OlyaHiking the tallest and oldest sand dunes on the planet, tracking elephants and giraffes, stargazing and off-roading in a place where dunes crash into the Atlantic ocean are some of many great things you can do in Namibia.
Nothing can prepare you for the natural wonder that’s Namibia, this road trip is an absolute must on every adventurer’s wish list. Your mind will be blown away by the sheer beauty of Namibia’s ever-changing landscapes, incredibly diverse wild life, history and culture. You will start your road trip open minded and excited about new possibilities and experiences awaiting on you here, you will leave Namibia feeling enchanted by this place and wishing to return for more. Here’s my personal itinerary for this epic road trip which I hope you’ll be able to apply to your own Namibian adventure.
STARTING POINT: ARRIVE IN WINDHOEK
Most of you will travel to Namibia by plane landing in the capital of Windhoek. I would highly recommend booking your 4X4 vehicle before the trip so you won’t need to worry about searching for rental companies, wasting your precious time and maybe being faced with a possibility of all 4X4 vehicles booked out on that day. Once you’re set with your vehicle, make sure to stop by a grocery store to buy lots of water and any food supplies for the road. Your gas tank should be full and your tires deflated to 1.8 bars since you’ll be driving on gravel roads towards Sossusvlei. It’s very important to be fully prepared for this five hour journey. As soon as you leave Windhoek, you will be driving through wilderness with no civilization in sight for hours. You also need to leave Windhoek in the morning hours so you can reach Sossusvlei before sunset. Driving in Namibia after sunset is highly dangerous, you don’t want to go over anything that can puncture your tires or run into a wild animal on the road. And one final piece of advice before you drive off, visit an exchange point at the arrivals section of the airport and get a Namibian sim card. Having said all that, please enjoy this beautiful drive towards Sossusvlei!
DESTINATION #1: SOSSUSVLEI
A place of the world’s oldest and tallest sand dunes
Welcome to Namib Naukluft National Park, a remarkable place that holds some of the oldest and tallest sand dunes in the world! If your accommodation is located inside the national park, you have to be at the gate before closing hours, otherwise you won’t be let in.
Where to stay:
Sesriem Oshana campsite – a fantastic camp inside the national park. We spent our first two nights here and couldn’t be happier with the camp’s location and amenities. The night sky bursting with stars made this camping experience truly special. Since you’re staying inside the park, you also get one hour head start to see the dunes before everyone from outside gets let into the park.
Dead Valley Lodge – one beautiful glamping experience in the desert. The design is well thought out down to intricate shadows that get cast through the ceiling carvings. The tents are spacious and very cozy. And you won’t need to worry about going hungry at this lodge since breakfast, lunch and dinner are included.
Recommended time: 4 days
Things to do:
Dune 45 and Dune 40 – Hike the famous Dune 45 or its magnificent neighbor Dune 40. We ended up choosing to hike up Dune 40 since it was just a few people on it while Dune 45 was crowded.
Big Daddy Dune – just getting to Big Daddy is an adventure in itself if you’re using your 4×4 vehicle. The last stretch of the road is sandy which makes it a fun driving experience, although we did spot one jeep get stuck in the sand. Be cautious and do not rush as you make your way through the sand.
Deadvlei – As you start walking towards Big Daddy Dune, you will discover Deadvlei one mile into your journey and it is a sight to behold – a white clay pan with dead camel thorn trees that are over 700 years old, surrounded by some of the tallest sand dunes on the planet.
Sundowner at Elim Dune – If you’re staying inside the park, you may enjoy a sundowner at Elim Dunes, it’s only five minutes drive from Dead Valley lodge and Sesriem Oshana campsite. Watching a sunset while sitting on top of a sand dune is definitely one special experience that you shouldn’t miss while in Sossusvlei.
ON THE ROAD BETWEEN SOSSUSVLEI AND SWAKOPMUND
Make a pit stop at Solitaire for a famous apple pie, it’s really delicious as everyone says.
Take a photo by Tropic of Capricorn sign.
DESTINATION #2: SWAKOPMUND
A place where the desert meets the ocean
Swakopmund is a quirky beach town filled with the German colonial architecture. If you’re into adrenaline sports, Swakopmund is the perfect place for that, be it quad biking or sand boarding, sky diving and more.
Where to stay:
Hotel A la Mer – located right by the pier, this hotel has a lovely closed off courtyard, great breakfast, modern rooms and wonderful staff.
The Stiltz – We personally didn’t stay at this quirky hotel since we decided to go with A la Mer (its central location by the pier seemed more appealing to us at the time) but we met many travelers in Sossusvlei who booked The Stiltz for their Swakopmund stay following travel agents’ recommendations.
Recommended time: 4 days
Things to do:
Sandwich Harbor – My main wish in Swakopmund was to see Sandwich Harbor which we did on our 4×4 tour with Sand Waves tour company. Driving up and down those beautiful dunes overlooking the ocean was magical and exhilarating, I would call it a must for your Namibian road trip!
Skeleton Coast – On this trip, we only made it to the first shipwreck. Skeleton Coast is an eerie and strangely beautiful place on the coast. On our next trip to Namibia, we will definitely explore this area further North.
DESTINATION #3: ETOSHA NATIONAL PARK
Namibia’s ultimate safari destination
Recommended time: 4-5 days
Where to stay:
Etosha Village – a lovely lodge very close to Anderson Gate. Be prepared to run into zebras, kudu, springbok and some other wildlife at this lodge. We really enjoyed breakfast and dinner buffet here, and a swimming pool was perfect to relax in after long game drives at Etosha.
Okaukuejo camp – If you’re lucky to book a lodge or campsite at Okaukuejo camp, you’ll have access to Okaukuejo waterhole all day long which is a real privilege.
Things to do:
Wildlife safari – Unlike Serengeti or Masai Mara, Etosha is not a world famous safari destination which works out really well for its visitors since the park isn’t overcrowded and there’s plenty of space for everyone to enjoy animal sightings. Etosha is teeming with wildlife, there are large herds of zebras, elephants, springbok, giraffe and others. If you come to Etosha in 4X4 vehicle, self drive safari is a must. Picking your own trails and spotting animals in the wild is once in a lifetime kind of adventure.
END OF THE TRIP: BACK TO WINDHOEK TO FLY HOME OR ON TO THE NEXT ADVENTURE
*Fellow traveler’s tip: If you have the time, choose slow travel for Namibia’s road trip. The country is vast and most roads are gravel. On average, it takes about five hours to get to Sossusvlei from Windhoek, and it’s about the same amount of hours to get to Swakopmund from Sossuvlei, and finally, it’s about five hours between Swakopmund and Etosha. When most of the day is spent driving and you reach your destination for sunset, it’s a good idea to spend 3-4 nights at your new destination to immerse yourself in everything that it has on offer.
