Do you know the feeling when falling in love with a country at first sight? Did you visit countries where you knew from the very first moment, that you want to return? It happened to me during our Namibia road trip.

A road trip is my favorite way to travel. Do you know why? Freedom and adventure are calling. The moment I hit the road I feel free. I’m sure you know what I’m talking about. But well, there is something else I want to tell you. Today, something strange happened. I’m sitting on my terrace here in West Papua, listening to the sound of the sea and I am daydreaming. And then, out of the blue I had the urge to look at the photos of our Namibia road trip. I took my laptop and bang! Suddenly I was in the middle of the endless country, waiting for the giraffes, antelopes, zebras and elephants to come to the waterhole, staring at the amazing night sky while sipping on my Amarula. Ah, well. It’s just a daydream. But not the trip we did back then.

Why a Namibia road trip is a great experience?

There are many reasons to visit Namibia. Let me tell you why I want to return.

• Because Namibia is so different compared to the island we are currently living on
• Because Namibia is one of these perfect road trip countries
• Because it is an easy country to travel in Africa
• Because every single day is holding a surprise with wildlife encounters
• Because stargazing is so incredibly amazing and as great as the night sky in Australia
• Because I want to camp one more time on the Red Dune

• Because I miss cooking on the campfire
• Because every day is holding another adventure and every day is different from the other

• Because of the beautiful sunsets

• Because I want to take a photo of the Dead Vlei during the dry season (when we visited we were not able to get even close because of the flooding – well yes, flooding in the desert happen sometimes)

• Because I would love to drive the remote road from Ai-Ais and Rosh Pinah to Aus
• Because… well, just because I feel for it

 

Are 3 weeks for a Namibia road trip too short?

When we planned our trip to Namibia we were not sure about the length of our stay. We love to travel slow and long. But back then we had our jobs in Switzerland and our holidays were limited to three weeks. Well, after doing some research and reading other blogs we figured out that three weeks it enough to get a first impression of the country. We made a list of things we wanted to see and of course – we wanted to spend a fair bit of time in the Etosha National Park. We made a plan which turned out well. Of course more than three weeks are better. More holidays are always better.

The Highlight of a Namibia road trip: The wildlife

Namibia is an easy country to travel around

In Africa, Namibia is probably the easiest country to travel and explore independently. As first-time African travellers Namibia couldn’t have been a better choice. We started our road trip in Windhoek. In town we picked up our Toyota Hilux 4×4 with roof tent, the one we pre-booked. We recommend starting and ending the trip in Windhoek, especially if you do have a few weeks only.

We toured around Namibia without GPS only using road maps provided by the car rental company. We never had a problem finding the way, well just once in the night. But that was the only time we drove by night.

When we did the research for our Namibia road trip we read that it is recommended to pre-book campsites. Well, definitely not our preferred way of travelling. We like to be independent, especially when doing a road trip. That’s part of the adventure not knowing in advance where we sleep the next day. To avoid disappointment we decided to book most of the sites ahead. It turned out as unnecessary. Most camps had plenty of space. We heard from other travellers that in high-season pre-bookings are essential. Not in May 2011 when we were there. Lesson learned for the next trip.

Do you like camping? Then go for a vehicle with a roof tent or a campervan. There are many great camp spots at the most beautiful places and in the middle of nature.

If you prefer to have more luxury you may only rent a car and stay in some of the amazing lodges across Namibia. Some of them are very luxurious and expensive but well, if you have the budget it is well worth it.

You like the easy way? Then get along with a guided tour group.

PS: To be honest, I don’t like travelling with a tour group. And after reading the funny book “Hummeldumm” it’s out of question to join an ordinary guided tour. Have you read the book too? If yes, you will fully understand what I am talking about 😉

A few facts about Namibia

Namibia is a large country. It has a size of roughly 825‘000 km2 which is more than double the size of Germany. With a population of approximately 2.3 million and a density of about 2.6 residents per km2. Namibia is a sparsely populated country (in comparison with Switzerland where 200 residents are living on one km2).

 

Did you fall in love with a country at first sight? Tell us about it and share your story with our readers. We’d love to hear it.

 

Do you plan a Namibia road trip in the near future? If you have questions about car rental companies, camp spots or the route let us know. We are more than happy to share our tips and experiences.