Namibia Tailor-made Safaris

To really do justice to Namibia's incredible landscapes and to allow decent safari opportunities, you should allow at least 12 days for any planned trip to Namibia. With this amount of time you'll be able to cover the classic loop journey from Windhoek south to the dunes of Sossuvlei and up along the coast to Etosha National Park before returning to the capital for international departure. If you want to get off the beaten track in Namibia and head further north to the wilderness of Kaokoland then allow at least 15 days.

Namibia has accommodation options to suit all budgets from camping to boutique hotels and high-end lodges. It's one of Africa's safest and best developed countries, which makes camping an excellent choice for those on a tight budget. You'll find well-maintained campsites at all major destinations including Etosha, the Kalahari and Namib desert with ablutions and basic amenities. Many lodges also have their own campsites with facilities ranging from swimming pools to WiFi, a restaurant and bar. On the higher end of the budget scale, lodges are the way to go with en suite bedrooms in stylish properties that often seek to blend seamless with the local environment. More often than not the public areas offer incredible views of the surrounding landscapes with daily activities included in the package rate along with all meals. Whatever standard of accommodation you decide on, book as far in advance as you can. Many lodges are small with only 10 rooms and in the high season (May to October) these rooms are usually sold out so it's best to plan a year in advance for better availability and rates.

With excellent sealed roads, clear signage and striking scenery wherever you go, Namibia is a superb self-drive destination. Again, it's worth mentioning how safe Namibia is for travelers thanks to its political stability as many do baulk at the idea of driving on their own in Africa, however, in many ways Namibia is best suited to self-drive as it gives you total flexibility and works out cheaper. If you prefer to be escorted, we work with a well-trained, knowledgeable and passionate team of local guides who will accompany you from start to end. Your guide will be there to explain the history and wildlife of Namibia and provide an insight into the country from the perspective of someone who was born there - in this regard, there's no substitute. For groups of up to eight passengers, your guide will also be your driver while for larger groups you will be provided with a guide and driver so that the guide is better able to provide for the group.

Travelling by car is by far the best way to get around Namibia. The roads are perfectly suited to driving with manageable distances meaning you'll rarely spend more than 6hrs driving per day and that's just on the longer journeys from the desert to the coast with most journeys on the classic route just 3-4hrs. Driving is more affordable than flying and also means you can soak up the scenery rather than passing over it. For groups of up to three travelers we use 4x4 double cabin vehicles which means everyone gets a window from which to enjoy the landscapes. You'll have the choice of whether you take your safari drives in this vehicle or the open vehicle provided by the lodge you're staying at. There are pros and cons to each - the open vehicles mean you can stand up in the vehicle for unfettered views but you'll be sharing with other guests at the lodge so not everyone will have a window seat and you may be jostling cameras for that perfect picture. In the 4x4 you will be fully enclosed but it'll be private to your travelling party and the lower height of the vehicle means you'll be closer to eye level with the wild animals rather than looking at them from above - better pictures, some might argue.

If you prefer a self-drive option then we will provide a quote based on your preferred standard of vehicle. We always include full insurance coverage and a second spare wheel as flat tires are common. As part of all self-drive packages in Namibia you'll be greeted on arrival by a local representative for a comprehensive run-through of your itinerary and all the info you'll need for your independent adventure. You'll also be given a Namibian SIM card for emergency phone calls.

For those interested in sleeping under the stars, we can provide vehicles equipped with all the camping gear you need or we can offer specially kitted 4x4 vehicles with rooftop tents so you can sleep on top of your vehicle rather than beside it! For camping we recommend a minimum itinerary length of 10 days to make it cost effective. Of course, you can choose to have a mix of camping and lodges for the full African experience.

Perhaps you'd like to sail above the undulating sand dunes of Sossusvlei in a hot air balloon or try sandboarding down the side of one of the larger dunes. Maybe you'd like to meet Namibia's ethnic people in Kaokoland and explore a local village to see how these tribes live. Or maybe you like the idea of spending an afternoon fishing or take a boat cruise on the Kwando River. If there's anything in particular that you'd like to include on your itinerary, let us know and we'll gladly add it in.

Namibia offers excellent value for money regardless of your budget. If money's tight then a self-drive camping holiday is the way to go. That's not to say that lodge-accommodated options are not affordable - many properties offer special package rates if you book all your accommodation within their collection. For example, we receive great rates with Gondwana lodges so if you stayed at two or more of their lodges across different destinations then you would save money. We also receive good rates with a number of independent lodges in Namibia and will always quote on properties that offer you the best value for money based on your preferences and requirements.