We Love —
- Driving autonomously in your own car through the must-see places like Swakopmund and the Namib Desert;
- Experiencing unspoilt wilderness in the famous Etosha National Park;
- Taking advantage of the optional excursions and enjoying the freedom of a road trip!
Customer reviews —
Your itinerary in brief —
This 10- or 15-day Namibia self-drive tour is more than just a roadtrip. Drive your hire car from north to south and discover the surreal dunes of Sossusvlei, UNESCO World Heritage sites, the ancient culture of Damara and the amazing flora and fauna along the way, without forgetting the wonderful wildlife of Etosha National Park.
Choose the length of your stay:
Suggested itinerary for 9 nights/10 days:
Day 1: Arrival in Windhoek
Day 2: Namib Desert
Day 3: Sossusvlei
Days 4 and 5: Swakopmund
Day 6: Twyfelfontein, Damaraland
Days 7 and 8: Etosha National Park
Day 9: Windhoek
Day 10: Departure
Suggested itinerary for 14 nights/15 days:
Day 1: Arrival in Windhoek
Day 2: Kalahari
Days 3 and 4: Fish River Canyon
Day 5: Luderitz
Days 6 and 7: Namib Desert
Days 8 and 9: Swakopmund
Day 10: Damaraland
Days 11 and 12: Etosha National Park
Day 13: Onguma Reserve
Day 14: Windhoek
Day 15: Departure
Please note: All the activities and visits described in your itineraries are suggestions only (to be paid for locally). You can tailor your trip to suit you once you're there.
Your Itinerary in Detail —
9-night tour
Day 1: Arrival in Windhoek
- On arrival at Windhoek International Airport, you will meet your travel consultant who will deliver your documents to you and assist you with your vehicle.
- Departure for the capital.
Day 2: Namib Desert
- Departure via the B1 towards the heart of the Namib.
- Enjoy a free afternoon at the lodge.
Day 3: Sossusvlei
Suggested itinerary:
- Set off early to catch the stunning sunrise over the high Namib dunes - a sight not to be missed.
- Decide upon an optional visit to Sossusvlei, the unreal Deadvlei and the Sesriem Canyon (see details).
- Enjoy the rest of the afternoon at leisure.
Day 4 & 5: Swakopmund
- It's time to leave the arid Namib behind and head for the coast.
- Spend the afternoon of Day 4 at leisure.
- Enjoy Day 5 at leisure or partake in one of the many activities Swakopmund has to offer.
Day 6: Twyfelfontein, Damaraland
- Continuing north, you will cross the Brandberg, Namibia's highest mountain, to reach Damaraland.
- En route to Twyfelfontein, you can visit the rock engravings and the Petrified Forest, a geological phenomenon that illustrates the formation and evolution of some of the oldest landmasses on the planet (optional and at extra cost).
- Spend the afternoon at leisure.
Day 7: Etosha National Park
- In the afternoon, you can opt for an optional game drive in Etosha National Park to observe the African fauna and have the evening free to relax.
Day 8: Etosha National Park
- Enjoy a free day to explore your surroundings.
Day 9: Windhoek
- Continue to Dobra, where you will spend the afternoon in the great outdoors at Okapuka Safari Lodge (or similar).
Day 10: Departure
- You will be taken to the international airport for your return flight.
14-night tour
Please note: All the activities and visits described in this itinerary are suggestions only (to be paid for locally). You can tailor your trip to suit you once you're there.
Day 1: Arrival in Windhoek
- On arrival in Namibia, you will collect your rental car from the international airport, and drive to Windhoek where you can enjoy the afternoon at leisure.
Day 2: Kalahari
- Drive south through the savannah to your lodge in the Kalahari.
- Suggested activity: Optional Kalahari tour
Day 3: Fish River Canyon
- On the way to the lodge, visit the Quiver Tree Forest and Giant's Playground (optional and at extra cost).
- Discover the wilderness of Gondwana Canyon Park, where the fences of ten farms have been dismantled to create a Namibian Eden.
- Take a guided tour of Fish River Canyon and be inspired by new perspectives.
- Opt to join a 3-4 day canyon hike for a unique experience and wend your way along the 4WD Wildebeest Drive and observe the animals of the plains.
Overnight at Canyon Village Gondwana Collection Namibia with breakfast (or similar).
- Choose to watch the sunrise through the shaking trees and the sunset from a ridge where you can take in the spectacular scenery.
- Explore this ancient wonderland, or simply enjoy the peace and quiet by relaxing by the pool at your lodge, napping in the cool of your chalet or immersing yourself in a book on the deck.
Day 5: Luderitz
- Departure for Luderitz, visit the wild horses of Garub (optional visit at an extra cost), take a tour of the town and or enjoy an excursion to the bay with the Diaz cross.
Day 6: Namib Desert
- Begin the journey toward the heart of the Namib.
- Overnight at The Elegant Desert Lodge.
- The Elegant Desert Lodge offers a range of optional activities (at an additional cost), including a guided tour of Sossusvlei, a hot air balloon ride, a quad bike tour with the option of a picnic breakfast in the desert or our unique and remarkable countryside tour.
- Explore the numerous hiking trails that wend through the open plains and mountains. These trails allow you to get close to nature, while the blue skies, poignant silence and endless, liberating horizons etch themselves into your soul.
- Amid the breathtaking surroundings of the Naukluft Mountains live desert-adapted steppe animals such as kudu, springbok, Hartman's mountain zebra and oryx.
- Visit Sossusvlei, the surreal Dead Vlei and Sesriem Canyon.
Suggested activities and Optional excursions:
- Sunset panoramic tour
- Half-day excursion to Sossusvlei with picnic lunch
Day 8: Swakopmund
- Continue to Swakopmund, where you can enjoy a free afternoonat leisure.
Day 9: Swakopmund
Optional activities in and around Swakopmund:
- Catamaran cruise
- Fat biking in Swakopmund
- Living Desert
Day 10: Swakopmund
- Departure for Damaraland.
- Optional visit to the rock engravings at Twyfelfontein, or the petrified forest on the way to the lodge.
Day 11: Etosha National Park
- Enjoy an afternoon excursion to Etosha National Park.
Suggested optional excursions/activities:
- Morning game drive
- Etosha Village Restaurant
- Sunset safari
- Enjoy your day at leisure.
Suggested optional excursions/activities:
- Sunrise walk
- Full-day game drive
- Boma dinner at Etosha Village
Day 13: Onguma Game Reserve
- Day at leisure.
Suggested optional excursions/activities:
- Dream Cruise - A romantic adventure
- Onguma Hideaway
- Sunset Safari
- Bush Walk
- Massage therapy
- Children's safari
- Etosha wildlife viewing excursions
Day 14: Windhoek
- Return to Windhoek and afternoon at leisure.
Day 15: Departure
Transfer to the airport for your return flight.
Please note: All the activities and visits described in your itineraries are suggestions only (to be paid for locally). You can tailor your trip to suit you once you're there. Rates and times are indicative and are subject to change. Some facilities/services are subject to a surcharge, payable locally. General terms and conditions of sale apply.
Your Hotels —
Hand-Picked Just For You
Maximum room capacity
During your trip to Namibia, you will relax in the following comfortable hotels and lodges (or similar):
Selection of hotels for the 9-night tour:
- Windhoek: The Elegant Guest House
- Namib: The Elegant Desert Lodge
- Swakopmund: Swakopmund Sands Hotel
- Twyfelfontein: Twyfelfontein Country Lodge
- Etosha: Taleni Etosha Village
- Windhoek West: Okapuka Safari Lodge
Selection of hotels for the 14-night tour:
- Windhoek: The Elegant Guest House
- Kalahari: Camelthorn Kalahari Lodge
- Fish River Canyon: Canyon Village Gondwana Collection Namibia
- Luderitz: Obelix Guest House
- Namib: The Elegant Desert Lodge
- Swakopmund: Swakopmund Sands Hotel
- Damaraland: Vingerklip Lodge
- Etosha: Taleni Etosha Village
- Onguma Game Reserve: Onguma Bush Camp
Hotels listed in the programme. If unavailable, accommodation in hotels of a similar category.
Single rooms are not available. The maximum room capacity is 3 adults for package 1 and 4 adults for package 2.
Your dining choices
This is a bed and breakfast stay.
Your optional excursions —
Morning game drive in Etosha National Park (minimum 4 people)
Join us on a breathtaking game drive in Etosha National Park.
Further information:
Itinerary:
- These morning game drives last approximately 5 hours and follow a route through Andersson Gate to Okaukuejo and on to various waterholes on a circular route back to Okaukuejo.
- here is also a stopover at "Olifants Bad" where you will be treated to a light refreshment of our gourmet cuisine. You'll have the opportunity to "stretch your legs" before continuing to Okaukuejo where (weather permitting) you can observe the waterhole for a while.
Duration: 5 hours
Minimum number of participants: 4
Maximum number of people: 15
Instructions: not included in the scope of delivery
Languages: English
Includes: Permits and drinks
Windhoek tasting tour
Mingle with the locals at the Katutura market, taste Kapana with a Namibian beer, visit a brewery, enjoy the sunset with a gin and tonic and end the day at the iconic Joe's Beerhouse.
Further information:
Itinerary:
- Meet your guide at 14:00 at Brewers Market (c/o Sam Nujoma Avenue and Tal Street, city centre).
- Beforehand, you have the option to have lunch on your own.
- Enjoy a local drink as an introduction to the tour and then head to Katutura to mingle with the locals at a traditional market and savour kapana, a traditional meat dish cooked over an open fire.
- Try this delicacy in a local pub with an ice-cold Namibian beer while listening to the rhythm of African music in the background.
- As a farewell to Katutura, we will drive to a private brewery where we will sample a selection of local beers.
- In the late afternoon, we will enjoy the sunset over the capital on the terrace of a mountain restaurant, no doubt with a gin and tonic in hand.
- The tour ends at the iconic Joes Beerhouse, where you have the option to enjoy dinner on your own or create your own evening programme.
- Joe's Beerhouse offers a late transfer service to your chosen accommodation.
Walvis Bay Catamaran trip
Enjoy pelican encounters, seal sightings and if you're lucky, spot leaping dolphins and shy turtles - all this and much more on an early morning dolphin and seal excursion.
Further information:
Itinerary:
- We depart each morning at 09:00 (check-in 08:30) from our jetty on the shores of Walvis Bay for an educational cruise through the bay in search of the Big 5: whales, dolphins, molas, leatherback turtles and seals.
- Over hot coffee and tea, our first route takes us past oyster farms to Pelican Point with its famous lighthouse and 60,000 resident fur seals.
- In season (July to November), larger mammals such as southern right whales and humpback whales are often seen, while other whale species such as grey whales and minke whales can be seen.
- Bottlenose dolphins, Heaviside's dolphins and dusky dolphins as well as mola molas and leatherback turtles are regularly spotted.
- Our three catamarans are accompanied by a variety of seabirds, including kittiwakes, hard-backed gulls, pelicans and Cape cormorants.
- Our tour from Pelican Point takes us past some of the most interesting ships and rigs in the bay as we serve fresh oysters with sparkling wine, savoury hors d'oeuvres and desserts as well as light drinks, soft drinks and water.
- We return to the waterfront around 12.30pm.
Enjoy pelican encounters, seal sightings and if you're lucky, spot leaping dolphins and shy turtles - all this and much more on an early morning dolphin and seal excursion.
Further information:
Itinerary:
- We depart each morning at 09:00 (check-in 08:30) from our jetty on the shores of Walvis Bay for an educational cruise through the bay in search of the Big 5: whales, dolphins, molas, leatherback turtles and seals.
- Over hot coffee and tea, our first route takes us past oyster farms to Pelican Point with its famous lighthouse and 60,000 resident fur seals.
- In season (July to November), larger mammals such as southern right whales and humpback whales are often seen, while other whale species such as grey whales and minke whales can be seen.
- Bottlenose dolphins, Heaviside's dolphins and dusky dolphins as well as mola molas and leatherback turtles are regularly spotted.
- Our three catamarans are accompanied by a variety of seabirds, including kittiwakes, hard-backed gulls, pelicans and Cape cormorants.
- Our tour from Pelican Point takes us past some of the most interesting ships and rigs in the bay as we serve fresh oysters with sparkling wine, savoury hors d'oeuvres and desserts as well as light drinks, soft drinks and water.
- We return to the waterfront around 12.30pm.
Swakopmund living desert tour (minimum 2 people)
Discover the fascinating flora and fauna of the Swakopmund coastal dune belt.
Further information:
Itinerary:
- To the untrained eye, the dunes are nothing more than a pile of sand, but your guide will show you a variety of creatures.
- Look out for palmato geckos, sand-diving lizards and the famous tokkie beetle hiding in the mist, as well as sidewinder snakes, spiders, scorpions and chameleons.
- The three-hour exploration tour ends with a short rollercoaster ride in the dunes and a marvellous view of the Atlantic Ocean from a high dune.
- The excursion starts daily at 8.30 am.
- Minimum number of participants: 2 people.
Your journey to Namibia —
Flights:
You will be able to choose your airline and flight times when you make your booking. This flight may include one or more stopovers. The stopover may be technical (without a change of aircraft) or transit (with a change of aircraft).
Luggage information
Luggage, meals and other services on board may be subject to an additional fee on certain airlines. It is possible to view details of luggage allowances when you choose your flights at the next stage of the booking process. If luggage is not included with your flight, please go to the airline's website before your departure to purchase your luggage for an additional fee.
For domestic flights, airlines do not always offer the option of reserving luggage. In this case, you will need to pay for it at the airport counter.
You will receive all the information you need to check in for your flights after you have made your reservation.
Your destinations —
Namibia
Located in southwestern Africa, Namibia boasts a well-developed infrastructure, some of the best tourist facilities in Africa, and an impressive list of breathtaking natural wonders. Visitors can explore the capital of Windhoek and discover the lovely coastal town of Swakopmund boasting remnants of the country’s German influence, reflected in the architecture, culture, cuisine and the annual Oktoberfest celebrations.
To properly appreciate this extraordinary country, you will have to venture out of the cities to explore the remarkable natural landscapes Namibia has to offer. These include: the impressive Fish River Canyon; the vast Etosha National Park teeming with abundant wildlife, such as lions, desert-adapted elephants and the Hartmann's Mountain Zebra; the hauntingly beautiful Kalahari Desert; and of course the Namib Desert stretching for over 2000 km along the magnificent Atlantic Coast. Namibia is an ideal destination for travellers seeking an unforgettable African experience in a uniquely beautiful untamed wilderness.
