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Trip Report

Namibia Itinerary Self Drive

I invite you to explore my Namibia luxury safari guide. Welcome to exploring my Namibia Itinerary 10 days road-trip in that beautiful country. A must-visit for all nature lovers.

  • Sossusvlei+ 48
  • Windhoek
  • Windhoek
  • Namibia Itinerary Self Drive
karo
About Me:The adamant wanderer. I started traveling with my parents as a kid and caught the vagabond bug. I've been traveling ever since. read more

AfricaNamibia10 days / November 2015

Highs & Lows

Sunrise on top of Dune 45 Sossusvlei

The weather was getting very hot (it's very hot in Namibia between October to March)

Itinerary Overview

  • 1 Night: Windhoek
    Spitzkoppe Namibia, Deadvlei, Dune 45 Sossusvlei and Etosha National Park - top places to visit in Namibia
  • 2 Nights: Namibia
    Visiting Etosha National Park
  • 2 Nights: Spitzkoppe
    One of the most unforgettable evenings of this trip. Perfect for antisocial freaks who like the mountains.
  • 1 Night: Swakopmund
    Cape Cross Seal Colony - cute but stinky
  • 3 Nights: Sossusvlei
    Sunrise on top of Dune 45, Deadvlei
  • 1 Night: Windhoek
    Just a place to stay for a night before an early flight the next day
Windhoek - Spitzkoppe Namibia, Deadvlei, Dune 45 Sossusvlei and Etosha National Park - top places to visit in Namibia
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Windhoek Spitzkoppe Namibia, Deadvlei, Dune 45 Sossusvlei and Etosha National Park - top places to visit in Namibia

Windhoek - Spitzkoppe Namibia, Deadvlei, Dune 45 Sossusvlei and Etosha National Park - top places to visit in Namibia - null
Windhoek - Spitzkoppe Namibia, Deadvlei, Dune 45 Sossusvlei and Etosha National Park - top places to visit in Namibia - null

Our flight arrived quite late and we needed a place to stay for one night. Windhoek itself isn't a particularly interesting place to visit. If your flight arrives early enough, I'd recommend skipping it. 

Namibia - Visiting Etosha National Park
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Namibia Visiting Etosha National Park

Namibia - Visiting Etosha National Park - null
Namibia - Visiting Etosha National Park - null
Namibia - Visiting Etosha National Park - null11+

OMG we are back in Africa! Let the vacations in Namibia started! We arrived in the late afternoon as we drove here straight from Windhoek, around 530km in total.  Etosha National Park is one of the most popular places among travellers visiting Namibia and self-drive safaris are so easy here. The park is massive and we had enough time, so we decided to stay in two different lodges while in this location. There's plenty of good accommodation outside the park (and it's nicer) but it means that you won't be able to see the part for sunset of sunrise.  

Next morning we were at the entrance to the park at 6AM sharp. While driving in Etosha you notice a lot of waterholes on the edge of a big salt pan. It's so easy to spot animals there, as they visit the waterholes all the time. That day was filled with jaw dropping moments for me as we saw cheetahs, lions, jackals, zebras, giraffes, impalas, springboks, oryxes, blue wildebeest, elephants, kudus and many more. I was in awe and so happy that yet again I was able to get so close to wild animals. When doing self-drive safaris always stick to the marked roads. I mean seriously, always. No matter how great your car is. Don't be that genius that we stumbled upon one day, driven off the marked road to get closer to a herd of elephants, got stuck in the sand and sat petrified in his car as the spinning wheels sparked an interest in the herd...We managed to pull their car out once the elephants left but I'm pretty sure they'll remember that 20 minutes of their lives for a long time ;)

Next day we moved to Halali Camp for one night. The Camp itself was a bit of a disappointment.  The main reason we moved there was to observe animals at the waterhole. Which was a fantastic experience as the waterholes are lit up at night and you could spend hours watching various animals hanging around. It's like watching "Planet Earth" but the live version, happening literally in front of your eyes. I only missed David Attenborough's narration ;) Fascinating experience and imho worth staying at a 'not so great' camp. 

Spitzkoppe - One of the most unforgettable evenings of this trip. Perfect for antisocial freaks who like the mountains.
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Spitzkoppe One of the most unforgettable evenings of this trip. Perfect for antisocial freaks who like the mountains.

Spitzkoppe - One of the most unforgettable evenings of this trip. Perfect for antisocial freaks who like the mountains. - null
Spitzkoppe - One of the most unforgettable evenings of this trip. Perfect for antisocial freaks who like the mountains. - null
Spitzkoppe - One of the most unforgettable evenings of this trip. Perfect for antisocial freaks who like the mountains. - null4+

Etosha to Spitzkoppe was another long drive, it took us almost 6 hours to get there. By the time we reached Spitzkoppe Camp, we had to start setting up, making dinner etc. It gets dark very quickly and setting up a camp in the dark is more difficult than it sounds. We spend an evening gazing at the starry sky. Spitzkoppe is in the middle of nowhere, there are literally almost no sources of light, that means you can see the sky so clearly. OMG I don't think I have ever seen that many stars in my life. 

Next day we spend hiking and bouldering around the Matterhorn of Namibia. And yet another evening staring at the sky. I swear I could do that every single night and never get bored of it. 

Ps. There are no big animals in this area and the camps are closed so you can enjoy yourself without the fear of being eaten by a peckish cat.

Swakopmund - Cape Cross Seal Colony - cute but stinky
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Swakopmund Cape Cross Seal Colony - cute but stinky

Swakopmund - Cape Cross Seal Colony - cute but stinky - null
Swakopmund - Cape Cross Seal Colony - cute but stinky - null
Swakopmund - Cape Cross Seal Colony - cute but stinky - null9+

We drove for about 2 hours from Spitzkoppe to Cape Cross Seal Reserve. Supposedly it's the world's largest breeding colony of Cape fur seals! And I have to admit it's a pretty mad place. Seals are super cute and it's interesting to observe them but I wished I had a clip on my nose. I still remember the smell of that place. 

After that we continued driving for another 2 hours towards Swakopmund. It's a pleasant coastal city established by German colonists in 1892. The city itself feels a tad funny as you can still see some street names in German, there's very unique architecture and plenty of restaurants serving German food. Thankfully, as it's a coastal town, you are not limited to eating German food as there are so many good seafood restaurants around ;) 

Sossusvlei - Sunrise on top of Dune 45, Deadvlei
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Sossusvlei Sunrise on top of Dune 45, Deadvlei

Sossusvlei - Sunrise on top of Dune 45, Deadvlei - null
Sossusvlei - Sunrise on top of Dune 45, Deadvlei - null
Sossusvlei - Sunrise on top of Dune 45, Deadvlei - null11+

A few important things to remember about this location. First of all, even if you're not a morning person you will want to get up at crazy o'clock to climb a dune and watch a sunrise from it's top. Trust me. I hate waking up very early and would usually skip such an "adventure" but thankfully I didn't do it this time. Though you have to remember to stay somewhere close to the park entrance (or inside the park), because there's going to be a queue of cars waiting for the gates to open. And you don't want to be at the end of that queue because you'll not make it on time. Which would be a shame, especially if you get up at 3AM that day ;) Another reason why you have to stay close it that you shouldn't really be driving at night in Africa. And if you do, you better do it very carefully and slow. It's very easy to hit an animal on the road and a lot of them jump in front of car lights. They literally appear out of nowhere. Needless to say, it could be dangerous for you and the animals. 

So once you do make it to the front of the queue the fun begins. I did not know it's soooooo hard to climb a dune. First of you, when you start it's going to be dark. I mean very dark. So you can't see much. Second of all, it's going to be cold (if you do it at night) and windy. You'll have sand everywhere. And your feet are going to sink into the sand with every step. I know, sounds like a nightmare and it kinda was haha but it was so worth it. So brace yourself, swear all the way to the top but once you get there and look around...oh man. I had tears in my eyes. Maybe they were tears of joy that the climb was over but trust me, sunrise at the top of Sossusvlei Dune, is just one of those sights that you'll never forget. 

Oh and once you're done crying over the beautiful view, you can feel like a kid again, spread your arms and just run like a maniac all the way down to the bottom of the dune. Or roll down. I did both. It was a lot of fun and totally worth the nightmare of climbing. 

And don't forget to go for a walk among 900 year old fossilised Acacia trees in the white clay pan of Deadvlei. It's not as physically challenging but equally as special.  A truly incredible and a very surreal place. Cherry on top and such a perfect way to finish our Namibian adventure. 

Windhoek - Just a place to stay for a night before an early flight the next day
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Windhoek Just a place to stay for a night before an early flight the next day

Windhoek - Just a place to stay for a night before an early flight the next day - null
Windhoek - Just a place to stay for a night before an early flight the next day - null

Once again, Windhoek is nothing special but if you have an early flight, you'll probably have to stay there for a night.

Q & A

  • What would you have changed?

    If possible, book a flight to arrive in Windhoek in the morning so you don't have to spend a night there as it's a bit of a waste of time. Same with return flight.
  • Restaurant recommendations?

    Breakfast and dinners are included in the price in most lodges. Lunch is served upon request and charged for extra. You can also request a lunch box to take with you.
  • Tips you would give a friend?

    Bring lots of cash exchange your money in the first bank you see. Many places are cash only (though that could have changed already) and if you don't have enough money exchanged, you might not be able to buy petrol, etc. Also, banks were closed on weekends, which made the whole thing a bit trickier.
  • Packing tips?

    Bring clothes for summer and winter. It's very hot during the day but the temperature drops drastically at night (especially on a desert). Also, a pair of higher shoes won't hurt. And always check your shoes before putting your foot inside. For scorpions and other surprises.
  • Transportation Tips?

    You need an International driver's license to drive a car in Namibia. Experience driving on gravel roads is helpful though I gained experience while on a trip and somehow only managed to get stuck a few times ;) Also, don't drive at night. It's very dangerous as you can hit and kill animals.
  • Any surprises?

    It gets dark so quickly! Worth to keep that in mind if you have to set up a camp during your Namibia self drive itinerary. Especially if it's the first time in your life that you have to set up a tent on the roof of your car.
  • Booking details?

    We planned and booked everything by ourselves. Starting from flights, cars and accommodations. I recommend booking accommodation way in advance as some lodges sell out months in advance.

Lodging

  • We stayed at Arebbusch Travel Lodge, small hotel. It's a budget option but very clean and nicely located. https://www.arebbusch.com/

  • Mushara Lodge. Great place to stay though a bit pricey. Conveniently located just 8 km from the Von Lindequist Gate (Etosha Park Entrance). Mushara Bush Camp is cheaper (around €200 for a double tent) and also looked amazing. https://www.mushara-lodge.com/ Halali Camp Overall not the greatest camp ever but I think it was worth staying there as it gave us an opportunity to observe animals by the waterholes, which was an amazing experience. https://www.etoshanationalpark.org/

  • Spitzkoppe Community Camp We stayed at the camp but slept in tents on top of our cars. http://www.spitzkoppe.com/ When you look for camps, read the description carefully. You really are in the middle of nowhere and some camps don't have running water, etc. You have to bring everything with you so you better go shopping before you come here.

  • Swakopmund Luxury Suites Nice hotel though a bit pricey for what you get. There are plenty of great guesthouses in Swakopmund, if only you book in advance. http://swakopmundluxurysuites.com-namibia.com/en/

  • Sossus Oasis Camp Site. Just outside the entrance to the Namib Naukluft Park. If you want to see the sunrise (which, I highly recommend) or the sunset, it's important to be close to the entrance to the park or stay in a camp inside the park. Otherwise you'll get stuck in a queue on the road leading to the park at 4AM. And you better be at the front of that queue if you want to make it on time for the sunrise. https://www.sossus-oasis.com/

  • We stayed at Arebbusch Travel Lodge, small hotel. It's a budget option but very clean and nicely located. https://www.arebbusch.com/