This 10 day self drive safari uses comfortable, well-positioned accommodation allowing you to enjoy your vacation in Namibia to the maximum. Roads vary from tarred to gravel, the condition depending on the time of year. So allow more time each day if you are travelling in the wetter summer months, especially off road. There are 2 species of rhino in Namibia, the black (Diceros bicornis) and the white (Ceratotherium simum). They are almost the same bluish-grey colour and also known as hook-lipped for the black and square-lipped or wide for the white.

Your first destination is to Waterberg Plateau Park, a 50km long, 200m high, extensive ridge. This characteristic brick-red sandstone formation can be seen as far away as outside Okahandja. Apart from some interesting hiking trails of varying lengths, the park is home to around 25 game and over 200 bird species.

The real wildlife action is at Etosha National Park though. Several of the 114 mammal species found in the park are endangered including cheetah and black-faced impala. Huge conservation efforts are on-going at Etosha and the park proudly boasts one of the largest growing populations of black rhino in the world, also an endangered species.

The broad, open spaces of Damaraland offers self-drivers more options to explore the beautiful and rugged countryside that other destinations on this tour cannot match. This region can still be termed as an 'unofficial' wildlife area with opportunities to observe desert-adapted elephant, giraffe, zebra and black rhino. There are many natural attractions as well, including Namibia's highest mountain, the Brandberg massif, Spitzkoppe and the rock engravings at Twyfelfontein.

Inland Damaraland changes to coastal with the drive to Cape Cross Seal Reserve and it's legendary Cape fur seal colony. The surrounding area consists of 60km² of gravel plains as well as the actual rock outcrop where the seals gather. Literally hundreds and thousands of them appear in the November to December breeding season.

The drive south heads to what many Namibians consider as the country's adventure playground. Somehow, the city of Swakopmund seems to have remained in the early part of the last century. The grand German architecture, immaculately restored or maintained, is still here. But gradually over the years, action and excitement have moved in. Swakopmund is now the adrenalin capital of Namibia, with endless day trips and activities to be found on sand, sea or the air.

The drive from the sea into the desert is somewhat taxing, although not over difficult. You will be well rewarded though for no part of the Namib Desert is more memorable than Sossusvlei. One of it's gigantic star-shaped dunes was measured from the base to be 325m high. Another pan worth the walk is Dead Pan. This normally dried white clay is scattered with the skeletons of ancient camel-thorn trees, aged as being between 500 and 600 years old. From the dunes you take a scenic drive back to Windhoek.

Although it is possible to book this itinerary 'as is', as with all our self drive trips this is entirely customisable. We can add or delete days, change the accommodation used and generally design the tour to suit your individual requirements. Visitors who might prefer a break from driving themselves can arrange a guided safari.

Self Drive Namibia

Day 1: Windhoek - Waterberg

We start your Namibian adventure with an easy drive on good tarred roads. Heading north from Windhoek you pass through the town of Okahandja and the landscape becomes flat and the road straight. Your first destination is a lodge in the vicinity of the Waterberg Plateau - one of the few places of elevated height in this section of central Namibia..
Meals: None
Accommodation: Frans Indongo Lodge

Day 2: 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 Namuoni). 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 3 & 4: Etosha Park

It is really worth waking early and heading out on your game drive as soon as the gates open at sunrise. Animals are most active in the cool of the day (early morning & late afternoon) and in order to maximise your chances of good viewings it is worth imitating their behaviour. The roads in Etosha are unsealed gravel roads but are in reasonable condition - and the general tourist behaviour is to drive between various waterholes searching for animals.
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 5: Etosha - Damaraland

Hopefully by now you will have seen everything the park has to offer and are ready to move on. From today onwards the geographical features you encounter will become more striking as you head into the Namib Desert.
Leaving Etosha via the Anderson gate head south to the Town of Outjo and from there westwards to Khorixas. Those interested in geological matters may be inclined to take the short detour from the main road to visit the Vingerklip (Rock Finger). From Khorixas continue westwards until you reach the Petrified Forest, here you will need to pay for a local guide to show you the remains of million year old petrified tree trunks (interesting, if not exactly riveting stuff). Luckily the highlight of this part of the trip is still to come - from here head to Twyfelfontein, this world heritage site has an extremely high density of bushmen rock engravings. After hiring a local guide you will be shown some of the more striking of these petroglyphs.
Your accommodation tonight is at a lodge close to Twfelfontien
Meals: Breakfast
Accommodation: Doro Nawas Lodge

Day 6: Damaraland - Swakopmund

A short drive followed by a slightly longer walk will bring you to the 'White Lady' rock painting. For many years it was speculated that this Bushman painting was a depiction of a European woman (it seems to have escaped those doing the speculating that the drawing was done thousands of years before Europeans visited the southern part of Africa, and even more worryingly close inspection of the drawing seems to indicate it is not female!)
From the Brandberg you begin driving towards the coast, and after 130km jarring kilometers (this road is often very corrugated) you will arrive at Henties Bay. Here turn northwards along the Skeleton Coast and head for the seal colony at Cape Cross. Despite this being one of the smelliest places in Namibia the seals make for a fascinating time. when your senses can no longer take the pungent smell of seal hop back in your car and drive down the coast, back through Henties Bay and then a further 70km to Swakopmund. On arrival in check into your accommodation before heading out for a drink, dinner and a night on the town.
Meals: Breakfast
Accommodation: Sams Giadino

Day 7: 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: Sams Giadino

Day 8: 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: Sossusvlei Lodge

Day 9: 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: None
Accommodation: Sossusvlei Lodge

Day 10: Sossusvlei - Windhoek

If you are looking to completely blow your budget you could consider joining a balloon flight over Sossusvlei this morning. Otherwise after breakfast, pack up and head back to Windhoek. If you are not flying out today we can book you suitable accommodation in Windhoek for tonight.

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