With a fantastic road network of 42,000km, Namibia simply lends itself to the road trip of a lifetime! So we have to ask: what are you waiting for?
Planning a
self drive trip to Namibia is a collaborative affair with your Rhino Africa consultant until you have got the perfect itinerary!
Very few of us have the luxury of taking more than 2 weeks holiday at any one period, and therefore most first time visitors to
Namibia usually choose to do the
Northern Circuit or the
Southern Circuit. The Northern Circuit is the most popular with first time visitors.
Northern Circuit
Starting off in
Windhoek, our Northern Circuit will usually head to
Etosha National Park for some Big 5 safari viewing. Should time permit we recommend that you stop en route for a few nights in the
Waterberg Plateau region to take in the Okonjima Lodge and the ground breaking conservation work of the Africat Foundation.
In
Etosha we recommend you spend some time in one of the private reserves adjacent to the park. This gives you the opportunity to take guided game drives into the park, as well as afternoon and night game drives on the private concessions. Although the accommodation is simple, many itineraries often include a night or two in the
Etosha National Park itself allowing you to spend time watching the wildlife at the watering holes.
From Etosha most of our Self Drive safaris head towards the
Damaraland Region. Its here that you can enjoy seeing the sights in the area including the Rock art in the Twyfelfontein Area, Burnt Mountain and the Organ Pipes. We recommend spending a few days here giving you time go on 'game drives' to track Desert Black Rhino and Desert Elephant. This part of Namibia is scenically spectacular.
The Skeleton Coast is by and large not accessible by normal sedan car and therefore from Damaraland most our self drive safaris head westwardly towards
Swakopmund for a few days. Time in Swakopmund is usually at leisure for you to enjoy as you may. If you are adventurous take the time to partake in several of the adventure activities including Dune Boarding, Paragliding or a more sedate ocean cruise. Drive north up the Skeleton Coast to Cape Cross to view the huge breeding colony of seals.
If time is limited then you can then head west towards
Windhoek, thereby marking the end of your self drive safari. Or, if time permits, head South East towards the Namib Naukluft National Park and the
Sossusvlei area, where we recommend you spend a few taking in the dunes, Sesreim Canyon and perhaps a nature drive, giving the chance to learn more about the special adaptations that the wildlife has made to living in these harsh conditions.
From Sossusvlei you head north to
Windhoek marking the end of your safari.
Southern Circuit
A
Southern Circuit Self Drive Safari is usually enjoyed on a 2nd visit to Namibia. The main reason for this, is most people want to include a Safari into a Namibian holiday and the southern part of Namibia is not strictly a safari destination. A Southern Circuit Self drive safari involves a lot of driving.
From
Windhoek you will head south towards Mariental. Situated on the edge of the
Kalahari Desert, it is here that you have the opportunity to see the Red Sands of the Kalahari. The lodges in this particular part of Namibia do nature drives allowing you to see the desert wildlife which includes: Gemsbok, Springbok and Ostrich. Interact with the San (Bushmen) who can take you on a bush walk showing you some of the traditional uses of plants and herbs in the Desert.
After a night or two in the Mariental area you would then naturally head South towards the
Fish River Canyon. This is the second largest canyon in the world and you would spend a night or two in this area looking at the scenery and perhaps enjoying a hike or two.
After a few days in the Fish River Canyon you would naturally then head west in the direction of
Luderitz. This is a small German town. Spend time relaxing in Luderitz, perhaps visiting Aus (Wild Horses) and Kolmanskop. Enjoy seafood at any of the seafood restaurants.
Continue to
Sossusvlei, and what is arguably the highlight of a trip to the southern part of Namibia. There are many
Sossuvlei Lodges to choose from in the area, ranging from luxurious villas to more affordable hotel style accommodation. We recommend a minimum stay of 2 nights giving you the opportunity to partake in a full day excursion to the Dunes and to see the sunrise, thereby giving you the opportunity to photograph this famous picture, when the sun throws a shadow over the dune.
Windhoek is about 5 hours easy drive from Sossusvlei and after spending a few nights in Sossusvlei area you would self drive back to Windhoek, thereby marking the end of your Southern Circuit Self Drive.
Contact us to plan your tailormade self-drive itinerary!
