Namibia Roadtrip: From Desert Dunes to Self Drive Safaris

First things first: why Namibia? Because where else can you sprint down a 325-metre sand dune before lunch, leap out of a plane over the Atlantic by tea-time, and share sundowners with black rhino at sunset? If you’re craving an adrenaline fuelled adventure, ever-changing landscapes and wildlife that still outnumber tourists, put Namibia at the top of your “do-it-before-everyone-else-does” list.

We embared on an incredible 10 night road trip across Namibia in October and it was just AMAZING. Here's what we did:

First Stop: Sossusvlei & Sesriem

Our base: Le Mirage Resort & Spa—a swirl of Moorish turrets set against an ocean of apricot-toned sand. Pool for a midday cool-off? Check. Camp-fire cocktail terrace for stunning sunsets? Double check.

Must-do: a guided 4×4 day out with local legend Maria. Yes, technically you can self-drive Sossusvlei, but I wouldn't recommend it unless you fancy spending the day digging your ride out of the sand - leave it to the pros!

Highlights worth getting up at the crack of dawn for: - Dune 45 - the most photogenic pile of sand you’ll ever meet. - Big Daddy - all 325m of it, if you've never climbed a sand dune before you will feel the burn, about 30 seconds in! (Pro tip: once you eventually hit the top run down the other side to Deadvlei - sprinting down feels epic and also stops the sand from swallowing your ankles.) - Oryx cameos during a caffeine break on Big Mama dune, plus surprise ostrich sightings that triggered a mild bird obsession. - Sesriem Canyon – the perfect “I-walked-on-the-moon” finale.

Travel-tip: Pack a neck gaiter; Sossusvlei is nature’s sandblaster so you will want to cover your face - and your camera lens!

Next stop: Swakopmund: Namibia’s adrenaline fuelled playground!

Highlights: - Dolphin & Beach Braai Cruise: Hello pelicans, seals, a lone penguin, a pod of 10 humpbacks and the local dolphin gang, all before a Walvis Bay oyster-and-lobster feast on the sand. - 12,000 ft Skydive: see where the dunes meet the sea from a completely different angle! - Craft beer bars, souvenir stalls and catch ups with our on-the-ground guru Johann who keeps all my clients Namibia trips running like clockwork!

Up next: Twyfelfontein, home of the famous desert adapted elephants!

Our base: Mowani Mountain Camp—a cluster of thatched hideaways bouldered into the landscape with unforgettable views and arguably the best sundowners spot I've ever seen!

Highlights: - Game drive: Meet Namibia’s desert-adapted elephants and wave hello to your first giraffes of the trip. - UNESCO-listed Rock Engravings: Proof that Insta-storying rock art is such a 21st-century déjà vu. - Burnt Mountain & Organ Pipes

Then it was self drive safari time heading first to Etosha NP for DIY Big 5 spotting then Onguma & Okonjima for the safari finale!

Etosha National Park demands a self-drive game of hide-and-seek. For the self-drive part base yourself at Okaukuejo Camp, strategically positioned beside a floodlit waterhole. Not the fanciest accommodation on our trip but the waterhole here is unreal - imagine the Lion King’s “Circle of Life” scene and you're about there!

Day-time hopscotch between waterholes rewarded us with: - Lions (twice—proof that patience is key) - Baby ostrich fluffs, too cute for words - Giraffe traffic jams - Enough elephant and rhino encounters to hit my phone storage limit

Our next safari stop was Onguma, we had 1 night here to end our day after self-driving Etosha NP! On arrival? One huge bull elephant showering himself just metres from our room! Sundowners here was epic watching so many elephants froliking at the waterhole, right in front of the open air restaurant.

And finally... Okonjima a 22,000-acre reserve where the AfriCat Foundation monitors leopards via discreet radio collars. This means you have a fighting chance of spotting these notoriously elusive cats. We spotted two leopards and three brown hyena, plus a morning wake-up call from a giraffe. Not your average hotel stay!

Namibia Tips: When to go? May–October for dry season drama at waterholes. Do I need a 4×4? Yes—roads flip from silky tar to teeth-rattling gravel. How many nights? Minimum 10 to hit all three regions without feeling like you’re auditioning for Race Across the World Can you plan it for me? Funny you should ask—bespoke Namibia itineraries are my speciality. Get in touch - I'd love to help!

I’ve translated this very itinerary—plus a few secret upgrades—into a fully bookable, tailor-made adventure so if this trip is calling your name drop me a message and lets start planning! I’ll handle all the boring bits (permits, guides, the perfect sundowner recipes) so you can focus on conquering dunes, oceans and savannahs in style.

jodie.love@mytc.com 01494 620190 / 07946 036881