Self Drive Namibia

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

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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

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"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
Enjoyed the charm of the accommodation
"I want thank Mari for helping us create a vacation tour that worked for my husband son and myself. We got to see everything we would like to see that worked within our budget. " - Mrs Janouska, USA
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Exceeded all expectations
"Cedarberg was professional, responsive, and personable. All flights, all transfers, all accommodation, all activities, and the safari itself went exactly to plan. The experience, end-to-end, exceed ..." - Mr Michael Barnard
 
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"We were often posting on Facebook during our travels and many of our friends were asking who arranged our trip, so don’t be surprised to get a few referrals. Again, thank you so much for your tim ..." - Ms Tammy
Winning itinerary!!
"Without ever meeting us, Kate and Tash from Cedarberg Travel & African Safaris created a winning itinerary for my friend and I! The itinerary was well-balanced in its schedule, activity ..." - Mrs Myers
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Cedarberg was very thorough
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Incredibly well organised
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Kate Bergh

AFRICAN TRAVEL SPECIALIST

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