Panicking about my Namibia trip

Hi,
We did a Northern trip in 10 days and it was a bit to rushed.
We never made it as far as Ethosia.
Try CardboardBox for bookings.

I did three weeks from Sept-Oct. and did the Northern circuit. If you have two full weeks in Namibia for travel, you should be fine. Two weeks including air travel will be tight, but do-able. Since the Namibian school holidays are 15 Aug - 5 Sept, park reservations and hotels will be fully booked. I suggest going from Windhoek to Swak first then up along the Skeleton Coast to see the seals and finish in Etosha. I did 2 nights at each of the three camps in Etosha, and could have stayed even longer! You are visiting before the rains, so you should see lots of animals around the waterholes. If you stilll have time, you can hit Waterburg park on the way back to Windhoek.

A 2-wheel drive will be fine, I used one and had no problem (check the spare BEFORE leaving the rental place...ours was flat when we needed it!) The drives are long, so stop for gas at every opportunity and have spare water in your vehicle.

I think the two of you should have no problem finding accomodation or getting into Etosha after 5 Sept. And yes, you can spend the night in your car off the side of the road - I did it several times to save some cash.

For car rental and maybe a couple reservations, I agree that Cardboard Box does an excellent job! No need for a scheduled tour if you plan on renting a car and are comfortable driving a manual on the "other" side of the road. I'm from the States and I was able to get used to it quickly!

Hi ilaria18,

With only 2 weeks in Namibia - I don't think that you are going to be able to see both the Sperrgebiet and the Etosha National Park. Namibia is a country where you need to slow down your pace, sit back and enjoy the scenery! I would strongly recommend that you decide what your priorities are and then focus on an 'area'.

Generally Namibia can be divided in half, with Windhoek being the middle - if you travel south of Windhoek - you will see amazing vistas and scenery, while north of Windhoek is better known for its wildlife.

If you are looking for a 'highlights' package - that will give you an over-view of the country - I would suggest something like:
2 nights Sossusvlei
2 nights Swakopmund
1 night Damaraland
3 nights Etosha
1 night Waterberg area
1 night Windhoek
This takes you to our famous dunes, our coastal playground, our Unesco World heritage site, Etosha National Park and the area of Namibia which is home to 20% of the World's largest cheetah population, the Cheetah conservation fund and REST (Rare and Endangered Species Trust)

I would suggest organising a car prior to arrival - as a lot of tour operators have managed to negotiate better deals with car rental companies than you can directly - including zero excess and a lower fuel deposit. You could even get a better deal on insurance inclusions if you book a car through a tour operator.

Check on the road conditions prior to arrival in Namibia - Namibia had very high rainfall this year and while the road crews have been out repairing the roads, there are still parts that are accessable to 4x4's only. If you decide to not take a 4wd, I would still suggest an SUV or something with a higher road clearance. This added height allows for better game viewing in the National Parks.

Hope that helps answer some of your questions and helps set you mind at ease!
Have a fantastic holiday to Namibia!

Hello everyone, I have not managed to read all your replies yet .Too busy working but on Saturday I will go through and see If I might need to add or clarify something..In the meantime a very big THANK YOU to all of you for your time and informations !
Have a nice day.

Not sure about visiting Sperregebiet - it is a restricted area : you would perhaps see the same kind of scenery further North without having to make special / difficult arrangements.

Namibia_Margs's itinary above is similar to what I've done in the past. If you'd like an extra day in Etosha, you can drive straight down to Windhoek. However, it is a long drive and the Waterberg is a great place to visit & explore. Altrenatively, you could stop at the Africat project instead.

I've never used Cardboard Box (above) and have heard they are OK

I've used ATI several times and have been very happy - they will give good advice, work out an route that meets what you want and make all the bookings (vehicle, accommodation etc).

Have a great time - it's an excellent country and I look forward to my 4th visit next year.