Book in advance:

All Namibia tours, whether self-drive or not, should be booked well in advance of your trip. This not only confirms the exact travel dates, but it will ensure that you have accommodation. Many of Namibia’s best destinations are in out of reach places, which means that accommodation can be quite limited depending on where you are going.

Booking in advance, at least a couple of months in advance, is especially important if you are travelling with children or if your travel dates are not flexible.

One of the best ways to get the bookings out of the way is to book through a tour company or a travel agent. This way a lot of the stress will be taken off of your shoulders, and you won’t have to worry about missing an important attraction along the way.

Find the best itinerary:

There are many groups out there offering what they sell as the “best Namibia tour”, but this is really a bit of marketing fluff that shouldn’t necessarily be taken as fact. If you want to make sure that you have the actual best itinerary for your trip, you should do a lot of research. Namibia is not like travelling through Europe, the destinations are all very far from each other and require a lot of time to reach.

While planning your itinerary, make sure that you include a little extra time for those less seen or unexpected attractions that might just come up during your time in the country.

Decide when you will be driving

If we have not yet driven this point home enough, Namibia is a massive country with wide open empty spaces between the various attractions. Should you be keen on going on a self-drive trip, you will need to decide exactly when you want to be on the road, and when you want to enjoy some downtime and exploring.

There is no way to see Namibia in a hurry, especially considering the fact that the roads are not exactly in the best of condition. In most places, you can only go around 80 km. The benefit of this is that you can have a slowed down holiday, which might be exactly what you need.

Make sure that when you are on your Namibia tour, you make plenty of time to relax between destinations. Namibia is not a forgiving country and the climate takes a lot to get used to. If you are travelling during the hot months, you could quickly grow tired and drowsy. Take your time, don’t rush your trip, stay hydrated and remember to stretch your legs and revive your mind whenever you feel the need to.

Ideally, you should spend around 4 to 5 hours on the road.

Safaris on which you will be driven will have your downtime planned out for you, but it is still important for you to find out when you will be on the move and of course, where you will be stopping.

Tackle the furthest destinations at the end of your trip:

Given the size of the country, the best thing you can do, to save your energy, is to leave the furthest destinations for last. The most popular destination that is quite out of reach is Etosha National Park. It is a fabulous place to rest after a couple of days on the road and if you see it first, you could end up spoiling the rest of your trip, because Etosha is simply magnificent.

The park is home to all sorts of wildlife and a number of fantastic lodges and other places to stay. Etosha is a main attraction all on its own, so don’t feel guilty for making your whole holiday the drive and the stay at Etosha.

Stay off the roads in the dark:

Namibian roads are quite a sight to behold. Away from the towns and the cities the roads are mostly gravel but on the plus side, for the most part, the roads are kept well maintained. But that said, driving in Namibia should be something that you do with caution, because it is going to be unlike any place you’ve ever been to before.

Drivers stick to the left side of the road, which is why it can take some time to adjust to. But it also takes some time to get used to driving on the gravel. Most will opt for a 4×4 vehicle, which is really the most suitable car to have while here, and everyone living and touring here will stick to two main rules: Don’t Speed and Don’t Drive at Night.

Since the country is home to so many wild animals who can roam freely, driving at night is dangerous. There are no lights on the open roads which naturally means you won’t be able to see very far ahead and that means accidents can easily happen.

The roads are also not marked very well, so you will not only be unable to see much, but you could also very well get lost, something you don’t want when far away from help.

You will need the appropriate driver’s license:

When driving in Namibia, if you are not from one of the SADC countries or if your license is not in English, you will need to have an international driver’s license. You will also need an international license if you intend to stay in the country for longer than 90 days.

4×4 is the only vehicle to hire:

Naturally, those who are going to be a part of a Namibia holiday package will be driven in a 4×4 vehicle. But for those who are embarking on a self-drive Namibia tour, the only vehicle you should even think about hiring is a 4×4.

These vehicles can easily handle the rough and rugged Namibian terrain and with the technology available these days, these vehicles are really easy to drive, meaning you don’t need to be a professional when you hit the road.

The 4×4 will also mean that you have more than enough room to pack a tent and everything else you might need for camping, something that most people who travel through Namibia choose to do, as it allows them the freedom to spend the night in all sorts of places.

While on the topic of the vehicle you are driving, you should make sure that you have at least 2 spare tyres. When you are away from the towns and cities, punctures could have you stranded for hours at a time. And while this might be considered by some to be a part of the fun, it can completely ruin your holiday by shaving precious time off of your holiday.

Finally, when hiring a vehicle, you should also make sure that you have taken out some kind of insurance. Since you are travelling on gravel roads, you could easily kick up a stone that damages your window or scratches your paint.  If you don’t have insurance, you will have to pay for the damages.

Climb the dunes:

The sand dunes of Namibia are the most iconic attractions that the country has to offer and although you will be seeing plenty of sand as you travel through the desert, nothing quite beats climbing one and “surfing” all the way down to the bottom.

The best dunes can be found in the Sossusvlei, which also happens to be one of the country’s most famous attractions. Of all the dunes in the Sossusvlei, it is Big Daddy, the 325-meter-high dune, that remains the most challenging dune of them all.

Along with climbing the dunes, the Sossusvlei is an exciting place to venture through. The salt pans and the dead trees are not only home to interesting critters, but they also make for some truly memorable photography.

The Sossusvlei is Namibia’s biggest conservation areas and guests can stay overnight in this otherworldly place. Camping is without a doubt the most popular type of accommodation you will find and there are different types of camping to enjoy, including the more luxurious type.

Get up close to the insect world:

It is hard to believe that out in the hot Namib Desert anything survives. But there are all sorts of critters that have adapted to the harsh climate and can be seen while you are in the desert, so long as you keep an eye out. Most of the insects, including the spiders, are so small that they can quite easily be missed.

The desert is alive if you know where to look.

Choose the right tour provider:

Up to this point we’ve talked a lot about how to set yourself up for the perfect self-drive holiday, but there are many intrepid adventurers who are not keen on driving themselves, especially if you are uneasy about driving on rough and unknown terrain. This is where choosing the right Namibian tour provider is one of the most important decisions you will make. These days, there are more options and providers than ever before and selecting the right one, to suit both your needs and your holiday expectations, is a consideration that you have to think very carefully about before making your final decision. And you shouldn’t make your decision solely on the price. You should read the reviews for the operator, as a way to get a few references, and you should look at the itineraries on offer and the places you will be visiting. You should also consider the number of days spent on tour and the type of accommodation you can look forward to staying at. The accommodation is especially important as you don’t want to camp if you’ve had your heart set on staying in a fancy lodge.

The Right Time of the Year to Travel to Namibia

From July to October, in the heart of the Namibian winter, it is the right time of the year to travel to Namibia. In the desert the days are never terribly cold, although the nights can be quite nippy, so travellers will need to pack some winter stuff. Namibia has wonderful weather all year round and during the months between July and October, the day time temperatures generally reach just above 20 degrees Celsius. This is the perfect weather for spending hours on the road and it is equally fantastic for spotting wildlife. Because it is the preferred time of the year to travel in Namibia, it is considered the peak season, making it immensely important to book your tour well ahead of time. The winters in Namibia are absolutely nothing like the winters of North America and Europe. While the northern hemisphere can have icy days, snow and cloudy skies, Namibian winter days are hot and there is always a chance of a thunderstorm rocking the skies. The winters are also dry, far drier than summer.

If you wish to pin down that one perfect month to travel to Namibia, September is it. With Spring in the air and the days warming up, but not yet that piping hot that you can expect in the midst of summer, when you travel in September, you can expect gorgeous clear blue skies, and pleasant evenings, with that icy winter chill on its way out. This time of the year, the summer rains have not yet arrived and water sources are minimal in those places where there are wildlife populations. This lack of water actually improves your chances of seeing animals, as they tend to group around the minimal water sources that are available. Although these are the best times of the year to travel to Namibia, there are plenty of good reasons to travel there at other times of the year. If you are looking for that real African experience, travelling in the height of the summer can be one of the best things you do. Be prepared for some real heat, the kind of heat that feels like it gets into your soul and leave you feeling like you are walking on a cloud.

Should you decide to travel in the summer months, make sure that you have fully prepared yourself for the experience. You will not only need to have the right kind of clothing, but you will also need to remember to stay hydrated and take your time while travelling. When on the road in summer, you will need to take it easy, and perhaps only travel in the cooler hours of the day. There are also a number of “events” happening throughout the year that make travelling outside of the optimal times well worth it. In November through to February, the Flamingos arrive in the Swakopmund area where they settle in the lagoon and enjoy a feast! Their beautiful feathers can be seen from a great distance and make for a truly stunning sight!

The Namibian Bucket List

With so many incredible destinations to visit and things to do, creating a Namibian bucket list is a must for every tourist, because you don’t want to miss an exciting attraction. When you are travelling through this stunning country, you should plan to visit these places and take part in these fun activities. You will leave the country is a new appreciation for the great outdoors, and for Africa. Up to this point we’ve talked a lot about how to set yourself up for the perfect self-drive holiday, but there are many intrepid adventurers who are not keen on driving themselves, especially if you are uneasy about driving on rough and unknown terrain. This is where choosing the right Namibian tour provider is one of the most important decisions you will make. These days, there are more options and providers than ever before and selecting the right one, to suit both your needs and your holiday expectations, is a consideration that you have to think very carefully about before making your final decision. And you shouldn’t make your decision solely on the price. You should read the reviews for the operator, as a way to get a few references, and you should look at the itineraries on offer and the places you will be visiting. You should also consider the number of days spent on tour and the type of accommodation you can look forward to staying at. The accommodation is especially important as you don’t want to camp if you’ve had your heart set on staying in a fancy lodge.

The Right Time of the Year to Travel to Namibia is from July to October, in the heart of the Namibian winter, is the right time of the year to travel to Namibia. In the desert the days are never terribly cold, although the nights can be quite nippy, so travellers will need to pack some winter stuff. Namibia has wonderful weather all year round and during the months between July and October, the day time temperatures generally reach just above 20 degrees Celsius. This is the perfect weather for spending hours on the road, and it is equally fantastic for spotting wildlife. Because it is the preferred time of the year to travel in Namibia, it is considered the peak season, making it immensely important to book your tour well ahead of time. The winters in Namibia are absolutely nothing like the winters of North America and Europe. While the Northern Hemisphere can have icy days, snow and cloudy skies, Namibian winter days are hot and there is always a chance of a thunderstorm rocking the skies. The winters are also dry, far drier than summer.

If you wish to pin down that one perfect month to travel to Namibia, September is it. With Spring in the air and the days warming up, but not yet that piping hot that you can expect in the midst of summer, when you travel in September, you can expect gorgeous clear blue skies, and pleasant evenings, with that icy winter chill on its way out. This time of the year, the summer rains have not yet arrived and water sources are minimal in those places where there are wildlife populations. This lack of water actually improves your chances of seeing animals, as they tend to group around the minimal water sources that are available. Although these are the best times of the year to travel to Namibia, there are plenty of good reasons to travel there at other times of the year. If you are looking for that real African experience, travelling in the height of the summer can be one of the best things you do. Be prepared for some real heat, the kind of heat that feels like it gets into your soul and leave you feeling like you are walking on a cloud.

Should you decide to travel in the summer months, make sure that you have fully prepared yourself for the experience. You will not only need to have the right kind of clothing, but you will also need to remember to stay hydrated and take your time while travelling. When on the road in summer, you will need to take it easy, and perhaps only travel in the cooler hours of the day. There are also a number of “events” happening throughout the year that make travelling outside the optimal times well worth it. In November through to February, the Flamingos arrive in the Swakopmund area where they settle in the lagoon and enjoy a feast! Their beautiful feathers can be seen from a great distance and make for a truly stunning sight! The Namibian Bucket List with so many incredible destinations to visit and things to do, creating a Namibian bucket list is a must for every tourist, because you don’t want to miss an exciting attraction. When you are travelling through this stunning country, you should plan to visit these places and take part in these fun activities. You will leave the country is a new appreciation for the great outdoors, and for Africa.

Go to the mountains:

Although it is the desert and the towering dunes that are the big allure, the mountains around the country are just as spectacular and are well worth the visit. The most famous mountains are the Spitzkoppe Rocks.

They are the perfect place to take a few photos, and they are found between the Usakos and Swakopmund. These mountains stand a magnificent 1728 meters from the ground and given the surrounding flat desert, the mountains really stand out.

If you are already in the Sossusvlei area, the Spitzkoppe Rocks are a 500 km ride away. The rocks can be explored on foot, or you can enjoy them from a distance. They do make quite the stunning background for photos.