Namibia Premier Self-Drive Safari

This High-End Luxury Self Drive Safari includes a superb vehicle and takes in some of Namibia's best locations, all with a map and full direction pack on arrival.

A Self-Drive Namibia Safari is one of the best ways to see this incredible country as the roads are excellent in quality and require no extra skills or specialist vehicles. This high-end safari takes in some of the best luxury accommodation available starting in Windhoek at the stunning Am Weinberg's Boutique Hotel. Your second destination is Hoodia Desert Lodge located in the Namib Desert at Sossusvlei. Following this your drive to Swakopmund and the Strand Hotel, right on the beach. Following this you will go to Damaraland and the stunning Mowani Mountain Camp in search of the Desert Elephants. Next you drive to the Ongava Reserve in the south of Etosha at Little Ongava for 2 nights and then to the eastern side of Etosha for 1 night at The Fort in the Onguma Reserve. Finally on your way back to Windhoek Airport you stay at the Okonjima Reserve and their rehabilitation centre for your final night giving a much more manageable drive to the Airport on your final morning.

Price From:

US$6,520

Duration

11 nights/12 days

Departure

All Year

Why You'll Love It

What's Included

Accommodation

Am Weinberg Estate's Boutique Hotel

Situated in the upmarket suburb of Klein Windhoek, 30 minutes from Hosea Kutako International Airport, Am Weinberg Boutique Hotel sets a new benchmark for luxury accommodation in the Namibian capital. The intimate boutique hotel has only 41 rooms, ensuring that guests enjoy tailored, attentive and detail focused service at all times. Its iconic styling seamlessly blends old-world splendour with modern lines and state of the art amenities, ensuring an unparalleled guest experience.

Hoodia Desert Lodge

Exclusive owner run lodge accommodation in the beautiful Namib desert at Sossusvlei, Namibia
We invite you to experience the beauty and tranquillity of Hoodia Desert Lodge, surrounded by majestic mountains on the banks of the Tsauchab River. Only a 20 minute drive will bring you to the Sesriem Gate, the entrance to the world famous red sand-dunes of the Sossusvlei.

The lodge opened in 2008 to accommodate guests from all over the world on an individual and small scale. Therefore only 11 luxury chalets with great distance between each other were planned to assure privacy in this breath-taking environment.

The lodge is family-owned and managed by Thomas & Henreza Becker, both enthusiastic regarding professional hospitality with a personal human approach. Skilled and enthusiastic chefs deliver in co-operation with Henreza delicious creations of international and local cuisine. Our waiters/tresses are charming and hearty as well as attentive and will cater for your needs.

The Strand Hotel, Swakopmund

With its extensive, unique and creatively entertaining Restaurants, Bars, Deli, Lobby-Lounge, Sea Facing Terraces, Beach Kiosk and state of the art Conference & Banqueting Center, all set on the Mole, a historic and iconic site surrounded by Ocean on three sides, the Strand Hotel Swakopmund is a social epicenter and destination in itself for all visitors to and residents of Swakopmund.
Its architectural inspiration finds its roots deep in Namibian-German history and reflects this in a tasteful contemporary manner. The interiors are residential in nature, and the brief to all designers involved was to create a non-hotel, hotel. One as charming and welcoming as the town it is located in. Simply very warm and comfortable, and as they say in German: “gemütlich” providing a genuine “sense-of-place” atmosphere adding to any Namibian visit.

Mowani Mountain Camp

Mowani Mountain Camp is situated in Namibia’s untamed, ruggedly beautiful Damaraland region. Only 6km from the historical site of Twyfelfontein, Mowani is a place of quiet solitude where peace and tranquillity are the order of the day. Nestled amongst gigantic granite boulders on a high spot with commanding views over the ancient landscape, the name ‘Mowani’ means – appropriately enough - ‘place of God’. Accommodation consists of 12 luxury tents and a luxury double room – as well as a mini-suite and a larger suite built of brick and thatch. Each has African flair and features a well-appointed en-suite bathroom. Offering you ultimate privacy, the tents and suites offer exceptional views from your private deck.

Little Ongava

Designed for privacy, luxury and an intimacy with the land, Little Ongava is arguably Namibia’s most luxurious accommodation with pristine views across the Ongava plains.

Little Ongava is perched on the crest of a hill commanding magnificent vistas of the plains stretching for miles to the horizon, offering an extraordinary experience as the focal point of an Etosha journey.

This intimate camp has only three spacious suites each with its own plunge pool, en-suite bathroom, “sala”, and outdoor shower. The lounge and dining areas have wonderful views of a productive waterhole below the camp, the open deck allowing for relaxed, stylish dining under the African sky. Guests at Little Ongava share a dedicated guide and vehicle, ensuring the best possible nature experience at one of Africa’s great wildlife destinations. Day and night wildlife-viewing drives, visiting hides overlooking waterholes, walks and rhino tracking with experienced guides can all be enjoyed exclusively on this reserve. Game drives and day trips into nearby Etosha National Park are also offered.

Onguma The Fort

The Fort is unlike any other, the only one of its kind in Namibia.

It is built in exactly the right spot to give guests probably one of the best sunset views in the whole of Namibia - overlooking the beautiful scarceness of the Etosha Pans, decorated only with its wild animals and hundreds of Camel Thorn trees.

Upon arriving at The Fort, you will be received by not only our friendly staff, but also massive raw walls, stunning stone cladded features and a huge tower with views toward Etosha and Fisher's Pan. The Fort will surprise you at every corner; a classical African feel combined with a touch of Moroccan and Indian flavours, characterised by a selection of the most beautiful antique windows and doors.

Accommodation at Onguma - The Fort consists of 11 Bush Suites and 1 honeymoon Suite, all situated adjacent to the Main Fort extending on both sides to the south and the north. Every Bush Suite is completely private and about 50 meters apart from one another and is equipped with a bar fridge, and an air-conditioner for those warmer days. The spacious bathroom has both an inside shower as well as an outside shower area. From every area of the room, wooden decks lead you towards the outside seating area and sun loungers for just relaxing and enjoying the extraordinary view.

In addition, the one and only Sultan Suite is situated inside the Main Tower of the main complex. It has a large beautifully designed bedroom that leads into a lounge area and out onto a small private viewing deck. The lounge is equipped with a satellite television system, a bar fridge and telephone facilities. And for those warm evenings, you have an air-conditioner as well. The large bathroom has a wonderful open shower area, as well as a bath in which to relax and reflect upon your day's experiences.

Okonjima Villa

The Okonjima Villa is the only lodge situated inside the 55 000acre|20 000 ha|200km² private, nature reserve. This safari-chic, thatched villa has two en-suite, luxury bedrooms in the main house and two separate private, luxury mini suites, which together can accommodate up to eight adults and four children.

Frequent leopard and cheetah sightings during game drives is what African safaris are made of! Though our guests also indulge in smaller pleasures, such as the peaceful atmosphere of the African bush, spotting wildlife at the watering holes situated at each accommodation, our flavoursome food and welcoming hospitality. Okonjima also offers a number of activities to guests and day visitors , from hiking and mountain biking with your own mountain bike to bird watching and a fitness retreat. Okonjima is home to the AfriCat Foundation, an organisation whose mission is to try and ensure a future for the large carnivores of Namibia. Witness some of our projects such as the Cheetah Rehabilitation Project at work, during your stay at Okonjima.

Itinerary

Days 1 to 2: Windhoek

Am Weinberg Estate's Boutique Hotel

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

Hoodia Desert Lodge

Located in the scenic Namib-Naukluft National Park, Sossusvlei is where you will find the iconic red sand dunes of the Namib. The clear blue skies contrast with the giant red dunes to make this one of the most scenic natural wonders of Africa and a photographer's heaven. This awe-inspiring destination is possibly Namibia's premier attraction, with its unique dunes rising to almost 400 metres-some of the highest in the world. These iconic dunes come alive in morning and evening light and draw photography enthusiasts from around the globe. Sossusvlei is home to a variety desert wildlife including oryx, springbok, ostrich and a variety of reptiles. Visitors can climb 'Big Daddy', one of Sossusvlei’s tallest dunes; explore Deadvlei, a white, salt, claypan dotted with ancient trees; or for the more extravagant, scenic flights and hot air ballooning are on offer, followed by a once-in-a-lifetime champagne breakfast amidst these majestic dunes.

Day Itinerary
Depart from AM Weinberg Boutique Hotel
Arrive at Hoodia Desert Lodge
DISTANCE: via Kupferberg Pass approx. 295 km; most is gravel road
TRAVEL TIME: approx. 5 hours 15 minutes without apple crumble

Days 4 to 6: Swakopmund

The Strand Hotel, Swakopmund

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 Hoodia Desert Lodge
Arrive at Strand Hotel Swakopmund
DISTANCE: approx. 345 km; approx. 45 km tarred road, the rest is gravel road
TRAVEL TIME: approx. 5 hours 30 minutes without apple crumble

Days 6 to 8: Damaraland

Mowani Mountain Camp

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 Strand Hotel Swakopmund
Arrive at Mowani Mountain Camp
DISTANCE: approx. 315 km; 365 in rainy season, most salt or gravel road
TRAVEL TIME: approx. 5 hours 15 minutes

Days 8 to 10: Ongava Reserve, Etosha National Park

Little Ongava

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 Mowani Mountain Camp
Arrive at Little 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: Onguma Reserve, Etosha National Park

Onguma The Fort

Situated east of Etosha, bordering Fisher's Pan, Onguma Game Reserve is one of Namibia's best-kept secrets. The reserve offers visitors the opportunity to experience Africa in all her beauty and diversity. Onguma Game Reserve features over 34000 hectares of protected land scattered with a variety of wildlife including plains game, black rhino, kudu, giraffe, zebra, lion, cheetah, leopard and more than 300 bird species. The seasonal rains attract thousands of migrating birds to the Fisher’s Pan wetland area. The neighbouring Etosha National Park is home to a rich array of wildlife, including four of the Big 5. Visitors can enjoy game drives, guided walks and rhino research drives within the private reserve as well as wildlife safaris into Etosha National Park to view abundant game in the largest national park in Namibia.

Day Itinerary
Depart from Little Ongava
Arrive Onguma the Fort

Days 11 to 12: Okonjima Reserve

Okonjima Villa

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 Onguma The Fort
Arrive Okonjima
DISTANCE: approx. 365 km; approx. 35 km gravel road, the rest is tarred road
TRAVEL TIME: approx. 3 hours 45 minutes