The Great Namibia Road Trip

Upon arrival at Windhoek International Airport, collect your fully equipped four-wheel-drive vehicle and make your way into Windhoek.

Before setting off on your self-drive adventure, you’ll receive the information you need for your journey ahead. And while you’ll have the freedom of travelling independently, you’ll never be completely on your own – 24/7 backup support is available throughout your trip should you need any assistance along the way.

Once settled in, there’s time to stock up on supplies for the days ahead and explore Namibia’s cosmopolitan capital. Take a stroll through the city, where African character meets European colonial influences, browse local markets or relax at one of the cafés.

This evening, choose one of Windhoek’s excellent restaurants for dinner before returning to your guesthouse for the night.

After breakfast, travel south towards the Kalahari, where the landscape gradually transforms into a striking combination of red sand, golden grasses, shepherd’s trees and acacias.

Your campsite is located on a private farm close to a popular waterhole, attracting oryx, springbok, zebra and a variety of smaller game species. In the late afternoon, you may choose to head out on an optional nature drive, ending with a sundowner as the colours of the Kalahari deepen around you.

Journey through a dramatic landscape of sparse vegetation, isolated hills and seemingly endless rocky plains to the Quiver Tree Forest. More than 250 of these distinctive indigenous aloes are found here, creating one of Namibia’s most unusual natural landscapes.

Continue south to the spectacular Fish River Canyon. Formed over millions of years through uplift and erosion, the canyon cuts through a vast, rugged plain dotted with hardy, drought-resistant vegetation and is regarded as one of the world’s great natural wonders.

Travel past Naute Dam and stop at the Naute Kristal Distillery – particularly worthwhile for gin lovers! Locally produced gin and a selection of other spirits are made here and can be purchased as a uniquely Namibian souvenir.

Continue towards the edge of the Namibian escarpment and through the Succulent Karoo to the coastal town of Lüderitz. Along the way, stop at Garub for the chance to spot the remarkable Namib Desert Horses, which have adapted to survive in this harsh desert environment.

Before leaving Lüderitz, visit Kolmanskuppe, the fascinating remains of a once-thriving diamond mining town that flourished between 1908 and 1950. Its abandoned buildings slowly being reclaimed by the desert offer an intriguing glimpse into Namibia’s diamond-mining past.

From here, travel north into the Southern Namib, where your next stop is surrounded by a wonderfully remote desert landscape at the foot of the striking Tiras Mountains, close to the scenic D707 route.

Travel north into the Namib Desert, considered the oldest desert on Earth. Your lodge is surrounded by the impressive Naukluft Mountains, providing a spectacular backdrop to your stay.

Arrive at Sesriem, the gateway to Sossusvlei and some of the highest dunes on Earth, with the remainder of the afternoon at leisure.

Early the following morning, set out to experience the extraordinary landscapes of Sossusvlei, where flat gravel plains contrast dramatically with towering apricot-coloured dunes. Visit the famous Dead Vlei, with its white clay pan, ancient trees and surrounding dunes, before continuing to rugged Sesriem Canyon, carved over time by the force of the Tsauchab River.

After breakfast, travel towards Namibia’s Atlantic coast, crossing the rugged Gaub and Kuiseb Passes along the way. As you approach Swakopmund, you can also visit the Welwitschia Plains and otherworldly Moon Landscape (permit required).

Set between the Namib Desert and Atlantic Ocean, Swakopmund is a characterful coastal town and Namibia’s adventure capital. There’s plenty to choose from during your stay, including scenic flights, dolphin cruises, quad biking, dune boarding, parachuting and windsurfing.

After breakfast, journey into Damaraland, one of Namibia’s most geologically diverse and visually striking regions. Wildlife including rhino, desert-adapted elephants and giraffe still roam freely through this vast landscape.

This evening, enjoy dinner along the banks of the ephemeral Ugab River, where, with a little luck, you may even encounter one of the region’s rare desert-adapted elephants.

Begin with an excursion to Twyfelfontein, a World Heritage Site where more than 2,500 ancient rock engravings and paintings can be found amongst the boulders of this prehistoric desert landscape.

Continue north into the remote Kaokoveld, an immense wilderness known for its dramatic scenery, uniquely adapted wildlife and Himba communities. Your camp is situated beside a lush, deeply eroded dry riverbed frequented by browsing wildlife such as kudu and duiker.

After sunrise and a hearty breakfast, continue north through changing landscapes where enormous baobab trees rise above the mopane savanna.

Arriving at Epupa Falls, discover an unexpected water wonderland surrounded by an otherwise arid landscape. From camp, optional activities include visits to traditional Himba villages, scenic walks and excellent birdwatching.

Travel south towards Opuwo, considered the capital of Namibia’s Himba region. Along the way, you may encounter Himba families moving in search of better grazing for their cattle, as well as wildlife including springbok, kudu, oryx and baboons.

Before reaching Opuwo, you can stop at a Himba Living Museum for an opportunity to learn more about this distinctive traditional culture.

Today, enter Etosha National Park, Namibia’s most famous wildlife reserve. At its heart lies the enormous Etosha Pan, a parched salt desert that shimmers with mirages during the heat of the day.

The park’s waterholes attract an impressive diversity of mammals and birds, including endangered species such as rhino and cheetah. From your campsite, you’ll have access to a floodlit waterhole, providing the opportunity to watch wildlife arriving to drink well into the evening.

After sunrise, continue through Etosha to another camp within the national park, enjoying more opportunities for wildlife viewing along the way.

Watch for pronking springbok and other animals becoming active in the cool morning hours. Dense stands of mopane woodland provide habitat for a variety of browsing species and specialised predators such as leopard, while also offering important cover and nesting areas for both migratory and resident birdlife.

After breakfast, travel south towards the Waterberg area, one of Namibia’s most scenic regions and a wonderful setting for walking and game drives.

Your campsite sits at the foot of dramatic red sandstone cliffs, with magnificent views stretching across the seemingly endless bush plains below

Start the day with a pre-breakfast walk along one of the scenic mountain trails before travelling south towards Windhoek.

Along the way, take some time to browse one of the large craft markets in Okahandja before continuing between impressive mountain ranges towards the capital. On arrival in Windhoek, check into your pension for your final night in Namibia.

In time for your outbound flight, travel the short distance to Windhoek International Airport. Return your rental vehicle before checking in for your departing flight, bringing your Namibian self-drive adventure to an end.