Northern Highlights - Guided Self-Drive Safari
17 days guided self-drive safari through the central north of Namibia
During this guided self-drive tour, you will get to know the northern highlights of Namibia. From the world famous Etosha National Park the journey takes you to the World Heritage Site of rock engravings at Twyfelfontein and all the way to Swakopmund and the legendary dunes of the Namib Desert.
This relaxing and eventful safari program targets travellers, who wish to experience the central north of Namibia as self-drivers, whilst enjoying the security of traveling in a small group. With a maximum of 8 persons the safari is led by a guide in his own vehicle, with extensive knowledge of the country, whilst you follow in your own 4x4 vehicle: a great offer which grants you all the freedom of a typical Namibian self-drive tour, with the additional access to the inside knowledge of your German- and English-speaking guide and his expertise in landscape and wildlife photography.
Duration: 17 days
Safari Guide
The Safari is organised with an English and German speaking guide by World Geographic Excursions. Tour guide on this guided self-drive tour is Chris Hug-Fleck.
Guided Self-drive Safari Overview - "Highlights of the North"
- Day 1: Overnight flight
- Day 2: Arrival in Windhoek – take-over of rental vehicle
- Day 3: Mount Etjo – Game drives and game viewing
- Day 4: En-route north – Crocodile farm
- Day 5: San – Visit of the Living Museum
- Day 6-8: Etosha National Park – World famous game park
- Day 9: Khorixas – Drive into Damaraland
- Day 10: Damaraland highlights – Petrified Forest, Twyfelfontein, Spitzkoppe
- Day 11: Cape Cross – Seal colony
- Day 12: Swakopmund – Namibia’s activity capital
- Day 13-14: Namib Desert - Sossusvlei, Dead Vlei
- Day 15 Windhoek: Back to the capital
- Day 16: Journey home – Good Bye Namibia!
- Day 17: Arrival at home
Costs
From € 4.765 pP
(Lodge)
Group size
- Minimum: 5
- Maximum: 8
Tour dates
- 04.10 - 20.10.2024
- 10.10 - 26.10.2025
Tour overview- "Guided Self-drive Safari - Highlights of the North"
Day 1: Overnight flight to Windhoek
Many European citizens only require a passport still valid for 6 months at the end of the intended stay. Please carefully check the expiry date of your passport.
Day 2: Arrival in Namibia ~ 45 km
After your arrival at the Hosea Kutako Airport, located about 45 km east of Windhoek, you will be transferred by the car rental company to Windhoek. Here you take over your vehicle for the tour. Check in at your private accommodation in one of Windhoek’s up-market suburbs and dinner at one of the many good restaurants in town.
Services included:
- Transfer from airport and take-over of the rental vehicle.
- Accommodation in a B&B or hotel, dinner
Day 3: Mt. Etjo~ 230 km (3h)
We depart from Windhoek after breakfast and drive north. First stop-over on our guided self-drive tour is Mount Etjo, one of the oldest private reserves in Namibia. After checking into our rooms and a short break the first game drives await us!
Services included:
- Breakfast, lunch, dinner, accommodation (Mount Etjo Safari Lodge)
Day 4: En-route North~ 500 km (5.5h)
If of interest we can take part in an early sunrise game drive up the Mount Etjo. Afterwards we depart for lunch to the crocodile farm at Otjwarongo. Here you can join a short guided tour through the crocodile breeding station and – who likes- can taste some culinary crocodile treats (Recommendation: Mixed salad with crocodile strips).
After lunch we continue to the largest meteorite ever found on earth, the Hoba meteorite, which crushed down onto Farm Hobas (hence the name) about 80.000 years ago. After the visit to this extraterrestrial, we continue to Grootfontein (short stop-over) until we reach our accommodation on a private farm.
Services included:
- Breakfast, lunch, dinner, accommodation (Roy's Camp or similar)
Day 5: Living Museum of the San~ 170 km (2h)
Today we go on a day excursion to the Living Museum of the San at Grashoek. We see how the San men build their bow and arrows, how the San women craft their jewellery from different natural material and how they are able to find water-containing roots, food and medicine in their natural bush environment. The Living Museum was established in 2004 already and it supports the San to preserve their ancient, traditional culture: A communal project well worth supporting.
We return to the lodge in the afternoon.
Services included:
- Breakfast, lunch, dinner, accommodation (Roy's Camp or similar)
Day 6: Into the Etosha National Park~ 230 km (3.5h)
We continue with a short stop-over at the Otjikoto Lake and the mining capital of Tsumeb to the world famous Etosha National Park. In the eastern Camp Namutoni (an old German Fort) we take a lunch break.
In the afternoon we drive to Halali Restcamp where we will spend two nights. At the lit waterhole we wait for four-legged visitors to quench their thirst.
Services included:
- Breakfast, lunch, dinner, accommodation (Halali)
Day 7: Etosha National Park - Halali~ 250 km (6h)
Halali Restcamp is located in the central part of the Etosha National Park and offers excellent game drive opportunities in the morning and late afternoon. The midday hours a spent at the swimming pool. Halali has the "Moringa" water hole, which can be reached by foot and offers great game viewing opportunities.
Services included:
- Breakfast, lunch, dinner, accommodation (Halali)
Day 8: Etosha - Okaukuejo~ 150 km (4h)
We leave Halali after breakfast and drive leisurely further west towards Okaukuejo. Again, we have the opportunity to visit the waterhole in the evening, which is regularly visited by rhinos and elephants.
Services included:
- Breakfast, lunch, dinner, accommodation (Okaukuejo)
Day 9: Towards Khorixas~ 250 km (3h)
After an early game drive, we leave the Etosha National Park and continue south into the so-called Damaraland with its wonderful rock formations. Our accommodation tonight is located in the vicinity of the small town of Khorixas.
Services included:
- Breakfast, lunch, dinner, accommodation (Lodge close to Khorixas)
Day 10: Damaraland~ 260 km (4,5h)
Today we have three highlights on our program. Firstly, we pay a visit to the ‘Petrified Forest’ close to Khorixas, an accumulation of fallen, petrified tree trunks, which are about 280 million years old.
We continue to the UNESCO-World Cultural Site at Twyfelfontein, where we get to see some of the famous rock engravings during a guided tour. Twyfelfontein is famous for the unbelievable number of rock engravings (Petroglyphs) of the San (Bushmen), of which over 2500 have been counted in the area of the ‘doubtful spring’ (Twyfel Fontein). Information about the age varies and the time frame spans from 1.000 to 10.000 years.
In the afternoon we carry on to our last highlight, the magical Spitzkoppe, an inselberg in central Namibia. We stay over at the beautiful Spitzkoppen Tented Lodge.
Services included:
- Breakfast, lunch, dinner, accommodation (Spitzkoppen Tented Lodge)
Day 11: From the Spitzkoppe to the Atlantic~ 280 km (4h)
The morning belongs to the breathtaking surrounds of the Spitzkoppe. Well know is the famous Rock Arch, which has featured in numerous films and in many calendars, photographic competitions and travel guides.
The journey takes us further to the historic Cape Cross, where we are able to see and smell the world’s biggest colony of Cape Fur Seals.
After our lunch break we drive to Swakopmund, where the influences of the German colonial times in Namibia are more visible than anywhere else in the country. We stay in a cosy B&B and go out for dinner in one of the many restaurants.
Services included:
- Breakfast, lunch, dinner, accommodation (B&B or hotel in Swakopmund)
Day 12: Swakopmund activities~ 60 km (1h)
Today we have free leisure time in Swakopmund. We can merely relax and enjoy the flair of this German characterized town or book one of the many activities offered in Swakopmund and Walvis Bay in the morning. As we are traveling in several cars different interest groups can spontaneously team up and go explore whatever they feel like. Here's a list of our recommendations:
- Little Five Desert Expedition (Swakopmund)
- Scenic Flight over the Namib (Swakopmund)
- Catamaran tour (Walvis Bay)
- Kayaking with Seals (Walvis Bay)
- Seal and Dolphin tour (Walvis Bay)
- Sandwich Harbour Tour (Walvis Bay)
Pre booking is recommended. Let us know and we can book the activities for you. Extra activities are not included in the safari package.
Services included:
- Breakfast, lunch, dinner, accommodation (B&B or hotel in Swakopmund)
Day 13: Namib Naukluft Park, Namib Desert~ 240 km (3,5h)
We turn our back to Swakopmund and the Atlantic coast and continue southeast into the desert until we reach the extraordinary Namib Naukluft Park. We stay over at a lodge directly inside the park, which allows us to stay an hour later / earlier in the National Park: Perfect for shooting pictures of the spectacular array of colours at sunrise and sunset in the Namib Desert.
In the afternoon we visit Dune 45 to get the first impression of the unbelievable sand sea of the Namib. (UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2013).
Services included:
- Breakfast, lunch, dinner, accommodation (Sossus Dune Lodge)
Day 14: Sossusvlei & Dead Vlei~ 180 km (2.5h)
Before breakfast we travel to one of the most impressive natural spectacles in Namibia: Sossusvlei and Dead Vlei. Just before sunrise we reach the picturesque clay pans, framed by high sand dunes and are able to enjoy the landscape whilst having a peaceful breakfast.
We return to the lodge before lunch and are able to spend the hottest time of the day at the refreshing pool, before visiting some especially attractive dunes in the evening for an unforgettable sunset.
Services included:
- Breakfast, lunch, dinner, accommodation (Sossus Dune Lodge)
Day 15: Via Solitaire back to Windhoek~ 310 km (4.5h)
Filled with new impressions we leave the endless desert landscape behind and travel via the small desert hamlet of Solitaire (apple crumble and car wrecks), up the steep Spreetshoogte-Pass (breathtaking views) and through the untamed Khomas Highland back to Windhoek.
Services included:
- Breakfast, lunch, dinner, accommodation (Guest house in Windhoek)
Day 16: Departure day~ 0 km
Depending on your flight schedule you might have some time to spend in Windhoek for some souvenir shopping or sightseeing.
Services included:
- Breakfast, lunch
Day 17: Arrival back home
Good-bye Namibia!
Tour inquiry "Guided self-drive safari - Highlights of the North"
Services
Services included:
- Local guide
- Accommodation in lodges according to the program on a double room basis
- Full board from the evening of the first day to lunch on the last day
- All drinks except spirits, sparkling wine, champagne. Beer, wine and all soft drinks during the trip and at the lodges are included.
- All trips according to the program in private 4x4 double cab pick-ups (each for 2 people) with hardtop. More people per car are possible.
- Petrol or Diesel
- Fully comprehensive vehicle insurance (in the event of a car accident, there are no extra costs)
- All entrance fees and park permits
Services not included:
- International flight
- Personal travel insurance
- Personal expenses
- Tips
Travel information
- This guided self-drive safari does not place any particular physical demands on the participants. Smaller walks and short hikes to the photo locations are undertaken, but no kilometer-long hikes.
- All cars are equipped with a refrigerator and are air-conditioned, so cross-country trips at lunchtime are also possible. Endurance and stamina are required for the longer drives.
- The daily stages often consist of a few short walks spread throughout the day. The bottom is mostly sandy, dusty or rocky. Sure-footedness (meaning walking safely on terrain of different types, often with no path and/or sandy or very rocky terrain) is a great advantage.
- We stay in lodges and guesthouses in double rooms. Single rooms at an additional cost (single supplement)
- It goes without saying that your tour guide's aim is to reach all the points on the programme. Should it be weather-related (rain, flooded streams and other unforeseeable events) necessary deviations from the advertisement for organizational or other reasons, we ask for your understanding.
- Also take note that you take part in the trip at your own risk.
