Self Drive Namibia

A self-drive holiday in Namibia offers a great way to explore the country, and allows you to set the pace.

Scroll for more

Overview

Self-drive in Namibia is one of the most rewarding ways to explore Namibia’s contrasting landscapes. If you are happy to drive on the left hand side of the road, without much traffic around, and on gravel road (as opposed to tar), then self-drive in Namibia is very do-able for many international visitors.

It is also one of the more economical ways to enjoy a Namibia safari trip. Private escorted tours are pretty expensive because of the vast distances involved and guides in Namibia are well-educated, skilled workers.

On the other hand, many scheduled departure group tours travel at a pretty brisk pace to see the country's highlights in a very short period of time. Also, they often stay at larger, less interesting, hotels and lodges.

Tips for Self Drive Namibia

  • Ideally you need to enjoy driving, and view the road trip as part of the whole adventure. Namibia is a vast country and its marvels are spread throughout the country rather than conveniently located close to each other!
  • Preferably two or three people would share the driving.
  • Similarly, make sure that you have set aside enough time. We reckon on 3 weeks to see the highlights in both the north and the south. If you only have 2 weeks, you'll need to leave some places out. Or risk needing another holiday to recover from this one!
  • Why not mix some self-drive in Namibia with other modes of transport? For example, you could fly in and out of Sossusvlei by scenic charter flight. Then pick up a car in Swakopmund to continue on. We recommend this if you're short on time.

Namibia self-drive - Etosha, White elephant walks on road of Namibia South Africa

It helps if you can change a tire, too. Punctures are not uncommon on gravel!

Do you need a 4 x 4 for a self-drive in Namibia?

What little rain the desert country of Namibia does get falls during the southern hemisphere summer months from November to March. (And mainly January to mid March.) So during this latter time we do recommend a 4x4 vehicle. But, at other times of the year, an SUV with high clearance will do just fine.

It’s important to work with an expert when planning a self drive tour to Namibia. Driving in Namibia takes longer than you might expect. So it's vital to know how far you can happily travel in enjoyment, rather than in exasperation. We provide detailed directions and a comprehensive itinerary for you.

Namibia self-drive - Damaraland, Spitzkoppe

It was amazing
"Thanks Conrad for your help organizing all of this trip for us, it was amazing – and I’ll be sure to refer you to any future friends of mine wishing to come to Africa. " - Mr Ross, Melbourne
Ginny's advice was spot on
"Ginny’s advice was spot on – the locations, pace of trip and quality of accommodation was superb. The 2 slightly different safari areas also worked out well and it was great that our be ..." - Mr Matthew Campbell
Very helpful discussions
"Very helpful discussions beforehand to give us lots of options. The personalised website was really good. The pre-holiday booklet was really useful as well. " - Mrs Rachel O'Connell, UK
You delivered us a near perfect experience
"We had a wonderful trip largely thanks Cedarberg Travel. THANK YOU!! Thank you again Mari. We had a trip packed with fun, laughter, wildlife and bucket showers, all at a relaxed pace which made us ..." - Mr Dennis Lee
Rwanda was inspiring
"My wife and I approached Cederberg requesting a draft itinerary and recommendations for a visit to Rwanda. We received prompt, well-informed assistance, and a final itinerary which was absolutely p ..." - Mr David, USA
 
Find me the best in for
"We had a fantastic trip and were so pleased with your suggestions. I’m sure we will return to SA at some point in the future and would love to do more Safari trips elsewhere in Africa once ..." - Milandi
Tailor make it all to suit
"Peter got it from the start of my gabbled explanation of reason for trip and abnormal itinerary. He pieced it all together and I always felt confident, even before the trip. " - Mr & Mrs Leake, UK
Superb holiday
"Peter put together a superb holiday for us. He found out what sort of things we liked and then tailored the holiday for our needs. Whilst working the logistics out! " - Mrs Helen Severs
We honestly had the trip of a life time and it was a magical time for our whole family.
"We honestly had the trip of a life time and it was a magical time for our whole family. From the animals in the Serengeti to the palm fringed perfect beaches of Zanzibar it was two weeks we will ne ..." - Jos Palmer
Competitively Priced
"Cedarberg were helpful, easy to deal with, competitively priced. " - Mrs Jane Perrins, UK
 
staff image

Kate Bergh

AFRICAN TRAVEL SPECIALIST

Hi I'm Kate, I'm here to help you plan your ideal holiday experience GET IN TOUCH