Namibian Adventures: 10 Days Driving from the Desert to the Ocean in Namibia

Pick up your rental camping truck in Windhoek and head to AfriCat Foundation, a fantastic conservation group focused on protecting Namibia’s big cats. Their work includes education, research, and rehabilitation, giving you a meaningful look into how these amazing predators are cared for and preserved in the wild. Stay at Okonjima Lodge, which offers bush camping or luxury lodges and go on a leopard tracking adventure. Alternatively, I also suggest Cheetah Conservation Fund, a conservation organization which welcomes guests throughout the year to visit or volunteer with their efforts to save the cheetah and its habitat.

Head to Etosha National Park. Get ready to explore the incredible wildlife of Namibia at Etosha National Park. This place is a haven for all kinds of animals, set against the backdrop of wide-open savannahs and striking salt pans. You can sign up for guided safaris or drive yourself around the park to see the wildlife. I suggest staying in a different section of the park each day so you get to see the most wildlife possible. For this itinerary, it’s best to go east to west, so stay in ​​Namutoni on your first night.

On your second day in Etosha, stay in Halali and do a guided safari. I suggest doing at least one guided safari in Etosha at either sunrise or sunset because they are professionals and will find you the wildlife you might miss. Since only guides are allowed into the park after sunset, if you only do one guided safari, I’d suggest the nighttime one. This is also a good time to see rhinos that you might miss during your daytime drives around the park.

On your third day in Etosha, stay in Okaukuejo. When you’re driving from site to site within Etosha, take your time and see as many animals as you can on your own. Stay on the road and respect the animals and look out for clusters of cars. I would have missed a pride of 14 lions if it weren’t for others who found them first!

Drive through Damaraland to Spitzkoppe, known as the “Matterhorn of Namibia”. Spitzkoppe features dramatic granite peaks rising from the Namib Desert. It offers excellent hiking, rock climbing, and photography against striking landscapes. The area also contains ancient San rock paintings in hidden caves, providing a glimpse into Namibia’s rugged wilderness and cultural heritage. I highly recommend staying at Spitzkoppe Campsite. It was one of the most rugged places I’ve ever been, but it held the most beautiful sunset I’ve ever seen.

Drive from Spitzkoppe to Swakopmund. Located on Namibia’s Atlantic coast, Swakopmund combines German colonial charm with a vibrant seaside atmosphere. Known as Namibia’s adventure capital, it offers cultural sites, cafés, and outdoor activities like quad biking and sandboarding on nearby dunes. With a mild climate and ocean views, it provides a refreshing contrast to the desert, ideal for both relaxation and adventure. You can relax a bit here after all your travels and prepare for the next adventures ahead. Treat yourself to a wine night at Ankerplatz Restaurant and Wine Bar or cocktails at Bar Zonder Naam, enjoy a good seaside meal at Jetty 1906, and get a good night’s sleep in one of their comfortable accommodations.

A day trip to Sandwich Harbor from Swakopmund is a must! Located along Namibia’s pristine coastline, Sandwich Harbor is a stunning lagoon where towering red dunes dramatically meet the Atlantic Ocean. This unique environment is a sanctuary for diverse birdlife and offers the rare spectacle of desert merging with the sea. Visitors can explore this exquisite landscape via guided 4x4 dune drives and boat excursions. I suggest hiring Charlys Desert Tours for their earliest possible dune drive available, which is when the weather is the clearest. You’ll have a one-of-a-kind dune drive and lunch among the dunes and sea. Stop in Walvis Bay on the way to see the flamingos and grab a coffee at Dolphins Coffee Shoppe. Then spend the rest of the day shopping and resting up for the next leg of the trip.

Drive to Sossouvlei and stay inside Namib-Naukluft National Park, this is important to catch the sunrise the next day. Situated within the iconic Namib-Naukluft National Park, Sossusvlei is renowned for its towering red sand dunes—the tallest in the world—rising dramatically against the clear blue sky. This otherworldly desert landscape is truly captivating, especially at sunrise and sunset when the dunes glow in vibrant shades of orange and gold. The area also features vast salt pans and ancient camel thorn trees, creating striking contrasts and excellent photographic opportunities. Exploring Sossusvlei allows you to immerse yourself in the profound silence and timeless beauty of the Namib Desert, whether on foot, by 4x4, or from the vantage point of Dune 45 or Big Daddy.

Wake up early for a sunrise at Deadvlei. Located within the same stark beauty of Namib-Naukluft National Park, Deadvlei is a surreal clay pan famed for its striking contrast of white clay floor and the deep orange dunes that surround it. Scattered across the pan are ancient, blackened camel thorn trees, estimated to be over 900 years old, their skeletal forms preserved by the arid climate. This hauntingly beautiful landscape, especially mesmerizing in the soft morning light, offers a unique glimpse into nature’s resilience and artistry. A visit to Deadvlei is a profound visual and sensory experience, inviting contemplation amid one of the world’s most extraordinary desert environments.

Drive back to Windhoek today after your wonderful adventures. Explore the shopping and food scene in Windhoek tonight or get a much needed massage at Meraki Wellness Center. You could have a casual outing at Joe’s Beerhouse or a slightly more elevated experience at Cape Town Fish Market. If you forgot to grab your souvenirs on the road, don’t worry because Namibia Craft Centre has everything you could possibly need to bring back home, including one of my favorite souvenirs: jewelry made with pressed flowers and Kalahari sand.