From South to North – Namibias Highlights
Embark on an exhilarating 18-day rental car tour through Namibia, from the southern reaches to the northern expanses of this captivating country. Your adventure commences upon landing in Windhoek, where you’ll pick up your rental car and set off on a journey of discovery. Prepare to be awed by the diverse landscapes and fascinating attractions that await, as you traverse the length of Namibia, immersing yourself in its natural wonders, vibrant cultures, and unforgettable experiences along the way.
Specification: From South to North – Namibias Highlights
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Welcome to Africa! You will arrive at the airport in Windhoek and pick up your rental car. Afterwards, you can take an orienting city tour of Windhoek. The diverse Namibian capital with its 250,000 inhabitants is the largest city in the country and is picturesquely situated at an altitude of 1650 meters in a valley basin, lined by the Eros Mountains in the north and the Auas Mountains in the south. To the west, the Khomas Highlands extend toward the Namib and the coast. As the political and economic center of the country, Windhoek has much to offer. You can see among others the Christ Church, the Boulevard, the Equestrian Monument and the district of Klein Windhoek, and as a contrast the district of the Bantu-speaking community Katatura. Accommodation: River Crossing Lodge (Standard Room)
Desert forms a large part of eastern Namibia and extends there about 500 km from north to south. Its fine powdery red sand is characteristic. On its sparsely vegetated grassy plains, huge herds of antelope and other animals graze. In the afternoon, for example, you can set out on a sundowner drive in an open jeep and enjoy a magnificent view over the Kalahari at sunset. Accommodation: Kalahari Anib Lodge (Standard Room).
Today you will drive south through a landscape dominated by dunes. Passing Mariental you will reach Keetmanshoop, the economic center of southern Namibia. Not far from the town you can visit the bizarre quiver tree forest. The whimsical looking tree-like aloe plant, which grows up to 7 meters high, is typical for Namibia. The plant got its name because the bushmen made quivers of arrows from its branches. Not far away is the “playground of the giants” with impressive stone formations. In the afternoon you will come to a natural wonder of Africa, the Fish River Canyon, the second largest canyon in the world. It is 160 km long, up to 27 km wide and up to 500 m deep in places. The rock canyons exposed at the bottom of the valley are up to a billion years old. Today the river only carries water after heavy rains. Accommodation: Canyon Roadhouse (Standard Room)
To experience the beauty and serenity first-hand, take an excursion along the canyon today and embark on a short hike in the Canyon Nature Park. In addition, your lodging offers optional excursions and or you can enjoy the peace and relax at your lodging. Accommodation: Canyon Roadhouse (Standard Room)
Today you will continue towards Aus. Visit the coastal town of Lüderitz or look out for the famous wild horses in Garub. Also visit Namibia’s most famous ghost town – Kolmanskop. Accommodation: Klein Aus Vista (Standard Room)
In the morning you will leave Aus and your journey will continue to Sossusvlei, part of a dune landscape of the Namib Desert, more than 300 km long and 140 km wide. Enjoy the drive through this unique nature and collect unforgettable impressions and memories of the scenic desert state. Accommodation: Namib Desert Lodge (Standard Room)
This day is at your free disposal. For example, undertake a Dune Drive: Early in the morning you will drive into the Namib-Naukluft National Park. Be enchanted by the play of shadows of the dunes, the wide view and the wonderful silence. By off-road vehicle you will explore the highest sand dunes in the world, which strong winds have accumulated here over millions of years. A sea of huge dunes, up to 350 meters high, spreads out before you in the Namib Naukluft National Park – an unforgettable experience! Take the opportunity to climb the famous Dune 45 in Sossusvlei. Afterwards you can drive on and visit the Sesriem Canyon. Accommodation: Namib Desert Lodge (Standard Room)
Your journey takes you to Swakopmund. This small town was founded in 1892 and was once the most important port of German Southwest Africa. It developed over time into the most popular seaside resort in Namibia with about 18,000 inhabitants. Even today, the town is often referred to as the most German town in Namibia. Accommodation: The Delight (Standard Room)
Today your time is at your own disposal. Swakopmund is comfortable for anyone to explore on their own, as the interesting urban area is essentially concentrated in four blocks. This small, pretty coastal town has many beautiful buildings from the German colonial period. At first glance, you’d think you were lost in a small German town. Bay windows and stucco, half-timbering and bull’s-eye windows create an atmosphere all their own, still reminiscent of the German provinces. However, the turn-of-the-century Imperial German architecture in Swakopmund seems surreal against the massive sand dunes of the nearby Namib Desert. Accommodations: The Delight (Standard Room)
Today you head to the Damaraland. In the arid northwest of Namibia, parts of the mosaic of ethnically diverse regions that make Namibia so varied and interesting. Until recently, Damaraland was a remote region where the lives of the people who live here have changed little over the centuries. It is an area of stark contrasts: high mountains, grasslands and steppe. In the afternoon you will arrive at your lodge in Palmwag, where you will stay for the next 2 nights. Enjoy the afternoon by the pool. Accommodation: Palmwag Lodge (Standard Room)
Palmwag is beautifully situated on a palm-lined tributary of the Uniab River. Water is scarce in this area, so the presence of the river often attracts elephants closer to the camps. You will have the opportunity to participate in a game drive in an open jeep through the reserve. Maybe you will be lucky enough to see the magnificent desert elephants or black rhinos. In any case, the drive goes through beautiful terrain. Visit Twyfelfontein, which is famous for its rock formations with thousands of years old engravings. Also worth a visit is the Petrified Forest, a forest with gigantic trees that have been turned to stone by the environment after many years.
Accommodation: Palmwag Lodge (Standard Room)
From Damaraland we continue our journey north via Opuwo to Epupa. Opuwo is the capital and also the only bigger town of the Kunene region. Here tradition and modernity meet, as it is the home of the Himba people. The surrounding landscape is characterized by low-lying hills and vast arid desert plains, which are inhabited by an abundance of desert-adapted animals. You will arrive at your lodge in the late afternoon and you can relax by the pool or optionally join a crocodile walk. Accommodation: Omarunga Lodge (Standard Room)
This morning you can visit a Himba village. Among other things, your guide will have corn flour and sugar ready as gifts for the Himba people. Experience the gratitude and immerse yourself in the everyday life of the indigenous people.
In the afternoon you will go to the viewpoint, from where you will have a breathtaking view of the Epupa Falls (“Falling Water “). The falls are about 40 meters high and offer a fascinating sight. The riverbank is lined with baobab trees and makalani palms. Why not stay for a sunset drink before having your dinner at the lodge. Accommodation: Omarunga Lodge (Standard Room)
After breakfast you will continue to the Hobatare concession area. You will drive through typical African semi-desert landscapes. Hobatere Lodge is located in a concession area of 8 808 hectares, 65 km north of Kamanjab, which is home to a rich variety of game including elephant and lion. This is an ideal stopover for self-drivers on their way to Namibia’s biggest tourist attraction. With conservation in mind, the lodge is actively engaged in the peaceful coexistence of man and nature. You can explore the area on your own in the morning as well as in the evening. Accommodation: Hobatare Lodge (Standard Room)
Today we continue our journey to Etosha National Park. The park is one of the most important game reserves in southern Africa. With about 22,270 km², Etosha Park is about the size of Hesse and the largest game reserve in Namibia. More than 144 different animal species are at home here. There are not the famous Big Five here, but you can spot four of them: elephants, rhinos, lions and leopards. Also giraffes, wildebeests, jackals, hyenas as well as all antelope species, from the stately eland to the tiny Damara dik-dik, find their habitat in Etosha National Park. The park thus presents some of the most common but also some of the rarest animal species. The main feature of the park is a salt pan, which is visible even from space.
Accommodation: Etosha Safari Camp (Standard Room)
On this day you will go on a safari in Etosha. Early in the morning you will start your tour in your comfortable rental car for which you should plan the whole day. Enjoy the beautiful landscape and with a little luck you will see giraffes, elephants and lions. Keep your camera handy for stunning photos. Accommodation: Etosha Safari Camp (Standard Room).
Today you will head south to the Waterberg Plateau Park. The Waterberg Plateau Park is a nature reserve in Namibia established in 1972. It has an area of 405 square kilometers and occupies large parts of the Waterberg in central northeastern Namibia. The Waterberg Plateau National Park is a great place to hike and relax. The park offers daily game drives to the plateau. (As a self-driver you cannot drive to the plateau because the driveway is extremely soft sandy and only accessible by 4×4). Today you can go on an excursion to the plateau and then do an easy hike where you can enjoy nature to the fullest. Accommodation: Waterberg Wilderness Lodge (Standard Room)
After breakfast you will go to the international airport, where you will drop off your rental car. From here you will start your journey home. We wish you a pleasant flight home!
What´s included
- 17 x nights in standard/comfort hotels/lodges (hotels/lodges mentioned in the itinerary are examples and can be substituted with equivalent accommodations)
- Daily breakfast and 2 Dinners
- 18 days rental car Toyota Fortuner 4x4 or similar
- Unlimited km, fully comprehensive insurance, additional driver, GPS
- 24 hour emergency service
Excluded
- Flights, airport taxes and visas (if applicable) and not specifically mentioned as included.
- Conservation fees / entrance fees not mentioned as included
- Meals not mentioned
- All beverages
- Porterage and gratuity fees
- Optional activities
- Additional car rental costs (e.g. fuel)
- Items of a personal nature, e.g. laundry, minibar, etc.
- Other expenses not specifically listed in the quote
Additional Information
All prices exclude airfares (unless specified), visa fees, travel insurance and any additional personal expenses.
Prices are per person sharing a double room. Single and triple rooms rates are available upon request.
Dates, itineraries and prices are indicative and subject to change based on the season.
Hotels mentioned in the itinerary may change due to availability, but will always be of equivalent or higher category.
Some countries charge additional destination taxes per person or per night that can only be paid directly at the location.
All displayed tour maps are originated from Google Maps and are only indicative. They are not representative of the exact travel routes of the itinerary.
For more details please visit our booking conditions page.
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