11-Day Northern Wildlife Namibia Self Drive Safari

• Clients collect their self-drive vehicle at the airport.
• Accommodation before the tour starts can be arranged for an extra cost.

Hosea Kutako International Airport to Windhoek

After what could have been a long international flight to reach Namibia, we recommend relaxing at a comfortable guesthouse in the capital city of Windhoek. The Olive Exclusive is one of the top accommodation options available and it is home to an excellent restaurant, which you might like to sample this evening.

During the afternoon, your hired car a Ford Ranger 4x4 or, similar will be delivered and a member of our local team will meet you to go through the details of the trip. They will also present your detailed travel pack including driving directions, a map and the necessary contact details.

Main Destination:

Windhoek (City)

Accommodation:

Hilton Hotel Windhoek

• Luxury hotel located in Windhoek (City)

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Meals & Drinks:

• Breakfast (Lunch & dinner not included)
• Drinks not included

Windhoek to AfriCat Foundation (Okonjima)

After breakfast, depart north out of the city towards the Okonjima Nature Reserve for your first taste of safari and the wildlife that this country has to offer.

Make sure to arrive in time for lunch at Okonjima and to settle into your room before an option afternoon activity (available at an extra cost). The Okonjima Nature Reserve at over 200sq km is vast and home to a good population of wildlife. However, it is the predators that the reserve is famous for and it is home to a number of radio-collared animals, including leopards, brown hyenas and spotted hyenas. You have a great chance of seeing these animals on a guided tracking experience with the lodge.

Main Destination:

Okonjima Private Nature Reserve

Best Time To Go June or July to October (Dry conditions, best for wildlife)

High Season July to October (Can be crowded)

Best Weather

Accommodation:

Okonjima Luxury Bush Camp

• Luxury lodge located inside Okonjima NR

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Meals & Drinks:

• Breakfast & dinner (Lunch not included)
• Drinks not included

AfriCat Foundation (Okonjima) to East Etosha National Park

Enjoy a morning activity with Okonjima, which can be booked directly at the lodge. You'll then depart and drive further north to the eastern boundary of Etosha National Park, the countries premier wildlife destination.

Mushara Lodge is a luxury tented camp with just eight suites, a short distance from the entrance into the national park. Should you wish, you can drive directly into Etosha this afternoon or book a guided game drive with Mushara Lodge.

Main Destination:

Eastern Etosha National Park

Best Time To Visit May to October (Animals come to water)

High Season July to November (The park gets crowded)

Best Weather May to August (Less hot during the day)

Wildlife in Etosha NP

ElephantAbundant

GiraffeCommon

ZebraAbundant

WildebeestAbundant

Black RhinoOccasional

LionOccasional

Show more

HyenaOccasional

White RhinoVery Rare

LeopardVery Rare

CheetahVery Rare

BuffaloNone

HippoNone

Wild DogNone

Accommodation:

Mushara Lodge

• Luxury lodge located just outside Etosha NP

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Meals & Drinks:

• Breakfast & dinner (Lunch not included)
• Drinks not included

Eastern Etosha National Park

You'll have your first full day on safari in Etosha National Park and one of the beautiful aspects of the park is how easy it is to drive independently around the park on a self-drive safari. The roads are generally in good condition and the park is well signposted between the main highlights and the waterholes. Even just relaxing by one of the waterholes can yield some incredible wildlife sightings.

Another option is to book a guided activity with Mushara Outpost, available at an extra cost. Their experienced guides will drive you into and around the park and you will learn a lot more about the park and its animals accompanied by a guide.

You might decide to do a mixture of both, perhaps booking a guided game drive in the morning and explore by yourself in the afternoon.

Main Destination:

Eastern Etosha National Park

Accommodation:

Mushara Lodge

• Luxury lodge located just outside Etosha NP

Meals & Drinks:

• Breakfast & dinner (Lunch not included)
• Drinks not included

Etosha National Park

Today, embark on a drive west through Etosha National Park to the central region. It is worth treating this journey as an extended game drive and take your time as you wind through the park stopping at wildlife and waterholes on the way.

You stay at Okaukuejo which was the first tourist camp to open in Etosha and it currently functions as the administrative hub of the park, and home of the Etosha Ecological Institute. It is situated at the western end of the pan, and about 120km north of the town of Outjo. The Okaukuejo waterhole is often voted as the best of all the rest camp waterholes and enjoys an amazing array of wildlife.

Main Destination:

Etosha National Park

Accommodation:

Okaukuejo Resort

• Mid-range chalet located inside Etosha NP

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Meals & Drinks:

• Breakfast (Lunch & dinner not included)
• Drinks not included

Etosha National Park

Located just south of the boundary of Etosha National Park in northwestern Namibia, Etosha South makes up the southern region of this wild paradise. The area is comprised of a collection of world class private game reserves. The national park can be accessed via the southern entrance at Andersson’s Gate. Visitors can catch a glimpse of a variety of wildlife including lion, giraffe, elephant, white and black rhino, and a multitude of plains game. Popular activities include enjoying an open 4x4 safari with an expert guide, half day or full day drives with the option of a picnic lunch with wine on the full day game drive.

Animals that visit the on site waterhole appear to be oblivious of the camp – unaware of the bright lights or the people sitting on benches just behind the low stone wall. The light doesn't penetrate into the surrounding bush. It creates something of a stage - with the water at its centre - focusing the attention on the animals that come to drink.

Main Destination:

Etosha National Park

Accommodation:

Okaukuejo Resort

• Mid-range chalet located inside Etosha NP

Meals & Drinks:

• Breakfast (Lunch & dinner not included)
• Drinks not included

Etosha National Park to Damaraland

As you gradually start to journey south, you next destination is the beautiful, rugged area of Damaraland, situated south west of Etosha between the park and the coast. Famous for it's desert adapted wildlife, stay at Doro Nawas for the next two nights while you'll explore the area.

Main Destination:

Damaraland

Best Time To Visit May to October (Animals are easier to see)

High Season July to November (Some places can get quite busy)

Best Weather May to August (Less hot during the day)

Wildlife in Damaraland

ElephantOccasional

GiraffeOccasional

Black RhinoRare

LionRare

LeopardVery Rare

ZebraRare

Show more

CheetahVery Rare

HyenaVery Rare

White RhinoNone

BuffaloNone

WildebeestNone

HippoNone

Wild DogNone

Accommodation:

Mowani Mountain Camp

• Luxury lodge located inside Damaraland

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Meals & Drinks:

• Breakfast & dinner (Lunch not included)
• Drinks not included

Damaraland

Doro Nawas is perfectly situated for a variety of activities in the Damaraland area. A particular highlight is booking onto a nature drive to search for the area's famous desert adapted elephants. Generally these are easier to track down during the dry season from July to October, although it might be possible to catch a glimpse throughout the year.

The famous rock engravings of Twyfelfontein are just a short distance away and can be easily visited independently or on a guided trip which can be booked with the lodge.

Main Destination:

Damaraland

Accommodation:

Mowani Mountain Camp

• Luxury lodge located inside Damaraland

Meals & Drinks:

• Breakfast & dinner (Lunch not included)
• Drinks not included

Damaraland to Erongo Mountains Area

After an optional morning activity from Mowani Mountain Camp, continue heading south for a night in the foothills of the Erongo Mountains at Erindi Lodge. The area is famous for its countless rock painting sites scattered around the ancient rock formations which are thought to be the eroded remains of a volcanic complex dating back 130 million years.

Once you have settled into the lodge, you might like to book a guided walking trail, a nature drive or just explore on your own on a self-guided hike.

Main Destination:

Erongo Mountains (Mountain Range)

Accommodation:

Old Trader's Lodge

• Luxury lodge located inside Erindi GR

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Meals & Drinks:

• Breakfast & dinner (Lunch not included)
• Drinks not included

Erongo Mountain Area to Naankuse Wildlife Santuary Centre

On your penultimate day, depart Erindi Lodge in your own time as you drive back towards the capital city. Spend your final night in style with one night at the luxurious Omaanda Lodge. Part of the boutique hotel group, Zannier Hotels, Omaanda is their first hotel in Namibia and it is situated within a private conservancy, enabling a beautiful, relaxing finish to your adventure. For those still eager for a final safari fix there are a number of activities on offer at Naankuse Lodge, from rhino tracking to spending sunrise with a meerkat family. Discuss these extra activities with the lodge.

Main Destination:

Windhoek (City)

Accommodation:

N/a'an Ku Sê Lodge

• Luxury lodge located near Windhoek (City)

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Meals & Drinks:

• Breakfast & dinner (Lunch not included)
• Drinks not included

Departure

Depart Naankuse Lodge in plenty of time and aim to arrive at the airport three hours before the departure of your flights. This should give you plenty of time to return your hired car, check in and say your goodbyes to this wonderful country.

Main Destination:

Hosea Kutako International Airport (Windhoek)

Accommodation:

No accommodation (End of tour)

Meals & Drinks:

• Breakfast (Lunch & dinner not included)
• Drinks not included

• Additional accommodation can be arranged for an extra cost.
• Clients return their self-drive vehicle at the airport.