Are you considering doing a self drive safari in Namibia? Our friend Astrid from @astridvanmele wrote this complete guide on everything you need to know to plan the perfect trip to Namibia.
Find a map you can use on your trip at the end of this post!
NOTE: the prices in this article are per person, based on a trip for two people.
SELF DRIVE SAFARI IN NAMIBIA – GOOD TO KNOW
Best time to visit Namibia
Namibia is a great year-round destination, though the temperatures can vary greatly according to the time of the year and regions. From October to May it is summertime in Namibia. During this time of the year, the average temperature during the day is about 30°C and 20°C at night. The winter months (June to September) are still very pleasant with day temperatures around 20°C. However, overnight frost can occur. Winter is Namibia’s peak season, which means you’ll need to plan well in advance.
Getting around
The best way to explore Namibia is by rental car, preferably a 4×4. If you want to get the full self drive safari in Namibia experience, make sure to get a 4×4 with rooftop tent! Good to know: many Namibian rental companies require an international driver’s license.
Currency
The official currency is the Namibian Dollar (NAD), however, you can also pay with South African Rand (ZAR) which is equal to NAD.
Tips
If you want to stay connected during your stay in Namibia, buy an MTC sim card at Windhoek Airport. The network coverage in Namibia is surprisingly good.
BEST NAMIBIA ITINERARY
Day 1: Arrival at Windhoek – Düsternbrook
Because you probably had a long flight, it’s best to take it easy on the first day. After picking up your rental car, drive on to Düsternbrook Guest Farm which is about a 1-hour drive. This beautiful lodge is the perfect stay for your first night in Namibia. Here you can enjoy the beautiful sceneries and spot a lot of animals. The farm also offers some excursions. We opted for a leopard and cheetah feeding, which was quite a thrilling experience. The cheetahs even climbed on the hood of the jeep!
Where to stay: Düsternbrook Guest Farm
Cost:
- 4×4 rental car with rooftop tent, including camping equipment, all-in insurance, no excess & one airport shuttle (11 days): $530 / €475 / 9100 NAD
- 1 night at Düsternbrook Guest Farm, dinner & breakfast included: $50 / €45 / 860 NAD
- Leopard and cheetah feeding: $29 / €25 / 500 NAD
Day 2: Erindi Private Game Reserve
Erindi Private Game Reserve is the perfect place for a safari! This gigantic protected reserve is home to many wildlife, including elephants, lions, rhinos and so much more. Thanks to its many conservation initiatives, Erindi is a true leader in ecotourism. There are a lot of activities you can do in the reserve, including self drives, guided game drives, cheetah walks, and so on. We did both a self drive and guided game drive.
Where to stay: When visiting Erindi you have to spend at least one night in their accommodations, no day visitors are allowed. We stayed at Camp Elephant. When staying at this campsite you’ll be provided with a private bathroom, an outdoor kitchenette and a patio with a braai (BBQ). There are two swimming pools and a shop where you can buy basic necessities. Within walking distance, you’ll find the waterhole where many animals gather at night to have a drink!
Costs:
- Self drive in Erindi: $17 / €15 / 300 NAD per car per day
- 1 night at Camp Elephant: $38 / €33 / 645 NAD
Day 3: Erindi Private Game Reserve – Spitzkoppe
Time to start your day early and go on a guided game drive! A well-trained guide will tell you all about the reserve and the wildlife you will come across. Guides can also track some animals with a tracking collar, including lions, which means the chances of spotting lions is way higher. We spotted a total of five adult lions and four cubs!
After the guided game drive you can choose to go on a self drive again until the afternoon. When it’s time to leave Erindi, head to Spitzkoppe. Surrounded by a landscape of flat desert you’ll find this impressive rocky landscape of approximately 700 million years old. With a height of 1784m above sea level, Spitzkoppe is also called the ‘Matterhorn of Namibia’. The landscape of Spitzkoppe is perfect for hiking, to spot prehistoric cave paintings and it’s a perfect location for stargazing!
Where to stay: The official campsite of Spitzkoppe. The campsite is super basic but it’s situated in the heart of the most beautiful landscape, it’s quite an unforgettable experience.
Costs:
- Guided game drive in Erindi: $24 / €20 / 400 NAD
- 1 night at Spitzkoppe campsite: $11 / €9,50 / 190 NAD
Day 4: Spitzkoppe – Skeleton Coast – Walvis Bay
Rise and shine, baby! An incredible place to watch the sunrise at Spitzkoppe is the Rock Arch. From this natural arch, you’ll be rewarded with some breathtaking views.
After breakfast, it’s time to head to the Skeleton Coast. This 500km long coastal strip stretches all the way from the Angolan border to the town of Swakopmund. It’s got its name from the many whales and shipwrecks that have been stranded here because of the strong and unpredictable currents. Make sure to visit the Zeila shipwreck that was stranded near the town of Hentiesbaai in 2008.
A perfect place to stay the night is the cozy town of Walvis Bay (Walvisbaai). This town is the perfect place to go whale and dolphin watching, but it’s also known for its gigantic lagoon which is home to thousands of flamingos! Another great place to visit at Walvis Bay is Pelican Point, which is only accessible by 4×4. Here you can find up to 50.000 Cape Fur seals!
Where to stay: Airbnb Wind Beggars Lagoon View. This Airbnb is situated about 2 minutes walking from the lagoon!
Costs: 2 nights at Airbnb: $34 / €30 / 575 NAD
Day 5: Sandwich Harbour
A must-do when you’re in Walvis Bay is a trip by 4×4 to Sandwich Harbour. What once was a commercial port is now taken over by the gigantic dunes. You can still see some of the old houses peeping through the sand! While driving through the desert you’ll see many ostriches, antelopes and jackals. The top of the dunes offers a breathtaking view over the landscape where the ocean and desert mingle.
Where to stay: Airbnb Wind Beggars Lagoon View
Costs: Sandwich Harbour tour with Levo Tours: $100 / €90 / 1735 NAD
Day 6: Namib-Naukluft National Park: Dune 45
It’s time to head to one of the main reasons why people visit Namibia: the Namib-Naukluft National Park. This NP can be found in the Namib desert, which stretches over a length of 2.000km, all the way from the Angolan to the South African border! Popular attractions can be found in the NP, including Sossusvlei, Deadvlei and Dune 45.
When visiting the NP, your base will probably be the village of Sesriem. Driving here from Walvis Bay will take you about 4,5 hours so be sure to have your playlist ready! About 80kms from Sesriem you’ll pass the cute village of Solitaire, which is perfect for a stopover. This small desert town seems to be taken straight out of a Western movie and consists of a gas station, a shop, a bakery and a café. The bakery is well known for its delicious apple pie, so give it a try when you pass by!
About 45kms from Sesriem you’ll find the first main attraction in the Namib-Naukluft National Park: Dune 45. It’s one of the few dunes you are allowed to climb and is about 170 meters high. During sunset, the views of Dune 45 are magnificent, since one side of the dune is completely covered in its own shadow.
Where to stay: Sesriem Oshana Campsite. This campsite is located inside the gates of the NP, which means you don’t have to wait for the gates to open and are ahead of the crowds! You’re provided with a private bathroom and an outdoor kitchenette. In the main area, there is a restaurant, a bar and a swimming pool.
Costs:
- 2 nights at Sesriem Oshana Campsite: $45 / €40 / 720 NAD
- Entrance fee Namib-Naukluft National Park: $4,5 / €4 / 77 NAD + €0,50 per car per day
Day 7: Namib-Naukluft National Park: Deadvlei, Big Daddy, Sesriem Canyon
Another early day in Namibia! To get ahead of the crowds, try to leave at 5 am for Deadvlei. This will be one of the main highlights of your trip! The Deadvlei is a huge clay pan that used to be a swamp many centuries ago. The swamp slowly dried out, which caused the trees to die. Because of the dry and harsh environment, the trees did not decompose. Nowadays you can still find the trees in the Deadvlei that are up to 900 years old!
Big Daddy is situated next to Deadvlei and is the tallest dune in the Sossusvlei area (325m). The climb takes about an hour and is for the real die-hards!
By noon, make sure you head back to the campsite to go for a refreshing dip in the pool. Temperatures can rise up to 50°C in the desert!
Where to stay: Sesriem Oshana Campsite
Day 8: Helicopter flight over Namib Desert
It’s time to work on that bucket list! A scenic helicopter flight over the Namib desert is an unforgettable experience. A great operator to go with is Sossusvlei Lodge Adventure Centre, which is located in the heart of Sesriem. The duration and prices of the flight depend on the route you choose to fly over. We opted for the cheapest route, which is a 30 min fly over Sesriem Canyon and Elim Dune. Upon request, they can remove the helicopter doors.
After your helicopter flight it’s time to pack up and head to Fish River Canyon. Driving from Sesriem to Fish River Canyon takes you about 6,5 hours. Therefore, an overnight stop near Helmeringhausen is a great idea.
Where to stay: Airbnb Barby Guest Farm is a wonderful place to stay on your way to Fish River Canyon. It’s a bit basic and extremely remote (meaning: no cell service), but Leslie is one of the nicest people you’ll ever meet and he makes you feel right at home!
Costs:
- Helicopter flight (30mins): $190 / €170 / 3275 NAD
- 1 night stay at Airbnb Barby Guest Farm, dinner & breakfast included: $34 / €30 / 580 NAD
Day 9: Fish River Canyon
Another highlight of your trip is Fish River Canyon. It’s the second-largest canyon in the world after the Grand Canyon in the USA! Unless the Grand Canyon, Fish River Canyon is still one of the best-kept secrets in the world. You can do several excursions in the canyon, including guided hikes, canyon drives, cycling tours and so on.
Where to stay: If you ask me, Fish River Lodge is the best place ever to stay in Namibia! This lodge is located right on the edge of the canyon and offers breathtaking views. In the main area, you’ll find a large terrace with a rim pool that overlooks this 500 million-year-old geological wonder. Make sure to arrive as early as possible because trust me, you’ll never want to leave this place.
Costs: 1 night stay at Fish River Lodge, 3-course dinner & breakfast included: $125 / €110 / 2195 NAD
Day 10: Quivertree Forest
After a 2,5 hour drive, you’ll arrive at another natural wonder Namibia has to offer. The Quivertree Forest comprises about 250 quiver trees, which can only be found in southern Namibia and northern South Africa. The name refers to the use of the branches by the bushmen to make quivers. The forest was declared a national monument of Namibia in 1995.
About 3km from the Quivertree Forest you can visit the Giant’s Playground. This extraordinary place consists of dolerite rocks stacked on top of each other, looking like a giant has played with them. In reality, it’s the result of hardened lava erosion.
Where to stay: The best place to stay when visiting the Quivertree Forest and Giant’s Playground is the Quivertree Forest Rest Camp. This guest farm is located right near the Quivertree Forest and is home to some tame wild animals, including cheetahs. All guests can attend the daily cheetah feeding and are allowed in their enclosures while being fed!
Costs:
- 1 night stay at Quivertree Forest Rest Camp, dinner & breakfast included: $57 / €50 / 950 NAD
- Entrance fee Quivertree Forest and Giant’s Playground: $6 / €5 / 100 NAD
Day 11: Windhoek
Time to head back to the place where it all started: Windhoek (a 4,5-hour drive from Quiver Tree Forest). In Windhoek, you can pay a visit to the Christ Church which looks a lot like a cute gingerbread house.
A great place to enjoy your last evening in Namibia is The Stellenbosch Wine Bar & Bistro. This charming restaurant simply offers the best food in town and is very affordable.
Where to stay: A top choice to spend your last night is Arebbusch Travel Lodge. This hotel is located right out of Windhoek town center, next to a market where handmade furniture and souvenirs are made. Perfect for some souvenir shopping! The hotel offers a large swimming pool, a restaurant, bar and 24-hour reception.
Costs: 1 night stay at Arebbusch Travel Lodge, breakfast included: $22 / €19,5 / 370 NAD.
TOTAL COSTS BREAKDOWN
- Flights: cheap direct flights often depart from Germany. We flew directly from Frankfurt to Windhoek for only $415 / €370 / 7090 NAD return!
- Car rental: $530 / €475 / 9100 NAD
- Gas per liter: $0,70 / €0,65 / 12 NAD
- Accommodation: $370 / €330 / 6320 NAD
- Activities (incl. scenic helicopter flight): $370 / €330 / 6320 NAD
- Food & drinks: about $17 / €15 / 290 NAD per day
= approximately $2200 / €1950 / 37.500 NAD
ABOUT ME
Hi, I’m Astrid! I’m a Belgian globetrotter with a huge passion for photography. With my blog, I hope to inspire others to travel to places they’ve never really thought of before.
These destinations often surprise you in the best possible way! Did you like this blog and are you hungry for more? Then follow me on Instagram (@astridvanmele).
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