Namibia self drive adventure

Arrive at Windhoek airport. Transfer to the car rental depot, pick up of your vehicle and start your self drive adventure!

Set around a beautiful heritage building that was once the estate house of a vineyard, the award-winning Weinberg is well-located in a quiet suburb close to central Windhoek.

Part of the estate, the Weinberg is built around a charming courtyard complete with fountain, lush foliage, and shady seating areas. Upscale and contemporary in style, the social spaces are full of rich textures and bold accents while the library lounge and Wine Lounge offer a choice of relaxing places to sit and enjoy a drink or two from an extensive wine list. There is also a luxurious spa with a pool and a range of treatments. it is the ideal overnight stop to relax after a long haul flight and prepare for your route the next day.

The first day takes you southwards for 250km, out of the Windhoek hills and past the town of Rehoboth towards Mariental. Before reaching the town, a turnoff will take you east and into the red sands of the Kalahari and the stylish Kalahari Anib Lodge. For those who want to try a more adventurous route for the last stretch, a gravel alternative to the tar road will lead you through the countryside along small rolling sand-dunes.

Namibia’s Fish River Canyon - the second largest canyon in the world – is calling! Take the tar road southwards to Keetmanshoop, this capital of the Karas region features a small monument to karakul sheep farmers and a museum housed in the old church. Another, the more adventurous route will take you along Gochas and Koës, through hills and past memorials to fallen soldiers. From Keetmanshoop, turn onto the gravel road near Naute Dam, passing an emerald oasis of palm trees and vineyards. Make a stop at the Naute Kristall distillery to taste a range of desert schnapps.

The road now leads through the Gondwana Canyon Park, a 130 000-hectare private nature reserve, past the old limestone kiln at Holoog, which is visible before the turn-off to the Fish River Canyon and Canyon Roadhouse. The red-roofed Roadhouse appears 16km further on with its wonderful collection of classic automobiles. You have reached your friendly and colourful home for the next two nights, to rest, explore, and fill up on smiles and its famous Amarula cheesecake.

Choose between the more adventurous route to the south that follows the Orange River before circling up to Rosh Pinah and Aus. Or you could follow the route northwards via Naute Dam, turning westwards on the B4 towards the Namib Desert. The flat-topped mountains provide company along the way as you follow the road over small bridges that cross several temporary rivers. A good place to stop for lunch is Alte Kalköfen lodge, a short detour off the main road and a chance to visit the small lithoparium – a lithops nursery and the only place in Namibia authorised to propagate these ‘flowering stones.’

The warm family-owned Klein Aus Vista Lodge is a few kilometres after Aus. The lodge, which celebrates the spirit of the wild horses, is the perfect base from which to explore the area and reconnect with your own sense of freedom.

Today’s journey is on the gravel, so take your leave after an early breakfast to head towards the exquisite desert scenery further north. Travel the route via Helmeringhausen (a good place for a coffee break), Maltahöhe and Büllsport (with an optional route from Maltahöhe via the Tsaris Pass), or the more scenic and sandier D707 that skirts the Namib Naukluft Park.

Betta is a good place to stop along the way for a bite to eat before the drive through the Namib Rand Nature Reserve. Slow down and keep eyes open for wildlife along this section of unfenced road. Sixty kilometres north of Sesriem, at the foot of a ridge of 20-million-year-old fossilised sand dunes, Namib Desert Lodge appears. You will have some time the next day to visit the famous dune area around Sossusvlei and Dead Vlei.

Continue your journey with an interesting drive through the desert northwards to the coast. Solitaire is a must-do stop along the route to refuel and enjoy a slice of apple pie from the bakery. The road north takes you through the fascinating landscape of the Gaub and Kuiseb canyons. It crosses over small bridges where the rivers rush down in flood after heavy rainfall.

Gravel plains lead to Walvis Bay (its lagoon decorated with flamingos at certain times of the year) and then an intriguing drive between desert dunes and sparkling sea to Swakopmund. Here, you’ll be welcomed by the friendly staff at The Delight Hotel, a breath of fresh air in the desert. Relax in the coastal town, or visit the surrounding area with a boat cruise for example.

Follow the salt road along the coast northwards towards Henties Bay, before heading inland on the gravel to Damaraland via Uis and the Brandberg, Namibia’s highest mountain. As you near the Ugab River, look out for the striking Herero women with their colourful stalls.

During the long summer days, and if you leave early enough, consider taking the extra loop to view the intriguing rock engravings at Twyfelfontein. Your overnight stop, Damara Mopane Lodge, is 30km east of Khorixas. Set amongst the mopane trees, the chalets are built in a semi-circular labyrinth design with a turquoise pool at their centre.

Enjoy breakfast amidst the mopane trees before the gentle drive northwards towards Etosha National Park via the small town of Outjo. (Early birds have the option of visiting the Twyfelfontein engravings in the morning and travelling to Etosha Safari Camp in the afternoon.) Relax by the pool or visit the national park to spend time at the large Okaukuejo waterhole or the nearby waterholes before returning to the lodge before sunset.

Say your good byes to Etosha and drive South on the way back to Windhoek, and stopping at the enchanting Okapuka Safari Lodge.

Okapuka Safari Lodge offers a unique African wildlife experience at the doorstep of Namibia’s capital, Windhoek. This is an ideal choice for a tranquil break and perfect for your last night before flying back home. Enjoy the peace and quiet from the veranda of your cosy room watching an array of warthogs passing by accompanied by antelopes, peacefully grazing side by side.

After a leisurely breakfast, you make your way back to Windhoek where you will return your rental vehicle. You can opt to either spend an additional night in Windhoek or continue to Hosea Kutako International Airport for the departure of your scheduled flight. Please note that check-in times for departures is at least 2 hours before the flight departure time. Kindly deliver your car to the car rental company beforehand from where you will be transferred to the airport.