Namibia is one of the best countries for an ultimate road trip, considering that driving for more than 100km without seeing another car is rare and hard to find nowadays. From the white salt pan of Etosha National Park to rock formations in Damaraland, from Sossusvlei’s red dunes to the Skeleton Coast’s cold winds, from the beautiful colonial German town of Swakopmund to the Moon Landscape drive, the landscape changes constantly making every single day unique.
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Our 2-week Road Trip Itinerary Map
The country is HUGE, and it’s impossible to cover everything in two weeks. The roads are sometimes exhausting, so driving that much in a day is not an option. You will drive most of the time on gravel roads, although those are well maintained. It’s such a trouble-free country to navigate on your own, so I dare to say that anyone could do it.
We wanted to make the most out of this experience, so we rented a 4×4 Toyota Hilux with a rooftop tent, which is the most popular way to visit Namibia, driving around 3.000 kilometers. Nothing compares to the freedom you get when driving your car, choosing when to stop and where to go.
We’ve visited this country in September, for two weeks and we’ve booked the campsites in May, but I would recommend booking well in advance if you are visiting the country in the high season, from May to October.
Day 1. Arrive in Windhoek
First thing after emigration, we bought a sim-data package for two weeks. Sim-data package: MTC Super Aweh Voucher for one week: 65N$ (4€, 4.5US$) included: 700 free minutes, 1500 free SMS, 3 GB free, 750 MB free for Facebook&Whatsapp.
Someone from the rental company picked us up from the airport and took us to Windhoek, 45km from the airport. At the rental office, we had a very detailed briefing of our 4×4 Hilux rooftop car. We were tired and mostly wanted to go to bed, but we knew this part was essential for a perfect road trip, so we paid attention to every detail. Which I encourage you to do as well.
Accommodation: we decided to spend our first night in Windhoek, in one flat with private parking: 495N$ (30€, 34US$)/night.
Day 2. Windhoek – Etosha National Park (East Gate), 530km only on tarred roads, 5h30′ drive
After a long and deep sleep, we bought some supplies for the week to come. There are plenty of supermarkets in Windhoek, like Pick&Pay, Spar, or Chequers, where you can stock up on groceries.
The road from Windhoek to Etosha is pretty smooth, with very little traffic, easy to drive on tarred roads. We stopped for a coffee at Otjiwarongo and then drove forward.
Accommodation, close enough to the park’s east entry gate: Onguma Tamboti Camp: 280N$ (17€, 19US$) /pp/night. Every camp had its own private ablution facility, own toilet, and PowerPoint. It was quieter, more intimate, and cheaper than staying inside the park.
Day 3. Etosha National Park, 77km from Onguma Tamboti Camp to Halali Rest Camp
Etosha National Park is Namibia’s best game-drive park and an essential destination on any 2-week road trip Namibia itinerary. With several entrance gates, Etosha is HUGE. The opening/closing times of the gates change weekly and are based on Sunrise and Sunset, and we started as soon as possible since wildlife is very active in the early morning. Remember to release some air pressure from the tires, just like your car hire company advised you (we chose 1.6).
We searched for wildlife and headed to waterholes where animals congregate around. It is easy to navigate the park, although it’s vast and you need at least two days to explore it. We’ve seen such diverse wildlife like zebra, giraffe, impala, springbok, kudu, oryx, black rhino, elephants, and ostriches.
Etosha National Park day permit: 80N$/pp + 10 N$/car, 170N$ (11€, 12US$)/2pp
Accommodation inside the park at Halali Camp: 700N$/2pp/campsite/night (45€, 47.5US$). Campsites are close to each other, and it was a little bit too loud for us at night. Very dusty as well, so definitely not our favorite!
Day 4. Etosha National Park, 77km from Halali Rest Camp to Mondjila Safari Camp, outside the park
Another beautiful day spent inside the park, looking for wildlife and taking tons of photos. On our way out, we headed to Okaukuejo Rest Camp. By far, the best game viewing spot is from the shaded bench surrounding the waterhole, which anyone can use. It’s a must on your way in or out of the park!
Accommodation: Mondjila Safari Camp, 30km south of the Etosha National Park: 330N$ ( 20€, 22US$). Each campsite with its own PowerPoint, light, and braai area. We loved this place so much!
Day 5. Etosha National Park – Damaraland, 362 km (200 km on tarred roads until Khorikas + 163 km on gravel roads), 4h30′ drive. Our longest day in Namibia due to the stops!
We got up early as we knew it would be a long day and took a quick stop for breakfast at Outjo Bakery, 72km from Mondjila Safari Camp. Next on the agenda: Damaraland, one of the most scenic areas and one of Namibia’s least populated regions. The area offers spectacular rock formations made out of numerous red boulders, and it’s a must on any Namibia road trip itinerary.
Damaraland highlights for this day include the prehistoric petroglyphs at Twyfelfontein, the petrified trunk trees at Petrified Forest, and the group of rock formations that resembles Organ Pipes. Those attractions are doable in the space of 3 hours. Beware the closing time: 5 pm!
Park fees Twyfelfontein and Petrified Forest -100N$/pp (6€, 7US$), Organ Pipes, 50N$/pp (3€, 3.5US$).
The Petrified Forest
A national monument, discovered in 1940 by two farmers, the place itself has many fossilized tree trunks. The trees didn’t grow here, but this is the place where the river washed them down millions of years ago. We took a 45-minutes pleasant and entertaining guided walk.
Twyfelfontein
After our guided tour under the Namibian burning sun, we headed to Twyfelfontein. The place is famous not for its rock paintings but its petroglyphs, which are incised by the use of quartz on soft sandstone. It was already hot, but we decided to go on the guided Lion-Man tour, which takes around one hour. We loved the place, and the guided tour was very informative, so make sure not to skip this place.
Tip. The site should be visited late afternoon for the best shots.
Organ Pipes
Six kilometers from Twyfelfontein is another interesting site called Organ Pipes. Worth a quick stop to wander through the group of columnar basalts which resemble some organ pipes.
Accommodation: Madisa Camp, D2612, GPS coordinates: -20.726401, 14.682374. 441N$/2 pax/night (28.50€, 31US$). Our favorite campsite – a hidden gem between fantastic rock formations.
Day 6. A day to relax at Madisa Camp, Damaraland
We slept a little bit longer this morning, enjoying a delicious breakfast, entirely alone in the camp. Then we took a short walk around the vast Granite Bolder from Madisa Camp, took lots of photos, and later in the afternoon, we used the swimming pool. We spent the evening relaxing at the bar, with a drink and a good chat. It was a good day to take a break from our road trip and recharge the batteries.
Day 7. Damaraland – Cape Cross – Henties Bay, 330 km, 4h drive
On the way to Skeleton Coast, we stopped for a coffee and a homemade cake at Cactus and Coffee, a lovely cactus shaded garden in Uis’s remote town.
Cape Cross
From Hentiesbei, we drove on a beautiful salt road to reach the world’s largest breeding colony of Cape fur seals, Cape Cross. You would never expect to see so many seals in one place. There is a walkway above the ground for people to walk along and to take pictures. It is highly unusual to get so close to wildlife, to see both adults and cute seal pups playing around. The noise and the smell are overwhelming, though.
Tip: Don’t wear your best clothes since the stench is horrible and stays in the clothes for days. Choose something you won’t be needing soon.
Cape Cross entrance fee: 80N$/pp + 10 N$/car, 170N$ (11€, 12US$)/2pp
Accommodation: Nights are cold and windy on Skeleton Coast, so we decided to spend the night at the gorgeous Desert Rendezvous in Hentiesbaai: 810N$ ( 50€, 54US$)/night/ double room with breakfast included.
Dinner: We opted for Go Fishy restaurant, and I highly recommend you to do so. Go for the capture of the day! Fantastic food at an average price: 500N$ (30€, 34US$)/dinner+drinks for the two of us.
Day 8. Hentiesbaai – Dune 7 – Swakopmund, 160km, 2h30′ drive
Zeila
15 km south of Henties Bay is the wreck of the Zeila, stranded on August 25, 2008. The ship was sold as scrap metal but got shipwrecked after it left Walvis Bay on the way to India. It worths a quick stop to see the shipwreck, now colonized by birds. A few vendors approached us but a simple “no, thank you” was enough, and they left us alone.
Wlotzkasbake
Halfway between Hentiasbaai and Swakopmund is a small summer cottage community called Wlotzkasbake. We drove through, took some pictures, and headed to Walvis Bay.
Dune 7
Dune 7, in Dorob National Park, about 10 kilometers east of Walvis Bay, is the highest in the area. It is about 383 meters high from the base and 570 meters above sea level. Reasonably easy to climb, the dune has lovely views over the desert — a must on your Namibia road trip itinerary.
Tip: Climb Dune 7 on the left-hand end and follow the trail. It is easier and takes no more than 20 minutes.
The lagoon of Walvis Bay
On the way back to Swakopmund, we saw some shallows packed with flamingos and pelicans on the left side of the road. Walvis Bay’s lagoon is the hibernation area for thousands of migratory birds, especially for southern African greater flamingos. They were quite shy, so we left the car and walked a little bit until we found a spot from where we could watch them without being seen — such a great thing to observe them in their natural environment.
Swakopmund
We spent the rest of the day exploring Swakopmund – walking on the promenade, taking photos of the old colonial buildings, and finding the right restaurant.
Accommodation: It gets freezing at night, in September, in Swakopmund, so we spent the night in a private flat: 660N$ (40€, 45US$)/night.
Dinner: Kücki’s Pub serves delicious seafood and is a famous hangout place for locals and visitors alike.
Day 9. Swakopmund – Moon Landscape – Spitzkoppe Campsite, 188km, 2h30′ drive
Swakopmund, the second largest town in Namibia, is well packed with supermarkets, so we filled our fridge with everything we needed for the second week.
Moon Landscape
From Swakopmund, we’ve headed to the Welwitschia Plains for a scenic drive through Namib-Naukluft Park, another unique Namibia landscape.
We got a day permit from the NWR office in Swakopmund, although I’m still unsure if this was really necessary. After the Moon Landscape viewpoint, there is a T junction where we turned left and drove to Goanikontes oasis. Here we spoiled ourselves with a great coffee and a light meal.
Tip: The area is a photographer’s heaven, so visit this place early morning or late afternoon for great pictures.
Spitzkoppe
We arrived early at Spitzkoppe Community Restcamp, and we began to search for the perfect spot. Boy, that wasn’t easy at all. We found every place better than the other one, but finally, we agreed that 11B was the ideal campsite for us. With the perfect sunset and a delicious dinner, we completed the night.
Welwitschia Plains day permit: 40N$/pp and 10N$/car
Accommodation: Spitzkoppe Community Restcamp, 190N$ (11.6€, 13US$) /pp/night
Day 10. Spitzkoppe (Damaraland)
When the sunrise lit the rocks with the most beautiful light, we were ecstatic. We just immersed ourselves in the stillness and the beauty of the place and had a lovely breakfast.
We spent the day exploring the area, hiking and climbing the giant boulders, taking lots of photos. We did two guided tours: the Bushmen’s Paradise tour and the Small Bushmen’s Paradise tour.
The Bushmen’s Paradise tour takes about an hour to complete, and the Small Bushmen’s Paradise takes about half an hour. No fees for the guided tours but tips are welcomed. By noon it gets scorching, so we spent some time at the bar, chilling. The sunset was once again spectacular. There was a full moon, and we enjoyed a clear sky.
Accommodation: Spitzkoppe Community Restcamp, 190N$ (11.6€, 13US$) /pp/night
Tip: Campsites 10 A, B, C and 11B, C are undoubtedly the best!
Day 11. Spitzkoppe – Sossusvlei, 488 km, around 6 h drive
Another long day spent on the road with lovely views and stops on the way.
Tropic of Capricorn
Tropic of Capricorn, on C14, is one of the most iconic signs in Africa and must on every Namibia road trip itinerary. Luckily we had the sign for ourselves, and we took lots of photos.
Town of Solitaire
Town of Solitaire, a small town in the middle of nowhere, for us a great stop-off considering the long drive. We enjoyed a cup of coffee and the famous and most delicious apple pie. We took some photos since the surroundings were so beautiful, with lots of old cars and succulent plants.
From Solitaire, we had one hour drive to our next campsite, near Sesriem Gate, our base for the next day.
Accommodation: Sesriem Oasis Campsite, outside the Namib-Naukluft National Park: 230N$ (14€, 15.62US$)/pp/night
Day 12. Sossusvlei, Climbing the Big Daddy
Sossusvlei is one of Namibia’s most iconic sites, with unique dead trees surrounded by red-orange sand dunes and a must-see for anyone traveling to Namibia. We spent the day climbing Big Daddy dune (the largest in the area), then explored the Deadvlei mud pan before walking to the much less visited Hiddenvlei.
Namib-Naukluft National Park day permit: 80N$/pp + 10 N$/car
Accommodation: Sesriem Oasis Campsite, outside the Namib-Naukluft National Park: 230N$ (14€, 15.62US$)/pp/night
RELATED POST: Find out how to plan the perfect day in Sossusvlei – 4X4 SELF-DRIVE TRIP TO SOSSUSVLEI!
Day 13. Sossuvlei – Windhoek, 334 km, 4h30′ drive
We opted for the road less traveled to Windhoek, via Spreetshoogte Pass, and the scenery was well worth it. From Rehoboth, we drove on the tared road again until we reached the town of Windhoek.
Accommodation: we rented a flat for the last night in Namibia, 495N$ (30€, 33.62US$)/night/2pp.
Day 14. Departure
We left the car at the rental company, and we had a lift to the airport from where we took the long flight back home.
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