Namibia Classic Self-Drive Safari

This incredible Self-Drive Safari takes in all you could want in Namibia with mid-range luxury lodges in prime locations.

This Self-Drive 'Classic' Namibia safari starts in Windhoek where you will collect your vehicle and stay at the lovely Olive Grove Guesthouse. The next day you head for 2 nights at Desert Homestead in Sossussvlei to discover the incredible Red Dunes. Following this you go to Swakopmund for 2 nights staying at Cornerstone Guesthouse followed by 2 nights in Damaraland at Camp Kipwe. Next you head for 2 nights in southern Etosha National Park at Andersson's Camp follwed by 1 night at Mushara Lodge in the western area of Etosha. Finally you spend one night at Okonjima Plains to break up the long journey to Windhoek and the next day you head back to the Airport to drop off your vehicle.

Price From:

US$3,500

Duration

11 nights/12 days

Departure

All Year

Why You'll Love It

What's Included

Accommodation

Olive Grove Guesthouse

Olive Grove Guest House is a small, upmarket guesthouse in a quiet street close to Windhoek city centre. Each room has a large veranda with tables and chairs for al fresco dining. The open-air lounge, spa bath, plunge pool and tranquil garden all invite you to unwind under Namibia’s famously wide-open skies. While each of the 10 rooms, one executive suite and one garden suite will cater for your every need, the emphasis is on simplicity and elegance.

Desert Homestead

Deep in the 7,000 ha nature reserve of Desert Homestead Lodge, The Outpost opens its gates and offers relaxed hospitality imbued with the atmosphere of the surrounding nature. Guests enjoy the impressive panoramic view from one of the 11 guest houses, the family apartment or the main house with restaurant, lounge and pool area, all set at the base of a mountain. On the wide open plains there are often cheetah to observe, roaming the endless grasslands. All the en-suite rooms offer private shaded sun decks, twin/double beds with mosquito nets and fans.

Cornerstone Guesthouse

Cornerstone Guesthouse is a small, private and peaceful bed and breakfast an easy walk to the sea and the town centre of Swakopmund on Namibia's fascinating Skeleton Coast. Occupying a quiet corner of Swakopmund's old town near the marine museum and the old brewery, Cornerstone Guesthouse offers the charm and intimacy of a family-run B&B combined with the modern amenities of a luxury hotel.

Camp Kipwe

Camp Kipwe is an intimate and remote bush lodge located in Namibia's arid yet starkly beautiful Twyfelfontein region, home to many ancient Bushman etchings. The 9 specially-designed rooms are unique and private, with an outdoor bathroom, thatched roofs and spectacular views over the surrounding area. A luxury thatched suite with a lounge equipped with air-conditioning, a satellite television, a double room with en-suite bathroom, laundry service and a mini-bar.

Andersson's Camp

Located on the boundary of the world renowned Etosha National Park, Andersson’s Camp is the perfect point from which to explore the diversity of fauna and flora in this region. Formerly an old farmstead, the camp is nestled in mopane scrub with the scenic backdrop of the low Ondundozonanandana mountain range and is an exciting example of sustainable construction. Each of the 20 tents is raised on decks for enhanced views of the passing wildlife, while the main area overlooks a productive waterhole.

Mushara Lodge

Mushara Lodge is the original establishment in the collection – the elegant lady.
Located only 8 kilometres from the Von Lindequist Gate
Arrivon the eastern outskirts of the Estosha National Park, Mushara Lodge is ideally situated for the independent travellers visiting the park. Our lodge consists of ten spacious chalets, one family unit, two single rooms and a triple room.
The name Mushara derives from the Purple Pod Terminalia tree, which grows in the abundance in the lodge grounds and the surrounding area.

Okonjima Plains Camp

The malaria-free Okonjima Nature Reserve is home to The AfriCat Foundation, which is dedicated to rescuing injured carnivores. AfriCat have successfully rehabilitated and released 87% of their ‘patients’ back into the wild. You can observe the vets and researchers at work, track rehabilitated animals and enjoy the opportunity to see cats and other animals in the wild. Main Camp features double rooms situated around a lush garden and overlooking the open-fire entertainment area.

Itinerary

Days 1 to 2: Windhoek

Olive Grove Guesthouse

Situated in Central Namibia, the cosmopolitan city of Windhoek serves as the capital of the country. It is home to an international airport and a plethora of restaurants, shops, entertainment venues and accommodation options. The city is clean, safe and well-organised, with a colonial legacy that is reflected in its many German eateries and shops, and the widespread use of the German language. Windhoek has an interesting mix of historical architecture and modern buildings, many of which are worth a look, including the Alte Feste an old fort, the 1896 Christuskirche Christ Church, and the more contemporary Supreme Court.

Day Itinerary
NEW - A5 Full Document Pack ZAR per pack
On arrival at Hosea Kutako International Airport (Windhoek), you will be met by a Wilderness Safaris representative, who will hand over your travel documents.

Days 2 to 4: Sossussvlei

Desert Homestead

As there is no accommodation at Sossusvlei, visitors to this desert wilderness are likely to end up staying at Sesriem, 65 kilometres away, where camps and lodges serve as a base from which to explore the dunes. Sesriem Canyon, a deep chasm carved through the rocks by water, is a striking natural feature of the area that is best explored on foot. Stony walls rise up sharply on both sides of the canyon, while birds roost in its crags and lizards dart along the ledges. The canyon’s name was coined when early settlers used it as a water source, using six lengths of leather (‘ses riem – six thongs) tied together to lower buckets into the water at the base of canyon.)

Day Itinerary
Depart from Olive Grove Guesthouse
Arrive at Desert Homestead Outpost
DISTANCE: via Kupferberg Pass approx. 290 km; most is gravel road
TRAVEL TIME: approx. 5 hours 15 minutes without apple crumble

Days 4 to 6: Swakopmund

Cornerstone Guesthouse

Set along Namibia's spectacularly scenic coast, the seaside town of Swakopmund is known for its wide-open avenues, colonial architecture, and its surrounding otherworldly desert terrain. Founded in 1892 as the main harbour for German South West Africa, Swakopmund is often described as being more German than Germany. Now a seaside resort town, Swakopmund is the capital of the Skeleton Coast tourism area and has plenty to keep visitors happy. The quirky mix of German and Namibian influences, adventure options, laid-back atmosphere and cool sea breeze make it a very popular Namibian destination. Visitors can look forward to a number of exciting activities including: quad biking, horse riding, paragliding, fishing, sightseeing and fascinating desert tours.

Day Itinerary
Depart from Desert Homestead Outpost
Arrive at Cornerstone Guesthouse
DISTANCE: approx. 345 km; approx. 45 km tarred road, the rest is gravel road
TRAVEL TIME: approx. 5 hours 30 minutes

Days 6 to 8: Damaraland

Camp Kipwe

Set in the Kunene Region of northwestern Namibia, Twylfelfontein is a spectacularly scenic area, featuring one of the largest and most important concentrations of rock art in Africa. The name ‘Twyfelfontein’ translates to ‘Fountain of Doubt’, which refers to the perennial spring situated in the impressive Huab valley flanked by the slopes of a sandstone table mountain. It was this spring that attracted Stone Age hunters over six thousand years ago, and it was during this time that the extensive group of rock engravings and paintings were produced. Visitors can look forward to basing themselves at some wonderfully shady campsites along the Aba-Huab riverbed, while exploring over thirty different sites of these sacred records of ritual practices relating to traditional hunter-gatherer communities.

Day Itinerary
Depart from Cornerstone Guesthouse
Arrive at Camp Kipwe
DISTANCE: approx. 320 km; mainly salt or gravel road
TRAVEL TIME: approx. 5 hours 30 minutes

Days 8 to 10: Ongava Reserve, Etosha National Park

Andersson's Camp

Sharing the southern boundary with Etosha National Park, the prolific 30 000-hectare private Ongava Game Reserve is considered one of the top private game reserves in the region, enjoying global recognition for exceptional conservation, groundbreaking research and exciting safari experiences. The landscape is characterised by vast open plains dotted with salt plans and abundant wildlife. Visitors can easily access Etosha through Andersson’s Gate in the south.
Known for its luxury lodges made out of natural materials, Ogava is a popular destination for those looking to immerse themselves in nature. The reserve offers visitors the perfect combination of wildlife safari experiences within and around the Etosha National Park. One of Ongava’s top attractions is its rhino population and guests can experience the thrill of getting close to these majestic creatures. Popular activities include: night game drives, guided nature walks, bird watching and 4x4 guided game drives.

Day Itinerary
Depart from Camp Kipwe
Arrive at Andersson's at Ongava
DISTANCE: approx. 390 km; approx. 120 km gravel road, the rest is tarred road
TRAVEL TIME: approx. 4 hours 30 minutes

Days 10 to 11: Mushara Reserve, Etosha National Park

Mushara Lodge

Located in Northwestern Namibia, Etosha East is a protected sanctuary in the eastern part of the world-renowned Etosha National Park, known as one of the most accessible game reserves in Southern Africa. Etosha East boasts vast open plains scattered with semi-arid savannah grasslands dotted with watering holes and secluded bush camps. An impressive 5000-square-kilometre Etosha salt pan makes up a large area of the eastern side of the park and can even be seen from space. This remote area teems with abundant wildlife such as lions, elephants, black rhinos and giraffes, as well as a variety of birdlife featuring flamingos, ostriches, eagles, hornbills, and owls.

Day Itinerary
Depart from Andersson's at Ongava
Arrive at Mushara Lodge
Full day self drive Game drive through the park

Days 11 to 12: Okonjima Reserve

Okonjima Plains Camp

Midway between the spectacular Etosha National Park and the capital city of Windhoek, lies the well-known Okonjima Nature Reserve. The 22 000 ha nature reserve is home to AfriCAT, a carnivore sanctuary, which gives the captive cats a second chance to be released back into the wild and become completely independent hunters in a protected area right in the middle of commercial cattle farmland. Visitors can enjoy a stay at a variety of excellent accommodation options including everything from luxury villas to secluded camping. Enjoy thrilling cat tracking guided safaris, leopard-spotting, off-road night drives and learn about local San culture along the Bushmen trail.

Day Itinerary
Depart from Mushara Lodge
Arrive at Okonjima
DISTANCE: approx. 365 km; approx. 25 km gravel road, the rest is tarred road
TRAVEL TIME: approx. 3 hours 45 minutes