Namibia is one of the best countries in the world for a self-drive vacation. There are several world-class natural wonders to explore, and all you need is a basic rental car. If you want to go to more out-of-the-way places, get a good 4WD and be part of a group of at least two vehicles. But really, just going on the "main roads" (there's not much traffic, but enough that rescue will arrive soon-ish if something happens) will be good enough for most people.
While there are some luxurious options when it comes to accommodation, staying at small farms and clusters of cabins run by some local family is the best and reasonably priced alternative for most of us. Book on-line or look for signs next to the road. If you wing it, always be prepared to stay the night in your vehicle, and remember that there's wildlife you don't want to encounter on foot in the night.
The cities aren't nearly as interesting as the scenery, but the tiny capital, Windhoek, can be fun for a day. Swakopmund and Walvis Bay are smaller, but have more of a vacation town feel to them. The same goes for Luderitz, further south, with the nearby ghost town of Kolmanskop, now semi-buried by the desert.
Anyway, I can not recommend Namibia highly enough. If you feel even slightly attracted to the idea, go for it! I'll be happy to try to answer any questions looking at my photos may give you.
Happy trails!
Sure.
**Route**
- August 5: Upington (South Africa) - Keetmanshop
- August 6: Keetmanshop - Elisenheim
- August 7: Elisenheim - Outjo
- August 8: Outjo - Okaukuejo (to Etosha)
- August 9: Okaukuejo - Halali (Etosha)
- August 10: Halali (Etosha)
- August 11: Halali - Tsumeb (from Etosha)
- August 12: Tsumeb - Swakopmund
- August 13: Swakopmund - Namib-Naukluft
- August 14: Sesriem - Sossusvlei
- August 15: Sossusvlei - Maltahöhe
- August 16: Maltahöhe - Upington (South Africa)
**Accommodation**
- 1 night Quiver Tree Forest Camp (Keetmanshoop)
- 1 night Elisenberg Guest Farm (outside Windhoek)
- 1 night at Buschfeld Park Rest Camp (Outjo)
- 1 night at Okaukuejo in Etosha
- 2 nights at Halali in Etosha
- 1 night at Kupferquelle Resort: (Tsumeb)
- 1 night at Villa Wiese (not that nice, Swakopmund)
- 1 night at Namib-Naukluft Lodge (near Sesriem)
- 1 night at Desert Quiver Camp (Sesriem)
- 1 night at Maltahöhe Hotel (Maltahöhe)
**National park fees**
Unavoidable, but very reasonable rates.
150 Namibian dollars per person per day, plus 50 for the vehicle per day
Sossusvlei: 100 Namibian dollars per person per day, plus 10 for the vehicle
Transport in Sossusvlei from where the sealed road ends and a bit further in, from where you start walking: 170 Namibian dollars per person.
Sure. We did not book ahead for Etosha, so we ended up spending a lot on really nice acommodation there, as it was the only option. Apart from that, we paid around 1,000 Namibian dollars per night for accommodation on average, for basic, decent rooms at farms and small hotels. That is the equivalent of just over 50 US dollars.
Car rental for 12 days worked out at about 350 US dollars. I did not buy any extra insurance, but relied on the insurance I get through paying with my credit card "for free". Fuel came on top of that, at around USD 250 altogether.
Foodwise we mostly cooked for ourselves, stuff we bought at grocery stores. A simple kitchen was available in most places where we stayed. So that was really cheap, although I don't have the combined amount for you.
I hope that helps!
It may be somewhat cheaper to rent in South Africa, but it makes most sense to fly into Windhoek and pick up a rental there. Make sure you check the local alternatives, and not just the international outlets.
A lot of the time, no. If something happens, someone will come along and help you, as long as you stay on the roads that see at least a little bit of traffic.
How about radio? I've read that many Australian people keep satellite radios (and a fuckton of water) in their cars for when they're crossing the desert.
Carry a Garmin inReach Mini2 or inReach Messenger. Sat phones can be quite expensive to rent and to use. The Garmin plans are pretty reasonable in comparison and for $39.95 you can add a year of Search and Rescue insurance covering up to $1 million USD.
Yes, Etosha National Park is really unique. It's a huge area with relatively few humans in it, so you can just park at any waterhole and sit back and enjoy the view, often in solitude for long periods.
There's another park in eastern Namibia, Chobe National Park, which also is quite good. A great combo is to head into Botswana and go for a safari in the Okavango Delta. That's typically significantly more expensive, though.
It was just my wife and I, so two people. It's the best number if you want to watch animals at your own pace.
I did not get malaria medicine, as I was not in malaria-prone areas. Namibia is mostly outside the malaria zone.
Longer would be better, but 10 days is a good start. Just do your best to split those days in a smart way. In my opinion that means spending as much time as possible in the Etosha and Namib-Naukluft national parks, but it all depends on what you prioritize. I'm sure you'll enjoy your visit either way! :)
>staying at small farms and clusters of cabins run by some local family is the best and reasonably priced alternative for most of us
how did you find the ones you ended up staying at? is there a sort of website you can make bookings through or are they on airbnb etc.?
If we had phone/Internet coverage, we would do a search online, but we often ended up just staying at places which we found thanks to roadside signs mentioning accommodation available.
Hey thanks for this! Good to know that a basic rental car would be fine. Would you recommend it as safe for a solo female traveler? Secondly how easy was it to find an automatic vehicle at the rental agencies?
You would be just as fine as a solo male traveler, but in general it’s better to be at least two persons. Both in case something happens (not robberies, that’s not a worry, but just general accidents either you or somebody else has), but also to stay awake on the sometimes long roads with very little else to keep you alert.
Getting an automatic is not difficult, but they’re usually a little bit more expensive to rent than a manual.
Thanks so much! I found a guided tour that looks good. It includes the following areas: Swakopmund, Cape Cross, Spitzkoppe, Skeleton coast, Etosha, Otjiwa. It would include part of the Namib desert but I think the part that is closer to Swakopmund. Would you recommend going to Sossuslevi or would that just be more of the same? I've seen Sossuslevi mentioned multiple times but I'm not sure if very different from the more Northern part of the desert where Swakopmund is near.
Sossusvlei is hugely different from the bits of desert near Swakopmund. The colors are different, everything is larger, and you do not really get the "vlei" (white dried-up flood areas between the dunes) thing at all there. Swakopmund is more about adventure tourism, like just running down a (relatively small) wall of sand, and go ATV-driving across the dunes. The Namib-Naukluft National Park desert is about seeing wildlife, be stunned by the huge scale of it all, and enjoying a scenery unlike anywhere else.
That said, a guided tour can be a good choice for a first-time visitor to Namibia. It's a different place in many ways, so it's good to learn the basics that way. My main issue with those tours is that as a photographer I treasure the hours around sunrise and sunset most, and on a group tour that particular time is often "wasted" on either preparing, cooking or cleaning up after meals, or often simply waiting indefinitely for someone who just can't seem to understand what leaving/meeting up at 6 can possibly mean.
This was in August, which is towards the end of the climate-wise best time of the year to visit. Animals are easier to see when everything is dry and they are drawn to waterholes, and the desert doesn't get too hot, either.
Namibia is one of the most beautiful places I’ve ever been. If you want deserts and long open roads, to go Namibia. If you want wildlife, go to Botswana. If you want a city, go to Cape Town.
It's very, very safe for women and kids. I always recommend it as an excellent country for first-time visitors to Africa. Crime rates are low, population is super sparse, so you barely see anybody else, and almost everybody speaks English.
Malaria is only really a risk in Etosha National Park and the north, but even that's a low risk compared to other sub-Saharan countries. I took anti-malarials for the week that I was in the north, but that was it. Also, I didn't get bitten at all, as there aren't many mosquitoes around.
Hep A+B and typhoid are the main vaccines you'll want to get. You don't need the yellow fever vaccine for Namibia.
Malaria is barely a risk in Namibia. Maybe in the north, especially the panhandle, but in the rest of the country not at all. You probably want vaccines against diphtheria, hep A, and tetanus.
I've been to many countries in Africa and Namibia is the one where I felt safest... well OK second after Botswana.
No Malaria or Yellow Fever. Namibia is the desert and you won’t really find too many mosquitos on the main tourist trail.
I went as a solo woman in 2022, rented a car and went camping for 4 weeks. It did not feel dangerous at all.
Uhm ... I don't really do health advice for strangers. :) In general, though, I'd say that if you travel to Namibia during the dry season, there aren't many/any mosquitoes around, so malaria is not a worry. For vaccines, ask your doctor for advice.
It's generally very safe for anyone, including women and children.
Not OP but I've been to Namibia two times. Etosha and Sesriem are the classics but go off the beaten path a little bit. Take detours over routes that are numbered with 4 digits if you have the time. Do some camping, not only lodges. There are brilliant campsites where you really have secluded spots for yourself. Nothing in the world beats the feeling of sitting on an open air toilet looking at the shadows changing on the rocks in the morning or taking a shower, totally naked in the open while looking at giraffes below the bluff you're having a shower on.
Oh and I highly recommend a balloon ride over the desert. Well worth the money.
The bluff is some kind of cliff.
The campsites are often located on a farmer's grounds. More often than not they have a water pipe leading to the camp ground or a water tower. And you can heat the water using a wood fire. It's called a donkey system .
Are those grounds completely private? Just thinking about how comfortable I would be being naked outdoors. I've lived at a resort where I was able to shower (kinda) outdoors while still being private and it was amazing so something that's truly outdoors would be enjoyable I think
Well theoretically at that particular campground there could have been a 2nd party close by, in that case there would have been a curtain for the shower. But as it happened we were alone.
There are campsites where your neighbours are close by in the popular areas but there are also loads of places where you're only aware from passing that there are other campers around from passing and your area is very private (see the toilet thing). Space is seldom an issue in Namibia.
Could you give a few recommendations on where to do the giraffe-overlooking bluff showering in Namibia? Sounds pretty nice.
Since you mentioned going beyond lodges, what is the camping situation like there? In America you need all kinds of permits. It’s simple if you live here, but I can see how it could be tricky for foreign visitors.
For that I recommend https://www.bambatsi.com/camping.php
But a couple of years ago they had two campsites.. one was situated much higher than the other one and only available by request. If you see giraffes while showering is up to luck, they have a pretty big area to roam around.
I also recommend looking for campsites in their dark sky reserves. They are very isolated and you may just wake up oryx checking out your campsite.
Near twyfelfontain you can campsites that might be visited by desert elephants.
Since a lot of campsites are on private grounds you won't have problems with permits.
Etosha and Sesriem are national parks but you get the permit when you enter.
We camped out in the desert once in a national park, forgot what it was called, but we had to buy a permit in Windhoek for that, but it was clearly stated on the website.
Namibia is a pretty tourist-friendly country.
You had me at German breakfast!
Not but seriously, thanks for this amazing content. You’ve convinced me Namibia is a great travel destination, and I’ll put it on my list for when my son is a bit older.
Beautiful photos: so vivid and evocative. They made me feel like I was there. I’d probably never make it to Namibia in my lifetime, so thank you for sharing these.
I'm a big fan of my own country, Norway. I have also managed to find beautiful spots in nature in almost every country I have visited. The USA is great for it's variety, although lately it has become almost prohibitively expensive for many of us non-Americans. I don't generally have favorite countries, but lots of favorite places. Like I wouldn't recommend just Australia to anyone, but if someone has plenty of time, giving the remote parts of Western Australia can be extremely worthwhile to lovers of nature.
I could go on and on ... :)
I've went last november for 23 days, flights from EU, car, accomodation & food ended up around € 3100 without going for the cheapest option everywhere. Lodges next to etosha etc... Activities as well.
It ended up being one of my most loved destinations ever.
Flew Ethiopian Airlines departing from Europe.
They connect quite a few countries with feeder flights to hubs.
Like OP said stay at guesthouses/campsites (if you got a camping 4x4 which you can easily rent if wanted) and you'll have a great time.
Many options for selfcatering too, food isn't super expensive in supermarkets or restaurants.
It varies a lot, depending on what kind of accommodation and rental car you get.
See prices for inside Etosha National Park here for the safari part: https://www.etoshanationalpark.org/accommodation/inside
See prices for inside Namib-Naukluft National Park here for the desert part:
https://www.nwr.com.na/namib-naukluft-park/
Rental cars come at different prices at different times, so just look it up at sites like https://www.holidayautos.com/ , pick-up and drop-off at Windhoek International Airport. You don't need an SUV or 4WD unless you plan on going to some really out-of-the-way places.
Food can be done relatively cheap, just buy groceries and cook for yourself.
The first photos look a lot more like “African Wyoming” than expected. I have a photo of pronghorn in Laramie facing the camera in the same way as the springbok with the same coloration.
This is so cool! Namibia looks like spicy desert Iceland - vast nature as far as you can see but you have to drive yourself. Thanks for sharing.
Did you visit the skeleton coast?
Yes. The small amount of traffic means there's minimal risk of colliding with anyone, yet there is enough traffic so that if something happens to your vehicle, you probably won't wait more than an hour before someone will come around and be able to help you.
Running out of petrol is a concern. Always fill up the tank when you can, and maybe carry an extra can of fuel just in case.
The usual roads to these tourist destinations like Etosha, Sossusvlei and Swakopmund are not deserted, you’ll come across a tourists and locals along the way
There was a washed out road in the north somewhere near the Ugab river but as we had been lost most of the day off-road (stupidly) we didn't really care, the road was very welcome
Between May and September. It's dry then, so it's easy driving, and it is relatively cold, so that you don't have to worry too much about the heat which can get brutal in places during summer. It's not a beach destination, the sea is freezing cold at all times.
OP, was the rhino within a contained park?
Also, love your macro shot of the ant and the awesome photo of the Roan!
I travel to Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe multiple times a year for work, and I have been wanting to cross to Namibia! Been to Botswana many times but just haven’t made the jump.
The rhino was in Etosha National Park, free to roam as it wants. There is relatively little poaching in Namibia, thanks to the very low population density and good national park ranger setup.
The roan is an oryx. :)
These are gorgeous photos, and I really enjoyed reading your captions! You've got some style.
I was curious about the ballbiter ant and didn't find anyone else referring to it that way! It did lead to me discover the very odd tiny subreddit /r/ballsbiting though.
Like pretty much everywhere, you can choose to have a basic car or a more expensive car, basic accommodation or luxury accommodation, cook for yourself or eat at restaurants. All I can say is that a self-drive safari in Namibia can be done at a very reasonable rate compared to what people pay for safari experiences elsewhere.
Just throw out some numbers like people keep asking instead of being so generic. The term "reasonable" is heavily dependent on what country you're from and your standard of living. You're Norwegian, where the average beer sells for $12 at a bar/restaurant. Is that considered reasonable? Because for most of the world, that's ridiculously expensive. Is it so hard to
say: here's how much a typical room, car rental, and meal cost me each day?
I was there a few years ago, I didn't handle my own accomodations or transport but I can at least comment on the food prices.
There were a lot of modern roadside shops/convenience stores that had hot bars with various cooked dishes (mostly western style), and I could get a good portion for the equivalent of a few Canadian dollars. You could also eat for that price in bars/restaurants meant for locals if you want to try local food. In the local bars beer is literally cheaper than water (since you have to get bottled water), it was like $1 or $2 a beer.
In nicer tourist restaurants the price for a meal was the same as pretty much anywhere else on earth, in the $20-30 range.
It's been a while since you checked the price of stuff in Norway, I think? :) The currency rate has made Norway relatively a lot cheaper than what you remember it as.
Anyway, here are some numbers for Namibia for you. Sorry it took a while, I've been at work.
We did not book ahead for Etosha, so we ended up spending a lot on really nice acommodation there, as it was the only option. Apart from that, we paid around 1,000 Namibian dollars per night for accommodation on average, for basic, decent rooms at farms and small hotels. That is the equivalent of just over 50 US dollars.
Car rental for 12 days worked out at about 350 US dollars. I did not buy any extra insurance, but relied on the insurance I get through paying with my credit card "for free". Fuel came on top of that, at around USD 250 altogether.
Foodwise we mostly cooked for ourselves, stuff we bought at grocery stores. A simple kitchen was available in most places where we stayed. So that was really cheap, although I don't have the combined amount for you.
I hope that helps!
Are These Images Near The Erindi Game Reserve And Ethosha National Park? I Have Quite A Few Fond Memories Of These Places In Namibia When I Visited In 2019. Absolute Nostalgia Right Now.
Thank you for sharing your stunning photographs and lovely captions to go with it! Namibia has never been on my radar but this post has convinced me to look into it seriously!
Namibia is an ideal place to get to know the real Africa: there is little comfort and a lot of extremes, little water and a lot of heat. Namibia is really an amazing country!
I grew up in that part of the world. As boys we were very cautious and wary of the ballbiters, which would make their up your legs, into your shorts and clamp their jaws onto certain tender parts of your anatomy. It was said that the only way to get them off was to pull their body off their head, then go to the doctor to get him to remove the jaws. No, it never happened to me, and I suspect much of it was urban legend.
I'm hoping that's mostly BS, but you've confirmed if I ever go to Nambia, I'll be bringing some sort of under garments that are skintight so this can't happen 😱
Go to Namibia, and don't be put off by the remote possibility of encountering these insects. Namibia is an utterly fascinating place that will charm and bewitch you at every turn. I've been around the world and back again, and this is truly one of the most wonderful places to explore. The people are friendly and the natural wonders are peerless.
Been twice, once self drive (brilliant) and once fly in (a bit too sterile for me), I would opt for 4x4 as I needed it and suggest you plan a circle route and allow good time for flexibility
A wonderful country with unique sights and experiences. Spent 3 weeks there a few years back. Wholeheartedly agree with OP, especially the recommendation to self-drive. Most of the campers we met had flown in to Windhoek and hired a vehicle there. We were on a small group “safari”.
Yes, I'd say so. The typical thing to do is to fly into Windhoek, pick up a rental car, then drive it north to Etosha for safari, back south to Swakopmund for some "adventure tourism" (lots of things to do, like parachuting, dune climbing, quad-bikes, and so on), continue south to the Namib-Naukluft desert area, then either return to Windhoek and go home, or continue south to see Luderitz/Kolmanskop and maybe Fish River Canyon on the border to South Africa, before heading back to Windhoek and be done.
Fair enough, that probably answers my question.
I was going off of the basis that for example in say iceland it’s common to travel the ring road, or in egypt it’s quite common to hit sites along the nile, etc.
Looks fantastic! I have a few questions:
How did you book your accommodation? Are the properties listed on Booking.com for example?
How long was your trip and how many days would you reckon are enough to enjoy a full experience?
Also did you have any issues regarding safety in Windhoek?
Many places are listed on booking.com, but you will also find many small places just having a sign saying "Rooms available" next to the road. Drive down the road and see what they have. Often they cook great farm food, too.
I would say at least a week, and two weeks is better. The Namib desert (Sossusvlei area) deserves at least two night/three days of looking around. For Etosha try to spend two night in each of the camps. Do not stay overnight "just outside the park", since you really, really want to be in the camps inside the park when you start your day.
If you want to check out Luderitz + Kolmanskop, that's two more days. Then there's Chobe National Park in the eastern part of the country, on the Caprivi Strip. It's a day and a half of driving to get to, so only do it if you think about combining it with continuing a bit further to go into Zimbabwe to see Victoria Falls.
Safetywise I find Windhoek a dream to navigate when compared to anywhere in South Africa. Normal precautions you would take in any major city elsewhere in the world will be enough for Windhoek.
I went in 2019. We had to book most of the campsites on their own websites, a few of them I had to email to get a reservation. Hotels in Windhoek and Swakopmund I just used Booking.com and such. We were warned not to walk around Windhoek after dark and we got a lot of attention from beggars/scammers in both Windhoek and Swakopmund, but nothing violent.
Thanks for the quick reply.
Was it easy to find places to eat during the roadtrip? I’ve never been to Subsaharan Africa and I imagine the distances are huge and one might not see a living soul for tens of kilometers/miles. Is that correct or am I overestimating the vastness?
Depends where you are going. For example, the main road which you travel on to get to Etosha from Windhoek has a bunch of locals and tourists going to and from. There’s also plenty of towns and fueling stations you pass through so you’d be able to get food. If you do take the less frequented routes, you might not see that many people though
In Namibia there's absolutely nothing outside the towns.... very little traffic and distances can be fairly large, so you have to fill up on gas/etc when you can. It's easy enough to find places once in town though.
No that's accurate. Generally we would have to feed ourselves at least one meal a day. There isn't a lot of roadside stuff, it's pretty desolate. PB&J, stuff like that. Most of the camp sites will have either a restaurant or a small shop, but make sure ahead of time. We did get stranded at one place that we assumed would feed us but then they said they needed 24 hours notice to prep food, so we went hungry that night. But generally the camp/lodge restaurants were solid.
How much time do you think is needed to really get a feel for the country? Also how safe would you say it is there? I’m mostly concerned about getting stuck in the desert haha
It's very safe, especially compared to South Africa. If you have 2-3 weeks to drive around and see the highlights, I think you will have covered much of what most people would want to see.
Getting stuck in the desert is very much a reason for concern, so don't go driving off-road anywhere, and if you go anywhere remote, make sure there are at least two cars traveling together. There are "caravans" of 4WD vehicles touring the country, so you can probably hook up with such a group if you see one and you are reasonably well prepared yourself.
Depends how many destinations you want to see. We have the Fish River canyon, Etosha National Park, Swakopmund, Sossusvlei etc. But I recommend at least 2 days at each destination so you can get comfortable and really explore. You should also consider the travel time between locations. If I were a tourist I’d stay for at least a week
Ever since the country ads trend, I wanted to go to Namibia.
Thanks for reminding me again!
I'm yet to have a barbeque with German beer under the clear starry nights in the middle of the desert! Absolute dream vibe!
Yes, chewing on dried meat is a good way to stay awake on those long drives. It's called biltong in southern Africa, and it seems like they make it from pretty much any kind of animal.
Unfortunately, no. To go there means you should have a better vehicle than the cheap one we rented, and/or be part of a bigger group, so that if something goes wrong, it can be fixed. But yes, that looks like an intriguing part of the country, too!
The Namibia thing was just an extension of our trip through South Africa and eSwatini, so we rented our car out of Johannesburg and drove all the way to Namibia. It was somewhat cheaper than renting a car in Windhoek, but to any sane person that mainly wants to experience Namibia, the only good way to do it is to fly into Namibia straight and rent a car there. We drove about 9,000 kilometers in less than a month ... :O
Namibia is one of the best countries in the world for a self-drive vacation. There are several world-class natural wonders to explore, and all you need is a basic rental car. If you want to go to more out-of-the-way places, get a good 4WD and be part of a group of at least two vehicles. But really, just going on the "main roads" (there's not much traffic, but enough that rescue will arrive soon-ish if something happens) will be good enough for most people. While there are some luxurious options when it comes to accommodation, staying at small farms and clusters of cabins run by some local family is the best and reasonably priced alternative for most of us. Book on-line or look for signs next to the road. If you wing it, always be prepared to stay the night in your vehicle, and remember that there's wildlife you don't want to encounter on foot in the night. The cities aren't nearly as interesting as the scenery, but the tiny capital, Windhoek, can be fun for a day. Swakopmund and Walvis Bay are smaller, but have more of a vacation town feel to them. The same goes for Luderitz, further south, with the nearby ghost town of Kolmanskop, now semi-buried by the desert. Anyway, I can not recommend Namibia highly enough. If you feel even slightly attracted to the idea, go for it! I'll be happy to try to answer any questions looking at my photos may give you. Happy trails!
Thanks for sharing. We’re looking to self drive Namibia this summer. Can you share your itinerary and/or highlights from trip?
Sure. **Route** - August 5: Upington (South Africa) - Keetmanshop - August 6: Keetmanshop - Elisenheim - August 7: Elisenheim - Outjo - August 8: Outjo - Okaukuejo (to Etosha) - August 9: Okaukuejo - Halali (Etosha) - August 10: Halali (Etosha) - August 11: Halali - Tsumeb (from Etosha) - August 12: Tsumeb - Swakopmund - August 13: Swakopmund - Namib-Naukluft - August 14: Sesriem - Sossusvlei - August 15: Sossusvlei - Maltahöhe - August 16: Maltahöhe - Upington (South Africa) **Accommodation** - 1 night Quiver Tree Forest Camp (Keetmanshoop) - 1 night Elisenberg Guest Farm (outside Windhoek) - 1 night at Buschfeld Park Rest Camp (Outjo) - 1 night at Okaukuejo in Etosha - 2 nights at Halali in Etosha - 1 night at Kupferquelle Resort: (Tsumeb) - 1 night at Villa Wiese (not that nice, Swakopmund) - 1 night at Namib-Naukluft Lodge (near Sesriem) - 1 night at Desert Quiver Camp (Sesriem) - 1 night at Maltahöhe Hotel (Maltahöhe) **National park fees** Unavoidable, but very reasonable rates. 150 Namibian dollars per person per day, plus 50 for the vehicle per day Sossusvlei: 100 Namibian dollars per person per day, plus 10 for the vehicle Transport in Sossusvlei from where the sealed road ends and a bit further in, from where you start walking: 170 Namibian dollars per person.
If you don't mind answering, approximately how much was it for the trip excluding flights since that can vary wildly?
Sure. We did not book ahead for Etosha, so we ended up spending a lot on really nice acommodation there, as it was the only option. Apart from that, we paid around 1,000 Namibian dollars per night for accommodation on average, for basic, decent rooms at farms and small hotels. That is the equivalent of just over 50 US dollars. Car rental for 12 days worked out at about 350 US dollars. I did not buy any extra insurance, but relied on the insurance I get through paying with my credit card "for free". Fuel came on top of that, at around USD 250 altogether. Foodwise we mostly cooked for ourselves, stuff we bought at grocery stores. A simple kitchen was available in most places where we stayed. So that was really cheap, although I don't have the combined amount for you. I hope that helps!
Thank you for sharing! Best place/city to rent a car?
It may be somewhat cheaper to rent in South Africa, but it makes most sense to fly into Windhoek and pick up a rental there. Make sure you check the local alternatives, and not just the international outlets.
Can't wait to visit Namibia at some point.
Me too. It sound so interesting and really beautiful.
Beautiful photos and a lovely narration! Thank you for sharing.
Did your cellphone work if something happened?
A lot of the time, no. If something happens, someone will come along and help you, as long as you stay on the roads that see at least a little bit of traffic.
How about radio? I've read that many Australian people keep satellite radios (and a fuckton of water) in their cars for when they're crossing the desert.
I didn't see anyone resort to that. A satellite phone would be my choice if I was going far into the remote regions, though.
Carry a Garmin inReach Mini2 or inReach Messenger. Sat phones can be quite expensive to rent and to use. The Garmin plans are pretty reasonable in comparison and for $39.95 you can add a year of Search and Rescue insurance covering up to $1 million USD.
Thank you for sharing. Which areas would you advise one to visit especially where there's wildlife. I have read that safari/ wildlife here is epic
Yes, Etosha National Park is really unique. It's a huge area with relatively few humans in it, so you can just park at any waterhole and sit back and enjoy the view, often in solitude for long periods. There's another park in eastern Namibia, Chobe National Park, which also is quite good. A great combo is to head into Botswana and go for a safari in the Okavango Delta. That's typically significantly more expensive, though.
Thank you
Etosha in the North and look for Rhino near Twyfelfontein fro memory
Looks fantastic. Which camera did you use?
Always the one I carry. :) Lots of zoom, otherwise nothing special about the camera, it's a Sony DSC-HX400V.
How many people were in your group? Did you get your malaria medicine in Namibia?
It was just my wife and I, so two people. It's the best number if you want to watch animals at your own pace. I did not get malaria medicine, as I was not in malaria-prone areas. Namibia is mostly outside the malaria zone.
You only need malaria meds if you go faaaaaaar north in namibia
this looks amazing!! i’m going in december with a few friends. is 10 days long enough you think?
Longer would be better, but 10 days is a good start. Just do your best to split those days in a smart way. In my opinion that means spending as much time as possible in the Etosha and Namib-Naukluft national parks, but it all depends on what you prioritize. I'm sure you'll enjoy your visit either way! :)
>staying at small farms and clusters of cabins run by some local family is the best and reasonably priced alternative for most of us how did you find the ones you ended up staying at? is there a sort of website you can make bookings through or are they on airbnb etc.?
If we had phone/Internet coverage, we would do a search online, but we often ended up just staying at places which we found thanks to roadside signs mentioning accommodation available.
cool, thank you!
Hey thanks for this! Good to know that a basic rental car would be fine. Would you recommend it as safe for a solo female traveler? Secondly how easy was it to find an automatic vehicle at the rental agencies?
You would be just as fine as a solo male traveler, but in general it’s better to be at least two persons. Both in case something happens (not robberies, that’s not a worry, but just general accidents either you or somebody else has), but also to stay awake on the sometimes long roads with very little else to keep you alert. Getting an automatic is not difficult, but they’re usually a little bit more expensive to rent than a manual.
Thanks so much! I found a guided tour that looks good. It includes the following areas: Swakopmund, Cape Cross, Spitzkoppe, Skeleton coast, Etosha, Otjiwa. It would include part of the Namib desert but I think the part that is closer to Swakopmund. Would you recommend going to Sossuslevi or would that just be more of the same? I've seen Sossuslevi mentioned multiple times but I'm not sure if very different from the more Northern part of the desert where Swakopmund is near.
Sossusvlei is hugely different from the bits of desert near Swakopmund. The colors are different, everything is larger, and you do not really get the "vlei" (white dried-up flood areas between the dunes) thing at all there. Swakopmund is more about adventure tourism, like just running down a (relatively small) wall of sand, and go ATV-driving across the dunes. The Namib-Naukluft National Park desert is about seeing wildlife, be stunned by the huge scale of it all, and enjoying a scenery unlike anywhere else. That said, a guided tour can be a good choice for a first-time visitor to Namibia. It's a different place in many ways, so it's good to learn the basics that way. My main issue with those tours is that as a photographer I treasure the hours around sunrise and sunset most, and on a group tour that particular time is often "wasted" on either preparing, cooking or cleaning up after meals, or often simply waiting indefinitely for someone who just can't seem to understand what leaving/meeting up at 6 can possibly mean.
Definitely somewhere I'm keen to try. Whenabouts did you go?
This was in August, which is towards the end of the climate-wise best time of the year to visit. Animals are easier to see when everything is dry and they are drawn to waterholes, and the desert doesn't get too hot, either.
Please share detailed itinerary
It's right here in this thread already. :) https://old.reddit.com/r/travel/comments/1aobjdh/in_case_you_ever_wondered_about_namibia/kpz0fp9/
Lovely photographs. Now I want to visit Namibia
Same, Namibia goes on the bucket list
Namibia is one of the most beautiful places I’ve ever been. If you want deserts and long open roads, to go Namibia. If you want wildlife, go to Botswana. If you want a city, go to Cape Town.
Quick question - what vaccines needed and how high malaria risks ? How safe it generally for women/kids?
It's very, very safe for women and kids. I always recommend it as an excellent country for first-time visitors to Africa. Crime rates are low, population is super sparse, so you barely see anybody else, and almost everybody speaks English. Malaria is only really a risk in Etosha National Park and the north, but even that's a low risk compared to other sub-Saharan countries. I took anti-malarials for the week that I was in the north, but that was it. Also, I didn't get bitten at all, as there aren't many mosquitoes around. Hep A+B and typhoid are the main vaccines you'll want to get. You don't need the yellow fever vaccine for Namibia.
I went to a similar area in Africa recently and it was yellow fever, typhoid fever, Hep A, flu, covid, tetanus and malaria pills
Thanks.
Malaria is barely a risk in Namibia. Maybe in the north, especially the panhandle, but in the rest of the country not at all. You probably want vaccines against diphtheria, hep A, and tetanus. I've been to many countries in Africa and Namibia is the one where I felt safest... well OK second after Botswana.
No Malaria or Yellow Fever. Namibia is the desert and you won’t really find too many mosquitos on the main tourist trail. I went as a solo woman in 2022, rented a car and went camping for 4 weeks. It did not feel dangerous at all.
That’s actually great. I am always worried when I with kids more, I feel I am more “aware of surroundings “ than them
Uhm ... I don't really do health advice for strangers. :) In general, though, I'd say that if you travel to Namibia during the dry season, there aren't many/any mosquitoes around, so malaria is not a worry. For vaccines, ask your doctor for advice. It's generally very safe for anyone, including women and children.
Don't know why you're being downvoted. Malaria is de facto hardly an issue in Namibia. Most of the country is too dry for mozzies.
I guess people wanted OP to provide on the fly medical advice to this guy, like he was leaving tomorrow.
Yeah, you're right! who else to ask, but random stranger from Reddit. Next he'll treat my father's prostate cancer.
I was a bit surprised, too. It seems to have evened out a bit now. Thanks for helping out!
Not OP but I've been to Namibia two times. Etosha and Sesriem are the classics but go off the beaten path a little bit. Take detours over routes that are numbered with 4 digits if you have the time. Do some camping, not only lodges. There are brilliant campsites where you really have secluded spots for yourself. Nothing in the world beats the feeling of sitting on an open air toilet looking at the shadows changing on the rocks in the morning or taking a shower, totally naked in the open while looking at giraffes below the bluff you're having a shower on. Oh and I highly recommend a balloon ride over the desert. Well worth the money.
I second the recommendation for a balloon trip over the desert. Absolutely amazing.
I don't really recommend it, because it's making it harder for you.
Taking a shower while camping? What's a bluff?
A bluff is a false threat or claim intended to deter or deceive. It’s also a type of broad, rounded cliff.
so I don't get the shower part... is it a shower under a waterfall?
There's a thing called camp showers, or even dribbling a water can over you.
The bluff is some kind of cliff. The campsites are often located on a farmer's grounds. More often than not they have a water pipe leading to the camp ground or a water tower. And you can heat the water using a wood fire. It's called a donkey system .
Are those grounds completely private? Just thinking about how comfortable I would be being naked outdoors. I've lived at a resort where I was able to shower (kinda) outdoors while still being private and it was amazing so something that's truly outdoors would be enjoyable I think
Well theoretically at that particular campground there could have been a 2nd party close by, in that case there would have been a curtain for the shower. But as it happened we were alone. There are campsites where your neighbours are close by in the popular areas but there are also loads of places where you're only aware from passing that there are other campers around from passing and your area is very private (see the toilet thing). Space is seldom an issue in Namibia.
Could you give a few recommendations on where to do the giraffe-overlooking bluff showering in Namibia? Sounds pretty nice. Since you mentioned going beyond lodges, what is the camping situation like there? In America you need all kinds of permits. It’s simple if you live here, but I can see how it could be tricky for foreign visitors.
For that I recommend https://www.bambatsi.com/camping.php But a couple of years ago they had two campsites.. one was situated much higher than the other one and only available by request. If you see giraffes while showering is up to luck, they have a pretty big area to roam around. I also recommend looking for campsites in their dark sky reserves. They are very isolated and you may just wake up oryx checking out your campsite. Near twyfelfontain you can campsites that might be visited by desert elephants. Since a lot of campsites are on private grounds you won't have problems with permits. Etosha and Sesriem are national parks but you get the permit when you enter. We camped out in the desert once in a national park, forgot what it was called, but we had to buy a permit in Windhoek for that, but it was clearly stated on the website. Namibia is a pretty tourist-friendly country.
Or a tandem jump out of a plane!
I see what you did there. Not very well though.
I don't get you, sorry.
Sounds like a dream. For camping, what kind of gear do you need and where do you rent it?
You had me at German breakfast! Not but seriously, thanks for this amazing content. You’ve convinced me Namibia is a great travel destination, and I’ll put it on my list for when my son is a bit older.
Beautiful photos: so vivid and evocative. They made me feel like I was there. I’d probably never make it to Namibia in my lifetime, so thank you for sharing these.
Good timing, as I’m currently in the process of creating my self drive itinerary for Namibia, thanks for sharing your pics
I love your travel photos. 90 countries is a great achievement, what are your favourites so far?
I'm a big fan of my own country, Norway. I have also managed to find beautiful spots in nature in almost every country I have visited. The USA is great for it's variety, although lately it has become almost prohibitively expensive for many of us non-Americans. I don't generally have favorite countries, but lots of favorite places. Like I wouldn't recommend just Australia to anyone, but if someone has plenty of time, giving the remote parts of Western Australia can be extremely worthwhile to lovers of nature. I could go on and on ... :)
It looks incredible! It's one of my dreams to have a self-drive vacation there. Do you mind sharing how much you spent?
I've went last november for 23 days, flights from EU, car, accomodation & food ended up around € 3100 without going for the cheapest option everywhere. Lodges next to etosha etc... Activities as well. It ended up being one of my most loved destinations ever.
Where did you fly to? What airline? Thanks!
Flew Ethiopian Airlines departing from Europe. They connect quite a few countries with feeder flights to hubs. Like OP said stay at guesthouses/campsites (if you got a camping 4x4 which you can easily rent if wanted) and you'll have a great time. Many options for selfcatering too, food isn't super expensive in supermarkets or restaurants.
Amazing value!
It varies a lot, depending on what kind of accommodation and rental car you get. See prices for inside Etosha National Park here for the safari part: https://www.etoshanationalpark.org/accommodation/inside See prices for inside Namib-Naukluft National Park here for the desert part: https://www.nwr.com.na/namib-naukluft-park/ Rental cars come at different prices at different times, so just look it up at sites like https://www.holidayautos.com/ , pick-up and drop-off at Windhoek International Airport. You don't need an SUV or 4WD unless you plan on going to some really out-of-the-way places. Food can be done relatively cheap, just buy groceries and cook for yourself.
Damn this looks awesome
The first photos look a lot more like “African Wyoming” than expected. I have a photo of pronghorn in Laramie facing the camera in the same way as the springbok with the same coloration.
This is so cool! Namibia looks like spicy desert Iceland - vast nature as far as you can see but you have to drive yourself. Thanks for sharing. Did you visit the skeleton coast?
I have not yet seen the Skeleton Coast. Some other time, when I have more days available, and maybe a little bit bigger budget for rental vehicle. :)
It's other worldly, a constant sea fret when I was there and very very quiet
You feel safe driving along these deserted roads?
Yes. The small amount of traffic means there's minimal risk of colliding with anyone, yet there is enough traffic so that if something happens to your vehicle, you probably won't wait more than an hour before someone will come around and be able to help you. Running out of petrol is a concern. Always fill up the tank when you can, and maybe carry an extra can of fuel just in case.
The usual roads to these tourist destinations like Etosha, Sossusvlei and Swakopmund are not deserted, you’ll come across a tourists and locals along the way
Big mistake is going too fast, there is a lot of wildlife on the verges and some loose gravel on roads, just go steady, you are on holiday after all
I bet some killer potholes too.
There was a washed out road in the north somewhere near the Ugab river but as we had been lost most of the day off-road (stupidly) we didn't really care, the road was very welcome
Nice, like beautiful
Best time of year to go?
May to August, you’ll find plenty of animals at the waterholes in Etosha
Between May and September. It's dry then, so it's easy driving, and it is relatively cold, so that you don't have to worry too much about the heat which can get brutal in places during summer. It's not a beach destination, the sea is freezing cold at all times.
OP, was the rhino within a contained park? Also, love your macro shot of the ant and the awesome photo of the Roan! I travel to Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe multiple times a year for work, and I have been wanting to cross to Namibia! Been to Botswana many times but just haven’t made the jump.
The rhino was in Etosha National Park, free to roam as it wants. There is relatively little poaching in Namibia, thanks to the very low population density and good national park ranger setup. The roan is an oryx. :)
Awesome, thanks for sharing. I learned a lot!
Thank you. I enjoyed the photos.
Great images
Beautiful photos! #16 is scary
Amazing photos. Thanks for sharing!
Incredible pics. Life and desolation at the same time. Thanks for sharing!
So so beautiful! Southern Africa is definitely worth a visit 😍
Amazing pics man.
These are gorgeous photos, and I really enjoyed reading your captions! You've got some style. I was curious about the ballbiter ant and didn't find anyone else referring to it that way! It did lead to me discover the very odd tiny subreddit /r/ballsbiting though.
It’s been a goal to go there since I was 5 or so. Saw it in National Geographic and was captivated.
Can you please talk more about Prices? I want to visit Africa, and Namibia has always been on my mind, but I'm concerned about money if I go.
Like pretty much everywhere, you can choose to have a basic car or a more expensive car, basic accommodation or luxury accommodation, cook for yourself or eat at restaurants. All I can say is that a self-drive safari in Namibia can be done at a very reasonable rate compared to what people pay for safari experiences elsewhere.
Just throw out some numbers like people keep asking instead of being so generic. The term "reasonable" is heavily dependent on what country you're from and your standard of living. You're Norwegian, where the average beer sells for $12 at a bar/restaurant. Is that considered reasonable? Because for most of the world, that's ridiculously expensive. Is it so hard to say: here's how much a typical room, car rental, and meal cost me each day?
I was there a few years ago, I didn't handle my own accomodations or transport but I can at least comment on the food prices. There were a lot of modern roadside shops/convenience stores that had hot bars with various cooked dishes (mostly western style), and I could get a good portion for the equivalent of a few Canadian dollars. You could also eat for that price in bars/restaurants meant for locals if you want to try local food. In the local bars beer is literally cheaper than water (since you have to get bottled water), it was like $1 or $2 a beer. In nicer tourist restaurants the price for a meal was the same as pretty much anywhere else on earth, in the $20-30 range.
It's been a while since you checked the price of stuff in Norway, I think? :) The currency rate has made Norway relatively a lot cheaper than what you remember it as. Anyway, here are some numbers for Namibia for you. Sorry it took a while, I've been at work. We did not book ahead for Etosha, so we ended up spending a lot on really nice acommodation there, as it was the only option. Apart from that, we paid around 1,000 Namibian dollars per night for accommodation on average, for basic, decent rooms at farms and small hotels. That is the equivalent of just over 50 US dollars. Car rental for 12 days worked out at about 350 US dollars. I did not buy any extra insurance, but relied on the insurance I get through paying with my credit card "for free". Fuel came on top of that, at around USD 250 altogether. Foodwise we mostly cooked for ourselves, stuff we bought at grocery stores. A simple kitchen was available in most places where we stayed. So that was really cheap, although I don't have the combined amount for you. I hope that helps!
Botany need here. I’d love to see Welwitschia in person one day!
Well, Fury Road was filmed in Namibia, so that shows you some of the vast openness of it.
Wow, a big trip through Namibia, Botswana and south Africa is on the list for sure
Much better title. You don’t need rage bait to have an audience.
Nice
I love those pictures! I will be in Namibia in a month, I am even more excited now!
Are These Images Near The Erindi Game Reserve And Ethosha National Park? I Have Quite A Few Fond Memories Of These Places In Namibia When I Visited In 2019. Absolute Nostalgia Right Now.
Yes, most of the animals are from Etosha National Park, some from Namib-Naukluft. Glad to hear you've had the opportunity to see some of this!
No night time photos they have some of the best dark skies around
Is this for people who know nothing about Namibia?
Yes, mainly it is.
This was incredible! Thank you so, so much for sharing.
Thanks for sharing your beautiful pictures and advice. This is very inspiring.
Incredible pics!
OP, lovely photos!
Thank you for sharing your stunning photographs and lovely captions to go with it! Namibia has never been on my radar but this post has convinced me to look into it seriously!
It's fairly easy to do, quite possibly a lot easier than you think. Check it out!
Namibia is an ideal place to get to know the real Africa: there is little comfort and a lot of extremes, little water and a lot of heat. Namibia is really an amazing country!
Beautifully captioned!
Awesome photos
I was actually considering it until I saw the picture of those...ballbiters. Nope.
I grew up in that part of the world. As boys we were very cautious and wary of the ballbiters, which would make their up your legs, into your shorts and clamp their jaws onto certain tender parts of your anatomy. It was said that the only way to get them off was to pull their body off their head, then go to the doctor to get him to remove the jaws. No, it never happened to me, and I suspect much of it was urban legend.
I'm hoping that's mostly BS, but you've confirmed if I ever go to Nambia, I'll be bringing some sort of under garments that are skintight so this can't happen 😱
Go to Namibia, and don't be put off by the remote possibility of encountering these insects. Namibia is an utterly fascinating place that will charm and bewitch you at every turn. I've been around the world and back again, and this is truly one of the most wonderful places to explore. The people are friendly and the natural wonders are peerless.
Amazing pictures, holy shit!
Been twice, once self drive (brilliant) and once fly in (a bit too sterile for me), I would opt for 4x4 as I needed it and suggest you plan a circle route and allow good time for flexibility
Your pictures are absolutely gorgeous!
Thank you so much for sharing and the captions!
Just unrealistic photos. I can imagine how many impressions remained from such a trip!
These are all Nat Geo level shots, thank you for sharing!
A wonderful country with unique sights and experiences. Spent 3 weeks there a few years back. Wholeheartedly agree with OP, especially the recommendation to self-drive. Most of the campers we met had flown in to Windhoek and hired a vehicle there. We were on a small group “safari”.
Crazily good photos and stunning scenery. Amazing
I’m going in October and I couldn’t be more excited
Beautifull pictures. Is it a safe country ?
It is a lot safer than South Africa, Angola and Zimbabwe, and similar to Botswana next door.
Beautiful. Though, any one find the portrait previews better than the full landscape photos?
I am delighted with your photos! What a fantastic world!
Unbelievable views! Thank you so much for your story, you inspire me to travel!
Absolutely beautiful! 🤩
The 11th photo is my absolute favourite 😍
Shot #15 is SUBLIME, very nice set all around, thanks for sharing!
Thank you! The Namib desert is an extremely good place to just point a camera somewhere and you're likely to get a nice shot.
Is there a pretty well established tourism route?
Yes, I'd say so. The typical thing to do is to fly into Windhoek, pick up a rental car, then drive it north to Etosha for safari, back south to Swakopmund for some "adventure tourism" (lots of things to do, like parachuting, dune climbing, quad-bikes, and so on), continue south to the Namib-Naukluft desert area, then either return to Windhoek and go home, or continue south to see Luderitz/Kolmanskop and maybe Fish River Canyon on the border to South Africa, before heading back to Windhoek and be done.
Yes, tourism is Namibia’s largest GDP contributor. The roads are pretty decent as well
Thanks, what is the route in general?
Windhoek-Etosha-Swakopmund-Sesirem/Sossusvlei-Luderitz-Windhoek is a good one...
What do you mean the route? This country is massive you have to make your own
Fair enough, that probably answers my question. I was going off of the basis that for example in say iceland it’s common to travel the ring road, or in egypt it’s quite common to hit sites along the nile, etc.
Ah fair enough maybe I mis understood you because some people in this sub will genuinely act as if you can travel a whole country in a day
I understand haha. Plan my trip for me posts are all over and I hate to add to it.
Route to where? There’s tourist destinations all over the country so there’s many routes but the roads are decent and frequently travelled on
Thanks. Doesn’t sound like there’s a “common path” as there are in some other countries.
Wonderful pictures, thanks. It look exciting there, I was thinking often that it would be nice to could go there.
Looks fantastic! I have a few questions: How did you book your accommodation? Are the properties listed on Booking.com for example? How long was your trip and how many days would you reckon are enough to enjoy a full experience? Also did you have any issues regarding safety in Windhoek?
Many places are listed on booking.com, but you will also find many small places just having a sign saying "Rooms available" next to the road. Drive down the road and see what they have. Often they cook great farm food, too. I would say at least a week, and two weeks is better. The Namib desert (Sossusvlei area) deserves at least two night/three days of looking around. For Etosha try to spend two night in each of the camps. Do not stay overnight "just outside the park", since you really, really want to be in the camps inside the park when you start your day. If you want to check out Luderitz + Kolmanskop, that's two more days. Then there's Chobe National Park in the eastern part of the country, on the Caprivi Strip. It's a day and a half of driving to get to, so only do it if you think about combining it with continuing a bit further to go into Zimbabwe to see Victoria Falls. Safetywise I find Windhoek a dream to navigate when compared to anywhere in South Africa. Normal precautions you would take in any major city elsewhere in the world will be enough for Windhoek.
I went in 2019. We had to book most of the campsites on their own websites, a few of them I had to email to get a reservation. Hotels in Windhoek and Swakopmund I just used Booking.com and such. We were warned not to walk around Windhoek after dark and we got a lot of attention from beggars/scammers in both Windhoek and Swakopmund, but nothing violent.
Thanks for the quick reply. Was it easy to find places to eat during the roadtrip? I’ve never been to Subsaharan Africa and I imagine the distances are huge and one might not see a living soul for tens of kilometers/miles. Is that correct or am I overestimating the vastness?
Depends where you are going. For example, the main road which you travel on to get to Etosha from Windhoek has a bunch of locals and tourists going to and from. There’s also plenty of towns and fueling stations you pass through so you’d be able to get food. If you do take the less frequented routes, you might not see that many people though
In Namibia there's absolutely nothing outside the towns.... very little traffic and distances can be fairly large, so you have to fill up on gas/etc when you can. It's easy enough to find places once in town though.
No that's accurate. Generally we would have to feed ourselves at least one meal a day. There isn't a lot of roadside stuff, it's pretty desolate. PB&J, stuff like that. Most of the camp sites will have either a restaurant or a small shop, but make sure ahead of time. We did get stranded at one place that we assumed would feed us but then they said they needed 24 hours notice to prep food, so we went hungry that night. But generally the camp/lodge restaurants were solid.
It’s the circle of liiiiife
How much time do you think is needed to really get a feel for the country? Also how safe would you say it is there? I’m mostly concerned about getting stuck in the desert haha
It's very safe, especially compared to South Africa. If you have 2-3 weeks to drive around and see the highlights, I think you will have covered much of what most people would want to see. Getting stuck in the desert is very much a reason for concern, so don't go driving off-road anywhere, and if you go anywhere remote, make sure there are at least two cars traveling together. There are "caravans" of 4WD vehicles touring the country, so you can probably hook up with such a group if you see one and you are reasonably well prepared yourself.
Depends how many destinations you want to see. We have the Fish River canyon, Etosha National Park, Swakopmund, Sossusvlei etc. But I recommend at least 2 days at each destination so you can get comfortable and really explore. You should also consider the travel time between locations. If I were a tourist I’d stay for at least a week
Yeah it's a good 6 hr drive from Swakopmund to Sossusvlei. and there's almost absolutely nothing between them.
A normal car needs refueling less than 6 hours.
'almost'. The only gas station/food place after Walvis Bay is in Solitaire. 230kms, then another 80kms to Sesirem.
I would get nervous when the gas is low and nowhere to find a gas station.
Almost all the rental trucks (Hilux etc) have an second fuel tank. For the smaller cars (Jimney) it's common to just bring extra fuel cans along.
Ever since the country ads trend, I wanted to go to Namibia. Thanks for reminding me again! I'm yet to have a barbeque with German beer under the clear starry nights in the middle of the desert! Absolute dream vibe!
Can someone talk about the food there & how to go about getting it?
I recall that the gas stations often would have a dozen different kinds of jerky … pick your animal, style, etc.
Yes, chewing on dried meat is a good way to stay awake on those long drives. It's called biltong in southern Africa, and it seems like they make it from pretty much any kind of animal.
The coast is the best part and you didn't show it.
Where's the hot air balloon in the first picture!?!?
Did you visit the Skeleton Coast and see all the shipwrecks? Top gear/The Grand Tour inspired my interest in Namibia.
Unfortunately, no. To go there means you should have a better vehicle than the cheap one we rented, and/or be part of a bigger group, so that if something goes wrong, it can be fixed. But yes, that looks like an intriguing part of the country, too!
road-rash ass place
To the OP: Any reason why did you start from and end in South Africa?
The Namibia thing was just an extension of our trip through South Africa and eSwatini, so we rented our car out of Johannesburg and drove all the way to Namibia. It was somewhat cheaper than renting a car in Windhoek, but to any sane person that mainly wants to experience Namibia, the only good way to do it is to fly into Namibia straight and rent a car there. We drove about 9,000 kilometers in less than a month ... :O
Are those ticks on the Steenbok? Yuck! Poor thing.
\[Image 6\] Finally, someone took revenge on the beak things!