Southern Namibia self-drive explorer

Today, you'll leave Windhoek and begin your journey south, driving toward the Southern Kalahari, where you'll spend the night. After a journey of around half a day, you can expect to see a vast desert and impressive mountain ranges in this lesser-visited but beautiful region of Namibia.

After breakfast, we recommend starting the drive to Fish River Canyon, home to numerous natural pools and a diverse array of wildlife. Arriving at your lodge sometime this afternoon, you may like to enjoy a sundowner drive, some walking in the area, or take in the spectacular views over the canyon.

Today, you'll have a full day to explore the dramatic Fish River Canyon. You may want to arrange a guided hike down into the canyon to learn more about the unique flora and fauna that inhabit it. Once you're at the bottom, you'll walk along sandy areas, rocky outcrops, and vegetated drainage courses to reach the picnic spot, which is next to a large permanent rock pool where you can swim any time of the year.

From Fish River Canyon, you’ll drive to the small and quiet town of Aus, known for its desert scenery and wild Namib horses. You may like to spend the rest of the day exploring the area on horseback, mountain biking, or walking the gentle hiking trails over the rocky hills.

Today, we'd recommend driving around an hour to Lüderitz for a tour around the old diamond mining town of Kolmanskop, an excellent area for photography. The houses are the last remaining memory of 'Millionaires Avenue', which is now derelict and filled with sand. Returning to your lodge, you may like to relax by the pool or with a sundowner at sunset.

Today, you’ll head north on a scenic drive toward the Namib Desert, passing through the spectacular NamibRand Nature Reserve, where the dunes change from light yellow to lustrous red. Continuing north, you’ll arrive in Sesriem, the oldest part of the desert and your base for the next two nights.

Today, you’ll have the opportunity to visit the giant dunes and UNESCO World Heritage Site at Sossusvlei, and then explore the area on foot. Excursions can be arranged through the lodge, or you can drive yourselves to the dunes and then take a shuttle for the remaining distance on the sand, before returning to your lodge to relax.

Departing after breakfast, you’ll leave the expanse of dunes behind you as you drive to the Naukluft Mountains. After a few hours, you’ll arrive at your lodge, located in a stunning part of the mountains close to the Gamsberg Pass. Here, you’ll be able to relax or enjoy an afternoon nature drive. You may even spot some of the wildlife that calls this area home, including kudus, oryx, and rare mountain zebras.

Today is yours to explore the Naukluft Mountains. We recommend trying one of the self-guided walking trails, which offers the opportunity to see ancient rock art on the farm. This evening, you could join a drive to a sundowner viewpoint or relax at the lodge, making the most of your last night in Namibia.

This morning, you’ll drive from the Naukluft Mountains back to Windhoek, to drop off your car and take your onward flights. The journey will take about half a day.