What Are We Missing - Namibian Accomodation Prices

I don't know where you have been backpacking for the last 12 months, but most African countries are not all that cheap in general if compared to SEA for example, especially not when you look at visiting places like game reserves and NPs. Haven't been to Namibia, but my impression is that even for African standards it is not really a backpackers destination, so yes, it may well be that Namibia is the first country you won't be able to afford on your trip.

For a family of 5 the solution would seem to be to hire a fully equipped vehicle with rooftop tents and camping equipment. In Namibia you could consider a 4x4, although it may not be a necessity, depending upon where you want to go. In South Africa a 4x4 would really be over the top, but again depending on where you want to go.
Accommodation in these countries is usually priced per person and less often per room. In the national parks there is a basic cost per room plus an additional charge per person in excess of a certain number (at least that is so in South Africa).
Make sure you book in advance for Etosha and Sesriem and depending on when you intend being here, also in the parks like Kruger and Kgalagadi.

I have found in other parts of Africa that children sometimes are free. Unless the information is explicit, I would double-check that per person hotel rates are for children and not just adults.

Botswana is also not cheap. It cost me a fortune when I go there or Namibia, but I have to accept it for the benefit of being there.
A hire car and camping is the way to go though there are a few backpacker places that have cheaper rates in some of the towns.

I was also dismayed by Nambia's cost especially in relation to RSA and the facilites are lousy compared to a park like Kruger making Namibia a poor value IMO. They have quasi-privatized NWR and that invariably results in consumers getting a screw job. There is no way around it but it is still cheaper than parks in E Africa. As others have mentioned, you will have to camp but you do not need a 4x4 for the tourist trail. I would suggest renting a small camper which you can also use outside the parks as accomodation instead of using hostels or cheap hotels.

You only need one night at Sesriem and you can find someone who already has a campsite, ask them to share costs, then go back to the office and tell them what you are doing and they will charge you accordingly. But then there is the question of getting from the 2WD parking lot to Sossusvlei if you don't have a 4x4. Unfortunately, you can't share a site at Etosha as the reservation system is computerized and people can't be added after the site has been paid for.

I did not find Fish River Canyon particularly worthwhile but I am a bit jaded having spent a lot of time around the Grand Canyon and southern Utah. You can't hike any of it without jumping through bureaucratic hoops. If you are driving south from Namibia to RSA then it is on the way.

Don't leave out Spitzkoppe. I met very few people who went there and it is definitely worth a sunset/sunrise and a night camping. Very cheap too because it's run by locals and not the extortionate NWR.

Jon

Edited by: JonMW

Tent is the way to go if your budget is limited. We confirmed this on trips to southern Africa 2005 and 2007. We are a couple of avid campers, but don't know how your children would do. Sanparks in South Africa has availabilitly calendar link for each camp in Kruger. For example: http://www.sanparks.org/parks/kruger/camps/lower_sabie/tourism/availability.php . Looks like July is already full for Lower Sabie.....

You could take a chance of getting someone to let you share there site, but many we saw in Kruger had a full pitch. Had better luck in Etosha. Have read in this forum that in Chobe in Botswana they are beginning to prohibit entry onto 4x4 track if you do not have reservation.

www.malonetravels2.blogspot.com

Namibia has become very expensive, some places even more expensive than East Africa and Botswana - accommodation wise. A family of 5 using fixed accommodation in Namibia is going to cost you a big fortune - not small! Camping, however is also no longer cheap but affordable, especially for a family.
As you backbacked so much, you must have some equipment e.g. sleeping bags and cooking stuff or even tents. You can buy good and cheap tents for the holiday in Windhoek, put it in the back of a Condor vehicle and off you go, ask the shop if they will buy it back from you. Camp outside Etosha and do day visits, like the people of Namibia and South Africa does. Two weeks are a bit short for a serious 4x4 holiday e.g. going to Messum and Doros Crators, but most of the gravel roads - tourist routes and non-tourist routes - are in good condition.
Spitzkoppe and Bull Party are also great destinations and close to each other.

We are planning for our June Namibia/Botswana trip. And yes, observed pretty much the same. Even worse in Bots btw! We decided to camp. Even if you have no gear... Why not renting gear in Windhoek (got some adresses).
A lot of campsites in Namibia look really really well (and then I mean with swimming pool and everything to it).
In the cities you can also find affordable hotels/lodges though. But only in the cities mostly. We'll camp most of the time and stay in hotels/lodges there where we found affordable possibilities:
in Swakopmund/Walvisbay
in Windhoek
Roy's Camp (near Grootfontijn)
maybe in Rundu...
Good luck!!!
ps If you want these camping gear - hire adresses, pm me.