock under different lighting conditions – each revealing unique characteristics of this unusual place.

While the rock arch offers beautiful view at any time of day, this is a particularly good spot to watch the sunset. 

The rock pool is more of a pond than a pool, but still an ideal place to cool off during the day when temperatures make it too hot to do much exploring.

This is a great place to lounge about, and enjoy those spectacular desert views from the nice and cold water of the pool.

We saw some other guys bring beers to cool off in the pool and were immediately jealous that we forgot our Savannah beers in the car.

Cave Paintings

In Spitzkoppe park, there are some ancient indigenous cave painting hidden from view throughout the park. The paintings belong to the bush people native to this region. They depicts stories of animal huntings and the local life during that time.

To find the cave paintings, you have to go with a guide. Luckily, there was no cost to this that I recall (aside from tip). The guide takes you around in a car and explains the back story behind the park and the indigenous people who used to live there.

Interestingly these people still exist, they’ve just migrated to another part of the country.

Find the Zebras

You may be surprised when you first spot a couple zebras in Spitzkoppe park.

This park was once a filming location for a film in which they imported zebras to be in the background. For some reason, they decided to keep the zebras there and they remain to this day.

They are quite shy, so you’ll probably only be able to see them from a distance but if you have a telephoto lens, you may still get good photos.

Optional: Skeleton Coast Park – 2 Days

If you are really adventurous and love uninhabited, remote places barely touched by humans, the Skeleton Coast is as rugged and as it gets.

This coast is famously known to be littered with shipwrecks up and down the the coast, likely a result to the treacherous conditions of the adjacent ocean in this region.

While exploring this area, you may be lucky to discover some wildlife but I wouldn’t count on it. This area is literally a dead zone for all things, something that draws in some types of visitors.

For those on a Namibia self drive trip, you may want to think twice about whether your car can handle visiting the Skeleton Coast. This area is notoriously wild and rugged, popping a tire is definitely a concern amongst other things.

If you want to see the Skeleton Coast but take out the stress, I’d definitely opt to take a tour.

Etosha Park – 3 Days 

Lastly, head to the north of Namibia for the large salt pans of Etosha. For many, this is a highlight of their Namibia self drive journey.

Etosha is the largest and most famous safari location in all of Namibia. This is a fully self driving safari park, and where you will have the absolute best wildlife viewing experience in the country.

You’ll find all the big five here, and more. Depending how much you love animals, you may choose to stay overnight, or for several days chasing down the wildlife.

For the ultimate in luxury, stay at Etosha Oberland Lodge . For budget travelers, Road House Guethouse makes a great option.

From Etosha Park, it’s about 4 hours back to Windhoek to wrap up your trip.

Is it safe to self-drive in Namibia?

Yes, it can be safe to self drive. Unlike in nearby countries, you don’t have to worry about crime on the roads while doing a self-drive tour of Namibia. But you do have to be wary of the dangerous road conditions in certain areas and be well prepared. Slippery gravel, wildlife on the road, popping tires and sharp corners are all things to take into account to have a safe trip.

What does a Namibia road trip cost?

Namibia is what I’d consider a mid-range destination. While the cost of renting a car and accommodation are on the higher end for Africa, most of the attractions are outdoors, making them very cheap or free. You can have a great time with a budget of $150 a day, if traveling in a group of 2 or more and splitting car rentals and hotels.

How to save money in Namibia?

You can drive your spending down by opting to car camp, stay in hostels, and by not paying for tours. Food is affordable in Namibia, as well as park entrance prices.

And there you have it, the perfect 2 week Namibia itinerary for a rock solid adventure. This itinerary will get you around safely, and give you a fairly good taste of what Namibia is all about.

It’s one of the most rugged trips I’ve done, but it’s a place that makes you feel completely and utterly alive.

Have you been to Namibia? Let me know what I missed for my next trip.

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October 24, 2021 at 1:53 pm

Thank you for sharing this itinerary! Your pictures are always so stunning. Wonderful post!

November 9, 2021 at 8:16 am

Hey Scotia!

Thanks for reading, I hope you make it to Namibia someday 🙂

September 27, 2022 at 8:20 pm

This is soooo hopeful! When was your visit, we are trying to figure out when the best time to go to Namibia is

October 4, 2022 at 10:34 pm

Hi Cassie! I visited in February which I believe was a good time to visit the south. Up north, like where Etosha Park is (for the car safaris), it rains a lot this time of year. That can be good or bad, depending, but I hear it makes viewing the animals harder.

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2-week Namibia Itinerary: the ultimate self-drive road trip adventure

by sara far away | Sep 12, 2021 | Africa , Itineraries , Namibia , Roadtrips | 1 comment

This post contains affiliate links. I may receive a small commission for purchases made through these links at no extra cost to you. You can read my full disclosure here .

Namibia has always been one of the many countries on my bucket list. I’ve been dreaming of wandering the dunes of the Namib desert and exploring Etosha National Park for a long time, and a few weeks ago, I finally got to turn this dream into reality and spend 2 weeks road-tripping around Namibia.

Extending along Southern Africa’s west coast, Namibia is a country unlike any I’ve ever visited. It’s difficult to find words that do the sheer beauty of this country justice. With its scenic gravel roads, untouched nature, and vast expanses, Namibia feels raw and wild, yet warm and welcoming.

If you’re looking for an unforgettable road trip adventure, this 2 week Namibia itinerary is just what you need!

This Namibia itinerary is ideal for first-timers. It includes many of Namibia’s most spectacular must-sees, a little German-style city break, and plenty of time for breathtaking animal encounters, from desert-dwelling elephants to the protected white rhinos.

Table of Contents

Note: We arrived in Windhoek at 8 AM, which left us enough time to pick up our 4×4, stock up on groceries and fuel, and drive to Sesriem. If you arrive later in the day, I would recommend spending the first night in Windhoek and making your way to Sesriem the next morning.

Day 1-2 | Sesriem

Distance:  310 km from Windhoek to Sesriem

Leave Windhoek and head towards Namib-Naukluft Park. As soon as you leave the city, the road (mostly gravel) winds through grassy flatlands, and towards the Naukluft mountains to the small village of Sesriem, the gateway to the spectacular Namib-Naukluft Park.

Tip: stay at a camp just inside Sesriem gate for extra early access to the dunes.

Sesriem gate is open between sunrise and sunset. I would absolutely recommend staying inside the gate so that you can get into the park for sunrise. There are only two campsites and two lodges in the park, so make sure you book your stay in advance.

Costs:  access to the Namib-Naukluft National Park costs NAD 100 for non-residents, NAD 50 for SADC-residents, and NAD 10 per vehicle. Access is valid per 24 hours and can be bought at the reception of the NRW campsite just inside the gate.

Things to do in Sesriem

• Start your day early and watch the sunrise from Dune 45 . The view of the dunes turning a vibrant orange as the first sun rays hit is definitely worth the early start.
• If one dune wasn’t enough, you can climb the magnificent 325 meters high Big Daddy Dune next. To get to it, follow the tar road to the Sossusvlei 2WD parking, then catch a shuttle or hit the sand road to the 4WD parking.
• Located a short walk through the dunes from the 4WD parking, Deadvlei is famous for its 900-year-old, dried-out acacia trees. The white salt pan and black trees provide a striking contrast to the surrounding orange dunes.
• If you want to wander off the beaten path, hike to Hiddenvlei . The smaller, more remote salt pan is located about 4 km from the 2WD parking.
• Just 5 km from Sesriem gate, Elim Dune is a great spot to watch the sun setting over the desert, surrounding plains, and rugged Naukluft mountains

Day 3-4 | Swakopmund

Distance:  350 km from Sesriem to Swakopmund

Today, you’re in for a spectacular road trip! Leave Sesriem early and head north-west towards the Atlantic coast and Namibia’s largest coastal town, Swakopmund. Make sure you’ve got enough fuel in your take and be prepared for some bumpy driving – most of today’s roads are gravel roads.

Some highlights along the way include:

• Solitaire , a small desert settlement with picturesquely arranged car wrecks, petrol station, a little shop, and a cafe/bakery, selling the arguably most famous apple pie in Namibia
• the colorful signs marking the crossing of the Tropic of Capricorn
• the winding, scenic drive across the 750 m high Gaub Pass

Things to do in Swakopmund

• start your day with breakfast at Bojos Cafe – they serve the best coffee I had in Namibia
• soak up the sun and ocean breeze at Mole Beach or Swakopmund Jetty
• climb Dune 7 near Walvis Bay and watch the sun setting over the Atlantic Ocean
• kayaking with seals at Pelican Point

Sandwich Harbor 4×4 Tour

One of the must-dos when visiting Swakopmund – and honestly one of the best things to do in Namibia – is visiting Sandwich Harbour on a guided 4×4 tour. Sandwich Harbour is nestled between the majestic dunes of the Namib desert and the crashing waves of the Atlantic.

We booked a half-day trip with Sandwich Dune Tours and Safari – 10/10, would recommend!

The tour includes a stop to see flamingos at Walvis Bay, lunch with oysters and bubbles on the beach and Sandwich harbor, and a bumpy ride across the dune, and epic views of the sand dunes running straight into the ocean.

Costs:  the half-day tour to Sandwich Harbour costs NAD 1.800 per person, including lunch, drinks, and pick up from selected hotels in Walvis Bay and Swakopmund.

DAy 5 | Spitzkoppe

Distance: 150 km from Swakopmund to Spitzkoppe

Located about 120 km northeast of Swakopmund, Spitzkoppe is one of the most photographed mountains in Namibia. It consists of two mountains, the large Spitzkoppe, due to its shape dubbed “Namibia’s Matterhorn”, and the small Spitzkoppe.

Part of Spitzkoppe is only accessible with a guide. You can book guided tours with a ranger at the reception at the main entrance. One of the places you can visit without a guide is the famous Rock Arch , located a short drive from the main entrance.

Costs:  Admission to Spitzkoppen Mountain Reserve costs NAD 80 for foreign nationals, NAD 50 for SADC-nationals, and NAD 80 per car.

Where to stay near Spitzkoppe

• Spitzkoppe Tented Camp and Campsites are located about 500 meters outside of Spitzkoppe Mountain Reserve, with epic views of both Spitzkoppe mountains. You can choose between an en-suite bush camp or a campsite with a private hot water shower, toilet, and bbq area.
• Spitzkoppe Campsites are located inside Spitzkoppe Mountain Reserve. The campsites are basic and spread out over a big distance. Dry toilets are available at the campsites, but hot showers are only near reception.
• for a bit more luxury, stay at Spitzkoppen Lodge . The lodge consists of 15 spacious chalets, scattered at the foot of Spitzkoppe, a dining and bar area, and a pool deck with 360° views.

Day 6-7 | Northern Damaraland

Distance:  325 km from Spitzkoppe to Twyfelfontein

Damaraland, one of Namibia’s least densely populated areas, is dominated by rugged landscapes with flat-topped mountains and vast plains. The region is home to a variety of desert-adapted wildlife, including elephants, lions, and rhinos.

The best way to explore Damaraland’s fascinating nature and wildlife is on a guided game drive.

Twyfelfontain Country Lodge offers 3-hour morning drives into the dry Aba-Huab River valley, looking for elephants and other wildlife. We booked a tour with them and came up close with a whole herd of elephants, including a 1-year-old calf. I can’t recommend this enough!

Where to stay in Northern Damaraland

Heartfelt recommendation: Twyfelfontain Tented Camp . The camp has 8 tented chalets and 5 campsites. It’s rather basic and the toilet facilities are shared, but Paulina and Elisa, the two girls who run the camp, were two of the nicest people we met during our whole two weeks in Namibia.

Tywfelfontain Country Lodge consists of 56 rooms, a big open lounge, and a swimming pool, nestled on a mountain slope. The lodge is a great base to explore the surrounding area, either independently or on one of the many guided tours offered (not exclusively) for guests.

Palmwag Campsite is located in the Palmwag Concession, famous for its plentiful wildlife, including desert-adapted elephants and rhinos. The camp has a swimming pool, and activities like game drives can be booked at the nearby Palmwag Lodge.

Day 8 | Skeleton Coast

Leave Damaraland and head towards Torra Bay and the Skeleton Coast. The Skeleton Coast is a 500 km long coastal stretch on Namibia’s west coast, extending between Swakopmund and the Angolan border.

One of the driest places on earth, Skeleton Coast is a no-mans-land with endless sandy plains, salt pans, and occasional rocky outcrops. While you won’t see many impressive shipwrecks on the stretch between Torra Bay and Hentiesbaai, there are some other interesting stops along the way:

• One of the most famous wrecks is the abandoned, half-collapsed oil rig in the desert.
• You’ll come past a signpost for the South West Seal Shipwreck . The small vessel ran aground in 1976, but nowadays, only very few bits and pieces of it remain on the beach.
• At Cape Cross, you can visit the (very smelly) Cape Cross Seal Colony , one of the largest in the world. Access is NAD 150 for non-residents, NAD 100 for SADC-residents, and NAD 50 per vehicle.
• If you want to see a more intact shipwreck, visit the Zeila just 14 km south of Hentiesbaai.

Day 9-11 | Etosha National Park

Distance:  400 km from Henties Bay to Galton Gate

Spending a few days at Etosha National Park is a must when visiting Namibia. One of southern Africa’s most accessible national parks, it covers an area of over 22.000 km2, extending around the Etosha Pan, an oval-shaped salt pan.

Etosha National Park boasts an incredible variety of wildlife, game sightings are almost guaranteed.

Etosha National Park is accessible through 4 gates. Coming from Henties Bay, enter through Galton Gate on the southwestern end of the park, and make your way to the east over the next few days. There are 6 NWR camps inside the national park and various other places outside the gates.

Etosha Highlights

• close-up wildlife encounters: Etosha is home to 4 of the big 5, a healthy black rhino population, and a total of 114 species of mammals.
• epic game sightings at Etosha’s waterholes:  the national park boasts a great number of natural and man-made waterholes, which offer some of the best opportunities for wildlife sightings.
• coffee with a view:  Enjoy your morning coffee at King Nehale’s hideout , a comfortable hide overlooking a private waterhole.
• nighttime sightings at the floodlit Okaukuejo waterhole:  the waterhole at Okaukuejo camp is lit up at night. Grab a blanket and a drink, settle down on one of the many benches around the waterhole, and watch the nightly wildlife activities unfold in front of you.

Day 12-13 | Waterberg

Distance:  310 km from Namutoni Gate to Waterberg

Time to leave Etosha and start heading down south again. Break up your drive back to Windhoek with a 2-night stop at Waterberg Wilderness Nature Reserve. Waterberg is a 50 km long and 16 km wide table mountain, rising up to 200 meters over the plains of the Kalahari.

Still somewhat of a hidden gem, Waterberg is often overlooked by travelers. And those who visit, often wish they’d have more time!

The latter is what happened to us too. Don’t make the same mistake and spend two nights at Waterberg Wilderness Nature Reserve. Once a cattle farm, it is now a beautiful, private reserve with a great variety of wildlife, superb landscapes, and amazing hospitality.

Come face to face with white rhinos at Waterberg Wilderness!

Waterberg Wilderness is home to a variety of wildlife, including 7 white rhinos . You’re not allowed to self-drive in the reserve, but you can join a guided tour , to come up close to these fascinating animals.

• explore the wilderness by foot on the 3-4 hour guided  Rhino Tracking . You might spot giraffes, Kudu, Oryx, and hopefully, even come eye to eye with a white rhino.
• or join the 2-3 hour Rhino Drive , which almost always provides sightings of a white rhino. You’ll be able to get out of the safari vehicle, follow your guide into the bush, and watch the rhinos close up.

Day 14 | Windhoek

Distance:  290 km from Waterberg to Windhoek

Time to head back to Windhoek. We decided to drop off our car the afternoon before our flight, and spend our last night at Voigtland Guesthouse . This charming guesthouse is ideally located between Windhoek and Hosea Kutako airport, making it a great last stop on your Namibia itinerary.

If you have some time to spare in Windhoek and want to pick up some souvenirs, head to the Windhoek Craft Centre. It offers women-owned or community-driven craft businesses a platform to display their products like jewelry, art, or wood carvings.

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Hi, I’m Sara, a twenty-something Swiss on a mission to become a full-time travel writer and digital nomad.

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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2-Week Namibia Itinerary: How to Plan an Epic Namibia Road Trip

So, you’re dreaming of the perfect Namibia road trip? Look no further. We’ve done the hard work for you and put together this epic guide to campervanning around Namibia.

To say that this is a bucket list trip would be an understatement. But there’s plenty to consider before you even decide upon the ideal Namibia route – fuel costs, where to stay, and how to even rent a car. 

From the best places to bed down to the top tours you need to include, this guide is jam-packed with handy tips for your incredible road trip. Read on to discover everything you need to know about exploring the best of Namibia in just two weeks.

Table of Contents

When to take a namibia road trip, where to rent a vehicle for a namibia self drive itinerary, namibia road trip costs, day 1: windhoek, day 2: kalahari desert, stay at gondwana lodge, day 3: quiver tree forest, drive to fish canyon, day 4: fish river canyon then ~5 hrs drive to lüderitz, day 5: kolmanskop ghost town then ~5 hrs drive to sesriem, day 6: sossusvlei, namib national park, dead vlei, dune 45, dune 7,  then ~5 hrs drive to swakopmund, day 7: swakopmund, walvis bay flamingos, day 8: cape cross, spitzkoppe, day 9: drive to twyfelfontein, day 10: explore damaraland, day 11: drive down to skeleton coast and return to damaraland, day 12-14: etosha national park, return to windhoek, namibia road trip map, is namibia safe, where to camp in namibia, what is the most scenic route in namibia, how long does it take to drive around namibia.

We recommend May to October, the dry season. This is generally the most popular time for a Namibia road trip due to the pleasant weather and excellent wildlife viewing opportunities.

During this period, the weather is cooler and more comfortable, making outdoor activities, such as hiking and camping, more enjoyable. Wildlife congregates around water sources, making it easier to spot animals in national parks and reserves.

It’s the ideal time for visiting the Namib Desert, Etosha National Park, and other outdoor destinations.

It’s easiest to rent a car from Windhoek as this is where you will most likely be flying into. There are plenty of internationally-known companies in the area, though we love using rentalcars.com as an aggregate as it combines all the top car rental companies in the area.

Vehicle Rental and Fuel

It goes without saying that the largest cost for your Namibia road trip is vehicle rental. 

For exploring Namibia’s more rugged terrains and gravel roads, a 4×4 vehicle is often recommended. Prices can start at around USD$80 to $150 per day for a basic 4×4 SUV. If you’re interested in a self-contained camper van, prices can range from $80 to $250 or more per day, depending on the size and features of the camper.

As well as this, fuel is a significant expense on a road trip in Namibia due to the vast distances between attractions. On average, expect to spend around $1.50 per litre for gas. A two-week road trip could cost anywhere from $300 to $600 in fuel, depending on your route.

Accommodation

Accommodation costs vary widely in Namibia. You can find campsites for as little as $10 to $20 per night, while mid-range lodges and guesthouses typically range from $50 to $150 per night. Luxury lodges can go well beyond $200 per night. 

Over the course of a two-week road trip, budget travellers might spend around $140 to $280 on campsites, while mid-range travellers could spend $700 to $2,100 on lodges. If you’re in a campervan, you’ll only need to pay for site fees.

Read Next: Where to Stay in Namibia

We know it’s annoying paying for insurance you’ll (hopefully) never use, but don’t risk it. Travel insurance is highly recommended for a road trip in Namibia. 

The cost of insurance can depend on factors such as your age, coverage type, and the duration of your trip. A comprehensive travel insurance plan for two weeks can range from $50 to $150 per person.

National Park Fees

National park fees vary depending on the park and whether you are a foreign tourist or a Namibian resident. For example, entry to Etosha National Park typically costs around $10 to $15 per day for foreign tourists. 

In total, park fees for a two-week trip might range from $50 to $100 per person, depending on the parks you visit.

Budgeting around $20 to $40 per day per person for meals is a reasonable estimate. This includes groceries, dining at local restaurants, and occasional splurges at higher-end establishments. Over two weeks, this amounts to approximately $280 to $560 per person.

The Ultimate Namibia Itinerary

The first day of your incredible Namibia self drive itinerary begins in the capital, Windhoek. While you’ll have plenty of time to immerse yourself in nature, Windhoek is a cultural gem. 

Don’t miss paying a visit to the Independence Memorial Museum, a striking modern building that provides insights into Namibia’s journey to independence. Pssst… the panoramic view from the rooftop is the best part.

Next, visit Christuskirche, a charming historic Lutheran church known for its unique architecture and serene atmosphere. It’s a short walk from the museum. Head to the nearby Joe’s Beerhouse for lunch, a legendary Windhoek institution offering a wide variety of Namibian and German dishes.

After lunch, visit the Tintenpalast, the Namibian Parliament building. While you can’t enter the building, you can explore the surrounding gardens and enjoy the peaceful vibes. If you’re doing well for time, stroll to the Alte Feste, the old fort, which is now a museum. 

Before you head to dinner, make a pit stop at Post Street Mall, a pedestrian-friendly area filled with craft markets, art galleries, and shops. It’s a great place to pick up souvenirs like locally-made jewellery, crafts, and artwork.

For dinner, we recommend dining at The Stellenbosch Wine Bar and Bistro, which offers a selection of South African and international wines along with delicious steak.

Where to stay: The Weinberg Windhoek

We’re going to ease you into this itinerary slowly, so take advantage of this day’s slower pace. Visiting the Kalahari Desert and staying at the idyllic Gondwana Lodge is an opportunity to immerse yourself in the stark beauty and unique landscapes of this otherworldly region.

Arrive at Gondwana Lodge after a 3 hour drive from Windhoek and settle into your comfortable chalet with views of the surrounding desert. 

Spend the morning on a guided nature walk led by the lodge’s experienced guides – these walks provide fascinating insights into the desert’s flora and fauna. Return to the lodge for a delicious lunch at the on-site restaurant, where you can savour both local and international cuisine.

Take an afternoon game drive in a 4×4 safari vehicle, exploring the Kalahari’s diverse landscapes and looking for desert-adapted wildlife such as oryx, springbok, and meerkats. 

As the day nears its end, visit a scenic viewpoint to watch the sunset over the Kalahari dunes. The colours and shifting sands make for a breathtaking sight. Return to the lodge for dinner and indulge in a meal under the starlit Kalahari sky. The lodge often serves traditional Namibian dishes with a modern twist.

Afterwards, it’s time for something special. The Kalahari Desert offers some of the clearest night skies in the world. Join a stargazing activity provided by the lodge, where you can marvel at the Milky Way and learn about the constellations.

Where to stay: Gondwana Lodge

We hope you’re ready for an incredible day. Begin with a 3-hour drive south towards the Quiver Tree Forest, located near the town of Keetmanshoop.

When you arrive, pay the entrance fee and get ready to explore the unique landscape of the Quiver Tree Forest. These ancient aloe trees are a fascinating sight and are culturally significant to the indigenous San people. Don’t forget to bring your camera!

We recommend enjoying a picnic lunch – there aren’t many places to grab a hot meal in the immediate area.

After visiting the Quiver Tree Forest, embark on the drive to Fish River Canyon, which is approximately 3.5 hours away. Enjoy the scenic journey through the desert landscapes of southern Namibia.

Arrive at Fish River Canyon, one of the largest canyons in the world. Head to one of the viewpoints, like the main viewpoint at Hobas, to marvel at the canyon’s immense scale. Make sure you stick around for sunset to witness a breathtaking glow over Fish River Canyon.

Where to stay: Gondwana Canyon Hotel

Day 4 is all about exploring the Fish River Canyon. While you can drive, it’s a hiker’s paradise. Strap on your boots and get ready to walk. Take in the immense scale of the captivating light and shadows on the canyon walls.

Enjoy a picnic lunch amidst the stunning surroundings of the canyon, before starting your long drive to Lüderitz. Don’t worry though, the journey offers scenic desert vistas and changing landscapes, meaning the 5 hours will fly by.

As you arrive in Lüderitz, check into your chosen accommodation. Freshen up and get ready for a delightful evening. Lüderitz is an excellent spot to stopover for foodies. It’s home to a variety of restaurants, many of which specialise in seafood.

Where to stay: Lüderitz Nest Hotel

The Kolmanskop Ghost Town is only a short drive from Lüderitz. This former diamond mining town has been abandoned and now lies buried in the Namib Desert sands.

While you can wander alone, we highly recommend that you join a guided tour of Kolmanskop to learn about its history, the diamond mining operations, and the town’s decline. 

After the tour, take some time to explore and photograph the well-preserved but slowly deteriorating buildings, abandoned houses, and the famous sand-filled interiors.

Next, it’s time to drive to Sesriem, the gateway to the Namib Desert and Sossusvlei. Check in to your accommodation and prepare for an evening of relaxation or exploration (we will always pick the latter.)

Where to stay: Sossusvlei Lodge

At first glance, this might seem like a jam-packed day. But, don’t worry, today’s attractions are fairly close together and are pretty quick to zip through.

That said, exploring Sossusvlei and its surrounding attractions in Namib-Naukluft National Park in a single day requires an early start and a well-planned itinerary. The best way to experience the dunes is to arrive early and avoid the heat. Get to Namib-Naukluft National Park as it opens (6am in winter and 6:45 in summer), to be among the first to enter.

Pull up to the parking area for Sossusvlei, about 60 km from the park entrance, and take the park shuttle to get closer to the dunes (private vehicles aren’t allowed beyond a certain point).

Explore the iconic Sossusvlei, a salt and clay pan surrounded by towering red sand dunes. Climb one of the dunes to catch a breathtaking sunrise over this unique landscape.

Afterwards, take a short hike to Dead Vlei, an eerily beautiful white clay pan dotted with the skeletons of ancient camel thorn trees. It’s an otherworldly sight and a must-see.

Head back towards the park entrance and make a stop at Dune 45, one of the most photographed dunes in the world. Hike to the summit for more stunning views and perhaps enjoy a picnic brunch in the shadow of the dune. 

Then begin the 5-hour drive to Swakopmund. Get ready for a picturesque journey through the Namib Desert, with stunning desert vistas along the way. You can even take the scenic route through the Kuiseb Canyon for even more breathtaking views.

Read Next: The Ultimate Guide to the Best National Parks in Namibia

Additional Stop: Solitaire

If you’re hungry along the way, you’re in luck as you’ll pass by the small and quirky settlement of Solitaire. It’s a popular stopover point for travellers, dotted with abandoned vehicles like a spooky car graveyard. Swing by here to see the car wrecks of Solitaire and try Moose McGregor’s delicious apple pie.

Shortly before arriving at Swakopmund, hit up Dune 7. This is Namibia’s highest dune and it offers plenty of fun. If you’re after a thrill, spend a couple of hours sandboarding here before a short drive to Swakopmund. 

Where to stay: Swakopmund Sands

Spend the majority of day 7 exploring Swakopmund, a charming African town with distinctive German influence. You could head off on a quad bike tour and hit up the nearby Namib sand dunes, or spend the morning wandering around town. 

Whatever you do, make sure to grab lunch at the Old Steamer restaurant at the Alte Brücke Resort. It’s one of the top places to dine in Swakopmund, though there are plenty of cosy cafes dotted around the coastline.

Then head to Walvis Bay – the lagoon hosts an abundance of Flamingos. It’s a photographer’s paradise as you can capture these elegant creatures in their natural habitat, against a vast desert backdrop. Take a leisurely boat tour through the shallow waters to get up close and personal with these graceful creatures and witness their synchronised movements.

Day 8 of your Namibia adventure brings another early wakeup call. The drive from Swakopmund to Cape Cross takes approximately 2 hours.

First stop: the Cape Cross Seal Reserve. Here, you’ll find one of the largest Cape fur seal colonies in the world. You could easily spend a couple of hours admiring these ridiculously cute creatures. The viewing platforms offer excellent vantage points, and you can take a guided tour for additional insights into the seals’ behaviour and the history of the area.

Leave Cape Cross and drive south towards the Spitzkoppe, which is about a 2 to 2.5-hour drive from Cape Cross. Along the way, enjoy the changing landscapes as you move from the coastal region to the remarkable Spitzkoppe Mountains.

As you drive into Spitzkoppe, you’ll be greeted by the stunning and unique rock formations that have earned this place the nickname “The Matterhorn of Africa.” Pay the park entry fee and obtain any necessary permits before heading inside.

Ready to hike? Spend your afternoon exploring the otherworldly rock formations and take a hike to the top of Spitzkoppe for breathtaking panoramic views of the surrounding desert. Don’t forget to visit the famous “Bushman’s Paradise” rock paintings, which provide a glimpse into the area’s history and culture. Bed down in Spitzkoppe for the evening.

Where to stay: Spitzkoppen Lodge 

Driving from Spitzkoppe to Twyfelfontein is an approximately 4-hour journey through the dramatic landscapes of Namibia. 

Before leaving Spitzkoppe, ensure that you have a full tank of gas, sufficient drinking water, snacks, and any other supplies you may need for the drive, as services and amenities are pretty limited along this stretch.

Arrive in Twyfelfontein, a UNESCO World Heritage Site known for its impressive rock engravings and paintings that date back thousands of years. Marvel at the alien-like paintings that have been preserved ever since they were discovered in 1912.

Spend your afternoon exploring the area – taking a guided tour to visit the ancient rock art sites is a brilliant way to learn about the culture and history of the region.

Where to stay: Camp Doros or Twyfelfontein Country Lodge

Get ready to spend a slower day exploring Damaraland. This area is home to remarkable desert-adapted wildlife – and it’s the only place where you can see desert elephants. You can either head out on your own or join a guided drive to seek out these animals.

In the late afternoon, head to a scenic viewpoint (the entire area is full of cliffs) to enjoy the breathtaking sunset over the desert landscape. Damaraland offers some of the best sunsets in Namibia.

We recommend stocking up on food for this portion of your Namibia road trip. While you can grab your main meals from your camp, there’s not really anywhere to grab snacks until you head out on the road again on day 11.

Spend your evening stargazing – the clear desert skies provide an ideal setting for viewing the stars and constellations.

Where to stay: Wilderness Damaraland Camp

We strongly believe that you cannot visit this part of Namibia without making a detour to the Skeleton Coast. Start your day bright and early and prepare for the drive along C34 road, spanning a couple of hours each way.

As you drive through this remote region, you’ll encounter breathtaking desert landscapes, dunes, and unique geological formations. You’ll also be able to spot the eerie shipwrecks and desolate beauty the area is known for. 

We recommend at least driving up towards Mowe Bay to see the best of the coastline. Explore the coast and take in the atmosphere of this otherworldly place before heading back towards your accommodation in Damaraland.

Exploring Etosha National Park over two days is ideal. Begin your day by entering Etosha National Park through the Andersson Gate, and make your way to the park’s eastern section.

Then it’s time for a game drive around Fischer’s Pan, an excellent area for birdwatching and spotting zebras and wildebeests. Keep your eyes open (and your fingers crossed) for the elusive black rhino.

When hunger strikes, head to the Okaukuejo Rest Camp for lunch. The camp’s restaurant offers a variety of meals and a waterhole where you can watch wildlife while dining.

Explore the vast Etosha Salt Pan, the park’s defining feature. This seemingly endless expanse of white salt is a unique sight. Drive along the pan’s edges and stop at various viewpoints to observe the wildlife attracted to its waterholes.

Read Next: 14 Incredible Namibia Safaris

Spend the evening at the waterhole near Namutoni Rest Camp. These waterholes are illuminated at night, providing incredible opportunities to view nocturnal animals such as lions, elephants, and rhinos. It’s a nature lover’s dream come true.

Begin your second day with an early morning game drive in the western section of the park. The area around Okondeka and Olifantsrus waterholes is known for fantastic wildlife sightings. Head to the Out of Africa Lodge for lunch, located near the southern park entrance. 

In the afternoon, venture out of the park to visit Onguma Game Reserve, a private reserve located on the eastern border of Etosha. Here, you can enjoy additional game drives and possibly spot predators like cheetahs and leopards. 

On day 14, it’s time to drive back to Windhoek. It should take around 4.5 hours to make the journey.

Where to stay: Namutoni Rest Camp

Top Namibia Itinerary Tips

Namibia is generally considered a safe destination for travellers. The country has a low crime rate, and violent crime against tourists is rare. However, like in any destination, it’s essential to take common-sense precautions.

There are police on main roads who often stop and check documents. It’s not uncommon to see them hiding in bushes with a speedometer (this sounds strange but we promise it’s true.)

Road safety should also be a priority, as some roads can be in poor condition, and wildlife can pose a hazard, especially in rural areas. 

While Namibia is generally safe, we don’t recommend randomly setting up camp at the side of the road. 

There are several campsites in Etosha National Park, such as Okaukuejo, Halali, and Namutoni, which offer great wildlife viewing opportunities, especially around waterholes.

As well as this, various lodges and private reserves in Namibia offer well-maintained campsites. These often come with more amenities, including clean facilities, electricity, and dining options. You’ll find these near Damaraland, Sossusvlei and the Fish River Canyon.

Or, for a unique desert camping experience, consider camping in the remote areas of the Namib Desert, such as the Naukluft Mountains or the Spitzkoppe rock formations. Be prepared for a more rustic experience, as these locations often lack facilities.

When camping in Namibia, make sure to carry sufficient water, food, and camping gear, especially if you plan on wild camping. Respect the environment and wildlife, and always adhere to local regulations. 

One of the most scenic routes in Namibia is the drive along the C34 passing the Skeleton Coast. This desolate and rugged coastline offers breathtaking views of the Atlantic Ocean meeting the barren desert landscape. 

The C12 and C14 gravel roads span from Fish River Canyon to Swakopmund are equally as beautiful.

The time it takes to drive around Namibia can vary depending on your chosen route and the number of stops you make along the way.  But, as a general rule, we recommend spending 2 weeks exploring this gorgeous country.

If you’re planning a circular route that covers the major highlights, budget at least a couple of weeks for your journey. This will allow you to explore Windhoek, the Namib Desert, Etosha National Park, the Skeleton Coast, and other key destinations without feeling too rushed. 

Just keep in mind that Namibia is a vast country (the 15th-largest in Africa by land) with long driving distances, so plan accordingly. And prepare an epic playlist.

Did you find this article interesting? If so, you might also like…

Where to Stay in Namibia

The Ultimate Guide to The Best National Parks in Namibia

14 Incredible Namibia Safaris

Disclaimer: Some of our articles contain affiliate links to products, hotels, and tours we love. When you purchase something through these links, we earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. Thanks for supporting us! 😊

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Namibia 2 Week Itinerary: How To Have An Epic Namibia Road Trip

Namibia’s vast, dramatic landscape is best explored by car, so check out my Namibia 2-week itinerary to help you plan your own Namibia self-drive road trip.

Namibia is such a captivating, beguiling country, that I feel changed by my time there – like I left a small part of my heart in that beautiful, brutal place and it has been calling me back ever since. I’ve never driven through scenery so spectacular and varied and I’ve never witnessed, in such a visceral way, the work of the elements. Namibia’s mountains, craters, canyons and vast sand seas have been forged by violent forces and the relentless energy of wind and water over billions of years – and I found it awe-inspiring .

This itinerary is for 2 weeks in Namibia, but I have also included ideas for those who have more time to explore this exciting country. I hope it will inspire you to consider Namibia for an epic road trip adventure!

Disclosure: This article contains affiliate links. These are links to products or experiences I recommend and if you were to buy something after clicking on them, I might earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. Any earnings go towards the upkeep of this blog, which I appreciate.

Table of Contents

Before You Book a Namibia Road Trip…

Why take a namibia road trip.

Namibia is probably the most exhilarating country I have been to so far and I think you should consider travelling to Namibia if you are interested in any of the following:

• Dramatic landscapes, including mountains, canyons and mesas
• Deserts – the Namib Desert is the oldest desert in the world, and one of the few places on earth where the desert meets the sea. The sand dunes here are just breathtaking.
• Unique cultures – there are tribes in Namibia that maintain a traditional way of life including the Himba and San people.
• Wild animals, including the Big Five (lions, leopards, rhinoceroses, elephants, and buffalo), all of which can be found on safari in Namibia

And you should specifically consider a self-drive Namibia road trip if:

• You love open roads through spectacular scenery
• AND you have an adventurous spirit (some of Namibia’s roads are made of gravel, sand or salt, so it helps if you’re up for a challenge!)

For more info and practical guidance on driving in Namibia, including what Namibian roads are like, check out my post on tips for a Namibia self-drive adventure .

How Long Do You Need For A Road Trip In Namibia?

Namibia is a big country with a lot of beauty to experience, so you could explore it for months and not get bored.  However, I know a lot of people can’t spare that much time from their jobs and, like me, still want to explore the world anyway.

I spent two weeks in Namibia and I saw and experienced so many wonderful things during that time. While I wish I could have spent longer there, I came back richer in memories and inspired by this vast, beautiful land.  Therefore, I think that if you have at least two weeks, you will have a great time in Namibia. 

I’ve based this Namibia 2-week itinerary on my own Namibia road trip, with a few tweaks – based on what I would do differently if I could do it all again.   

When Is Best To Go To Namibia?

You can visit Namibia year-round, but in the wet season from November/December to February/March, you may find flash floods can occur, which could affect the roads and your route.

I went to Namibia in September, which is in the dry season – and a good time of year to see wildlife, as they congregate in the main water holes, making them easier to see.

How Do You Get To Namibia?

Clearly, the answer depends on where you’re coming from, but most people either fly into Hosea Kutako International Airport, just outside the capital of Namibia, Windhoek, or they drive overland from South Africa.

This Namibia 2-week itinerary assumes you’ll fly in because that does seem to be the most common starting point for those on a Namibia road trip.

Check Skyscanner for flight deals – you may find you need to change in South Africa, as there are limited direct flights to Windhoek.

Namibia 2 Week Itinerary: At A Glance

Here’s the short version of what’s included in my Namibia 2-week itinerary:

• Day 1: Windhoek (stay 1 night)
• Day 2: Drive to Namibrand Nature Reserve (stay 2 nights)
• Day 3: Explore the plains and dunes of the dreamy Namibrand.
• Day 4: Drive to Sossusvlei (stay 3 nights)
• Days 5-6: Explore Sossusvlei and Deadvlei – the most iconic location in Namibia
• Day 7: Drive to Swakopmund (stay 2 nights)
• Day 8: Sandwich Harbour – where the Namib desert meets the sea
• Day 9: Drive to Damaraland, via the Skeleton Coast (stay 2 nights)
• Day 10: Either Rhino tracking or a cultural tour
• Day 11: Drive to Etosha National Park (stay 3 nights)
• Days 12-13: Wildlife safari! 
• Day 14: Drive to Okonjima (stay 1 night) to see leopards and cheetahs

Day 15: Drive to Windhoek to fly home

Namibia 2 week itinerary: in detail.

Here’s all the details for my Namibia 2-week itinerary, including things to do, where to stay and where to eat.

Please note the drive times are approximate and may vary according to the condition of the roads when you visit and the kind of car you have (for example, a 4WD will likely take less time over gravel roads) – and they don’t include stops.

Day 1: Windhoek

After arriving at Hosea Kutako International Airport, pick up your hire car. Most hire companies are located at the airport, and you might find the pick-up counters to be very busy because self-drive road trips are a common way people explore Namibia.

Once you have your car, drive into Windhoek itself and stock up on supplies that you will want as back-up in the car during your road trip: plenty of bottled water, plus non-perishable food or snacks to sustain you, should you be stranded in some remote place for a while.

After this, drive to your hotel and get dinner an early night because you’ll be hitting the road bright and early the next day!

Driving : 45km; approximately 40 minutes.

Accommodation

I stayed at the Olive Grove Guesthouse in Windhoek, which had a large charming bedroom, and they offered yummy food and great hospitality.

Day 2: Drive to Namibrand Nature Reserve

This is the day you really start your Namibia road trip adventure, and you have a big drive ahead. So start early, around 7 am.

Head south from Windhoek.  The tarmac B1 road will take you all the way to Mariental, which is a good place to stop for lunch or to pick up something to eat later on if you’re not hungry when you pass.  This road is amazing: smooth and straight, with some great scenery along the way (and you might see wild animals, too).

At Mariental, you’ll turn right onto the C19 road, which is paved until Maltahohe, when it becomes gravel, which will slow you down.  Turn off the C19 onto the D827 road.  This route goes pretty much all the way down from the plateau of eastern Namibia into the lower-lying area in the west.  Be warned: the downhill bit can be quite twisty and bumpy!

Once you hit the C27, head north for a bit, then take a left into the Namibrand Nature Reserve, after which you’ll follow a private road to the office – and look out for wildlife along the way!  NB. I couldn’t find an exact marker in GoogleMaps for the Namibrand entrance – so in my map, I have placed a marker based on where I remember it being – but it would be best to check with them before setting off (and in any case, there’s a sign, so you’ll know it when you see it).

Ps. don’t worry if the directions are too detailed to follow: I’ve included a route map later on!

Driving : 520km, approx. 6-7 hours (more with stops).

The Destination

The Namibrand Nature Reserve is a private conservancy within the Namib Desert, which offers sustainable safari opportunities amongst sand dunes, desert plains and rocky mountains. There’s an abundance of wildlife including zebras, ostriches, baboons, oryx, springbok and many other kinds of antelope.

You’ll park your car at the Wolwedans office and they will run you and your luggage to the camp, which is accessible only by driving over sand dunes – so you’ll be grateful an expert is driving you!

You can read more about the Namibrand in my post about exploring the Namib Desert .

Wolwedans Dunes Camp – 2 nights.

Wolwedans have a selection of gorgeous, fairly exclusive camps within the Namibrand Nature Reserve – and they are among the most exclusive lodges in Namibia . I stayed at Boulder Safari Camp , which is the most remote – it is just five cabins nestled next to a huge pile of boulders in the middle of the plains.

However, since I stayed here, they have introduced a 3-night minimum, so I suggest you pick one of the others, instead (unless you have more time to spend). We passed a couple of them on some of our safari drives and the Dunes Camp looks amazing!

Ps. If you do really fancy Boulders, you’ll need to add at least an extra night to this itinerary, and also to drive to a different office, as they run a different route to Boulders.

Day 3: Explore Namibrand Nature Reserve

Wolwedans, unlike other camps, includes all excursions within its rate, so I encourage you to take advantage of this!

I thoroughly enjoyed my time at the Namibrand and can recommend the following:

• Safari drive in the dunes, on which an expert guide will tell you all about the fascinating wildlife that makes the desert their home 
• Sundowner / night drive. Mine was amazing: we drove out to a remote place and after we watched the sunset over the mountains, we were lit only by moonlight – I was amazed to see the moonlight create shadows!
• Sunrise drive: you’ll be driven out to a spot on the dunes from which you can drink tea or coffee as you watch the sunrise. It was incredible!

Day 4: Drive to Sossusvlei

After you are reunited with your car at the Wolwedans reception, hit the C27 and head north towards Sossusvlei , a really special place in the heart of the Namib desert.

Driving : 85km; approximately 2-2.5 hours. I remember this stretch of the road having some fairly chunky stones, one of which gave our car a slow puncture, so drive carefully (and check out my tips for driving in Nambia ).

Kulala Desert Lodge – 3 nights.

I stayed in Kulala Desert Lodge and had a great time. It’s not as bougie and exclusive as Wolwedans – but few places in Namibia are!  It is also cheaper. A big plus is that they are located really close to the entrance to the Namib-Naukluft National Park, which is great if you would like to get into Sossusvlei to see the sunrise because the drive will be shorter (and you won’t have to get up quite so early!).

Days 5 & 6: Explore Sossusvlei

You can drive yourself into Sossusvlei (you just need to pay the entrance fee, and take a shuttle bus over the sandy bit right at the end). However, Kulala (or any of the other camps, if you choose a different one) can arrange a number of different guided tours as well, which I suggest you consider (although they will not be included in your nightly rate).

Read my post about things to do in the Namib Desert for more details, but in short, there’s plenty to do in the Sossusvlei area, including:

• Climbing one of the massive sand dunes, such as Dune 45 or Big Daddy (the huge one next to Deadvlei)
• Wandering Deadvlei , an eerie area of white clay pans, twisted dead trees and towering red sand dunes
• A Hot air balloon ride over the desert

I’ve allowed two days to explore Sossusvlei because I only gave myself one on my own Namibia road trip and I regretted it. The area is pretty big and the weather can affect the light so much that I think it is worth having two days to give yourself to see more of the place and to see it in a different light and at different times of the day.

Day 7: Drive to Swakopmund

At the half-point of your Namibia 2-week itinerary, from Sossusvlei, you will head north and then west towards Swakopmund . The road does a kind of right angle because it has to circumnavigate the Namib Desert sand sea.

This is another long day of driving, in part because the road is quite bumpy, so best to start early. Along the way, there are a few places to stop, including:

• Solitaire , a small town with an interesting café and some vintage cars slowly
• The Tropic of Capricorn sign

Driving : 380km; approx 6 hours. I remember this road being especially bumpy around the Kuiseb river crossing and around the stretch where it is joined by the D1982 road.

Cornerstone Guest House – 2 nights.

I stayed here when I was in Swakopmund and it was a great base. There were laundry facilities, which came in handy, and they had great food.

The town of Swakopmund has some good options for dinner in the evening, including The Tug near the seas and Jetty 1905 at the end of the pier (it’s quite an experience walking out there and back at night!).

Day 8: Sandwich Harbour

Swakopmund is a great place from which to explore some of the spectacular coastlines of Namibia, and one of the most famous spots is Sandwich Harbour : where the towering sand dunes of the Namib desert face into the fierce Atlantic Ocean. 

To get to this exhilarating place, you must first drive along the beach between the dunes and the ocean, which is treacherous when the tide is in – so don’t attempt it yourself! You must go with someone who knows the area!

I did a full-day tour with Turnstone Tours , and it was one of the most visceral and fun things I’ve ever done! There are other Sandwich Harbour guided tours available, including this Sandwich Harbour sunset tour .

Again, you can read more about this in my post on the Namib Desert .

Day 9: Drive to Damaraland, via the Skeleton Coast

You’re heading north today and will drive up Namibia’s notorious Skeleton Coast . Much of this is a National Park, which is gated with a skull and crossbones if you weren’t already feeling trepidatious about this place!  You’ll need to leave your details and the time you enter (then you’ll do the same when you leave).

Along the way, there’s plenty to see including:

• Eerie shipwrecks
• A huge seal colony at Cape Cross
• Wild, desolate landscape!

There are two routes you can take to Damaraland:

• Along the C34 up the Skeleton Coast until you reach a turning for the C35 towards Uis and then head east past the Brandberg Massive, which you could stop at to see ancient cave paintings
• Up the Skeleton Coast for longer, until you reach a turning for the C39 and then head east, via Bergsig.

On my trip, we did the latter, mainly because my husband was loving the smooth salt road on the C34 and because we both loved the desolate landscape. However, if you take this route, note there is very little civilisation on this route – no towns nor petrol stations for miles and miles (it was wonderful!)!

Either way, you leave the sand dunes behind on this leg of the trip, heading inland and into higher ground characterised by canyons and mesas.

Driving : 454km, approx. 7 hours.

Grootberg Lodge – 2 nights.

Grootberg Lodge is a place I saw on Instagram and began to dream about staying there: it is perched on the edge of a cliff overlooking a vast canyon. It just looked so stunning, I was determined to stay there. And the experience lived up to the expectation: it was beautiful, and we were so well looked after by the team there. It is also set up to benefit its community directly, as it is wholly owned by a conservancy. It was one of the best lodges in Namibia in which I stayed.

Day 10: Rhino tracking or a Cultural Tour

Grootberg offers a number of activities, which you can sign up for, including rhino tracking, elephant tracking and a cultural tour.

I did a short sundowner drive around the canyon rim and then spent a day chilling by the freshwater pool. After so much activity over the previous week and a half, I felt like a laid-back day – and what a beautiful place it was in which to relax!

Day 11: Drive to Etosha National Park

From Grootberg, it’s a relatively short drive to your next stop: Etosha National Park , the prime destination for wildlife safari in Namibia! Head east on the C40, then take the D2694 and the D2710 until you reach the C38 when you’ll head north to Etosha National Park.

Driving : 292km, approx. 4.5 hours.

Okaukuejo Camp has several options for accommodation, ranging from camping to some deluxe chalets.

This is the main camp within Etosha National Park and is a good one because it has a large watering hole, which draws the animals to the edge of the camp, where you can see them really clearly. There are even benches from which you can observe the animals, safely (and silently).

For more information on Etosha’s accommodation, I cover that in this post about Safari in Namibia .

Days 12 & 13: Safari in Etosha

Etosha National Park is home to four of the Big Five (elephants, rhinos, lions and leopards) plus many other wonderful animals including giraffe, zebra, cheetahs, wildebeest, and a huge number of antelope.

There are two options for exploring the park:

• Guided safari – which is the best option for seeing the big, exciting animals, in my experience
• Self-drive safari – provided you follow the park’s guidance which is there for your safety.

For more info, I do give more details about seeing wildlife in Etosha in my Namibia Safari post.

Day 14: Drive to Okonjima

If you haven’t had your fill of wild animals yet, I recommend you stop at Okonjima for at least one night. There are more details in my safari post, but in short, Ononjima is the home of the Africat Foundation and specialises in big cat conservation. It is a great place to see cheetahs and also leopards – which are especially hard to spot in the wild.

I suggest you get there early so that you can get a safari drive in on the first night and one the next morning also, if you have time.

Okonjima is located just off the lovely smooth B1 road, south of Etosha, via Outjo.

Driving : 250km, approx. 3 hours.

Okonjima Plains Camp – 1 night. 

I stayed in a very, very nice cabin within the Okonjima Plains Camp . It had panoramic views across the plains and I saw warthogs waddling by – it was wonderful! They do also have other accommodation options at Okonjima, including camping spots. 

On your final day in Namibia, you will be heading south to Windhoek to catch your flight home.

Based on my experience, I imagine you will be doing that with a heart warmed by African hospitality and your memory full of breath-taking experiences and beauty.

Driving : 265km, approx. 3-3.5 hours.

If You Have More Than Two Weeks For Your Namibia Road Trip…

If you can spare more time in Namibia, that is not a problem – there is plenty to see and do in Namibia. Here’s what I suggest for the extra days:

• A scenic flight over Namibia – to see that glorious landscape from above and to see some of southern Namibia, including the ghost town of Kolmanskop and the living town of Luderitz as a bonus – check out my post all about flying over Namibia for info and inspiration.
• Stay a night or two on the Skeleton Coast , rather than driving through it. There’s a remote lodge called the Shipwreck Lodge quite far north.
• An extra day or two exploring the canyons of Damaraland
• An extra day or two on safari in Etosha National Park or at Okonjima
• A couple of days in the wet area of the Caprivi Strip in eastern Namibia, where you can see hippos and water buffalo.

And if you have plenty of extra time, consider driving further south, for example, to see the south overland, including the Fish River Canyon , Kolmanskop and Luderitz.

Map: Namibia 2 Week Itinerary

Here’s a route map of this Namibia Road Trip route, with key attractions marked:

How To Plan A Namibia Road Trip

I planned my trip with the help of Expert Africa , who were brilliant!  You can definitely plan a trip independently, the same way you would anywhere else in the world – and I hope my itinerary will help you with that.

However, if you want a guiding hand, and access to some local expertise, consider getting these guys to put a package together for you.  I’m not an affiliate of theirs, but they really did help me out, so I’m happy to recommend them.  

The Last Word

I hope this Namibia 2-week itinerary is useful and that you enjoy your time in Namibia! Do check out my post on the practical details of driving in Namibia . If you have any questions about travelling in Namibia let me know – I don’t get bored of talking about this wondrous place.

If you want more inspiration about Namibia, do look at these photographs of the Namib desert from the air – as beautiful as Namibia is from the road, it is even more spectacular from the sky!

If you like this article, I'd be delighted if you shared it!

About The Author

Martha Knight

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4 thoughts on “namibia 2 week itinerary: how to have an epic namibia road trip”.

How are you?

First, your post is great and it os very helpfull

Me and my boyfriend we are on engaged and we are planning to part of your honneymoon in namibia in September

We have spotted 13 nights in Namíbia where we have to alocate the first and last night on Windhoek as we have our flight to Mauritias (second paradise in our honeymoon) at 9am.

I was thinking: 1- Windhoek 2,3- Namibrand nature reserve 4- sossulvei 5,6 – swakopmud 7,8 – damarland 9,10,11- etosha (we were thinking to split 2 nights in okaulejo and 1 in the eastern part on mokujita resort – do you think is worth it or better to be based in just One place?) 12- okonijma 13- Windhoek

In the beggining we just had 12 nights and after reading your paper I had it in sossuvlei do you think is a good idea ?

I would like to know how much do you spend on average in tours and per day..

Thanks you !!! Sofia

What a great idea for your honeymoon! I loved both Namibia and Mauritius. If it was me, I’d definitely add at least one extra night in Sossusvlei, because it’s not a quick visit: it takes a while to drive into the park and the area itself is quite large, so walking around it takes hours. You won’t be in and out in a couple of hours; it’s a half day excursion minimum. You could see if you could go in the afternoon after driving from the Namibrand, but you will be rushing, I think (both to get there and because the park closes around sunset). And in any case, the best time to get into the park is sunrise, when it first opens and the light is gorgeous, so I’d recommend going into Sossusvlei on the morning of day 5. But if you also need to get to Swakopmund on day 5, you won’t have time to enjoy Sossusvlei and to make the drive to Swakopmund before nightfall. So I would stay two nights at least

Hi there loved the post. Did you do this road trip as a solo female and would you recommend that is safe to do?

Hi, no I wasn’t there solo – I explored Namibia with my husband. I do know someone who recently explored Namibia as a solo female traveller, but I am not sure I would do it myself, tbh. Some of the roads are very remote

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Epic 2-Week Namibia Road Trip: How To Plan Your Namibia Itinerary

We have just come back from the most amazing 2-week Namibia road trip. This was our second time visiting Namibia. The first was in 2010 when we backpacked with our 2-man tent through Eastern and Southern Africa.

It was such a special country that we vowed to come back. When we felt that the kids were old enough to appreciate the magnificence of Namibia, we started planning our epic 2-week Namibia road trip.

Our self-drive Namibia itinerary included self-drive and guided safaris in Etosha and tracking elusive desert elephants in the Hoanib Valley.

We met a lovely Himba family and learned about their way of life. We discovered rock carvings in Damaraland and enjoyed incredible sunsets and breathtaking scenery.

We experienced two very unique wildlife tours in Swakopmund and finished with some time in the sand dunes. Throughout our 2 weeks in Namibia, we met the friendliest people.

If you are considering a Namibian self-drive itinerary with kids (or without!), our Namibia road trip blog goes into a lot of detail to help you plan your own epic adventure.

This itinerary is a loop starting and ending in Windhoek so you can do it in reverse if that suits you better.

Our self-drive Namibia holiday was the trip of a lifetime but I will caveat that with saying there was a lot of driving. And most of it is on gravel roads. Despite this, this 2-week Namibia itinerary is up there with the most epic road trips ever.

We have also included variations to our own self-drive Namibia vacation in case our route doesn’t quite suit your own Namibia road trip with kids.

See our post on the best places to visit in Namibia for more inspiration for your road trip planning.

This post contains affiliate links. If you click on one and book or buy something, we may earn a small commission but this is at no extra cost to you. Thank you for your support.

Namibia is very easy to navigate yourself and this is a 2-week self drive Namibian itinerary, but if you feel that you would like someone to take care of the logistics for you, then we highly recommend Go2Africa .

They are specialists in planning family-friendly itineraries in Africa and will organise the most amazing adventure for you.

First, a few tips on visiting Namibia for the first time.

General tips on a Namibia self-drive itinerary with kids

Here are just a few things you need to know about travelling to Namibia with kids and things that will help you plan your two week Namibian itinerary:

Birth certificates – if you are travelling to Namibia with kids, at the time of our travels in April 2023, long form birth certificates were required for each child.

Malaria – malarial risk is low in Namibia, especially during the dry winter season but there is still a risk. There can be mosquitoes around so we recommend packing mosquito repellant in your family travel first aid kit and covering up during sunrise and sunset. Also speak to your healthcare provider to discuss antimalarials. If you’re at all concerned, see here for safaris in non-malarial areas .

Safari with kids – we highly recommend buying a couple of Namibia focused animal spotting books for kids. Our kids loved this mammal one and this bird one . See here for more tips on going on safari with kids .

Weather – many parts of Namibia are very hot and dry but there is a wet season. The rainy season runs from October to April when temperatures can soar and roads can become impassable.

Best time to visit Namibia – July to October is the best time to visit Namibia, especially if you are wanting to see wildlife. The temperatures are a bit lower and there is less chance of rain. This is also the busy season and lodges can get booked up months in advance.

What to pack for Namibia – in general, light, long sleeved clothing is recommended for safaris. The temperature rarely drops below 20°C in most of Namibia (and can get up to 50°C). However, if you are visiting Swakopmund or Walvis Bay, you should make sure you have some warm layers as it can get much cooler on the coast.

Driving in Namibia – it is easy to drive in Namibia in the sense that there aren’t many other cars on the road. You will encounter gravel roads and some barely gravel roads. The danger mostly lies with other people driving far too fast and encountering sudden dust clouds. Take your time and enjoy the views and try to avoid driving at night. Always fill up with petrol when you see a filling station. You never know when the next one may be. Be prepared for dust to get everywhere!

4×4 or car? – If you are driving in rainy season, it is recommended that you get a 4×4. It doesn’t have to be a fully equipped 4×4 with roof tent. We visited at the end of the rainy season and rented a Nissan X-Trail through Avis via RentalCars and it was fine. On a previous trip, we drove from Botswana, down through Namibia to South Africa in a VW Polo. You just need to be sensible and research your route and decide what type of vehicle will be most suitable at the time you are going. If you want a 4×4, Namibia2Go was recommended to us.

Water – in most places it is best to drink bottled water. Also keep a good supply of water in your car. Like petrol, shops can be few and far between when you get out of the larger cities.

Sim card – if you don’t want to incur charges using international roaming, it is a good idea to get a Namibian Sim card. You can get one at the airport on arrival. You will need to show your passport.

Our epic 2-week Namibia road trip

This 2-week Namibia road trip for families shows a day by day account of where we went, what we did and where we stayed.

Our 14 day Namibia itinerary does include a section which is aimed at more adventurous travellers, but it is easy to subsitute this. We will explain how later.

Map of our 2-week Namibia road trip

Day 1 – Arrival in Windhoek

Windhoek airport is very small and easy to navigate. If you are picking up your car at the airport, you will find the car rental companies just after baggage reclaim.

If you are picking up a more specialist 4×4, you will most likely find that the offices are closer to the centre of Windhoek – although some of them deliver to the airport.

Assuming you want to spend your first day of your 2-week Namibian itinerary in Windhoek, here are a few suggestions on things to do.

• Christuskirche is Windhoek’s best-known landmark. It is a church that almost resembles a gingerbread house.
• 4 hour city and township tour
• National Museum of Namibia

Whilst in Windhoek, take this opportunity to visit the supermarket and stock up on some supplies, especially if you are camping.

Accommodation in Windhoek

We can recommend Chameleon Backpackers as a budget option. They have a lovely pool area and family rooms. It is so friendly and welcoming.

If you want a self-catering option, we have also stayed at Alluring Self-Catering and loved it. They have a shared pool and the 2-bedroom apartment is modern and clean.

If you are looking for a hotel, we recommend The Hilton with large family rooms, outdoor pool and fabulous roof terrace.

Restaurants in Windhoek

There are lots of restaurants to choose from in Windhoek but first time visitors can’t miss trying Joe’s Beer House which has been going since 1991 and is an institution.

People come for the eclectic / bizarre collection of artefacts and the chance to try some exotic sounding African meats including Kudu, Zebra, Springbok and Crocodile).

Day 2 – Windhoek to Etosha National Park

The first stage of your two week Namibia itinerary from Windhoek to Etosha National Park is very straightforward and is paved all the way.

Depending on where you are staying, the journey may take around 4 hours (to western Etosha) or 5.5 hours to eastern Etosha.

Variation 1 : If you want to make an overnight stop on the way to Etosha to break up the journey, we recommend Okonjima – home to the Africat Foundation. There are lots of activities here including tracking Cheetah. Alternatively, just stop here for lunch and push on.

Variation 2 : If you are driving up to western Etosha, you could pop in to the Cheetah Conservation Fund near Outjo.

We stayed 2 nights in eastern Etosha at Onguma Forest Camp which was perfect for families with lovely family suites, a lovely pool overlooking a busy waterhole and an excellent nature walk for the kids.

Note that the Forest Camp is not fenced so they prefer children to be over 7 years old.

Onguma has a portfolio of properties to suit all budgets. 13 years before, we stayed at the luxurious Onguma Fort and also the Bush Camp which is fenced and suitable for kids of all ages.

Finally, they have a fabulous campsite with excellent facilities including private bathroom and bbq area and you can use the pool at Bush Camp.

Onguma can arrange game drives for you in their private game reserve. Alternatively, you are right next to Namutoni Gate, one of the main gates into Etosha National Park and can do your own self-drive safari. This is a much more affordable way to go on safari .

We arrived late to our accommodation so we just relaxed and enjoyed the pool. After a long drive, we didn’t want to go straight out on a game drive.

In the evening we saw honey badgers running through camp as well as many giraffe coming to drink at the waterhole.

Day 3 – Etosha National Park

We had a kids’ bush walk arranged in the morning through Onguma Forest Camp. We accompanied them because it was almost a half day activity, taking place in the neighbouring Bush Camp (which is fenced).

Even though it meant missing a morning game drive, it was so worthwhile doing.

The kids loved it and we found it really informative. As well as learning about the flora and fauna of Etosha, there were activities like sling shot practice, archery and making bead bracelets.

We were back at the lodge for lunch and some afternoon pooltime and then set off on an afternoon game drive in Etosha National Park.

If it is your first time in Etosha National Park, here are a few tips you might find helpful.

Etosha National Park :

• Etosha National Park entrance fees are NAD 150 per adult and free for children under 16. Cars with less than 10 seats are NAD 50.
• It is open from sunrise to sunset. Check at the gate before you enter what time this is. In April it was 7am to 7pm.
• You need a form of ID (Passport or Drivers Licence) to enter the park.
• Etosha National Park is 20,000 km² and the roads are all gravel. A high clearance vehicle is preferred but not essential. A 4×4 is not necessary.
• The speed limit is 60km/h (although this is even a bit fast for spotting wildlife). Make sure to plan your route so you are not rushing to the gate to get out before the park closes.
• You can’t see the Big 5 because there are no buffalo and if you are doing a self-drive safari, sightings or lion, cheetah and leopard are rare (but not impossible).
• Visiting waterholes at just after sunrise and just before sunset is the best way to see animals during the dry season. In the rainy season, long grass makes it harder to see animals other than plains animals which are plentiful (zebra, giraffe , wildebeest etc). Bird life is also prolific in the rainy season.
• There are a few rest stops around the park and 6 rest camps in the park. Accommodation in the camps is fairly basic. You must book these around a year in advance !
• There are three petrol stations in Etosha (Okajuejo, Namutoni and Halali).

Here are some of our photos from our game drives in Etosha National Park.

See also our guide to visiting Etosha National Park which explains what you can expect to see during the different seasons.

Day 4 – Etosha National Park

We drove through Etosha to get to our next accommodation, Etosha Mountain Lodge .

We entered via Von Lindquist Gate near Namuntoni Camp in the east of Etosha and exited at Anderson’s Gate near Okaukuejo Camp in the west – giving us almost a full day in the park.

The drive from Onguma Forest Camp to Etosha Mountain Lodge took 7 hours. 5 of these hours we spent game viewing while crossing Etosha NP so that part didn’t seem so long. The final stretch is what nearly broke us!

Etosha Mountain Lodge is part of the Natural Selection group that has properties in Namibia, Botswana and South Africa.

It is located in the Etosha Heights Private Reserve, sharing a (broken) fence with Etosha National Park.

Variation : The drive from Onguma to Etosha Mountain Lodge takes a full day. If you want to break it up, an alternative would be to stay in Okaukuejo (a government camp inside the park with an amazing waterhole).

There is also Ongava Lodge which is close to Etosha and set in a private game reserve. Ideally kids should be 5+ here.

For us it was a long day of driving. However, once we arrived at Etosha Mountain Lodge, we were made to feel like royalty.

One of the main reasons we loved this part of our stay is because of our fabulous guide, Mamsie. She is one of only a handful of female guides in Namibia. She was absolutely amazing with the kids and we had an incredible couple of days on safari with her.

She knew that we were transferring to another Natural Selection property, Hoanib Valley Camp, so she volunteered to go in convoy with us in case we had any issues.

She was then our guide at Hoanib Valley Camp. We were very glad of her company because there were a few hairy moments en route. More of this under Day 6!

We loved the location of Etosha Mountain Lodge. The views from both the main lodge and our suite were incredible, particularly at sunset. However, there are a few issues that we should highlight.

Etosha Heights Private Reserve was a former hunting reserve (until 2016) so the animals were incredibly skittish. This made seeing anything close up quite difficult.

The accommodation was quite dated and because it was the end of the wet season, there were milipedes everywhere, including in the room. On the plus side we had a huge family suite with a private plunge pool on the decking.

We had a brilliant time there. We were the only guests at the time which meant that we had the whole private reserve to ourselves on game drives. There is a more upmarket lodge in the reserve, SafariHoek Lodge , if you prefer a higher quality of accommodation.

Day 5 – Etosha Mountain Lodge

This day consisted of a morning and and afternoon game drive with some time by the pool. The day ended with a lovely meal by the boma and some farewell songs from the staff.

Day 6 – Etosha to Hoanib Valley

This is where this 14 day Namibian itinerary can be varied to suit your style.

Variation: Instead of Hoanib Valley, you could go down to Damarland and spend an extra day there and then add an extra day in Sossusvlei.

The journey from Etosha Mountain Lodge to Hoanib Valley Camp takes 8 hours. There is a poor gravel road which could have been quicker but it was the end of the rainy season with some flooding around.

We tried for 20 minutes then had to turn back and take the longer route. And if you’re wondering whether a 4×4 could do this route – no. Even the safari jeep nearly got stuck. The water in this flooded part of the road would have come over our bonnet and it was very muddy.

Before you leave your lodge, you should check with them what they say about the route you are planning to take in case they have heard anything about flooding.

The C40 that goes from just north of Outjo to Kamanjab was tarmac and was an easy drive. We had a quick refuel in Kamanjab and then set off for Sesfontein. The rest of the route was gravel roads.

At Sesfontein we all transferred into our guides jeep and drove the last 2 hours with her. There are no official roads in the Hoanib Valley and the terrain is quite difficult. We would not recommend driving this yourself without a guide.

It was another long day but all of the tiredness from driving melted away when we arrived at Hoanib Valley Camp and were greeted by the staff singing us in with a cold welcome drink.

We were just in time for a quick swim and then set out for a sundowner just outside of camp.

The family safari tent at Hoanib Valley Camp was just perfect. One large double bed and two single beds. Even though it had been 42 °C during the day, the tent cooled right down in the evening and was very comfortable.

We all slept well after a lovely dinner drifting off to the sounds of the desert feeling like you are in one of the most remote places on earth.

Day 7 – Hoanib Valley

Our main reason to come to Hoanib Valley was to try to see the elusive desert adapted elephant. They are incredible creatures, surviving in a seemingly uninhabitable environment.

After a delicious breakfast, we set off at a reasonable time in search of the elephants.

This morning game drive took us down the dry bed of the Hoanib River. We kept seeing tracks but they can walk on average 35 miles per day so we had to drive for an hour before seeing them.

This makes it sound easy. In fact, we were lucky. This particular family of 13 elephants were on their way to the coast. If we had been out looking the next day, we wouldn’t have seen them. They wouldn’t have returned for a couple of weeks.

On a high after seeing the elephants, we made our way back to camp and were surprised with a bush lunch. It was just perfect, sitting under a large Ana tree.

The logistics of getting all of the food and drinks to Hoanib Valley Camp are just incredible so to have a bush lunch like this was just so special.

Back in camp we had a swim and a quiet afternoon before going back out for a sunset drive.

Natural Selection offers stays on a fully inclusive basis (even laundry is included). This also means that snacks and drinks on game drives are included. There are also snacks in the main tent so you never go hungry.

If you want to see more of the incredible Hoanib Valley, take a look at this episode of David Attenborough’s Africa where two giraffe are fighting.

The Hoanib Valley quickly became my new favourite place on earth.

Day 8 – Hoanib Valley to Damaraland

We had another long drive ahead to reach Damaraland so we set off early with a quick stop to visit a lovely Himba family.

They explained how they lived and we learned all about their clothing and bathing rituals. The kids were a little concerned before visiting that they might be embarrassed seeing ladies with no tops on but when we arrived, they were completely fine with it.

The ladies were very welcoming and friendly and there were lots of kids who loved having their photos taken.

There are lots of people dressed in Himba outfits in certain tourist destinations, but to really learn their way of life and see a true Himba village, you need to get away from the tourist areas.

This family in the Hoanib Valley were very remote and as genuine as you can get.

The road from Sesfontein to our next accommodation, Camp Kipwe in Damaraland, was mostly gravel and took around 4 hours because there were some roadworks along the way.

The last stretch of road (about 5km!) was tarmac.

Damaraland is known for its large, rocky outcrops and Camp Kipwe is a beautiful hotel built in and around one such outcrop. It is an incredible feat of design and engineering.

We stayed here on our previous trip and loved it so much, we had to come back.

It ended up being the kids’ favourite place because they got to climb a lot of rocks and have their own tent and outdoor bathroom.

One of the main reasons we love Camp Kipwe is because of the incredible sunset view you get from the top of the rocks above camp, made even better with a freshly made cocktail from their bar up there.

They also have a small but fun pool built into the rocks and a gorgeous main lodge area where the main dining area is lcoated. All of the food was delicious.

Day 9 – Damaraland

We booked a morning game drive to track desert elephants. The drive set off at sunrise and took us through the beautiful Damaraland scenery.

We drove for about an hour before we saw footprints and then followed them for a way down a dry riverbed until we found a small family group.

Seeing these desert adapted elephants twice in one trip was just epic.

After the game drive, we relaxed by the pool and after lunch we set off to visit the rock carvings at Twyfelfontein.

Twyfelfontein is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the top attractions in Namibia. Rock carvings date back between 1000 and 10,000 years when a group of hunter gatherers inhabited Twyfelfontein Valley.

There is a decent sized covered parking area on arrival. A visit to Twyfelfontein will take around 45 minutes to 1 hour. A guide is included in your entrance fee and you are guided on a 2km loop past the rock carvings.

The entrance fee seemed quite high. It was about £35 / $45 for a family of 4.

After Twyfelfontein we popped in on Burnt Mountain and The Pipe Organs. The entrance fee for these two sites was the same as Twyfelfontein.

Being totally honest, I wouldn’t recommend these last two, particularly when you compare the price to a full day in Etosha National Park (only £15 for a family of 4).

We were back in time for sundowners.

Day 10 – Damaraland to Swakopmund

The drive from Camp Kipwe to Swakopmund should be around 4 hours. In reality, with roadworks, it was more like 5 hours.

We had previously driven the Skeleton Coast so we didn’t do it on this trip. If you want to, it will add a couple of hours as you need to head north from Camp Kipwe and then west to Torra Bay.

If you decide to miss out the Skeleton Coast, you can still find a shipwreck just off the C34 between Hentiesbaai and Swakopmund. It is called the Zeila Shipwreck.

We checked into the Hansa Hotel in Swakopmund. It is the oldest hotel in Namibia and has maintained a lot of its historic features. The rooms could do with a bit of a refresh but overall, it was very comfortable and in an excellent location.

We took a stroll to the beach, passing the lighthouse, a large playground, the museum and a lively waterfront with bars and restaurants. There were also dolphins swimming in the calm waters near the beach.

If you are looking for a more modern hotel, The Strand Hotel is right on the waterfront.

We walked along the beach to Swakopmund Pier and chose The Tug restaurant for dinner. It was a beautiful setting at sunset watching the surfers and the waves crash against the pier.

Day 11 – Swakopmund to Walvis Bay

In the morning we had a lovely breakfast in the hotel and went to the meeting point for our Living Desert Tour .

We had been recommended this experience by friends (who went with Charlys Desert Tours ) and decided to give it a go as it was completely different to any wildlife experience we have had before.

We set off in a 4×4 jeep into the Dorob National Park, a desert outside of Swakopmund, in search of the Little 5.

The tour lasted around 4 hours and in that time we learned about the flora and fauna of the desert. It is incredible how animals and plants can survive in such a harsh environment.

We found dune geckos, snakes, spiders, chameleon and more. It was such a fun and interative tour with a bit of dune bashing at the end.

I have more information on this tour in a post on our favourite wildlife tours in Swakopmund .

After the tour we visited the Swakopmund Snake park because the kids had got very excited by seeing snakes in the desert. It is small but worth a visit if you are into snakes.

We then set off to Walvis Bay 30-minutes away. We could have spent 2 nights in Swakopmund but our next tour was starting early so we preferred to stay in Walvis Bay.

As it was such a quick stop, we stayed at the budget-friendly Lagoon Chalets in Walvis Bay. They are a little out of town but have a campsite, backpacker rooms and family rooms with self-catering facilities.

We were just in time to catch the sunset. It was magical with a flock of flamingos in front of us.

We went out for dinner at Anchors Waterfront Restaurant and had an amazing meal. You need to have seafood when you’re visiting one of the few coastal resorts in Namibia!

Day 12 – Walvis Bay to Sossusvlei

Walvis Bay has one of the largest seal colonies in the world with a population of over 2 million. With lovely calm waters, it is the perfect place to go kayaking to get close to the seals.

We went with Eco Marine Kayak Tours . They were the company we went with 13 years ago and are still going strong. They are the original seal tour company and just the best.

We met at Dolphins coffee shop at 8.30 having grabbed a quick takeaway breakfast from there. It is right next door to the Protea by Marriott Hotel . This hotel is very convenient if you are doing the kayak tour.

The tour lasts about 5 hours during which time you are taken by jeep to Pelican Point past the salt pans. The guides explain how to interact with the seals and you receive waterproof clothing.

You have about an hour kayaking with the seals. We were there in April which was the perfect time because the seal pups were just old enough to stray from their mum and play with you. They are very inquisitive!

More information on the tour is in our best Swakopmund tours post in case you missed it earlier.

After the tour we set off for Sossusvlei which was a very long 5 hour drive. We wouldn’t recommend doing the kayak tour and then heading off to Sossusvlei if you can help it because it means arriving late but it is doable if you are pushed for time with your itinerary.

We arrived at Kwessi Dunes , another Natural Selection camp, around 6.30. We’re always conscious of arriving at our destination before dark so we did this journey without stopping. Well, apart from to take a photo at the Tropic of Capricorn sign near Oase on the C14.

Note : You need a 4×4 to access Kwessi Dunes! Alternatively, you need to go to the visitor centre 15km away and get them to phone Kwessi Dunes to pick you up.

We got cleaned up and headed straight to dinner. Back in our gorgeous tent, we headed to our outdoor bed for some stargazing before crawling into our actual beds exhausted!

We chose to stay at Kwessi Dunes in the because it is located in the Namib Rand Nature Reserve (a dark sky reserve ). This is one of the best places in the world for star gazing and we weren’t disappointed.

One thing to note here is that Kwessi Dunes is about a 2 hour drive from the dunes at Sossusvlei. If you are wanting to visit the dunes in Sossusvlei and Deadvlei, you may want to choose somewhere in Sesriem to stay.

We can suggest Little Sossus Lodge . If you are camping, Sossus Oasis Campsite is close by.

Day 13 – Sossusvlei

We had planned to use this day to visit Sossusvlei but after 2 weeks and nearly 3000km, we decided to take a break. We decided not to visit Sossusvlei.

We have learned over the years that we need to be flexible when travelling with the kids and they were tired of the long days in the car.

We visited Sossusvlei and Deadvlei on our previous trip and so we didn’t feel the need to visit on this trip.

We were staying in a beautiful camp so we decided to enjoy Kwessi Dunes and have a relaxing day.

You can book a tour to Sossusvlei through Kwessi Dunes or you can drive yourself.

We started with an early morning walk into the dunes surrounding camp. When we originally planned our trip we thought we would visit Sossusvlei and we had promised the boys big sand dunes. Luckily there is plenty of sand and some decent sized dunes around Kwessi Dunes.

The kids loved the freedom of being able to run up and down the sand dunes that stretch for miles behind the camp. They even found an Oryx horn and used their knowledge from the living desert tour to identify animal tracks.

After breakfast we just relaxed by the pool. And I have to say… What a pool! During the day hundreds of Oryx and Zebra visit the waterhole by the camp. Some of them even come to the water butt by the pool.

It is quite an experience to be in the pool just feet away from an Oryx, the beautiful national animal of Namibia.

We also did a bit of quad biking in the dunes and then set off on a sunset drive through the desert before heading home for dinner and more stargazing.

Variation : If you have cut out the Hoanib Valley part of the trip, then you can adapt this 2-week Namibia road trip itinerary to include more days in Sossusvlei so that you aren’t so rushed.

Day 14 – Sossusvlei to Windhoek

We stayed as long as we could at Kwessi Dunes by the pool and then set off around 11 for Windhoek. There were some roadworks along the way but the journey too under 5 hours.

We stayed at Alluring self-catering apartments which was a lovely oasis in the middle of the city with a shared pool and bbq area.

An alternative is the Hilton (with a fantastic roof terrace which is perfect for sunset cocktails) or Chameleon Backpackers for a budget stay.

If you arrive in Windhoek and didn’t manage to visit Joe’s Beer House before, then we recommend heading there for dinner.

We hope you found this suggested 2-week Namibia road trip helpful. If you have any questions about planning your own Namibian itinerary, please drop us a line.

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The Ultimate 2-week Itinerary for Namibia

Namibia is one of my favourite places to travel to. Of course, I’m somewhat biased because it’s my home – but that doesn’t change the fact that it is uniquely beautiful and incredibly diverse. A trip to Namibia offers so many amazing experiences.

From the lush green landscape of the North, to the barren lands of the Namib Desert, the largest canyon in Africa, as well as a huge variety of wildlife, Namibia has so much to explore. Even after having lived there for 18 years, and taking 2 trips through the country, I still haven’t seen everything it has to offer. I went on one of these trips very recently, and I would love to share my experience and some tips from a local.

If you’re yearning for a holiday filled with adventure, look no further than Namibia – more specifically, plan a self-drive road trip through the country.

I’ve worked out an approximate itinerary (of course, it’s flexible to change) with activities, safari experiences, and extra tips to help you plan the perfect trip.

See the map below for a rough guide to where the trip through Namibia will take you:

Day 1-3: Windhoek

Your trip will begin your Namibia trip in the capital city, Windhoek. Though it isn’t super popular among tourists, I still think there are quite a few things to explore. Rent a vehicle from the airport, or catch a shuttle to the city and rent a car there. If you plan to follow this itinerary and self-drive, it is highly recommended that you rent a 4×4 vehicle. See my guide for renting a vehicle and tips for driving in Namibia here.

Spend your first day settling into your hotel, then go for dinner at the Namibia’s most iconic restaurant, Joe’s Beerhouse . The restaurant has a very unique take on blending Namibian and German culture and cuisine. Here, you can try 5 different types of meat in one dish, if that’s something you’re up to! If possible, go there on a Wednesday night, because between 6pm and 7pm, they usually have ‘Drum Circle’ – reserve a spot early enough and ask for a table in the Boma. You can book a table on the website .

I also recommend doing a guided city tour through Windhoek, especially if the country’s history interests you. You’ll see some of the important architecture, especially those built by the German during their colonisation, like the Christuskirche and Tintenpalast . Most tours also visit a market in Single Quarters in Katutura, the biggest township in Namibia. Here, you’ll be able to try lots of uniquely Namibian foods like Kapana and Mopane worms (if you dare!). Our tour also took us to a craft centre in Katutura dedicated to helping women who are disabled and/or underprivileged make a living.

Finally, one of the best experiences to have on a trip to Namibia is to do some activities at N/a’ankusê . This is the most expensive thing that I ever recommend, but I just love it so much. It is a wildlife sanctuary that takes care of animals including cheetahs, lions, caracals, wild dogs, etc. that were orphaned young or injured and would not otherwise survive in the wild.

Located about an hour away from Windhoek, it is the perfect place for a half-day trip. Find the list of activities on their website . In my opinion, the best activities are the Cheetah Experience and the Discover the Roots of N/a’an ku sê. I always recommend you either start or end your trip with this, because it is so special. It is also a great place to see animals that are sometimes very difficult to find otherwise (in Etosha National Park, for example).

You can now get ready for your Namibia road trip. Before you leave, make sure you do some shopping in Windhoek, because supermarkets can be a bit hard to find in the vast emptiness that is Namibia – be ready to travel a few hundred kilometres without seeing anything really very interesting. Make sure you have enough food, especially if you’re camping, which is by far the cheapest way to travel through Namibia. I recommend shopping at Checkers, though Pick ‘n Pay and Spar are also good options.

Places to stay:

• Chameleon Backpackers & Guesthouse
• The Weinberg Windhoek

Best Places to Eat:

• Joe’s Beerhouse
• Cape Town Fish Market
• Heinitzburg Castle (go here for a Sundowner cocktail)
• Stellenbosch Wine Bar

Day 3-5: Etosha National Park

After 5-6 hours of driving, you’ll reach Etosha National Park . The park is where you will see the majority of the animals on your trip. The best place to stay is directly at Etosha National Park, either at one of the lodges or at one of the camps (more budget-friendly). If you visit between November and January, it may be best to book at one of the lodges, because the campsites will be extremely hot! When we visited Etosha in December, it was around 40°C (104°F) the entire day.

Personally, I haven’t stayed at Etosha, so I cannot vouch for any campsite specifically. Visit the website to find more details on the specific ammenities each camp offers (and maybe choose one with a pool).

We stayed on a lodge nearby, called Kifaru . If your budget is a bit more flexible, I will never not recommend this place. It is first and foremost a rhino conservation and is home to the biggest population of rhinos in Namibia. They have a bush camp and a luxury lodge, both of which are fantastic (but we stayed at the bush camp). The staff is incredibly friendly and made us feel so special. You can book private game drives to see the rhinos on the farm.

The drive from Kifaru Lodge to Etosha National Park takes about an hour. So, if you leave early enough to get there by opening time, and leave around sunset, you will probably be able to explore most of the park. If you’re staying in Etosha, you’ll probably be able to explore the entirety of it, as you’ll have multiple days.

The entrance to Etosha National Park costs N$150 (about 7€) per person (for foreigners), plus N$50 (about 2€) per vehicle. Before you drive into the park, stop by the gift shop to buy a map of the park to help you navigate, and aim to go to as many waterholes as possible – this will be your best chance of seeing as many animals as you can.

Day 6-10: The Coast

From Etosha, your Namibia road trip will take you to Swakopmund, the biggest coastal town in the country. It still has strong German influences, and is completely different from the inland. When we drove 5 hours from Etosha to Swakopmund, the temperature dropped by over 20°C (68°F)!

The coast of Namibia is where you’ll find the most things to do. One of my must-do trips is a tour to Sandwich Harbour , which is the iconic part of the coastline where the dunes of the Namib Desert meet the waves of the Atlantic Ocean.

Unfortunately, this is not possible to do as a private group, but must be done with a tour group. This part of the coastline is strictly protected, so you will need a permit to enter it. The tour can be done as a self-drive (make sure to ask your car rental company beforehand if they allow it) or in a car with an experienced guide.

The tour involves driving in the dunes, which can be very dangerous if you’ve never done it, so if you’re not experienced, I’d recommend you go with a guide driving the car. On the tour, you will also pass by the salt pans of Namibia and see lots of flamingos. If you’re lucky, you’ll even see some Oryx or Springbok in the desert on your visit.

On another day, head to the next coastal town of Walvis Bay for a Catamaran Tour to Pelican Point. There are a good handful of companies that offer the same type of tour (find them on GetYourGuide or Viator). I have personally experienced the tours of Catamaran Charters and Mola Mola Safaris, which were both great.

On the tour, you’ll see so many seals that you’ll probably never want to see one again! They even jump onto the boats – the pelicans do too (Tip: don’t let them sit on you, or they may poop on you). My friend even got bitten by one – but don’t worry, she’s okay (she thought it was hilarious).

On the 3-hour long boat ride, you may see mola mola (sunfish), dolphins, and even whales as you make your way to Pelican Point. There, you’ll be greeted by a colony of about 60 000 to 80 000 Cape Cross seals. You can also go kayaking around Pelican Point. On the way back, you’ll be served a light lunch, including fresh oysters farmed in Namibia.

Another favourite activity is Quad Biking in the Namib Desert. I like to go to Daredevil Adventures, situated between Swakopmund and Walvis Bay, on Long Beach. Alternatively, you can go to Wilderness Explorers, right on the outskirts of Swakopmund.

There is no need to prebook, so you just show up and choose the tour you want. If you’re lucky and there’s no other group that shows up at the same time, you’ll end up getting a private tour.

They have lots of options, like a 1-hour, 2-hour, Breakfast, or Sunset Drive. You can also combine the quad biking with sand boarding . The tour takes you through the dunes and was one of the highlights of our last trip.

If you are interested in the creatures of the desert, as well as the way the desert is formed and expanding, take a ‘ Little five’ Desert tour with Living Desert Namibia . On this tour, you probably won’t see any big animals, but you’ll see some very unique wildlife that has adapted to life in the desert. A guide will drive in his car and track down the little lizards, snakes and other critters.

Places to Stay in Swakopmund:

• Chala-Kigi Apartments
• Mylas Cottage
• Salty Corner Cottage

Best Places to Eat in Swakopmund:

• The Jetty Restaurant
• Old Steamer (buffet)
• Tiger Reef (mostly for the vibe - go at sunset)
• Village Café (for breakfast)
• Bits ‘n Pizzas
• Altstadt Restaurant & Biergarten

Before you leave for Sossusvlei, make sure that you load up on supplies, because Sossusvlei really is in the middle of nowhere.

Day 11-13: Sossusvlei

Sossusvlei (and specifically Deadvlei) is the most visited tourist attraction in Namibia. On our recent Namibia trip, I actually visited for the first time in my life, and it really is a sight to see.

Deadvlei is the place you’ve probably seen on Instagram. It really does make for great pictures, with the stark contrast of the red sand dunes against the blue sky and the fossilised trees all across the white clay pan. I’ve never seen anything quite like it.

In Sossusvlei you can also climb the dunes of the oldest desert in the world, which are among some of the tallest in the world. From the top of the dunes, you can really appreciate the vastness of the country. Be warned though, because it is exhausting, so make sure you’ve always got some water on you.

The drive to Sossusvlei consists mostly of gravel road, and it is a bit daunting as it takes you through the Kuiseb Pass. The pass is at the top of the Kuiseb Canyon, with the drops becoming high and the roads becoming rough and narrow. Don’t drive too fast here, because it can be very dangerous. It is worth stopping at the Kuiseb Canyon to take in the view of the incredibly vast landscape that gives Namibia its name.

On the same drive, you will come across the Tropic of Capricorn. Of course, it’s not much more than a sign on the side of the road. But it’s kind of cool to know that you’ve passed through it – and it’s a great photo op, too. What I love about these kinds of signs is that many travelers paste stickers onto them. It always makes me giggle to find a yellow ‘ Nett Hier, aber waren Sie schon mal in Baden-Württemberg ‘ sticker, so much so that I’ve started to look for them (If you know, you know).

We stayed at the Camping 2Go accommodation at Namib Desert Lodge. Of course, there are lots of lodges and camps in the area, but this was the best option for us. Check out my guide to Sossusvlei here, where I recommend some other options, depending on preference and budget.

Day 14: Fly Home!

On the day before your flight, make your way back to Windhoek, and go for a sundowner and dinner at Heinitzburg or Droombos. It is the perfect way to end your trip to Namibia.

Other places to add to your itinerary

Waterberg would make a great addition to this Namibia trip between Windhoek and Etosha National Park. It is a mountain (almost 50 km long!) that is almost completely flat at the top. It is sometimes referred to as the ‘Table Mountain’ of Namibia. Its surrounding plateau is another great location to spot wildlife.

Spitzkoppe is a name given to this mountain by the Germans that once colonised Namibia. It means ‘pointed mountain’ (sort of), and this is definitely a great description of it. You’ll see it on your trip from Windhoek to Swakopmund, even if you don’t visit it. It also has a nickname; the ‘Matterhorn of Namibia’. It is most popular among hikers and is a great spot for beautiful photos, thanks to its interesting rock formations.

Skeleton Coast

If you want to add a particularly unique location to your trip, visit Skeleton Coast National Park before heading to Swakopmund. The area is known for the array of shipwrecks among this part of the coast. It is also home to the Cape Cross Seal Reserve, which is home to one of the largest Cape fur seal colonies in the world, at about 200 000 seals!

Fish River Canyon

Fish River Canyon, located in the south of Namibia, is a very popular tourist spot as well. It is the largest canyon in the world, and is particularly loved by hikers and outdoor adventurers. It is one of those places that you need at least 2 days to explore properly, and you’ll be outside the entire time, so make sure you pack lots of sunscreen!

The ‘Ghost Town’, also in the south of the country, is near the charming coastal town Lüderitz. I’d recommend combining these, so you can see the old German architecture of the town, and the run-down, delapidated houses in Kolmanskop. The houses are filled with sand, remnants of a sand storm that hit the town in 1905.

When is the best time of year to visit Namibia?

Namibia is a great all-year-round destination, but, as with most places, I definitely recommend visiting during shoulder months. October to November and February to April are ideal for a trip to Namibia, in my opinion. December and January are also great, but way too hot and way too busy. Because this is the high tourist season, you’ll find everything a bit more expensive. Though May to September are also good, it might be more difficult to spot wildlife on safaris during these colder months.

What is the best way to get around?

Namibia’s public transport is basically nonexistent. Though there are buses and taxis, I would highly recommend avoiding them if you are just visiting. The best way to travel in Namibia is to rent a car as soon as you’re at the airport.

Internet and phone reception

When you get to the airport, buy a sim card from MTC. The best plans are usually the Aweh Bundles, but you’ll have to decide which option you want once you’re there. Also, make sure you download music playlists and google maps routes before you leave on any trip, because you never know where your phone will just lose reception.

Don’t drink the water in Swakopmund. It is supposedly safe once boiled, but even then, it tastes really bad. Make sure you buy a few big bottles (5L) once you arrive. You can refill these at most supermarkets for really cheap.

Always be aware of the people around you. Though Namibia is safer than many other countries, it is a general rule of thumb to never leave anything lying in the car that you can see from the outside. Always keep a hand on your bag and always keep your eyes open.

Make sure to read my other posts to fully prepare yourself for your trip to Namibia:

The Ultimate Guide to Sossusvlei and Deadvlei

The ultimate guide to vehicle renting and driving in namibia.

Destinations

The perfect 2 week namibia itinerary.

Multiple times a year I find myself overwhelmingly envious of people doing full-time or, at least, long-term travel. When we were planning our Namibia self-drive safari , we looked at where we wanted to go and quickly realised that 2 weeks in Namibia would allow us to just scratch the surface. The more research and reading on Namibia that I did, the more I added to our itinerary! I didn’t know how to distill it all down to create the perfect 2 week Namibia itinerary.

Table of Contents

Only 2 weeks in Namibia

The reality was that all we just 2 weeks in Namibia to play with and that was that. And that’s all most of us have.

The good news is that all the planning definitely paid off. If you followed me on Instagram at the time you’ll know I planned this to the point of obsession). The result was that we had the adventure of a lifetime although there were a few more tweaks that we would have made. The best news for you, my lovely Wanderlusters, is that all my research takes the hard work out of the planning for you!

And so, without further ado, I present the perfect 2 week Namibia itinerary.

Note: For the purposes of this post, I am assuming that you are self-driving. You may or may not be camping and I provide options for both campers and non-campers alike. You can find some alternate 2 week Namibia itineraries at teh end of this post. This is not a 2 week fly-drive Namibia itinerary.

Day 1 – Windhoek

You’re arriving today and depending on where you’re coming in from I’d suggest taking it easy. There’s a lot to do even when you get here. Plan on staying in the capital, Windhoek, and getting yourselves orientated.

Head from the airport to the car rental agency. We used Namibia Car Rental (no affiliation) and were very happy with them. There are, however, many rental agencies offering very similar cars to the one we drove. If you are booking through an agent, they may have a preferred provider.

If you’re camping, know that picking the car up is not just a case of waiting in line for the next available agent, walking around the car once, and driving off like you would with a “normal” car. It took us almost 2 hours!!! This included a briefing from our tour agent and another from the car rental representative too. Both briefings were incredibly in-depth (the tour agent took us through our itinerary step-by-step) and totally worth the time. Had we known how long they would take, though, we might have been more prepared for handling the Things. They were, at this point, both hungry and bored.

Not a great combination.

From the car rental place head into the centre of Windhoek for something to eat and a wander around. The German Church at the top of the hill was closed when we got there but I understand it’s worth a look. It also had some pretty easy parking.

Stay in the extremely hospitable and beautiful Galton House . Conveniently they have 2 interconnecting rooms that are slightly away from the rest of the house. This was perfect for us travelling with loud Things!

Also recommended to us was the Olive Grove Guesthouse .

Joes Beerhouse is an absolute must. It’s an eclectic restaurant with everything from stuffed animal heads to bits of cars hung off the walls, this restaurant has been inspired by its country. It looks rather like it has evolved over several decades, acquiring number plates and trees with glass bottle branches. We loved the open-air feel of the place and the food was great. We devoured some local delicacies for our first proper meal in Namibia.

If you’re looking for something a bit more upscale and have Things that can be trusted with white tablecloths and pretty glassware, head to The Stellenbosch Wine Bar .

Day 2 – Windhoek to Kalahari

Most of the guesthouses in Windhoek include a delicious breakfast so get up early to take advantage of this! You’ll need a reasonably early start as you’ve got a lot to do.

Pack up the car and head to a supermarket to stock up on lunch supplies (and more if you’re camping). Know that there won’t be a huge selection of meat options at the next place so if you know you can keep the stuff refrigerated then go nuts.

Head south from Windhoek towards the Namib Desert . The majority of the driving will be on paved roads but it’s the last time you’ll see them for days so be sure to appreciate the speed and comfort.

When you arrive at your destination you’ll probably find a variety of activities on offer as was the case at Bagatelle Kalahari Game Ranch, where we were staying. We wanted to do star gazing but the cloud cover meant this was impossible so we opted for sundowners and some cheetah feeding instead. Bagatelle has 7 orphaned cheetahs that are kept in captivity for various reasons. We were treated to a drink with a spectacular sunset after watching them feed the cheetahs.

There are a number of game ranches in the area. We had a truly fabulous time at Bagatelle. The rooms are really lovely and the vibe is totally chilled out relaxation. The Things were delighted to spot mere cats running everywhere, were fascinated by the resident peacock and were delighted with the cats (of all things). We were amazed to see ostrich and kudu just hanging out by the pool!

There are also options for camping should you prefer to make the most of your tented car!

There aren’tany towns around here so you’re sort of beholden to what you’re offered where you’re staying. On arrival in the afternoon we were greeted with a hot or soft drink and an enormous piece of cake. In the evening we were treated to a barbecue of all sorts of meat including kudu and steak. It wasn’t the best option for the picky Things but there were some things that they would eat.

Day 3 – Kalahari to Sesriem

It’s another long day of driving today heading over to Sossusvlei. This will be your first full day of driving on the gravel roads so get used to the “African Massage!”

Stop in Mariental to stock up on food if you need to – there aren’t many options between here and Swakopmund. Take the opportunity to get out and stretch your legs – there’s not another town until Maltahohe which is several hours away.

We were surprised by the landscape. The photos of Namibia that you see online are all of very dramatic views of Sossusvlei, and Skeleton Coast and Etosha. You don’t see the bits in-between which are vast stretches of scrubland for hundreds of miles all around you. The driving is pretty tough as a result – concentrating on gravel roads with not much to distract you is hard!

Things get much more interesting as you get closer to Sossusvlei. Suddenly huge hills start looming and the landscape looks more dramatic.

There aren’t a whole lot of options in Sesriem – the little collection of campsites and lodges right outside the gate to Sossusvlei ! If you’re camping I recommend Sossus Oasis Camp Site . They have 2 sections including one with it’s own toilet and shower on the site. Since we missed out on booking this, we ended up with the shared facilities which were very clean and nice. All their sites have a tap with running water and a BBQ pit.

A great alternative to Sossus Oasis is Sesriem Camping . Sesriem Camping is part of Namibia Wildlife Resorts (NWR) and, while slightly less luxurious than Sossus Oasis, it has the invaluable advantage of being inside the park gates which are closed every night at sunset and don’t open again until 7am. If you’re looking for the stunning shots you see on National Geographic then this is a time advantage you can’t avoid.

For those who have chosen not to camp, the very lovely looking Sossusvlei Lodge is a great option as it is also close to the park entrance.

This may be your first camping night as it was for us in which case build your camp and your fire before throwing some meat on the grill. If you’re not in the mood to cook head over to Sossusvlei Lodge’s restaurant for a cooked meal.

Day 4 – Sossusvlei and Dead Vlei

You might be staying here for 2 nights but if you’re camping, you’ll need to break the tents down before you can go anywhere. Lulled into a fall sense of security by the quick set up time, we set our alarms for 6am… Almost 2 hours later we finally got on the road! It turns out eating breakfast, tidying all your stuff away and getting the tents down takes longer than you think! I know some people, particularly with older kids, opted to eat on the road but that’s just not an option for our Things so it was what it was.

Head to the entrance to Sossusvlei and start driving. You’re on tarmac again now which is a relief and makes for much easier driving. The scenery quickly becomes spectacular and you will find yourself driving past famous dunes such as Dune 45 and the more imaginatively named Big Daddy. You can easily tell which dunes you’re not allowed to climb from the signs and lack of people nearby but there’s nothing really to stop you. I loved that everyone respected the rules and we didn’t see a single soul climbing dunes they weren’t supposed to.

Depending on the time of day, you may (as we did) want to continue on to Dead Vlei and Sossusvlei to see them first. There’s some interesting sand driving to be done and I’m ashamed to say I chickened out of all of it! (The upside is we didn’t get stuck lol).

Sossusvlei is slightly further on from Dead Vlei and there’s definitely not as much to do. There is a bit of shade, though so it would make a nice quiet picnic spot compared to the busier Dead Vlei. I was surprised at how many people were at Dead Vlei – having seen almost no-one for hundreds of miles and staying in small campsites, you sort of forget that other people might want to see the same things as you! Don’t get me wrong, it’s not like the Vatican in August, but in peak season you can still expect to share the experience with up to 1,000 other visitors each day.

It’s a short walk to Dead Vlei along some smaller pans. You can take the longer route and head up the dune next to it before sliding down the sand to the bottom. This is super fun and gives you absolutely spectacular views but can get hot and will tire the Things out. Take as many arty pictures of dead trees as you can before heading back to the car.

Depending on the time of day and how hot it is, stop at one of the dunes that are open such as Dug Daddy or Dune 45 and climb up to admire the views.

We did all this in the morning and were back at the campsite by mid-afternoon to enjoy a leisurely swim in the pool. You could also do this the opposite way around and be back near the park gate to enjoy the evening light and maybe a cheeky sundowner. Watch out for the gate closing at sunset!

Spend the night in Sesriem (wherever you stayed the night before). Note that if you have one of the camping 4x4s with tents on the top, you’ll have had to break this all down to drive to Sossusvlei and Dead Vlei. And then put it all up again tonight.

There are no dining out options inside Sossusvlei park. If you are planning on spending the day there make sure you take supplies with you and, of course, take your litter back out with you! There are, however, quite a few options for dining in Sesriem including the campsite cafe just inside the park gate which offers WiFi connection (for a cost) and has a nice cool restaurant with a breeze blowing through it.

In the evening if you’re camping, light a fire and enjoy some outdoor cooked food together again. Alternatively, head back to a restaurant nearby.

Day 5 – Sesriem to Swakopmund

It’s a mission of a driving day today as you head over to Swakopmund for some town time. Leave early to get a good start on the driving as you’ll be on the road for a good 5-6 hours plus stopping time. You’ll cross the Tropic of Capricorn again which is a good chance to get out and stretch your legs while taking some touristy photos.

The landscape varies from flat, arid and uninspiring to some stunning canyons which seem to appear out of nowhere and end just as quickly. Switch driving regularly to keep yourselves as fresh and alert as possible as the driving can be quite hypnotic.

There is a multitude of guesthouses to choose from. We stayed in Swakopmund Guesthouse in what was described as a luxury room but was actually a 2 bedroom apartment complete with a living area and kitchenette.

This was the perfect place for us to completely unpack and repack the bags. Knowing we had 2 nights here meant we could also get a huge load of laundry done relatively inexpensively.

For those looking for a hotel stay, The Strand Hotel came highly recommended by our travel agent and looked amazing.

Stop in Solitaire to stretch your legs and have a snack. Once in Swakopmund, you have a myriad of dining options available to you. I highly recommend The Tug which was super kid-friendly, had a great view of the sunset over the sea and served some of the best food we had in Namibia. Other places we ate included Bauhaus Restaurant and Ocean Cellar (although the Things were a little less impressed with the last choice!)

Day 6 – Swakop, Walvis Bay and Sandwich Harbour

There is so much to do in the are that you are really spoilt for choice.

If you’re all in need of a day off, there is lots to do pottering around Swakopmund such as browsing curio shops, strolling around markets, galleries and museums, walking on the beach and enjoying the delights of one of the many coffee shops.

If you’re more up for adventure consider one of the following:

• Dolphin cruise
• Sandwich Harbour excursion (a real Skeleton Coast experience)
• Dune quad biking
• Sand boarding
• Sea kayaking

Keen to see the famous sand dunes that run right into the sea, we decided to go to Sandwich Harbour. We organised a private tour and were treated to some great local knowledge by our guide and driver. While I’m glad we went, this was our only day of the trip without needing to get in a car and… we got in a car. So from that perspective, we probably could have chosen something else to do!

We continued our stay in Swakopmund at the amazing Swakopmund Guesthouse and were delighted to get our laundry back well before we were expecting it.

We had a late lunch in Brauhaus Restaurant after our tour. In the evening we went to Ocean Cellar but all the other restaurants at The Strand Hotel looked fabulous as well.

Day 7 – Swakopmund to Damaraland via the Skeleton Coast

Another day in the car for you – this time driving up Namibia’s famous Skeleton Coast. Make sure you stock up on provisions as there won’t be any opportunity to do so between Damaraland and Palmwag where you will be camping tomorrow.

Prepare yourselves – whichever route you choose to take, it’s a long way and quite hard driving. The Skeleton Coast is famed for its shipwrecks just off the coast but, in between them, the landscape is pretty flat and uninspiring. If you are driving to destinations further up the coast then I think it gets much more interesting. But for the purposes of this itinerary, your final destination is inland to Damaraland. The other awesome Skeleton Coast sight is the Cape Cross Seal Colony. Believe me when I tell you that there is nothing that can prepare you for the stench of 100,000 seals but it is pretty incredible nonetheless.

The further inland you go, the more interesting the scenery and the road quality deteriorates so take it slow and enjoy the drive.

Malansrus Tented Camp is an incredible place to stay. It’s glamping on a whole new level and the staff are incredibly friendly and helpful. There are quite a few high-end glamping options in the area. Camp Kipwe was booked up when we were there but we drove past it and had a look round and it looked amazing too.

Bear in mind you’re in the middle of nowhere so the options are really limited. Malansrus offered a set menu which was absolutely delicious but a little too advanced for our picky eaters. Luckily they had plenty of bread rolls and we had snacks with us.

Day 8 – Twyfelfontein to Palmwag

It’s another day in the car today as you drive to Palmwag Campsite for some more nights under the stars.

Before you really get going, though, head to see the Twyfelfontein rock engravings. This is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and well worth a visit. If you can make a day of it then I’d absolutely recommend taking the time to hike around the site to see as much of the paintings and engravings as you can. Go early to avoid the crowds and the heat of the day and take cold water / snacks as the little kiosk has limited offerings.

From Twyfelfontein you can make a short stop at the Organ Pipes and Burnt Mountain on your way to the Damara Living Museum. Here you can learn about the traditional life and culture of the Damara people. We didn’t have time to stay for long but really enjoyed our time there.

Drive on to Palmwag from here – it isn’t far but still takes a while on gravel roads.

Palmwag Lodge was an incredible place to stay. We loved the place for it’s facilities (lovely pool, restaurant, clean ablutions super private campsites). It also has rooms to rent.

If you’re not in the mood for cooking then Palmwag has options in the main restaurant and at the pool bar. Cheaper (and more atmospheric), however, is to cook over an open fire at the BBQ pits provided at each site. There’s nothing quite like eating under the stars.

Day 9 – Palmwag

After so much driving, it’s nice to have a day off from time to time. Palmwag is the perfect place to do this. The pool is gorgeous and was very quiet when we were there. There was quite a bit of through traffic – campers leaving and new ones arriving as well as some tours stopping for lunch on the way through.

It’s easy to see how Palmwag in non-drought times would have been an even more incredible place to stay and watch the animals just passing by. Due to the drought in the area, much of the wildlife has, unfortunately, moved away to other areas so if you want to see anything, you’ll need to drive.

Since there is so much driving on this trip, I wouldn’t recommend doing a full-day excursion, especially with little kids. A 4-hour excursion in the late afternoon/evening into the Palmwag Concession Area is doable. You can get a guided excursion from the lodge or do a self-drive – they’ll give you a map at reception. The driving is tough, though. I wouldn’t have even known where to go to find the wildlife / get back out again so I was glad we had a guide. The drawback is that you’re on someone else’s timetable so it also means a late night for little ones.

Camp under the stars for a luxurious second night in a row at Palmwag Lodge.

If you’re coming back late from an excursion, you might want to have something prepared for when you get back. Alternatively book a table at the lodge to take the thought out of the evening. Like many places in Namibia, there’s nothing else around so it’s a case of eating what they have or DIY.

Day 10 – Palmwag to Etosha

We deliberately planned our trip so that Etosha, one of Namibia’s main attractions for us, was at the end. It did not disappoint!

Packing up early was a must for us to get the driving out of the way early. This was a good idea as the driving took considerably longer than we expected. Keen to spend as much time in the park as possible, we drove into Etosha through Moringa Forest Fence Gate in the west. Driving along the “main” roads and going in through Ombika Gate in the south would have been quicker. We were excited to see our first glimpses of many animals like zebras and giraffes.

There are lots of campsites inside and just outside the park and it can be hard to choose where to go. For us, there was no contest, though. We chose Okaukuejo Campsite because of the amazing watering hole. The whole site is built around Okaukuejo watering hole for maximum access. Like everywhere else we stayed, all the sites at Okaukuejo have their own BBQ area, running water and power and there are clean shared shower facilities, etc.

Okaukuejo has its own restaurant or you can do your own thing over the campfire. There is a small shop at the site but the stock was underwhelming at best so we were glad we had enough food to last us. Apparently, it usually has more variety and stock.

Etosha is the jewel in Namibia’s crown for a reason. Pack up early and head out to explore the many watering holes around Etosha. There are around 40 to choose from and the wildlife here is abundant so you’ll have plenty to see. Some of the watering holes can be pretty busy if there are lots of animals there so be prepared to wait.

Namibia Wildlife Resorts also runs game drives from Okaukuejo. While I would thoroughly recommend them, there is an age limit for a reason. The drives are long: you need to stay quiet for fellow passengers and other tours and there are no toilet breaks. That being said, if your kids can handle it, the guides have great knowledge to share and know the area like the backs of their hands.

Enjoy another night under canvas at Okaukuejo. The best part about this place is that if you get insomnia, you can get up and go to sit by the watering hole for a while!

More of the same on the eating front. Again there aren’t many options so you’re restricted to the restaurant in Okaukuejo (which has air conditioning for hot days). With supplies in your car, though, cooking over a campfire is still your best bet.

Probably the best day of driving of my life! We headed east from Okaukuejo towards Namutoni Gate. It’s not a long way but you can make a whole day of it by stopping regularly at the many watering holes along the way. We were just thrilled to see so many animals! This was much more successful than doing the game drive with NWR as the Things could listen to audiobooks while we were driving and we could keep the windows wound up if they wanted to talk or whine!

For a little piece of luxury to end the trip, I’d highly recommend staying at one of the lodges just outside Namutoni Gate. We stayed in Mokuti Lodge and absolutely loved it. After almost 2 weeks of gravel roads and camping it was like an oasis! Some friends had recommended Mushara but it was booked up for our trip.

The theme of no options continues as everything is so spread out. Luckily, our stay at Mokuti included a delicious dinner and breakfast every day. The freshly cooked game meats outside on the BBQ were just amazing!

If you’ve not seen enough elephants, lions, zebras and giraffes then this is the perfect day to head back into Etosha. You can book a private game drive through the lodge which I would highly recommend. Alternatively, jumping back in the car now that you don’t have to take the tents down is so much quicker and easier!

The lodges also have amazing facilities including beautiful gardens, a pool, and a spa. This is a great place to wind down after an intense couple of weeks.

Stay where you are in the lodge and enjoy the luxurious facilities!

This is a case of eating up whatever you have left and being at the mercy of the lodge. Thankfully the lodge has delicious options!

Time to start the first leg of the long journey home. Bear in mind that it’s a 5-6 hour drive from Etosha back to Windhoek (further if you’re on the other side of the park). Handing back the car takes time to go through everything and then its another hour to get back to the airport. Long story short, if you’ve got an early flight then you’ll need to head back towards the capital a day early.

Reluctantly, we left in good time so we would have time to do everything we needed to do and still get back to our accommodation for the night.

We had hoped to stay at the Cheetah Foundation for our last night but it was fully booked. Instead we went to Na’ankuse Foundation which was stunningly beautiful but possibly a bit remote for what we needed and not particularly kid-friendly. It wasn’t kid unfriendly but just not super easy either. We also found it difficult to stay there without the independence of our own transport; We had to decide in advance when we would want picking up for dinner and breakfast. This seems like a silly thing but when you have hungry kids who have woken early, waiting an hour for a pick up is a long time!

We drove past the Cheetah Foundation on our way back to Windhoek. In hindsight we were glad we didn’t stay there as it was still quite a long drive on to the capital. And while we enjoyed our stay at Na’ankuse, I think we could have just as easily stayed in Windhoek for less money and more independence.

Before dropping the car off we had lunch back at Joes Beerhouse .

Dinner was at Na’ankuse and was a lovely experience. The restaurant there is gorgeous and super tranquil (at least until we showed up!). The food was delicious (albeit not particularly kid friendly) and we really enjoyed the communal style of serving it.

Sad times as you head to the airport from wherever you are and make your way home.

The memories from our Namibia trip are still with me and crystal clear. It was the most amazing trip and we will share those memories with the Things forever.

2 week Namibia Itinerary

Other resources.

If you’re planning a self-drive safari to Namibia, please check out my other blog posts about it:

• 5 things to know about a self-drive safari
• Self-drive safari Namibia – 50+ tips and tricks
• Namibia reading and resources
• Self-drive safari first aid kit

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Namibia in 2 weeks.

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Cycle Namibia

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Premium Botswana & Namibia

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• What is the sound of a roaring lion if not a sweet soothing lullaby? You'll be camping right in the grounds of Kruger National Park, so you be the judge.
• Elephants might never forget, but you’ll get the unforgettable experience of cruising down the river in Chobe National Park, home of the world's highest concentration of African elephants.
• Pay the famous elephants and lions of Hwange National Park a visit from an open-air 4x4 vehicle.
• Save up to 32% off trips to every continent on earth
• Redeem anytime before 2023. Last minute changes OK.
• Get a full refund.

Namibia Discovery

• Dine in Lambert's Bay in open-air restaurant, Muisbosskerm. This amazing spot was rated by National Geographic as having one of the 'Top Ten Sea Views to Dine For'.
• Take a canoe adventure down South Africa's longest stream – the picturesque Orange River – winding through the ancient Richtersveld Mountains with a local guide.
• Go birdwatching along Fish River Canyon and watch the African sunset that makes this place so much more than just one of the world's largest gorges.
• Enjoy plenty of time for seaside leisure in Swakopmund, amid the dramatic breakers of the Atlantic Ocean. Maybe visit the local markets or chill out on the beach.
• Etosha National Park is one of the best places in the world for wildlife-spotting, and you'll enjoy a full day of game drives here, both in closed trucks and open-air 4WDs.

Cape and Namibia Adventure

Premium Southern Africa in Depth

• Enjoy two magnificent Feature Stays – a perfectly positioned camp on the Namibian banks of the Zambezi River, and a scenic lodge in a private reserve within the Greater Kruger Region.
• Let Exclusive Experiences take you closer to nature, including a 4x4 drive through the striking Makgadikgadi Pans and a privately catered cruise down the Zambezi River.
• Spot Chobe National Park's abundant wildlife and the world’s highest concentration of elephants from multiple vantage points with an early morning 4x4 game drive, and an afternoon boat cruise along the picturesque Chobe River.
• Seek out the Big Five of Africa – lion, elephant, buffalo, leopard and rhino with two full days in South Africa’s biggest reserve, Kruger National Park, in 4x4s with an expert local guide.
• Visit the thundering Victoria Falls, one of the world's most spectacular natural wonders. Admire their power, then return to your comfortable lodge boasting magnificent views of uninterrupted wilderness.

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Namibia Road Trip

July 18, 2023

Namibia road trip - two week itinerary across Namibia

Embark on an unforgettable two-week Namibia road trip adventure, where awe-inspiring landscapes and thrilling experiences await at every turn. Namibia, nestled in southwestern Africa, is a treasure trove of natural wonders, from vast deserts and majestic sand dunes to breathtaking canyons and abundant wildlife-filled savannahs.

During your two-week journey, you’ll have the opportunity to explore the very best that Namibia has to offer. From the iconic red sand dunes of Sossusvlei to the dramatic landscape of Sandwich Harbour, where the ocean meets the dunes, each stop on your itinerary will leave you in awe. Encounter the unique wildlife of Etosha National Park, where lions, elephants, and rhinos roam freely, and witness the vibrant cultures and traditions of local communities.

You’ll drive along the famous Skeleton Coast, a hauntingly beautiful stretch of coastline. Visit the awe-inspiring rock formations at Spitzkoppe, and camp under the Milky Way after a BBQ dinner prepared on your very own braai. Throughout your journey, you’ll have the opportunity to engage in exhilarating activities like quad biking in the desert, climbing dunes at sunrise, and stargazing under the vast Namibian sky at a world renowned dark sky reserve.

Your ultimate camping itinerary

At the end of each day, relax at cosy campsites (all actually visited by us!), where you can unwind and reflect on the day’s adventures while being surrounded by the tranquility of nature (plus all modern comforts).

Whether you crave heart-pounding wildlife encounters, adrenaline-fuelled desert escapades, or an immersive cultural experience steeped in local traditions, a Namibia road trip promises an unparalleled adventure holiday. Join us as we delve into the highlights and experiences that make Namibia the ultimate playground for road trip enthusiasts. Prepare to be captivated by Namibia’s natural beauty, embraced by warm hospitality, and be forever enriched by the spirit of adventure that permeates this extraordinary destination.

Travel For Working People

Thanks for visiting! We're Bec & Michael and we are two hard working lovers of travel! We hope our words inspire you to travel the world without having to toss out your career!

Other guides for Namibia:

Swakopmund travel guide – perfect guide for what to see and do

Epic things to do in Namibia – Top 12 things to see and do

Sossusvlei Namibia – Ultimate travel guide for how to visit

No time to read this now pin it for later.

In this article

• Two week itinerary overview Two week itinerary overview
• Highlights map for Namibia road trip Highlights map for Namibia road trip
• Essential tips for your road trip Essential tips for your road trip
• Best time of year for a Namibia road trip Best time of year for a Namibia road trip
• Day 1: Windhoek (arrive) Day 1: Windhoek (arrive)
• Days 2-3: Sossusvlei Days 2-3: Sossusvlei
• Days 4-6: Swakopmund and Walvis Bay Days 4-6: Swakopmund and Walvis Bay
• Day 7: Spitzkoppe Day 7: Spitzkoppe
• Days 8-9: Waterberg Plateau Park Days 8-9: Waterberg Plateau Park
• Days 10-13: Etosha National park Days 10-13: Etosha National park
• Day 14: Windhoek (depart) Day 14: Windhoek (depart)

Namibia road trip - two week itinerary overview

Day 1: Windhoek (arrive) Day 2-3: Climb dunes in Sossusvlei Day 4-6: See where the desert meets the sea in Swakopmund Day 7: Hike the rocky landscape of Spitzkoppe Day 8-9: Walk with rhinos in Waterberg Plateau National Park Day 10-13: Safari in Etosha National Park Day 14: Windhoek (depart)

Highlights map for Namibia road trip

Essential tips for your Namibia road trip

Hire a 4wd for your namibia road trip  .

A 4WD (four-wheel drive) vehicle is highly recommended for exploring Namibia due to the unique and varied terrain you will encounter. While some destinations in Namibia can be explored with a regular sedan or 2WD vehicle, having a 4WD enhances your flexibility, accessibility, and overall experience, enabling you to fully embrace the adventure and natural wonders that Namibia has to offer. 

We have a comprehensive  guide on hiring a car in Namibia ,  where we cover off everything mentioned below in much more detail.

Below are some reasons why a 4WD is preferable in Namibia:

Camping under the stars in Spitzkoppe

1. Desert exploration  

Namibia is home to vast desert landscapes, including the iconic Namib Desert. Navigating the sandy terrain of the desert, such as in Sossusvlei, requires a 4WD with good off-road capabilities to handle the soft sand.

2. Rough and gravel roads

Many roads in Namibia, especially in remote areas and national parks, are unpaved, rough, or gravel-based. A 4WD offers better traction, stability, and ground clearance, making it more suitable for driving on these challenging surfaces. We didn’t drive anywhere that required previous 4WD experience, however the conditions of the roads would be very uncomfortable (and slow!) in a 2WD. 

3. Wildlife viewing

Namibia is renowned for its incredible wildlife, particularly in national parks like Etosha. A 4WD allows you to explore off-road tracks and access remote areas where wildlife may gather, increasing your chances of spotting animals up close.

4. Safety and self-sufficiency  

Having a 4WD provides an extra level of safety and self-sufficiency, especially in remote areas where assistance may be limited. The vehicle’s capabilities allow for better handling of unexpected obstacles or challenging conditions you may encounter.

5. Camping  

There’s only one way to do a Namibia road trip in our opinion and that is by camping. Hiring a 4WD will mean you can hire a vehicle with a roof tent and all the camping gear you will need to be self-sufficient including a fridge, table and chairs, cooking equipment, sleeping gear, gas bottles and more. 

Tips for hiring a 4WD

When hiring a 4WD for your Namibia road trip , there are several key tips to keep in mind to ensure a smooth and enjoyable experience:

1. Book in advance:

Due to the popularity of 4WD rentals in Namibia, it’s advisable to book your vehicle well in advance to secure the model and dates that suit your needs. We booked about 4 months in advance and were able to hire the exact vehicle we wanted from our preferred car hire company. 

2. Choose a reputable rental company:

Research and select a reputable rental company with positive reviews, excellent customer service, and a well-maintained fleet of vehicles. This will help ensure a reliable and hassle-free rental experience. Not all hire companies will offer the same things either. For example you may have to pay more for sleeping bags and pillows with some, or fridges at others. Make sure you compare total costs for everything you will need (including insurance). We went with Savanna Car Hire and would highly recommend them. Their customer service was fantastic. They were friendly, efficient, helpful and informative throughout the entire booking and collection process. We paid for our car hire in full  ourselves, we were just really happy with the service we received.  

3. Ensure you have two spare tyres:

A lot of companies will offer this, but make sure it’s included. With road conditions the way they are, a lot of people end up getting flat tyres on their Namibia road trip. And when it rains it pours, so you want to make sure you don’t get stranded with just one spare on you.  

4. Consider the size and type of vehicle:

Assess your travel needs and group size to determine the appropriate 4WD size and type. Consider factors such as luggage space, terrain you plan to tackle, the number of passengers you need to accommodate, and most importantly fuel efficiency. We chose the Toyota Hilux because of its excellent fuel efficiency. 

5. Check rental terms and conditions:

Thoroughly review the rental terms and conditions, including insurance coverage, mileage limits, fuel policy, and any additional fees or restrictions. For example, we were not allowed to drive before sunrise or after sunset in our vehicle which is pretty common due the increased risk of hitting wildlife and the bad conditions of the roads. Pay attention to the fine print to avoid any surprises or misunderstandings. We opted for full insurance with no excess given the conditions of the roads. Savanna Car Hire also went through all the paperwork with us in detail when we collected the car which ensured we felt really confident about our car hire. 

6. Familiarise yourself with the vehicle:

Before hitting the road, take the time to familiarise yourself with the 4WD’s features, including 4×4 functionality, spare tire locations, and any specific driving instructions provided by the rental company. Savanna Car Hire did a great induction with us so we knew exactly where everything was, how to use it and how to pack and unpack the camping gear. 

7. Obtain necessary permits:

Some areas in Namibia, such as national parks or private reserves, may require permits or entrance fees. Where possible ensure you have the necessary permits in advance to avoid any complications or delays during your trip.

8. Don’t speed:

The speed limit for our vehicle was 80km/hr on gravel and 120km/hr on tar highways. Speeding is not only dangerous for those around you, including the incredibly unique wildlife in Namibia, but it’s also going to put you at greater risk of getting a flat tyre. We saw multiple vehicles who sped past us on gravel roads pulled over further up with a flat tyre. Also, if you are speeding at the time of an accident your insurance won’t cover you (all vehicles will be fitted with trackers).  

9. Carry essential supplies:

Pack essential supplies such as water, food, a first aid kit, spare tyre, tyre repair kit, and necessary tools for basic vehicle maintenance. Namibia’s remote areas may have limited services, so being self-sufficient is important. Our vehicle came with 2 spare tyres, all tools needed for a tyre change, a first aid kit and a 50L non-potable water bottle. We always made sure we had 5L of potable water on us, and our fridge was always stocked.

10. Don’t pack hard-case luggage:

You’ll struggle to fit it in the back with the rest of the camping gear. Opt for soft-shelled luggage like backpacks and duffle bags instead. Remember to pack some large plastic bags to cover your bags while you’re driving as they will get very dusty in the back of the vehicle.   

By following these tips, you’ll be well-prepared to hire a 4WD in Namibia and embark on an unforgettable adventure through its diverse and captivating landscapes.

Hiring a 4WD is the most comfortable way to explore the Namib desert

How much to budget for a 4WD

For 12 days we paid N$20,160 (around €1,000 for 12 days, or €83 per day). This included airport transfers, pillows and sheets (which were extra with Savanna Car Hire ), zero excess and tyre and windscreen insurance. This was the lowest we were quoted. The other two quotes we received came out at N$22,230 and N$30,600 (€1,100 and €1,500 respectively).

You’ll likely have to fill up with fuel as soon as you pick up the vehicle. The policy is that you bring the vehicle back with as much fuel as it had when you picked it up. Ours was already half empty when we collected the vehicle. Most 4WD’s will be double tanks, so half empty means that one tank is already empty and the second tank only has half the fuel left. When you leave Windhoek make sure you have a full tank as it’s quite a drive to Sossusvlei with no stops in between. We’ve also read that getting fuel in Sesriem (the town near Sossusvlei) isn’t guaranteed as they can occasionally run out. 

In total, we filled up about 4 times in two weeks and paid between N$1,000 – 1200 (€50-€60) each time. We drove around 2,000km all up.

Tipping in Namibia is a customary practice and a way to show appreciation for good service. While not mandatory, it is generally expected for various services. Here are some general guidelines to consider:

• Restaurants : It is standard to tip around 10% of the total bill at restaurants if you are satisfied with the service. Some restaurants may include a service charge, so it’s worth checking the bill before tipping.
• Lodges and Hotels : Tipping is common in lodges and hotels, particularly if the staff have provided exceptional service. It is customary to tip porters, housekeeping staff, and guides who go above and beyond to make your stay memorable. Leaving a tip of about N$10-20 per service is appreciated.
• Safari guides and drivers : If you go on a guided safari or have a private driver, it is customary to tip them for their expertise and assistance. The amount can vary based on the length of the tour and the level of service provided. It is recommended to tip around N$100-200 per day per guide or driver.
• Petrol station attendants and car guards : It is common to give a small tip, usually around N$5-10, to petrol station attendants who provide assistance with fuelling or checking tire pressure. Similarly, if you use the services of a car guard in urban areas, it is customary to give them a small tip of around N$5-10 (though some will expect more).

Tip to acknowledge good service

Remember, tipping is discretionary, and the amount can vary based on your personal satisfaction with the service received. It’s a way to acknowledge and reward good service, and it’s always appreciated by those working in the service industry. Where you can afford to tip more, and you believe the service is worth it, always make the effort. It may not be much to you, but it will be highly appreciated by the person receiving the tip. We went on multiple half day tours with Europeans who didn’t bother tipping anything, making excuses for leaving their cash in their room and it never sat right with us.  

Best time of year for a Namibia road trip

The best time to visit Namibia is during the dry season, which typically runs from May to October. This period offers pleasant temperatures, clear skies, and minimal rainfall, making it ideal for outdoor activities and wildlife viewing. The weather is more moderate, with cooler temperatures in the mornings and evenings, making it comfortable for exploring the diverse landscapes of Namibia, including the Namib Desert, Etosha National Park, and the Skeleton Coast. This is especially the case if you’re camping, there is nothing worse than roasting in a tent as soon as the sun rises. 

Additionally, the dry season is a prime time for game viewing as animals gather around waterholes, providing excellent opportunities for wildlife encounters. However, it’s worth noting that popular destinations like Sossusvlei can get crowded during the peak months of July and August. We went in early June and thought the weather, and fairly small crowds, were perfect. 

For fewer crowds

If you prefer fewer crowds and are interested in birdwatching, the months of November to April offer a chance to witness migratory bird species and the vibrant bloom of desert flowers. Camping at this time of year probably won’t be ideal, however. Ultimately, the best time to visit Namibia depends on your preferences and the specific experiences you seek. 

This Namibia road trip is based on camping, and will take you on safari in Etosha as well as to the desert in Sossusvlei so we would recommend May to October. 

Namibia road trip - Day 1 (Windhoek)

Destination: windhoek.

• Buy a sim card at the airport (see below for details) 
• Explore the city if you arrive early enough 
• Get cash out while you’re here 
• Pick up your car and do your grocery shopping

Windhoek is the vibrant capital city of Namibia and the gateway to your epic Namibia road trip adventure. Situated in the heart of the country, Windhoek is a captivating blend of modernity and rich cultural heritage. As you embark on your journey through Namibia’s diverse landscapes, Windhoek serves as the logical starting point for anyone flying into the country as this is where the international airport is located. 

Windhoek provides the perfect opportunity to stock up on supplies and ensure you have everything you need for the journey ahead. If you have a little extra time, explore the city’s charming streets, lined with colonial-era buildings that stand as a testament to its history and take a moment to visit the iconic Christuskirche, a striking Lutheran church that has become a symbol of Windhoek’s architectural beauty.

Don’t worry about spending too much time in Windhoek

If you don’t have much time to explore Windhoek, don’t stress too much. Your adventure really begins when you leave the capital city anyway. So settle in, get over your jet lag, and rest up before you hit the road on day two. Unless you arrive really early today (like 8am), it is not recommended that you start driving out to Sossusvlei on day one It’s a long drive and it’s not advisable to drive in the dark (it’s actually not allowed with most rental cars).

It is important that you get some cash out while you’re here, especially some small notes for tipping. Having a handful of N$10 and N$20 notes will come in handy for a variety of situations. 

Buy a sim card at the airport  

As soon as you arrive in Hosea Kutako International Airport you will want to pick up a sim card. You’ll find a MTC store inside the arrival terminal. Allow about an hour to buy your sim card, if not longer. There were only about 3 other people in line when we arrived to purchase our sim card and it took us the better part of an hour due to the tedious set up process. Better to get it out of the way as soon as you arrive anyway! 

We got the Aweh Super plan, which was only N$53 (€2.50) for 7 days with 3GB of data. As we were there for 2 weeks we bought an extra week’s credit at the store and recharged while we were on the road. So for two people this is only N$212 (€10) for 2 weeks, pretty good! 

How to get into Windhoek from the airport

The easiest way to get into Windhoek is by taxi. You will have no problem organising a ride as soon as you’re ready to go after collecting your sim. You’ll see taxi vendors and drivers scattered throughout the terminal. It will take 40 minutes to reach Windhoek from the airport and should cost around N$300-350 (€15-17). 

Your real adventure starts when you hit the road

Where to eat

While you’re here you may as well indulge in the city’s culinary delights. Windhoek boasts a thriving food scene, offering a fusion of African and European flavours. From delicious game meats to refreshing craft beers brewed locally, Windhoek is the perfect introduction to Namibia’s fresh and diverse food. 

For dinner, we suggest you head to Joe’s Beerhouse , a renowned establishment known for its inviting atmosphere, wide selection of beers, and delicious food. It’s a popular gathering spot where you can enjoy great food and drinks in a funky urban setting chock full of fun memorabilia. We would recommend booking the shuttle (available from 12pm to 11pm daily), which will set you back N$ 50 (€2.40) per person within a 5km radius of Joe’s Beerhouse.  

Where to stay

We found Urban Camp to be the PERFECT accommodation for our first night. As we hadn’t yet picked up our car, we booked a glamping tent which start from N$750 per night (€44.70). As we visited in winter, we were pleasantly surprised that there were heated blankets which kept us so cosy overnight. We arrived on a Sunday however and the restaurant wasn’t open, so keep this in mind if you just want an easy first night. 

It does however have a gorgeous pool area, beautiful and clean amenities and super helpful staff. We would 100% recommend this place for your first evening.    

How much to budget

• Sim card with credit for 7 days: N$53 
• Taxi fare: N$300-350
• Accommodation (for two): N$750
• Dinner out (per person): N$200-300

Namibia road trip - Days 2-3 (Sossusvlei)

Destination: sossusvlei.

• Buy your tickets on arrival from the NWR office 
• Sunrise at Deadvlei 
• Climb dunes (any dune!) at sunset
• Spot oryx grazing in the desert
• Stargaze in the Dark Sky Reserve

You will want to pick up your hire car first thing this morning. Most car rental companies will open at 8am. Factor in about 2 hours to collect your car and pick up groceries. The process for collecting your hire car will (or should) involve going through all hire equipment very methodically to ensure you know how everything works, how to pack it away again and most importantly that it’s all clean and in working condition. The hire car company will show you how to put up and pack down the roof tent, where all of your essential camping gear is, how to use the compressor and fridge, and much more. 

Grocery stores in Windhoek are very well stocked, with literally everything you need. We went to a Food Lover’s Mall which was honestly better than the grocery stores we have in Dublin, Ireland. Make sure to stock up before you leave for the best grocery prices and range of options. Once you leave the city grocery prices will increase and options dwindle.

Tip: As soon as you arrive at Sesriem (where the accommodation is), purchase your park entry tickets. You will find the Namibia Wildlife Resorts office as soon as you enter the little town, you can’t miss it. You will want to take advantage of sunrise while you’re here, so having your ticket purchased the day before will allow you to head straight through the gates when they open.

Driving time

Allow 5-6 hours. We left Windhoek at around 11am and arrived at 5pm, after taking multiple stops. 

The road conditions out to Sossusvlei were some of the worst we encountered during our whole trip. But in saying that, in June 2023 as we were traveling through there were a lot of road works happening with significant amounts of grading occurring on dirt roads. This made the trip a heck of a lot faster than it otherwise would have been.

What to do in Sossusvlei

Welcome to the otherworldly beauty of Sossusvlei , a place where nature’s artistry is on full display (seriously, some parts look like they are straight out of a painting!). Nestled within the Namib-Naukluft National Park in Namibia (the oldest desert in the world), Sossusvlei is a mesmerising desert destination that will leave you in awe. It is a place of towering red sand dunes, stark white clay pans, and breath-taking views that will actually make you want to get up at sunrise and stay out for sunset every day you’re here. We’ve listed some of the activities you absolutely can’t miss below.

If you’re arriving quite late in the afternoon like we did, Elim Dune is the perfect spot to catch the sunset. Elim Dune is a captivating dune located just inside the gates, showcasing vibrant reds and oranges against the desert backdrop. Climbing Elim dune offers a decent challenge (fairly moderate ascent) for your first evening, and rewards you with panoramic views of the beauty and power of Namibia’s desert landscapes. This was the first spot we saw oryx up close, and it gave us a real sense of the vastness of the area making it a fantastic first night for our Namibia road trip.

Elim Dune at sunset

Dead Vlei  

As you venture into Sossusvlei, prepare to be captivated by the sheer magnitude of its landscapes. At the heart of Sossusvlei lies the legendary Dead Vlei, a dried-up clay pan dotted with ancient, gnarled camelthorn trees aged between 900-1000 years old. The contrasting white clay against the deep red dunes, bright blue sky and blackened trees creates a dramatic and hauntingly beautiful sight that is a photographer’s dream, even if you’re an amateur. 

It’s a place where time stands still, and the silence allows you to soak in the raw beauty of nature. Make the effort to arrive for sunrise and you will be rewarded with ever-changing colours and shadows, plus much smaller crowds. 

To get to Dead Vlei you will need to lower the pressure in your tyres to around 1.8 bar (26 psi) once you leave the 2WD car park. The sand is not very deep going out to Dead Vlei and we found driving ourselves to be quite straightforward. However, if you don’t feel confident driving yourself you will find plenty of shuttle buses waiting at the 2WD car park that can take you in.

Dead Vlei at sunrise

Go off the beaten track

Climbing the majestic dunes in Sossusvlei is an awe-inspiring adventure. Each step uphill is a challenge as the shifting sand tests your balance. Reaching the summit always reveals a breathtaking panorama of vibrant reds and oranges against the blue sky. The descent is an exhilarating slide, sinking into the soft sand. It’s a humbling experience, and whether you choose a well trodden dune or not, it’s worth the challenge. 

Some of our favourite dunes were the ones that weren’t signposted. We typically just pulled over at dunes that caught our eye, or wandered to adjacent dunes of the more popular ones like Dune 45. Just beware that your depth perception can be off in the desert. Although the dunes look very close to the road, it typically took us about 30 minutes to reach the base of the dunes we visited that didn’t have roads leading directly to them.

Or visit the more famous dunes

When it comes to climbing dunes in Sossusvlei , there are a few standout options that offer incredible experiences. One of the most popular dunes is Dune 45, named after its location 45 kilometres from the Sesriem Gate. It provides a challenging yet rewarding climb, offering panoramic views and stunning photo opportunities. Not far from here you’ll find Dune 39. Both of these dunes have roads leading right up to them with car parks at the base where you start the climb, making them fairly accessible. 

Another notable dune is Big Daddy, which is known as the tallest dune in Sossusvlei. Climbing Big Daddy is a strenuous undertaking, but reaching its summit provides a breathtaking view of the surrounding dunes and the expansive salt pan of Dead Vlei below. Just know that you won’t make it up for sunrise for this one, it’s too far of a climb.

Regardless of which dune you choose to climb in Sossusvlei, each one offers a unique perspective and a chance to connect with the awe-inspiring beauty of the Namib Desert. Whether you’re an experienced hiker or a casual adventurer, these dunes provide unforgettable experiences and a deep appreciation for the beauty of nature. We left the desert each day feeling tired but weirdly motivated and refreshed. It’s honestly just a beautiful landscape that we couldn’t get enough of. 

Sesriem Canyon

For your down time in between climbing dunes, exploring the nearby Sesriem Canyon is a must. Carved by the powerful forces of the Tsauchab River over millions of years, this narrow gorge offers a unique opportunity to witness the fascinating geological history of the region up close. We found this to be the perfect midday escape from the heat of the desert. Just be aware of the baboons as you pass through.

Sesriem Canyon is the perfect escape from the midday heat

Don’t forget to look up!

The Namib Desert Dark Sky Reserve is a star-gazers heaven, offering an uninterrupted view of the star-filled night sky. Free from light pollution, it allows visitors to witness the awe-inspiring beauty of the Milky Way, with countless stars and galaxies illuminating the vast desert expanse. We hadn’t properly seen the Milky Way, or the Southern Cross since moving to Ireland, and it was just so special after two years that it made both us us incredibly homesick for Australia. 

To make the most of your time here we strongly suggest you stay within the inner gates (there are two sets of gates). By staying within the inner gates you will have access to the park an hour before everyone else, and an hour after everyone else leaves. 

There are limited options inside the gate however, so be sure to book in advance! In fact for camping, there are only two options. Sesriem Oshana Camp , or the Namibia Wildlife Resort campsite . We stayed at  Sesriem Oshana Camp for two nights and would certainly recommend it.

The campsites were spaced far enough apart that you had some privacy, and you have your own private bathroom and shower. The shower room even locks so you can leave your camping equipment in there during the day and save yourself time in the morning by not having to pack everything away. Expect super hot water, great lighting, electricity to plug your fridge into, and a fire pit. 

The campsite is literally at the gate, so you can wake up and immediately be inside the park. You even have access to the pool, store and restaurant at the neighbouring Namibia Wildlife Resort campsite.   

You’ll hear hyenas and jackals at night, and you’ll probably even see jackals roaming about the campsite. Be careful not to leave food lying outside overnight and always pick up your rubbish so wildlife don’t eat it. 

• Camping (for two people, two nights): N$1,000
• Groceries (for two people, per day): N$400 (generous) 
• Entry fees: N$150 per person per day + N$50 per 4WD vehicle 

Namibia road trip - Days 4-6 (Swakopmund and Walvis Bay)

Destination: swakopmund and walvis bay.

• Try the apple pie at Solitaire 
• See the flamingos 
• Visit a pink lake 
• Take a day trip to Sandwich Harbour to see where the ocean meets the desert
• Drive up the Skeleton Coast 
• Stock up on groceries 
• Take an ATV / desert ecology tour 
• Treat yourself to dinner on the jetty at sunset

Next up on your itinerary are the coastal gems of Swakopmund and Walvis Bay, where the meeting of desert and ocean creates a captivating blend of natural beauty and adventure. Swakopmund, a charming seaside town, is enchanting with its German colonial architecture, vibrant markets, and adrenaline-pumping activities like sand boarding and quad biking. 

Just a short distance away lies Walvis Bay, known for its diverse birdlife and thrilling experiences like dolphin cruises and kayaking among playful seals. Together, these coastal havens offer a gateway to explore the Namib Desert’s pristine beaches, towering dunes, and the unique marine ecosystem of the Atlantic coast.

1 day/2 nights is enough time here

If you’re tight on time, you can cut a day out here. Although there’s a lot to do in the area, if you’re not interested in doing multiple tours you can see most things in 1 full day / 2 nights. Make sure you stock up on groceries while you’re in Swakopmund, there aren’t many options for supermarkets after this stop and you’ll pay a premium to shop at the small stores at Spitzkoppe and Etosha.

Heads up: Swakopmund and Walvis Bay are much cooler than the rest of Namibia, with a unique environment due to the coastal atmosphere butting right up against the desert heat. Every morning when we were camping in this area we woke up soaked due to the condensation in the tent. We had to dry out our bedding each day and were fortunate to be staying in a place where we could leave our bedding out while we did day trips.

Today’s drive time will be about 5-6 hours including stops. It’s worth stopping at Solitaire to refuel on your way out of Sossusvlei (and grab some legendary apple pie while you’re there).  

Most of the drive will be through the Namib-Naukluft National Park with some absolutely awesome landscapes, and a large section through the Guab Pass and the Kuiseb Pass. There are also long stretches of very flat desert, with hardly a bend in the road nor anything to look at. You’ll feel like you’re on another planet. The entire drive is on gravel roads so just prepare yourself for that mentally.

What to do in Swakopmund and Walvis Bay

Make a quick pit stop at Solitaire on your way out of Sossusvlei, just over an hour into your drive. We couldn’t resist picking up some of the famous apple pie and it lived up to our expectations. It’s a funky little area with old rusted cars and retro paraphernalia scattered about. You’ll be glad to stretch your legs before the fairly long drive to Swakopmund anyway. And make sure to fill up with fuel while you’re here too, you don’t want to run out in the desert!

Marvel at the flamingo colonies

There are a few places to see flamingos in Walvis Bay including the Bird Sanctuary, the Flamingo Lagoon at the esplanade, out at the pink lakes, or on your drive into the desert as part of your Sandwich Harbour tour. There are two species of flamingos in Walvis Bay, Greater Flamingos (which are taller and whiter) and Lesser Flamingos (which are shorter and pinker). 

We would suggest you skip the Bird Sanctuary. It’s located between a literal tip and a mining operation. You also have to park on the side of a very busy road. The sanctuary is in a sad state, with birds walking through trash and standing in polluted water.

Head to the esplanade for an up-close encounter

The esplanade is a lot nicer. They are very close to the shore here so you’ll get a great view. The flamingos out at the pink lake are more sparse, but they’re definitely there. Our favourite spot to see flamingos was in the more natural area in the desert behind the salt works on our way out to Sandwich Harbour. The area is much more unspoilt than in town (obviously) and it was idyllic to see the flamingos in the small little waterholes set against the backdrop of the desert. 

The best time to see flamingos is apparently between December and March, however the number of flamingos we saw at the esplanade in June was amazing! 

Visit the pink lake

This is a quick visit that is worth the detour in Walvis Bay. The saltworks here are some of the largest solar evaporation facilities in Africa. There are multiple ponds in the salt works compound with the brightest pink water, caused by algae. It’s a pretty location, and the striking contrast of the pink hues of the lake, against the bright blue sky and the backdrop of the desert makes it a great stop for photography.

Sandwich Harbour – where the ocean meets the desert

Now this is what most people come to Walvis Bay for. Nestled along the picturesque coastline of Namibia’s Skeleton Coast, Sandwich Harbour is a photographer’s dream. This remote and untouched coastal paradise offers a captivating blend of towering dunes, sparkling lagoons, and abundant birdlife. Accessible only by 4WD vehicles or boat, Sandwich Harbour provides a thrilling off-road journey through the shifting sands and rugged terrain. 

As you arrive, you’ll be greeted by the breathtaking sight of massive dunes cascading into the Atlantic Ocean. Explore the area’s rich biodiversity, spot flamingos, pelicans, and other coastal species. Sandwich Harbour is an oasis of natural beauty, where the convergence of desert and ocean creates an unforgettable experience. 

Visit at sunset for the ultimate experience

We opted for a sunset photography tour with Sandwich Harbour 4×4 Adventures that left from Walvis Bay. Our guide Mossie was absolutely fantastic! Mossie spotted a tonne of wildlife on our way out, took us to a totally unique viewpoint over Sandwich Harbour (that had only become accessible a few months earlier). He also put out a delish spread of local finger food including oysters and sparkling wine as the sun went down over the dunes. This is a must do activity. We have never seen such a unique landscape and we had so much fun 4WD’ing out into the desert.

Take a sunset tour to Sandwich Harbour to experience these soft, golden colours

Drive up the Skeleton Coast

Stretching along the rugged shores north of Swakopmund, the Skeleton Coast is a hauntingly beautiful destination that captivates the imagination. Its name derives from the shipwrecks that dot the coastline, remnants of treacherous seas and shifting sands. Amidst this desolate landscape is the renowned Cape Cross Seal Colony, home to thousands of Cape fur seals. 

We never expected seals to sound so ridiculous, or smell so bad. In peak season, there are hundreds of thousands of seals here (breeding season is in November to December). While there weren’t quite so many when we visited there were still an astounding number of seals frolicing in the water and racing along the beach. As soon as you drive in you’ll already see a number of them lounging on the rocks bordering the car park. Be careful not to get too close, they are wild animals and will lash out if you disturb them. There is a little board walk along the top of the beach that gives you a great view down onto the colony at the water’s edge.   

Expect to drive for about 1.5 hours each way to reach the seal colony. Park entrance fee N$150 (~€9) per person plus N$50 (~€3) per standard car. We have read that it’s not really worth driving further north into the Skeleton Coast as it can get fairly monotonous.

The Cape Cross Seal Colony 

Take an quad biking tour

If you’re up for another adventure activity then consider taking a quad biking tour through the desert. These guided tours allow you to navigate the captivating desert landscapes on powerful, all-terrain quad bikes. Expert guides lead the way, ensuring your safety while sharing their knowledge about the desert’s unique ecosystem. 

We got to see all of the ‘Little 5’ that we never would have seen on our own, including the translucent web-footed gecko, the wheel spider (the one that cartwheels down dunes), the namaqua chameleon, the shovel-snouted lizard, and the side-winder puff adder (the fastest snake in the world). Our guides knew exactly where to look and how to find them all, we were so impressed.   

Ride the dunes on a ‘Kalahari Ferarri’ 

Along the journey, take in the breathtaking views of the Namib Desert and the Atlantic Ocean, which create a stunning backdrop for your adventure. You’ll also get the chance to sandboard down enormous dunes on freshly waxed boards (or what our guides called the ‘Kalahari Ferrari’ haha). Quad bike tours in Swakopmund are a fantastic way to immerse yourself in the raw beauty of Namibia’s desert landscapes, giving you an unforgettable off-road experience. 

We took this quad biking living dunes tour and would highly recommend it. They collect you from where you’re staying, which means you won’t have to worry about packing up your tent first thing in the morning. The early slot from 8-11am is preferable to increase your chances of seeing the little animals however expect their to be considerable fog due to the geography of the area.

The beautiful web-footed gecko, and our quad bikes for the tour

Dine out at one of the beautiful Swakopmund restaurants

Sick of cooking dinner on your gas stove? Swakopmund is the perfect opportunity for some dinners out at beautiful establishments overlooking the powerful Atlantic Ocean. We tried both Jetty 1905 and The Tug and loved both. Jetty 1905 would probably be our favourite though. It’s a gorgeous restaurant sitting above the water at the end of the jetty (you can actually feel the ocean swaying the building). The prices were great, the service was the best we experienced in Namibia, and the food was unbelievable.

We also made it to Brewer & Butcher for a quick beer one afternoon and wished we’d had more time to relax there to try some of the local craft beers. It’s tucked away in a pretty corner of town overlooking a swimming beach. 

Sunset in Swakopmund, viewed rom the Tug 

You can choose to stay in either Swakopmund or Walvis Bay. They’re only about half an hour away from each other. We chose Swakopmund as it looked like a prettier town and we wanted to try some of the restaurants on the jetty. Walvis Bay definitely felt more industrial. However, we didn’t spend too much time there other than to see the flamingo colonies/pink lake and to start our Sandwich Harbour tour.  

We would highly recommend Alte Brücke Resort in Swakopmund. We camped here for 3 nights and really enjoyed our time. Not only are the campsites grassy, which feels like a luxury after the constant sand in Sossusvlei, but they’re also very private and spacious. The large bathroom and patio area were very comfortable, there’s a big fire pit, and you can fall asleep to the sound of the ocean if you grab a spot down near the west fence line. The compound is fully secure with security posted at the gate also. We paid N$480 for two people per night.

• Camping (for two people, per night): N$480
• Groceries (for two people, per day): $N400 (generous) 
• Sandwich harbour tour (per person): $N2,240 
• ATV tour (per person): $N1,160
• Entry fees to Cape Cross: $N80 per person + $N10 for vehicle

Namibia road trip - Day 7 (Spitzkoppe)

Destination: spitzkoppe.

• Take a guided walk of the San cave paintings
• Visit the arch at sunrise 
• Climb the High Peak or Sugar Mountain
• Camp under the stars

Your next destination is the majestic Spitzkoppe National Park, home to a striking granite peak that rises dramatically from the vast Namibian landscape. Known as the “Matterhorn of Namibia”, Spitzkoppe is an iconic landmark that is a must see on your Namibian road trip. Its towering presence, unique rock formations, and rugged beauty make it a haven for climbers, hikers, and nature enthusiasts. 

You can spend some time exploring the labyrinth of rock formations, discover ancient San rock art, and witness the MOST breathtaking sunsets that paint the surrounding plains in hues of gold, purple and pink. You can enjoy Spitzkoppe at a much slower pace than your previous destinations. 

There’s beautiful views around every corner in Spitzkoppe

Today’s drive is incredibly short at only 2 hours along bitumen (no corrugated gravel roads today!). As you’ll only be in Spitzkoppe for one night, get an early start so you have the full afternoon to explore.

What to do in Spitzkoppe

In Spitzkoppe, there are several incredible experiences for adventurous travellers. Hiking is a must, as it allows you to explore the remarkable rock formations, discover hidden caves, and witness breathtaking panoramic views from the summit. Some easily accessible areas include the arch (the rock bridge) and the rock pool. You’ll be given a map on arrival that shows you the locations for everything in the area. 

For those with more time you might consider climbing Sugar Mountain or the High Peak. If you’re after a slow day after all of your activities this week, you can just spend the afternoon wandering around the bases of Sugar Mountain, Spitzkoppe and the Pontoks.

Spitskoppe and the rock bridge at sunrise 

Take a guided tour or visit Bushman’s Paradise

To visit the San rock art and learn about the Damara tribe history you will need to join a tour from Bushman’s Paradise. You will be given a brochure of all available guided tour options when you arrive, ranging in price depending on the length of the tour. The tours are run by locals in the community and are certainly worth it if you have the time. Most tours start in the morning to beat the heat of the day. We had to leave very early the next morning and so we missed out on this, and we regret it a little.

You will need to stay in Spitzkoppe rest camp overnight. Camp sites are basic here, with drop toilets and no showers or running water. However you’ll find showers at the entrance that you can use, as well as potable water and even a restaurant serving light meals and cold drinks. Water is very scarce in this area, so only take what you need. Spitzkoppe is renowned for its large campsites set at great distance from each other giving you plenty of privacy for your stay. In saying that, respect the privacy of others and if you see camping equipment at a campsite but no vehicle, that still means it is taken.  

It’s first in best dressed at Spitzkoppe, so if you want a campsite with a good view you will need to arrive early. We stayed in campsite 4 and had the most beautiful backdrop for our camp. We even had quite a few visitors at sunset as we apparently had the best view in the whole area, and we were able to watch the sun set right between two mountains.

• Camping (for two people, per night): N$210
• Entry fees: covered in your camping fee, day visitors will pay N$120 per person

Namibia road trip - Days 8-9 (Waterberg Plateau Park)

Destination: waterberg plateau park.

• Walk with the white rhinos 
• Take a hike on the plateau
• Enjoy the nature trails 
• Indulge in a sundowner overlooking the Kalahari

Be ready to leave Spitzkoppe early, today you’re heading to Waterberg Plateau Park, a hidden gem in Namibia. This unique conservation area showcases an ancient sandstone plateau, rising dramatically from the surrounding plains. Home to diverse flora and fauna, including rare species like the black rhino, it offers incredible opportunities for wildlife viewing and hiking trails that lead you through breathtaking landscapes. Immerse yourself in the natural beauty as you explore the park’s scenic viewpoints, walk among white rhinos and relax under lush vegetation.

Head to Waterberg Plateau Park for an up close encounter with white rhinos

It will take you about 4.5 hours to drive from Spitzkoppe to Waterberg Plateau Park, allowing for a short stop along the way. Most of the way will be on bitumen again, except for the last half an hour or so into the national park itself.

What to do in Waterberg Plateau National Park

Rhino drive.

During our time here, we stayed at Waterberg Wilderness and did all of our tours through them. This private reserve encompasses the iconic Waterberg Plateau, a towering sandstone formation that rises dramatically from the surrounding plains. The reserve offers a sanctuary for a wide array of wildlife, including rare and endangered species such as black and white rhinos, sable antelopes, and Cape vultures as well as various other released game species such as giraffe, hartebeest, zebra, blue wildebeest and eland antelope. Visitors can embark on guided game drives, nature walks, sundowners, and birdwatching excursions to explore the diverse landscapes, learn about conservation efforts, and encounter the fascinating flora and fauna. 

Waterberg National Park is home to a thriving population of white rhinos, providing a unique opportunity to witness these magnificent creatures up close. Due to poaching, the rhinos within the private reserve are guarded 24/7 with two armed rangers with them during the day, and another shift at night. Sadly, only a few months before our visit poachers had killed a pregnant female, which prompted the reserve to increase security. 

Chances are high for you to see rhino’s at Waterberg

However, this means that your chances of encountering white rhinos on your drive are highly likely as the rangers know where they are at all times. White rhinos are pretty docile (unlike the black rhino which is quite aggressive), meaning you can actually get out of the vehicle and walk with them for a while. This was one of our absolute highlights of the entire trip. We were lucky enough to see a 1 year old rhino with its mum and another adolescent about 4 years of age. 

The rhino drives start at 4pm, and they advise that you arrive at the reserve an hour before to ensure you don’t miss it. The drive lasts about 4 hours and includes drinks and snacks at sunset in a beautiful open plain. We paid  N$2,040 for two people (€100).

Plateau hike

While you’re here, don’t miss out on the opportunity to view the Kalahari from above on a hike to the plateau. While there are plenty of walks around the reserve that you can do on your own, this one requires a guide as there is only one way up and down the plateau. Plus, there are black rhino and buffalo located on top of the plateau, both of which can be aggressive (they were helicoptered in for their protection as poachers can’t reach them there). We paid N$1,120  (€55) for two people. The hike went from 8-11am, which took us to multiple viewpoints over the Kalahari and Waterberg reserve. We weren’t lucky enough to see them in the flesh, but we saw tracks for leopards and buffalo.  

A gorgeous Klipspringer, and the view looking out over the Kalahari from the Waterberg Plateau

We chose to stay at Waterberg Wilderness  while visiting the national park. They have options for camping, glamping, affordable lodges or more upscale rooms with views over the plateau. After camping for a week we decided to break up our trip with a stay in the Wilderness Lodge. It was a bit pricey at N$2,880 (~€140) for a double room, however this included afternoon tea, dinner and breakfast. The room was beautiful and incredibly spacious, with a patio out the back where we enjoyed a bottle of wine in the shade of the surrounding forest. 

With its tranquil atmosphere, stunning vistas, and conservation-focused approach, Waterberg Wilderness provides you with an opportunity to reconnect with nature and experience the beauty of Namibia up close. We loved the ecological approach of the reserve, with solar PV and water sourced directly from nearby springs, plus all funds go directly back into the park.

• Camping (per campsite, per night): N$400
• Wilderness Lodge (two people, per night incl. dinner and breakfast): N$2,880
• Rhino tour (per person): N$1,020
• Plateau hike (per person): N$560

Namibia road trip - Days 10-13 (Etosha National Park)

Destination: etosha national park.

• Take a sunset safari drive  
• Do a self-drive safari

No Namibia road trip would be complete without a few safari days at Etosha National Park. Your itinerary will largely depend on the gate that you want to stay near. If you’re coming from Waterberg Plateau Park, the closest gate is going to be Anderson Gate. However there’s also Galton Gate to the west, Von Lindequist gate to the east, and King Nehale gate at the northern end. Our below suggested itinerary assumes you will stay near Anderson Gate. We have provided more details on where to stay for your time in Etosha in the following section.

A beautiful leopard and her cubs in Etosha National Park

Dr iving time

Today’s drive is relatively short at only 3 hours. We did this in one stint and just pulled over into a rest stop for a quick sandwich. The whole drive will be on bitumen once you leave Waterberg National Park.

What to do in Etosha National Park

Safari – mix of self-drive and guided.

We think 3 days is perfect for Etosha as it gives you the afternoon on day 1 after getting settled in, and then 2 full days to explore the park after that.    

• Morning: Arrive at Anderson Gate and complete park formalities (buy your permits for three days).
• Afternoon: Settle into your accommodation at one of the camps near Anderson Gate. Take a short rest and familiarise yourself with the camp facilities.
• Late Afternoon: Join a guided sunset game drive organised by your accommodation.

We saw SO MANY heards of elephants

• Morning: Wake up early for a self-drive safari within Etosha National Park. The gates will open at sunrise. Head  towards Okaukuejo Rest Camp, stopping at various waterholes along the way. 
• Midday: Enjoy a picnic lunch at one of the designated picnic spots within the park.
• Afternoon: Continue your self-drive safari towards Halali Rest Camp. 
• Evening: Return to your accommodation and relax at the pool while the sun goes down.

A pride of lions playing at sunrise, and a pretty springbok

• Morning: Embark on another self-drive safari, this time heading north towards Namutoni Rest Camp. Take your time to spot well camouflaged wildlife like the leopard and cheetah in this area. Alternatively, take another guided-safari with your accommodation.
• Midday: Stop for a leisurely lunch at one of the rest camp restaurants or picnic spots.
• Afternoon: Complete your self-drive safari by visiting additional waterholes or exploring different areas of the park, taking detours wherever you like. Take advantage of any opportunities to witness predator-prey interactions or rare sightings.
• Evening: Bid farewell to Etosha National Park and make your way back to Anderson Gate. Spend one final night at your accommodation before departing the following day.

You’ll find zebra and giraffe everywhere

Tips for your safari 

Go on a guided game drive when you arrive.

This will help you get familiar with the park layout, you’ll see where all the nearby waterholes are, and you’ll get an idea of any hotspot areas for recent wildlife sightings. The experienced guides will always have a good idea about where they want to take you. And although they can’t guarantee wildlife sightings, they will be in touch with other guides in the area who may have seen something (like lions, or elephants). 

The guides are also great at noticing the small wildlife that you would just miss if you’re driving yourself. We saw honey badgers, mongoose and ground squirrels with our guide that we otherwise wouldn’t have noticed. The guide himself actually hadn’t seen a honey badger in years so we were stoked that we got to see a couple. On the sunset game drive you’ll be given alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages and they will make time for toilet stops. 

Take note of park opening times

The park gates open at sunrise and close at sunset. The closing time is strict. Make sure you leave yourself enough time to exit the park. Distances between waterholes and camps are long and you can only go 60km/hr inside the park.  

Consider covering your hair

Expect to get dusty on your game drive. A lot of the vehicles are open-air and the roads at Etosha are in pretty poor condition. Dust gets kicked up, especially when there are a lot of game drive vehicles about as they are quite large vehicles. We saw plenty of people wearing scarves, hats or buffs to keep the dust out. Buffs will probably work best as the vehicles do move quickly. 

Different animals occupy different parts of the park

The lions are typically in the area around Anderson Gate / Okaukuejo. We got super lucky and on the first morning we did a self-drive safari and saw a pride of lions playing just off the side of the road about 5 minutes in from Anderson Gate. We saw them again just north-east of Okaukuejo. Leopards and cheetahs however are around the Namutoni rest camp. We went as far as Eland Drive one day and were lucky enough to see a cheetah hunt down a springbok and feed it to her four little cubs!  

Toilet facilities inside the park

It’s worth picking up a map on your way into the park. The map will indicate the locations of all toilet and picnic facilities, rest camps, waterholes, and distances between each section. Remember to bring toilet paper and hand wipes/sanitiser with you to the bathrooms in Etosha National Park. All toilet facilities are drop toilets and are not very well maintained.  

It can get cold! 

Dress warmly, it gets surprisingly chilly in the evenings and early in the mornings, especially while on guided drives as you’ll be sitting in an open vehicle going 60-100km/hr. For the morning game drives you’ll likely be given a blanket to keep you warm as well. 

Follow park rules

It’s important to adhere to park rules and regulations, respect wildlife, and prioritise safety while enjoying your safari adventure in Etosha National Park. Unbelievably, we saw someone exit their vehicle while at one of the waterholes. We were on a guided safari at the time and the guide had no problem going over and telling them off for their stupidity.

Majestic wildebeest and the critically endangered black rhino 

Etosha National Park offers diverse camping options both inside and outside the gates. Inside the park, there are several rest camps with camping facilities, including Okaukuejo, Halali, and Namutoni. These camps provide basic amenities such as toilet and shower facilities, cooking areas, and communal braai (barbecue) facilities. Camping inside the park offers the advantage of being in close proximity to waterholes, where you can witness incredible wildlife sightings in the evenings, especially during the dry season.

Outside the gates, there are private campsites and lodges in the surrounding areas. These options offer a more secluded and exclusive experience, with amenities ranging from basic to luxurious. Many private campsites offer facilities such as private toilets and showers, electricity, and well-maintained camping areas. Some also provide additional services like guided game drives, swimming pools, and dining options.

Camping outside the park allows for more flexibility in terms of location and activities, and it can be a great option for those who prefer a quieter and more personalised experience. Additionally, the campsites outside the park are typically known to be in better condition, with cleaner facilities. 

Etosha Village

We stayed at Etosha Village , which is only a 5 minute drive to the Anderson gate and we paid N$1,134 (€56) for two people for two nights. This unique safari-style campsite offers a perfect blend of comfort and immersion in nature. With its traditional African-inspired design, the campsites at Etosha Village were spacious and private with their own shower, toilet, electricity and braai facilities. 

A short walk from the campsite at the reception area you can also enjoy the beautiful pools, garden, bar and open-air restaurant. This area was perfect for relaxing and cooling off in between game drives. The kudu’s have no problem wandering right up to the pool area, so you’ll likely see a few of them up close while wandering the grounds. We really enjoyed our time here and would certainly recommend it.     

• Camping (for two people, per night): N$567 
• Park entry fees: N$150 per person, per day + N$50 per car per day
• Guided game drive (per person): N$1,164  

Namibia road trip - Day 14 (Windhoek)

• Drop your rental car off 
• Check in to your accommodation 
• Enjoy your final evening with dinner at Stellenbosch Wine Bar

Sadly the time has come for you to depart. You can choose to do a final sunrise self-drive safari this morning, or take it easy and get on the road after breakfast. Chances are you’ll have a bit of organising to do to get all of the camping gear back in order before dropping your car back this afternoon.

Try to pre-organise with your rental car company for them to drop you off at your accommodation (or the airport). If you choose to stay the night, we suggest you head back to Urban Camp for the evening before going to Stellenbosch Wine Bar for a beautiful meal in their outdoor terrace.

The drive back to Windhoek will take between 4-5 hours and will be entirely on bitumen, making it a comfortable trip. 

Thanks for stopping by!

This carefully curated Namibia road trip itinerary takes you through the highlights of this stunning and unique country, starting in the vibrant capital city of Windhoek. From there, journey to the iconic red sand dunes of Sossusvlei, then explore the coastal gems of Swakopmund and Walvis Bay, where adventure activities and pristine beaches await. 

Next, witness the surreal beauty of the Skeleton Coast and visit the renowned Cape Cross Seal Colony. Traverse the rugged landscapes of Spitzkoppe, home to ancient rock engravings and unique desert-adapted wildlife. Finally, venture to the captivating Waterberg Plateau and take an afternoon stroll with the rhinos. This Namibia road trip itinerary allows you to experience the very best of Namibia’s natural wonders, immerse yourself in its diverse landscapes, and create lifelong memories along the way.

We hope we’ve inspired you to visit this awe-inspiring country. It’s certainly been one of our favourite trips that we’ve ever taken!

If you have any questions, please let us know, and  subscribe to stay up to date with our new guides as they come out! 

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• Travel Planning Guide

The Best 2-Week (14-Day) Tours in Namibia

Are you craving an unforgettable 2-week trip to Namibia that strikes the perfect balance between relaxation and adventure? Look no further than our carefully curated selection of 14-day guided tours that are perfect for a two week getaway. We've analyzed these tours based on key criteria such as price, comfort, service, guest ratings, and activities in order to find the top 14-day tours in Namibia for your next trip. Whether you're yearning for thrilling excursions, mouthwatering cuisine, or simply a chance to unwind, these tours offer the perfect amount of time to immerse yourself into the local culture and activites. Get ready to embark on an extraordinary journey that will leave you with memories to treasure for a lifetime.

• Sossusvlei Adventure Trip (14 days) 14 Days, $4259.32
• Namibia, Botswana and Falls - 14 days 14 Days, $3985.00
• Discover Namibia - Lodges 13 Days, $3223.00

Which 14-day tour options are available in Namibia?

Here are the important factors:

• 10 trip options analyzed
• $232 average price per day (USD)
• 13 to 14 days in length
• 4.73 of 5 average rating
• 16 people or less on average

Curious about the diverse range of tours lasting 2 weeks? Prepare to be amazed by the array of options available to suit every traveler's preferences. It comes as no surprise that visitors adore these tours, given their exceptional average guest rating of 4.73 out of 5 stars. When it comes to group sizes, the average maximum capacity stands at 16 people, allowing for a comfortable and sociable experience. The shortest tour is 13 days, while the longest is 14 days. When it comes to physical activity , tour options are organized as moderate and easy, with a majority being moderate tours. With a comprehensive analysis encompassing 10 tours lasting 2 weeks, you can rest assured that Namibia has something tailored to your interests and preferences, promising an unforgettable experience for all.

(All tour prices are in US Dollars before taxes, and come from a base price that is reported by TourRadar. Peak season prices can vary significantly, particularly in destinations where seasonal travel fluctuates dramatically.)

So, let's get to it and see...

The 10 Best 2-Week Tours in Namibia

Sossusvlei adventure trip (14 days).

• High Quality: guest ratings are higher than average.

Check out this incredible voyage that has received a 5 out of 5 rating from previous guests. Rest assured, this trip is all about wildlife and safaris, guaranteeing an unforgettable adventure. With a duration of 14 days, this journey ensures an intimate group size of 12 people, and is good for travelers aged 18 to 90 years old. This itinerary covers 5 captivating destinations, with stops in Namib-Naukluft Park, Sossusvlei, and Swakopmund, among others. Windhoek will be the beginning and end of your trip. This fantastic option, organized by Chamaeleon , presents an unbeatable value at just $304 per day.

Namibia, Botswana and Falls - 14 days

Spanning over 14 days, this voyage, visiting Namibia, Botswana, and Zimbabwe, has a maximum size of 16 individuals. Welcoming travelers aged 10 to 75 years old, it is organized by On The Go Tours , a very popular company with plenty of great reviews. Immerse yourself in a travel experience that includes 7 destinations, featuring Swakopmund, Etosha National Park, Okavango Delta, and Chobe National Park. Beginning in beautiful Windhoek, you'll have a terrific journey that ends in Victoria Falls. This extraordinary adventure also revolves around family-friendly activities and safaris. Available at an unbeatable price of only $285 per day, this option also has a rating of 5 out of 5 stars from previous guests.

• Jeep & 4WD

Discover Namibia - Lodges

• Great Value: the daily price is lower than average for tours lasting 2 weeks.

Here's your chance to take off on an exceptional trip that has garnered a 5 out of 5 rating. With a duration of 13 days, this jouney will have 16 participants, and it warmly welcomes travelers aged 16 or older. Expertly organized by Exodus Travels , this amazing trip is an incredible value at just $219 per day.

Cape & Dunes Northbound: Wildlife & Starry Night Skies

This memorable voyage, visiting South Africa and Namibia, is offered by G Adventures which has received plenty of positive reviews. The trip itself has a guest rating of 4.9 out of 5 stars, and is priced affordably at $123 per day. Traverse through 10 enchanting destinations, with Fish River Canyon National Park, Sossusvlei, Swakopmund, and Spitzkoppe among the must-see stops along the route. Cape Town marks the starting point, while Windhoek stands as the final stop on your incredible journey. You're in for an epic adventure with a strong emphasis on overlanding and safaris. The maximum group size is 22 people, welcoming travelers aged 18 to 39 years old.

• Overland Truck

Namibian Family Adventurer

Set off on an extraordinary journey that has been awarded a 4.7 out of 5 stars by previous guests. You'll love the emphasis on family-friendly activities and safaris, too. With a duration of 13 days, this voyage offers an intimate group setting, accommodating 9 individuals, while extending a warm welcome to travelers aged 9 or older. This trip visits 13 destinations, including Etosha National Park, Otjiwarongo, Waterberg Plateau Park, and Namib-Naukluft Park along the way. You'll start and end this amazing trip in Windhoek. Brought to you by Exodus Travels , this exceptional deal is an incredible steal at a mere $242 per day.

Botswana Wildlife Safari

With this option you can experience an unparalleled journey for 14 unforgettable days, visiting Botswana, Namibia, and Zambia. It ensures an intimate group setting with 12 participants at most. Experience a trip that takes you to 7 remarkable destinations, including Okavango Delta, Caprivi Game Park, Livingstone, and Chobe National Park. Maun will mark the start of your journey, while Okavango Delta will serve as its final destination. Explore! , the organizer of this journey, extends a warm invitation to guests travelers aged 16 to 85 years old. With an emphasis on wildlife and safaris, you know you'll have an amazing adventure. This extraordinary opportunity offers exceptional value at only $336 per day.

Cape & Dunes Southbound: Desert Camping & Safari Drives

This fantastic journey has a rating of 4.6 out of 5 stars, visiting Namibia and South Africa. Explore 10 incredible locations on this trip, including Fish River Canyon National Park, Vioolsdrif, Cederberg Wildnerness Area, and Waterberg Plateau Park. Windhoek marks the starting point, while Cape Town stands as the final stop on your incredible journey. And since the priority is on overlanding and wildlife, this tour is a great choice. Lasting 14 days, the maximum group size is 22 people, and it's good for travelers aged 18 to 39 years old. Organized by G Adventures , this is a great deal because it's only $104 per day.

Southern African Desert Rivers and Wildlife

With a stellar 4.5 out of 5 rating, this extraordinary voyage, visiting Namibia, Botswana, and Zambia, is the perfect choice. Rest assured, this trip is all about wildlife and safaris, guaranteeing an unforgettable adventure. Discover a journey that spans 10 destinations, with notable stops in Caprivi Game Park, Chobe National Park, Sesriem, and Sossusvlei. Beginning in beautiful Windhoek, you'll have a terrific journey that ends in Livingstone. Spanning across 14 days, the voyage accommodates 14 individuals, and is suitable for travelers aged 16 to 80 years old. Offered by World Expeditions , this remarkable voyage is priced at just $285 per day. Don't miss out on this incredible experience.

Discover Namibia - Camping

This exceptional trip offering by Exodus Travels has received a 4.5 out of 5 rating. On this 13-day journey you can unwind while also making new memories. This trip takes you on an adventure to 12 destinations, including Walvis Bay, Swakopmund, Brandberg Mountain, and Twyfelfontein. Begin and conclude your remarkable journey in the gorgeous destination of Windhoek. With a group size of 16 people, it's suitable for travelers aged 16 or older. This remarkable trip is priced at an unbeatable $219 per day.

Namibia to Victoria Falls Explorer

Check out this trip that has received rave reviews, earning a stellar 4.5 out of 5 rating, visiting Namibia, Botswana, and Zimbabwe. With 9 destinations to explore, you'll get the chance to see Spitzkoppe, Etosha National Park, Okavango Delta, and Chobe National Park, and more. Windhoek marks the starting point, while Victoria Falls stands as the final stop on your incredible journey. This terrific trip also highights wildlife and safaris. Spanning across 14 unforgettable days, this voyage offers an intimate group experience with 16 participants, and it's great for travelers aged 16 to 80 years old. Brought to you by the renowned World Expeditions , this exceptional opportunity is priced at an incredible $206 per day - an unbeatable value.

See also The Best Family-Friendly Tours to Namibia , The Best Wildlife Tours to Namibia , The Best 10-Day Tours in Namibia , The Best One Week (7-Day) Tours in Namibia , The Best 3-Day Tours in Namibia , Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in Namibia , The Best Christmas & New Years Tours in Namibia , The Best Overlanding Trips in Namibia , The Best Adventure Tours to Namibia , The Best Eco Tours in Namibia , The Best Cultural Tours in Namibia , The Best Camping Tours in Namibia , The Best Romantic Tours for Couples in Namibia , The Best Safaris in Namibia , The Best Budget Safaris in Namibia , The Best Tours Under $1000 in Namibia , The Best Luxury Tours to Namibia , The Best Budget Tours to Namibia , The Best Tours for Seniors to Namibia , or The Best G Adventures Tours to Namibia for more tour ideas. With so many options, there's a guided tour or vacation package for every type of traveler.

Also, if you're departing from a specific destination, see The Best 3-Day Tours from Windhoek , The Best 3-Day Tours from Swakopmund , The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Windhoek , The Best 10-Day Tours from Windhoek , or The Best 2-Week Tours from Windhoek for more package tour options.

How much do 14-day tours to Namibia cost?

Visitors will find a large range of terrific options for tours lasting 2 weeks when planning a visit to Namibia. The price of these specific trips can vary according to length, destinations, and travel style. The average price of tours lasting 2 weeks in Namibia based on data from 10 options is an affordable $232 per day. If you're interested in more information about tours here, see our guide to tour prices in Namibia .

And for more information on Namibia, see Namibia Travel Costs and Namibia Hotel Costs .

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2 Weeks in Namibia: Detailed Itinerary & Trip Report

• By Kavita Choudhary
• September 15, 2020
• No Comments

Namibia? Like Really? 2 Weeks in Namibia? My family thought I have gone mad! I was like it has so much to offer – Picturesque red dunes, beautiful landscapes, the largest canyon in Africa, exotic wildlife, and reasonably priced hotels offering mind-blowing views. This was the destination which I hadn’t seen or heard from anywhere. It wasn’t on my bucket list. I just came across it when searching for destinations in Africa and went completely crazy behind it.

Travel Dates – 7th June to 22nd June

First, we spent a fabulous week in Kruger, South Africa and then flew to Namibia.

Day 1 – Fly to Windhoek and drive to Kalahari Desert (256 Km, 3.5 hrs)

Due to flight cancellations and delays, we landed at 3 pm in Namibia instead of the scheduled time of 8:45 am. We picked up a Sim card from the airport, rented a car from Bidvest and started our journey to the Bagatelle Ranch in the Kalahari Desert .

Drive to Bagatelle

Driving in the dark is a complete no-no in Namibia as there aren’t any streetlights and you don’t see any cars for miles. So we rushed to reach our hotel before dark.  After reaching Bagatelle, the plan was to go for a sundowners’ drive plus see cheetah feeding but obviously we missed it, thanks to Air Namibia.

Activities at Bagatelle:

• Sundowners Drive + Cheetah Feeding starts at 15:30 – a combination of a guided sundowners’ drive over the lodge with the possibility to see a wide variety of game combined with a cheetah feeding session to see them up-close and also includes drinks.
• Sundowners Nature Drive starts at 16:00 – guided sundowners’ drive with drinks.
• Cheetah Feeding with Sundowners starts at 18:00 – guided drive straight to cheetahs for a feeding session including sundowners’ drinks.

Accommodation

We stayed at the Bagatelle Kalahari Game Ranch. I mainly chose to stay here because they have cheetahs at their property and there is also an option of seeing meerkats in the wild, though not guaranteed. 

Loved driving in Namibia with no cars!

The stunning Kalahari Desert

We made it in time before it got pitch-black

Day  2 – Drive to Fish River Canyon (452 Km, 5 hrs)

Sunrise safari at bagatelle.

Since we missed the sunset safari the previous day, we got up at the crack of dawn and went for a guided sunrise drive. The drive through the stunning red Kalahari Desert was something different. The unique landscape which fascinated me to plan a 2 weeks in Namibia trip was unfolding before us. First, we saw Oryx – the Namibian native animal. We loved seeing Oryx for the first time. We also saw a couple of other animals like zebras, blue wildebeest, giraffes, ostrich, springbok and fox.

Most people go for a sunset drive, so we were the only ones on this tour. After a few hours in the desert, they took us to their cheetah’s enclosure. All their cheetahs are rescued or orphaned.  We spent time clicking photos but unfortunately; we didn’t get to see the cheetah feeding as it happens only in evenings.  Early in the morning, meerkats come out of their burrows and can be seen in the wild while having breakfast at Bagatelle. Since we got late from our sunrise drive, we missed them.

Sunrise Drive in the Kalahari Desert

Namibian Sunrise

Our Safari Vehicle

600 birds stay inside this huge nest

Loved stroking a Cheetah!

After breakfast, we started our drive to the Fish River Lodge.

Keetmanshoop (En-route)

• Here, you can see unique quiver trees.
• The quiver tree is known for looking upside down because the “leaves” look somewhat similar to roots.
• We saw a couple of them along the road from the comfort of our car.
• There is Quiver Tree Forest and Giant’s Playground, which charges around 85 NAD pp. We didn’t bother paying and going for the hike here.
• Garas Park Rest Camp – is an alternate to Quiver Tree Forest
• Fill petrol here- there is no fuel at Goageb even though your map or GPS may state otherwise.

Quiver Trees along the road

After a quick photo stop for Quiver Trees, we continued our drive to the Fish River Lodge.

Only some of of the roads are sealed

For the most part, it is all gravel

Some stretch is quite bad and tiring

Random rock formation along the road

We stayed at the Fish River Lodge , which is perched on the rim of the Fish River Canyon. This lodge has a western side view of the canyon. This is probably the only lodge that provides a day trip into the canyon by a jeep. We loved the views from this lodge. Most lodges are on the eastern of the canyon. They offer only hiking trips into the canyon. Our initial plan was just to stay a night on the eastern side and see the viewpoint. Soon, I realised, it is quite a long drive to the south of Namibia, just for a night. So I chose to stay for 2 nights at the Fish River Lodge which allowed time for a day trip into the canyon and also added a night in the Kalahari Desert to break the journey which turned out to be a fantastic choice.

View of the Canyon from our lodge

Just after sunset

Day 3 – Fish River Canyon

Day trip to the fish river canyon.

At sunrise, we grabbed some breakfast and left for the tour with our friendly guide. We were the only ones on this tour, hence had the jeep to our-self. This tour can be done with a guide only as self-drive is prohibited. Two of the guests went for a hiking trip into the canyon and I believe rest of them just chilled in the lodge. The earlier part of the drive was fairly easy and offered pretty good views. After a while, we drove through back-breaking roads which our guide aptly called – it’s an African massage.

Halfway through the tour, we stopped at a viewpoint. The panoramas of the canyon with a river flowing through it was gorgeous. After clicking loads of photos, we drove to the bottom of the canyon. We could see the canyon up close and the beautiful green river flowing through the canyon.  If adventurous, one can climb further down and swim in the river. The steps looked quite steep, therefore; we skipped it. We sat on the rock and had a picnic lunch enjoying the spectacular views of the canyon. Our lodge had packed us some sandwiches, protein bars, fruits, and a vast variety of soft drinks. It was a good day spent in the canyon and worth coming all the way here.

We were back by 3 pm and spent the rest of the day chilling in our lodge admiring the awesome views of the canyon from the swimming pool and our rooms. If scenic beauty is your thing and you have around 2 weeks in Namibia, I would highly recommend staying 2 nights here. Most of the itineraries which I read skipped this as it’s a far away from other popular places in Namibia.

Fish River Lodge

Sunrise scene

Spotted a springbok en-route to the canyon

Want an African massage?

Quiver tree as far as eyes can see – unique to South of Namibia

Beautiful landscape en-route to the Fish River Canyon

First View of the Fish River Canyon

Gorgeous Fish River Canyon

Can’t get enough of it!

Fish River Canyon view from the bottom

Lunch with a view

Loved the stunning views of the Fish River Canyon

4holidaymaniacs in Namibia

Beautiful Landscape

Spotted an ostrich on the way back to the lodge

Day 4 – Drive to Sossusvlei (492 Km, 6.5 hrs)

Today we spent all day driving. In Namibia, you drive mostly on the gravel roads but with a sturdy car, it is easily manageable. Moreover, most of them are deserted; won’t find any cars for miles and miles. We drove through some stunning scenery which made up for the bad roads. We also spotted zebras, oryx and springbok along the road. Before Namibia trip, we hadn’t seen Oryx anywhere. I found them too cute and could stare at them for hours. I think they are very underrated. 

We stayed at the Sossusvlei Lodge . I saw some photos and was blown away by them. This was the only lodge I wanted to stay at in Sossusvlei. Initially, they said it’s full, but I was quite sure that they had blocked a large portion of the rooms for tour groups. So I asked them to put me on the waiting list and near to the time, I managed to get the booking. This lodge overlooks the desert and the views are to die for. This was the best lodge we stayed in Namibia and the food here was just out of the world.

Spotted a zebra along the road

I like driving on empty roads

My favourite – Oryx

Mountains for company along the long journey

Stunning views all around

Desert view from the Sossusvlei Lodge

Picturesque Sunset at the Sossusvlei Lodge

Day 5 – Sossusvlei

If you’re planning a trip to Namibia, I’m sure you must have been blown away by the pictures of the red dunes of the Namib Desert. Sure, I was too and was really looking forward to this day. We were at the gate at the opening time of 8 am in order to avoid the heat. Once within the park, it’s a drive of about 60 km on a well-paved road to the parking lot from where you can hike to Deadvlei. First, we drove straight to Deadvlei which is the main attraction. We passed through a few small red dunes. They looked truly beautiful as I had imagined them to be.

• There are no ‘facilities’ at Deadvlei, so make sure to take plenty of water (One bottle of water per person) and snacks or a picnic breakfast/lunch. You can even ask your lodge for a packed breakfast.
• You have to pay entrance fees. We paid and also got a permit for Welwitschia Plain’s drive the next day.
• If you want to see sunrise or sunset at the dunes you must stay within the park. The Sossus Dune Lodge has a sunrise and sunset access.

Excellent Roads of Sossusvlei

Small dunes

Stunning Red Sand Dunes

Views en-route to Deadvlei

Deadvlei & Big Daddy

It gets blazing hot during the day, hence make sure to visit Deadvlei and Big Daddy first thing in the morning or late in the evening. After parking the car, we took the shuttle to the base of Big Daddy. Our driver was super friendly and we loved his company. Though it was an expensive ride. If you have a car with 4wd, you can self-drive to the base. But I wouldn’t recommend it as many people got stuck there because of inexperience.

Standing at the foot of Big Daddy, the highest dune in the world, it feels something else. No words can describe the feeling. If hiking is your thing, you can even climb to the top of Big Daddy. It wasn’t for us so we just walked from the side of Big Daddy to Deadvlei.

Hike to Deadvlei was a pretty daunting task for us. We went up and down a few dunes. After a gruelling walk and thinking to turn back a few times, we finally made it and were rewarded with breath-taking views of Deadvlei. It is significantly different from anything we have ever witnessed. After spending a lot of time clicking hundreds of pictures and enjoying the surrounding, we walked back in the scorching sun without no water which was very tiring and exhausting for us. Somehow we didn’t carry enough water. I was so desperate that even got shameless and asked another couple for water who stopped by as they had seen us at the Fish River Lodge. But they said they prefer not to and moved on.

Stunning Namibian Desert

Big Daddy – Highest dune in the world

People climbing Big Daddy

Walk to Deadvlei

First glimpse of Deadvlei

Walk back to the car – One more dune to go

Back in the shuttle – feeling exhausted and conquered

Picnic Brunch

After the hike, we set up our table and had a picnic brunch. Our hotel went too over-board and packed a huge picnic basket for us. It had a basket of bread, a plate of salad and cheese, 4 huge jars of cereals and yoghurt, a carton of juice and milk, and even an entire thermos of coffee and tea. At one point, we even started wondering if it is for free or they will charge for the same. We confirmed – it was free. This lodge surely knows how to do extravagant meals – be it breakfast or dinner.

Picnic brunch in Namibian Desert – Can’t get better than this!

Our Picnic Basket

Other viewpoints inside the park

• Dune 45 – One can climb this dune, but it is tough. We drove to the bottom and stopped for a quick photo.
• Elim dune – Again a quick photo stop.
• Sesriem Canyon – It was an easy walk to the canyon. Once there, it offered amazing views of the canyon. We stopped for a quick visit. It was inside the park, so have to do along with the dunes otherwise will have to pay the entry fees twice.

Mom found some Imli at Elim Dune

Sesriem Canyon

We were back at the lodge by 3 pm, exhausted having spent the day in the desert. We chilled in our lodge for the rest of the day with desert views. Also had a nice bath in the hot tub in our room.

Sossusvlei Lodge

Night Scenes

Day 6 – Drive to Swakopmund (345 Km, 4.5 hrs)

We drove to Swakopmund via Welwitschia Plains which is about 10 Km detour.

Route via Welwitschia Plains

• From Sesriem, take the D826 to the C19 turn off (approx. 11 km)
• Turn left onto the C19 and drive to Solitaire (approx. 72 km)
• From Solitaire take the C14 and drive to the Ghaub and Kuiseb Pass to the D1998 turn off (approx. 107 km)
• Turn right onto the D1998 and drive to the D1982 turn off (approx. 27 km)
• Turn right onto the D1982 and drive to the D1985 turn off (approx. 11 km)
• Turn left onto the D1985 and drive to the C28 turn off (approx. 22 km)
• Follow the C28 to the signposted turnoff of the Welwitschia Plains Drive (approx. 113 km)
• Is home to the only gas station between Sossusvlei and Walvis Bay, so fill up even if you don’t need to.
• Is also home to McGregor’s Bakery. I read raving reviews about their apple and meat pies. So we had to stop and try it. We tried their apple pie and some other desserts. For us, it was about good but nothing out of the world. Also, a little too sweet as there wasn’t any savoury veg item on the menu.
• Also, there are some rusty abandoned cars on site. It is good for a quick photo.

Sugar overload at McGregor’s Bakery

Abandoned Cars

Tropic of Capricorn

• As the name indicates, a sign of Tropic of Capricorn for a touristy photo.

Kuiseb Pass

• C14 takes you inside Kuiseb and Gaub canyons; It is an amazing drive.
• There is a spectacular viewpoint at the top of the pass, providing 360-degree views. We loved this viewpoint and is a must-visit. It is somewhat similar to the moon landscape.

Kuiseb Pass Drive

Amazing view-point

After Kuiseb, either go via Walvis Bay (C-14) or Welwitschia Plains (C-28) to Swakopmund. We drove via Welwitschia Plains.

• There is one scenic stop, just before Walvis Bay. It is a rocky outcrop.
• This won’t come if going via Welwitschia Plains.

Welwitschia Plains and Moon Landscape

• This tour is famous for rare Welwitschia plants. Apart from that, it is a scenic drive with all the things unusual, which you get to see on the various viewpoints and the magnificent moon landscape.
• To do the complete tour, it takes around 3 hours.
• There isn’t any fuel or shops on the route.
• Permit – If doing this drive en-route to Swakopmund, get the permit at Sossusvlei. Else, you will have to drive to Swakopmund or Walvis Bay to get the permit from the NWR office.
• The permit comes with a map that has all the information about the 13 view-points on this route. Since we got the permit at Sossusvlei, they didn’t give us a map. I had found the same online and got it printed beforehand.
• Half-day guided tours are also available. But we did a self-drive tour. I would recommend the same as it was easy to follow the map and there is no need to pay a hefty price for the guided tour.

Map of Welwitschia Plains Drive

13 Points of Welwitschia Plains

• Since we drove from Sossusvlei, first we came across viewpoint no. 13 – Von Stryk Mine.
• As per the map, the next viewpoint is no. 8 – Dolerite ridges on the hills and no. 9 – Dolerite. Both these viewpoints are at a considerable distance from no. 13. Initially, we thought, we missed it and should have come with a guide. But after driving a few kilometres, we spotted it and the rest of the viewpoints were near to each other.
• Then comes point no. 10, which is nothing special.
• Point no. 11 and 12 are the most famous viewpoints. Needles to say, it’s Welwitschia plants.
• Then comes point no. 7 which is war remains.
• Point no. 6 and 4 both are moon landscapes. It offers breath-taking views in all directions. This was one of our favourite viewpoints of the trip.
• Point no. 5 is Lichen Fields. Due to the Namibian climate, the lichen fields here are more extensive than anywhere else in the world.
• View-point no. 3 is tracks of an ox-wagon trail which was used decades ago.
• Point no. 2 is Desert Vegetation where you can find two kinds of drought-resistant shrubs: The Dollar bush – so-called because of its coin-like round leaves, and the Ink Bush, with its fine leaves and spindly appearance.
• Point no. 1 used to be lichens field but now have disappeared due to tourists walking over them.
• If you don’t want to do the whole route, you can turn off for Goanikontes.

Von Stryk Mine

Beautiful Drive of Welwitschia Plains

Dolerite Ridges

Rare Welwitschia Plants – Can’t leave Namibia without seeing it

The 1500 years old Welwitschia Plant

Moon Landscape – One of our favourite viewpoints

Dollar bush

We stayed at Aha Swakopmund Plaza Hotel . I chose a relatively cheap hotel here. After staying in lodges for some days, it was fantastic to stay in a city hotel with fast Wi-Fi.

Day 7 – Swakopmund – Day trip to Walvis Bay (30 Km, 30 min)

Today we drove to Walvis Bay and went for a Marine Dune Day Tour, which is a full-day boat plus dune tour.

The company which we used for the tour – Sandwich Harbour 4X4

First, we went for a 3.5 hours long boat tour. It was a big group, but the boat was spacious and everyone got a seat on the deck. To start with, they served us hot coffee and chilled local alcohol. Within minutes, seals and pelicans came to visit the boat. They walked right in front of us while skipper fed them dead fish. We even got to pet them. It was a surreal experience which I wouldn’t miss for anything. In season, it is even possible to spot whales.

The middle part of the tour is basically going all the way to the lighthouse to see 60,000 resident Cape Fur Seals and an oil rig. It was foggy, so we didn’t get a good view of it. Then they served us a plate of veg salad and some desserts for lunch. It was good enough. For non-vegetarians, they had a huge spread; the highlight being fresh oysters. Service was nice and the crew was super friendly and kept everyone entertained.

After that, rode back to the shore where we again got to pet seals and pelicans. Tour ended at 12:30 pm.

Seal on the Boat

Feeding the Seals

Selfie with seal 🙂

Pelican on the Boat

Selfie with Pelican

60,000 resident Cape Fur Seals

After the boat tour, we hop on to the jeep for a 3.5 hours private tour of the Sandwich Harbour with a guide. First, we passed through the beautiful salt pans and stopped at Walvis Bay Lagoon to see masses of flamingos. We also saw tons of seabirds, seals lazing on the beach and springbok. Then we drove to the dune and the next few hours were spent driving in the dune. The view of the dunes all around was incredible. No words can describe it.

We stopped along the Sandwich Harbour for photos. Then drove to the top of the dune from where we saw a spectacular view of the harbour below. In the middle of the dunes, we stopped for a break and the guide set up a table with drinks and a snack platter. For vegetarians, they had an amazing variety of 5 to 6 different types of snacks and for non-vegetarians; again the highlight was fresh oysters. We munched on the snacks while watching jackal roaming around us. Afterwards, we drove back. On the way back, we spotted an ostrich.

This full-day tour of the boat plus dune tour was one of the highlights of our Namibia trip and was totally worth the cost. It was a unique experience and must do on a trip to Namibia.

We drove back to Swakopmund, had dinner and called it a day.

Birds along the coast

Seal chilling on the beach

Sandwich Harbour

View from above

Delicious Snacks

Dune Driving

Aha Swakopmund Plaza Hotel

Day 8 – Drive to Spitzkoppe (158 Km, 2 hrs)

Spitzkoppe is famous for its unique rock formations. Initially, I had planned to drive there, see the rock, and move onto the next destination. But I found a newly opened Spitzkoppen Lodge, which looked wonderful in the pictures. So at the last minute, I added a night here in my 2 weeks in Namibia itinerary.

Route to Spitzkoppe

• Travel along the B2 highway passing Usakos.
• Continue for another 24 kilometres (14.9 miles).
• Then take the D1918 gravel road to Henties Bay.
• Drive for a further 18 kilometres (11.2 miles) until you see a turnoff to D3716, this is the road to Spitzkoppe.

We were there by 11 am. The lodge is surrounded by huge, 150 million years old granite boulders, which looked gorgeous. We spent the afternoon chilling in our room, admiring the views.  Since it didn’t have an air-conditioner, the room got hot in the afternoon.

Evening Tour

• We booked an evening tour with the lodge to see various viewpoints.
• They took us to 3 viewpoints.
• First, they showed us bushman’s paintings on the wall. This site you aren’t allowed to enter without a guide. Our guide gave some information about various paintings and what they meant to the bushmen. It was a different experience.
• The second stop was a pond. Nothing special or worth mentioning. 
• Finally, the main site – Spitzkoppe Arch. You can even self drive to see the arch. To see the arch, there is a 45 degree inclined climb. It’s a short climb, but one can find it tough at that angle.
• Tour was just about decent as the other 2 viewpoints we could have seen without a guide by driving our own car.

We returned to our lodge and saw an amazing Namibian sunset.

We stayed at Spitzkoppen Lodge , the only luxury lodge in the area.

Entrance to the Bushman’s Cave

Bushman’s Painting – Snake

Incredible views all around!

Granite Peaks

Spitzkoppe Arch

Rock changes colour depending on the sunlight

Unique Rock Formation

Day 9 – Drive to Damaraland (226 Km, 3.5 hrs)

Instead of driving directly to our lodge, Mowani Mountain Camp in Damaraland, we took a long detour of 250 Km to drive via Cape Cross Seal.

Morning Scenes in Spitzkoppe

Zeila Shipwreck at Henties Bay

• Since we drove from Spitzkoppe to Mowani Mountain Camp via Cape Cross Seal, it was a detour of 30 km. If driving from Swakopmund to Mowani Mountain Camp, it is en-route.
• A quick photo stop.
• Zeila, the fishing trawler, got stranded on 25 August 2008. It was sold to an Indian company as scrap metal and got stranded after it came loose from its towing line while on its way to Bombay.

Zeila Shipwreck – no filters used

Cape Cross Seal reserve

• We actually did a 250 Km detour to see this spot. It was quite crazy but I couldn’t leave it.
• It is one of the largest colonies of Cape Fur Seals in the world.
• We spent quality time looking at seals all around us.
• We have seen seals many times in the past and even on this trip up close during the boat tour. But we haven’t seen a large number of seals colony so close. At times, they were sleeping on the walkway and we had to make way to pass through them.
• For me, it was totally worth the long detour. For others in my family, it was debatable.

Cape Cross Seal

Cape Cross Seal Reserve in Skeleton Coast

Aren’t they cute?

After Cape Cross, there are 2 routes which you can follow:

1) Continue back to Henties Bay and take an inland route on c35 via UIS

• Uis – Can stop to see semi-precious stone pass.
• There are some restaurants in Uis for lunch.
• Pass by Brandberg, the highest mountain in Namibia.

2) Continue until Torra Bay and then take the inland route C39 to Mowani

• It’s a 60 km detour.
• It is a coastal scenic route but have bad roads.

Instead of turning back, we decided to continue until Torra Bay, so we could see more of the Skeleton Coast. Halfway through, there was a board stating that the road has been washed off. So we had to turn back and drive via Henties Bay. We wasted good 2 hours of time in it and we reached our lodge just before sunset around 6 pm.

Not a single car along Skeleton Coast!

In this area, I found quite a few properties having remarkable views. I went back and forth and finally chose the Mowani Mountain Camp. It looked unique in pictures. I couldn’t get availability for Superior View rooms, therefore booked Standard View rooms.

Views around the Mowani Mountain Camp

Day 10 – Damaraland

Desert elephant safari.

Damaraland is famous for its desert elephants. We woke up at the crack of dawn and went for a 6-hour safari with a guide. I don’t think it’s possible to do a self-drive as roads are terrible and finding elephants is quite a task. Initially, we were in 2 minds as this tour was very costly and 6 hours seemed too long. Since we were staying 2 nights here, we bite the bullet and went for it. I must say, their jeep was very comfortable as it was a proper safari vehicle. Most other lodges would use convertible trucks that had small seats with a tiny amount of leg space.

Our guide searched and searched for elephants. After an hour, he found a herd of 14 desert elephants. We spent 2 hours admiring them. We aren’t crazy behind elephants but seeing them walk in front of us was good fun. Also, we saw elephants eating from the trees. Time went by quickly. Once we had enough of elephants, he drove us back to the lodge. We had requested them to keep sandwiches packed for us as we didn’t have breakfast. But they prepared fresh delicious sandwiches for us, which we gulped in no time.

After this one photo, my memory card malfunctioned and sadly I lost all the photos for this day. Below is a short video for our Desert Elephant Safari. 

It was around 2 pm and we headed back in our car in the blazing heat to see the sights around. In hindsight, we should have rested and gone in the evening to avoid the heat.

Damara Living Museum

• They give a guided tour about how local Damara people would live.
• It is called a museum because people performing here live a normal modern life now. They just act how they used to live.  
• We saw demonstrations like Fire making, showed a pharmacy, played a strategy game with stones, showed us how they would use animal skins, and the finale, of course, was a dance performance.
• Cost – 80 NAD pp – cash only
• Time – 8:30 am to 5 pm
• We enjoyed the tour, but it would have been better if we had visited early in the evening and avoided the afternoon heat.

Burnt Mountain

• It’s a quick photo stop.

Organ Pipes Rock Formations

• It is just a few meters from the car park.

Again, all my pictures of the above 3 sites disappeared due to my memory card malfunctioned. I wished I could go again the next day just to click pictures, but it was a detour and had entrance fees too.

Twyfelfontein Rock Engravings

• There are ten or more bushman paintings scraped into the rock.
• This is one of the most popular sites of Damaraland. But we skipped it as we had seen bushman’s painting in Spitzkoppe.
• Visit in the morning or afternoon to avoid the heat.
• Hire a guide to see the paintings.

Mowani Mountain Camp

Day 11 – Drive to Etosha National Park (340 Km, 4 hrs)

We drove to Etosha National Park and reached there by 12:30 pm.

Enter via Anderson Gate

• Time – 7:30 am to 6:30 pm (Check timings, it changes with season)
• Purchase a map showing all the waterholes. This is essential in doing a self-drive safari in the Etosha National Park.
• On arrival at the gate, there is a staff who makes entry for the vehicle and will give you an invoice. You do not pay at the gate, but at the first camp at the time of check-in.
• In Etosha National Park, you go from one waterhole to another. Waterholes are the best place to spot animals.
• Within the park, the speed limit is 60 km/h, but you should budget on an average of 35 – 40 km/h, so you have time to stop for sightings.
• At Okaukuejo Camp, the reception has a book where you can share down your sightings – EXCEPT THE RHINO. Poaching is apparently on the rise, and this is to safeguard the remaining rhinos. Please remember this if you fill-up the book.
• Usually, it is best to get out as soon as the gate opens, come back at around noon when it gets hot and head out again at around 3:30 pm and return at sunset.
• Do turn off your engine while waiting at a waterhole.
• There are no ATMs in Etosha so take sufficient cash with you.
• Keep a note of gate opening and closing time and make sure to be at the camp before the closing time. They are very strict about it.

Waterholes in the area

• Gemsbok Vlakte
• Olifantsbad
• Okaukuejo waterhole

How did we Spot a Lion

When we reached the park gate, it was unmanned; I believe all of them were partying over lunch. So we just drove to the camp which is 17 Km away from the gate. On reaching the camp, we did the check-in formalities, got our keys, and then she said to pay the park fees. She asked for the Invoice which we were supposed to receive at the gate. As we didn’t have it, she sent us back to the gate. We pleaded that please give the invoice here. She said it isn’t possible, it’s a procedure. We wanted to rest and go for an evening safari. Having no choice, drove back to the gate and got the formalities done. The guard was shocked as to how we managed to drive past them but we repeatably said that no one was present there.

We were frustrated on wasting so much time and was driving at the speed limit if not more, back to the camp. Then suddenly Kapil, the driver shouts Lion Lion Lion! I barely could believe him. He stopped and backed the car. Indeed, there was a lion – standing right by the road. No other cars were there and all were driving past the lion. I thought is lion so common here that they don’t care? Within a few minutes, the lion sat on the grass; the view wasn’t as clear but still a very good view. We admired for quite some time and then moved on. I still can’t believe how Kapil spotted this lion driving at high speed in a bad mood.

Lion right by the road

Lion in Etosha National Park

Afternoon Safari

After spotting the lion, we didn’t drive back to the lodge and continued with the safari till evening. We saw the usual impalas, springboks, zebras, giraffes, oryx, wildebeests, elephants and ground squirrel.

We stayed at Okaukuejo Rest Camp inside the Etosha National Park. There are only a few camps inside the park. I wanted to stay at Okaukuejo Rest Camp because it is the only camp where you can sit in the comfort of your room and watch animals at the waterhole. They have only 5 rooms overlooking the waterhole and it is very tough to get a booking. I contacted them a few months in advance and asked for any date in May or June. They had only 2 dates available, one in May and one in June. I booked for June and planned the rest of the trip accordingly. It was a unique experience to watch animals 24/7.

They have other rooms which are easy to get, but it doesn’t overlook the waterhole. You can drive to the waterhole and sit around it as long as you like. But it gets freezing in the night and you can’t peek through looking for animals from your bed in the middle of the night.

Watching animals from our room’s balcony

We saw elephants from our room 🙂

Drank water and disappeared

Giraffes came to drink water at the Okaukuejo Waterhole

Springbok drinking water

Nighttime viewing at the Okaukuejo Waterhole

Okaukuejo Rest Camp is special for its waterhole. Since we were staying at the Waterhole Chalet, we watched animals till the wee hours from the comfort of our room’s balcony. All night, there was activity at the waterhole. Some or the other animal showed up to drink water. We were amazed all night and it exceeded far beyond our expectations. This experience made totally worth all the trouble I took to get booking for the Waterhole Chalets.

Rhino right outside our room!

Elephant drinking water in the middle of the night

Tons of Zebras showed up

A herd of Elephants

Giraffe drinking water

Elephants fighting at the Okaukuejo Waterhole

Day 12 – Etosha National Park

Today we spent all day driving searching for animals in the Etosha National Park.

Morning Safari

For our morning safari, we drove to Okondeka which is a natural waterhole. It is the only one near our camp that has water during winter. This therefore becomes a magnet for all animals. We saw tons of zebras here. Unfortunately, we didn’t spot any wildcats. We also saw springbok, ostrich in wild, oryx, and kudus. We saw so many zebras that we called it a Zebra Country. At around 12 pm it got hot, animals spotting became difficult and thus we returned to our camp.

Zebras at Okondeka

Male and Female Ostrich

Zebras chilling at the waterhole

Oryx everywhere!

Guinea Fowl

Spotted a bird – Pale Chanting Goshawk

Afternoon at the Okaukuejo Camp

We spent the afternoon in our room’s balcony watching tons of animals. We saw a group of zebras drinking water. Also, springbock, oryx and elephants came to drink water. We saw so many animals by just sitting in our room that we would have been happy to spend all day at the camp. There was always some animal coming to drink water.

View from our Room

Zebras drinking water

Oryx drinking water

Evening Safari

We did a short evening safari and didn’t see much. We just saw zebras and wildebeests.

Can’t get enough of Zebras!

Wildebeests

Spotted a bird

Nighttime viewing at the Okaukuejo Rest Camp is amazing. Again, we spent time watching animals from our room’s balcony. It was a quiet night compared to the previous one. We saw elephants and rhinos. Other animals didn’t show up. We waited for an hour and then went to sleep. Kapil thought he saw a glimpse of a lion in the middle of the night but wasn’t sure as it quickly disappeared.

There are always elephants for company at Okaukuejo

Day 13 – Drive to Onguma (156 km, 3 hrs)

Check-out at okaukuejo.

• Office time is sunrise to sunset.
• Check-out is simple – just give the key back. They will radio to check if the room is in good condition and return the N$ 500 key deposit. They return the same notes you paid when you checked-in.
• Before we checked out, we were super excited to spot a hyena at the waterhole. We hadn’t seen hyena anywhere during our two-night stay inside the park. It came quickly, drank water and vanished before even our eyes could blink.

Hyena drinking water

We sadly bid goodbye to Okaukuejo and left. It was an amazing 2 nights spent inside the Etosha National Park with endless animals. Today our plan was to drive across the Etosha National Park, checking our various waterholes and eventually exit the park on the eastern side and stay at Onguma which is just outside the Etosha National Park.

Waterholes On the Way to Halali

• Gemsbokvlakte
•  Olifantsbad
• Rietfontein

We kept checking various waterholes and saw the usual zebras, wildebeest, and springbok. We were excited to spot a jackal. Near to the Halali Resort, we spotted some elephants on the side of the road. While we were admiring them, they started to cross the road right in front of our car. It was terrifying seeing so many of them so close to our car. Soon, I realised they were even crossing the road behind our car. So it was like we are surrounded by elephants and sort of in their way. Seeing this, we had our heart in our mouth. Thankfully, none of them attacked our car and they crossed the road peacefully.

Still not bored of zebras 🙂

Springbok crossing the road

The landscape of the Etosha National Park

Elephant right by the road

Elephant crossing the road in front of our car!

Elephants crossing the road behind our car!

Lunch at the Halali Resort  – Halfway

We reached Halali Resort only to find the same herd of elephants at its waterhole, which we saw crossing the road. There were around 12 elephants drinking water. It was an amazing sight. We loved watching the baby elephant. We spent some time watching these majestic creatures then grabbed sandwiches for lunch and left.

A herd of 12 Elephants

Waterholes between Halali and the Von Lindequist Gate

• Okerfontein
• Klein Namutoni

After leaving the Halali Resort, we were thrilled to see a giraffe who was trying to swallow a bone. He tried ample times but of course, couldn’t swallow. Also, we saw a jackal eating meat. Then we saw kudus crossing the road and elephants having a mud bath. After that, we went to a waterhole where we saw a giraffe drinking water.

Giraffe trying to swallow a bone!

Jackal eating meat

Kudus crossing the road

Elephant after a mud bath

Giraffes drinking water

Loved watching giraffe

Namutoni Camp

We stopped here to check out its waterhole. It was very small when compared to Okaukuejo. Didn’t see any animals here.

Waterhole at Namutoni

Beautiful Landscape at Namutoni

Good places to visit on the eastern side

• Klein Okevi
• Fischer’s Pan
• Andoni Plains

We didn’t have much time left to explore the eastern side. We just drove to Fischer’s Pan and Twee Palms, which is famous for spotting cheetahs and lions. However, we didn’t see any of them. But we spotted a banded mongoose which we hadn’t seen before.

Banded Mongoose

It was time to bid farewell to the Etosha National Park. Having spent 2 nights/ 3 days in the Etosha National Park we saw a lot of different animals, spotted a lion within 2 minutes on entering the park and enjoyed every minute of it. I must say, the best experience was staying at the Okaukuejo Rest Camp and watching animals throughout the night.

Exit by Von Lindequist Gate

• Make sure to exit the gate before the closing time. Else you will be stuck inside, probably with no place to stay.
• When leaving the park, you will have to show your park fee receipt at the gate and then they will sign your car out.
• Make sure to pay the park fees (if anything extra) at the Namutoni Camp. Else they will send you back just to pay the fees.
• We had paid only for 2 days and as we spent the entire 3rd day in the park, we had to pay for an extra day. Since we reached almost at the gate closing time, she accepted the fees there. Otherwise, she had intentions to send us back like the first day.

We drove to the Onguma Bush Camp, located just a few kilometres outside the park. We entered the Onguma Reserve Gate and were driving to our lodge. Out of nowhere, we saw a lion walking on the road. Our eyes couldn’t believe it. But indeed it was a lion within a few meters from our car. So in essence, we spotted lions twice – while entering the park and after leaving the park. We didn’t see any lions while visiting waterholes and actually searching for them for 3 full days. We saw them when we least expected them. Such is wildlife and that’s why I love safaris. Every time it throws something different and unique at you.

Onguma has its own private reserve and we had planned to do a guided safari here. But we didn’t make it in time for it. Onguma Bush Camp overlooked a waterhole where we had a giraffe for company.

Lion on the way to Onguma

Giraffe at Onguma Bush Camp

Day 14 – Drive to Caprivi Strip (623 Km, 6.5 hrs)

Today we left early in the morning and drove all the way to Caprivi Strip to our lodge, Divava Okavango Lodge And Spa. I had read it’s a very long drive and should be done over 2 days with a night halt at Rundu. Once we left Onguma, roads were in perfect condition all the way. We only stopped at Rundu to refuel. We found it a very comfortable easy drive and reached the lodge by 1:30 – 2 pm. Therefore, I’ll suggest to this drive in one day itself.

Before going to Namibia, I had read Caprivi Strip is very beautiful and most tourists don’t go all the way there. This was reiterated by everyone we met throughout the 14 days we spent in Namibia. So I couldn’t leave it and had to check it out. Also, I had plans to continue onto Botswana, which is a few kilometres away and do a 5-night safari there. Unfortunately, getting a Botswana visa was a longish nightmarish procedure (that story for another time).

Excellent roads to the Caprivi Strip

Sunset Boat Tour

Our lodge offered a sunset tour and we decide to partake in it. We were the only ones on the tour. We saw beautiful panoramas all along the boat ride and stopped when we spotted hippos. They were lazing on the bank of the river. It was mesmerizing to see these massive creatures outside water. Then we saw a crocodile sleeping on the riverbank. After cruising for a while, just before sunset, our guide drove upstream to the Poppa Falls. He laid out a snack platter for us, which we nibbled while watching the sunset.

Sunset boat tour – Beautiful Vistas from the boat

Spotted a crocodile

Poppa Falls

Snack Platter

We stayed at Divava Okavango Lodge and Spa. It is a splendid lodge overlooking the Okavango River. After being on the road for 7 days in Kruger and 14 days in Namibia, this was a perfect place to relax. I chose this lodge at a mid-way spot to Botswana, nevertheless, it was good to spend 2 days chilling at the lodge with gorgeous views all around.

Day 15 – Caprivi Strip

In the morning, we visited yet another game park as it was only 10 km from the lodge and then spent the rest of the day chilling at the lodge.

Mahango Game Reserve

It is a small yet beautiful park. It is famous for spotting roan, red lechwe and sable sightings. After spotting unmissable zebras, kudus, giraffes and elephants, we were excited to see sables in the wild. This was the only place where we saw sables and also saw them mating. We also saw some different antelopes than the Etosha National Park. After spending some time driving around, we saw the giant Baobab Tree.

It is difficult to self-drive in this park as there aren’t any proper maps or signposts. Also, they don’t have any facilities, so it is best to bring your own food and drinking water. At times, we were lost and didn’t know which roads were safe to drive on. There are some roads which are tough and required a 4wd. So we just spoke to the vehicle passing by and followed them for the most part.

There were only 5 to 6 cars when we were there. This park is worth only for a few hours. I’ll say if you are in the area, it is worth spending one morning there and trying to spot some unique antelopes. But I wouldn’t recommend going all the way just to visit Mahango Game Reserve.

Sables Mating – Just a day in the jungle!

Baobab Tree

We enjoyed spending time at the Divava Okavango Lodge and Spa. Caprivi Strip is beautiful as reiterate by everyone, but we didn’t feel anything unique about it. We felt that Namibians don’t see greens on a regular basis and that’s why are crazy behind Caprivi Strip. I’ll say it was worthy of our time as we liked the lodge. It is a perfect stop if going to Botswana, else if short on time it is skip-able.

Day 16 – Drive to Katima Mulilo Airport (300 Km, 3.5 hrs) and fly to Johannesburg

We left early around 7 am and drove to the airport. Even at this hour, our lodge provided a packed breakfast and helped us with the luggage. Since it’s very near to the Botswana border, there was a police check. They checked for a driving license and passports. Roads were in perfect condition and it was an uneventful drive. We reached the airport at 10:30 am only to find it to be closed. It opened around 11 am and we did the check-in formalities.

Around 11:15 am, a person from Bidvest met us and we handed the keys over to him. He said he had already checked the car and left. Luckily, we have had good luck with the car rental companies, which eventually ran out in Seychelles . We reached Windhoek domestic airport by 2 pm.

Changing Airports in Windhoek

We had to change airports from domestic to international to catch our international flight to Johannesburg. I didn’t pre-book a transfer as it was too expensive. I thought if I didn’t find any taxis, I’ll rent a car just for airport transfers. On arrival, all car rental companies’ desks were unmanned. A board stated to call if wanting to rent a car. So that plan didn’t work out. The airport staff advised that taxis are unsafe and it’s better to call the same expensive company (which I didn’t prebook with).

One of the other groups had a pre-booked bus for just 4 people and we tried to convince their driver to take us too. But the group was very adamant that it’s theirs and didn’t allow us. Eventually, we called the company, got a small sedan car, paid the same hefty price (they charge per person irrespective of the car) and finally made it to the international airport. Despite all the hassle, we had enough time for our flight at 5:30 pm and even visited the lounge. We landed in Johannesburg, South Africa at 7:15 pm, ordered mouth-watering Indian food and crashed.

Indian Food in Johannesburg

That’s it. I know it’s been a long 2 Weeks in Namibia: Detailed Itinerary & Trip Report but I have tried to include every detail possible. Namibia was never on my radar and I still can’t believe that I hadn’t heard about this gorgeous country. In our 16 days there, we saw so many different things and had so many unique experiences. I would recommend planning a trip soon before it gets overrun by tourists.

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Namibia Trip Planning: Itinerary and Tip Accommodation and Vegetarian Food in Namibia

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Namibia Road Trip: The Perfect 2 Week Itinerary

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Our amazing two week Namibia road trip took us to some of the most remote places we’ve ever been. We climbed giant sand dunes, kayaked with thousands of seal pups, enjoyed spectacular sunsets, and got up close to cheetahs, leopards, and rhinos.

Namibia is a wild, beautiful, and empty country that most travellers overlook. This is a shame as it’s an easy and safe place to self-drive and is perfect for first time visitors to Africa.

Our Namibia Road Trip Itinerary

Road trip namibia map, day 1 windhoek airport – okahandja (2 nights), day 3 okahandja – okonjima nature reserve (1 night), day 4 okonjima nature reserve – etosha national park (mushara) (2 nights), day 6 mushara lodge – halali camp, etosha (1 night), day 7 halali – damaraland (2 nights), day 9 damaraland – swakopmund (3 nights), day 12 swakopmund – sossusvlei (3 nights), day 15 sossusvlei – windhoek (1 night), day 16 windhoek – airport, namibia travel resources.

Our road trip was a total of 15 nights starting and ending in the capital Windhoek and focusing on central and northern Namibia. We drove 2658km (1652 miles) in April 2017, which is at the end of Namibia’s summer rainy season. The winter dry season from July to October is a better time for a Namibia safari.

• Okahandja (north of Windhoek) – 2 nights
• Okonjima Nature Reserve – 1 night
• Etosha National Park (outside park) – 2 nights
• Etosha National Park (inside park) – 1 night
• Damaraland – 2 nights
• Swakopmund – 3 nights
• Sossusvlei – 3 nights
• Windhoek – 1 night

You could drive this route in 10 days by skipping a few places or moving at a faster pace. While covering the main attractions of Etosha, Swakopmund, and Sossusvlei in a week is technically possible, distances are long and it would be very rushed.

If you have longer than two weeks to travel Namibia, you could also explore further south including Lüderitz, Kolmanskop, and Fish River Canyon.

Back to Contents

Note: The distances of each leg of our journey are taken from Google Maps (which we used for navigation) and the times are the actual time it took us. I’ve noted if we stopped for a break.

Distance: 137km Time: 2 hours 15 minutes (with a 20-minute supermarket shop)

We flew from Cape Town to Namibia and arrived at the airport around midday. We could have pushed ahead to Okonjima, but they were fully booked, so we spent our first few nights just north of Windhoek. Windhoek is not a particularly exciting city, so we were happy to start our trip in the countryside outside the small town of Okahandja.

The Elegant Farmstead turned out to be a lovely place to settle into Namibia. The gravel road to get there off the B1 was very rough at the end of the rainy season, but we were welcomed warmly and shown around the beautiful grounds dotted with cacti and long grasses. There are plenty of places to relax—day beds in the garden, loungers by the pool, swinging chairs in the bar, or couches in the lounge or terrace overlooking a waterhole (although there were no animals around at this time of year).

There’s a one hour marked walk around the grounds, but we didn’t see much and even at 9 am it was too hot. Much better was the sundowner drive. This isn’t a safari area so we didn’t expect much, but we saw giraffes, springbok, impala, kudu, oryx, roan antelope, ostriches, and warthogs. Watching the spectacular sunset up a hill overlooking the miles of empty plains made us feel like we were really in Africa.

If time is limited you could skip this stop, but if you want to break up the journey north, The Elegant Farmstead is a great stopover.

Accommodation and Food

Our room at The Elegant Farmstead was simple but comfortable and had air conditioning. The sweet treat and bedtime story left on our bed at turn down was a nice touch.

As in most lodges in Namibia, breakfast, afternoon cake, and dinner are provided as there’s nowhere else to eat (lunch is on request). The four-course dinners were quite tasty, but (as is typical in Namibia) our vegetarian main wasn’t terribly exciting and consisted of mostly vegetables.

Distance: 179km (get Google directions to Okonjima Nature Reserve not Okonjima Plains Camp) Time: 2 hours 30 minutes

Okonjima Nature Reserve is home to the Africat Foundation which researches, rescues, and rehabilitates big cats. The highlight is the cheetah and leopard safari drives that take place each afternoon and early morning. Although the reserve is fenced to protect the cats from wandering onto neighbouring farms (and getting shot), it’s so huge that it felt just as wild as the unfenced Kruger reserves we visited in South Africa.

On our first afternoon we did a leopard drive. The leopards are radio collared but there’s no guarantee you’ll find them. We followed the beeping signal off road in search of them but they were hidden in the dense bush (the downside of this time of year) and we had to give up.

Instead we went in search of cheetahs, which is done on foot! It was incredible to get up close to these rare, beautiful creatures. As the sun began to set we watched them wake up, stretching and yawning and finally walking off for the evening hunt.

The next morning we looked for leopards again, and it didn’t take long for us to find a female leopard and her twin cubs. The mother disappeared on the hunt, but we watched the 9-month-old cubs for ages as they darted in and out of the long grass.

Okonjima is well worth a stop on the way to Etosha as it’s one of the best places in the world to see cheetahs and leopards. It’s expensive (and activities are extra) so one night is enough, but two would allow for more relaxation and chances of seeing the big cats.

We stayed in a standard room at Okonjima Plains Camp (the Bush Camp is more luxurious). It was nicer than we expected with a big window overlooking the bush—we saw warthogs but wished we had more time to enjoy the view. We loved hearing the crazy night sounds of animals barking and hooting.

Rates include a breakfast buffet, afternoon tea (the cakes in Namibia are superb), and a three-course dinner. It was the only place we stayed that included some protein in the vegetarian option—chickpea and vegetable stuffed peppers. Meals are served in the huge barn-like lounge/restaurant with floor to ceiling windows overlooking a waterhole. We saw lots of warthogs and one even came into the restaurant!

Distance: 322km Time: 4 hours 10 minutes (with petrol stop)

Etosha National Park is one of the most popular places to visit in Namibia and self-drive safaris are easy. It’s a huge park so it makes sense to divide your time between two lodges. Accommodation outside the park is nicer, but you won’t be able to be in the park for sunrise and sunset.

We started at Mushara Lodge , just a 10-minute drive to the Von Lindequist Gate on the eastern side. We entered the park when it opened at 6 am for our first self-drive safari. Etosha drives focus on visiting the waterholes that edge a massive salt pan. The problem in April was that there was so much water everywhere that animals didn’t need to go to waterholes. Elephants also move to a different area so we didn’t see any.

You’ll see much more in Etosha during the dry season, but in one morning we still managed to spot two black rhinos (one walked across the road in front of us!), jackals, zebra, giraffe, impala, springbok, oryx, blue wildebeest, and kudu. A highlight was seeing two distant cheetahs walking across the plains. We rarely saw any other cars.

Mushara Lodge has a comfortable bar and lounge area, large pool, and lovely gardens where we saw warthogs, impala, squirrels, and plenty of birds.

Our cottage was our most luxurious accommodation in Namibia with a high thatched ceiling, windows on three sides, comfortable bed, armchairs, fridge, A/C, and a powerful rain shower in the ensuite.

Although the staff were a little confused by our vegetarianism, the chef managed to provide us with some decent options. The first night was a BBQ with entertainment and the second was a three-course dinner. Breakfast (helpfully served from 5.30 am) is the usual continental buffet plus eggs and meat to order. Lunch was extra—I liked the roast vegetable and pesto focaccia.

Distance: 89km Time: 4 hours (with wildlife viewing)

We left at 6 am for the drive to Halali, one of the government-run camps in the centre of the park. We took our time and looked for wildlife on the way, but it was a lot harder to spot animals than on the eastern side. We still saw one rhino, ostriches, zebra, wildebeest, and impala, but there were long stretches when we saw nothing at all.

The main reason to stay in a camp inside the park is to visit the waterholes lit up at night. Of course, at this time of year we saw nothing.

Halali Camp was a disappointment. It felt run down, the staff wasn’t helpful, and the food was the worst of our trip. There is a pool where we could hang out when we arrived too early to check-in.

Our honeymoon suite (the only room available) was better than we expected with a proper double bed (usually it’s two singles) below a skylight, fridge, A/C, armchairs, and a small, rather unattractive garden with a cold jacuzzi.

I wouldn’t recommend Halali unless you are visiting during the dry season and want to see animals at the waterhole. I heard that the Okaukuejo and Dolomite camps are better. Most accommodation in Namibia national parks books up quickly.

Distance: 333km Time: 5 hours 30 minutes

Wow, what an adventure! After exiting from the Anderson Gate, we took the longer route to Damaraland via the C40 to minimise the amount of time we had on gravel roads as we didn’t have a 4WD. We still had two hours on dirt, sand, and gravel roads through remote countryside.

We had no signal on our phone, which made us nervous as we drove through sandy river beds, deeply rutted dirt, and flooded sections of road. We were 100km from the nearest town with no houses around.

Thankfully we made it to Huab Lodge without breaking down. Damaraland is a vast, wild and scenic area with a few far-flung lodges. We’ve never stayed anywhere so remote before, and although we felt a little uneasy at first, the staff made us feel welcome, and we soon settled in. 

Huab Lodge wasn’t my first choice but popular spots like Grootberg Lodge and Damaraland Camp book up far in advance (and some are extremely expensive). Huab isn’t fancy, but it’s comfortable and relaxed in a tranquil and scenic location surrounded by craggy mountains. There’s an open-sided lounge/dining area, pool, and hot springs.

Most of the time we just relaxed and enjoyed the view, but we did do the afternoon drive. It wasn’t particularly exciting, but we saw some oryx, mountain zebras, springbok, and plenty of birds. Unfortunately, there are no longer desert elephants in this area. The skies were spectacular as we drove back as the sun set.

Our thatch and stone room at Huab Lodge was fairly simple but had big windows with wonderful views of the dry riverbed and mountains. As the lodge is solar-powered, there’s a fan rather than A/C (which we could have done with). Amazingly it had the best WiFi of our trip.

As usual, the food was fine, just not very exciting for vegetarians.

The only issue we had with Huab was the communal meals with the hosts and guests. Dinner would have been fine, but three formal meals at set times each day were too much for us introverts. Of course, they are a good way to meet other guests and how well you get on with them makes a big difference to how easy the meals are.

Distance: 388km Time: 7 hours (with a one-hour petrol/lunch break)

It’s a long, exhausting drive to the coast, mostly on bumpy gravel roads through bleak, empty desert. The area around Uis is the most scenic with red rocky hills and the Brandberg Mountain. We stopped at Cactus and Coffee—a literal oasis in the desert—for a tasty lunch of toasted sandwiches and cake. Take advantage as it’s rare to find anywhere to stop in Namibia.

The desert stretches to the Atlantic Ocean and the Skeleton Coast feels just as bleak with shipwrecks decaying in the sea. It’s often foggy on the Namibian coast and it’s colder than the rest of the country.

Swakopmund is a small beach town with German architecture, a few good cafes, and lots of adventure activities. You can go skydiving, sand boarding, horse riding and more.

We went kayaking with seals with Namibia Kayak Tours and it was one of the best things we’ve ever done. The trip starts from nearby Walvis Bay with a 45 minute 4WD trip through sand to Pelican Point. On the way we passed a massive salt mine and saw flamingos, pelicans, jackals, and thousands of cormorants.

The colony of tens of thousands of Cape Fur seals stretches along the coast and is incredibly noisy, making strange farm-like noises of barks, grunts, and baas.

We only had to paddle a short distance from the shore before hundreds of seal pups surrounded us. They are adorable! Like puppies, they are playful and curious, nibbling on our paddles, diving and jumping in and out of the water. When we paddled on they often swam alongside us.

We highly recommend this trip, even if you don’t like kayaking (you barely have to paddle). It’s a unique experience and much better than viewing the seals on a crowded boat trip (plus all the boat trips feed the seals to encourage them to jump onboard, which we’re not comfortable with).

Swakopmund has a wide range of accommodation, but as we were there at Easter the affordable guesthouses were booked up. We stayed at Swakopmund Luxury Suites in a comfortable, modern room with a Nespresso machine, good WiFi, fridge, and soft dressing gowns. It felt a little lacking in character after the lodges but was ideally located a few minutes walk from the sea (the promenade is great for walking or running).

You are given a voucher for breakfast which you can use in four cafes—the best was Cordes & Co.

You can find more guesthouses and hotels in Swakopmund here .

Many people rave about the food in Swakopmund, but it’s all about the seafood and meat. Vegetarians won’t starve but options are uninspired. There’s Indian at Garnish, pizza at Secret Garden Bistro, and good toasted sandwiches, salads, and cakes with a sea view at Farmhouse Deli.

Distance: 294km Time: 4 hours 30 minutes (with a quick stop at Solitaire)

Another long drive through emptiness. The gravel road was so uncomfortable that we were too demoralised even to stop for the obligatory photo opportunity at the Tropic of Capricorn.

Everyone stops at the teeny settlement of Solitaire to fuel up, eat their famous apple pie (so good), and take photos of the rusty abandoned cars. There’s also a cafe and shop. It’s a bizarre place.

Sossusvlei is a salt and clay pan surrounded by tall dunes in the Namib-Naukluft National Park, but it often refers to this whole area of the southern Namib Desert. It was our favourite place in Namibia.

We stayed just past Solitaire at Moon Mountain Lodge , an hour drive from the entrance to the park and over two hours from the most famous area of Deadvlei. The best place to stay is Sossus Dune Lodge inside the park so that you can watch the sunrise at the dunes, but it gets booked up far in advance.

We got there as early as we could to climb the tallest sand dune, Big Daddy. Climbing dunes isn’t easy. It was hot, a furious wind whipped sand into our faces and legs, and we sunk into the sand at every step. But it’s well worth it.

The experience felt dreamlike, as if we’d entered another world. Orange dunes stretch for miles all around with a bright blue sky above and the stark white salt pan below. It’s magnificent.

It took us an hour and a half to reach the top and five minutes to run down the side! We walked back through the surreal 900-year-old blackened dead trees in the Deadvlei clay pan.

It’s an incredible place and was the perfect way to end our trip.

If you can’t get accommodation inside the park, Moon Mountain Lodge is a good option closer to Swakopmund and Windhoek. The setting is spectacular on a hill above the desert with red mountains on the horizon. It almost didn’t feel real, like we were in a watercolour painting. The sunsets and stars are dazzling.

Rooms are permanent tents with proper beds and bathrooms. They are not luxurious, but it’s not camping either. In April they were boiling without A/C or a fan, but they have private plunge pools to cool off. You can zip down the sides for panoramic views.

Decent meals are buffet style and they made us an extra vegetarian dish.

Our biggest issue at Moon Mountain was the service. Other than the friendly Assistant Manager, everyone seemed confused and even ordering a drink was hard work.

It’s worth putting up with the downsides for the incredible location though.

Distance: 282km Time: 4 hours 15 minutes (with a quick stop at Solitaire)

Most of the journey to Windhoek was on empty gravel roads, some of them very bumpy. Driving over the steep Spreetshoogte Pass was a highlight with spectacular views.

We were too tired to do anything in Windhoek (and there’s not much to do).

Caothinha Guesthouse was simple but pleasant with all the amenities we needed, a friendly owner, and a small pool. It’s in the suburbs about a 10-minute drive from the centre.

We had Indian for dinner at the Windhoek branch of Garnish, probably the best option for vegetarians.

You can find more guesthouses and hotels in Windhoek here .

Distance: 49km Time: 45 minutes (with final petrol stop)

Sadly our Namibia trip came to an end!

• Guide Book – The Bradt Namibia Guidebook is the best.
• Accommodation – Booking.com  is a good option for finding Namibia accommodation in towns. For more remote locations we used suggestions from the Bradt guide and The Cardboard Box .
• Car hire – Search comparison sites like Rental Cars for the best deals. A 4WD is more comfortable on the gravel roads, but they are expensive and you can manage without one. We were glad we paid extra for a higher clearance SUV (Nissan X-Trail).
• Care hire excess insurance – Buy a separate policy to cover the excess as it’s far cheaper than getting a full insurance policy with the rental company. 
• SIM card + Google Maps – These made directions easy and we didn’t need a Namibia road map. We bought an MTC SIM card and data plan from the airport.
• Travel insurance – Essential in case anything goes wrong. We used True Traveller as always—they are the best deal we’ve found for UK/EU residents. Heymondo is another well-respected company we’ve used in the past.

Read our Namibia first impressions for more about what to expect on a road trip in Namibia, our Namibia budget for a breakdown of our travel costs, and our guide to everything you need to know to plan your own Namibia self drive trip . 

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34 Comments

Hi, we are planing to visit Namibia in April/2020 and as we like to travel more on budget, we do not consider renting a 4WD. However, some people say it is not recommended to visit places like sand dunes without a 4WD. Did you drive everywhere alone or did you book a tour sometimes?

Reply ↓

You don’t need a 4WD to visit Sossusvlei. You drive to a certain point (at the end of the tarmac road) and then take a shuttle to the dunes. No need to book in advance.

Blogs like this make such a difference, thank you!

You self-drove but have accommodation at lodges listed, did you happen to see other people or the option for those that want to self drive but with a camper? Somewhere to park up, put the tent up on the roof etc?

Lots of people camp in Namibia – either in tents or the pop-up tents on top of trucks are popular. There are plenty of campsites, especially in the national parks. Just Google camping in Namibia for some useful resources.

I loved reading about your trip! How far in advance do you think you need to book for the more exclusive lodges that you mention? Thanks for your advice.

As far in advance as you can. We booked 1-3 months in advance and some places were already booked up.

Hi, could you explain the car hire excess insurance, how it saves you from buying full comprehensive insurance – I don’t understand. We’ve been given 3 insurance options from our hire company, one with ZAR 20,000 excess, 10,000 excess and nil excess

In this instance we would go with the insurance option of 20,000 excess and then purchase a separate car hire excess policy (we usually get an annual policy to use for multiple trips) that will cover that 20,000 if we ever need to claim. It’s usually much cheaper than going for the nil excess option with the hire company.

Hi, We are currently living at ex-pats in SA and are planning our dream road trip in Namibia for Dec/Jan 2019 due to that being the only chunk of time our kids have off from school. Just some background: we have taken a few road trips across SA, Zim and Botswana as well as Australia and the USA so our kids are ok on adventures. A few questions: 1. Is there a reason you went north then west and down the coast as opposed to south then up the coast? 2. If you had more time would you have ventured up to the Angolan border? This has been recommended to us if we have an extra 4-5 days to spare but we are not sure.

We will have approx 3 weeks in total for this trip. Thank you so much. All of your info has been invaluable in planning our adventure!

Hi Julie I don’t think there’s any reason you can’t do the loop the other way around. We just went north first because I wanted to avoid being in Etosha at Easter.

If we’d had an extra week we’d probably have headed south to Fish River Canyon, Luderitz and Kolmanskop, but the far north would probably be more adventurous! You might need a 4WD up there so I’d look into that.

Have an amazing trip! Erin

I LOVED your post on Namibia and have been wanting to do almost the exact same trip! One quick question for you: would you have felt comfortable doing the trip as a female travelling alone? I’m likely going to be going alone and am just wondering how “safe” you felt in Namibia on the roads etc.?

I think I would have felt safe generally (i.e crime) but some of the remote roads (mostly the one out to our lodge in Damaraland but you could stay closer to a main road) would have been a bit scary by myself because if you break down you might not come across anyone else for a while. The main roads up to Etosha and to Sossusvlei are busier so it’s less of a problem.

Make sure you know how to change a tire and carry plenty of water and food just in case.

You could also look for travel companions in a hostel when you arrive.

Have an amazing trip!

We have used your blog to plan our trip – flying to Windhoek tomorrow. Thank you SO MUCH for all the details – will let you know how it goes!

How exciting! Please do report back and have an amazing time!

Thanks so much for sharing this post. We’ve LITERALLY just returned from our trip – except we went in a Sedan. It was so deep LOL! We took a similar trip, but I loved your statement, “The gravel road was so uncomfortable that we were too demoralised even to stop for the obligatory photo opportunity at the Tropic of Capricorn.” LOL! KNOW THE FEELING! I grew up in the south of Namibia and never realised the difference a “bakkie” (4WD) would make. It was one HELL of an adventure – still feeling glad we made it out in one piece! PS Do you happen to have any vlogs? I’m busy uploading mine at the moment, would be great to watch yours :)

Ha! Those roads can be killers! I’m glad you had an adventure though! We don’t do videos I’m afraid.

All good! Will pop back for more Nam posts of yours in the future :)

We’re going to Namibia for a month in October and your itinerary helped me plan when trying to decide how long to spend in each place. It looks like such an amazing country and I can’t wait to get explore ?

awesome read. thank you! i’m a bit overwhelmed by Africa though. which country to choose for a first timer to Africa?? my wife and i will have two weeks in October and want to see as much wildlife and nature as we can. Namibia looks awesome but so do so many other countries in that amazing continent. Would you suggest going there as a first visit to Africa?

I think Namibia is the perfect introduction to Africa. It’s one of the easiest countries to self-drive and in two weeks you can cover a lot. October is a good month for wildlife viewing although it will be quite hot during the day. Have an amazing trip!

As someone who lives in Africa, I’d 100% recommend South Africa first. The main reasons are: – Access to foreign currency – Working, award winning airports – Luxury and outdoorsy vibes – More populated and super diverse – There’s a little bit of everything.

I grew up in Namibia and LOVE it, but if you’ve never been to Africa before, I’d say play it safe.

Nice post! We visited Namibia this summer (also in a two-week roadtrip) and we got back home amazed by the country and its beauty. We hired a 4×4 car and slept in campings (lodges need a higher budget!). Our roadtrip was a bit different than yours because we also visited the Southern Namibia (Fish River Canyon and Lüderitz) but this involved lots of hours driving… Thanks for sharing your experience and hope we both can encourage in our posts tourism in Namibia.

I’m glad you had a great trip guys! Camping is definitely the way to save money.

Excellent helpful post. Thanks. Road tripping Namibia is totally on our bucket list (for 2019). We are also veggies so know how challenging it can be to find a decent meal in carnivorous countries!

Julie | 2checkingout

I hope you make it to Namibia in 2019! It’s pretty easy to be vegetarian there even if the options aren’t terribly exciting! And there’s always the tasty cake :)

I’ve always wanted to travel Namibia, but as a solo female traveller I’m a little nervous still. Maybe I’ll drag someone along with me one day. It looks beyond beautiful.

Those long empty roads would be a bit nerve-wracking on your own. You could join a tour, these are pretty popular in Namibia and the camping ones can be cheaper than travelling independently. I hope you make it there!

I understand what you mean about Halali camp in Etosha, but we always camp or self-cater and it’s one of our favourite camps in the park. That’s mostly because the Moringa waterhole produces magnificent sightings in winter (May-July). We’ve seen rhino, elephant, leopard, hyena and lion there over the years. There are also some great waterholes in the surrounding area, which makes it a good base.

I am sure it’s a totally different experience during the winter and also a great option if you camp. We’ll have to go back when sightings are easier!

Such a mix of exciting and not-as-exciting parts with this trip lol. Thanks for keeping it real and sharing all of it good and bad. Now I know which places to skip and where to spend more time at!

Your trip sounds amazing!! We’ve only been to Morocco in Africa so far but desperate to explore more of the continent. Namibia looks so beautiful, your photos are gorgeous. Think we will have to push it to the top of our travel bucket list after reading this!

Namibia is a great introduction to sub Saharan Africa. I hope you make it there soon!

I can just imagine the locsls trying to figure out vegitarians in a place like Namibia. Namibians & South Africans love meat :-). I am keen to see your costing post. Namibia is very popular for South Africans on holiday but I don’t think the places you stayed would be within the average South African’s budget. So many prices in Southern Africa have unfortunately been geared for the high spending European and other tourists :-(

We’ve been to a lot worse places :) At least they always managed to provide us with a veggie meal and didn’t sneak any chicken or ham in!

Unfortunately, most of the lodges are really expensive. I think there are cheaper options, probably smaller farms that have less of a presence online. And camping is definitely the cheapest way. It’s also much easier to find affordable accommodation in towns like Swakopmund as there’s much more choice.

My budget post will be out later today!

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2 Weeks in Namibia - Your Ultimate Travel Itinerary!

If you need an adventurous travel itinerary for 2 weeks in Namibia, you came to the right place. It will give you the right portion of nature, wildlife, cities, exciting activities and local experiences. Here's our 14-day itinerary in Namibia:

SEE ALSO:   Is Namibia Worth Visiting?

2 Weeks in Namibia - Your Ultimate Itinerary!

Your ultimate travel itinerary for 2 weeks in a nutshell:

Day 1 - Windhoek

Day 2 - okonjima nature reserve.

Day 3 - Okonjima Nature Reserve - Etosha National Park

Day 4 - Etosha National Park

Day 5 - damaraland - twyfelfontein, day 6 - spitzkoppe, day 7 - swakopmund, day 8 - ship wreck - cape cross, day 9 - walvis bay - dune 7, day 10 - walvis bay - quiver trees - solitaire - agama, day 11 - namib naukluft national park / sossulvei.

Day 12 - The Spreetshoogte Pass - Namibgrens Camp

Day 13 - Windhoek - N/aan kuse Sanctuary - Windhoek

Day 14 - Flying back from Windhoek

We flew to Windhoek and went straight to the car rental office. Entering the country and picking up the rental car took us  up to 3 hours (keep in mind when planning your arrival!). Once we got the car, we drove to the first camp in the city, called the Urban camp  (recommended, as it is close to the city, it's cozy, it has WIFI and a pool). Although we rented out a 4x4 jeep with a tent on the roof, we chose "glamping" for the first night to get some proper sleep :) 

Windhoek - Okonjima Lodge: 224 km, ca. 2 h 30 min

On the next day, we drove to the Okonjima Nature Reserve - more specifically to the lovely Okonjima Lodge.  Once checked in, we booked one of the tours - the so called Cheetah walk - it's super cool, basically it is a safari with the goal of finding the cheetahs and encounter them by walking close by. We did it and the experience was amazing, an unforgettable event. Due to its uniqueness, we've put this reserve on our list of most spectacular places to visit in 2019!

Day 3 - Okonjima Nature Reserve - (Waterberg Plateau) -Etosha National Park

The 3rd day, we headed towards the world-famous Etosha National Park. Now, here's a thing. On the way from Okonjima Nature Reserve to Etosha, there is apparently a lovely area called Waterberg Plateau.  Well, we both missed it somehow, as we haven't really planned this trip... but we heard so many nice things about it. Don't do the same mistake and put it onto your travel itinerary! If you decide sleeping over at Waterberg, consider going for a 15-day long trip! :) Once on the way to Etosha, check into the beautiful Mondjilla Safari Camp . When settled in, continue to the Andersson's Gate, get a permit and start your self-drive safari!

Okonjima Lodge - Waterberg Plateau: ca. 2 hours, 126 km

Okonjima Lodge - Mondjilla Safari Camp: ca. 2.30 hours, 210 km

Waterberg Plateau - Mondjilla Safari Camp: ca. 2.30 hours, 236 km

Nope, it is not enough to check out this gigantic area full of wildlife in one single day. We started our day very early by driving to Etosha in the sunrise hours. You should do it too, as the majority of animals are active during the sunrise and sunset time.  We did lots of driving in the park which turned out to be a stupid idea. We haven't seen many animals by doing so.  Just park your car at a waterhole and wait. All kinds of animals will come sooner or later! Sleep over at Mondjilla Safari Camp or Etosha Safari Camp.

Etosha National Park - Mowani Mountain Camp: ca. 3.30 hours, 296 km

After 3.30 hours of driving through the beautiful landscape of Damaraland, we reached the gorgeously situated Mowani Mountain Camp - which turned out to be one of our highlights on this trip! We highly recommend visiting this camp! Why? The camp itself has a good infrastructure, the landscape around is surreal and there is even a hiking path in this area. Now it's up to you, if you want to drive another 20 min to Twyfelfontein and do a tour to see the ancient rock engravings or if you do it the first thing in the morning. In our case, it was the next day, as we needed some rest. The engravings are quite a touristy thing, it's a guided tour, which story is interesting but don't go for it if walking in a line is not your thing.

Mowani Mountain Camp - Spitzkoppe: 3.30 hours, 225 km

In the next morning, we drove to the scenic Spitzkoppe , a group of granite peaks in the Namib desert, also called the Matternhorn of Namibia. We checked into  The Community Rest Camp  and we advise you to do it too! It is such a lovely camp with beautiful surroundings and walking paths. What is more, we were lucky to see daisies, we stumbled upon quiver trees and jump from one boulder to another.

Spitzkoppe - Swakopmund: 1.40 hours, 152 km

Once arrived in Swakopmund, we went for a lunch in one of the restaurants at the coastline. It's lovely and super delicious, and yes, it's all about the fish dishes ... go for it! We even saw a dolphin while sitting in the restaurant. Afterwards we also walked a bit through the city and explore it's craft market. It was the first time we did some sightseeing in a Namibian city. In the afternoon, we went for the  quad biking   adventure! It's a MUST DO!

Swakopmund - Cape Cross: 1.40 hours, 131 km

On day 7, it was all about the seals! The first stop though was the Ship Wreck on the way to Cape Cross. Although the story behind it is not nice, it is famous among photographers. Afterwards we headed to the  Cape Cross Lodge & Campsite , checked in and slept a bit. Once rested, we drove to the Cape cross and observed the thousands of seals and listened to their strange sounds :)

Cape Cross - Walvis Bay: 2 hours, 163 km

Another day full of animal encounters - we saw flamingos and dolphins at Walvis Bay and took lots of photos! Another thing we did was climbing the Dune 7 , which is located about 10 min drive from the city. It's well worth it, if you wanna stretch your feet a bit and enjoy the beautiful views from the top. PS: It's not that easy to climb a dune though! ;)

Walvis Bay - Agama River Camp: 3.30 hours, 264 km

The next day we drove from Walvis Bay to the place with a few Quiver Trees (just a 15 min stop but well worth it), then we continued to Solitaire , where we ate the famous apple strudel (it's delicious but in our opinion not really a must) and took some photos of "abandoned" cars. The final stop and our chosen place to stay this day was the  Agama River Camp , about 30 min from Solitaire.

Agama River Camp - Sossulvei: 1.30 h, 110 km

Day 11 was finally the day where we got to explore the most famous sight in Namibia among travellers - Sossulvei, the salt and clay pan in the Namib Naukluft National Park. This place is simply surreal, however the whole Park itself with its red sand dunes is also jaw dropping!

Agama River Camp - Namibgrens Camp: 1.15 h, 86 km

Day 12 - The Spreetshoogte Pass - Namibgrens Camp

1780 m above sea level, there is a mountain pass called the Spreetshoogte Pass. We "accidentally" stumbled upon it while driving from Sossulvei back towards the capital city. It was the first real elevation on this trip, offering picnic areas with spectacular viewpoints. Amazing! Don't skip it! After 15 min drive, we arrived to the lovely  Namibgrens Camp - it's actually a farm with lots of goats, horses etc. with a few campsites and beautiful lodges. While the camp's entrance didn't look so welcoming, the campsite itself was one of our favourites (besides the Mowani Camp).

Namibgrens - Windhoek N/aan kuse Sanctuary: 3.15 min, 247 km

On day 13, we drove to the  N/aan kuse sanctuary  to do a carnivore feeding tour (make sure to prebook!). So we started the tour and saw how caracals, wild dogs, baboons, cheetahs, leopards and lions were fed. Honestly speaking, it was an awesome experience and we still talk about it  - don't miss it, not this one!

Sleep over at Urban Camp in Windhoek.

Day 14 - Flying Back from Windhoek

Day 14 was the saddest one :/ - we had such a great time in Namibia that we simply didn't want to go home but we simply had to :) This trip was just awesome. Outstanding... 

So, this was our itinerary for a 2-week trip to Namibia. Now if you like it, feel free to steal it! :)

Have you been to Namibia? How did your itinerary look like? Let us know in the comments below!

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Siham ( Monday, 13 May 2019 10:21 )

Hi Sonja, Thanks a lot for sharing this with us, this is just amazing. My husband and I are planning to go to Namibia in August. I know it's gonna be late to book but we will try. With which company did you rent your car ? There was no issue with it ? for the fuel and all ? as it seems we were all alone on the road :) And for the camp we were sleeping in the tent or directly in the camp ? Many Thanks for your help. Cheers

Discover Albania ( Monday, 21 October 2019 17:25 )

Albania is one of the best countries for real adventures into the nature . The country offer a lot of camping sites from South to the North and from East to the West . They are furnished with all the necessities in very economic prices, with very hospitable staff , and also with food services for the tourist that prefer visit Albania through their own camper vans or rent just a tent. http://albania.al/

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It has been a wonderful time with Doctor Odunga spell caster. I want to share my testimony of how Doctor Odunga helped me win a lottery of $1,000,000.00 USD (One Million Dollars) in a game of 42. I have been in the lottery game for many years and i had tried my possible means to win the Jackpot but to no avail. I read about spell casting and i contacted Doctor Odunga to help me win a lottery game. Within 4 days, I played the game and won the game of 42 in a jackpot of One Million American Dollars. I am very thankful and i want you too to contact this spell caster and win your game too at [email protected] or Whatsapp/Call +2348167159012  www.facebook.com/lovespelltemple Check this link for a Love Spell testimony regarding this man on youtube youtu.be/5dnlReUb3JU

Tom Peacock ( Saturday, 03 December 2022 20:45 )

My name is Tom Peacock from USA, I want to say thank you to Dr Emu for the good thing he has done for me, Though am not sure if this is the best forum to show my joy and happiness for what he has done for me but i can't hide my happiness and my joy so i have to share it with people, my marriage got crashed about two years ago and i tried all i could within my power but to no avail. I saw a post and testimonial about the good things Dr Emu has been doing so I decided to give it a try. though he is always a busy man but when he responded back to my email, he gave me 48 hours for my marriage to be restored really just like he said my marriage was restored since then I am happy and i am living happily i am so grateful to Dr Emu you can always email him here: {[email protected]} or WhatsApp: {+2347012841542}

Laura Hobson ( Saturday, 10 December 2022 00:45 )

I was really stressed by Acid reflux issues with my newborn and had consulted Chief Dr Lucky. He gave us a thorough consultation and the medicines were equally effective. In a couple of weeks there was big improvement in my son and we are very pleased with the progress. We cannot thank Chief Dr Lucky enough. Highly recommended. Email [email protected] WhatsApp +2348132777335 Facebook page http://facebook.com/chiefdrlucky

Thomas Gibson ( Friday, 27 January 2023 06:51 )

I want to use this opportunity to tell the whole world on how I become rich and famous. I’m 93 years old. I was passing through difficulty in business and there was no hope of me coming out of my debt. I borrow money in my bank to do my business and I run at lost on the business I got frustrated and decided to be playing lottery to see if I can win and make my business grow and I have played for years now nothing good is coming my way on till I meet someone online talking about Dr Ayoola on the internet. He was taking about how this Dr Ayoola help him to win mega million lottery game. I said to myself if this is true and decide to contact him and told him to help me as well I later read more about this man and see how he has been helping people all over the world. I have faith in him and choose to work with him. After working with him he told me what I need to do for the number to be given to me which I did after he finish working he said I will have a dream and the number will be review to me in the dream. That night has I was sleeping I dream a number immediately he call me and gave me the same number I dream of and ask me to go and play the number. Today I’m here testifying of the good work he did for me I played the number and I won the sum of 1, 000,000 million dollars in a lotto max. You can contact Dr Ayoola for help if you want to win big in lottery game he has the gift of giving right number contact him today and thank me email him today Via email: drayoolasolutionhome@gmail. com or https://www.facebook.com/Dr-Ayoola-105640401516053/ text or call +14809032128

Olivia Lucas ( Saturday, 28 January 2023 00:18 )

Hi Everyone Join me as I share the wonderful work of Dr Kachi to say thank you for always making people smile with Lottery Winning Number Dr Kachi, who help me win a lot of money few weeks ago on lottery spell, I love playing lottery but I have never won, and i always have believe that I will win a huge amount in lottery game someday, I search online how to win a lottery and faithfully i came across Dr Kachi website: https://drkachispellcast.wixsite.com/my-site when someone was testifying how Dr Kachi helped him to win a lottery Mega Millions, i contacted Dr Kachi and told him I need the lottery winning number to win my game. he gave me lucky winning numbers and tell me to go play my game Dr Kachi also instructed me on how to go about it, after played my Mega millions lottery ticket on Friday and to my greatest surprise my name came out as a winner, i won $60,000,000.00, Mega Millions i have never seen such money all my life, but with the help of Dr Kachi now i have that much. If you need lotto winning number do not give up contact him or you want money solution and become RICH just visit Dr Kachi: Email: [email protected] Call Number And Text: +1 (209) 893-8075

Gerald Muswagon ( Thursday, 09 February 2023 12:29 )

I want to genuinely thank Dr Ayoola for making my dream come through. I was on the internet when I saw people posting and talking about Dr Ayoola. On How he has help them in winning lottery. My name is Gerald Muswagon this is my story on how I win $10 million After reading the article about Dr Ayoola I contacted him I told him to help me win lottery he respond to me by saying he will help me after working with him he assured me that I will win. Which I believe. After working with Dr Ayoola he gave me a number and ask me to go and play it which I did today I’m here shearing a testimony about this same man Dr Ayoola help me to win $10 million dollars all thanks to you Dr I will keep taking about your good because you are a man of your word I hope people that really need this will come across it for you to help them as well. If you want to win big in lottery contact Dr Ayoola today and be rest assured of winning contact him via email drayoolasolutionhome@gmail. com or https://www.facebook.com/Dr-Ayoola-105640401516053/ text or call +14809032128

Vivian Marcus ( Friday, 10 February 2023 14:33 )

Hello my name is Vivian Marcus from the United State, i'm so exciting writing this article to let people seek for help in any Break up Marriage and Relationship, Dr Kachi brought my Ex Boyfriend back to me, Thank you Sir Kachi for helped so many Relationship situation like mine to be restored, i was in pain until the day my aunt introduce me to Dr Kachi that she got her husband back with powerful love spell with help of Dr Kachi So i sent him an email telling him about my problem how my Boyfriend left me and cheating on me because of her boss lady at work i cry all day and night, but Dr Kachi told me my Boyfriend shall return back to me within 24hrs and to me everything he asked me to do the next day it was all like a dream when he text me and said please forgive me and accept me back exactly what i wanted, i am so happy now as we are back together again. because I never thought my Ex Boyfriend would be back to me so quickly with your spell. You are the best and the world greatest Dr Kachi. if you're having broke up Ex Lover or your husband left you and moved to another woman, You do want to get Pregnant do not feel sad anymore contact: [email protected] his Text Number Call: +1 (209) 893-8075

Gerald Muswagon ( Saturday, 11 February 2023 17:52 )

Olivia Lucas ( Monday, 13 February 2023 05:49 )

Hi Everyone Join me as I share the wonderful work of Dr Kachi to say thank you for always making people smile with Lottery Winning Number Dr Kachi, who help me win a lot of money few weeks ago on lottery spell, I love playing lottery but I have never won, and i always have believe that I will win a huge amount in lottery game someday, I search online how to win a lottery and faithfully i came across Dr Kachi website when someone was testifying how Dr Kachi helped him to win a lottery Mega Millions, i contacted Dr Kachi and told him I need the lottery winning number to win my game. he gave me lucky winning numbers and tell me to go play my game Dr Kachi also instructed me on how to go about it, after played my Mega millions lottery ticket on Friday and to my greatest surprise my name came out as a winner, i won $60,000,000.00, Mega Millions i have never seen such money all my life, but with the help of Dr Kachi now i have that much. If you need lotto winning number do not give up contact him or you want money solution and become RICH just visit Dr Kachi: Email: [email protected] Call Number And Text: +1 (209) 893-8075

Albert Walker ( Tuesday, 28 March 2023 03:12 )

Good day to all viewer online, my name is Albert Walker I am so overwhelmed sharing this great testimony on how i was checking for solution in the internet while miraculously i came across Dr Kachi who brought my ex Girlfriend back to me, This is the reason why i have taken it upon myself to thank this great spell caster called Dr Kachi, because through his help my life became more filled with love and i am happy to say that my ex Girlfriend who has been separated from me for the past 2years came back to me pleading for me to accept her back, This was a shocking to me my partner is very stable, faithful and closer to me than before, because before i contacted Dr Kachi i was the one begging my ex Girlfriend to come back to me but through the assistance of Dr Kachi, I now have my relationship restored. You can also have a better relationship only if you Contact Dr Kachi Website, https://drkachispellcast0.wixsite.com/my-site OR Email: [email protected] You can reach him Call and Text Number:+1 (209) 893-8075

Baeth ( Thursday, 11 May 2023 09:24 )

I was suffering from Lupus and Type 2 diabetes for over 8yrs. I tried many recommended drugs by our family medical Doctor. none was able to cure me , at last I became dependent on a safe room and metformin due to the weakness and constant pains, i found that life was just sinking & there was no way of hope. i read about a herbalist from african Dr. Gbogbo on his website, i decided to consult him through his contact i got from his website for herbal treatments, cause i have read testimonies of his herbal medicine curing several people from different disease and infections on his website, two days later, I make order for the herbal medicine and a week later i receive it at my house here in Manitoba CA, After some couple of days taking this herbal medicine, Things started to change, The symptoms started to decrease , a week later all symptoms were gone permanently. At this point I was saying to myself I can't wait to complete the dosage as instructed by him, I became fully free from all the symptoms of Type 2 diabetes and Lupus, at the completion of the dosage after 21 days. I felt healthy again and I rushed down to the hospital for a check up and the test result confirmed that I am now free from diabetes and Lupus, I told the medical Doctor how it was possible and gave him the herbalist Dr. Gbogbo contact. I am sharing this here for anyone who is having health issues either diabetes, lupus or any other disease/infections, should please contact Dr. Gbogbo  for a lasting solution. My life is totally different now that’s why I decided to let everybody know about the wonderful healing of Dr. Gbogbo. Meet Dr. Gbogbo a herbalist from west africa for your herbal medicine treatment with these details below.  Email [email protected]  WhatsApp +2347031663661.  Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/drgbogboherbalcure

Albert Walker ( Tuesday, 08 August 2023 20:07 )

Good day to all viewer online, my name is Albert Walker I am so overwhelmed sharing this great testimony on how i was checking for solution in the internet while miraculously i came across Dr Kachi who brought my ex Girlfriend back to me, This is the reason why i have taken it upon myself to thank this great spell caster called Dr Kachi, because through his help my life became more filled with love and i am happy to say that my ex Girlfriend who has been separated from me for the past 2years came back to me pleading for me to accept her back, This was a shocking to me my partner is very stable, faithful and closer to me than before, because before i contacted Dr Kachi i was the one begging my ex Girlfriend to come back to me but through the assistance of Dr Kachi, I now have my relationship restored. You can also have a better relationship only if you Contact Dr Kachi Website: https://drkachispellcaster.wixsite.com/my-site  OR Email: [email protected] You can reach him Call and Text Number:+1 (209) 893-8075

sam smith ( Sunday, 13 August 2023 00:08 )

I just want the whole world to know about this spell caster I met two weeks ago,  I cannot say everything he has done for me my wife left me 3 years ago left with my kids I was going through online when I meant this wonderful man's testimony online I decided to give it a try and my wife is back to me now and we are happily married again cause is too much to put in writing all I can say is thank you very much am very happy   Contact him today on [email protected] or whatsapp him on +2348136482342. www.facebook.com/Dr-odion-spell-temple-110513923938220

Olivia Lucas ( Wednesday, 16 August 2023 18:50 )

Hi Everyone Join me as I share the wonderful work of Dr Kachi to say thank you for always making people smile with Lottery Winning Number Dr Kachi, who help me win a lot of money few weeks ago on lottery spell, I love playing lottery but I have never won, and i always have believe that I will win a huge amount in lottery game someday, I search online how to win a lottery and faithfully i came across Dr Kachi website: https://drkachispellcaster.wixsite.com/my-site when someone was testifying how Dr Kachi helped him to win a lottery Mega Millions, i contacted Dr Kachi and told him I need the lottery winning number to win my game. he gave me lucky winning numbers and tell me to go play my game Dr Kachi also instructed me on how to go about it, after played my Mega millions lottery ticket on Friday and to my greatest surprise my name came out as a winner, i won $60,000,000.00, Mega Millions i have never seen such money all my life, but with the help of Dr Kachi now i have that much. If you need lotto winning number do not give up contact him or you want money solution and become RICH just visit Dr Kachi: Email: [email protected] Call Number And Text: +1 (209) 893-8075

Nicolette Elliot ( Monday, 27 November 2023 21:17 )

Hi everyone. My name is Nicolette Elliot I am here to thank great Dr Isikolo for fixing my marital problems. My marriage crashed due to unending problems and difficulties I had with my husband. He left without looking back and I was alone for so many months. His family intervened and still nothing changed. I was wrecked emotionally and lost hope in finding love again because he was everything in a man I ever wanted. Just like so many people, I got to know about DR ISIKOLO when I started searching for help. We discussed my problems at length and he assured me of getting the solution I needed. I had no choice than to comply with his procedures and he didn't delay anything. He did a love reunion bond for me and my husband and the love and happiness we shared was restored and he reached me exactly after 48 hours as DR ISIKOLO promised. He is indeed a wonderful helper and he is trustworthy. if you have any problems, just text him via WhatsApp +2348133261196 or email him via: [email protected] or review his website (https://isikolotemple.com)

Mary Robinson ( Sunday, 10 December 2023 06:13 )

Good day to everyone reading my post, i'm here to appreciate a legitimate spell caster call Dr Kachi who can help you winning the lottery draw, i have never win a biggest amount in lottery unite the day i saw good reviews about DR Kachi how he has helped a lot of people in different ways both financially/martially and i have been playing Mega Million for 8years now, but things suddenly change the moment i contacted Dr Kachi and explained everything to me about the spell and I accepted. I followed his instructions and played the Mega Million with the numbers he gave me, now i am a proud lottery winner with the help of Dr Kachi spell, i win $640 Million Dollars in Mega Millions Ticket, i am making this known to everyone out there who have been trying all day to win the lottery jackpot, believe me this is the only way to win the lottery, this is the real secret we all have been searching for. I want to thank Dr Kachi for his endless help and his from the United States. you can contact via email [email protected] or through Text and Call Number: +1 (209) 893-8075 his website: https://drkachispellcaster.wixsite.com/my-site

Stefan Ward ( Thursday, 28 December 2023 22:41 )

A first class hacking hacking team that can aid in the recovery of your misplaced cryptocurrency, lost Facebook account and hacking your partner Whatsapp to know if they are cheating on you. A hacking organization that can aid in the recovery of your misplaced cryptocurrency, lost Facebook account and to help you gain access to your cheating partner Whatsapp. For a long time, I was very confused and i always felt awful about my partner’s cheating attitude. I really wanted to track and catch him red-handed. I spoke with a trusted colleague of mine at work and she gave me a genuine recommendation about an ethical private investigator named HACKERWEREWOLF. HACKERWEREWOLF and their extraordinary team emerged as the catalysts of change. Their exceptional knowledge and relentless determination Helped me to see all the lies that my partner have been saying. If you find yourself lost in the depths of lost Bitcoin, facebook and Whatsapp hacking, let HACKERWEREWOLF's team guide you towards the light of redemption. Facebook page:Hackerwerewolf Email:[email protected] Whatsapp:+4917617861530

Ehrhardt Werner ( Thursday, 28 December 2023 22:43 )

Only a tiny percentage of professional hackers have the specialized hacking abilities and knowledge needed to recover lost BTC, Facebook hacking and Catching a cheating partner via a Whatsapp link. Finding a reliable hacker like HACKERWEREWOLF is preferable. A first class hacking hacking team that can aid in the recovery of your misplaced cryptocurrency, lost Facebook account and hack your partner Whatsapp. A hacking organization that can aid in the recovery of your misplaced cryptocurrency, lost Facebook account and to help you gain access to your cheating partner Whatsapp. I lost $298k in BTC to bitcoin mining, and HACKERWEREWOLF was able to retrieve it. In my darkest hour, when my Bitcoin was lost and hope seemed but a distant memory, HACKERWEREWOLF and their extraordinary team emerged as the catalysts of change. Their exceptional knowledge and relentless determination propelled me towards recovery, restoring my faith in the crypto world, Facebook/Whatsapp hacking. If you find yourself lost in the depths of lost Bitcoin, facebook and Whatsapp hacking, let HACKERWEREWOLF's team guide you towards the light of redemption. Facebook page:Hackerwerewolf Email:[email protected] Whatsapp:+4917617861530

Okoh Patience ( Saturday, 30 December 2023 19:24 )

Osecybersailing is a first class hacking team that can aid in the recovery of your misplaced cryptocurrency, lost Facebook account and hacking your partner Whatsapp to know if they are cheating on you. For a long time, I was very confused and i always felt awful about my partner’s cheating attitude. I really wanted to track and catch him red-handed. I spoke with a trusted colleague of mine at work and she gave me a genuine recommendation about an ethical private investigator named Osecybersailing. Osecybersailing and their extraordinary team emerged as the catalysts of change. Their exceptional knowledge and relentless determination Helped me to see all the lies that my partner have been saying. If you find yourself lost in the depths of lost Bitcoin, facebook and Whatsapp hacking, let Osecybersailing's team guide you towards the light of redemption. Facebook page:Osecybersailing Email:[email protected] Whatsapp:+4917617861530

Merit Glitters ( Friday, 05 January 2024 21:37 )

Do not invest in any trading platform, there is nothing such as get rich quick, it doesn't always end well. I was also a victim to this kind of scam. An Asian girl introduced me to ibitminers and i got really deep into their shit and all i can say is these scammers are good at what they do. I was allowed to withdraw a little amount which i believed was to build my trust but they sucked me dry and i never got my capital after all was said and done. I lost a ton of asset and when i reported to local authorities i was told since crypto is untraceable, there is nothing they can do about it. I couldn't get any help from them until i contracted the service of a professional ethical hacker. He hacked into the eth wallet address i made payment to and retrieved my stolen crypto and he showed me the transaction history of these scammers, I was in shock. If you find yourself lost in the depths of lost Bitcoin, facebook and Whatsapp hacking, let Osecybersailing's team guide you towards the light of redemption. Facebook page: Osecybersailing Email: [email protected] Whatsapp: +4917617861530

Godwin akpabio ( Thursday, 18 January 2024 07:14 )

A revolution in banking has been brought about by the digital era, with cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin taking center stage. But there are also risks associated with this emerging field, the most frightening of which being the possibility of losing digital assets. This is when Osecybersailing and it's team steps in like a shining knight, equipped with the formidable weapon of Bitcoin recovery. My valuable Bitcoin was stolen via a technical error, leaving me hopeless. My dreams were almost dashed by the cold reality of irreversible blockchain transactions. However, there was a ray of hope that emerged from the shadows when I came across Osecybersailing and it's team. Equipped with state-of-the-art equipment and years of experience, their team of professionals painstakingly navigated the blockchain maze, following even the smallest digital traces of my misplaced funds. The fact that my Bitcoin appeared, safe and sound, back in my wallet in a very short amount of time was a credit to their commitment and competence. It restored my faith in the security and reliability of the crypto ecosystem. But my testimony is more than just a celebration of Osecybersailing technical abilities. It also serves as a rallying cry for ethical cryptocurrency stewardship. If you find yourself lost in the depths of lost Bitcoin, facebook Account and Whatsapp hacking to check if your partner is cheating, then let Osecybersailing and it's team guide you towards the light of redemption. Facebook page: Osecybersailing Email: [email protected] Telegram: osecybersailing

Marie Levi ( Thursday, 18 January 2024 21:05 )

A big thanks from Marie Levi to DR ISIKOLO for helping me to restore my broken home. Inconsistency has been the order of the day in my home and marriage. My husband has had a hell of a problem and torn on my flesh ever since we started having too many misunderstandings. Some days, he just left and never returned until its past weeks. I was devastated and tried all I could to fix the problems but didn't succeed. I had to search out for help and I was directed by a friend to contact DR ISIKOLO which I did. I never knew it would be possible because the problems had lingered for two whole years. DR ISIKOLO assured me and only told me to trust him and believe in having my desires granted. He fixed my marriage with his powerful love reunion bond and my home is great again and my husband is with me never to leave anymore. Contact him too and believe he can help you because he has no bad records. Just text him via WhatsApp +2348133261196 or email him via: [email protected]

Vivian Marcus ( Friday, 19 January 2024 18:43 )

Hello my name is Vivian Marcus from the United State, i'm so exciting writing this article to let people seek for help in any Break up Marriage and Relationship, Dr Kachi brought my Ex Boyfriend back to me, Thank you Sir Kachi for helped so many Relationship situation like mine to be restored, i was in pain until the day my aunt introduce me to Dr Kachi that she got her husband back with powerful love spell with help of Dr Kachi So i sent him an email telling him about my problem how my Boyfriend left me and cheating on me because of her boss lady at work i cry all day and night, but Dr Kachi told me my Boyfriend shall return back to me within 24hrs and to me everything he asked me to do the next day it was all like a dream when he text me and said please forgive me and accept me back exactly what i wanted, i am so happy now as we are back together again. because I never thought my Ex Boyfriend would be back to me so quickly with your spell. You are the best and the world greatest Dr Kachi. if you're having broke up Ex Lover or your husband left you and moved to another woman, You do want to get Pregnant do not feel sad anymore contact: [email protected] his Text Number Call: +1 (209) 893-8075 You can reach him Website: https://drkachispellcaster.wixsite.com/my-site

Andrew Beckett ( Friday, 16 February 2024 )

I and my wife had a misunderstanding which led to a huge fight and she left home and returned back to her fathers house. I let my emotions got the best of me and stayed permanently away from her. Things grew worse when she started seeing another man and I never knew about it. I tried fixing the problem and getting her to return back home and she never came back. I later found out all that has been going on and decided to seek help to fix my marriage with her which made me contact Dr Isikolo. Just as expected he worked for me and the problem was fixed and I am reunited with my wife. She returned back home just after 48 hours as promised by Dr Isikolo. I am forever indebted to him for fixing the problem I had in my marriage. kindly contact him for fast and urgent Help, email him: [email protected] or WhatsApp him on: +2348133261196

Susan Bickford ( Wednesday, 13 March 2024 17:17 )

It's A Great News to Celebrate with you Viewer, I am truly living the life I have been looking for after Dr Kachi made me win my Powerball Lottery, I had been playing for a good 8years. It was a friend of mine who directed me to Dr Kachi because my friend Nancy has won the Powerball so many times and I don't know how she got the match six numbers to play and win a very big amount of money, then the last time she won the Mega Millions I told her to tell me the secret on how she win. That's when she started telling me about the powerful Dr Kachi who has been her helper. and she gave me Dr Kachi Text/Call Number:+1 (209) 893-8075 I texted the greatest spell caster Dr Kachi and I told him I wanted to win my Powerball with his spiritual rightful number and he told me I should give him 2hours to get everything done and hopefully Dr Kachi do it, and give me a winning numbers to play my ticket that make me win the prize of $223.3 Million Dollars Powerball lottery Tuesday i bought the winning ticket at the Carlie C’s IGA store in Hope Mills, that changed my life for good today, and Dr Kachi a strong spell caster and trust him when he says the results will manifest it's Truth, God bless you Dr kachi for your kind help also can Email: [email protected]

Bren ( Wednesday, 20 March 2024 16:10 )

THIS IS HOW YOU CAN RECOVER YOUR LOST CRYPTO? Are you a victim of Investment, BTC, Forex, NFT, Credit card, etc Scam? Do you want to investigate a cheating spouse? Do you desire credit repair (all bureaus)? Contact Hacker Steve (Funds Recovery agent) asap to get started. He specializes in all cases of ethical hacking, cryptocurrency, fake investment schemes, recovery scam, credit repair, stolen account, etc. Stay safe out there! [email protected] https://hackersteve.great-site.net/

quatisha ( Sunday, 31 March 2024 06:37 )

I just want the whole world to know about this spell caster I met two weeks ago,I cannot say everything he has done for me and my family I was going through online when I meant this wonderful man's testimony online how he won a lottery through the help of dr Ose I decided to just give it a try and my life is back to me now after i lost my job due to covid  he gave me a winning numbers to play lottery and i won 5000usd for my first play since then i have been working with him and he has been giving me numbers to play my lottery i can not write everything he has done for me if you need a lottery spell today contact him on [email protected]       www.facebook.com/Dr-odion-spell-temple-110513923938220 whatsapp +2348136482342

zamzam ( Wednesday, 10 April 2024 01:13 )

BE SMART AND BECOME RICH IN LESS THAN 3DAYS....It all depends on how fast  you can be to get the new PROGRAMMED blank ATM card that is capable of hacking into any ATM machine,anywhere in the world. I got to know about  this BLANK ATM CARD when I was searching for job online about a month  ago..It has really changed my life for good and now I can say I'm rich and  I can never be poor again. The least money I get in a day with it is about  $50,000.(fifty thousand USD) Every now and then I keeping pumping money  into my account. Though is illegal,there is no risk of being caught  ,because it has been programmed in such a way that it is not traceable,it  also has a technique that makes it impossible for the CCTVs to detect  you..For details on how to get yours today, email the hackers on : ( [email protected] < Tell your  loved once too, and start to live large. That's the simple testimony of how  my life changed for good...Love you all .

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Namibia 2-Week Tours and Itineraries

Discover the best 2-Week multi-day tours in Namibia with Bookmundi. We offer a total of 6 Namibia 2-Week tours and itineraries with 5 customer reviews.

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6 Trips in Namibia with 5 Reviews

• Starts Windhoek, Namibia
• Ends Cape Town, South Africa

Cape & Dunes Southbound: Desert Camping & Safari Drives

• Best price guaranteed
• No booking fees
• Tour Type Group Tour
• Activities Wildlife & Cultural, religious and historic sites Wildlife , Cultural, religious and historic sites , Explorer & Safari 'data-more-tripid='4834'>+2 more
• Accommodation Camping, Guest House & Hostel
• Transport 4WD Jeep & Private Vehicle
• Age Range 18-39 yrs
• Operated in English
• Brochure Price: US$ 1,949
• Special Deal (25%): - US$ 488
• Total Price from: US$ 1,461
• Jun 15 Only 6 seats left
• Jun 22 Only 5 seats left
• View More Jan 1, 2019 Jan 2, 2019 Jan 3, 2019

• Ends Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe

Namibia to Victoria Falls Explorer

• Tour Type Small Group Tour
• Activities Wildlife safaris and game drives & Adventure Wildlife safaris and game drives , Adventure & Walking tours 'data-more-tripid='16379'>+1 more
• Accommodation Camping, Tent, Hotel & Guest House
• Transport Boat & 4WD Jeep
• Age Range 18-99 yrs
• Jul 06 10+ seats left
• Aug 03 10+ seats left

Southern African Desert Rivers and Wildlife

• Activities Wildlife safaris and game drives & Adventure
• Accommodation Hotel & Guest House
• Transport Boat, Overland Vehicle & 4WD Jeep
• Jun 21 Only 2 seats left
• Jul 06 Only 2 seats left

Namibia, Botswana and Falls - 14 days

• Activities Waterfalls
• Accommodation Lodge, Hotel & Sleeper Bus
• Transport 4WD Jeep, Boat & Overland Vehicle
• Age Range 18-80 yrs
• Aug 31 Only 8 seats left

• Starts Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe
• Ends Windhoek, Namibia

Falls, Botswana & Namibia - 14 days

• Activities Waterfalls & Wildlife
• Transport Boat, 4WD Jeep & Overland Vehicle
• Apr 27 10+ seats left
• May 20 10+ seats left

Southern African Desert Rivers and Wildlife (VFA to WDH)

• Activities Adventure & Wildlife safaris and game drives
• Accommodation Guest House, Hotel & Sleeper Bus
• Transport 4WD Jeep, Overland Vehicle & Boat
• Jul 20 10+ seats left

Traveling to Namibia for 2 weeks? Chat with a local travel specialist in Namibia who can help organize your trip.

Namibia 2-Weeks Tour Reviews

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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 ?

Comments are closed.

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PGA Tour gets post-Masters signature event at Hilton Head. LPGA stages first major in Houston

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Site: Hilton Head Island, South Carolina.

Course: Harbour Town GL. Yardage: 7,213. Par: 71.

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Television: Thursday-Friday, 2-6 p.m. (Golf Channel); Saturday-Sunday, 1-3 p.m. (Golf Channel), 3-6 p.m. (CBS).

Defending champion: Matt Fitzpatrick.

FedEx Cup leader: Scottie Scheffler.

Last week: Scottie Scheffler won the Masters.

Notes: Scottie Scheffler headed home to Dallas after winning the Masters and is playing this week. He will try to become the first player since Bernhard Langer in 1985 to win the week after winning the Masters. ... For the second straight signature event, only 69 players are in the field. Hideki Matsuyama did not enter and Viktor Hovland withdrew after he missed the cut in the Masters. ... If no one withdraws, someone will start the tournament as a single. ... The four sponsor exemptions went to Webb Simpson, Shane Lowry, Gary Woodland and South Carolina native Kevin Kisner. This is the third sponsor exemption Simpson has received to a $20 million tournament. Simpson won at Hilton Head in 2020. ... Justin Thomas narrowly got into the field when he slipped only to No. 30 in the world ranking after missing the cut in the Masters. The top 30 are eligible for signature events.

Next week: Zurich Classic.

Online: https://www.pgatour.com/

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Race to CME Globe leader: Nelly Korda.

Last tournament: Nelly Korda won the T-Mobile Match Play.

Notes: Nelly Korda goes after her fifth consecutive victory, which would tie the LPGA record for longest winning streak held by Nancy Lopez (1978) and Annika Sorenstam (2004-05). ... Korda's only major is the KPMG Women's PGA at Atlanta Athletic Club in 2021, the same year she first rose to No. 1 in the world. ... This is the second year of the Chevron Championship since the LPGA left Mission Hills in the California desert. ... Lilia Vu won her first major at the Chevron last year. She went on to win the Women's British Open and was the LPGA player of the year. ... The 132-player field features the top 10 in the women's world ranking and 11 past champions. ... Lottie Woad of England earned a spot in the field by winning the Augusta National Women's Amateur. ... Lydia Ko could earn a spot in the LPGA Hall of Fame if she were to win this year. She began the year with a victory in the season opener.

Next week: JM Eagle LA Championship.

Online: https://www.lpga.com/

CORALES PUNTACANA CHAMPIONSHIP

Site: Punta Cana, Dominican Republic.

Course: Puntacana Resort & Club (Corales). Yardage: 7,670. Par: 72.

Prize money: $4 million. Winner's share: $720,000.

Television: Thursday-Friday, 8-10 a.m. (Golf Channel); Saturday-Sunday, 3-5 p.m. (Golf Channel).

Previous winner: Matt Wallace.

Notes: The tournament is the second opposite-field event of the year. The winner gets into the PGA Championship, but not the Masters. He also gets a two-year exemption. ... Nicolai Hojgaard is the only player from the Masters who is playing in the Dominican Republic. He tied for 16th at Augusta National with a 74-76 weekend. ... Nate Lashley won the tournament when it was part of the Web.com Tour. He is in the field this week. ... Among players getting a sponsor exemption are Erik Compton, who has had two heart transplants. ... Thriston Lawrence of South Africa is playing on a sponsor exemption. Lawrence has two runner-up finishes on the European tour this year and is No. 95 in the world. ... The field has three former major champions in Francesco Molinari, Jimmy Walker and Jason Dufner. ... The last five editions of the tournament have been decided by one shot.

PGA TOUR CHAMPIONS

INVITED CELEBRITY CLASSIC

Site: Irving, Texas.

Course: Las Colinas CC. Yardage: 6,703. Par: 71.

Prize money: $2.2 million. Winner's share: $330,000.

Television: Friday, 9-11 p.m. (Golf Channel-Tape Delay); Saturday-Sunday, 5-7 p.m. (Golf Channel).

Defending champion: Mark Hensby.

Charles Schwab Cup leader: Steven Alker.

Last tournament: Retief Goosen won The Galleri Classic.

Notes: The field features 78 players from the PGA Tour Champions and 40 celebrities competing in separate events. The celebrities are playing for a $500,000 purse. ... Steven Alker, who leads the Charles Schwab Cup, is not playing. ... Thomas Bjorn was awarded a sponsor exemption. Bjorn, the winning Ryder Cup captain for Europe in 2018, has been a strong supporter of European tour events that have weaker fields. ... Notah Begay III was working at the Masters last week for Golf Channel. He is playing this week. ... Former Dallas Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo won the celebrity division last year. ... This starts a stretch of four straight tournaments on the PGA Tour Champions, concluding with the first of five majors at the Regions Tradition. ... Vijay Singh is in the field. He is coming off a tie for 58th in the Masters, having missed the cut the previous year.

Next week: Mitsubishi Electric Classic.

Online: https://www.pgatour.com/pgatour-champions

KORN FERRY TOUR

LECOM SUNCOAST CLASSIC

Site: Lakewood, Florida.

Course: Lakewood National GC (Commander). Yardage: 7,113. Par: 71

Prize money: $1 million. Winner's share: $180,000.

Television: None.

Previous winner: Scott Gutschewski.

Points leader: Mason Andersen.

Last tournament: Steven Fisk won the Club Car Championship.

Next week: Veritex Bank Championship.

Online: https://www.pgatour.com/korn-ferry-tour

EUROPEAN TOUR

Next week: ISPS Handa Championship on April 25-28.

Race to Dubai leader: Rory McIlroy.

Online: https://www.europeantour.com/dpworld-tour/

LIV GOLF LEAGUE

Last tournament: Dean Burmester won LIV Golf Miami.

Next week: LIV Golf Adelaide on April 26-28.

Points leader: Joaquin Niemann.

Online: https://www.livgolf.com/

OTHER TOURS

Asian Tour: Saudi Open, Riyadh GC, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Defending champion: Denwit Boriboonsub. Online: https://asiantour.com/

Challenge Tour: Abu Dhabi Challenge, Al Ain Equestrian, Shooting & GC, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. Previous winner: Ricardo Gouveia. Online: https://www.europeantour.com/challenge-tour/

Ladies European Tour: Joburg Ladies Open, Modderfontein GC, Johannesburg, South Africa. Defending champion: Lily May Humphreys. Online: https://ladieseuropeantour.com/

PGA Tour Americas: Brazil Open, Rio Olympic GC, Rio de Janeiro. Previous winner: Charlie Hillier. Online: https://www.pgatour.com/americas

Japan LPGA: Fujisankei Ladies Classic, Kawana Hotel GC (Fuji), Shizuoka, Japan. Defending champion: Sora Kamiya. Online: https://www.lpga.or.jp/en/

Korea LPGA: Nexen-SaintNine Masters, Gaya GC, Gimhae, South Korea Defending champion: Eunwoo Choi. Online: https://klpga.co.kr/web/

AP golf: https://apnews.com/hub/golf

Expert Picks: RBC Heritage

Expert Picks

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How it works: Each week, our experts from PGATOUR.COM will make their selections in PGA TOUR Fantasy Golf. Each lineup consists of four starters and two bench players that can be rotated after each round. Adding to the challenge is that every golfer can be used only three times per each of four Segments.

Aside from the experts below, Golfbet Insider Rob Bolton breaks down the field at the RBC Heritage in this week's edition of Power Rankings .

Betting picks

WILL GRAY (Lead, Fantasy & Betting)

• Winner: Collin Morikawa (+2000) – A lot of pieces fell into place last week in Augusta for the two-time major champ. Now he makes the short trip to another layout that should accentuate his ball-striking, assuming the irons travel with him to the coast.
• Top 10: Shane Lowry (+300) – The Irishman has had some success here in recent years, including three top-10s in the last five years with a pair of T3 results among that bunch.
• Longshot: J.T. Poston (+6600) – The North Carolina native knows a thing or two about playing in this part of the country, and his track record at Harbour Town includes three top-8 finishes in the last five years.
• H2H: Cameron Young (-120) over Jordan Spieth – I’m not sold that a trip to Low Country will cure what ails Spieth, despite his recent run of success here. Young finished T3 here two years ago and should have similar success this time around.

BEN EVERILL (Senior writer, Fantasy & Betting)

• Winner: Xander Schauffele (+1400) – They say the definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over and expecting a different result. I guess I’m insane.
• Top 10: Matt Fitzpatrick (+200) – Defending champion loves this place. Once walked the famous lighthouse with Fitz and could see his true desire to be remembered in Harbour Town. Could easily defend.
• Longshot: Cam Davis (+5000) – A constant contender on this track who also found some form at the Masters. The Aussie relies on confidence and last week returned his positive thoughts.
• H2H: Russell Henley (-110) over Si Woo Kim – Henley is in the midst of a solid season while Si Woo is a roller coaster who I’m banking is on the down this week, not up.

CHRIS BREECE (Senior content manager, Golfbet)

• Winner: Patrick Cantlay (+1600) – No one has gained more strokes on the field at Harbour Town than Cantlay in the last five years. He was third and second here the last two years here.
• Top 10: Tommy Fleetwood (+160) – He’s the kind of guy where one great week at a big venue can spark something. T15 and T10 the two years here.
• Longshot: Cam Davis (+5000) – Great week in Augusta. The only person who has gained more strokes on the field at Harbour Town is Cantlay.
• H2H: Cameron Young (-120) over Jordan Spieth – Spieth’s comments on his injured wrist are sticking with me, especially after his Masters performance.

MATT DELVECCHIO (Social content manager, Fantasy & Betting)

• Winner: Will Zalatoris (+2500) – Little to no history at Harbour Town with only one start in 2021 where he finished T42. With that being said, he’s the eighth favorite on the odds board in a stacked Signature Event for a reason. His game is perfect for Harbour Town ranking eighth in SG: Approach and 21st in SG: Tee-to-Green. A solid performance last week at the Masters makes me think he’s on the cusp of his second TOUR victory.
• Top 10: Akshay Bhatia (+375) – Looked healthy last week in his Masters debut, Akshay did not disappoint posting a respectable T35. Same reasoning as Willy Z, Akshay's game is perfect for Harbour Town as Akshay tops the charts in both of those same categories of SG: Approach and SG: Tee-to-Green. His shaky finish at Valero is why I’m hesitant to take him to win, so I’ll go with the high finish.
• Longshot: Lucas Glover (+5500) – There is so much to like about Lucas Glover's game this season as he’s carried the momentum exactly where he left off from last season winning two playoff events. The 44-year-old is only +5500 in a Signature Event… he is the perfect mold for a Harbour Town Golf Links W. I may regret not taking him as my main winner...
• H2H: Morikawa (-110) over Cantlay – Cantlay has an unbelievable course history but he’s been mediocre over the last two months. Morikawa came out of nowhere last week and competed down the stretch. I think that makes him hungry to make up for it and come out swinging this week.

Odds were sourced on Tuesday, April 16. For live odds, visit BetMGM .

Want to see how to set up your PGA TOUR Fantasy Golf lineup? Scroll below.

THINK YOU'RE BETTER THAN OUR EXPERTS? The PGA TOUR Experts league is once again open to the public. You can play our free fantasy game and see how you measure up against our experts below.

Joining the league is simple. Just click here to sign up or log in. Once you create a team, click the "LEAGUES" tab. Then click on "FEATURED," and then on the PGA TOUR Experts league that populates.

*Brett Jungles joined the Expert Picks league at the beginning of Segment 1 and did not accumulate any points from the FedExCup Fall.

Golfbet experts longshot: 0-15

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