Classic Northern Namibia

The Classic Northern Namibia Safari is a 10 day circular loop in the upper regions of Namibia encompassing some of the top tourist sights and of course, the unique Namibian safari experience at Etosha. Whilst this self-drive tour is designed to keep driving times to a relaxed, manageable level, the route can be extended to include the red dunes of Sossusvlei or a visit to the Himba people. All of our holidays are fully customisable according to your preferences, budget and time frame. (We can also arrange a driver/guide for you if you prefer not to self-drive.)

Northern Namibia Self Drive Itinerary
Day 1: Windhoek 
Arrive mid morning into Windhoek Airport where an Out of Africa Travel Representative will be on hand to meet you. They will assist you with the collection of your Europcar hire car and hand over the personalised travel digest that we will prepare for you. This gives you detailed driving directions for every leg of your journey as well as useful information and approximate timings for each journey. Using the SatNav in your vehicle head into central Windhoek for a relaxing afternoon at your hotel or get out to explore Windhoek on foot. Stay one night at The Elegant Guest House on a B&B basis.

Day 2: Windhoek – Swakopmund
After breakfast, depart for the popular holiday resort of Swakopmund, nestling between desert dunes and the Atlantic Ocean, arriving early afternoon. Enjoy 2 nights stay in this quaint historical coastal town. It is small enough that you can leave the car behind and explore on foot or sign up for one of the many optional activities on offer – dolphin cruises, desert tours and quad biking in the dunes, to mention but a few. Your accommodation is at the Strand Hotel on a B&B basis for 2 nights.

You might like to consider a scenic flight in a light aircraft along the skeleton coast or south to see the dunes. We recommend arranging this once you get to Swakopmund as the cost depends on the number of passengers. You can drop into one of the offices on the main street and join a flight that already has passengers thereby bringing your cost down.

Day 4: Swakopmund- Damaraland
Travel north via the Brandenberg, Namibia’s highest mountain, into Damaraland, a harsh, sparsely populated rocky environment. Visit Twyfelfontein, a heritage site where Bushmen communities engraved and painted thousands of pictures on the rocks, some dating back 6000 years. Then see the Petrified Forest and encounter the Welwitschia Mirabilis, the oldest living desert plant on earth. Your accommodation is at the the delightful Doro Nawas lodge. Enjoy 2 nights stay here on a fully board basis with daily activities such as nature drives and tracking down the Desert-adapted elephant that live in the area. The scenery is breath-taking.

Day 6: Damaraland – Etosha
Depart to Etosha National Park, your accommodation is just outside of the park on the private Ongava Game Reserve. Choose from the family-friendly Anderssons Camp or more luxurious Ongava Lodge. Both offer twice daily game viewing activities on the reserve and 5* accommodation.

Enjoy an evening game drive before returning to the lodge for dinner and a chance to watch as animals come to drink at the flood lit water holes.

Days 7 & 8: Etosha Region
You can choose to join a game drive into the neighbouring Etosha National Park, an area of over 22000 square kilometres, surrounding a parched salt desert known as the Etosha Pan. Proclaimed as Namibia’s first conservation area in 1907, it is home to 114 game species and over 340 bird species. Etosha is home to four of the ‘Big 5’ game animals with only Cape buffalo missing.

Enjoy 3 nights at the safari lodge with a mixture of game drives into Etosha and on the Ongava Reserve, on a Full Board basis.

Day 9: Etosha – Windhoek
Depart after breakfast and the final morning’s game drive heading south to Windhoek, enjoy a leisurely drive back stopping off en route at the famous craft markets in the city before returning to your guest house for one final night’s B&B accommodation.

Day 10: Departure Day
A leisurely breakfast and a last chance to buy some souvenirs before you head to the airport for your onwards flight or to return home.

If you would like more information about the Classic Namibia Holiday itinerary, speak to our Africa safari team on +44 208 249 5919. Alternatively you can contact us here by email.