Windhoek, Etosha, Skakopmund, Walvis Bay & Sossusvlei

We are headed to Namibia via Windhoek in February and are considering going up to Etosha, across to the coast to Swakopmund and Walvis Bay, then down to Sossusvlei. Can anyone tell me how long it should take to do this trip as well as how long we should plan on being in each place? Also, are there restrictions with regards to the coastal road onward Walvis Bay? Suggestions with regards to places to stay... hoping to spend about 10 days... Anything you can share or provide guidance would be most appreciated. Thank you.

Hi, will you travel by car? I am looking for getting advise on traveling around without car and it seems to be very hard....
Petra

i assume you will be flying into windhoek and out of it, and will rent a car for your 10 days in namibia ? 10 days is not a lot, but enough to do the loop you are looking at. with only 10 days, i would
- fly into windhoek, assuming that you are coming from toronto, spend a night there.
- on the next day, pick-up the car or a 4x4 with roof tent, and drive north to etosha - about 500km, so a long drive, but doable (and as you dont have too much time, i wouldnt overnight on the way).
- spend at least 2 days in etosha, 3 or 4 days are better, to see the wildlife and visit one of the 2 major attractions of namibia (the other one is sossusvlei)
- drive to swakopmund and spend 1-3 days there and in walvis bay. everybody is different. if i had to cut out time in namibia, thats where i would do it.
- drive via solitaire to sossuvlei, spend 2-3 nights there and visit the beautiful namib naukluft park
- drive back to windhoek

as to where to stay at.
- in windhoek, plenty of choices, guesthouses, pensions, hotels... it depends on your budget. windhoek is a very spread out city, and as you will probably only use it as a gateway, i would choose an accommodation that is convenient location wise (from the airport, to the rental car station and to start your drive up to etosha)
- in etosha np, the 3 restcamps (fort namutoni, halali and okaukuejo). do book ahead as the camps are very popular. either, a campsite (if you travel with a 4wd with rooftent) or a bungalow. all the restcamps have a waterhole infront of them.
- swakopmund, i would stay in a guesthouse / pension / hotel, even if you are travelling with a 4wd.
- for sesriem, with a rooftent, book ahead (in either sesriem or sossus oasis campsite). with a car, look for a accommodation that is not too far away from the sesriem gate.

Thank you Nathalie. We'll rent a 4x4 for sure. I was thinking that perhaps we'd pick up the car the same day as we arrive and head slightly north so that the drive to Etosha wouldn't be as far the first day. Not sure we'd want to stay in the city and it would tie up time in the morning getting a car, whereas we'd hoped to pick one up at the airport upon arrival. We'd stay in lodges or camps.

Where is Solitaire and is there a site we should look for?

you're most welcome.

picking-up the vehicle upon arrival and start driving up north is of course also an option. and will give you the advantage of "being already on the way to etosha" and shorten the drive there on day two. you know best how fit you are after a long distance flight. a nice place to stay at near okahandja (about 70km north of windhoek) is the elegant farmstead http://www.the-elegant-farmstead.com/_the-elegant-farmstead.com/

solitaire is the only gas station / shop / restaurant / very very very small village between swakopmund / walvis bay and sesriem. there is no site too look for, its just a nice place to stop, maybe get some fuel, eat a piece of apple pie (they are pretty "famous" for it). the whole trip (can be done in one day) is very interesting, with plenty of places to make a short stop, enjoy the view, marvel over the size of the welwitschia "flower" which is endemic to namibia.