This 14 day self drive takes you north from Windhoek to the Africat Foundation and Okonjima where you will experience the work that the foundation does with leopard and cheetah. Then for even more wild animals the route takes you into the Etosha Park, before turning southwards into Damaraland. in Damaraland you will have the opportunity to track desert Elephant before spending a few nights at in the beautiful Erongo Mountains.

Swakopmund is next on the route before you head south deeper into the Namib Desert & the dunes at Sossusvlei. Further south you spend two nights on the edge of the Namib desert at Klein Aus Vista before returning to Windhoek via the Fish River Canyon and Kalahari Desert.

Although it is possible to book this itinerary 'as is', as with all our self drive trips this is entirely customisable, and we can add or delete days, change the accommodation used and generally design the tour to suit your individual requirements.

Day 1 & 2: Windhoek - Okonjima

Today you have about a three hour drive north of Windhoek on the B1 road. Your destination is Okonjima and the AfriCat foundation. Apart from the beautiful location, stunning accommodation and wonderful meals the main reason for visiting Okonjima is to view cats. Your activities here are included in this package and centre around viewing leopard & cheetah, visiting a night hide and generally learning about what the AfriCat foundation is doing to preserve these wonderful animals.
Meals: Brunch & Dinner
Accommodation: Okonjima Bush Camp

Day 3: Waterberg - Etosha

Leaving Waterberg return to the main B1 road and continue your journey northwards via Otjiwarongo, Otavi & Tsumeb and then enter Etosha Park via the von Lindequist Gate (on the eastern side of the park, near Namutoni). From here it is an 80km drive to Halali where you will be spending the night, this drive could easily take you several hours as game is plentiful in Etosha and the chances are you will be constantly stopping to view animals. If time allows consider dropping in at some of the waterholes along the route as animals frequently visit these for a drink.
Whatever happens remember you need to be inside the Halali gates before sunset - and speeding, the park speed limit is 60km/h, is strictly not allowed within the park.
Meals: Breakfast
Accommodation: Namutoni

Day 4 & 5: Etosha Park

Leave your accommodation early in search of game and as the day gets hotter head for shade, and lunch, at one of the parks three camps, Okaukuejo, Namutoni or Halali. When things start to cool down again head out for another game drive. With two full days in the park you should have sightings of most of the parks inhabitants (although be warned the cats are notoriously hard to find - and of course what you see is determined by luck and more importantly your ability to spot wildlife). These nights will be spent at Okaukuejo Camp, the western most camp in Etosha, it is famous for a very popular (both with tourist and the local animal population) spot-lit waterhole.
Meals: Breakfast
Accommodation: Okaukuejo

Day 6 & 7: Etosha - Damaraland

From Etosha you head towards the village of Kamanjab, ad then south towards Fransfontein. Your destination is the awesome Huab Lodge. The main activities at the lodge center around finding desert elephant and you will go on several guided walks and game drives in search of these magnificent animals. All your activities are included while you are at Huab so you may as well get out there and make the most of exploring the area
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Accommodation: Huab Lodge

Day 8 & 9: Damaraland - erongo

Today you have a short drive towards the town of Omaruru. Just west of the town nestled amongst the granite Erongo Mountains is a small part of paradise called Erongo Wilderness Lodge. You will spend two nights here allowing you a full day to experience the tranquility that the lodge has to offer. This is not a lodge that offers a multitude of activities but you are free to walk around the surrounding veld or just sit on your verandah with a cold beverage and enjoy Namibia. The early morning guided walk offered by the lodge is excellent - with an attentive guide, and the sundowner drives are good value for money and frequently stop at the rock art in Paula's caves.
Meals: Breakfast & Dinner
Accommodation: Erongo Wilderness Lodge

Day 10 & 11: Swakopmund

There are a host of adventure activities to participate in while in Swakopmund. These range from sandboarding through quad biking to sky-diving. No activities are included in this package but they can be pre-arranged when you book this itinerary or left for you to arrange on arrival is Swakopmund
Being a German inspired town good food and beer is never hard to find, so we are sure you will find something productive to do!
Meals: Breakfast
Accommodation: Sea Breeze Guest House

Day 12: Swakopmund - Sossusvlei

Leave Swakopmund towards the harbour town of Walvis Bay, the lagoon here attracts a lot of marine & birdlife and is well worth a visit to view the pink flamingoes. You may decide to take a catamaran cruise on the lagoon (not included in package price). Today you have a drive of around 300km's which will take you around 4-5 hours. Your route will take you across the gravel plains of the Namib Desert and through the Kuiseb & Gaub passes. Aim to arrive at your accommodation in the late afternoon
Meals: Breakfast
Accommodation: Desert Homestead

Day 13: Sossusvlei

Wake up early and leave your lodge, heading for the Sesriem entrance gate to the Namib Naukluft Park. This gate only opens at sunrise, so there is no point arriving earlier, but driving the 60km from Sesriem through the dunes towards Sossusvlei while the sun rises is a real pleasure. The first major dune you will encounter goes by the imaginative name of Dune 45 - many people choose to stop and climb this dune but we suggest you continue onwards towards Sossusvlei. Park at the the 2x4 car park (unless you have a 4x4 vehicle this is as far as you can drive), Sossusvlei is a further 4km from here but you are already amongst fairly large dunes. The walk along the dry river bed into Sossusvlei is lovely but for the very unfit or terminally lazy there are 4x4 shuttles from the car park to Sossusvlei.
Deadvlei, so named because it is a large pan with sculptural dead trees, is close by and definitely worth a visit. When you have had enough sand - head back to your vehicle (there really is no shame in taking the shuttle back - the sand is likely to be hot, and the walk less pleasant than the one in the cool of the morning)
On your way back to the lodge stop at the Sesriem Canyon - follow the signs from the Sesriem Campsite.
Meals: Breakfast
Accommodation: Desert Homestead

Day 14 & 15: Sossusvlei - klein Aus Vista

Leaving the Sossusvlei area today you drive south along the edge of the Namib Naukluft Park with Luderitz as your ultimate destination. The district D707 road is seldom used but amongst those in the know is thought of as one of the most scenic drives in Namibia. Eventually you will reach a tarred road again at the small village of Aus. This area is well known for it's wild horses of the Namib. You will spend two nights at a lodge near Aus from where you can do a day trip to Luderitz or just spend the time exploring this beautiful area.
Meals: Breakfast
Accommodation: Eagles Nest - Klein Aus Vista

Day 16 & 17: Aus - Fish River Canyon

Leaving the you begin your drive eastwards. At the town of Seeheim head south towards the Fish River Canyon. The viewpoint at Hobas offers a spectacular view over the canyon and your accommodation offers guided hikes, horse riding and scenic drives around the area.
Meals: Breakfast
Accommodation: Canon Lodge

Day 18 & 19: fish river- Bagatelle

The Kalahari Desert is very different to the Namib - primarily because it receives more rainfall. In some respects the Kalahari is more scenic than much of the Namib as the red dunes with clumps of golden grass growing on them are very photographic. Unsurprisingly, given the higher rainfall, there is also a higher density of wildlife in the Kalahari and you can expect to see fairly large herds of buck species browsing between the dunes.
Meals: Breakfast
Accommodation: Bagatelle Kalahari Lodge

day 20: Windhoek

It is a fairly quick drive from here to Windhoek, so you can spend the morning exploring the area before heading back to the capital of Namibia. Those flying out can drop their car at the airport and we can arrange accommodation in Windhoek for any one staying behind

 

Includes

All your meals and activities as specified.
A welcome pack including maps and vouchers for the places that you'll be visiting.
See the individual lodges for precise inclusions & exclusions
The Cardboard Box Travel Shop's own Namibia Guide Book
A 24 hour emergency assistance phone number

Excludes

Vehicle & Fuel
Park entrance fees (these need to be paid on arrival).
Tips and gratuities (which are optional).
Any meals or activities not specified.
See the individual lodges for detailed inclusions & exclusions.

Vehicles

Although we have excluded the cost of renting a vehicle from the quoted rate we are happy to advise you on the best possible vehicle and arrange a rental for you. For an idea of what is available have a look at our car hire in Namibia section

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