Namibian Self Drive Safari

Day 1: Arrive in Windhoek

Arrive into Windhoek and transfer to your accommodation. The rest of the day is at leisure, with time to settle in after the flight, pick up any essentials, and get a first feel for the city. Overnight at Naankuse @ Utopia.

Day 2: Windhoek – Kalahari Desert

After breakfast, attend a briefing and collect your rental vehicle, then set off south towards the Kalahari. The drive eases you into Namibia’s scale quickly, with long horizons and increasingly open country as the red sands begin to show. Overnight at Kalahari Anib Lodge.

Day 3: Kalahari Desert – Lüderitz

Drive west towards the Atlantic coast, travelling from the Kalahari’s inland dryness to the cooler, windier coast. En route, you can detour to the Quiver Tree Forest and Giant’s Playground if you want a break from the road and a change of scenery. Overnight at Kairos Cottage.

Day 4: Lüderitz

Visit Kolmanskop, the abandoned diamond-mining settlement outside Lüderitz, where sand has drifted into former homes and public buildings. Spend time walking through the site at your own pace and taking in the eerie contrast between preserved interiors and the desert reclaiming the town. Overnight at Kairos Cottage.

Day 5: Lüderitz – Sesriem

Drive north into the Namib Desert towards Sesriem, with the scenery shifting again from coastal light and open plains to harder desert tones. This is a longer driving day, so the focus is on getting into position for the dunes and early starts that follow. Overnight at Desert Quiver Camp.

Day 6: Sesriem

Full day for the Namib’s key dune and desert sights, including Sossusvlei and Dead Vlei, plus time at Sesriem Canyon. The day is best shaped around the light and heat, with scope to cover the main viewpoints and leave breathing space for walking and photography. Overnight at Desert Quiver Camp.

Day 7: Sesriem – Swakopmund

Drive to the coast, stopping at Solitaire if you want a classic roadside pause, then continue via Walvis Bay and its lagoon before arriving in Swakopmund. The transition from desert to ocean air is immediate, and the afternoon is well suited to a relaxed arrival and a first wander around town. Overnight at Desert Jackal Guesthouse.

Day 8: Swakopmund

Day at leisure in Swakopmund. If you want to add activity, options include quad biking, living desert tours, or marine cruises from Walvis Bay, depending on what appeals and what you book locally. If not, it is a good day for a slower pace, cafés and coastline. Overnight at Desert Jackal Guesthouse.

Day 9: Swakopmund – Twyfelfontein

Head inland into Damaraland towards Twyfelfontein, leaving the coast behind and returning to drier, rockier terrain. The drive sets you up for Namibia’s desert geology and cultural sites, with time to arrive, check in, and get your bearings for the next day’s visits. Overnight at Twyfelfontein Country Lodge.

Day 10: Twyfelfontein – Etosha National Park

Travel towards Etosha, with the option to visit Twyfelfontein and nearby desert landmarks such as the Organ Pipes and Burnt Mountain, and potentially the Petrified Forest, before continuing on. It is a day of contrasts, moving from ancient rock landscapes into the wider wildlife circuit. Overnight at Toshari Lodge.

Day 11: Etosha National Park

Day at leisure for game viewing in Etosha using your own vehicle, working between waterholes and whatever areas are producing sightings on the day. If you prefer, you can also arrange a guided open-vehicle drive through the lodge, depending on availability. Overnight at Toshari Lodge.

Day 12: Etosha National Park – Okonjima Nature Reserve

Drive south to Okonjima Nature Reserve, known for conservation work and predator-focused experiences. Arrive with time to settle in and, if you choose, begin the reserve-side activities that make this stop distinct from the national park waterhole circuit. Overnight at Okonjima Plains Camp.

Day 13: Okonjima – Windhoek

Return to Windhoek, with the option to stop in Okahandja for craft markets and a final look at local shopping before the city. The afternoon is useful for packing, resetting, and keeping the final day uncomplicated. Overnight at Naankuse @ Utopia.

Day 14: Windhoek – Departure

Leisurely morning, then return your rental vehicle and transfer to Hosea Kutako International Airport for departure.

 

Price Includes:

• 13 x overnights with breakfast
• 7 x dinner (excluded in Windhoek, Lüderitz and Swakopmund)
• Double cab 4×4 (or similar) with standard insurance and GPS from Day 2 to Day 14
• Transfer from Hosea Kutako International Airport to Windhoek on Day 1
• Odyssey Namibia meet and greet on Day 2
• Transfer from the hotel to the car rental depot on Day 2
• Transfer from the car rental depot to Hosea Kutako International Airport on Day 14
• Information package

Price Excludes:

• Flights and airport taxes
• Travel insurance and visa fees
• Optional excursions and park entrance fees
• Personal expenses and souvenirs
• Fuel

NOTE: Prices vary according to season. Prices shown are per person based on two adults travelling in low season, sharing a twin/double room. Please ask us for the full itinerary and add-ons.

Our tours can be created just for you. Speak to our specialist Madri who was born in Namibia and is passionate to share her country with you – 0117 313 7070 or email africa@odyssey-world.co.uk