My itinerary

Hi all,

I have managed to get my dates and ideas sorted out. Below is my itinerary. To those experiecned travellers out there, any ideas and suggestions to make?

Sat -16/5 - Arrive Windhoek. Overnight Windhoek
17/5 – Depart to Kalahari. Overnight in Kalahari. There is supposed to be a bushman village somewhere around there?? (anyone knows anything about this?) There is also supposed to be a cheetah conservation centre around there??
18/5 – Depart to Sousulvlei. And overnight.
19/5 – Overnight Sousulvlei. Heading out to the dunes and not depending on ‘local’ transport to cover as far as it can go (the 4x4 carpark??)
20/5 – Depart to Swapkopmund via Walvis. Overning in Swapkopmund? But most likely in Walvis. Any suggestions to stop for an interesting night or drive routes?
21/5 – Walvis to Cape Cross. Overnight Cape Cross
22/5 – Depart to Twyfelfontein. Overnight there/or around there.
23/5 – Depart to Opuwo. Overnight there. Visit Himba people.
24/5 – Depart to Etosha. Overnight Etosha.
25/5 – overnight Etosha
26/5 – overnight Etosha. Basically in Etosha, I’ll be overnighting at different lodges/waterholes.
27/5 – Depart to back to Windhoek. Any suggested stops along the way?

I have an extra 3-4 days that I can add on to the above itinerary. Any suggestions where/how?

Any suggested places to stay based on the above itinerary?

Do I really need a 4x4?

Any tips for someone travelling alone (as in emergency driving tips…)?
Is it possible to rent a satellite phone (for breakdowns…)?
Besides the balloon scenic flight in Sousulvlei, are there any other cheaper possibilities (minus the champagne breakfast?)
Is it possibleto have a scenic flight in Swapkopmund to view skeleton coast?

I will be renting a 2 seater 4x4. Anyone interested to join and share the cost?

Thanks all for your help!

Michael

I don't understand this: "Heading out to the dunes and not depending on ‘local’ transport " - if I understood correctly, you would have a 4x4. Hence you can go everywhere in the Park (on the roads that is). The parking is for the 2x4 that can't make it to Sossusvlei itslef and Dead Vlei. Otherwise the road is accessible by 4x4 or a shuttle - you will need to deflate your tire in order to make it in this sand!
Is this for THIS may? you might want to check out availabilities at National Park (Etosha and Sesriem). Those can book quickly.

"Besides the balloon scenic flight in Sousulvlei, are there any other cheaper possibilities (minus the champagne breakfast?)" - well just exploring Sossuvlei, Dead Vlei, Dune 45 ; hiking Sossusvlei/Dune 45 for sunrise... this will take you hald of the day (you will have to drive about an hour in the park before to get to the dune themselves). this is all for the price of the Park entrance ! :)

"Depart to Kalahari. Overnight in Kalahari"... mmmm... where in Kalahari? have a look at this page by Carboardbox travel shop in Namibia...

A 4x4 isn't generally essential in Namibia but I always use one as the extra ruggedness is reassuring and the added height is often a bonus when looking for game.

I was under the impression that the cheetah conservation projects were North of Windhoek on the way to Etosha - Africat is certainly that way. However, there are probably other ones elsewhere.

If you are aiming to stay the night at Cape Cross you will need to book into its only lodge - I don't there is any formal campsite in the immediate area.

The area around (and certainly North of) Opuwo is where you may find the robustness of a 4x4 especially reassuring - the roads are OK but probably not as good as elsewhere.

If visiting Etosha I would definitely stay at one of the rest camps with the NP. This will give you free access to their busy water holes all night and the opportunity to go on the NP's night drives.

As CC says, the Kalahari is a mighty big place !

Personally I would overnight in Swakop which has a much better atmosphere and many more places to eat well. If you are set on staying in Walvis Bai, I stayed in the Atlantic Hotel on the main road in town which was OK.

The following may be long days / drives :
- Twyfelfontein to Opuwo
- Opuwo to Etosha
- "Kalahari" to Sousulvlei

There are plenty of places in Swakop that can arrange flight into the desert and/or along the coast. They can even arrange for you to jump out of the plane.

Stops on the Etosha to Windhoek drive :
- a great German bakery in Outjo
- a big craft market in Okahandja

Aditional places to visit :
- there are small camp sites (just a tap, braai pit and room for 1/2 tents) in the middle of the desert. They are quiet and there is some game around - a great way to see the desert and the night sky is amazing. Book through NWR.
- the Waterberg Plateau is good for a night stop on the way South from Etosha and you can walk up on to the plateau.
- my favourite campsite is the NWR site in Nakluft - a smallish quiet one with good walks but watch out for raiding Baboons.

Travelling alone :
- have two spare tyres
- have spare fuel & water - fill up with fuel whenever the guage approaches half-empty - supplies are usually good but rural supplies have been known to run out for a couple of days
- I'm sure sat phones are available for hire
- If you do breakdown people are usually pretty good about stoping to help. On most of your planned journey there will be somebody along fairly soon but there are some bits that you may have to wait an hour or so.

Like the others I also do not know what you mean by "Kalahari".
Have you made your reservations for Etosha and for Sesriem/Sossusvlei? If not you might have to re-think your itinerary.
As part of your extra 3 or 4 days, spend a night at Sesfontein and get to Opuwo during daylight so that you can see the Himba before departing early next morning for Etosha.
I think you are trying to do too much in too short a time. You will be spending your holiday just driving.

yeah, you're right Rudik I didn't even stop to count the number of days for this trip - 11 days to see all this! Although you do say you have an extra 3-4 days to put here and there... Distances are big in Namibia, especially on dirt road (which are good, but you can't go as fast), even more if you don't have a 4x4

Thanks for the feedback.

I should be more sepcific.

• ‘local’ transport = the shuttle between 2x4 to 4x4 carpark. Seems it may not start before sunrise
• Kalahari = north of Marienthal. Feasible to make it in 1 day from Windhoek?
• Besides the balloon scenic flight in Sousulvlei, are there any other cheaper possibilities = other cheap scenic flights possibilities around teh area besides the balloon trip?
  John_in_Brum_UK - thanks for the tips will certainly cehck them out if I can add on.

Wasn't aware that Sisrem and Etosha accomodations maybe a rpoblem....if worse comes to worse, can I camp out?

I can tag on more days if necessary. Am working with a barebones/rush route.

Thansk all!

For Sesriem there's other camping option around, (30km or 40km) but keep in mind that is gravel road, so it would take you around 1h to get to the park gate - that is to be driven before sunrise if you want to make it in the park at that time (getting to the dunes will be another 1h drive in the park). It's just less convinient.
For Etosha, it's the same - although as with Sesriem, the advantage to camp in NWR camp is that you can get in the park earlier... And you have lighten waterholes at night in Etosha, whihc is a big plus

1) To the best of my knowledge, there is no 4x4 carpark. You can drive in your 4x4 all the way to Sossusvlei. Once the gates open at Sesriem it is a good 60km to Sossusvlei. I do not know what time the gates open.
2) "Kalahari" is the name of the desert that covers the greater part of Botswana and much of Namibia and parts of South Africa. The Kalahari Gemsbok Park is the name of the national park on the South African side of the border that, together with the Gemsbok National Park of Botswana forms the Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park. You can quite comfortably make it to Mariental from Windhoek along the B1 tarred highway in one day. It is about 250km. But I still have no idea where you aim to be.
3) I know of no cheap flights over the dunes.
4) Accommodation can be a problem and so can camping at both Etosha and Sesriem. I suggest you enquire and book in advance. As CC says there is a camping area just outside Etosha entrance (read up on other threads on this forum), but, at least to me, the floodlit waterholes at Okaukuejo and at Halali are the main attractions at Etosha.

1) Rudik is right there's not really a 4x4 carpark... well, of course you have to park your car before geting to sossusvlei dune, can'T go on the dune with the car ! :)