Namibië: De ultieme route voor een 14-daagse roadtrip

Day 1: Arrival in Windhoek

Start your road trip in Windhoek, the capital of Namibia. Windhoek is about a 45-minute drive from Hosea Kutako International Airport. We were neatly picked up by the car rental company Africa on Wheels and immediately received an explanation about the use of the 4×4 Hilux with a rooftop tent. It was already late afternoon, so we decided to set up camp at Urban Camp. A really nice campsite with a cozy restaurant and good food. A great start to your trip!

Tip: Buy a SIM card

Before you leave Windhoek, we recommend getting an MTC SIM card. You can use it for internet on the go and in emergencies. You need to go to an official store for this, and it takes some time to purchase. Be sure to bring your passport and a dose of patience. A strange habit in Namibia is that people just cut in line without any shame, so be prepared.

Tip 2: Watch your belongings

Another good tip is to have someone stay in the car to keep an eye on things. It is very common for break-ins to happen to steal your valuables. And yes, it happened to us too! Camera, laptop, AirPods gone! The police arrived quickly, but the whole situation smelled fishy. The police often work hand in hand with the perpetrators. We were able to get our stuff back when we offered the officer a hefty sum he couldn’t resist. So we were still able to take beautiful pictures of our road trip through Namibia.

Day 2-3: Okinjima Nature Reserve

We lost quite a bit of time due to this unpleasant surprise. Fortunately, Africa On Wheels quickly replaced the window, and we could continue our journey. Okinjima Nature Reserve, the next destination, was about a 3-hour drive. It is a fairly luxurious park, and it is somewhat unclear how the campsites work if you want to book on the website. We drove there on a whim, and luckily there was still plenty of space. Upon arrival, we immediately saw various wild animals, and the campsites are very neat and spacious. It’s a shame we arrived at the end of the day and didn’t have time to visit The AfriCat Foundation.

Day 4-5-6: Etosha National Park

Etosha National Park is a must-visit in Namibia. Here you can spot many wild animals such as elephants, lions, giraffes, and rhinos! The park is about a 6-hour drive from Okinjima Nature Reserve. What makes the park so special is that you drive the safari with your own car and spend the night in the middle of the park. We chose the following route and campsites: Namutoni, Hallali, and Okaukuejo. We stayed one night at each and set out early in the morning to increase our chances of seeing wild animals.

Tip: Be well prepared

Book in advance to be sure of a spot and do this via the official website by first submitting a request. Don’t expect luxury and make sure you fill up your food supply and fuel tank to the brim!

Day 7: Palmwag

Drive over the Grootberg Pass to Palmwag and stay at the Palmwag Lodge & Campsite. Palmwag is a small village at the foot of the Damaraland mountains and is surrounded by beautiful scenery. The road trip takes about 4 hours and is easily passable if it stays dry. The landscape changes every half hour, and you will undoubtedly see wild animals. It is wise to reserve a spot at the campsite in advance, as there are few options to set up camp in the area. We hadn’t reserved but were lucky with the last spot. I would have liked to stay an extra night here. This campsite is a beautiful, quiet oasis in the middle of the desert. The food is delicious, and the facilities are good.

Tip: Use up your meat

It may sound strange, but use up your raw meat before entering Damaraland. At a checkpoint, you are not allowed to bring meat due to the risk of contamination. It’s a shame if you have to throw the meat away.

Day 8: Spitzkoppe

If you are looking for a special destination to camp, then Spitzkoppe in Namibia is an absolute must. The mountain range with granite rock formations and ancient murals is a beautiful place to hike and enjoy the starry sky. Stay at the Spitzkoppe Community Restcamp at the foot of the mountains and experience back-to-basic camping. And I really mean basic: no wifi, drop toilets, no water, and electricity at your campsite. You can shower and get some food at the entrance, about a half-hour drive from your campsite.

Tip: Bring giveaways

Don’t forget to fill your jerrycan with water or buy some extra supplies like toiletries or food. To help the local population a bit, you can hand these out to the children who sell their homemade items along the road.

Day 9-10-11: Swakopmund

Take your sweater out of your suitcase because even though this town is only a 3-hour drive from the scorching Spitzkoppe, the temperature drops considerably. Still, it’s definitely worth hanging around here for a while. This coastal town with German architecture offers many fun activities such as sandboarding and quad biking. This desert safari is highly recommended!

We stayed at the Windpomp 14 campsite, just outside the center and right by the sea. You have your own indoor kitchen and sanitary facilities. It’s nice to relax in Swakopmund after a lot of driving and enjoy a good meal. Do you like fish? Then the seafood platter at Jetty 1905 is highly recommended!

Tip: Visit Walvis Bay

An hour’s drive from the campsite, you will find Walvis Bay, a quiet fishing village. There is a large salt flat where you can spot many flamingos and maybe even seals. It’s a nice trip with the endless desert on one side and the wild ocean on the other. A picture during sunset.

Day 11: Solitaire

It’s time to visit one of Namibia’s most iconic natural wonders, Sossusvlei. But first, make a stop in Solitaire, a small town with a famous bakery where you can taste the best apple pie in the country. Fill up your tank here, so you are well prepared to tackle the desert. From Solitaire, it’s about a 2-hour drive to Sossusvlei.

Tip: For the Instagram lovers

On the route to Solitaire, there is a nice spot to take a photo for the gram called Tropic of Capricorn Sign. Everyone stops here for a snapshot, so strike a pose. Tag me @jes_worry_less too?

Day 12-13: Sossusvlei and Deadvlei

Best for last, because this world-famous place is truly a special experience. Sossusvlei is an area in the oldest desert in the world. It is known for its high red sand dunes and Deadvlei: a valley with petrified trees on hardened clay soil.

We stayed a bit outside the park at the Little Sossusvlei campsite, my favorite camping spot of all. The view is beautiful, and the facilities are excellent (also the best wifi in all of Namibia). The owners are incredibly friendly and have a lot of good advice to make your desert trip as pleasant as possible.

Tip: Got a moment?

There are quite a few tips we can give you, so I will dedicate a whole new blog to it.

Day 14: Hakos

From Sossusvlei, you can drive back to Windhoek in one go, a fairly rough route of about 5 hours. It’s much more relaxing to make a stopover. Hakos Guest and Astro Farm is located right in the middle of this route and is the perfect end to your trip. You can enjoy the starry sky here and admire the Milky Way. Because this area is so isolated and sparsely populated, it is one of the clearest places in the world. For this reason, there are also large telescopes that scientists closely monitor to unravel the mysteries of our galaxy.

From Hakos, you can easily drive back to Windhoek the next day.

Tip: Book a stargazing tour

This is your chance to take a closer look at the stars. Under the guidance of the owner, you can peek through the telescope, and they will gladly tell you all about the stars. A fun and interesting evening guaranteed.

Never want to leave Namibia

This road trip will blow you away! We often think back to this unforgettable trip and recommend it to every adventurer. The freedom, wildlife, and beautiful landscapes make the country unique. So be warned, you might never want to leave Namibia 😉

Let me know what you think was the most beautiful stop on this trip? Maybe I’ll go again soon, and we can share our travel stories.