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Although not a very popular country, Namibia is an absolute gem in southern Africa. It’s relatively young, as it only gained full independence from South Africa in 1990. It has an exchange rate that is tied 1:1 with the south african rand. It possesses the Namib Desert, considered to be the oldest in the world. The country has a good focus on eco-tourism and many operators provide skydiving, sandboarding, and quad biking. It’s a large country and so many of the sites are spread out, which makes it a perfect candidate for a road trip.
First thing’s first, the car. A return road trip from Cape Town, South Africa to some of the main sites in Namibia will take at least 4,000 kilometers. Some of the roads are unpaved (especially the route to Sossusvlei), so a 4x4 would work best in this situation (this was suggested to me strongly by very many locals and tour operators alike). Because I was a student, I decided to go with the gas friendly VW Polo (w/ TWO spare tires). As far as insurance goes, so long as you have travel insurance from home, you should be ok. You will also probably have to tell the company that you plan on taking the car across the border to Namibia. As far as journey, we opted to do most of the heavy lifting (driving) at the start of our trip, meaning that we would see most of the sites after heading back south to South Africa (thusly, we went in a counterclockwise direction according to the Googlemap at the end of this post, heading up to Windhoek first). The currency in Namibia is the namibian dollar, but some places accent south african rand as well. I recommend bringing both currencies.
The drive from Cape Town to the South Africa: Namibia border at Vioolsdrif is roughly 700 kms and then another 800 km to the Namibian capital of Windhoek, so it is recommended to stop about 120 km from the border for the night in Springbok (appropriately named after the antelope-like animal that is a symbol of South Africa). It’s a rather small town mainly known for its flora and rich history from the second Boer war. Rest up here (Mountain View Guest House) and get an early start the following morning.
The longest leg of the drive will take you through the border to Namibia and all the way to Windhoek(approaching 1000 km) on the B1. After crossing over, the roads are straight, the land is flat, and towns are sparse, and the experience is strange as sometimes it feels like there is no one for miles. This is a hard drive as there isn’t much to see, so bring a playlist, stop off for a picnic here and there, and make stops for gas frequently as you don’t know when the next one will be (I recommend not going below half a tank).
When you arrive to civilization/Windhoek, take some time to recover and maybe stay for a day or two to explore the Namibian capital.
Then take your road trip towards the coast. The stretch from Windhoek to Swakopmund is a paltry 364 km and can be done in the morning. Swakopmund is a gorgeous seaside town that is small, quaint, and relaxing. Our stay at the Sea Breeze Guest House was beyond perfect. Once here, you can go quad biking on the sand dunes a short drive away. there are many operators in the area but our experience with Namibia Desert Explorers was perfect.
When you decide to leave this idyllic paradise, head south to Walvis Bay for breakfast and to get snacks and gas up for the next part of the trip. The drive towards Sossusvlei should be started in the late morning time (depending on how many hours of daylight you have available). It is not wise to drive through this part of the country after dark as this is when the animals are more freely roaming, including on the roadways, and by roadways, I mean gravel. A mere 330 km later, with some stops to admire the scenery, we arrived at our next accomodation, albeit after dark since we didn’t realize how much time it woudl actually take to drive on unpaved roads.
The Little Sossus lodge was who we went with for accommodation as well as day trips to Sossusvlei and Deadvlei. The morning trip to Sossusvlei was absolutely breathtaking. The red sand dunes and unusual surroundings makes you feel like you’re on Mars. The Acacia trees from Deadvlei are hundreds of years old but do not decompose due to the arid climate (Disclaimer: do not try to climb these trees, it is disrespectful for future visitors as there are already broken branches from people before, and furthermore, the trees will not hold you). Keep an eye out for some wildlife, big and small. There are a few beetle varieties that also make a home in the sand which are unearthed as you walk through. Wear shoes with socks during this trek, especially if you plan on walking on the dunes.
Also, don’t miss the ‘Sundowner’ drive that Little Sossus offers to their guests as well. You are driven to the side of a mountain with drinks and food provided and can enjoy the sunset over the Namibian countryside. It is breathtaking!
The small abandoned diamond mining town of Kolmanskop is 450 km south of Sossusvlei and is worth the visit. There is a fee to access the site but not many visitors, at least during the time we went. You can enter each of the marked buildings and walk inside, seeing how nature has slowly reclaimed the entire area. Sand drifts almost go up to the ceilings in some cases, there is broken glass everywhere, the paint has peeled back from the walls, and some of the floors have collapsed. Use caution but take the time to really admire this place.
When heading back to South Africa, you will once again cross over the border at Vioosdruf, but you do, you will drive along the border along the Orange river, which offers stunning views as this area is more plush with plant life and not the desert that you escaped from. You can choose to stop off for another night in Springbok or go the entire way back to Cape Town. The former is preferred since the drive from Kolmanskop to cape town is over 1100 kms.
No matter how you decide to split up this drive, the sights you see will be worth it. The relative obscurity of this area with regards to tourism makes it ideal to discover these places without hordes of people following your lead. The ideal exhcnage rate also makes it affordable for most travelers. If you don’t mind the driving, this trip is perfect for you.
PROTIP: If you have extra time during your road trip, head north from Swakopmund and check out Skeleton Coast National Park, which is littered with shipwrecks and whale skeletons.