From the towering sand dunes at Sossusvlei to the wild expanses of Etosha National Park, the best way to experience all the drama of Namibia’s rugged landscape is by getting behind the wheel, on a self-drive tour.
Namibia is a long thin country hinged to South Africa in the South and Botswana in the East. On a self-drive tour you can enjoy largely empty roads (apart from perhaps the odd elephant…) and spectacular scenery ranging from the Kalahari, one of the world’s oldest deserts to the shimmering panorama of Fish River Canyon.
The simple network of roads is well maintained and easy to navigate. Main highways are tar with a speed limit of 120mph and services are efficient. You drive on the left, signposts are in English and passengers are expected to wear front and rear seatbelts, just as in the UK. With a population of only a couple of million, traffic is light. All self-drive tours are super flexible so you can stop as you please.
All sounds very straightforward doesn’t it? Then add the thrill factor – tarred main roads give way to gravel tracks, viewpoints along steep mountain passes and windswept shores tempt you out of your vehicle. You might not see another car for miles leaving you and your travel companions to really relish the unspoilt African wilderness.
Planning
The key to a successful and stress-free self-drive is in the planning. Namibia is a big country and the danger is to try and do too much in one trip. You need to allow sufficient time to relax and really enjoy the scenery, the wildlife and the beautiful lodges and camps.
Using expert knowledge and our experience, we can put together a tailor-made itinerary which balances all these aspects to perfection and takes into account your budget.
Although you may be on a self-drive tour you don’t want to spend all your time behind the wheel – at Etosha National Park, you can stay in the lap of luxury at Ongava Lodge where you can abandon your wheels and enjoy guided game drives in the National Park with an experienced ranger.
The vehicle
Our self-drive tours come with a 4×4 vehicle, equipped with cell phone and cool box (essential!) a detailed route map and 24 hour support. Since many of the roads are straight and empty the majority of driving isn’t too challenging. The car is delivered to your guest house for you. Many of the roads can be driven safely with a saloon car but in order to ensure maximum comfort (and a real African sense of adventure) we recommend a 4×4.
Families
Namibia is a great prospect for adventurous families. However it is not the best choice for families with young children because the distances can be quite great (4-5 hours average on driving days).
Children over around eight/nine years old, and certainly teenagers, will find Namibia more enthralling. There’s a very low malarial risk and a great variety of activities to enjoy as a family, from game drives in Etosha to sand dune surfing. You can visit community and conservation projects, for instance the Cheetah Conservation Fund Education Centre, getting close to the cats while the wild coast has seals and shipwrecks galore. You can cruise to see dolphins and whales from Walvis Bay, or see ancient rock art or a petrified forest.
Older children cope better on longer drives – they can plug in an ipod and enjoy taking pictures and video too, or keeping a diary of their travels.
There is some fantastic family friendly accommodation in Namibia including self catering options and bed and breakfast style lodges. Many of the lodges have pools perfect for afternoon down-time and large gardens or grounds to run around in.
Highlights
Etosha National Park
One of Africa’s most famous parks and Namibia’s first conservation area. Plentiful waterholes within Etosha means that as the dry season progresses you can see exceptional game by simply staking out a waterhole. All the big game converges including elephants, rhino, buffalo along with the big cats. Etsoha is well sign posted and has good roads if you do want to self-drive. However in order to get the best experience we recommend staying in one of the upmarket lodges and going on game drives with a guide.
Sossusvlei
Deep in the Namib-Naukluft National Park the soaring dunes of Sossusvlei are a must-see. Located on the Tsauchab River the dunes are among the tallest on earth and have formed spectacular classic desert formations over millons of years. A visit to the dunes at sunrise or sunset combines well with a stop at Sesriem Canyon where cool pools of water refresh weary travellers.
The Kalahari Desert
Offering a complete contrast to the sand dunes of the Namib Desert, the vegetated dunes of the Kalahari support a fascinating diversity of wildlife.
Skeleton Coast
The remote north west corner of Namibia known as Kaokoveld and home to the Himba people offers windswept beaches strewn with shipwrecks and seals. You can get a taste of the Skeleton coast by driving north from Swakopmund to the large Cape Fur Seal colony at Cape Cross before turning towards Damaraland.
Swakopmund
Namibia’s adventure capital and the springboard for many trips and excursions, this seaside resort is beautifully manicured and has a lovely relaxed atmosphere. Adrenalin charged activities include parachuting, quad biking and dune surfing. Neighbouring Walvis Bay is the best place to take a boat trip to see seals and dolphins in the lagoon. Southern Right Whales are in season in October and November, and occasionally humpbacks. You can also hire kayaks and paddle out towards to Pelican Point and Bird Island. 4×4 vehicles can also drive around the lagoon.
Damaraland
This beautiful landscape is home to the famous desert adapted elephants, incredible red rock formations at Spitzkoppe and ancient Bushman art, the most famous examples of which can be viewed at Brandberg Massif.
Fish River Canyon
Fish River Canyon is an impressive sight – measuring 27 km wide and 550m deep it is officially the world’s second largest canyon. You can hike in the canyon during the cooler months (May to September) but most people content themselves with marvelling at this natural spectacle from the various viewpoints and spending a night on the edge!
Waterberg Plateau
This dramatic sandstone plateau with fresh water springs and woodlands is a hikers paradise. There is a good density of wildlife including eland, sable, roan, buffalo and rhino (black and white). You can also visit the Cheetah Conservation Fund Education Centre where you can see resident cheetahs, learn about the programme and see feeding.
Caprivi Strip / Zambezi Region
In the far north east of the country, offering waterways and abundant birdlife, this narrow panhandle which juts out east from Namibia was officially renamed the Zambezi Region in 2013 but is also known as the Caprivi Panhandle or the Okavango Strip. It’s a unique area with five protected parks and reserves boasting big game. It feels more like Botswana than Namibia and it certainly takes some getting to. You can do a circular Windhoek to Windhoek self-drive with time in Caprivi, coming back via the Kalahari Desert in Botswana (15 day itinerary) or a one way Windhoek to Livingstone in about the same amount of time. If this is of interest then please give us a call.
To see a sample self-drive tour of Namibia including stays in Etosha, on the Skeleton Coast, in the Kalahari Desert, at Sossusvlei and in the Fish River Canyon and to see some of the accommodation we offer please click here.
By Sara White
