13 Southern Namibia Hiking Self-drive Safari Tour (Lodging)

Haus Sonneneck, Windhoek (45km)

After you arrive at the Hosea Kutako International Airport approx. 45 km east of Windhoek, you will be welcomed by the car rental company and taken to Windhoek where you will take over your vehicle with all the necessary instructions and information.

Afterward you will drive to your accommodation where you can freshen up and rest. In the afternoon you will be picked up by your guide from Bwana Tucke-Tucke for an interesting Windhoek city tour, during which you will get to know historical buildings and the township of Katutura. In the evening you can go out for a relaxing dinner. We can recommend Joe’s Beerhouse, Cape Town Fish Market or The Stellenbosch.

Rostock Ritz Desert Lodge, Solitaire (252.4km)

After breakfast, you can buy some supplies at the supermarket. Through the rugged Khomas Highland (Road C26) you drive westwards to the Namib Desert. A little picnic for lunch can be held at one of the viewpoints on the way to the Gamsberg Pass.

Via the picturesque pass, you’ll descend to the lower plains of the Namib Desert. After a few kilometers, you turn left onto the C14 in a southern direction. After a short drive, you’ll reach Rostock Ritz Desert Lodge. A one-hour sundowner walk will top off your day.

Rostock Ritz Desert Lodge, Solitaire

Rostock Ritz Desert Lodge offers many different walking trails, varying from one-hour, light trails to whole-day walking excursions to the rock paintings of the San (Bushmen). At the reception, you will receive all information regarding the length, difficulty, and routing of the trails.

We recommend doing the early sunrise trail followed by a lovely breakfast. Afterwards, you are free to do one of the longer hikes. The afternoon can be spent at the refreshing pool with grand views.

Naukluft Camp, Naukluft Mountain Zebra Park (75km)

The journey continues along the scenic C14 through the Namib Desert. In the little one-horse-town Solitaire you can get fuel and basic stuff from the little shop. Solitaire’s apple crumble is quite popular and people liking apple crumble claim “rightly so”. Strengthened and satisfied you’ll continue on good gravel road until you reach Naukluft Rest Camp.

The contrast between the never-ending expanse of the desert and the ruggedness of the Naukluft Mountains couldn’t be bigger. After a lunch break there is enough time to hike the “Olive Trail”, which takes about 4 hours.

The level of difficulty is rated medium to difficult. Breath-taking views, impressive landscapes If you don’t feel like climbing along a chain over a relatively steep cliff, you can also take a walk to a natural swimming pool up in the mountains here you have several superb swimming possibilities in crystal clear mountain spring water unique in Namibia.

Naukluft Camp, Naukluft Mountain Zebra Park

Today a whole day hike, the “Waterkloof Trail” is on the program. Along perennial streams of the Naukluft Mountains the trail takes you 17 km through beautiful, diverse nature with several opportunities to take a quick refreshing dip in between.

The trail takes about 6-8 hours and is rated medium to difficult. You should have endurance, be physically fit and have hiking experience.

On the trail you can not only enjoy wonderful landscapes, but with some luck – especially when you walk quietly – you can spot different wildlife.

The Naukluft Mountains are home to mountain zebras, klipspringers, kudus, baboons and rock hyraxes. Numerous species of birds can be found including raptors and owls.

Sossus Dune Lodge, Sesriem (99.7km)

In the morning you bid farewell to the Naukluft and take a relaxing one-and-a-half-hour drive to the Sossusvlei.

It is advisable to pay the entrance fee for next day’s excursion into the Namib Naukluft Park upon arrival and to enjoy the sundowner from the first dune to the right of the road – the Elim Dune. Here you have beautiful vistas of the sea of dunes to the west and the mighty Naukluft Mountains to the east.

Sossus Dune Lodge, Sesriem

Today an early rise (approx. 1 hour before sunrise) is advisable. The spectacle of colours of this natural wonder is best seen during sunrise with the additional advantage of cooler temperature than later in the day. You drive 80 km through dune landscapes on good tar road. The last 4 kilometres take you through thick sands where you will have to engage your 4×4.

The Dead Vlei with its numerous dead camelthorn trees as well as the famous Sossusvlei offer an unbelievable impressive natural setting. Take your time to just let your soul stray whilst climbing the Big Daddy, the tallest dune in the surrounding.

Depending on your state of fitness and sand conditions the climb will take about 1 – 2 hours. The way down is usually much quicker and the more adventures can run down the steep slip face into Dead Vlei – this takes less than a minute.

Before the heats starts burning your soles away you should start to make your way back. At the park entrance we recommend a visit to the Sesriem Canyon before returning to your accommodation to spend the afternoon in the cool swimming pool.

Tok Tokkie Trails, NamibRand Nature Reserve (125km)

After breakfast you continue south out of the state owned Namib Naukluft Park and into the private NamibRand Nature Reserve. More breath-taking landscapes and numerous wildlife species await you.

At the Tok-Tokkie farm house a light lunch is served and you will be introduced to your desert guide, who will accompany you the next two days. A short introduction to the trail is given after lunch before starting your hike in the early afternoon.

The Tok Tokkie Trail is easy to walk, as you only have to carry a day pack – all other luggage is transported by car to the overnight camp – and the speed of walking is adjusted according to the group. The maximum number of participants is eight, so that the groups are always small and that the guide is able to individually respond to the guest’s preferences.

In the evening you’ll enjoy the obligatory sundowner and a little later a three-course menu. You’ll sleep on cosy field beds amidst the dunes underneath a million stars – a very special experience!

Tok Tokkie Trails, NamibRand Nature Reserve

The next morning you wake up before sunrise so you have time to enjoy the sunrise in this pristine landscape. After breakfast we start with the reading, the morning “newspaper”, which means that your guide will explain the fresh tracks in the sand left by the desert inhabitants to you as you go along

These inhabitants of the Namib, the oldest desert in the world, have adapted to the arid climate in an astonishing way. Your experienced guide will tell you a lot about the mammals, birds, reptiles and insects found here and will probably be able to lure one or the other desert inhabitant in front of your camera.

The hot midday hours are spent at the shady lunch spot. Here you have time to relax, to have a bite for lunch and to reminisce about the last days. Once the temperatures cool down a bit towards the afternoon you embark on the last leg of the second day. The route takes you pass fairy circles and over small hillocks with unbelievable views onto the gras-covered, orange-red dunes of the Namib.

Once more you’ll sleep in warm field beds right amidst the dunes!

Kalahari Red Dunes Lodge, Kalahari Namibia

Once more you awake with the rising sun surrounded by a sea of dunes. The hike today is easy going and you will arrive around 10:00 at the Tok-Tokkie farm house. Time to say good-bye to your guide and the friendly Tok-Tokkie staff and to drive into the Kalahari.

The last highlight of your journey, the Trans Kalahari Hike is awaiting you. Check in is from 2 pm and your guide is already awaiting you with the necessary information. The evening is spent at the Kalahari Red Dunes Lodge.

Kalahari Red Dunes Lodge, Kalahari Namibia

An early rise allows you to enjoy the sunrise on a Kalahari dune with a hot cup of coffee. Afterwards, the hike commences. Experience the orange-red dunes of the Kalahari and the bush and tree savanna so typical for Namibia. After a picnic lunch, you will reach the exclusive, luxurious Kalahari Dune Camp with a shady Lapa and a view deck in the afternoon.

The camp’s waterhole is often visited by giraffes and antelopes. A small pool is at your disposal to clean yourself from the dust and sweat of the hike. In the evening a barbeque awaits you at the campfire. Most of the time a clear sky allows a fabulous starry sky. You overnight in tents, each with its own bathroom and hot shower.

Kalahari Red Dunes Lodge, Kalahari Namibia

After an early breakfast in the dune camp with a view of the waterhole, you hike back to the Kalahari Red Dunes Lodge, where the Trans Kalahari Walk ends around midday. The rest of the day is spent relaxing in the lodge by the pool or on a short trip to the dunes if you haven’t got enough exercise. In the late afternoon, you can take part in a sundowner 4×4 game drive to get to know the Kalahari from a different perspective.

End of Itinerary (back to windhoek) (243.7km)

The Trans Kalahari Walk ends around noon at the Kalahari Red Dunes Lodge. It is the last day of your safari. Bid farewell to the Kalahari and to Namibia! Depending on your return flight you can plan a bit of time for souvenir shopping in Windhoek.

The drive to Windhoek takes about two hours. You return your vehicle in Windhoek at the car rental and are transferred to Hosea Kutako Airport, as agreed upon at the beginning of your safari already.