Self-Drive Namibia

Thirteen nights around Namibia, self-guided and tailor-made, in a 4×4 delivered to the hotel, with the price quoted on application.

Namibia is the easiest country in Africa to drive yourself, and this is the unguided version: the itinerary, the lodges and the route notes are supplied, and the driving is entirely the guest’s own.

Windhoek opens it with a briefing, the vehicle delivered and restaurant recommendations, then the drive south to Sesriem: the first 120 kilometres on tarmac before the roads turn to gravel and the mountain passes begin, which is a useful introduction to what the rest of the trip involves. Sossusvlei follows with the dunes, the Sesriem Canyon and Deadvlei, a white clay pan studded with blackened camel thorn trees that died some eight hundred years ago, with mountain drives or a sunset ride available. Swakopmund comes next, where the desert meets the cold Atlantic, with kayaking among the seals, catamaran cruises and quad or electric bike trips into the dunes, and the rest of the circuit is built to the guest’s own pace and interests.

The 4×4 rental, the accommodation throughout, a detailed road map with driving directions, the airport pickup and the itinerary planning and support are all included; international flights, fuel, most meals and the activity costs are not. The price is given on application. The dry season from May to October is the window. No wildlife sighting can be promised. Fourteen days is enough to make a full circuit rather than an out-and-back, and having the vehicle delivered to the hotel rather than collected from an airport desk is a small thing that makes the first day considerably easier.