What not to miss: the absolute must-sees in Namibia
10 days in Namibia itinerary overview and map
My practical tips for exploring Namibia
Day 1 of Namibia itinerary: Arrive in Windhoek
Day 2 of Namibia itinerary: Sossusvlei and semi-private safari @ Burgsdorf Guest Farm
Day 3 of Namibia itinerary: Dune 7 and Swakopmund
Day 4 of Namibia itinerary: Cape Cross, quad biking
Day 5 of Namibia itinerary: Snakes galore!
Day 6 of Namibia itinerary: Spitzkoppe and drive to Etosha NP
Day 7+8 of Namibia itinerary: Etosha National Park Safari
Day 9 of Namibia itinerary: The Waterberg Plateau (with cheetahs!)
Day 10 of Namibia itinerary: Departure
If you have more time in Namibia: 14-day Namibia self-drive itinerary
Final thoughts: is a Namibia self-drive itinerary worth the effort?
FAQ: Is Namibia worth visiting?
FAQ: How many days is enough in Namibia?
I’m not usually one to slow travel, but in Namibia, there’s literally no other way. You know I’ll pack this Namibia self-drive itinerary with activities like cheetah viewing, quad biking, and hunting for snakes in the desert. But getting from place to place is absolutely going to be one of the biggest time eaters of your trip.
There’s one thing that’s for sure though—a self-drive Namibia itinerary is the way to go. You will spend hours on the road during your trip to Namibia, so you might as well do it in the comfort of your own vehicle and at your own discretion, without other peoples’ bathroom breaks and bad music choices to deal with. Is it just me, or does being stuck in a vehicle with strangers for large portions of your vacation not sound like a vacation?
Ready to take on the desert
I’ve put together an awesome 10-day Namibia itinerary. This is the best Namibia itinerary for first-time visitors because, well, I did it when I was a first-time visitor, and I had a blast. So let’s go!
A note on hotels: You’ll notice some of the stops on this itinerary are your accommodation. It’s not just a scheme to get you to book a place through my affiliate link (though I’ll be mighty glad if you do! It costs you nothing extra, so no worries), but you’ll be staying in some pretty remote places where the main thing to do is your accommodation. It’s sometimes also the only place to eat. So, when I recommend that you stay somewhere, I’ve taken into account that it’ll be an actual destination on your Namibia itinerary, and I don’t take that lightly.
There’s so much to conquer in the ginormous country that is Namibia, so here’s an easy list of the stops you shouldn’t miss:
Map showing the incredible distance you’ll cover in just 10 days in Namibia
Day 1: Arrive in Windhoek (sleep in Windhoek)
Day 2: Sossusvlei (sleep Burgsdorf Guest Farm)
Day 3: Dune 7, Walvis Bay (sleep in Swakopmund)
Day 4: Swakopmund, Cape Cross (sleep in Swakopmund)
Day 5: Swakopmund (sleep in Swakopmund)
Day 6: Spitzkoppe, drive to Etosha (sleep Ijaba Lodge Buschfeld)
Day 7: Etosha NP safari (sleep in Ijaba Lodge Buschfeld)
Day 8: Etosha NP safari (sleep in Ijaba Lodge Buschfeld)
Day 9: Waterberg Plateau (sleep in Windhoek)
Day 10: Departure
I consider myself a pretty worldly guy, but I honestly didn’t know all that much about Namibia before hopping on my flight. So I put together some fun facts about Namibia to give you a sense of the culture, economy, and overall vibes before you go.
Once you’re armored up with Namibia knowledge, keep these in mind too:
Disclaimer: I personally think that Windhoek offers absolutely nothing worth seeing or doing and can be skipped over without batting an eye—but flight times can result in you being stuck there for a part of the day, so I want to give you something to do there. If you feel like just hanging out in your hotel instead, you certainly can. I would. Or, skip sleeping in Windhoek altogether and spend the night at Burgsdorf Guest Farm right off the bat (tomorrow’s accommodation).
Hosea Kutako International Airport
I can probably safely assume you’ll be flying into Hosea Kutako International Airport, about 45 minutes east of Namibia’s capital, Windhoek. Make sure to rent a car right at the airport so you’re free as a bird right from the start. I opted for renting during my 5-day Garden Route itinerary as well, and it was the best choice ever.
You’ll want a 4x4, high-clearance vehicle, because without it, you literally can’t drive to the more faraway places on this Namibia itinerary... who am I kidding, they’re all far away. And sandy. We had the ultimate offroading vehicle and still had to have a ranger help us out of the sand at Sossusvlei!
So yeah, get a good car and dish out on insurance, because the chances you’ll need it are very high. Here are my tips on self-driving in Namibia, complete with a nice little story on why I was glad I paid the steep USD 1000 for car insurance.
Day 1—Windhoek—stop 2: Get settled in at The Weinberg Windhoek
I recommend taking advantage of the capital and making yourself comfortable while you still can! You’ll be staying in a bunch of nice hotels in Namibia, but still, they’re usually remote and so... deserty!
For Windhoek, I chose The Weinberg: a nice hotel to the east of the city (convenient for travel from the airport!) that just happens to come with some fantastic restaurants (you must try Cape Town Fish Market), a spa, and panoramic views of the valley from the Sky Lounge.
Windhoek gingerbread house, erm, I mean Christuskirche
If you do have some time to kill in the city (and the will to do so) in your Namibia itinerary, head to the area around Christuskirche—a Hansel and Gretel-looking church in the middle of roundabout. It’s an iconic Lutheran church that’s fun (or funny) to look at.
The church is right by Parliament Gardens, a nice park area that’s worth a little wander, and the Independence Museum, with architecture that’s in severe juxtaposition to that of the Christuskirche. If you want to learn something about the Namibian colonial struggle, head into the museum.
Fun fact: The museum was a gift from the North Korean government. This explains the tasteless socialist architecture!
Then, pass by the Supreme Court of Namibia to Independence Avenue, which is the main street of town. You’ll find quite a few restaurant options in and around this area (though I still prefer to eat at the The Weinberg to be honest).
The skeleton trees in Deadvlei
Today, the self-driving part of the ‘Namibia self drive itinerary’ begins! You better get yourself out of bed early, because the driving is intense, I’m really not kidding when I say that in Namibia, the journey is part of the, erm, journey. You know what I mean.
First, drive 4.5 hours from Windhoek to Sesriem, which is the gateway to the gem of Namib Naukluft National Park—Sossusvlei. This is one of the most well-known places to visit in Namibia (and it’s in the oldest desert in the world, too: the Namib Desert!).
Read my Sossusvlei guide for all the juicy details on planning a visit!
Walking in the never-ending sand of Sossusvlei
And no matter how biased I am against deserts, I have to say Sossusvlei is incredible. The Sossusvlei main gate at Sesriem is open from sunrise to sunset, so about 6:30 am to 6 pm, and it’s where you buy your permits. Permit prices: NAD 150 (USD 9) per person and NAD 50 (USD 3) per car (permits are valid for 24 hours).
It’ll take you about another hour to drive from the gate to the Sossusvlei and Deadvlei area where the dead camel thorn trees will be patiently posing for you to take a ridiculous number of photos of them. You know, with you, without you, with your partner, with the both of you, with that oryx over there on the horizon, etc.
But wait, there’s more! You can also spend some time staring at (or climbing) Big Daddy and Big Mamma dunes, and taking a walk and a dip inside Sesriem Canyon.
Sesriem Canyon
Just remember to leave in time to get to your accommodation before dark—you’ll need about 2.5 hours.
Pro tip: Don't drive after dark in Namibia! The wildlife in Namibia love to hang out around and on roads, especially as the sun goes down. We had an unfortunate run-in with a wild pig about 20 minutes after sunset.
Alternative accommodation: If you think I’m nuts trying to get you to drive so much in one day, consider staying inside Namib Naukluft NP at the Kulala Desert Lodge. This way, you’ll cut out the driving and can even get to the Sossusvlei dunes and skeleton trees just in time for sunrise! If that’s your thing.
Get comfortable @ Burgsdorg Guest Farm
You’ll be spending the night at our personal favorite place to stay in Namibia, the Burgsdorf Guest Farm. It’s 2.5 hours away from Sesriem, but listen up:
Burgsdorf Guest Farm is such a special place where you’ll instantly feel at home—from the lovely hosts to the beautiful grounds (the photos on booking.com don’t do it justice AT ALL!). This is one of the few lodges I recommend that is literally in the middle of nowhere, but trust me, it’s so worth the trek.
My love for this place started because we could wake up and stare at rhinos from our bed! The hosts are the friendliest, most eager-to-serve (but not annoyingly) people you’ll meet.
There’s a watering hole right next to the bungalows that the animals like to hang out at, and you can even have your dinner outside, spotting them.
Dune 7
Buckle up for another 4-hour drive. What will you see after spending half a day driving through the wide, unforgiving Namib Desert? A sand dune! Yep, that’s right: more sand.
But stay with me—it’s the tallest dune in Africa, standing at a whopping 383 meters (1250 feet) tall. You may have climbed sand dunes before, but trust me when I say that this one is different. Bigger. Better. And it’s very close to my favorite town in Namibia, Swakopmund, which will be your base for the next 3 nights.
Taking a look back at the “parking lot” at Namibia Dune 7
It’s also a good reason to skip climbing Big Daddy and Big Mamma in Sossusvlei if you run out of time there because Dune 7 is the only dune you absolutely must climb in Namibia.
And it’s not like it’s a mountain of a dune, you’ll be up at the top in about 20 minutes. It takes a strong will to push yourself forward even as the sand pushes you back, but it’s manageable.
It’s easy to park at the parking are right beside Dune 7. Google Maps will take you there when you tell it to navigate to Dune 7. You’ll be asked to pay NAD 100 per person to be able to stop there and climb the dune. Bring cash.
Read more about visiting Dune 7 in my Swakopmund guide.
Checking out the flamingos in Walvis Bay
If you have time in your Namibia itinerary for one extra stop before you head to your hotel in Swakopmund, make a pit stop in Walvis Bay, just 20 minutes from Dune 7.
You can see the flamingos in Flamingo Lagoon, the salt works (with pink lakes!) in the southern section of the bay or the busy port up in Walvis Bay city.
Or, you can jump aboard a catamaran and try your luck at spotting dolphins and even whales on a 2- or 3-hour cruise. Even if you don’t see any big marine mammals, you’ll certainly get a kick out of all the pelicans and cormorants landing on the boat.
Catamaran Dolphin Cruises and Sun Sail Catamarans Namibia are two operators with great reviews.
Eating well in Swakopmund: Brewer & Butcher @ the Strand Hotel
It’s been a long day, so head to your final destination of the day: Swakopmund.
This city is the adventure capital of Namibia and my favorite place in the country. That’s why you’ll be staying here for 3 nights in this Namibia itinerary—there’s just so much to do in Swakopmund, and with plenty of good restaurants and hotels to choose from, it’s a no-brainer for the perfect base in the area.
We stayed outside of town at the lovely (and very much recommended) Desert Rendezvous, but if you’d prefer to be closer to the action, some other places I think are worth your love are Driftwood Guesthouse and The Stiltz.
Once you’re settled into your hotel in Swakopmund, take a stroll on the beach boardwalk. If you’re ready to chow down, stop by the pier at The Tug (because it’s made from an old tugboat). This is the place to have seafood in Swakopmund. The beauty of this place lies in its location, too-if you were any closer to the sea, you’d actually have to be on a (tug) boat.
If you can make it to the lighthouse and you're a fan of beer, don’t miss the chance to eat and drink at Brewer & Butcher, which is part of the Strand Hotel. You can imagine we were regulars there! The beer was great, the food was great, the service was a little slow, but we didn’t really mind.
You can see the wooden walkway that helps you walk among the seals unharmed—they can bite
Today, you’ll see the very southern bit of the Skeleton Coast—Cape Cross, which is synonymous with tens of thousands of seals! They’re just hanging out on the beach I was able to get really close, which was fun in my book!
The drive to Cape Cross from Swakopmund takes about 1.5 hours, parking is plentiful, and it’s easy to find since you’re just following the coast up north.
For me, Cape Cross is the highlight of the entire Skeleton Coast. I didn’t care much for the northern section of the Skeleton Coast, the part with the shipwrecks. That’s why this itinerary doesn’t include any other part of the Skeleton Coast.
Though if you wanted to, you could probably go in search for ship carcasses after you’re done with the seals. That’s the beauty of a Namibia self-drive itinerary! You go where you please.
A flock of seals in Cape Cross
Speaking of carcasses, the Cape Cross seals are left to live and die naturally, which results in a very strong scent. So be prepared (can anything prepare you for the smell of death?!) and don’t bring your nice clothes. It literally took us days to wash the smell out of everything (including our hair!).
There is a wooden walkway that you can walk on to see the seals from—it’s right on the beach, on the middle of them all, so we were literally right next to the animals.
Sand, sand, and more sand! Perfect for quad biking
When you’re done exploring the desert, drive back to Swakopmund for some more driving in the desert. This time on quad bikes.
I thoroughly enjoyed our quad biking experience, and I think just about anyone would have a blast at it. We even saw snakes while driving around the sand dunes!
It’s also way less death-defying than skydiving, which is a very popular adrenaline activity in Swakopmund. But I’m more than happy to stay on the ground, thanks.
A quad bike ride will take anywhere between 30 minutes to 2 hours and can be done individually or in a group, depending on your preference. I highly recommend Namibia Desert Explorers for its professional service and good bikes.
The price for a 1-hour quadbiking experience is around NAD 700-100 (USD 42-60) per person. Beginners are welcome, so no excuses and go give it a whirl!
I totally fell in love with all of the critters on Tommy’s Living Desert Tour
I can wholeheartedly recommend Tommy’s Living Desert Tour, a 4–5 hour tour where they drive you out into the desert a little south of Swakopmund and then proceed to look for, find, and show you all kinds of creatures. I don’t think any Namibia itinerary would be complete without it, quite frankly.
Tommy’s Living Desert Tour is the best thing you will do in Namibia! It’s like a scavenger hunt, but with wild snakes and lizards
Tommy’s guides are second to none, making the tour both informative and entertaining. They’re desert gurus!
They have a tour every morning and sometimes in the afternoons, too, depending on the weather. Every tour ends with a chance to chill out on the dunes for a little while with a snack.
Hello, my lovelies
Today’s next stop, the Swakopmund Snake Park, is the place to see the big guys. Tommy’s Living Desert Tour is good for the little creatures. But Namibia is a snake paradise, with over 80 species that slither around the country.
At the Snake Park, I saw all kinds of Namibian snakes, including the deadly Black Mamba, the stunning Cape Cobra, the Zebra Snake, and my favorite, the Puff Adder. These snakes are both adorable and dangerous, which makes them all the more captivating to stare at (through glass, obviously).
There are also other critters such as big lizards and turtles, but I was too fascinated by the snakes to pay any attention to them.
I needed about an hour to see everyone.
You have to see this
Time to move on to Namibia’s best safari: Etosha National Park! But, before you get there, you’ll stop at the biggest (granite) rock in the world, Spitzkoppe! I don’t know about you, but I like me some granite.
Getting to Spitzkoppe from Swakopmund takes about 1.5 hours, which is easy peasy, but get an early start or else suffer the wrath of the sun! Even in the winter, it can reach a blistering 35°C (95°F). So, bring your sunscreen, some loose clothes, and maybe a really wide hat.
Hit the trails for some amazing drives or take a walk to explore the incredible scenery on foot. You can even just take a wander from where you park, but at least climb up and around Rock Arch (aka the Bridge) and see it from all different angles. You can also dip your legs in Rock Pool.
The Big Rock... and Spitzkoppe behind me
Spitzkoppe is also steeped in history. The San people, who have lived in the area for thousands of years, consider it a sacred site. They left behind some cool, well-preserved murals on the rock walls. Take a guide to show you exactly where to look (it’s not hard finding one, they will literally find you, so you don’t even need to try).
There’s also a Himba cultural village at Spitzkoppe. I didn’t visit, because I’m really not into human zoos, but you can add this to your Namibia self drive itinerary if you want to see how they live (or what they care to show you). Again, that's the beauty of self dirivng!
Ijaba Lodge at Buschfeld is the best accommodation outside of Etosha NP safari
Saddle up, because Etosha National Park is Namibia’s best and biggest safari. You’ll want to spend 2 full days of your Namibia itinerary here, so book your accommodation for 3 nights. Unfortunately, you’ll also take half a day to drive there, so you won’t see the animals just yet.
But don’t fret, because the accommodation you’ll be staying at (if you take my advice that is) is a destination in its own right—Ijaba Lodge Buschfeld was one of the best lodges we stayed at in Namibia.
From Spitzkoppe, expect to take at least 4 hours to drive to Ijaba Lodge.
Now, here's the thing about Etosha NP: the services suck, the bureaucracy is appalling, and the accommodation is overpriced and in no way looks like the photos online.
That’s why I strongly encourage you to stay outside of the national park, like at Ijaba Lodge Buschfeld, which is about 1 hour from the Anderson Gate of Etosha National Park. Basically the Namibia equivalent of one block. (Read my tips on driving in Namibia if you are still confused why an hour is nothing.)
Checking out the animals after dark
Note: The only reason it would make sense to consider staying a night inside the park is if you were dead set on going on a night safari in Etosha NP. You would have to book that through one of the lodges or campsites and there’s no leaving the park after sunset.
At Ijaba, think outdoor swimming pool, delicious food in the restaurant, and, as a bonus, black mambas, and zebra snakes (if you’re lucky)! The rooms are cozy and clean and just perfect for a rest after a day exploring the safari.
We also observed some peaceful elephants from a safe distance and from the stable, solid, and comfortable Toyota Hilux
Today and tomorrow is all about the wildlife. Etosha National Park covers an area of over 22,000 km2 (8,500 square miles), so there’s plenty of land to cover over two days.
The vegetation differs throughout the park, so you’ll see each of the 114 animals species that live in Etosha in different areas. So no worries, today will not be like tomorrow.
After a hearty breakfast at your accommodation, drive 1 hour to Etosha National Park. You’ll enter through the Anderson Gate in the southern part of the park, and get your tickets at the ticket counter.
I have a full guide on visiting Etosha NP safari—read it for all the details on planning your trip.
I want to say that you should arrive early in the morning to avoid waiting times, but it doesn’t even matter. There were zero people in line when we got there and it still took 30 minutes to buy our tickets.
Annoyingly enough, Namibia increased park fees in 2026 so as of April this year, the entry fee is NAD 280 (USD 17) per adult per day and NAD 60 (USD 3.50) per vehicle. Kids under 16 get in for free. Online tickets aren’t available.
Then, get back in your car, and stay in it. It’s best to keep all limbs inside your vehicle as well, just in case you meet a lion who thinks you look tasty.
It’s like National Geographic, but you’re part of the show!
Etosha National Park Safari is HUGE and will certainly be a highlight of this Namibia self-drive itinerary, and it’s all thanks to the wonderful and weird creatures you’ll get to see, straight from your car window. Zebras, giraffes, elephants, rhinos, ostriches, lions, and so much more!
The animals like to hang out at the watering holes that are all over the national park. You’ll know if anybody is taking a dip and a sip from a mile away because there will be vehicles stopped on the road closest to it.
Note: Don’t be fooled by Google Maps, there is, in fact, not a huge lake in the middle of Etosha NP. It’s a dried-out pan, so the watering holes are really the water the animals rely on.
Etosha NP Safari is open year-round. Opening hours vary by season and follow sunrise and sunset times. There are night safaris as well (you’ll go on one tomorrow!).
There’s one thing that the lodges inside the park are useful for: food! Get your lunch at one of the properties.
You may feel like you’ve seen every animal under the sun after visiting Etosha National Park for the past two days, but you’d be wrong. You haven’t seen a cheetah yet, have you? And maybe not even the last of the Big Five, the African Buffalo. We’ll take care of those two on today’s trip.
You can even see cheetahs right from the veranda of the Babson House!
Just 1.5 hours from Ijaba Lodge, overlooking the Waterberg Plateau, are several private game farms that have come together to form the Cheetah Conservation Fund. That’s where you’re heading to learn all about the fastest feline on the planet.
Visit the CCF Visitor’s Center, museum, cafe, and gift shop, all in the name of saving the spotted kitties from extinction.
You can also see them in action: there’s a daily feeding, a morning cheetah run, and a cheetah drive during which you can meet the resident cheetahs that couldn’t be released out into the wild.
For an extra special cheetah addition to this Namibia itinerary, check yourself into the top spot for cheetah lovers, the Babson House! Cheetahs literally come so close to the house that you can just relax on your veranda and watch them. Sunset with cheetahs, anyone?
Waterberg Plateau
Since you’re already here, make a day of it (just watch your driving times so you aren’t on the road after dark!).
The Waterberg Plateau is a flat-topped mountain that towers over the surrounding plains. It’s a great place to hike and enjoy the scenery. It is almost your last day in Namibia, after all! Most Waterberg hiking trails start at either NWR Waterberg Camp or Waterberg Plateau Lodge, both of which provide guides as well.
If you’re keen on seeing more animals, such as African buffalos, giraffes, leopards, and rhinos, you can do that as well. Note that you may need the help of a guide to track them, especially if you’re hoping to find them while on foot.
Windhoek
When you’re all cheetah’d out, it’s time to close out your Namibia itinerary: head back to Windhoek for your flight home tomorrow. From the Cheetah Conservation Fund, allow at least 3.5 hours to get to the capital.
I’m going to recommend the same hotel I did at the beginning of this itinerary, The Weinberg Windhoek. It’s the most convenient, location-wise, for a comfortable trip to the airport tomorrow. Plus, since you’ll probably be arriving hungry as a hippo, you’ll be happy to have all the Weinberg’s restaurants to choose from.
Further reading: Namibia’s most beautiful places | Unusual things to do in Namibia
You might not have time for anything today if you have an early flight, but if you do, here are some extra places you can visit in Windhoek:
It’s time to say good-bye to Namibia! The Hosea Kutako International Airport is about 45 minutes east of Windhoek. Gather your belongings and return your rental car, pretty soon you’ll be hearing “make sure your seat backs and tray tables are in their full upright position and that your seat belt is correctly fastened”!
A map of the full Namibia itinerary for 14 days
Can you spend more than 10 days in Namibia? Great! You can extend the above 10-day Namibia itinerary to two weeks by adding Fish River Canyon and the Caprivi Strip. Here’s how:
Day 1: Arrive in Windhoek (sleep in Windhoek)
Day 2: Long drive to Fish River Canyon (sleep near Fish River Canyon)
Day 3: Fish River Canyon
Day 4: Long drive to Burgsdorf Guest Farm
Day 5: Sossusvlei (sleep at Burgsdorf Guest Farm)
Day 6: Dune 7, Walvis Bay (sleep in Swakopmund)
Day 7: Swakopmund, Cape Cross (sleep in Swakopmund)
Day 8: Swakopmund (sleep in Swakopmund)
Day 9: Spitzkoppe, drive to Etosha (sleep Ijaba Lodge)
Day 10: Etosha NP safari (sleep in Ijaba Lodge)
Day 11: Drive to Caprivi Strip
Day 12: Caprivi Strip
Day 13: Drive to Waterberg Plateau (sleep on Waterberg Plateau)
Day 14: Waterberg Plateau (sleep in Windhoek)
Day 15: Departure
I know, I know, it ends up being 15 days, but this really depends on what time you fly in and out of Namibia. I’ve also taken 1 day away from Etosha National Park Safari in order to accommodate enough time to drive to the far-flung Caprivi Strip. I figure you’ll be continuing your wildlife spotting there, so you may not need 2 days in Etosha anyway. If you do, you’ll need to take time off of someplace else or extend your trip a little bit more.
I lived it all myself, from the planning, to the driving, to the getting stuck in Namibian sand and almost hitting a wild pig. So I can tell you firsthand that yes, it is absolutely worth it to experience a 10- or 14-day Namibia self-drive itinerary, even though it does take some work to put together (and a hell of a lot of driving).
Let me ask you this. What’s more memorable, spending 2 weeks lazing about on some random, boring beach somewhere, or spending 2 weeks encountering lions, rhinos, cheetahs, and giant snakes in the middle of the world’s oldest desert?
Yeah. Enough said.
Namibia is absolutely worth visiting if you have a sense of adventure, love animals, or are into adrenaline activities like quad biking or skydiving.
But it’s not worth visiting if you get claustrophobic after sitting in a car for 5+ hours. Or if you’re scared of lions. Just don’t do that to yourself, please.
10 days is enough for Namibia. Any less and you won’t have enough time to see everything, since the country is so ginormous and everything is spread out really far.
However, 10 days isn’t enough if you want to see Fish River Canyon too. For that you’ll need at least 2 weeks.
Namibia is perfectly safe for tourists, as long as you don’t do anything ridiculously stupid like get out of the car during a safari and hold out a piece of steak.
Just be sure to get a 4WD so you don’t get stuck, and avoid driving after dark so you don’t collide with an angry hyena in the middle of the road. Otherwise, common sense should (hopefully) keep you in one piece.
How expensive Namibia is really depends on your budget. For example, I’m not a budget traveler so the lodges I recommend tend to be on the more expensive side. However, you could always find some budget lodge or spend your nights camping like an absolute crazy person (I hate camping).
But in general, I’d say that Namibia is cheaper than other safari destinations like, say, Botswana or Tanzania, but slightly more expensive than neighboring South Africa. In general it’s in the moderate-to-expensive category as far as Africa goes.
What not to miss: the absolute must-sees in Namibia
10 days in Namibia itinerary overview and map
My practical tips for exploring Namibia
Day 1 of Namibia itinerary: Arrive in Windhoek
Day 2 of Namibia itinerary: Sossusvlei and semi-private safari @ Burgsdorf Guest Farm
Day 3 of Namibia itinerary: Dune 7 and Swakopmund
Day 4 of Namibia itinerary: Cape Cross, quad biking
Day 5 of Namibia itinerary: Snakes galore!
Day 6 of Namibia itinerary: Spitzkoppe and drive to Etosha NP
Day 7+8 of Namibia itinerary: Etosha National Park Safari
Day 9 of Namibia itinerary: The Waterberg Plateau (with cheetahs!)
Day 10 of Namibia itinerary: Departure
If you have more time in Namibia: 14-day Namibia self-drive itinerary
Final thoughts: is a Namibia self-drive itinerary worth the effort?
FAQ: Is Namibia worth visiting?
FAQ: How many days is enough in Namibia?
Comments | Thoughts? Give us a shout!
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About me
Hi, I’m Jan. I travel fast and intensely, whether I’m exploring the buzz of Tokyo in 3 days or road-tripping through mountains and beaches on a 3-week Thailand adventure. And no matter where I am, you’ll always find me in a comfortable hotel at night and eating the best food.
If that sounds like your kind of journey, hop on board, and let’s explore the world together!
I started this blog after realizing how tough it can be to find reliable, authentic travel info. You wouldn’t believe how many “travel bloggers” never even visit the places they write about! On Next Level of Travel, you can count on my full honesty and insights drawn from my firsthand experiences.
More about meHere’s the deal: not every destination is all superlatives and unicorns. I’ll let you know if a tourist attraction isn’t worth your time, like skipping overrated stops in my 2-week Spain itinerary. And when I find something truly special—like the perfect mix of culture and nature in Cape Town—you can trust that it’s worth adding to your itinerary.
Next Level of Travel s.r.o.
ID: CZ07036612
Adress: Voctářova 2449/5, Praha, Czech Republic
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