Namibia is a land of spectacular landscapes, endless skies, barren deserts, rugged mountain ranges and breathtaking wildlife - participants of this self-drive safari experience something of all this.
On this trip you first drive south to the great sand dunes of Sossusvlei and the beautiful Namib desert. The road north then takes you along the fringe of the desert and eventually to the coastal town of Swakopmund. Your next stop are the rock engravings of Twyfelfontein and the volcanic rock landscape of Damaraland where desert adapted elephants roam. The road then turns east to Etosha National Park. You have plenty of time to visit the many waterholes and experience a variety of animals up close. On your way back to Windhoek you will stop at Okonjima and the Africat Foundation where there is a great chance to see leopard and cheetah.
This self-drive journey starts in Windhoek, where you pick up your vehicle. We definitely recommend a first night in Windhoek, which gives you enough time to buy some snacks and water for the trip. Apart from the few paved main roads, most of the roads you drive are gravel roads. Participants in this journey are stirring up a lot of dust! You visit the most beautiful areas of Namibia and experience the entire fascination of this huge country.
You travel by rental vehicle
Travel by road to Olive Grove
The Olive Grove is a charming, intimate guesthouse with eleven beautifully appointed rooms, each equipped with a minibar, air conditioning/heating, safe, TV and hairdryer. Its five standard rooms are located on the lower storey; its luxury rooms with access to a terrace are on the upper storey. Those in search of the ultimate luxury experience can book the 80 m2 executive suite, which comes with its own lounge.
A breakfast buffet is included; lunch and à la carte dinner is either served in the restaurant or on the veranda. The Olive Grove takes great pride in its cuisine and is certain to delight even the most discerning of palates.
A swimming pool provides the perfect place for a cooling dip.
The Olive Exclusive is the neighbouring house and well worth a visit. Read more about the Olive Exclusive here.
You travel by rental vehicle Travel by road to Wolwedans Desert Lodge
Wolwedans Desert Lodge (ex Dunes Lodge) is situated on a plateau offering spectacular panoramic views in all directions. Each of the ten spacious chalets is equipped with en-suite facilities and a large private veranda, where guests can enjoy the fantastic vistas over the NamibRand Nature Reserve. The tent walls can be rolled up to give an exhilarating feeling of being truly amidst nature.
The main building comprises two lounges, a fire pit, library, wine cellar and two dining rooms joined by a platform, where guests can marvel at the flora and fauna over a relaxing drink. A pool with loungers offers the perfect opportunity to cool down.
Wolwedans Collection offers three further accommodation possibilities:
Read more about Wolwedans Dune Camp
Read more about Wolwedans Plains Camp
Read more about Wolwedans Boulders
You travel by rental vehicle Travel by road to Kulala Desert Lodge
Kulala Desert Lodge comprises 25 slightly raised rooms, each with en-suite facilities and veranda offering spectacular views over the Namib Desert. A stairway leads onto the roof, where guests can spend a night under the starry sky. A beautiful pool is located close to the main building. Dinner is served whenever possible outdoors, allowing guests to enjoy the clear, star-jewelled sky above the Namibian Desert.
Sossusvlei is the area most associated with Namibia: Red dunes as far as the eye can see (up to 380 m high, coloured red by the clay-rich sand) and dead trees in the Vleis or pans decaying slowly at the will of the arid climate. The Vleis were created by the Tsauchab River, which probably once flowed to the Atlantic some 50 km away. The whole Sossusvlei region is quenched with water during those very rare years when a good amount of rain falls, prompting bushes and flowers to spring up everywhere.
Excursion to the dunes of Sossusvlei Balloon Safari over SossusvleiOn landing (wherever the wind has taken you) there is a champagne breakfast waiting for you.
You travel by rental vehicle Travel by road to Strand Hotel
The new Strand Hotel has set a new standard in Swakopmund. Uniquely located on the iconic and historic Swakopmund Mole and surrounded on three sides by the Southern Atlantic Ocean its 125 rooms and suites make this hotel one of the larger ones in town, but of those certainly the one with the best seaside location. All rooms have tea & coffee stations, mini-bars, hair-dryers, TV’s, free Wi-Fi Internet access, telephones and air-conditioning.
The Strand Hotel offers its residential guests and all casual visitors three exciting restaurants. The Farmhouse Deli is good for coffee, cake, sandwiches and fresh salads. The Brewer & Butcher welcomes beer and meat lovers. The Ocean Cellar caters for guests who prefer seafood, sushi, oyster and a glass of fine white wine.
The Strand Hotel is destined to become the social epicenter of Swakopmund for locals and tourists alike.
You travel by rental vehicle Travel by road to Mowani Mountain Camp
Mowani Mountain Camp comprises 12 charming rooms with high thatched roofs and comfortable verandas. The dome-like main roof leaves a window to the sky above the beds, stargazing from the bed so to say. The rooms are nestled between rounded boulders and blend in seamlessly with their surroundings. The room categories are defined by the quality of the view - accordingly there are 4 Superior View Rooms (No 1-4) with sunset view, 3 View Rooms (No 5-7) with view into a hidden valley and 5 Standard View Rooms (No 8-12). Some of the rooms have been extended with a canopy, under which a dome tent is placed, accommodating two children. Alternatively, these beds can be added to the room if parents prefer.
Mowani also offers a Luxury Room, a Mini Suite and the Mountain Suite with butler service, lounge and private dining area. These three rooms are larger and offer more privacy than the other rooms, but only the Mountain Suite stands out with a truly magnificent view.
The central area includes a small rock swimming pool with great views, lounge, restaurant and an extra wifi lounge. In the evening most guests visit the rock-top viewing plateau to enjoy the sunset. The sundowner drink is added to the view upon request.
Just across the road lies Camp Kipwe, Mowani‘s sister camp.
Trip to find the desert elephants in Huab river Visit Twyfelfontein Bushman Art You travel by rental vehicle Travel by road to Ongava Lodge
Constructed on a small hill, the lodge's fourteen pleasant, thatched stone houses with en-suite bathrooms and air-conditioning are spacious and comfortable. Each room has a beautiful terrace with loungers and an outdoor shower. The slightly raised main building offers a fantastic view of the waterholes. Meals are often served on the veranda, from where guests can continue to enjoy the spectacular vistas.
Andersson's Camp, Little Ongava and Ongava Tented Camp are also situated in the Ongava Game Reserve.
The Etosha National Park is one of the most important nature reserves in southern Africa. It exists since 1907 and covers an area of 22,270 km². The central and eastern sections consist mainly of various silvery-white shining salt pans, which have made Etosha famous. In the dry season the park, the animals and the vehicles are covered in a whitish haze of salt dust.
On the southern shore of the huge Etosha Pan (130 x 50 km) there are several waterholes, which magically attract the animals from the surrounding area during the dry season. The three large state camps Okaukuejo, Halali and Namutoni connect Anderson's Gate in the south with the von Lindequist Gate in the east. The western part towards Galton Gate is much more wooded and less frequented by visitors, but it also offers less trails to drive around and find wildlife.
You travel by rental vehicle Travel by road to Okonjima Bush Camp
Okonjima is run by the Hanssen family. Wayne, Donna and Rosalea Hanssen bought Okonjima from their parents, Val and Rose, in 1993 and turned the farm into a well-known conservation project.
Okonjima is the home of the AfriCat Foundation, a not-for-profit organisation dedicated to the rescue and preservation of Namibia’s big cat population. It has rescued over 1000 big cats since 1993 and released 86% of them back into the wild.
Okonjima Bush Camp is located 3 km from Plains Camp (the main camp) on the edge of the game reserve. This lodge offers a greater degree of comfort and is used by us as a fly-in safari destination for guests who wish to make a stopover here and learn more about the AfriCat Foundation.
Spaced a minimum of 80 metres apart, all eight chalets offer maximum privacy and a very generous 105 m2 of living space. The chalets are built in a traditional African style with clay walls and thatched roofs. The lodge also offers a swimming pool.
Okonjima offers three further accommodation options:
Read more about Okonjima Plains Camp
Read more about the Okonjima Bush Suite
Read more about the Okonjima African Villa
You travel by rental vehicle Travel by road to Windhoek
Basic Information
Individual journey. The journey will be planned on your preferred dates.
Duration 14 nights. Min 2 guests. Trip vice versa possible.
Includes all transfers from Windhoek to the hotels/camps to Windhoek
- Olive Grove: Luxury Room. Breakfast.
- Wolwedans Desert Lodge: Double Room. All meals, drinks (except premier brands), twice daily shared activities with one of the camp guides.
- Kulala Desert Lodge: Double Room. All meals, drinks (except premier brands), twice daily shared activities with one of the camp guides. Includes guided excursion to the Sossusvlei dunes and balloon
- Strand Hotel: Luxury Room. Breakfast.
- Mowani Mountain Camp: Standard Room. Dinner, breakfast. Visit the rock engravings of Twyfelfontein on your own. Includes elephant activity to find the desert adapted elephants.
- Ongava Lodge: Double Room. All meals. Game Drives on your own or bookable at the lodge.
- Okonjima Bush Camp: Double Room. All meals, drinks (except premier brands), laundry service, twice daily shared activities with one of the camp guides.
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