Ultimate 19 days Namibia self drive - camping/accommodation

Day notes

Day 1:  Windhoek

• You will be met by the car rental company representative on arrival and transferred to their offices in Windhoek to complete all rental procedures
• You will then meet with our representative to hand over your travel documents
• The remainder of the day can be spent relaxing at your own leisure
• For dinner tonight, you can head into town for a bite to eat at one of Windhoek’s well known restaurants

Day notes

Day 2: Kalahari Namibia

Windhoek – Kalahari (245km - approximately 3 to 4 hours)

• After breakfast, you can still pop into town for anything you might need and then depart heading south from Windhoek to the red sand dunes of the Kalahari
• Spend the remainder of the day at leisure in this beautiful setting
• Optional activities here include game and nature drives as well as a Bushman experience

Day notes

Day 3: Fish River Canyon

(Kalahari – Fish River Canyon  440km - approximately 7 to 8 hours)

• Head south via Mariental and Keetmanshoop to the Karas region, the Fish River Canyon area
• Detour en-route to Giant’s Playground and Quiver Tree Forest, a beautiful site where large aloes grow between rocks
• If time permits, visit the Fish River view point at sunset to end the day

Day notes

Days 4 - 5: Luderitz

Fish River Canyon – Lüderitz (385km - approximately 5 to 6 hours)

• Enjoy a morning canyon view before heading west through harsh but beautiful terrain which changes to wide open desert plains as you make your way to the coast
• Your drive will take you via Aus, where you may be lucky to view the wild desert horses in the area
• 1 full day is set aside to enjoy the historic town of Lüderitz and visit the amazing Kolmanskop Ghost Town
• Lunches and dinners can be enjoyed at any of the local restaurants in town

Day notes

Days 6 - 7: Sossusvlei - Deadvlei

Lüderitz – Sossusvlei (505km - approximately 7 to 8 hours)

• After breakfast, you will depart to the “sea of sand” backtracking to Aus and then heading north via Helmeringhausen
• Wake up early to head into the park just before sunrise
• Spend the whole day in the beautiful Sossusvlei area, exploring the highlights: Sossusvlei,  Dead Vlei, Dune 45, Big Daddy, Elim Dune and the Sesriem Canyon
• Return to camp for lunch or arrange to take some lunch along to enjoy in the dunes and return late afternoon for a well-earned rest
• Optional extra activities: Guided Sossusvlei excursion, Hot air balloon safari, Nature drives

Day notes

Days 8 - 9: Swakopmund, Walvis Bay

Sossusvlei – Swakopmund (350km - approximately 5 to 6 hours)

• Depart after breakfast and head north to Solitaire, then west crossing the Tropic of Capricorn, through the Gaub and Kuiseb Canyons via the Namib Gravel Plains to the coast
• Either via Walvis Bay to Swakopmund, or (recommended) detour via Ganab to the Welwitschia Plains and Moon Landscape
• The Namibian coastline is generally known as The Skeleton Coast due to the barren areas, ship wrecks and, in days gone by, whale skeletons left on the beach
• 1 full day is set aside for this lovely area where Swakopmund and Walvis Bay offer a wide range of activities such as: Dolphin cruise, Sandwich Harbour excursion (a real Skeleton Coast experience), Dune quad biking, Sand boarding, Sea kayaking, Lots more…
• Lunches and dinners can be enjoyed at any of the many great cafés or restaurants overlooking the sea

Day notes

Day 10: Damaraland

Swakopmund – Damaraland (445km - approximately 7 to 8 hours)

• Head north along the Skeleton Coast, via Henties Bay to visit the Cape Cross seal colony. Along the way, stop at the Lichen Fields as well as the ship wreck between the colourful small town of Wlotskasbaken and Henties Bay
• Backtrack to Henties Bay and head inland through wide open plains to Uis, then north to the Twyfelfontein area
• Visit to Namibia’s Open Air Museum, the Twyfelfontein Rock Engravings as well as the interesting Organ Pipes rock formations and Burnt Mountain
• Visit the Damara Living Museum for a hint of culture

Day notes

Day 11: Kaokoveld

Damaraland – Opuwo (340km - approximately 5 to 6 hours)

• Depart the Twyfelfontein area and head north via Palmwag, crossing the Hoanib River, up and over Joubert Pass to Opuwo, the centre of Kaokoland
• Opuwo is a small typical African town, where a range of different people live, from the traditional Himba tribes to Herero, Damara and Owambo cultures
• Along the way stop at various villages to interact and photograph the local people
• Depending on arrival time, enjoy a Himba village visit this afternoon. It is recommended to arrange a local guide to go with you (lodge reception can assist with this)

Day notes

Days 12 - 13: Epupa Falls

Opuwo – Epupa Falls (180km - approximately 3 hours)

• Today takes you way north to the border with Angola, the beautiful Epupa Falls
• 2 nights, a full day is set aside here to visit some traditional Himba villages (not touristic … they live there permanently), view the falls and hike along the Kunene River
• Plan a morning visit to 1 or 2 authentic Himba villages as this is when there is the most “activity”

Day notes

Day 14: Etosha West

Epupa Falls - Etosha (west) (375km - approximately 5 hours)

• Depart this morning after breakfast and backtrack to Opuwo before heading east and then south towards the west side of Etosha
• Enter the park at the Galton Gate
• Arrival here will be in the afternoon and if you wish, join an afternoon game drive with a lodge guide or enjoy the waterhole and hide at leisure to end the day

Day notes

Day 15: Etosha National Park

Etosha (west) – Etosha (south) a full days game drive through the park

• After breakfast, a full morning game drive to Okaukuejo
• Set up camp and then you can return into the park for an afternoon drive or arrange with the lodge for a game drive (optional extra)
• At Okaukuejo, I suggest you pop in at the local shop to purchase some drinks and snacks and most importantly, a map of Etosha which will show you all the waterholes in the park
• Enjoy the waterhole inside the park which is floodlit at night
• Etosha is one of Africa's great game parks. With 114 species of mammal and 340 species of birds you are sure to see a great variety of wildlife on your safari

Day notes

Days 16 - 17: Etosha East

Etosha (south) – Etosha (east)  a full days game drive through the park

• From one side to the other side of the park is a full day game drive as you head slowly east stopping at numerous waterholes along the way
• Take a slow drive in the morning and then enjoy a snack or lunch overlooking one of the waterholes before continuing on through the park to the eastern side
• 1 full day is set aside for game viewing, either all day or alternate with morning and afternoon drives. These are self-drive game drives but you can arrange at the lodge to go with their open safari vehicle and guide (optional extra)

Day notes

Day 18: Okonjima Nature Reserve

Etosha (east) – Okonjima (315km - approximately 4 to 5 hours)

• Head south via Otavi and Otjiwarongo to Okonjima, which is home to the AfriCat Foundation.
• Enjoy some time relaxing or enjoy a walking trail in the area

Day notes

Day 19: Your last day of this amazing adventure

Okonjima – Windhoek (225km - approximately 3 to 4 hours)

• Head back to Windhoek today, where the vehicle is dropped off and your holiday comes to an end
• Transfer to the airport to catch your departure flight. (Keep in mind that you need to be at the airport 2 hours prior and the airport is still a 45 minute to 1 hour drive from town)