Hey, I’m so happy you’re here! I completely understand why you’re curious about our self-drive Namibia roadtrip experience. This stunning African country absolutely blew me away and enchanted me. Traveling independently was especially exciting for me, since I had never been to Africa before.
Namibia is the perfect road trip destination because, literally every few kilometers, the landscape changes and the scenery looks completely different.
I’m generally not a huge fan of pre-arranged tours, because I love the challenge of organizing exciting trips myself. But on this road trip, we even drove our own car on safari through Etosha National Park! But see for yourself:
Our Namibia roadtrip itinerary for 2 weeks
We took 14 days for our Namibia roadtrip self-drive adventure. Deducting two days for travel, that leaves 12 full days to explore and experience.
Quick tip up front: I’d strongly recommend adding 2–4 extra nights, because personally, two key destinations were missing for the perfect Namibia experience: the Fish River Canyon and the Kalahari Desert.
Our route in short: from Windhoek straight to the Namib-Naukluft Desert to Sossusvlei and Deadvlei, then to the coast in Swakopmund, onward to Spitzkoppe, via Brandberg north to Etosha National Park, and back to Windhoek with a final stop at Waterberg.
Here’s a detailed breakdown:
First stop capital Windhoek
We didn’t schedule much time in Windhoek, as we wanted to see so much else in the country. But if you want to stop in Windhoek, I recommend visiting the Christuskirche and the Old Fort.
For organized excursions, transfers, or audioguides, here’s a small selection if you don’t want to go on your own. A 7-day northern Namibia tour starting in Windhoek might also be perfect if you’re short on time.
After our overnight flight, which I barely slept on, everything ran smoothly. After passport control and luggage pickup, we found the Bluu shuttle station right away. The rental car pickup went well too, though it was busy since all tourists from the full Frankfurt flight were picking up cars at the same time. After about an hour, we had our Toyota Fortuner, and we were off south!
If you’d like a Windhoek stop, here are some hotel options:
- Budget & near the airport: African Kwela Guesthouse
- Central & good value: Gardens Boutique Hotel
- Central & cozy: Olive Grove Guesthouse
Namib-Naukluft National Park
Our second stop (technically the first real stop) was the Namib-Naukluft National Park. I booked the most expensive lodge here because I wanted to treat ourselves after the long flight. And it did not disappoint: infinity pool in the desert, a private stilted cabin, and absolutely delicious food! I can highly recommend Desert Hills Lodge. We paid around €507 for 2 nights for 2 people with half-board (breakfast & dinner).
There are lodges closer to the Sossusvlei entrance, but staying here was worth the short drive the next morning. Just look at that stunning pool view and the cool stilted cabins!
On our day of arrival, we couldn’t do more than moving in, enjoying dinner and go to sleep. First, we had to eliminate some mosquitos! I recommend my mosquito net, which I bought right after that and took with me to South Africa. So the next morning, our first big sightseeing was waiting for us!
Sossusvlei & Deadvlei
The drive to Sossusvlei was already absolutely breathtaking. I just love Namibia’s long roads stretching through endless landscapes. But I was especially excited about visiting the world-famous Deadvlei—anyone who knows me knows that I loooove the desert with its colors, dunes, and rock formations.
After the beautiful drive, you arrive at a parking lot with toilets and a small kiosk, from where you can take the shuttle over the sandy track. The shuttle takes you to the back parking area, where your short hike to Deadvlei begins. I’d say the walk took about 20 minutes until Deadvlei finally opened up before our eyes.
After hiking through the scorching heat of Deadvlei for a while and taking our photos, we decided to tackle the challenging climb up one of the dunes. The view from the top over the surrounding “vleis” and the curves of the dune ridges was absolutely worth it.
The way back along the dune ridge toward the parking lot was also really beautiful. For me, that was the perfect Deadvlei excursion. So I decided not to climb the famous Dune 45 on the way back—I just photographed it from the road.
Shuttle to Deadvlei
PLEASE take the shuttle from the parking lot over the sand track to the Deadvlei trailhead. We saw so many cars stuck in the sand.
We only drove over the sand track ourselves because we had specifically booked an expensive 4×4, we regularly drive on sand at home (!), and because some very kind people went ahead of us, so we could help each other in case somebody got stuck.
If you do decide to drive through the sand on your own—at your own risk—make sure to let some air out of your tires first, take a shovel just in case, and please DO NOT brake on deep sand.
Swakopmund & Walvis Bay
Namibia roadtrip stop in Solitaire
Our next stop was Walvis Bay / Swakopmund, where we had also booked two nights. But anyone who’s done even a little research on Namibia knows there’s no way around Solitaire :D. So, of course, we stopped for the famous apple pie (it was pretty good) and the car wrecks, and took the early break as an opportunity to refuel.
Walvis Bay
Many Namibia travelers spend some time in Walvis Bay to check out the salt flats, climb Dune 7, take a tour to Sandwich Harbour (which you can also do from Swakopmund), or watch the flamingo colony. We only stopped at the dunes in front of Walvis Bay and at the flamingos in the bay. Unfortunately, we didn’t have time for more.
I was a bit bummed we missed the Sandwich Harbour tour—it looked incredible. I would highly recommend doing one if you love dunes as much as I do and want an amazing photo spot. I’ve linked three tour options here: the cheapest tour; a slightly longer tour including lunch; and a full-day tour with a cruise and visit to the pink salt lakes. (Tip: book a few days in advance.)
But the flamingos at sunset were an absolutely stunning photo opportunity and a perfect reward for our long driving day. If you’re wondering which camera gear I used for Namibia, I’ve written a full blog post about my travel photography equipment.
Later, we drove along Long Beach toward Swakopmund in the evening light. The view of the ocean was such a nice contrast to the long inland drive.
Swakopmund – the most German city in Namibia?
Our next stop on our two-week Namibia road trip was Swakopmund. We spent two nights in an Airbnb and intentionally set aside a full day to explore the city. For you, I’ve linked my favorite accommodation here, even though unfortunately it wasn’t available during our travel dates. Plus, a few more options:
- My favorite because super fancy: Atlantic Square Guesthouse
- Just as affordable and cute: Hotel a la mer
- Almost booked this one too: Desert Breeze Lodge, a bit outside near the dunes with a stunning view
- For something a bit more striking & in the city center: Swakopmund Hotel & Entertainment Center – I actually stayed here because it’s an absolutely amazing colonial-era building (see the fourth picture below)
As you can see, I found so many really great accommodations in Swakopmund. The architecture here is genuinely interesting and makes for some fantastic photo opportunities. Many buildings date back to colonial times, so you’ll also spot plenty of German influences – from street names to a German-style tavern. It’s no wonder Swakopmund is called the “most German city in Namibia.” 😉
Desert quad tour
On the day we were leaving for our next stop, Spitzkoppe, we decided to squeeze in a quad biking tour in the dunes. Luckily, we were allowed to check out a little later from our Airbnb, which made it possible – and yes, a quick shower was much needed 😀
With quite strong winds, the three of us and our guide sped across the dunes on our quads. I absolutely love quad biking, so this was super exciting for me. Some of the dunes were seriously high, and our guide just zoomed us over steep slopes like it was nothing.
It was amazing that we were the only ones on the tour, because we didn’t have to wait for anyone and could even ask our guide for a quick photo stop. I had been dreaming of a shot like that in the dunes for so long!
Spitzkoppe: the most beautiful place in Namibia?
The Spitzkoppe – perhaps the natural wonder I was most excited about besides Deadvlei. But first, a quick note on getting there. We set off late in the morning from our coastal adventure. Honestly, we were a little happy to be leaving the 15–18°C weather behind and heading back to 30–35°C. From there, it was back onto the gravel roads. And once again, some of these roads turned out to be perfect spots for a few classic road trip photos.
Spitzkoppe Tented Camp
Arriving at our camp at the Spitzkoppe, we were a bit torn. This was the first government-run camp on our trip. As you may have read elsewhere, there are huge differences between “private” or hotel-chain-run lodges and the state-run camps. This is something very important for your Namibia roadtrip, since there are only state-run camps inside almost all of Namibias nationalparks. They are expensive and sometimes the comfort is not the best. For better comfort, you should always keep an eye on the private lodges outside of the parks. I recommend you the budgetfriendly Spitzkoppe cabin camp, the outstanding Hohenstein Lodge (would be my choice!) and the exquisite Spitzkoppen lodge with its luxury chalets.
Our state-run camp (Spitzkoppe Tented Camp) had an incredible location, a pretty (but cold) pool, and the stilted tents looked really cool. From the outside.
As I said, from the outside. Inside, our tent was extremely sparse – basically unfurnished. There was a bed with a terrible mattress and a tiny little table. On the mattress, you always rolled into the middle and felt every spring. The mattresses definitely need to be replaced.
On the other hand, we didn’t mind the idea of spending two nights so minimalist. By the way, the bathroom was outside, on the rear balcony of our little house, which was completely private. And at least we had this incredible view of the Spitzkoppe from our terrace:
Exploring Spitzkoppe National Park
Now for the really important part. The next morning, we headed into the National Park! After a short drive out of the camp and through the village, we reached the park entrance.
As soon as we drove in and along the first few paths, breathtaking views of the Spitzkoppe National Park opened up before us. Once again, I was overwhelmed by the orange and sand-colored rock formations and couldn’t stop photographing and soaking in the views. How beautiful is this park, seriously?
This day was an absolutely perfect exploration day, and we enjoyed every moment. Later in the afternoon, we left the park and returned to the Spitzkoppe Tented Camp. A delicious dinner awaited us, followed by our second night in our stilted tent.
Stopover at Brandberg
The next morning, we packed up our tents once again and continued our Namibia roadtrip. I was already excited about a very special hotel: the 3 Aloes guesthouse, that I had picked for a relaxing in-between day. Originally, I had chosen it only because our actual next stop – the Vingerklip Lodge – was only available for one night. So we needed another place for the first night. However, this stop near Brandberg turned out to be a much-needed moment of slow living.
We arrived around lunchtime, which gave us the whole rest of the day to relax by the beautiful pool of the property. The guesthouse was a stunning estate, completely secluded on a hill, with a panoramic view of the Brandberg Massive. What a view! I wonder if I had unconsciously picked all our accommodations based on their pools and views! 😀
The next morning, we enjoyed an absolutely incredible breakfast, prepared just for the two of us. From yogurt with muesli and fresh fruit to scrambled eggs and delicious bread – everything your heart could desire – and we were looked after so lovingly by the two wonderful ladies. I can honestly recommend this Airbnb to you!
Exploring Brandberg and visiting the desert elephants
Afterwards, we headed towards the Brandberg massive to make a little detour before continuing on to Vingerklip Lodge. At Brandberg itself, there are different ways to experience the area. You can book a hike to the famous rock paintings (the White Lady Paintings) or visit the desert elephants in the riverbed.
We simply drove towards the Brandberg to take our obligatory road photo and then made our way – once again on rather tiring gravel roads – to the Brandberg White Lady Lodge, hoping to spot some desert elephants.
At least I assumed you’d need some luck. I had found out beforehand that the elephants are able to survive in the dry riverbed because the deeply rooted plants provide them with enough greenery to feed on. From my experience, however, the chances of seeing elephants near the lodge are quite high. Maybe they even help things along a little with food. Please be respectful though and don’t drive all over the lodge grounds unless you are actually staying there!
Vingerklip & Ugab terraces
The monument valley of Namibia? At least that’s what I lovingly called it. I’ve been to Arizona, but not yet to Monument valley – though this is pretty much how I imagine it. The stunning Ugab terraces lie majestically embedded in the vast valley, with the striking Vingerklip rock rising dramatically from the landscape. What a stopover on our Namibia roadtrip!
Right in the middle: two beautiful lodges. I could hardly decide. We stayed at the German-managed Vingerklip lodge, which had amazing pools and an unforgettable dinner, as well as an own waterhole. The Ugab terrace lodge with its breathtaking view over the valley, the terraces, and vingerklip rock is also an excellent choice.
By the way, dinner at the Vingerklip Lodge was absolutely fantastic! (at the main restaurant, not at Eagles Nest – we didn’t book that one, but if you have a special day or something, you should!).
That being said, the lodge was very busy, since it’s so popular and often fully booked. The Ugab Terrace Lodge might be a bit more relaxed. Here are a few impressions:
Etosha National Park
The next day we left Vingerklip Lodge and the stunning valley of the Ugab Terraces behind and headed north. Etosha National Park was calling! There are multiple gates to enter, depending on where you’re coming from. Right after passing through Andersson Gate, we got our first warm welcome from some pumbas.
Self-Drive Safari or Guided Safari?
What’s great about Etosha is that you can either join guided safari tours or go on a self-drive safari and explore at your own pace. Shortly after entering the park, we used the last hours of that day to make a selfdrive safari out of our drive to Halali Camp. We’ve already had our first big sightings, look at the hidden rhino in the end, which I was somehow able to spot:
Here are a few impressions from our morning safari from Halali Camp as well, which we took the next morning. The highlight, of course, were the lion cubs—which I actually spotted by myself with my 600mm lens. Our guide pointed out the pride, but he didn’t see the cubs with the naked eye. I have to admit, I was as proud as I could be!
After spending the night at Halali Camp, which we didn’t like too much, we moved on to Okaukuejo Camp for two nights. Since all the game drives were fully booked, we decided to head out on our own for sunrise and sunset drives. So here’s little tip: book your game drives in advance if you don’t want to miss out. Even so, we had some amazing sightings. Two of my favorites were spotting a lone male lion and witnessing an absolute spectacle of animals gathering at a waterhole. And finally—we crossed paths with a hyena!
State-run camp inside the park or private lodge outside?
One important thing to know: the park gates open at sunrise and close at sunset. This is something to consider when choosing your accommodation. I almost booked a beautiful lodge just outside the park. But something told me to stick with the camps inside Etosha. In the end, we had mixed experiences—one camp wasn’t great, while the other felt very comfortable.
Still, the evenings at the waterholes inside the park made up for the lower comfort levels. I can’t say for sure whether the private lodges outside (especially those in private game reserves) also have well-frequented waterholes. So my conclusion is: if you’re looking for more comfort and traveling on a smaller budget, go with a charming private lodge outside the park.
Waterberg Plateau
I had been trying to fit the Waterberg Plateau into our route from the start. Finally, I managed to squeeze in one night between Etosha and our return flight. We stayed in a lovely stilted safari tent—much bigger and more modern than the one at Spitzkoppe, complete with a super comfy bed. The only downsides: no air conditioning and the pools could have been better maintained. Still, I really liked it! It was the Waterberg Wilderness Lodge perfectly located at the foot of Waterberg Plateau.
We spent a relaxed afternoon and evening reading on our balcony and enjoying a delicious dinner. The next morning, we joined a guided hike up the plateau with our lodge, which I had been looking forward to.
I was a little nervous, since we had our return flight that very evening. But everything worked out perfectly—we packed up right after the hike and drove the four hours back to the airport in time for our flight.
Once arrived at the airport, we returned our BLU rental car and were shuttled back to the terminal. I have to say, the BLU staff were incredibly friendly, and everything went smoothly with the car return.
Final Thoughts
Namibia is a road trip paradise: endless landscapes, dramatic deserts, unique wildlife, and unforgettable adventures. With this self-drive itinerary for your own Namibia roadtrip, you can see the highlights while still having flexibility and freedom.
From the deserts of Sossusvlei to the wildlife of Etosha, Namibia left me speechless and inspired. If you love adventure, photography, and nature, this trip is an absolute must!
I hope you enjoyed my blog post about Namibia! Be sure to also check out my other Africa blog posts: Solo Safari in Kruger National Park or Mauritius Self-Drive Road Trip.
Safe travels,
Your Samy
