Explore South Namibia

Previous nights accommodation enroute to this itinerary and afterwards can be arranged and booked, simply let us know which route you would like to take and we will let you know the best routes and places to stay.

South Explorer self drive tour of Namibia

Day One
Driving to the north end of the Fish River Canyon (where you get thet best views into the canyon) if you have plenty time (depending on where you set off from that morning) you can stop off at various viewpoints looking over the canyon.
Accommodation: Camp Site Photographs of accommodation click here
Other camping options available on request (hobas north, Ai Ais south)
Facilities: Shared ablutions, swimming pool, bar, restaurant
What to do / see here: Fish River Canyon and the Deserts edge.

Day Two
Visit the viewpoints over the canyon - two are available alongside the road by the canyon (free just pull off the road) then there is the main viewpoint from Hobas, at the very north end of the Fish River Canyon here you will need to pay a National Park entry fee then you can drive to the various viewpoints - including the devils elbow (click to see photograph)

Then it is time to head north along the gravel C12 to Seeheim then along the B4 tar road to Aus
Aus is a small village - generally with fuel available, nothing of much interest in the village but beautiful landscape in this area and just down the road are the famous desert horses of the Namib.
Approx Driving distance: 295km - (100km on gravel 195 on good tar)
Accommodation: Camp Site Photographs of accommodation click here
Facilities: Shared ablutions, at main lodge (7 minute walk 2 minute drive) you can use all the facilities, bar, restaurant, souvineer shop
What to do / see here: Fish river canyon (if not viewed previous day), beautiful scenery along the deserts edge, wild namib desert horses, exceptional starry sky at night, (look out for shooting stars).

Day Three
Up early if you want to see the desert horses (best time is from sunrise to about 2 hours after sunrise), nice and easy to find just take the B4 tar road towards Luderitz and you will see a sign on the right hand side, there is a viewing shelter overlooking the waterhole, (please be respectful top the horses and the envoirnment and do not drive across the desert areas, tracks remain for hundreds of years spoiling the experience for future visitors).
When you have watched the horses drinking and playing continue along the B4 to Luderitz.
Luderitz is a fishing village with supermarkets, restaurants, fuel stations, basic mechanics and tyre repair facilities.
Approx Driving distance: 120km all on good tar road
Accommodation: Camp Site Photographs of accommodation click here
** Camping at Luderitz can often be windy, if this may pose a problem (for large tents) maybe consider an upgrade to a self catering house for your stay in Luderitz?
Facilities: Shared ablutions.
What to do / see here: Kolmanskop deserted village, boat trips to see Penguins and Seals, great area for fishing - rock surf and boat trips, Diaz point, couple of nice friendly bars in town (try Kratz Platz for a great friendly atmosphere, food and drinks).

Day Four
Back along the B4 (there is only one road in and out of Luderitz), north onto the C13 road which runs up into the Namib Desert, enjoy the scenery as you make your way to the tiny crossroads of Helmeringhausen.
Approx Driving distance: 240km - 120km on good tar road and 120km on gravel road - the gravel road can get corrugated and sometimes blowing wind carrys sand across the road.
Accommodation: Camp Site Photographs of accommodation click here
Facilities: Shared ablutions, braai (Barbecue) area, swimming pool, bar, restaurant.
What to do / see here: More a convenient place to stop over for the night, hot showers, cold drinks and friendly owners make for a good nights rest.

Day Five
Several roads run from Helmeringhausen along the deserts edge but the C14 is the one kept in best conditon stop in at Maltahohe for fuel (cheaper at Maltahohe than at Sesreim), then along the C36 to Sesreim - the entrance to the Namib Desert - you can call in and visit Sesreim Canyon on the way past (don't worry you are returning for the central desert trip tommorrow), but for today you are carrying along another 50km to where the Naukluft mountains meet the Namib desert.
You can take a drive to the small fueling station and bakery at Solitaire (and enjoy Apple crumble) but the best thing here is to make sure you are set up at the camp with some cold drinks (hot drinks in winter) to watch the colours change as the light fades on the Naukluft Mountains then the night Geckos start thier evening chorus, another place also to admire the night sky.
Approx Driving distance: 350km - all on gravel road - the gravel road can get corrugated and sometimes blowing wind carrys sand across the road, drive carefully and keep your speed down.
Accommodation: Camp Site Photographs of accommodation click here
Facilities: Shared ablutions, braai (Barbecue) area, swimming pool, bar, meals on request for groups if prebooked.
What to do / see here: The Namib desert, Naukluft Mountains, stunning scenery, vast open outdoors, desert sounds, night sky.

Day Six
Early rise today to get into the centre of the Namib desert, you will not be able to get into the park until 30 minutes before dawn but you do have 50km of gravel road before the gate, so early up an trundle along to the Sesreim Gate, you will need to pay an entrance at the office then through the gate into the desert, there is only this one road in and out so it is 'busy' at these peak times, the condition of the road is variable, passable in a 2wd but sandy patches drift across the road all the time (you are crossing a desert after all) dust from other vehicles also takes time to settle and random animals do wander across the road....! All this when everyone is still half asleep.
Why you ask, well when you arrive in the deserts heart and climb a sanddune and look around at the beauty it will all be forgotten.
Tips on Viewing the Namib Desert at Sossusvlei.
The 2wd drive track continues for 56km before there is a designated 'parking area' then there is a shuttle service in a 4WD into deadvlei, but very interesting though the deadvlei is, there are two problems:
1/ if you only have a 2wd you have to pay for a lift in.
2/ it is where nearly everyone goes so you will enjoy the scenery of a huge empty desert with small huddles of people on all the surrounding dunes
Our recommendation is even if you have 4wd leave it at the 2wd parking and as you face into the desert head towards the high dunes to the right, there is a selection of dunes at various heights to suit everyone, some small dunes and somevery big ones, climb the biggest one you can manage and not only enjoy the view into the desert but ftom here you can look back across the vast flat plains you jusy drove in on, wathching the light change as it cacthes on the settleing dust as the sun rises. Practically no-one goes to this area (except our guests) so you should also be all alone.
Remember to take water with you for the walk back to the car (when the sun will be fully up and blazing (all year summer and winter) suncream and a hat. Also if you do go for a wander among the dunes be careful not to get lost....
On the way back along the road stop at dune 45 which is the very photogenic sanddune that features on many advertisments of Namibia, screensavers, postcards (and in my case a business card).

Then back to the camp site, pack up (unless you very efficiently did so before dawn) and off to the coast.
From the camp site you go to Solitaire where you meet the C14 road (if you need to take on fuel Solitaire is always cheaper than the fuel station at Sesreim), it is also a good place for a late breakfast / early lunch and a drink - quite important for the driver as often after an early rise, drive into the desert climbing sand dunes and the hot sun everyone is tired, normally everyone in the car falls asleep on this journey (except the driver) so make sure you take a break, stretch your legs before the next part of the journery which can get quite boring for sleepy people (lovely landscape at first, but big flat and lots of the same....)
The road arrives in Walvis Bay (good place for fuel, toilet and drinks) then from Walvis follow the signs to Swakopmund, along the very scenic tar road that joins the two coastal towns.
Welcome to Swakopmund, activity centre of Namibia and normally with a refreshing cool breeze blowing off the sea.
Approx Driving distance: 460km - 56km each way into the desert, 364km on gravel road, mostly good condition but can develop corrugations 36km Tar road (between Walvis and Swakopmund)
Accommodation: Camp Site Photographs of accommodation click here
There is only this one camp site in Swakopmund, so booking ahead is essential, other options are self catering and guesthouses.
Facilities: Private ablutions, braai (Barbecue) area, walking distance to Swakopmund with all its restaurants, bars, supermarkets, shops etc.
What to do / see here: Exciting morning drive into the desert while Swakopmund is home to plenty activities including skydiving, sandboarding, boat trips, fishing, Skeleton Coast excursions, Cape Cross Seal Reserve, Welwitschia mirabilis, Moon Landscape and more along with excellent restaurants (good seafood), bars and shops.

Day Seven
Enjoy Swakopmund, its facilities and activities.

Day Eight
Leaving the coast and all its excitement behind an easy drive along the B2 across the south Damaraland border brings you to Okahandja, which is the best place to buy wood carving souvineers in Namibia (they are carved at the market in Okahandja), it is also a cheaper and quieter place to spend the inght than Windhoek Namibia's capital just 70km down the road.
Approx Driving distance: 290km - all good tar road.
Accommodation: Camp Site Photographs of accommodation click here
Nice and quiet with restaurant and bar in the nearby lodge open for camping guests.
Facilities: ablutions, braai (Barbecue) area, restaurant and bar in the nearby lodge open for camping guests
What to do / see here: Good place for Wood Carving shopping, quiet place for the night.

Day Nine
On the road south along the B1 road, bypassing Windhoek - (unless you want to have a quick look around the city, main areas to see are all around the centre, Kristus Kirche, Alte Feste and parliament buildings) otherwise there is not much really touristy in Windhoek. Round the hills of Rehoboth and then the long straight road south, it is a long drive and normally quite hot as this route cuts between the Kalahari desert and the Namib Desert, with very little along the way to break the monotony
Approx Driving distance: 553km - all good tar road.
Accommodation: Camp Site Photographs of accommodation click here
Camp beside the wierd and wonderful Quiver Trees of Namibia, make sure you are here for sunset to enjoy the beautiful light on these most unusual trees.
Facilities: ablutions, braai (Barbecue) area, cold drinks available from reception area, supermarkets in nearby Keetmanshoop.
What to do / see here: Quiver Trees of Namibia.

Day 10
Off South on the B1 to:
continueing on the B1 across the Vioosdrift then onto te N17 (heading to Cape Town)
or
Taking the B3 off the B1 at Grunau to cross the Araimsvlei border into South Africa onto the N10 towards Upington.

The idea of this Itineraray is to give you a guide as to what can be done and at what cost, extra days can be added in and different places visited, just email us and let us know what you require and we will send you a plan.

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