11 Days Namibia Self-Drive Safari

Windhoek | Am Weinberg Estate Boutique Hotel | 1 Night Bed & Breakfast

Once you have arrived at the Hosea Kutako International Airport in Namibia, one of the first things that you will need to do is exchange your money and get your hands on an MTC cellphone card. After that, there is a 45 minute drive to Windhoek. Once you arrive you will check into the Am Weinberg Estate Boutique Hotel.

Please note

To make things easier for you, you can arrange for your 4×4 vehicle to be rented on your behalf and for a rental company employee to collect you from the airport and take you into the city to collect your car. Should you want to arrange the vehicle yourself, you can make arrangements with the rental company of your choice. Please note that the car rental prices are not included in the overall tour.

Once you have your vehicle can your information pack, which you can get from the reception (the pack includes the tour itinerary, maps, the routes, and contact numbers) the rest of the day can be spent doing as you please. This is a good time to explore the city’s historical sights and all of the various landmarks. You can also book a guided tour of the city which can take around three hours.

Some of the highlights that you can look forward to when you are touring the city include the largest castle in Windhoek (Schwerinsburg), the Lutheran Christuskirche, the old headquarters of the German Colonial Military called the Alte Feste, and a trip through Katutura which translates to “means “the place where people do not want to live”.

On the evening of your first day in Namibia, you will retire to the Am Weinberg Estate for dinner, where you will have the choice of a sundowner and some finger snacks in the Sky Lounge. The Sky Lounge is an upmarket food and wine lounge featuring fresh produce from local farmers, fresh fish from the Cape Town Fish Market and steaks from the Butcher Block.

Distance travelled:

• Approx. 45 km from Hosea Kutako International Airport to Windhoek

Best Namibia Tours

Best Namibia Tours

Best Namibia Tours

Namib Naukluft Park | Desert Hills Lodge | 2 Nights Dinner, Bed & Breakfast

The real adventure begins on day 2! After a delicious breakfast, you will venture off to the Desert Hills Lodge. The lodge is a beautiful 30km drive from the Namib Naukluft Park. On the way there, you will have plenty of time to stop and take in the sights of the unbelievable Namibia landscape. A stay at the lodge is really something quite exciting and some of the things that you can look forward to doing include:

• Guided three-hour afternoon nature drives with refreshments and sundowners
• Hiking on the mountain trail along the paths frequented by zebra
• A day trip, with a packed lunch and refreshments, to the exquisite Sossusvlei and Sesriem Canyon. Be sure to have a look at the Day 3 recommendations.

Delicious buffet breakfasts, lunches and wholesome three-course dinners are all served at the Desert Hills Lodge, in the onsite restaurant. The restaurant offers some truly beautiful views of the desert. The lodge also has a bar, a fire pit and an outdoor BBQ area.

Recommendations for Day 3

Explore the ancient sands of the Namib Desert and all that the desert sands have to offer. The lodge that you will be staying at offers an exciting day trip (which is an optional activity) which includes refreshments as well as a lunch park. Some of the highlights that you can look forward to include time spent in the Sossusvlei, which is well-known for its red sandy landscape and magnificent dunes, and the Sesriem Canyon, which is a narrow gorge which has been created over the centuries.

Distance travelled:

• Approx. 310 km from Windhoek to Desert Hills Lodge
• Approx. 90 km from Desert Hills Lodge to Sossusvlei

Kalahari Safari

Kalahari Safari

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Swakopmund & Walvis Bay | Strand Hotel Swakopmund | 2 Nights Bed & Breakfast

The 4^th day of the tour is off to an early start, the moment you have had breakfast. Once you have eaten and have your vehicle packed up, you will head off to Swakopmund, an idyllic destination on the Atlantic Coast. Both Swakopmund, as well as the nearby town of Walvis Bay, are very popular with the adventure seeking community, and there are plenty of landmarks to see. Some of the highlights include:

• A trip to the quiet village of Solitaire. In this isolated desert settlement, with its rusting car graveyard, there is an old-school convenience store and a bakery which serves Moose McGregor’s unforgettable apple pie.
• The Tropic of Capricorn road sign is a popular landmark. This iconic symbol marks the map line connecting Botswana, South Africa, Mozambique, Madagascar, Australia and French Polynesia, New Caledonia, Fiji, Tonga, the Cook Islands and Pitcairn, Chile, Argentina, Paraguay and Brazil.
• The Gaub Pass and Kuiseb Pass

For the next two nights of the tour, you will be staying in the Strand Hotel of Swakopmund. Once you have checked in and settled into your room, you have the rest of the afternoon to spend as you please. Some of the things you can do include a trip to Swakopmund beach or you can enjoy a trip on the colonial heritage walk.

Some landmarks that you should keep a lookout for include:

• Altes Gefängnis which from 1909, was a national monument and functioning prison
• Visit the barracks of the German engineer corps troops, which is known as the Alte Kaserne
• Look at the Art Nouveau building called Haus Hohenzollern which was built as a luxury hotel in 1906.
• Take some time to visit West Coast Bites and Brews and enjoy a half-day tasting tour of locally produced olive oil, Jojoba, coffee, gin and beer.

At the Strand Hotel Swakopmund, you have the option of using one of three restaurants. There is the in-house brewery, the Brewer & Butcher, a Farmhouse Deli and the Ocean Cellar, all of which serve up a fantastic range of seafood and wines.

If you want a unique experience, you can arrange with the lodge that a table is booked for you at the incredibly popular Jettyy 1905 restaurant. It is a popular place known for its fresh fish, chilled atmosphere and unforgettable views.

Recommendations for Day 5

If you are looking for something fun to do on day 5 of your tour, consider heading to Walvis Bay, which is just 45km away. You can have a chat to us to find out more about what you can do in this tiny town, but some popular activities include:

• A four-hour boat cruise on the Walvis Bay Lagoon. During certain times of the year you can spot pelicans, flamingos, dolphins and seals.
• A guided, half-day Living Desert 4×4 Tour along the coastal dune belt
• An adrenalin-filled, guided Quad Bike Adventure from the Swakop River Mouth all along the riverbed.
• Sand boarding, kayaking or a guided tour to Sandwich Harbour.

Distance travelled

• Approx. 360 km from Desert Hills Lodge to Strand Hotel Swakopmund
• Approx. 45 km from Strand Hotel Swakopmund to Walvis Bay

4x4 tours namibia

Guided tours namibia

Guided tours namibia

Damaraland | Twyfelfontein Country Lodge | 1 Night Dinner, Bed & Breakfast

The next part of your journey starts with you leaving the Strand Hotel Swakopmund and travelling to Damaraland, through Henties Bay and Uis. Along the way you can visit the Cape Cross Seal Reserve, which has one of the largest Cape Fur Seal breeding colonies in the world. The area has a lot of history and it is the place where the first explorers landed and erected a cross, which you can see at Diego Cao.

You will be staying at the Twyfelfontein Country Lodge in Damaraland, a part of Namibia which is protected as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The area has loads of rock-art engravings and it is the ancestral home of the Damara People. When you have checked into the country lodge, you can settle in and cool off in the pool. The lodge has a lovely little lounge for visitors to use and it has a restaurant that looks out over the Huab Valley.

Distance travelled

• Approx. 335 km from Strand Hotel Swakopmund to Twyfelfontein Country Lodge

Guided tours namibia

Namibia Tours

Namibia Tours

On day 7 you can enjoy all of the sights and wonders of Damaraland. The area is full of famous landmarks and before you head off to the Toshari Lodge, if you start the day early, you can have a look at all of these exciting highlights:

• 150-million-year-old Organ Pipes
• Watch the sunrise blaze over Burnt Mountain
• The stone-age site of Twyfelfontein where the San left rock engravings on free-standing boulders
• A cultural excursion to the Living Museum of the Damara, one of the oldest peoples in Namibia, where visitors get to learn about their customs and traditions

Once you have experienced all of Damaraland, you can take the drive to Toshari Lodge, which is found on the rim of the Etosha National Park. The lodge is only around 25 km from the Andersons Gate. If you’ve spent the morning in Damaraland, you should arrive at the lodge late in the afternoon. When you are settled in, you can spend some time relaxing in the pool, before heading to the lodge restaurant for dinner.

Recommendations for Day 8

On day 8, a journey into Etosha National Park is a must. It is one of the few places in Namibia where you can have an African wildlife safari. Etosha National Park is home the endangered black rhino and the black-faced impala. You can also see tsessebe and 4 of the Big 5 (white rhino, leopard, elephant and lion. The environment might be an unforgiving space but around 114 different mammals have made a home here. And among all of the wildlife you can see here, you could also spot the flocks of flamingos that live close to the many water sources.

One of the best places to see wildlife is at the Etosha Pan. This is an ancient inland sea which has almost completely dried up, but still has a few spots where water can be found and it is in these places that animals gather for a drink. Ideally, you should spend this 8^th day of the tour to either embark on a self-drive safari or you can arrange to join a guided, open-safari tour with Toshari Lodge.

You could also go on an early morning drive in Etosha National Park and then spend the afternoon at the Omapaha Himba Village. The women of the Himba tribe are well known for their red skin and hair, which they colour using butter, fat and a red ochre paste.

Please note

You can visit the Himba Village on the morning of the 9^th day of the tour, after you have left the Toshari Lodge, before you go through the Etosha National Park to your next destination which is the Mokuti Etosha Lodge.

Distance travelled

• Approx. 300 km from Twyfelfontein Country Lodge to Toshari Lodge

Namibia Tours

Namibia Tours

Self Drive Safari Namibia

Von Lindequist Gate Etosha National Park | Mokuti Etosha Lodge | 1 Night Bed & Breakfast

The 9^th day of your tour will see you travelling north-east, cutting through the Etosha National Park and going around the Etosha Pan, to reach the Von Lindequist Gate. Although your map will say that you only need to go around 195 km to reach your destination, you will likely cover more ground as you explore all sorts of interesting sights along the way.

Your goal on this day is to reach the Mokuti Etosha Lodge, which is a 4 minute drive from the Von Lindequist Gate and is situated on a private nature reserve near to the Namutoni Fort. The lodge is a typically beautiful safari lodge and it is surrounded by Mopane Trees. Breakfasts, lunches and dinners are served in the Tambuti Dining Room and out on the Terrace. Guests can also gather outside, around the fire pit in the Boma to enjoy a BBQ meal. Tea, coffee and all sorts of snacks can be ordered throughout the day from the Terrace or from the Pool Bar.

Distance travelled

• Approx. 300 km from Toshari Lodge to Mokuti Etosha Lodge

Best Namibia Tours & Packages

Best Namibia Tours & Packages

Best Namibia Safaris

Windhoek | Okapuka Ranch | 1 Night Bed & Breakfast

The 10^th day of the tour begins with a delicious morning meal, before you start making your way back to Windhoek. After breakfast, you will start the drive via Tsumeb, Otjiwarongo and Okahandja to the Okapuka Ranch, to reach Windhoek. The goal of the 10^th day is to reach the Okapuka Ranch, where you can enjoy a number of activities, including an exhilarating game drive.

The afternoon on the 10^th day will be spent relaxing at the ranch, enjoying the swimming pool and lazing around the lounge bar. At the Park Restaurant, you can indulge in various local game dishes and other specialities.

Distance travelled

• Approx. 530 km from Mokuti Etosha Lodge to Okapuka Ranch

Best Namibia Tours

Best Namibia Tours

Kalahari Safari

Hosea Kutako International Airport

This is the last day of the tour and it will see you leaving the Okapuka Ranch soon after breakfast and driving to Windhoek where you will drop off your rental. After that you will transferred to the Hosea Kutako International Airport, where you can catch your flight home.

Distance travelled

• Approx. 76 km from Okapuka Ranch to Hosea Kutako International Airport

PLEASE NOTE
On the first day of your tour, when you reach Windhoek, you need to collect an information pack from the reception area of the first establishment you arrive at. This pack will include:

• Map of Namibia showing the location of your accommodation
• List of important telephone numbers including emergency contact numbers such as +264 81 127 0564
• Accommodation vouchers
• Important information about Namibia
• A detailed itinerary of activities booked

Lodge check-ins need to be done after 14h00 and you will need to be checked out of most places by 10h00. If you arrive earlier than 14h00 you can check in if your room is ready, something that is not always a possibility during peak season.

Windhoek | 1 Night Bed & Breakfast

Am Weinberg Estate Boutique Hotel

Elegant and exclusive, Am Weinberg Estate Boutique Hotel is situated in Klein Windhoek in close proximity to the National Botanical Gardens, Avis Dam Nature Reserve and the Independence Museum. The en-suite Courtyard Fountain Rooms are air-conditioned and have flat-screen TVs. Despite their modern amenities, the rooms at Am Weinberg Estate Boutique Hotel exude an old-world charm.

Other facilities include

• an outdoor swimming pool
• three upmarket lounge spaces
• two elegant restaurants within the estate
• a delicatessen within the estate
• a spa offering beauty treatments and spa packages
• 24-hour front desk
• free WiFi
• free parking

Namibia vacation

Namibia vacation

Namibia vacation

Outside Namib Naukluft Park | 2 Nights Dinner, Bed & Breakfast

Desert Hills Lodge

Taking inspiration from the organic domed homes of the ancient Namib tribes, Desert Hills Lodge blends seamlessly with its desert setting. Offering stunning views of the Namib Desert, each secluded, double or twin en-suite thatched Chalet is air-conditioned and has a minibar and tea and coffee station.

Other facilities include

• an outdoor swimming pool and sun terrace
• 24-hour front desk
• free WiFi in public areas
• a restaurant
• a fully licensed bar
• a wine cellar
• a library
• an outside BBQ and fire pit area

Namibia vacation

Namibia vacation

Namibia vacation

Swakopmund & Walvis Bay | 2 Nights Bed & Breakfast

Strand Hotel Swakopmund

Located on the beachfront, the Strand Hotel Swakopmund with its stylish rooms is perfectly situated for that quiet stroll on the beach after a day filled with adventure activities. The sea-facing Luxury Rooms with their lounge areas all have an en-suite bathroom, WiFi and an air-conditioner.

Other facilities include:

• free WiFi
• a deli restaurant
• a seafood restaurant
• a small brewery
• a lounge bar
• a pavilion on the beach
• room service
• a spa with a rooftop garden with water features
• a gym
• a private beach area
• a garden
• a tour desk

vacation in namibia

vacation in namibia

vacation in namibia

Damaraland | 1 Night Dinner, Bed & Breakfast

Twyfelfontein Country Lodge

Built from natural stone along the mountainside, Twyfelfontein Country Lodge blends in beautifully with its surrounding environment. The Namibian theme of natural materials and warm colours is carried through into the comfortable, en-suite Rooms. Guests can choose between Rooms with plains-facing or mountain-facing views

Other facilities include

• a swimming pool
• WiFi
• a guest lounge
• a restaurant
• an airstrip

vacation in namibia

Traders_0001_Old-Traders-Lodge-Waterhole

Travel Namibia

Andersons Gate Etosha National Park | 2 Nights Bed & Breakfast

Toshari Lodge

Toshari Lodge is no more than 25 km away from the Andersons Gate entry into Etosha National Park, world-famous for the game viewing opportunities it provides. Toshari Lodge’s en-suite Standard Rooms are spacious, comfortable, and calming, each with a private garden-facing patio. The surrounding gardens are an intriguing combination of lush green lawn and untamed indigenous African flora.

Other facilities include:

• a swimming pool
• a sun terrace
• WiFi
• a guest lounge
• a bar
• a restaurant
• a herb garden
• a gift shop

vacation in namibia

vacation in namibia

vacation in namibia

Von Lindequist Gate Etosha National Park | 1 Night Bed & Breakfast

Mokuti Etosha Lodge

Located on the doorstep of the Von Lindequist Gate to Etosha National Park, Mokuti Etosha Lodge is surrounded by Mopane woodland. The comfortable, well-appointed en-suite Standard Rooms have mini-fridges, a tea- and coffee-making station and an air-conditioner. Breakfast, lunch and dinner are served in the Tambuti Dining Room and Terrace. Some evening sees guests convening under the stars for a traditional African BBQ in the African Boma.

Other facilities include:

• WiFi
• a swimming pool
• a pool bar and terrace
• a bar and guest lounge
• a billiard room
• a gym
• a tennis court
• a spa and wellness centre
• a gift shop

vacation in namibia

vacation in namibia

Best Namibia Safaris

Windhoek | 1 Night Bed & Breakfast

Okapuka Ranch

The thatched en-suite rooms at Okapuka Ranch on the outskirts of Windhoek are spacious and conformable. They come with a bar fridge, tea- and coffee-making facilities and an open terrace with views of the surrounding Namibian bush.

Other facilities include:

• a swimming poo
• a restaurant
• a bar and lounge
• a wine cellar
• mountain drives
• mountain hikes
• horse riding
• airport transfers

PLEASE NOTE
Accommodation is subject to availability. If we are unable to book accommodation as stated, we will look for a similar alternative and advise you accordingly.