Namibia is a desert land of incredible landscapes and natural beauty. Its size, remoteness, and low population density make this a real favorite destination for travelers who like to get off the beaten track. In this itinerary, we’ll be planning a route that takes in the best of the country’s numerous attractions. Unless you’re planning an organized tour, you’ll need your own transport, so this itinerary is designed as a road trip. You’ll need at least two weeks to complete this itinerary, longer if you don’t want to spend most of your time on the road. However, those who undertake this itinerary will be rewarded with an adventure of a lifetime.
The best time to visit Namibia is driven mainly by your plans in Namibia. Weather in the winter (July – September) is usually bright and warm, although much cooler in the evenings. The summer months (December – February) can get unbearably hot. As a desert country, it won’t surprise you that rainfall levels are low throughout the year. The exception to this is occasional downpours during the summer months.
For this itinerary, we’d recommend visiting in the winter months of July, August, and September. The weather is pleasant, and wildlife watching is at its best.
Our itinerary starts in Windhoek and heads north to Tsumeb. From here, we take the short journey to Etosha National Park to take in the wildlife at Namibia’s premier safari park. From Etosha, we follow a remote and little-used trail through Damaraland to the coast. Heading south along the Skeleton Coast, we reach the colonial town of Swakopmund and its neighbor, Walvis Bay. Next up is Namib-Naukluft National Park and the sand dunes of Sossusvlei. We continue south to the crossroads town of Keetmanshoop before we head west to Luderitz and the ghost town of Kolmanskop. The final attraction is the enormous Fish River Canyon in the country’s south. From here, you can continue into South Africa or return north to Windhoek.
Windhoek is Namibia’s capital city and the location of the country’s only international airport. It’s a relatively small, pleasant city and incredibly safe compared to other sub-Saharan capital cities. Reflecting an interesting mix of modern and colonial architecture, it differs from what many would expect. Located in the country’s center, it’s at the crossroads of the rail and road networks. Coupled with the international airport, Windhoek’s role as a transportation hub brings most people into the city at some point during their visit.
For those travelers who choose to spend a day or longer in Windhoek, there are a few sites worth seeing. Some colonial architecture is interesting, with the Christuskirche the pick of the buildings. There are several museums worth visiting, with the National Museum and the Railroad Museum the pick of the bunch. There’s also all the trappings of a modern city with bars, upmarket hotels, stylish restaurants, and air-conditioned malls. You’re unlikely to find many, if any, of these amenities elsewhere in Namibia.
From Windhoek, it’s a 4-hour drive north to the next stop, Tsumeb. The 432 km journey is almost entirely through desert and bushland, but it’s a pleasant drive for new arrivals into the country. The town of Tsumeb is primarily a stopover for travelers on the way to Etosha National Park, although there are a few local attractions. There’s a Mining Museum in town along with the Tsumeb Art and Craft Centre, which is worth a look. Outside town is the Tsumeb Cultural Village, giving a glimpse into Namibia’s many different cultures. If you’ve got a few hours free, it’s worth taking in one or more of these attractions.
Etosha National Park is not only Namibia’s premier park but also one of Africa’s. At 23,000 sq km in size, there’s plenty to explore, and unlike some of Africa’s other great parks, it’s possible and easy to do it using your own vehicle. This makes a visit to Etosha far more affordable than many other safaris.
The accessibility and affordability of the park don’t compromise the quality of the wildlife. The park is home to over 100 species of mammals and 300 different types of birds. While there’s no buffalo in Etosha, meaning it’s not home to the ‘big 5’, the park is one of the most unique. Its desert setting makes water holes exceptionally important (and busy), while its population of Black Rhino is among the biggest in the world.
In the park, there are three large rest camps, which offer independent accommodation plus numerous private lodges. You’ll need at least 2 or 3 days to see the park, so we’d recommend staying in at least 2 of the rest camps. Access to the park is easy, with Tsumeb just 100 km to the east and Outjo just 100km to the south.
After exiting Etosha through the southern Andersson gate, we’d recommend an overnight stop in Outjo. While there’s not much to see in town, there’s a decent selection of restaurants and hotels. You’ll also be able to resupply before visiting the remote Damaraland and Skeleton Coast.
Damaraland is the Namibia of your dreams. Sparsely populated but with breathtaking scenery and roaming wildlife, this is genuinely wild travel. Highlights in the area include the Spitzkoppe mountain and the Brandenburg Mountain, Namibia’s highest point. Elsewhere, there is a petrified forest believed to be almost 250 million years old and the rock engravings of Twyfelfontein, which date back thousands of years.
On the western flank of Damaraland is the Skeleton Coast. Named after the numerous shipwrecks that litter the coastline, the area is characterized by long, desolate stretches of coastline. There are some trekking opportunities in the area, which will suit those who enjoy the wilderness. Even driving through the area gives you a sense of the remoteness and natural beauty.
As you head south along the C34 road from the Skeleton Coast, you’ll enjoy some epic scenery and views. You’ll also encounter two of the Swakopmund area’s chief attractions, the enormous seal colony at Cape Cross and the vast sand dunes. The dunes are a mecca for thrillseekers, with sand boarding and quad-biking two popular activities.
The town of Swakopmund itself is far more sedate, with a distinct colonial feel. There are a large number of historical buildings that reflect the German architecture of the early twentieth century. The Hohenzollern building and Woerdmannhaus are two of the finest examples. Elsewhere, there are wide boulevards, hotels, promenades, and all the other trappings of a seaside town. Art galleries, museums, aquariums, and even a brewery can all be found in town. It’s a pleasant place to spend a few days if you have the time.
Just 30 km south of Swakopmund is Walvis Bay. Often portrayed as Swakopmund’s ugly sister, the town owes its existence to the large port. While there’s little in town to get excited about, the lagoon at Pelican Point is a major attraction for bird enthusiasts. Attracting half of southern Africa’s flamingos as well as a sizeable Pelican population, it’s well worth a stop on your journey south.
You might also want to stop at Dune 7 on your way out of town. The dune rises above its flat surroundings, making it a popular destination for sandboarding and skiing. Be warned, it’s much harder climbing the dune than coming back down!
Sossusvlei in the Namib-Naukluft National Park is Namibia’s number one attraction. The giant red sand dunes that surround the salt and clay pan are spectacular and thought to be amongst the biggest in the world. The name Sossusvlei refers to the pan itself rather than the dunes. Part of a much larger park, which covers almost 50,000 sq km, this area is famous for both its beauty and its accessibility.
While Sossusvlei undoubtedly gets the most attention, there are also several other vlei’s in the vicinity that are well worth a look. Both Hidden Vlei and Dead Vlei are walkable from Sossusveli at 4 km and 6 km roundtrips, respectively. Both are home to barren, white, dry vlei’s with apocalyptic-like dead trees. The setting is quite spectacular, and unlike anything you’ll see elsewhere.
Heading south from Sossusvlei, you’ll eventually arrive at the crossroads town of Keetmanshoop. An important transport hub, the town is a logical place to stop on the way to Luderitz. There are a few attractions in the local area, including a town museum, the interesting quiver tree forest (Kokerboomwoud), and the associated giant’s playground. These dual attractions are located 15 km outside of town. The quiver tree forest is home to Namibia’s largest population of distinctive quiver trees. The giant’s playground is home to strange natural rock formations that are also worth a visit.
It’s a long 341 km drive to Luderitz from Keetmanshoop. While you’ve driven hundreds of miles to get there, Luderitz feels like a million miles away from the present day. The town is a colonial relic with signs of Germanic influence everywhere. German Lutheran churches, German bakeries, and Bavarian-style houses dominate the town. Its historic European architecture contrasts with the rocky, sandy, windswept African peninsular where the town sits. Aside from the intriguing architecture, there are also a couple of museums in town charting the rise of the local diamond mining industry.
Outside of Luderitz are several great attractions that are well worth a look. A cruise out to Diaz Point takes in the seal sanctuary, along with the penguin sanctuary on Halifax Island. On land, the ghost town of Kolmanskop is an intriguing destination. Once a diamond mining town, it was abandoned in the 1950s, and nature has taken its course. The town has been overtaken by the sand dunes, giving it an eerie atmosphere. A few buildings have been restored, serving as interesting historical examples of a long-ago time.
Luderitz’s isolated position on the west coast means you’ll need to retrace your steps back towards Keetmanshoop before turning south onto the C12 road at Seeheim. From here, it’s 100 km along roads of varying quality to our final attraction in Namibia, Fish River Canyon. Words struggle to do justice to Fish River Canyon. Second only in width to the Grand Canyon, it extends to 27 km in width and 160 km in length. Anyone who has visited the Grand Canyon will attest to the similarities between the two. Aside from the views from the various vantage points, there’s also excellent hiking in the canyon. The view from inside the canyon is quite incredible, and it’s only then that you can appreciate the colossal size of the canyon.
If you’ve taken a trek, or even if you haven’t, the hot springs at Ai-Ais at the southern end of the canyon are well worth a visit for their healing properties. Set in a spectacular setting, this is another unique Namibian experience.
From Fish River Canyon, it’s only a short trip across the border into South Africa if you intend to continue your trip. Otherwise, it’s a long 640 km drive back north to Windhoek to complete the itinerary.
We hope you’ve enjoyed our Namibia Highlights trip guide. Why not try some of our other guides for Africa or perhaps other road trips?
You can drive to Morocco from the neighboring countries of Spain and Mauritania, but not Algeria, despite a nearly 2000 km long border between the two countries. Travel between Morocco and any of its neighbors comes with its fair share of challenges. At first glance, you could be mistaken for
If you love solitude, amazing landscapes, and vast open spaces, you’re going to love Western Australia. This amazing land, and the northwest in particular, is often referred to as the ‘Last Frontier’. It’s a land of endless remote possibilities and nowhere showcases this better than the amazing array of national
The Albanian port city of Vlore is one of Albania’s spectacular coastal highlights. Situated at the northern end of the Albanian Riviera and overlooking the beautiful Bay of Vlore, the city is blessed with a wealth of attractions. The home of Albanian independence and the gateway to the Riviera, the
You can drive to remote Tuktoyaktuk on the Arctic Ocean using the Inuvik-Tuktoyaktuk Highway, also known as the “Mackenzie Highway” or “Tuk Highway.” The road provides access to Tuktoyaktuk from Inuvik in the Northwest Territories. Inuvik is accessible from mainland Canada by using the Dempster Highway, which runs all the
It’s possible to drive to beautiful Gasparilla Island from the nearby Florida mainland using a bridge known as the Boca Grande Causeway. The causeway connects the unincorporated community of Placida on the mainland to the northern tip of Gasparilla Island, allowing vehicles to access the island. There’s a $6 round
You can drive to Guyana but only from one of the three South American countries with a common land border. The border crossing with neighboring Brazil in the southwest of Guyana is currently the only open crossing. However, it is located in a very remote region. There are currently no
