Classic Namibia: Sossusvlei, Damaraland, Etosha
Duration : 12 days
Route : Windhoek (1 night) → 4×4 Sossusvlei (3 nights) → Swakopmund (2 nights) → Damaraland (2 nights, desert elephants) → Etosha (3 nights, Big Four) → Windhoek (1 night)
Custom travel to Namibia
Namibia offers 825,000 km² of desert and savannah for 2.6 million inhabitants, one of the world's lowest densities. The Namib Desert, the planet's oldest, unfurls the orange-red dunes of Sossusvlei (UNESCO, up to 325 m) and the surreal Deadvlei basin with its thousand-year-old dead trees. The Skeleton Coast lines up wrecks and whale carcasses along 500 km of wild shoreline. Etosha National Park (22,270 km², Africa's 4th largest) gathers elephants, lions, leopards and black rhinos around its waterholes. Damaraland, with its Martian landscapes, shelters desert elephants and the Twyfelfontein rock art. Plan for 12 to 14 days. Politically stable and one of the continent's safest countries, Namibia is also one of Africa's easiest destinations to explore on a self-drive trip, thanks to an excellent network of paved main roads. The NamibRand Reserve, one of the world's few certified 'Dark Sky Reserves', offers remarkably pure starry skies, far from any light pollution. A vast expanse of empty, silent landscapes that contrasts with the abundant wildlife concentrated around the country's northern water points.
Highlights
- Sossusvlei dunes (UNESCO, 325 m)
- Deadvlei (thousand-year-old dead trees)
- Etosha National Park (Big Four and salt pans)
- Skeleton Coast (wild coast)
- Damaraland (desert elephants)
- Fish River Canyon (world's 2nd largest)
Sample itineraries
Complete Namibia: add Skeleton Coast and Caprivi
Duration : 16 days
Route : Windhoek (1) → Sossusvlei (3) → Swakopmund (2) → Damaraland (2) → Skeleton Coast (2, Cessna flight) → Etosha (3) → Caprivi Strip (2) → Windhoek (1)
Exclusive Namibia: andBeyond and Wilderness
Duration : 12 days
Route : Windhoek (1) → andBeyond Sossusvlei Desert Lodge (3) → Hoanib Skeleton Coast Camp (3 nights, private flight) → Onguma Tented Camp Etosha (3) → Windhoek (1)
When to go
May-October is the best period (dry season, wildlife concentrated at Etosha water points, dunes perfectly lit). Avoid November-March (austral summer, extreme heat 40-45 °C, possible monsoon in north, Sossusvlei road sometimes closed). Nights can be cool to cold in the heart of the austral winter (June-August), even in the desert, so pack warm layers for sunrise outings. The low, raking light of early morning and late afternoon remains the most beautiful for photographing the dunes, whichever season you choose.
- Austral winter (dry season) (May – August), All sites, wildlife concentrated at Etosha waterholes
- Inter-season (September – October), Etosha migration, end of dry season
- Austral summer (hot) (November – March), Greenery after rains (Caprivi parts), births
- Austral autumn (April), Dry season returns, verdant landscapes
Practical information
One of Africa's safest countries. No visa for French citizens < 90 days. Cards accepted everywhere (South African heritage, modern economy). Tap water drinkable (rare in Africa). English spoken everywhere. Left-hand drive (British heritage via South Africa). Long distances, prepare fuel and provisions. Antimalarial recommended for Caprivi/Kavango (rainy season). 10% tipping in restaurants, lodges, and rangers. UV index is extreme year-round in the desert, so strong sun protection is essential (hat, sunglasses, SPF50 sunscreen). Outside towns, mobile network coverage is very limited or nonexistent over long stretches, let your family know your itinerary before setting off.
Frequently asked questions
When?
May-October (dry season). Avoid November-March (extreme heat 40-45 °C, possible monsoon).
How long?
12 days for Sossusvlei + Damaraland + Etosha. 16 days to add Skeleton Coast and Caprivi.
Budget?
€4,200-€5,500 per person for 12 days in comfort, excluding flights. Premium: €7,500-€11,000. Flights: €1,100-€1,500.
Visa?
No for French citizens < 90 days.
Family?
Yes, from age 8-10. Ideal family self-drive. Long distances to anticipate.
How to get around?
Self-drive 4×4 (Toyota Hilux) or with driver. Cessna flights for Skeleton Coast. Long distances (Sossusvlei-Etosha 800 km).
Self-drive: possible for Europeans?
Yes, one of Africa's easiest countries to drive. Left-hand drive (British heritage). Main paved roads, tracks in good condition.
See Big Five: possible?
Big Four in Etosha (no buffalo). For complete Big Five: combine with Botswana or South Africa.
Combine?
Yes: Namibia + Botswana (Okavango Delta), Namibia + South Africa (Cape Town), Namibia + Zambia (Victoria Falls).
Tips?
10% in restaurants. Appreciated for rangers and lodge staff ($5-$10/day).
Should I get a local SIM card?
MTC and TN Mobile offer prepaid SIM cards with data plans, available at Windhoek airport and in-town shops. Coverage is good along main routes and in towns but becomes very limited or nonexistent in the Namib Desert, Damaraland and along the Skeleton Coast.
What vaccinations should I plan for?
No mandatory vaccinations for French travelers, but routine vaccines should be up to date (DTP, hepatitis). Antimalarial treatment is advised for the Caprivi and Kavango region (northeast), especially in the rainy season; consult a doctor or travel health clinic before departure to tailor recommendations to your itinerary.