Namibian landscapes 13-day self-drive adventure

Windhoek

Day 1: Welcome to Namibia

Arrival at Windhoek International Airport, Namibia. Our local representative at the car rental office will welcome you. They will provide you with your travel documents, explain the trip and help you pick up your rental vehicle.

If your arrival time is after 17h00 we recommend a transfer to your hotel and collection of the vehicle the following day.

Okahandja - Okonjima

Day 2: In search of leopards

After breakfast at the hotel, your Namibian journey begins. You’ll hit the road to Okahandja. Here, you can stop to visit the local woodcarvers’ market before continuing north to your lodge.

In the afternoon, join a guided group game drive with other guests at the lodge. You’ll be going in search of leopards across the lodge’s private reserve (included). In the evening settle down for a delicious dinner before getting a good night’s rest at your safari lodge.

Driving time today will be approximately 4.5 hours.

Etosha National Park

Day 3: The wildlife of Etosha

After breakfast at the lodge, you can choose to join an optional extra activity. Otherwise, you’ll continue your journey north towards Etosha National Park. On arrival, check in at your lodge located just outside the park.

In the afternoon, depart for a self-drive safari in Etosha National Park (entrance fee to be paid at reception). Etosha is a wildlife haven with many water holes where the animals gather and can be easily observed. The park covers more than 20,000 km2 and is home to 114 species of mammal and 340 of birds. Return to your lodge before sunset, when the park closes. You also have the option of booking a guided game drive with the lodge if you prefer (at an extra cost).

Driving time today will be approximately 4.5 hours.

Etosha National Park

Day 4: Animal encounters

This morning, you’ll take a shared guided safari through Etosha National Park with the lodge team. The afternoon is left free for you to relax at the lodge, head out to explore independently or book an extra excursion with the lodge.

Etosha means ‘great white space’ and this is the largest park in Namibia. The great mix of wildlife here is attracted by the perennial water sources, as well as man-made watering holes. During the dry season, they gather around these areas providing great photographic opportunities. The park's vegetation is varied, from dense bush to wide open plains, so it attracts an exceptional diversity of wildlife. 

Today, you'll drive around 150-200km.

Etosha National Park

Day 5: Crossing the national park

Another exciting day of wildlife viewing is waiting for you today. No game drive is the same, with each watering hole holding new surprises and attracting different animal species that you may not have seen on previous game drives.

You’ll cross the park from east to west on this self-drive excursion, stopping at different waterholes along the way. On your travels, you could encounter elephants, kudus, oryx, giraffes and zebras. You will exit the park through the Anderson Gate and check in at your new lodge just outside the gate in time for dinner.

You'll be driving around 200km throughout the day today. 

Twyfelfontein

Day 6: Discover a petrified forest

Today’s travels take you further west to the rugged Twyfelfontein area. On the way, you can stop to visit the petrified forest (entrance fee to be paid on site), where you’ll find the fossilised remains of tree trunks from some 260 million years ago. In the afternoon you’ll check in at your luxury camp for the night on a bank of the Aba Huab River, shaded by mopane trees.

Today's driving time will be around five hours.

Twyfelfontein - Aba-huab

Day 7: In search of desert elephants

After breakfast, join a guided group excursion from the lodge in search of native elephants. Desert elephants are not a separate species of elephant but are African savannah elephants, which have adapted to extremely arid conditions. Once widespread in Africa, they are now found only in Namibia and Mali. Their population in Damaraland and Kaokoland is estimated at only 250-325. One characteristic that differentiates them from other elephants is that they walk long distances each day (sometimes more than 70km) to look for food and water.

In the afternoon, you might like to visit Twyfelfontein, a UNESCO World Heritage site and one of the largest and most important concentrations of rock art in Africa (self-drive or guided with an extra fee).

Swakopmund

Day 8: Journey to the sea

After breakfast, you’ll head south to Uis, a small mining town with a wonderful view of Brandberg, Namibia's highest peak. You can also take a detour to Cape Cross, which is home to one of the biggest seal colonies along the coast (entrance fee to be paid). Continue travelling south to Swakopmund, the small coastal town where you’ll check in at your lodge.

Today's driving time will be around 5.5 hours. 

Swakopmund

Day 9: The Skeleton Coast

Swakopmund is a popular seaside holiday town in Namibia. Founded in 1892, it was the main German port in South West Africa and is often described as being more German than Germany. Now a resort, Swakopmund is the capital of the tourist region of the Skeleton Coast. The town has a unique mix of German and Namibian influences, with colonial buildings and a refreshing sea breeze to enjoy. Spend the day sightseeing, shopping, strolling on the beach or choosing from optional activities such as scenic flights, quad biking or a boat cruise.

Sesriem

Day 10: The Sea of Sand

This morning, your journey continues south into the heart of the incredible Namib Desert. Known as the Sea of Sand, this remarkable landscape is a UNESCO World Heritage site.

After a long drive, you'll check in at your desert lodge and relax. Enjoy a drink at the bar, refresh yourself with a swim in the pool with its stunning view over the magnificent landscape and then settle down for dinner accompanied by a beautiful sunset.

Today's driving lasts approximately seven hours.

Sossusvlei - Dead Vlei

Day 11: Sunrise in the Namib

You’ll have an early start this morning, departing the lodge about 45 minutes before sunrise. This means you’ll be able to enter the national park for sunrise and witness the spectacular sight of some of the highest dunes in the world bathed in the morning colours of the Namib Desert.

Later, visit the Sesriem Canyon, a natural gorge carved millions of years ago by the once-mighty Tsauchab River. Previously inaccessible because it was part of the forbidden diamond zone, Sossusvlei was opened to the public in 1977 and is one of the oldest deserts in the world. 

Today, you will drive approximately 200 km. 

Windhoek

Day 12: Return to Windhoek

Before departing for the drive back to Windhoek why not spoil yourself with an optional hot air balloon or helicopter flight over the desert just after sunrise? After breakfast, travel back through an ever-changing landscape via the Khomashochland mountain range. Later, check in at your lodge on the periphery of Windhoek in time for dinner.

Driving time today is around 5.5 hours.

Windhoek International Airport

Day 13: Homeward bound

It’s time to say goodbye to Namibia. After breakfast, drive to Windhoek International Airport and return your rental car before your flight home.