Namibia Self-Drive Adventure

Fly from London to Windhoek, via Johannesburg. You’ll be warmly met at the airport and privately transferred to your stylish boutique hotel on the edge of the affluent Eros suburb, just a short drive from the city centre. With its large, inviting lounge, alfresco dining area and refreshing swimming pool, Galton House is a fabulous place to rest and recharge after your flight. Meanwhile, your hire car will be delivered to your hotel. 

Stay: One night in a Luxury Room at Galton House – bed and breakfast 

Today you’ll set out on your own wheels, driving off to the ancient Namib Desert and your exclusive lodge nestled on the banks of the Tsauchab River. You’ll find yourself within 20 minutes of the Sesriem Gate, gateway to the Namib-Naukluft National Park and some of Namibia’s most iconic natural landmarks. 

On foot and in 4x4s, you’ll discover attractions like Sossusvlei and its famously red, wind sculpted dunes, the mighty Sesriem Canyon and the temporary lakes of Hidden Vlei and Dead Vlei. As you explore, your expert guide will also provide a fascinating insight into the region’s remarkable history and geology, as well as its birdlife and unique wildlife – lizards, scorpions, oryx and springbok, to name a few. Taking time out for a picnic lunch under the canopy of a beautiful camel thorn tree. 

Stay: Two nights in a Standard Room at Hoodia Desert Lodge – half board 

Your next destination is Swakopmund, a coastal city in western Namibia where you’ll be spending one night. You can relax at your peaceful guesthouse, tucked away in the city’s old town, or head out to discover sandy beaches and various colonial-era landmarks.

Stay: One night in a Standard Room at Cornerstone Guesthouse – bed and breakfast 

Day five of your Namibian self-drive brings to you to the exclusive Ai-Aiba Lodge, elevated amongst granite boulders in the foothills of the Erongo Mountains.

Here you’ll have access to the 200,000 hectare Erongo Mountain Nature Conservancy, an area known for its rich biodiversity and unique rock formations – remnants of an ancient volcano complex. Expert local guides will lead you on fascinating walks in the surrounding area, discovering ancient sites of bushman rock art and learning more about the region’s fascinating flora and fauna. 

Stay: Two nights in a Standard Room at Ai Aiba Lodge – bed and breakfast 

Northern Damaraland is your next port of call. Here you’ll be staying at a remote eco-camp set on a private concession in the foothills of the Grootberg massif. A comfortable base for exploring this rugged landscape and its rocky plains, basalt lava flows, ancient geological formations and flat-topped mountains – a seemingly inhospitable environment which is acutally bursting with life. 

You’ll enjoy guided walks in the morning, learning to identify animal spoor and rare plant species from knowledgeable guides, and scenic game drives in the afternoon to encounter the region’s desert-adapted wildlife – elephants, rhino, giraffe, zebra, kudu and gemsbok, as well as plenty of birds. Evenings are dedicated to stargazing, and the lodge has its own telescope that guests can use to admire the constellations. 

Stay: Two nights at Etendeka Mountain Camp – full board 

From Damaraland, you will make your way to the ‘Land of Dry Water’, otherwise known as Etosha National Park. Not only is it one of the biggest national parks in all of Africa, but it’s also one of the finest places to view game with a whole host of wildlife to tick off your list including lion, leopard, elephant, giraffe, red hartebeest, black-faced impala and both white and black rhinos.

The guides at Etosha Safari Lodge know the region intimately, and will lead you to some of the park’s most active waterholes for spectacular up-close encounters with the park’s wildlife. Finishing each day with sundowners on the dedicated sunset deck. 

Stay: Two nights in a Standard Chalet at Etosha Safari Lodge – bed and breakfast 

Your final stop is the 200-square kilometre Okonjima Nature Reserve in the Omboroko Mountains, where you can expect up close encounters with cheetah, leopard and brown hyena. Home of the AfriCat Foundation, the reserve is dedicated to preserving all the region’s rare and endangered species, big and small, and you’ll be able to see various other wildlife and endemic birds during your stay. The laidback Okonjima Plains Camp, set amongst the reserve’s rolling plains, hills and riverine thickets, provides an ideal base for guided game drives and bush walks. 

Stay: One night in a View Room at Okonjima Plains Camp – half board 

Today you’ll return to Windhoek International Airport, catching a return flight back to London via Johannesburg.