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Long self-drive Namibia
USD 5500
JAN-DEC
17 NIGHTS
Select your style
We are able to vary the price of this trip considerably, simply by swapping out the lodges that it contains. This is likely to have a very significant effect on the level of polish of the trip, but in all cases it will remain cool and authentic. Make your selection here and the lodges will automatically change in the itinerary below.
USD 8200 per person
This trip includes really good quality properties, perhaps without the intense polish of the very top lodges, but also without the premium price tag.
Trip Summary
Start location : Windhoek International
Mariental
01 : Bagatelle Game Ranch
Fish River Canyon
02 : Fish River Lodge
03 : Fish River Lodge
Luderitz
04 : Nest Hotel
05 : Nest Hotel
Sossusvlei
06 : Kulala Desert Lodge
07 : Kulala Desert Lodge
08 : Kulala Desert Lodge
Swakopmund
09 : Strand Hotel Swakop
10 : Strand Hotel Swakop
Twyfelfontein
11 : Doro Nawas Camp
12 : Doro Nawas Camp
13 : Doro Nawas Camp
Etosha South
14 : Anderssons at Ongava
Etosha East
15 : Onguma Bush Camp
16 : Onguma Bush Camp
Otjiwarongo
17 : Okonjima Plains Camp
End location : Windhoek International
Mariental
Mariental is a main road town to the south of Windhoek, which is sometimes used to break the long journey south to Fish River Canyon. There are some moderately interesting lodges located in the Kalahari dunefields to the east of town.
Day 1
Arrival : Windhoek International
lodge
Bagatelle Game Ranch
Bagatelle Game Ranch is located in the Mariental area.
The lodge is centred on a converted farmhouse, leading out to a swimming pool.
Guest accommodation is in four Garden Court Rooms ...
... four Dune Chalets and six Strohbale Chalets.
Browse our collections of sample trips ...
Fish River Canyon
Set in the south of Namibia, the very impressive Fish River Canyon is the second largest feature of its type in the world, after the Grand Canyon in Utah. Guest accommodation is in a handful of lodges, offering a range of hiking and desert safari experiences.
Day 2 , 3
lodge
Fish River Lodge
Fish River Lodge is located in the Fish River Canyon area.
The lodge is centred on a stylish main building with massive views.
Guest accommodation is in 20 Rooms ranged either side.
Activities include vehicle safari around the reserve and down into the canyon, easy self-guided walking trails and longer hikes into the canyon with sleep-out options.
Scenic vehicle safari is operated in the conservancy around the camp.
The area offers some awesome options for day hiking and multiple day trekking with bivouac camping.
Luderitz
Set in the south of Namibia, Luderitz is a fabulously windswept and desolate historic colonial outpost, gateway to the infamous diamond coast and with the famous ghost town of Kolmanskop, but very short and quality accommodation and exposed to the relentless Atlantic winds.
Day 4 , 5
lodge
Nest Hotel
Nest Hotel is located in the Luderitz area.
The hotel is built around a central courtyard to protect from the wind.
Guest accommodation is in 72 rooms of various descriptions ...
... some of which are designated as Deluxe.
Activities include historic tours, whale watching and expeditions into the Diamond Coast.
Luderitz is a bizarre and windswept place, but interesting to explore on foot.
The diamond prospecting ghost town of Kolmanskop is very atmospheric.
The real highlight is a guided safari south into the famous Diamond Coast.
Sossusvlei
Set in the southwest of Namibia, Sossusvlei is home to the enormous and iconic orange dunes of the Namib Desert, a truly remarkable combination of desert landscapes. Guest accommodation is in around twenty lodges of various levels, offering a good range of activities including quad-biking, ballooning and scenic flights.
Day 6 , 7 , 8
lodge
Kulala Desert Lodge
Kulala Desert Lodge is located in the Sossusvlei area.
The lodge is centred on a large main building under thatch.
Guest accommodation is in 23 comfortable 'kulala' Rooms.
Activities include vehicle safari, walking safari, hiking, balloon safari, electric fat bike safari and scenic flights.
Dune 45 is a popular sunrise spot on the way into Sossusvlei.
But primary goal is to be first to reach the remarkable Deadvlei.
The dunes around Sossusvlei are also very impressive.
The rocky deserts inland also provide some superb scenery.
Electric fat bikes are also used to explore these desert landscapes.
Balloon safari is a superb by expensive paid extra.
Scenic flights range from short hops over Sossusvlei to long explorations of the Skeleton Coast, also pricey paid extras.
Swakopmund
Swakopmund is the main town on the Namibia Coast, a bizarre Germanic outpost, atmospheric and strangely appealing. Guest accommodation is in around twenty diverse hotels, offering a wide range of marine and active experiences.
Day 9 , 10
lodge
Strand Hotel Swakop
Strand Hotel Swakopmund is located in the Swakopmund area.
The hotel is contains several bar and restaurant areas.
Guest accommodation is in 125 rooms of various specifications ...
... some of which are designated as Luxury Rooms ...
... plus a much larger Presidential Suite.
Activities include various adventure activities, plus guided day trips to Sandwich Harbour and the lagoon at Walvis Bay.
The town of Swakopmund is a bizarre but interesting place to explore.
The town of Walvis Bay is a functional industrial port, but not unpleasant to explore on foot.
Walvis Bay is an excellent location for kayaking, seals, whales and dolphins.
Kayaking in the lagoon offers chances to get up close with the local seals.
The guided day trip south to Sandwich Harbour is a real treat.
Twyfelfontein
Set in the west of Namibia, Twyfelfontein is the best known and most frequently visited area in the country for desert elephants and rock-art, plus some superb hiking and geology. Guest accommodation is in half a dozen decent lodges.
Day 11 , 12 , 13
lodge
Doro Nawas Camp
Doro Nawas Camp is located in the Twyfelfontein area.
The camp is centred on an unusual fort-style main building, leading down to a swimming pool area.
Guest accommodation is in fourteen substantial Rooms, with indoor bathrooms.
Activities include vehicle safari in search of desert elephants, balloon safari, cultural interaction and visits to some excellent rock-art and geological sites.
The primary activity here is vehicle safari into the green valley of the ephemeral Huab River.
The main rock-art site at Twyfelfontein can get busy, but is extraordinarily good.
The Damara Living Museum is also surprisingly relaxed and interesting.
The area is renowned for its geology, especially the extensive petrified forests.
If you are keen, there are also some fabulous remote rock-art sites to explore.
Etosha South
Etosha South is an area of very popular private reserves clustered outside the South Gate of the main park, containing a selection of reasonably good quality camps which provide a more peaceful bush environment from which to raid into the park for wildlife viewing.
Day 14
lodge
Anderssons at Ongava
Andersson's at Ongava is located on the southern side of Etosha.
The lodge is centred on a modern main building, with a research centre and hide alongside.
Guest accommodation is in eight Suite Rooms, one of which is a large Family Suite with two bedrooms, all with air-conditioning.
Each room has a screen from which you can monitor the action at the waterhole.
Activities include vehicle safari, night vehicle safari, hide visits and walking safari inside the reserve, plus vehicle safari into the adjacent national park.
The camp has an excellent hide, similar to this one at the nearby Ongava Main Lodge.
The primary activity is vehicle safari in the relative peace of the Ongava Reserve.
Rhino tracking on foot is another particular speciality on this reserve.
You can decide for yourself whether you also want to brave the traffic inside the adjacent national park.
Etosha East
Etosha East is an area of private reserves clustered outside the East Gate of the main park, containing a selection of reasonably good quality camps which provide a more peaceful bush environment from which to raid into the park for wildlife viewing.
Day 15 , 16
lodge
Onguma Bush Camp
Onguma Bush Camp is located on the eastern side of Etosha.
The camp is centred on a thatched main building overlooking a waterhole.
Guest accommodation is in 18 rooms, of which 3 are these Standard Rooms ...
... plus 3 of these Family Rondavels ...
... and several Waterhole View Rooms.
Activities are centred on vehicle safari into the main national park, plus gentle walking safari and night vehicle safari on the reserve.
The primary activity is vehicle safari into the national park.
Otjiwarongo
Otjiwarongo is a large area of ranchland through which virtually all visitors drive between Windhoek and Etosha. Although these are not wild areas, there are points of interest, notably two very prominent animal conservation projects, renowned for cheetahs.
Day 17
lodge
Okonjima Plains Camp
Okonjima Plains Camp is located in the Otjiwarongo area.
The camp is centred on a large modern building, leading out to a swimming pool area.
Guest accommodation is in twenty four very pleasant rooms, two of which are Family Suites with two bedrooms.
Activities include tracking radio-collared cheetahs and other animals on foot, plus gentle vehicle safari and self-guided walking trails.
The primary activity is cheetah tracking, during which there are opportunities to view other wildlife on the reserve.
Leopard tracking is similar, but you don't get off the vehicle for the final approach.
Various levels of access to the Africat project may also be possible.
Day 18
Departure : Windhoek International
Alternative Trips
Here is a small selection of related sample trips.
Of course, your actual trip will be precisely tailor-made.
Of course, your actual trip will be precisely tailor-made.
