Book this 17-day classic Namibia self-drive safari from N$ 69,000. You drive from Windhoek to Etosha National Park, Damaraland, Swakopmund and Sossusvlei, then return to Windhoek. You see Etosha’s waterholes, the rock art at Twyfelfontein and the Namib Desert dunes.
People Tours & Safari CC (PTS) meets you in Windhoek, briefs you on your vehicle and route, and books every stay. You sleep in lodges, tented camps and campsites. This is a good route for first-time self-drivers in Africa.
Trip Summary
- Duration: 17 days, 16 nights
- Country: Namibia
- Start and end: Windhoek
- Accommodation: Lodges, a tented camp, guesthouse and campsites
- Highlights: Etosha National Park, Twyfelfontein, Swakopmund, Sossusvlei, NamibRand
- Price: From N$ 69,000
Where You Stay
- River Crossing Lodge, Windhoek: 1 night
- Otjiwa Eagle’s Rest Campsite, Otjiwarongo: 1 night
- Onguma Campsite, near Etosha National Park: 2 nights
- Etosha Safari Lodge, near Etosha National Park: 1 night
- Hoada Campsite, Damaraland: 1 night
- Etendeka Mountain Camp, Damaraland: 2 nights
- Mowani Campsite, Damaraland: 1 night
- Spitzkoppe Campsite: 1 night
- Brigadoon Boutique Guesthouse, Swakopmund: 2 nights
- Dead Valley Lodge, Sossusvlei: 1 night
- NamibRand Family Hideout, NamibRand: 2 nights
- Sandwerf, Dordabis: 1 night
17-Day Self-Drive Itinerary
Day 1: Arrive in Windhoek
You are transferred to River Crossing Lodge. In the afternoon you meet your vehicle. The PTS team briefs you on its equipment, the driving conditions, your route and safety.
Overnight: River Crossing Lodge
Day 2: Windhoek to Otjiwa
After breakfast you take a short driver safety course. You then learn where to buy food for your camping nights. Drive to Otjiwa Eagle’s Rest for your first night of camping.
Overnight: Otjiwa Eagle’s Rest Campsite
Days 3 and 4: Onguma, Etosha
Drive north to Onguma Reserve on the edge of Etosha National Park. You stay at Leadwood or Tamboti campsite. Each has its own site and a private ablution block.
Overnight: Onguma Campsite
Day 5: Etosha National Park
Drive into Etosha National Park and game drive across the park. Spend the night at Etosha Safari Lodge, just outside the park.
Overnight: Etosha Safari Lodge
Day 6: Etosha to Hoada, Damaraland
Drive to Hoada Campsite, on the edge of Damaraland before the Grootberg Pass. Each private campsite has its own ablution facilities, set among granite rocks.
Overnight: Hoada Campsite
Days 7 and 8: Etendeka Mountain Camp, Damaraland
Take the scenic drive to Etendeka Mountain Camp in the north of Damaraland. It is a remote eco tented camp with local guides. With luck you may see giraffes, mountain zebras, oryx and springbok.
Overnight: Etendeka Mountain Camp
Day 9: Mowani, Damaraland
Drive south into the middle of Damaraland to Mowani Campsite. The campsite now has a small plunge pool and a tuck shop. Visit the rock art at Twyfelfontein.
Overnight: Mowani Campsite
Day 10: Spitzkoppe
Drive south to Spitzkoppe, a group of granite domes in the plains. Climb to Bushman’s Paradise, a small basin between the domes. You can see San rock paintings there and look out over the plains.
Overnight: Spitzkoppe Campsite
Days 11 and 12: Swakopmund
Drive to Swakopmund on the Atlantic coast. The town has palm-lined streets and a seaside promenade. Stay two nights at Brigadoon Boutique Guesthouse.
Activities include boat trips around Pelican Point to see seals, dolphins and sometimes humpback whales. You can also go kayaking, quad biking on the dunes or on a living desert tour. Scenic flights run along the Skeleton Coast.
Overnight: Brigadoon Boutique Guesthouse
Day 13: Swakopmund to Sossusvlei
This is a long drive, and most of it is scenic. Stay at Dead Valley Lodge, just inside the Namib-Naukluft National Park entrance. You can reach the dunes an hour before sunrise and stay an hour after sunset.
Overnight: Dead Valley Lodge
Days 14 and 15: NamibRand Family Hideout
Drive a short way from Sossusvlei to NamibRand Family Hideout, inside the NamibRand International Dark Sky Reserve. It has only three private campsites, so the stars are easy to see.
Overnight: NamibRand Family Hideout
Day 16: Dordabis
Drive to Sandwerf for your last night in Namibia. It is a boutique lodge with a strong focus on sustainability. Relax and look back on the trip.
Overnight: Sandwerf
Day 17: Departure
Drive to Windhoek airport. Hand back your vehicle and complete your trip debrief at the airport before your flight home.
Book This Classic Namibia Self-Drive Safari
Book your 17-day classic Namibia self-drive safari with PTS. Send an enquiry with your travel dates and group size to get your quote.
Leave a Reply