Namibia itineraries & maps
Any vacation to Namibia will inevitably involve many hours of traveling through its famed empty landscapes. Fortunately, the roads are well maintained, and those who prefer to travel independently will realise this is one of the best destinations in Africa for self drive safaris - as there is an abundance of hire cars, well marked routes and clear road maps. Fly in safaris also allow you to make the most of your time, while discovering Namibia from a wonderfully different perspective.
Click on the map points below for more information about each location.
Click on the map points below for more information about each location.
Our Namibia Vacations
Namibia self drive vacation, big cat conservation
Self drive trip taking in Namibia's highlights
From
£2500 to £4500
14 days
ex flights
Namibia self drive safari
An iconic self-drive safari through north and south Namibia
From
£2250
14 days
ex flights
Namibia on a budget
Self drive vacation on a budget in stunning Namibia
From
£1385
11 days
ex flights
Namibia and Botswana camping safari
Camping safari to Namib desert, Caprivi, Etosha & Okavango
From
US $2815 to US $2990
21 days
ex flights
Namibia safari and vacation
A fabulous small group guided trip in Nambia
From
£2865 to £3635
12 days
ex flights
Namibia and Botswana safari vacation
Namibia & Botswana lodge safari Caprivi Etosha Okavango
From
US $3845 to US $4110
21 days
ex flights
Namibia and Botswana safari
Two week adventure tour of Namibia and Botswana
From
£1029 to £1799
12 days
ex flights
Elephant conservation vacation for families, Namibia
Elephant conservation volunteering project for families
From
£999 to £1249
11 days
ex flights
Namibia elephant conservation
Help protect and research the desert elephants
From
£1195
12 days
ex flights
Privately guided Namibia vacation
Experience Namibia at your pace, with your own private guide
From
£4395
12 days
ex flights
Cape to Windhoek Namibia Desert tour
Lodge safari from Cape Town to Namibia, Sossusvlei Etosha
From
US $2920
13 days
ex flights
Cape Town to Vic Falls vacation in Southern Africa
A spectacular and diverse African journey
From
US $4179 to US $4349
20 days
ex flights
Namibia wildlife sanctuary volunteering vacation
Care for rescued animals in Namibia
From
£945 to £5445
15 days
ex flights
Cape Town to Victoria Falls small group lodge tour
Classic route lodge safari to Namibia, Botswana & Zimbabwe
From
US $4240
21 days
ex flights
Cape to Windhoek Namib desert camping safari
Camping safari from Cape Town to Namibia, Sossusvlei, Etosha
From
€2090
14 days
ex flights
Namibia carnivore conservation & research project
Assist the team as a Big Cat Conservation Volunteer!
From
£1340
17 days
ex flights
Windhoek to Victoria Falls self drive tour
A self-drive adventure through Namibia, Botswana & Zimbabwe
From
£4250
15 days
ex flights
Namibia Desert & Caprivi small group lodge safari
Accommodated safari through the Zambezi region & Namibia
From
US $2980 to US $3190
15 days
ex flights
Namibia Desert & Caprivi camping safari
Safari covering the highlights of Namibia & Caprivi
From
US $2250 to US $2390
15 days
ex flights
Namibia small group vacation, sand dunes & safari
A hidden gem of contrasting landscapes and amazing wildlife
From
£1685
8 days
ex flights
Namibia biking vacation
Wide open spaces, endless skies & sand dunes
From
US $3849
12 days
ex flights
The Grand Southern Africa safari
21-day tour from Cape Town to Victoria Falls
From
£1799 to £2799
20 days
ex flights
Victoria Falls to Cape Town small group vacation
Explore the best of Southern Africa's wildlife and nature.
From
US $2352 to US $3055
22 days
ex flights
Namibia highlights tour
Incomparable wildlife and landscapes in superb Namibia
From
£2995
14 days
ex flights
Namibia vacation, safari & desert discovery
9 day safari designed to show you the best of Namibia
From
£3135
9 days
ex flights
Namibia and Botswana self drive vacation
Stunning self drive tour ending at Victoria Falls
From
£4000 to £6000
20 days
ex flights
Namibia classic self drive tour
Road trip through otherworldly landscapes & national parks
From
£2450
10 days
ex flights
Namibia small group safari
Upmarket small group tour visiting the highlights of Namibia
From
£3275
10 days
ex flights
1.
AfriCat, Okonjima
2. Aus
3. Brandberg
4. Cape Cross Seal Colony
5. Desert elephants & rhinos
6. Etosha National Park
7. Fish River Canyon
8. Himba villages
9. Kolmanskop
10. Luderitz
11. Quiver Tree Forest
12. Sossusvlei
13. Swakopmund
14. Twyfelfontein
15. Walvis Bay
16. Waterberg
2. Aus
3. Brandberg
4. Cape Cross Seal Colony
5. Desert elephants & rhinos
6. Etosha National Park
7. Fish River Canyon
8. Himba villages
9. Kolmanskop
10. Luderitz
11. Quiver Tree Forest
12. Sossusvlei
13. Swakopmund
14. Twyfelfontein
15. Walvis Bay
16. Waterberg
AfriCat, Okonjima
1. AfriCat, Okonjima
AfriCat began as a rescue center for big cats found on Namibian farmland, transporting them and releasing them in safer areas. It is now a sanctuary for carnivores which have been orphaned, or which are not fit to be returned to the wild. Visitors can tour the education center, track radio collared cats, and take night walks to look for porcupines and other strange nocturnal creatures. Income from tourism supports research and education.
Aus
2. Aus
Though the town itself is tiny, it lies in a key area for flora and fauna. Aus is mainly known for the wild horses which can be seen in nearby Garub, but it is also the crosspoint of three unique habitats, meaning that 500 plant species can be found here. These include rare succulents, which can provide stunning floral displays following rains.
Brandberg
3. Brandberg
The Brandberg massif includes Namibia's highest peak at 2,573m, and the mountain attracts hikers, climbers and campers. It is also renowned for a strange rock painting known as the White Lady - now widely regarded to be a man. To make the most of your visit, combine it with a trip to Windhoek's State Museum, which has an exhibition on rock art.
Cape Cross Seal Colony
4. Cape Cross Seal Colony
Up to 100,000 Cape fur seals inhabit this raucous colony year-round, and visitors can enter the reserve daily to observe - and smell - the seals, along with the odd stalking jackal. Enormous bull seals weigh up to 360kg, while tiny pups are born in November-December. Cape Cross is named after the stone cross erected here by the Portuguese explorer Diego Cão in 1486. Two replicas mark the site today.
Desert elephants & rhinos
5. Desert elephants & rhinos
Tracking black rhino on foot is absolutely thrilling; the rarity of seeing them in their natural habitat makes it even more special and fees support rangers and research. Desert adapted elephants cover vast distances daily in search of water on their extra large feet, which help them walk across the sand. Expert guides know how to track them and lucky visitors will be able to watch a herd at close range.
Etosha National Park
6. Etosha National Park
Etosha translates roughly as 'Great White Place', thanks to the enormous Etosha Pan, a salt-crusted, dry lakebed that dominates the 22,900km2 national park. The 144 mammal species that live here include lions, elephants, black and white rhinos, and the endemic black-faced impala. During the dry season, these species jostle for space around the few remaining waterholes, creating a game-viewing spectacle quite unlike any other.
Fish River Canyon
7. Fish River Canyon
Fish Fiver Canyon rips a 160km-long scar through the parched plains of Namibia's south. Over half a kilometre deep in places, the world's second largest canyon can be trekked on foot or mule back over four or five days, sleeping under the stars each night. There are no facilities in the canyon, and it can only be hiked from May-October, when weather conditions are favourable.
Himba villages
8. Himba villages
Himba village tours introduce you to this semi-nomadic community as they go about their daily life. Paint your skin with ochre and ash; waft yourself with a deodorising smoke; see goats being milked; and step inside the privacy of a Himba hut for an experience as far removed from your daily life as you can get. You can contribute further by purchasing jewellery and other souvenirs at the end of your tour.
Kolmanskop
9. Kolmanskop
Legend has it that diamonds could once be scooped up by the handful in Kolmanskop. In its 1920s heyday it boasted of ice and lemonade factories, a swimming pool, the region's first x-ray machine and a theatre. Now it is one of the world's most famous - and photogenic - ghost towns. Dunes have all but covered the decaying architecture; doors hang off hinges and shuttered windows throw ripples of light across the sand.
Luderitz
10. Luderitz
This fantastically remote, German-style town is one of Namibia's most surreal spots - as well as being the leaping off point for penguin and seal tours, and day trips to Kolmanskop. Kite surfing and windsurfing can also be enjoyed here, while the less adventurous might prefer an oyster tour or a lesson in Luderitz's past at the town's museum.
Quiver Tree Forest
11. Quiver Tree Forest
Visit this odd-looking "forest" at dawn or dusk for the best photography opportunities. The trees are said to have been named after their lightweight branches, which were crafted into hollow arrows by the San. The nearby Giant's Playground - a labyrinthine scattering of huge boulders - is also worth exploring while in the area.
Sossusvlei
12. Sossusvlei
The iconic dunes of Sossusvlei are some of the world's most towering. Hike the crest of Dune 45 or the even taller Big Daddy for a view over the vast sand sea, descend into Dead Vlei with its cracked white surface and centuries-old camelthorn tree skeletons, and let the sun, shadow and sand inspire you to get creative with your camera.
Swakopmund
13. Swakopmund
Namibia's adventure capital is the base for activities such as dune boarding, skydiving, and camel riding. The town itself is small and quaint, with German-inspired architecture and bakeries, excellent seafood and lively nightlife (by Namibian standards!) during local vacation periods. If you have a free day, we highly recommend taking a tour of Mondesa, the nearby township, with a local guide for a lesson in Namibia's history and culture.
Twyfelfontein
14. Twyfelfontein
This UNESCO World Heritage Site comprises one of the largest collections of rock art in southern Africa. Over 2,000 engravings and paintings cover the red cliffs and boulders. The engravings, mainly based on animals and their tracks, are believed to be depictions of the spirit world, as well as being visual tools used to educate young tribe members.
Walvis Bay
15. Walvis Bay
Boat tours - including seal, dolphin and whale watching - depart from Walvis Bay. Nearby Sandwich Harbour is a key birding area, with flamingos, pelicans and other waders. Kayaking, kite surfing and windsurfing are also offered here.
Waterberg
16. Waterberg
This reserve protects several species, including the endangered white rhino, introduced after conservation efforts in the 1980s. Breeding colonies of several endangered species have been established here and a 'vulture restaurant' feeds Namibia's last remaining colony of Cape vultures. The Cheetah Conservation Fund is based nearby - a conservation, research and education center where visitors can learn about these big cats.
Our top Namibia Vacation
Namibia self drive vacation, big cat conservation
Self drive trip taking in Namibia's highlights
From
£2500 to £4500
14 days
ex flights
Tailor made:
This trip can be tailormade throughout the year and can be adapted to suit your interests, budget and requirements as necessary
This trip can be tailormade throughout the year and can be adapted to suit your interests, budget and requirements as necessary
Travel Team
If you'd like to chat about Namibia or need help finding a vacation to suit you we're very happy to help.
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Namibia sample itineraries
10 days: North
Windhoek > Brandberg > Twyfelfontein > Rhino Tracking > Himba village > Etosha > > AfriCat, Okonjima > Windhoek
Windhoek > Brandberg > Twyfelfontein > Rhino Tracking > Himba village > Etosha > > AfriCat, Okonjima > Windhoek
10 days: South
Windhoek > Quiver Tree Forest > Fish River Canyon > Aus > Luderitz > Kolmanskop > Sossusvlei > Swakopmund > Windhoek
Windhoek > Quiver Tree Forest > Fish River Canyon > Aus > Luderitz > Kolmanskop > Sossusvlei > Swakopmund > Windhoek
14 days: Dunes & wildlife
Windhoek > Sossusvlei > Swakopmund > Walvis Bay > Cape Cross > Brandberg > Twyfelfontein > Himba village > Etosha > Waterberg & CCF > Windhoek
Windhoek > Sossusvlei > Swakopmund > Walvis Bay > Cape Cross > Brandberg > Twyfelfontein > Himba village > Etosha > Waterberg & CCF > Windhoek
Driving times in Namibia
The following times give you a rough idea of the driving times between the main attractions in Namibia. Driving after dark is not recommended on most routes because of the risk of colliding with wildlife.
Etosha-Damaraland: 4 hours
Windhoek-Swakopmund: 4.5 hours
Windhoek-Sossusvlei: 5 hours
Swakopmund-Sossusvlei: 5 hours
Swakopmund-Damaraland: 6 hours
Windhoek-Etosha: 6 hours
Windhoek-Fish River Canyon: 8 hours
Windhoek-Luderitz: 13 hours
More about Namibia
There may well be an awful lot of sand in Namibia - a country characterised by two vast deserts.
There are some pretty iconic things to do in Namibia, with climbing the enormous dunes at Sossusvlei up there with game drives across the blindingly white Etosha salt pan.
An enormous salt pan visible from space dominates the arid Etosha National Park, Namibia’s biggest conservation area.
Forget potholed, muddy tracks; ribbons of dead-straight, smooth tarmac criss-cross Namibia, linking its most spectacular destinations.
Home to some of the world’s highest sand dunes, Sossusvlei and Deadvlei are unmissable stops on any Namibia vacation, whether a self-drive trip or a tailor made or small group tour.
Travel north in Namibia to find unique and rare desert-adapted elephants roaming dry river beds through some of the country’s most inhospitable yet beautiful landscapes.
A vacation to Namibia shouldn’t just be about desert landscapes and Big Five safaris.
Parents need to consider their options carefully before traveling in Namibia with kids.
We've interviewed a whole range of experts on Namibia - from a Swakopmund sand boarder to an award winning wildlife photographer and visionary ecolodge founder.
As a boy, Responsible Travel founder and Managing Director, Justin Francis, was fascinated by tales of African adventures and how the San bushmen lived so harmoniously with nature.
Responsible tourism in Namibia could be held up as an example for many other destinations to follow.
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