2024 Namibia Highlights 14-Day Self-drive Tour (Gold)

Day 1

Arrival in Windhoek

We are picked up at the airport and transferred to Windhoek to The Weinberg Hotel. The hotel offers an outdoor pool and wellness area. There are also several restaurants on the premises with outdoor and indoor seating areas and the hotel’s Sky Lounge offers a beautiful panoramic first glimpse of your Namibian surroundings. 

(approx. 40 km, driving time +- 40 min.)

The Weinberg Hotel, Courtyard Upper Level Room (BB)

Day 2

Journey to the Kalahari semi-desert

In the morning, we are picked up from the hotel and transferred to the car rental service where we collect our rental car. We drive via Rehoboth and Kalkrand into the Kalahari. At sunset, we’ll take a nature tour in an open Jeep in the up-to-30m-high red dunes surrounded by typical Kalahari flora and fauna.

(approx. 200 km, driving time +- 2 hours)

Kalahari Red Dunes Lodge (FB + sundowner drive)

Day 3

Sesriem/Sossusvlei

We traverse the scenically spectacular Tsarisbergpass into the Namib Desert. The tasteful Hoodia Desert Lodge is surrounded by magnificent landscapes with a breathtaking view to the west over the red dunes. Our bungalow offers a beautiful view of the dry riverbed of the Tsauchab and the Namib Desert with its spectacular granite hills.

(approx. 340 km, driving time +- 5 hours)

Hoodia Desert Lodge (HB)

Day 4

Trip to Sossusvlei/Deadvlei

At sunrise, we embark on a unique and unforgettable excursion offered by the lodge. We drive in a four-wheel drive vehicle to the park entrance and along the the dry river, Tsauchab for approximately 65 km before reaching Sossusvlei. We enjoy a short hike through the thick sand to Deadvlei – a striking clay pan of bizarrely-shaped dead trees. The contrasting colours of the red dunes, the deep blue sky, white pan floor and dark camelthorn trees make for fantastic photography. By afternoon, we’re back at the lodge for some R & R.

Hoodia Desert Lodge (FB + excursion included)

Day 5

Drive to Swakopmund

We travel over the Gaub Pass and Kuiseb Canyon and then continue our drive across the central Namib Desert. On our way, we are sure to see ostriches and perhaps also springbok, zebras and oryx antelopes. Via Walvis Bay, we reach the coastal town of Swakopmund, where we spend the night in a hotel located alongside the ocean. Dinner reservation at a restaurant with sea view (optional).

(approx. 350 km, driving time +- 6 hours)

Strand Hotel Swakopmund, Luxury Room (BB)

Day 6

Swakopmund

Today, we take a remarkable boat trip in the lagoon of Walvis Bay. We will see hundreds of seals as well as dolphins, flamingos, and pelicans.

In the afternoon, we have the opportunity to partake in various other activities such as shopping, visiting the Museum, Aquarium or Kristall Galerie, strolling along the beach or quad biking in the dunes (optional).

(approx. 90 km, driving time +- 1 hour)

Strand Hotel Swakopmund, Luxury Room (BB) + catamaran trip

Day 7

Erongo Mountains

We bid the coast adieu and drive to the Erongo Mountains. To the north, we see the majestic Spitzkoppe, also called the Matterhorn of Namibia, which rises 600 metres above the plain. Extraordinary panoramic views of the Erongo Mountains can be enjoyed from our lodge. Hikes can be undertaken in this wildly beautiful landscape.

(approx. 210 km, driving time +- 3 hours)

Omurenga Lodge (HB)

Day 8

Journey to Etosha National Park

Today, we want to begin our drive to Etosha National Park as early as possible. Covering an area of almost 23 000 km2, it is one of the largest game reserves in the world and is considered one of the most outstanding game parks in Africa. Via Outjo, we drive to the Ongava Private Game Reserve. Our luxurious, grass-roofed chalet was beautifully built using local stone and offers a private veranda. The restaurant and bar offer a magnificent view of the plains and the waterhole, which is illuminated at night. In the afternoon, we could relax at the lodge, or we could drive to the Etosha Park for our first game viewing.

(approx. 310 km, driving time +- 4 hours)

Ongava Lodge, near the Anderson Gate (FB)

Day 9

Etosha National Park

Exciting game viewing awaits us for the next two days in the Etosha National Park. We can use this time to visit the various waterholes and observe animals such as giraffes, kudus, zebra, oryx antelopes, black-nosed impala, wildebeest, springbok, ostriches and with some luck, we may even see elephants, black rhino and lions.  The animals are attracted to the Etosha Pan, a huge depression that is rarely filled with rainwater - but at its edge, are waterholes where flocks of land animals and birds congregate all year round. We have the whole day to do our own game drives in the park. Should we only visit the park in the morning, we could book a guided game drive in Ongava's own game reserve for later in the day (optional). We are likely to encounter rhinos on this game drive.

(approx. 60 km + game drive in park to waterholes)

Ongava Lodge, near the Anderson Gate (FB)

Day 10

Drive through the eastern part of Etosha Park

We leave the Ongava Private Game Reserve and drive through the eastern part of Etosha Park to Mushara. On the way, we observe many animals at the waterholes, such as giraffes, various antelopes, ostriches and with a bit of luck, elephants and lions.

We leave the park by sunset at the latest. The elegant Mushara Outpost where we will be staying, is situated only a few kilometres from the park exit.

(approx. 180 km + game drives in park to waterholes)

Mushara Outpost, near the eastern gate exit (HB)

Day 11

Waterberg

We leave behind the wildlife of Etosha National Park and drive via Tsumeb and Otjiwarongo to the legendary Waterberg. Before we reach Tsumeb, we could visit Lake Otjikoto - one of only two natural lakes in Namibia - in which the Germans sank their cannons, before surrendering in 1915. The Waterberg is a natural paradise with unique vegetation. It is known for its rare animal species, colourful bird life and magnificent landscape.

(approx. 370 km, driving time +- 4.5 hours)

Waterberg Plateau Lodge (HB)

Day 12

Okonjima

We could take a morning hike to the Waterberg plateau, where we will see a dense collection of almost all the trees and shrubs that exist in Namibia (optional). The magnificent view of the vast savannah is our reward for the ascent. Afterwards, a short drive to Okonjima Bush Camp. The exclusive camp is situated in a 22 000-hectare private nature reserve in the middle of the Omboroko Mountains. We are accommodated in a cosy bungalow with amazing bush views. We are expected for lunch at the camp. In the afternoon, we’ll partake in the search for a leopard on a booked game drive.

(approx. 120 km, driving time +- 2 hours)

Okonjima Bush Camp (FB + game drive)

Day 13

Windhoek and surroundings

Our trip is slowly coming to an end. We drive back to Windhoek, where we drop off our rental car. Afterwards, we are transferred to the tasteful Omaanda Lodge. In the afternoon or tomorrow morning before our flight, we could partake in a last activity. We enjoy the unique ambience of this luxurious lodge as we round off our last evening in Namibia with a hearty dinner.

(approx. 230 km to Windhoek, driving time +- 3 hours + approx. 40 km from Windhoek, driving time +- 1 hour)

Omaanda Lodge (FB + 1 x activity + transfer)

Day 14

Departure

Today, our Namibian safari ends. We are transferred timeously from the lodge to the airport for our return flight.

(approx. 30 km, driving time +- 30 min)