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Namibia Self-Drive Tour “Desert, Tribes, Wildlife, Victoria Falls”
For two persons: starting from €4,200 per person
For four persons: starting from €3,800 per person
Moderate pace
Embark on an unforgettable self-drive adventure in Namibia.
Your journey in Namibia commences in the Kalahari Desert, where you will encounter the San people, the Bushmen. Explore the Namib Desert, the enigmatic Skeleton Coast, and its abundant wildlife. Uncover the Damaraland, steeped in ancient history.
This region serves as the habitat for the desert elephants.
Cross the Kaokoland, the land of the Himba, the red people.
Continue your journey in Namibia towards Etosha National Park, a sanctuary for African wildlife.
Marvel at the unique biodiversity and the culture of the Caprivi Strip.
Conclude your expedition by tracing the Chobe River in Botswana, before gazing upon the majestic Victoria Falls in Zimbabwe.
Each leg of the journey presents a rich and authentic experience, intertwining nature and tradition.
Self-Drive Tour Itinerary: Desert, Tribes, Wildlife, Victoria Falls
- Day 1 – Windhoek
- Day 2 – Kalahari / Mariental
- Day 3 – Sesriem
- Day 4 – Sesriem
- Day 5 – Swakopmund
- Day 6 – Swakopmund
- Day 7 – Damaraland / Twyfelfontein
- Day 8 – Damaraland / Twyfelfontein
- Day 9 – Koakoland / Sesfontein
- Day 10 – Koakoland / Epupa falls
- Day 11 – Koakoland / Epupa falls
- Day 12 – Hobatere ” conservancy”
- Day 13 – Etosha / Okaukuejo
- Day 14 – Etosha / Namutoni
- Day 15 – Caprivi / Divundu
- Day 16 – Caprivi / Divundu
- Day 17 – Botswana / Kasane
- Day 18 – Botswana / Kasane
- Day 19 – Zimbabwe / Victoria Falls
- Day 20 – Zimbabwe / Aéroport
Day 1 : Windhoek
Upon your arrival in Windhoek, welcome to Namibia!
Your self-drive safari commences in Windhoek, the capital of the country.
After collecting your vehicle, take a moment to acclimate to driving on the left side of the road. Explore the city and immerse yourself in the local culture.
Overnight : Windhoek
Day 2 : Mariental / Kalahari
Following your first awakening in Namibia, set out in your 4×4, heading south towards the expansive Kalahari Desert.
The Kalahari Desert is a vast arid expanse that harbors crimson dunes, a distinctive array of wildlife, and the San people, the custodians of ancient traditions and the secrets of the desert.
Overnight: Mariental (breakfast dinner included)
Optional: Your lodge offers sunset safaris featuring cheetahs, rhinoceroses, and an aperitif amid the dunes at twilight.
Additionally, enjoy a morning walk with representatives of the San people (Bushmen).
Day 3 : Sesriem
Departing towards the Namib Desert, which stretches over 2,000 kilometers along the Atlantic Ocean.
You will traverse the Kuiseb Pass before entering the Namib-Naukluft Reserve. As you cross the Tropic of Capricorn, you will have the opportunity to capture a photograph in front of the renowned sign.
We highly recommend a stop at the Namibian “Bagdad Café” to savor the finest apple pies in the country.
Sesriem (breakfast dinner included)
Day 4 : Sesriem
Set off at dawn to avoid the midday heat. A 60-kilometer journey will lead you to Deadvlei, surrounded by some of the most exquisite dunes in the world. The red dunes of the Namib are often referred to as “perfect dunes.”
Explore the sites of Sossusvlei and Deadvlei, where you can ascend Dune 45 and stroll through the vast pan among its petrified trees.
For the more adventurous, tackle the climb of one of the world’s tallest dunes, rising to a height of 320 meters.
Discover the Sesriem Canyon, located not far from the park entrance, and enjoy a leisurely afternoon by the pool, sheltered from the desert’s heat.
Sesriem (breakfast dinner included)
Optional activities : Hot air ballooning, scenic flights over the desert.
Day 5 : Swakopmund
Setting off towards Swakopmund and the Skeleton Coast, a guaranteed shift in ambiance and temperature awaits.
You will depart from the Namib-Naukluft National Park and navigate through the Kuiseb Pass. As you cross the Tropic of Capricorn, you will have the chance to capture a photograph in front of the iconic sign.
Dinner at your leisure in town.
Swakopmund (breakfast included)
We highly recommend a stop at Solitaire’s “Bagdad Café,” where you can indulge in the finest apple pies in the country.
Day 6 : Swakopmund
Take pleasure in this beautiful seaside resort and its cooler climate. There is an opportunity to indulge in shopping while exploring Swakopmund on foot.
Included activities : you will uncover the remarkable biodiversity of Walvis Bay, the “Malibu” of Africa. Spend the morning aboard a catamaran, observing seals, dolphins, pelicans, flamingos, and possibly even whales. At noon, you will board a 4×4 en route to Sandwich Harbor, where the dunes dramatically plunge into the ocean, promising exhilarating experiences.
Dinner at your leisure in town.
Swakopmund (breakfast included)
Optional activities include kayaking, quad biking, cycling, aerial desert flights, sandboarding, and more. A comprehensive list of activities along with their respective prices will be provided upon your reservation.
Day 7 : Damaraland / Twyfelfontein
You will leave the Skeleton Coast to journey into the ancient lands of Damaraland.
A new region unfolds before you: Damaraland. Vast expanses and sites that history has indelibly marked for millennia.
The region of desert elephants along the Huab River.
Twyfelfontein boasts one of the most significant concentrations of rock engravings in Africa.
Overnight: Twyfelfontein (breakfast dinner included)
Information: There is an opportunity to visit Cape Cross to observe one of the largest colonies of fur seals in Africa.
They number in the thousands, and platforms and walkways allow visitors to approach within mere meters. The detour takes approximately two hours. Open from 10 AM to 5 PM.
Day 8 : Damaraland / Twyfelfontein
Optional : Morning safari to observe desert-adapted elephants in the challenging Damaraland conditions.
Visit the UNESCO World Heritage site of Twyfelfontein (featuring paintings and rock engravings), open from 8 AM to 4:30 PM.
Pass by the Burnt Mountain, named for its blackened color, and the Organ Pipes, a small canyon of basaltic rocks resembling organ pipes.
Damaraland / Twyfelfontein (breakfast dinner included)
Day 9 : Koakoland / Hoanib, Sesfontein
You continue your journey northward for a day of exploration in the hills of Kaokoland.
Near the village of Sesfontein, the Hoanib River reveals breathtaking landscapes. You traverse the Himba territory, dotted with charming villages along the pathways.
Overnight: Sesfontein (breakfast dinner included)
Day 10 : Koakoland / Chutes d’Epupa
Departure for Epupa Falls at the border of Angola to enter the land of the Himba, one of the last nomadic peoples.
A stop in Opuwo to replenish supplies in anticipation of visiting Himba villages and engaging in encounters (shopping list and advice upon your reservation).
The Epupa Falls are easily accessible on foot. A natural trail runs alongside the Kunene River downstream from the falls, providing a unique opportunity to explore this captivating region.
You will be accommodated by the banks of the Kunene River.
Overnight: Epupa Falls (breakfast dinner included)
Day 11 : Koakoland / Chutes d’Epupa
Opportunity to visit an authentic Himba village, exploring off the beaten path.
We will recommend a local guide to facilitate your engagement with the Himba community.
Delight in a relaxing afternoon by the banks of the Kunene River. The meandering paths sculpted by time and the river are of exquisite beauty, allowing you to cherish this unique and desolate location.
Overnight: Epupa Falls (breakfast dinner included)
Day 12 : Hobatere ” conservancy”
Heading southward towards Etosha.
Just a few kilometers from the Galton Gate, you will enter the lands of Hobatere Conservancy, a community-managed conservation area established by the local inhabitants of this region.
These conservation areas exist to safeguard wildlife and its habitat. It is not uncommon to catch sight of elephants and lions quenching their thirst not far from the restaurant terrace.
Overnight: Hobatere Conservancy (breakfast dinner included)
Note: Enjoy the pool in the late afternoon. Guided 4×4 safari offered by the lodge.
Day 13 : Etosha / Okaukuejo
On the way to Etosha National Park and the Okaukuejo camp.
Spanning an impressive 20,000 square kilometers, it features a vast salt desert known as a pan. This sanctuary is regarded as one of the most beautiful wildlife reserves in Africa.
This park is one of Africa’s most exquisite wildlife reserves, sheltering 114 species of mammals and 340 varieties of birds. For the next two days, you will have the privilege of observing the diverse wildlife! Photographic enthusiasts should prepare their equipment and exercise patience to capture extraordinary encounters with nature.
Overnight: Okaukuejo (breakfast dinner included)
Note: You will be able to observe elephants, lions, and rhinoceroses coming to drink at the famous waterhole in Okaukuejo at sunset and during the night.
The accommodation and service at the Okaukuejo camp are of variable quality; if these amenities are important to you, we can book a higher-quality lodge located outside the park.
Day 14 : Etosha / Namutoni
An epic safari day awaits you. From waterhole to waterhole, you will make your way towards your lodge located in the northeastern border of Etosha National Park.
Keep your eyes peeled, for you are in the realm of rhinoceroses, lions, giraffes, elephants, springboks, and many others.
Take a moment to pause at Halali Camp to stretch your legs and perhaps refresh yourself by the pool during the sweltering hours, before continuing your journey to Namutoni.
Overnight: Namutoni (breakfast dinner included)
Day 15 : Caprivi / Divundu
An early departure towards Divundu and the Popa Falls.
The longest leg of your journey beckons. You will traverse from a semi-arid plain to a more verdant and humid landscape, arriving at the very gates of the Caprivi Strip.
A slender strip of 450 kilometers stretches eastward from Namibia, nestled between Botswana to the south and Angola and Zambia to the north.
The Caprivi region is flanked by the majestic rivers Okavango, Kwando, Chobe, and Zambezi.
Overnight: Divundu (breakfast dinner included)
Day 16 : Caprivi / Divundu
Take advantage of this day to explore the Bwabwata National Park (4×4 is essential). In stark contrast to Etosha, you will encounter more “aquatic” species.
This park, situated along the Okavango River, or Kavango as it is known to the locals, is home to buffalo, hippopotamuses, black kudu, crocodiles, vervet monkeys, water monitors, the renowned Okavango lion, and a diverse array of bird species.
Overnight: Divundu (breakfast dinner included)
Day 17 : Kasane
Head towards Kasane, a town nestled on the southern bank of the Chobe River in Botswana.
Cross the border at Ngoma, entering Botswana, the land of elephants. Upon arrival in Kasane, you will return the vehicle and then be transferred to your lodge along the banks of the Chobe River.
Overnight: Kasane (breakfast dinner included)
Day 18 : Kasane
Rise at dawn to make the most of your day. Kasane serves as the capital of the Chobe District in Botswana, situated near the “Four Corners” of Africa, where four countries—Botswana, Namibia, Zambia, and Zimbabwe—converge.
Included activities : embark on a safari in the renowned Chobe National Park (part of the Okavango Delta). In the afternoon, enjoy a sunset boat safari along the Chobe River, where you will have the opportunity to observe elephants, buffalo, crocodiles, and hippopotamuses.
Overnight: Kasane (breakfast dinner included)
Day 19 : Victoria Falls
Included transfer and border crossing towards the city of Victoria Falls and its magnificent waterfalls in Zimbabwe.
Victoria Falls, located at the border between Zambia and Zimbabwe, ranks among the seven natural wonders of the world.
It is the largest curtain of water on the planet, stretching over one and a half kilometers in length and soaring 157 meters high, with an astonishing nine million liters of water cascading into the Batoka Gorge every second! A breathtaking spectacle.
Optional activities include a visit to Victoria Falls National Park, a helicopter flight over the falls, white-water rafting, and safaris on horseback or atop elephants.
AirDay 20 : Victoria Falls / Airport
(Breakfast included) Unfortunately, your extraordinary road trip is drawing to a close.
You will depart with memories to last a lifetime.
Optional morning activities available based on your departure time.
Transfer (included) to Victoria Falls Airport for your international flight.
The entire Matakwa Safaris team wishes you a safe journey home.
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