Planning for a trip of 2 weeks in Namibia? This itinerary has got you covered.
I spent a full 2 weeks traveling Namibia without a tour, and have compiled the best things to see on your first trip to this unique country.
Whether you come by tour or do Namibia self-guided, you may be surprised that you’ll spend a lot of your days on the road while here. Don’t worry, it’s still possible to experience the highlights with just 2 weeks in Namibia.
For those planning to do Namibia by self drive, rest assured. I followed this route myself, and have taken all the long distance driving and logistics into consideration to give you the perfect 2 week itinerary in Namibia!
When to go to Namibia
Namibia is home to a dry, desolate and extreme desert climate.
For the most part, it stays that way the whole year. So it can be argued that any month is a good time to for a self drive Namibia tour.
But many sources state that the timeframe between July to October is the best time to visit, as this time sees the lowest temperatures and the least rainfall.
For this self drive Namibia itinerary, you’ll mostly visit the south and the desert areas in Namibia, since thats what most first time visitors want to see.
If you visit outside of this window of time, you’ll probably be fine since the desert stays pretty dry year round. I visited in February, and did not have a single day of rain.
But for those who want to visit more of the north and Etosha Park, visiting in dry season becomes more important, as those areas are more affected by rain season.
Getting to Namibia
Most travelers will fly in via Windhoek airport.
For those who are already in South Africa, you may opt to drive. We did this drive from Cape Town, and it was easy enough to complete in a full day of driving.
I’d advise starting early in the morning though, to avoid the borders closing for the evening. Otherwise you may put yourself in a dangerous position of having to camp out by the border overnight.
Visas for Namibia
If you are arriving in Namibia by air, most travelers who require a visa can get a one on arrival. But if you arrive via land border, please note that they cannot provide visa services here.
This is important, so you check your visa requirements before arriving in Namibia.
Americans don’t require a visa, and can stay in the country up to 90 days.
This meant I was fine, but the person I was traveling with was from Czech Republic, a country that requires a Namibian visa.
They denied his request for a visa on arrival, so we had to drive back to Cape Town and fly to Windhoek (ouch).
Coming from Cape Town? Read this Guide to Cape Town
Things to Know Before You Go
1. Bring Spare Tires
When renting your car from Windhoek, be sure that your car comes with one or even two spare tires.
They usually provide this without you asking, but its best to be sure. That’s because Namibia’s roads are notoriously bad. It’s very common to pop a tire at least once during your self drive Namibia tour.
In fact, I’d go as far as to say you should expect to pop a tire at some point. With that in mind, it’s best to be sure you know how to change your tires before your road trip.
The roads are very deserted in many areas, with little phone signal to phone for help if you get stuck somewhere so preparation is key.
2. Buy a Local SIM Card
Namibia is a country where I don’t advise trying to forgo getting a local SIM card. Although data is patchy throughout the country, you will have cell signal about half of the time.
You will need that safety net in the event you have a problem on the road and need to call for assistance, or even medical aid.
On top of that, it’s handy to have access to Google Maps when you do have data (usually when passing cities and towns).
You can buy a SIM card directly at the airport for convenience, or if you prefer to save a couple bucks, you can find a shop in Windhoek after you rent your car.
3. Plan Your Itinerary for Daytime Only
When planning your Namibia self drive itinerary, it’s important to only plan your movements for daylight hours.
It’s not advisable to drive at night in Namibia, largely due to how bad the roads can be in some areas. If you find yourself in a bind, help will likely not be able to come for you until morning. So, it’s best to limit the chances of that happening.
There’s also the risk factor of hitting wild life crossing the roads at night. Most of Namibia’s roads don’t have the luxury of any lighting, so it’s pretty hard to see any sudden obstructions in the road at night.
4. Stock up Supermarket Before Hitting the Road
Before you leave Windhoek after renting your car, you should go straight towards a supermarket.
You’ll want to stock up on your food, water and supplies for the trip. There are long stretches of road in Namibia where you don’t have a single rest stop, let alone food. Be sure to have enough snacks and nonperishable food on hand.
At the very minimum, you’ll want to have a lot of water in the car in the event of an emergency situation. We opted to have several 6 liter jugs of water at all times, and refilled whenever we ran low.
As for food, a combo of canned food, carbs and snacks will work for the most part.
Sadly, unless you have a cooler, any fresh fruit, veggies or animal products won’t last more than an hour in the Namibian heat.
5. Don’t Forget Bug Spray
For some reason, I did not expect to find any mosquitoes in Namibia. Don’t make the same mistake, and be sure to pack some mosquito spray.
I found many mosquitoes in Sossusvlei, which made going out at night unbearable.
6. Don’t Speed
In many instances, you’ll come across very bad dirt roads full of large stones and potholes, where you can’t drive over 30 km even if you tried.
The other times, you’ll find very well paved roads across vast areas and not a car in sight.
On these roads, its very tempting to speed to make up for lost time, but I really can’t stress enough why you should not speed.
Speeding is the number one reason many travelers crash their cars. It happens all too often. It happened to me.
This is so common, that all rental cars in Namibia are equipped with an event tracker. So if you do end up scuffing up your car even a bit, they will know you were speeding at some point, blame you for that, and charge you the fullest amount.
See More: Important Tips for Staying Safe in Namibia
Where to Stay
Namibia is a fantastic country to vary up the types of accommodation you stay in.
From hostels where you can meet other travelers, to car camping spots, to ultra luxury desert camps, here are some of the best places I’d advise looking into for Namibia:
Where to Stay in Windhoek
The best place to stay in Windhoek is The Weinberg Windhoek. This place is amazing and makes an ideal base for when you first land in Namibia, or to unwind before flying out.
It has 5 stars on booking.com, but with rooms starting at $115 a night. A total steal!
This hotel has its own restaurants onsite, and no less than 3 lounges. This includes the sky lounge, which offers amazing views.
Where to Stay in Sossusvlei
If on a budget, car camping is your best bet. Be sure to camp inside the park gates to have early access into the park for sunrise. A good option is Sesreim Oshana Camp. It comes with clean indoor bathrooms and hot showers for $50 for two.
Book Oshana Camp here
If your budget allows and you want a luxurious experience, the Dead Valley Lodge nearby was fabulous. Stylish in design, and equipped with wifi, a pool and cocktail bar.
All meals are provided as well. You could spend a day or two here sipping cocktails by the pool where I fondly remember watching oryxes grazing from nearby.
Book Dead Valley Lodge here
Where to Stay in Etosha Park
In Etosha park, many travelers opt to stay several days to get the most out of their wildlife viewing. It is a bucket list activity for most after all, so you’ll want to be as comfortable as possible.
For the best possible experience in Etosha, you can look no further than Etosha Oberland Lodge. This lodge leaves no stone unturned when it comes to your comfort.
From a pool where you can spot animals from, to an a la carte breakfast included. The lodge is also sustainably operated, a total win all around.
Book Etosha Oberland Lodge here.
Getting Around Namibia
If you are planning a Namibia self drive trip, you’ll have to rent your car once you arrive.
Choosing the right car for your trip is crucial, and I really didn’t realize myself how important it was until we totaled our car on the first day.
If you plan to visit all the major sites designated in this itinerary, you will need a 4 wheel drive car. Don’t let the car salesman tell you otherwise.
The rental car company may allow you to rent a 2 wheel drive, but this is not only detrimental to your safety, but going to be a huge struggle for you when driving across the dirt roads and sands in the desert.
On top of a 4 wheel drive car, you need to get a car with optimal insurance coverage because its all too common for things to go wrong on the roads here. You’ll want to be taken care of.
How to Find a Good Rental Car
I would strongly advise not just waiting until you land to rent whatever is available. That’s what we did, and long story short, I paid the price and still do.
The rental car company (that I am trying really hard not to mention) overcharged us when we got into a car accident. Although it was our fault, they definitely made a traumatizing experience worse by milking the situation and overcharge two dumb tourists (me) who didn’t know better.
To this day, I’m still battling fraudulent charges that randomly pop up on my bank account from them.
How to avoid this? You should read the online reviews and book from a trustworthy source.
For that, I’d advise using Rental Cars. They have a good reputation and will allow you to review, compare and rent a car prior to landing.
2 Weeks in Namibia Self Drive Itinerary
Windhoek – 1 Day
The capital city is where you’ll spend your first day on your Namibia self drive itinerary.
After picking up your rental car, your next mission should be trying some Namibian food. There are more options for dining in the capital than the rest of the country, so I’d honestly dedicate the first day to eating.
Some staple Namibian dishes to try are pap, oshiwambo and curried tripe. The food may look really unfamiliar at first, but everything is actually very good!
Aside from eating and doing your supermarket run, there isn’t a whole lot to do in Windhoek for travelers.
There are a few cool churches you could check out if curious, otherwise the first day should be pretty chill.
Sossusvlei – 2 or 3 Days
Since its not advisable to drive at night, spend the night in Windhoek and start your road trip on day 2. If you start at dawn, you could easily (and safely) arrive at Sossusvlei by the afternoon.
The drive starts off on well-paved city roads, then switches to dirt roads after the first hour or so and stays like this for the rest of the drive mostly.
Once you hit the dirt roads, there won’t be any food stops, so plan ahead for that. This stretch of road is largely uneventful apart from the views into the vast wilderness and trees. You’ll quickly get used to this in Namibia though.
If you arrive in Sossusvlei in the afternoon, this is enough time to check in, grab your camping spot or check into your hotel, and still have time to catch the sunset atop one of the dunes.
Dune 45
The next day, wake up early to climb up dune 45 to watch the sunrise. Unlike what this photo suggests you won’t have this view to yourself.
It’s more likely that you’ll be up here with about 30 – 40 other tourists. That’s because this dune is designated on the visitors map, so everyone knows about it. It’s still worth seeing, as it’s a very high dune with amazing views.
But, if you’re feeling adventurous, opt to find another dune to climb up to have the view to yourself. There’s no shortage, and I’m sure all of them offer great views.
Deadvlei
You may recognize this place from a screensaver you’ve had before. Heads up, you’ll need to drive through a lot of deep sand to reach it.
If you are inexperienced with this (we got stuck multiple times), there is a shuttle from the parking lot that takes you in, just ask the reception about the timetables.
Pro-tip: Release from air from your tires so they are a little soft/deflated. This helps you not get stuck in the sand
Once you arrive, you’ll have to hike for about 20 minutes on the dunes until you reach the salt pan. Again, this part is best done with others who know what they are doing, as we somehow managed to get lost at this part too.
Once you arrive onto the salt pans, you’ll be able to take in one of the most famous landmarks in Namibia. It’s amazing to just take off your shoes and feel the crystalized salt and sand under your feet.
For photographers, this is like a literal playground where you’ll capture stunning photos, one after another. Play around with the shadows, stark contrasting colors and shapes of this surreal place.
After Deadvlei, you can continue driving further into the Sossusvlei desert, and later visit the Sesriem Canyon near the entrance on your way out of the park.
Honestly, we saw other people doing this, but had no idea how they weren’t getting stuck in the sand, like we had done a million times at this point.
If opting not to continue into the desert, head back to your campsite or hotel lodge for the sunset. If you do choose to stay at Dead Valley Lodge, staying at the lodge is honestly a whole activity in and of itself. The views are just too good!
It’s a magical place to lounge by the pool to relieve the midday heat. Or better yet grab a sundowner while watching the sunset and if lucky, you’ll see oryxes grazing nearby.
Ready to Book: Book Dead Valley Lodge HERE!
Optional: Fish Hook Canyon – 3 Days
This canyon is at the very south of the country, and adds an extra 14 hours of driving, round trip from Sossusvlei.
Since we lost some time due to crashing our car on the first day ( a story for another day), we had to skip this. If you haven’t seen the Grand Canyon yet, this is probably the next best thing and very much worthy of the extra drive.
We met a few other travelers who had seen it, and heard mostly positive feedback. For adventurous folks, hiking is possible in Fish Hook Canyon in the coolest months of July and August.
For that you may opt to take a tour, as the conditions are still treacherous, so you’ll want someone who knows the area well to guide you.
Walvis Bay – 1 or 2 Days
Walvis Bay is a small, coastal city on the western side of Namibia. Most people choose to visit Walvis Bay because it is the gateway into exploring the marine attractions in Namibia.
To get here, it’s 5 hours of driving from Sossuvlei, but prepare for delays. The roads are challenging and mostly unpaved gravel. This is precisely where we popped our one and only tire of the trip (thankfully).
There was nothing we could have done to avoid it either, the roads are really just that bad. On the upside, we did spot some ostriches on this stretch of road, and even a few walking nearby while we fixed our tires.
On arrival, this beachside city (yes, this is considered a city!) of 60,000 people is your jumping point to exploring the seas of Namibia, and where you’ll find that famous view of where the sand dunes meet the ocean.
Sandwich Harbor
To get to sandwich bay, you’ll have to take a tour. Its not illegal to self drive here, its just really really dangerous.
This drive is almost impossible if you don’t have the proper car and experience, as it involves driving up the dunes, on the beach through the water, and not to mention, quicksand.
It’s really just better to go with a tour to avoid getting stuck or sucked out into the ocean in your car. A group tour costs about $141 per person. Private tours are available too.
Sand Dune Viewpoint
The tour takes you up and over countless sand dunes, a very nausea inducing activity for some of us. Then, you’ll drive across the very narrow beach, an event that I’m told results in many cars being swept out to sea by sneaker waves (fun!).
Once you arrive at the viewpoint, you’ll get those iconic views of the sand dunes touching the ocean. If you do take a tour, you will spend the day exploring these dunes, and likely have lunch on the beach below.
On the drive in, you’ll also encounter wildlife such as ostriches, springboks, oryxes and jackals.
Walvis Bay Lagoon
Walvis Bay is actually a shallow part of the beach that connects to the sea.
Here is where you’ll see the famous flamingos of Namibia. Depending when you go, you might see a few, or you might have a huge flock. It’s really about luck unfortunately.
I was able to see a few scattered across the lagoon, not the giant swarm that you se in the pictures online. You can try coming earlier in the day when they are usually feeding, to try your luck at seeing more.
Pink Lake
Make a quick stop by the pink lagoon to view a quirky, salt lake as pink as cotton candy. Trust me on this, the lakes are really this color! Go during midday to see the lake at its brightest.
The drive there is a bit of a nuissance, but not too bad. You may spot more flamingoes on the way here too.
Swakopmund – 1 Day
45 Minutes from Walvis Bay, is another coastal town about the same size. Swakopmund is an old Germanic settlement, and you’ll see plenty of German influences in the historic architecture.
Swapokmund is known as a hub for adventure sports, so if that isn’t your thing, one day here is definitely enough.
Boating Tour
While here, you can take a cruise to go dolphin watching and to visit the sea lion colonies offshore at Cape Cross. These tours usually leave in the morning, when the animals are more active.
Alternatively, you can take a sunset cruise to sail around the coast of Namibia for a more leisurely experience.
You can book a boating tour easily by heading to the docks and asking around (there aren’t that many companies). Or for more convenience, book a tour prior to arrival.
Go ATVing in the Dunes
Another popular activity to do while in Swapokmund is renting an ATV and going ham in the sand dunes. This is an exciting way to epxlore the desert and get some adrenaline going.
Tour the Township
An alternative activity to enjoy in Swakopmund is to join a tour into the township. The townships in Namibia are not as dangerous as the ones in South Africa, but offer a unique insight into the local life in the country.
It was in the township in Swakopmund where we had the best food of the entire trip.
After a full day of activities in Swapokmund, be sure to eat at Hafeni Traditonal Restaurant and Olupale Restaurant before you leave. Both have authentic Namibian food and great service. We loved every dish!
Spitzkoppe (Damaraland) – 1 or 2 Days
2 hours from Swakopmund, you’ll find Spitzkoppe a martian like landscape of dramatic red rock formations.
You can opt to do a day trip, but we choose to stay overnight to experience the desert night vibes. It was worth it alone just to see the stars at night, under the arch rock.
The Rock Bridge
This unique rock formation is worth the small hike it takes to reach it. From inside the hole, you have amazing views of the desert all around you.
For photographers, you may come back a few times throughout the day to capture the rock under different lighting conditions – each revealing unique characteristics of this unusual place.
While the rock arch offers beautiful view at any time of day, this is a particularly good spot to watch the sunset.
Rock Pool
The rock pool is more of a pond than a pool, but still an ideal place to cool off during the day when temperatures make it too hot to do much exploring.
This is a great place to lounge about, and enjoy those spectacular desert views from the nice and cold water of the pool.
We saw some other guys bring beers to cool off in the pool and were immediately jealous that we forgot our Savannah beers in the car.
Cave Paintings
In Spitzkoppe park, there are some ancient indigenous cave painting hidden from view throughout the park. The paintings belong to the bush people native to this region. They depicts stories of animal huntings and the local life during that time.
To find the cave paintings, you have to go with a guide. Luckily, there was no cost to this that I recall (aside from tip). The guide takes you around in a car and explains the back story behind the park and the indigenous people who used to live there.
Interestingly these people still exist, they’ve just migrated to another part of the country.
Find the Zebras
You may be surprised when you first spot a couple zebras in Spitzkoppe park.
This park was once a filming location for a film in which they imported zebras to be in the background. For some reason, they decided to keep the zebras there and they remain to this day.
They are quite shy, so you’ll probably only be able to see them from a distance but if you have a telephoto lens, you may still get good photos.
Optional: Skeleton Coast Park – 2 Days
If you are really adventurous and love uninhabited, remote places barely touched by humans, the Skeleton Coast is as rugged and as it gets.
This coast is famously known to be littered with shipwrecks up and down the the coast, likely a result to the treacherous conditions of the adjacent ocean in this region.
While exploring this area, you may be lucky to discover some wildlife but I wouldn’t count on it. This area is literally a dead zone for all things, something that draws in some types of visitors.
For those on a Namibia self drive trip, you may want to think twice about whether your car can handle visiting the Skeleton Coast. This area is notoriously wild and rugged, popping a tire is definitely a concern amongst other things.
If you want to see the Skeleton Coast but take out the stress, I’d definitely opt to take a tour.
Etosha Park – 3 Days
Lastly, head to the north of Namibia for the large salt pans of Etosha. For many, this is a highlight of their Namibia self drive journey.
Etosha is the largest and most famous safari location in all of Namibia. This is a fully self driving safari park, and where you will have the absolute best wildlife viewing experience in the country.
You’ll find all the big five here, and more. Depending how much you love animals, you may choose to stay overnight, or for several days chasing down the wildlife.
For the ultimate in luxury, stay at Etosha Oberland Lodge. For budget travelers, Road House Guethouse makes a great option.
From Etosha Park, it’s about 4 hours back to Windhoek to wrap up your trip.
Is it safe to self-drive in Namibia?
Yes, it can be safe to self drive. Unlike in nearby countries, you don’t have to worry about crime on the roads while doing a self-drive tour of Namibia. But you do have to be wary of the dangerous road conditions in certain areas and be well prepared. Slippery gravel, wildlife on the road, popping tires and sharp corners are all things to take into account to have a safe trip.
What does a Namibia road trip cost?
Namibia is what I’d consider a mid-range destination. While the cost of renting a car and accommodation are on the higher end for Africa, most of the attractions are outdoors, making them very cheap or free. You can have a great time with a budget of $150 a day, if traveling in a group of 2 or more and splitting car rentals and hotels.
How to save money in Namibia?
You can drive your spending down by opting to car camp, stay in hostels, and by not paying for tours. Food is affordable in Namibia, as well as park entrance prices.
And there you have it, the perfect 2 week Namibia itinerary for a rock solid adventure. This itinerary will get you around safely, and give you a fairly good taste of what Namibia is all about.
It’s one of the most rugged trips I’ve done, but it’s a place that makes you feel completely and utterly alive.
Have you been to Namibia? Let me know what I missed for my next trip.
Safety Tips for Traveling in Namibia
Thank you for sharing this itinerary! Your pictures are always so stunning. Wonderful post!
Hey Scotia!
Thanks for reading, I hope you make it to Namibia someday 🙂
This is soooo hopeful! When was your visit, we are trying to figure out when the best time to go to Namibia is
Hi Cassie! I visited in February which I believe was a good time to visit the south. Up north, like where Etosha Park is (for the car safaris), it rains a lot this time of year. That can be good or bad, depending, but I hear it makes viewing the animals harder.