The Cape Town to Namibia road trip was our first long road trip outside of South Africa. We’d done before the Garden Route and the West Coast and had some camping gear and a bit of experience. The main difference between this road trip was the extremely long distances between attractions, towns, and even petrol stations. You always have to plan and check if you have enough petrol, water, and food to last you till the next inhabitable place on the route. The Cape Town – Namibia road trip was an exciting adventure with many amazing places to visit.

Alya in an old car at Chamietes food stop at the start of the Cape Town – Namibia road trip

When is the best time for the road trip?

May to October, the dry season, is the best time for watching animals in Etosha National Park. There is not much water in the park; all animals including big cats come to a couple of waterholes to drink. You can just sit in your car next to one of the water holes and see a lot of different animals.

In July and August sand storms and strong winds along the coast are quite frequent.

June to September are the coldest months which means no scorching heat during the day though night temperatures can be quite chilly even in the south of the country. If you’re planning to camp then make sure to bring warm clothes and sleeping bags.

Summer months between December and March are the wet season. It gets very hot in the south of the country and rains a lot in the north. The rainy season is a great time for birdwatching in Etosha but not to see mammals. Summer months is a great time to visit Cape Cross Seal Colony to see thousands of cubs.

Impressive dunes of the Namib desert are one of the highlights of the Cape Town to Namibia road trip

Travel insurance for the trip

Since 2002, World Nomads have been protecting, connecting and inspiring independent travelers.

They offer simple and flexible travel insurance and safety advice to help you travel.

Because they believe in giving back to the places we travel to, World Nomads also enables you to make a difference with a micro-donation when you buy a policy.

And they’ll help you plan your trip with free downloadable guides, travel tips, responsible travel insights and recommendations from their global community.

World Nomads provides travel insurance for travelers in over 100 countries. As an affiliate, we receive a fee when you get a quote from World Nomads using this link. We do not represent World Nomads. This is information only and not a recommendation to buy travel insurance.

What car to choose for the road trip?

If you’re planning on staying on the main tourist route without going off-road you won’t need a 4×4 vehicle. This road trip is not for a small car. You need a big car most of the route is on gravel roads that are often very bumpy. We drove with our Daihatsu Terios and never had any problems except one flat tire on the way back. Even in deep mud in Etosha, it never got stuck. The only place it was really difficult to drive was the last 7 km to Deadvlei in Sossusvlei which were on soft sand but there you can take a shuttle to and back.

Where to rent a car?

If you’re planning to start your road trip in Cape Town it will be most logical to rent a car there. Make sure you’re allowed to drive with your rental car across the border and that it has all the necessary paperwork. You need a written permission from the rental company to drive across the border and will have to pay a cross-border fee which varies depending on the car model, rental agency, etc. Usually, it’s around NAD$400/US$20.

 

Most rental companies allow driving to the neighboring countries including Namibia and Botswana. If you come back to Cape Town after the trip you can drop it at the same place. If you’re not coming back you have to find out if it’s possible to drop off the car in Windhoek. The second option will be more expensive and not always possible.

You can find a lot of information that will help you to prepare for the trip in our Namibia travel tips post.

Hundreds of flamingos on the beach in Walvis Bay, Namibia

Best places to stop between Cape Town and Namibia

There are many interesting places to stop on the way from Cape Town to Namibia. It can be a road trip on its own. Depending on how much time you have you can stop at one of several places on the way. If you want to visit some places on the West Coast you’ll have to do a detour from the N7 highway.

• Langebaan is a perfect place for kitesurfing, 130 km from Cape Town.
• Paternoster is a charming town with delicious seafood, 160 km from Cape Town.
• Elands Baai is a quiet place with unspoiled white-sand beaches, 220 km from Cape Town.

For an overnight stay, I would suggest either Langebaan or Paternoster.

If you don’t want to stay on the N7 there are a couple of nice places to stop. For the best scenery, stop either near Citrusdal or Clanwilliam (Cederberg Wilderness Area). Both areas have some incredible in-nature places to stay.

How long does it take to get to Namibia?

The total distance of the route from Cape Town to Vioolsdrif/Noordoewer (the border between South Africa and Namibia) is 670 km/416 mi. It takes 7 hours to get from Cape Town to Namibia if you drive non-stop. If you have time I’d suggest making one overnight stop on the way. See the paragraph above for recommendations.

What is the accommodation like?

There are plenty of lodges, guesthouses, and campsites along the route. Hostels can be found in bigger towns like Luderitz or Swakopmund.

Camping with your tent is the cheapest option. For camping, it’s not necessary to have a roof-top tent or a motorhome. A normal tent will work just fine though roof-top tents are quicker to pack and unpack. 

If you prefer comfort and don’t mind paying for it you will be able to find some incredible lodges especially in the desert part of Namibia. If you’re planning to stay indoors you don’t need to bring camping or cooking gear with you on the trip.

Cape Town – Namibia road trip itinerary

The first part of the road trip from Cape Town to Fish River Canyon is quite long, 800 km. It’s possible to drive in one day as we did when we went hiking Fish River Canyon but you have to start your trip early. If you happen to do this road trip in the spring, between July and September, it’s worth spending some time in Namaqualand to see wildflowers. If you drive outside of the flower season you can drive from Cape Town to Ai-Ais in one day. 

Before heading to Namibia make sure you haven’t missed anything. There are many amazing things to do in Cape Town!

Day 1. Cape Town – Vredendal

• Distance – 325 km/200 mi (along the coast)
• Driving time – 4 hours + stops
• Petrol stations – at every town along the way

Highlights

• West Coast National Park where you can see spring flowers in August – September
• Langebaan
• Paternoster

If you want to visit a couple of places along the way it’s better to start the drive early. Depending on what time of the year you’re going to Namibia the highlights of the trip will vary. If you do this trip between July and September you’ll be lucky to see Namaqualand blossom. In July beginning of August, you have better chances of seeing wildflowers from Vredendal up north. In September visit West Coast National Park in Langebaan to see spring flowers.

The West Coast itself even outside the flower season is a beautiful and unique place to visit. If you have a couple of extra days you can stop in Langebaan and enjoy its long white-sand beaches and turquoise color lagoon. For seafood and fish lover, Paternoster is highly recommended. There are a couple of nice restaurants that serve local daily catch.

Places to stay near Vredendal

Flowers in Namaqualand in the spring are something not to miss

Day 2. Vredendal – Ai-Ais (Fish River Canyon)

• Distance – 522 km/324 mi
• Driving time – 5 hours
• Petrol stations – at 400 km/248 mi (right after the border), at 522 km/324 mi in Ai-Ais 

Highlights 

• Namaqua National Park – a nice place to stop for wildflowers in July-August 
• Orange River 
• Bizarre rock formations on the stretch between the border and Ai-Ais

In Vredendal make sure to buy some supplies. There will be no big supermarkets for the next couple of days. 

From Vredendal we drove to Noordoewer border control. It’s a very easy border, took us about 20 min. to finish all formalities. To enter Namibia with a car you pay NAD$415/US$22 road fee. Keep the receipt until you exit the country sometimes at roadblocks police can ask for it. Noordoewer border is open 24 hours so you can cross it any time. There are two petrol stations after the border cross; one has a shop and a cafe. The next petrol station is at Ai-Ais, 118 km/73 mi away, it accepts only cash.

The first 40 km/24 mi after the border to Ai-Ais you drive on a tar road then you turn off to a gravel road. There are two places at the canyon where you can stay; Ai-Ais Hot Springs and Hobas Campsite. We always stay at Ai-Ais, it has better facilities. Inside the hotel, there are a restaurant and swimming pools with water from hot springs. If you stay at Ai-Ais (camping or indoor) you get free access to the thermal pools.

The best views of the canyon are from the viewpoints near Hobas campsite, the entrance to the canyon. At Ai-Ais you are at the end of the canyon you can walk upstream following the river just take enough water with you. Hobas and the viewpoints are on the way to Luderitz. Whichever place you choose to stay, always watch for baboons. There are many of them at both campsites.

In winter months between May and September, you can hike in Fish River Canyon. It’s a 4-day route on the bottom of the canyon from Hobas to Ai-Ais.

Cape Town to Namibia – an alternative route

If you have a bit more time and would like to visit some amazing places in the Northern Cape and do a safari drive in the Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park. You drive inland towards Upington, visit some off-the-beaten-track places on the way and enter Namibia through the Kgalagadi Park. If you decide on this option make sure to do all border crossing formalities at the Twee Rivieren entrance there will be no further border controls in the park. If you want to visit Fish River Canyon you’ll have to drive back south from the park.

Alya in one of the old cars with a quiver tree at Canyon Roadhouse, Namibia

Day 3. Ai-Ais Hot Springs – Luderitz

• Distance – 480 km/298 mi
• Driving time – 6 hours
• Petrol stations – at 83 km/51 mi at Canyon Roadhouse; at 355 km/220 mi in Aus; at 480 km/298 mi in Luderitz

Highlights

• Fish River Canyon
• Old rusted cars at Canyon Roadhouse, many great spots for taking photos
• Chamietes about 125 km/77 mi from Ai-Ais. There is a small shop and several old rusted cars for taking photos
• Wild horses near Aus
• Kolmanskop is a ghost town but by the time you arrive there, it’ll be closed. It’s close to Luderitz and you can visit it the next day.

The road is gravel from Ai-Ais to Luderitz. Luckily there are several interesting and entertaining stops on the route. 

Hobas Campsite is a must-stop on the way. It’s a gateway to the best views of Fish River Canyon. The viewpoints are a couple of kilometers from the gate. The view of the canyon from the top is spectacular. To get to the viewpoint you pay NAD$150/US$8 per person and NAD$20/US$1,5 per car. 

The next stop is Canyon Roadhouse, about 27 km/16,7 mi from the viewpoint, an oasis in the desert with green grass, quiver trees, and a swimming pool. It’s a great place to stop for lunch or coffee. There are a bar/restaurant and a shop. You can stay here for the night camping in your tent or in one of the rooms. 

About 100 km/62 mi after the roadhouse there is a food stop/guest house Chamieites (Chamaites) where you can find more old cars for photos. They sell homemade pies, biltong, droewors, and nuts. 

Driving towards Aus watch for wild horses, gemsboks, and zebras.

12 km/7,4 mi before Luderitz you’ll see the famous Kolmanskop, a ghost town in the desert. You can stop there for some photos but you’ll probably be too late to visit it, the gate closes at 1pm. You can do so the next day.

Places to stay in Luderitz

Fish River Canyon is the second-largest canyon in the world. The view from Hobas

Day 4. Luderitz & Kolmanskop

Luderitz is not the most beautiful town in Namibia but there are some interesting things to do here. The main things to see in Luderitz are the ghost town of Kolmanskop, Diaz Point with the lighthouse and a seal colony, Grosse Bucht where you can see flamingos and pelicans, and Shark Island, an ex-concentration camp. The town has a couple of nice coffee shops and restaurants where you can have lunch, dinner, or breakfast.

Kolmanskop is one of the main reasons tourists visit Luderitz. If you come this way it’s worth visiting. I’d recommend going there in the morning before it gets too hot.

There are a couple of supermarkets in Luderitz where you can stock food and water for the next couple of days.

The alternative route

If you don’t have enough time or just don’t feel like driving several hundred kilometers extra to see the ghost town you can skip Luderitz and from Fish River Canyon drive straight to Sossusvlei. It’ll save you 2 days. 

One of the buildings in Kolmanskop, a ghost town near Luderitz

Day 5. Luderitz – Sesriem (Sossusvlei)

• Distance – 465 km/288 mi 
• Driving time – 6 hours
• Petrol stations – at 125 km/77 mi in Aus; at 330 km/205 mi at Betta campsite and the next one at 465 km/288 mi in Sesriem

Highlights

• Wild horses and gemsboks near Aus.
• Massive nests of social weavers. These birds build them on trees, poles, and even road signs.
• A bizarre landscape, sometimes it feels like you’re driving on another planet.

It’s a gravel road from Luderitz to Sesriem with some pretty bad stretches. There are only two places to stop along the way; the small town of Aus and Betta Lodge. Betta Lodge is a nice place to stop. it has a small food/curiosity shop and a coffee shop. 

Sesriem Campsite is the only place to stay inside the park. It’s a spacious campsite with good facilities right at the entrance to the famous desert. A big advantage of camping here is that you can start driving to Sossusvlei about 1 hour before the gate opening. If you want to be in time to watch the sunrise from Dune 45 you have to stay at the campsite.

If you are not to worried about the sunrise you can stay at Sossus Oasis Campsite, 900 m from the entrance gate. It’s a very nice place we camped here. I’d suggest making an advanced booking to ensure you get a spot if you’re traveling in the peak season. 

If you prefer staying indoors there are two luxury lodges just outside the gates. Desert Quiver Camp and Sossusvlei Lodge. Both places have excellent facilities and spectacular locations.

The entrance fee to Sossusvlei is NAD$100/ZAR100 for South Africans, and NAD$150/$8 for tourists from other countries. Children from 9 to 16 pay a reduced price. NAD$50/US$3 per car. Children under 9 – free.

Day 6. Sesriem – Swakopmund

• Distance – 343 km/213 mi + about 120 km/74,5 mi driving in Sossusvlei
• Driving time – 4 hours + 3-4 hours in Sossusvlei
• Petrol stations – 2 stations at Sesriem; at 82 km/51 mi at Solitaire; at 343 km/213 mi in Swakopmund

Highlights

• Sunrise at Dune 45
• The stunning Sossusvlei 
• Dead Vlei, probably the most impressive dried pan in the Namib desert
• Tropic of Capricorn
• Dune 7, the highest dune in the Namib desert

Visiting Sossusvlei

This place is one of the highlights of any Namibia road trip. Start your day early to make it in time for the sunset at Dune 45. The dune is about 45 km/28 mi from the entrance, a 45-minutes drive. You’ll need 15-20 min. to get to the top of the dune. The entrance gate opens at 6.30 in the morning if you don’t stay inside the park you’ll be at the dune between 7.15 and 7.30. The sunrise is somewhere between 6.45 and 7.30 depending on the month. Check for sunrise times here.

Early morning is the best time for driving around the dunes. The rising sun creates shades that outline the edges of the dunes. 

The drive inside the park was on a hard sort of tar road except for the last 7 km to Dead Vlei where you drive on a very bad and sandy road. For this part, you’ll need a 4×4 car. If you’re not sure about your car or your off-road driving skills it’s better to park your car there and take a shuttle to the pan.

More details on the highlights of the Namib desert you can find in our detailed guide to Sossusvlei. 

Sossusvlei is one of the highlights of the Cape Town – Namibia road trip

The Sesriem to Swakopmund drive

The drive is on the gravel road almost to Swakopmund, except for the last 30 km/18 mi on the tar road. The drive to Swakopmund is beautiful. The landscape changes from small canyon-like rock formations to dry flats and dunes.

Before you start driving towards Swakopmund check your tires and petrol. If you need any help there is a tire repair place at Sesriem.

If you spend a lot of time driving around Sossusvlei and don’t feel like driving to Swakopmund you can stop at Solitaire, which is 80 km/50 mi from Sesriem. There are a couple of lodges, campsites, and restaurants in the area. The Solitaire Lodge offers comfortable AC cabins with stunning views of the Namib desert that can be booked online.

Solitaire is a great place to stop for lunch or coffee. There is a bakery that sells fresh bread and pastry. Solitaire is another old car spot on the road trip. There are several rusted cars for taking photos. 

50 km/31 mi after Solitaire you cross the Tropic of Capricorn or the Southern Tropic. You won’t miss it. There is a sign next to the road with many stickers on it.  

About 40 km/25 mi before Swakopmund you’ll reach Dune 7, the highest dune in Namibia. If you have time I recommend stopping there. You can walk to the top of it. Sunset from the top of the dune is spectacular.

Places to stay in Swakopmund

Stingy Nomads at the Tropic of Capricorn sign in Namibia

Day 7. Swakopmund

Swakopmund is a beautiful town you can spend here a couple of days. A nice place for relaxing, meeting people, walking on the beac. I suggest staying here for two nights but if you have extra time you can easily stay longer.

There are many amazing things to do in Swakopmund and its surroundings including some adventure activities. For us, a visit to Cape Cross Seal Colony, 130 km/80 mi north of Swakopmund was one of the highlights of our road trip. It’s quite a long trip to the colony and back but it’s worth it. You can visit it on the way to Spitzkoppe, it’s a bit of a loop but still less driving than from Swakopmund and back.

At Cape Cross, you get a chance to see tens of thousands of seals. If you come there between January and March you’ll see many cute cubs. It’s a great place for wildlife photographers and animal lovers. If you travel with children they’ll for sure love Cape Cross.

The drive from Swakopmund to Cape Cross is along the Skeleton Coast where you can see a couple of interesting shipwrecks.

Another place to see wildlife is Walvis Bay, 40 km south of Swakopmund. There you can see hundreds of pink flamingos near the shore. It is another great spot for amazing wildlife photos. 

For adventure lovers there are plenty of thrilling activities here; from skydiving in the desert to sandboarding and driving in a buggy over the dunes. 

Recommended tours and activities in Swakopmund

Thousands of seals with cubs at Cape Cross Seal Colony north of Swakopmund

Day 8. Swakopmund – Spitzkoppe

• Distance – 155 km/96 mi 
• Driving time – 2 hours
• Petrol stations – in Swakopmund; at 50 km/31 mi in Arandis

Highlights

• Impressive dunes
• Bizarre rock formations of Spitzkoppe
• Stunning night sky with bright stars

Before leaving Swakopmund don’t forget to stop at a supermarket to stock up and fill petrol. The next and last petrol station for the day will be in Arandis, 50 km/31 mi away. The next petrol station will be only the next day in Usakos, 60 km/37 mi from Spitzkoppe.

Today’s drive is short compared to the previous days. If you didn’t have time to stop at Dune 7 you have enough time for it in the morning. You can drive to Cape Cross Seal Colony first and from there to Spitzkoppe. It’ll add 135 km/84 mi to your total distance making it about 300 km/186 mi for the day.

Spitzkoppe is famous for its smooth granite rock formations and the incredible night sky. There are several hiking trails and places for rock climbing. You can explore the area on foot, enjoy the tranquility and relax in rock pools. It is a good place for birdwatching though you’ll need a binocular. 

Camping is the best way to experience the area. Campsites are quite isolated and far apart from each other and have basic facilities. Don’t get excited if you get a remote one far from the entrance the main ablution complex is close to the gate.

The view of the Spitzkoppe Mountains from the road

Day 9. Spitzkoppe – Etosha National Park

• Distance – 400 km/248 mi 
• Driving time – 5 hours
• Petrol stations – at 60 km/37 mi in Usakos; at 95 km/60 mi in Karibib; at 158 km/98 mi in Omaruru; at 320 km/198 mi in Outjo; at 400 km/248 mi in Etosha (Okaukuejo campsite).

Highlights

• Massive termite nests next to the road
• Many social weavers’ nests
• Omaruru is a small charming town that is considered to be the art capital of the region. 

An easy drive on a tar road to Etosha with many small towns and lodges to stop for food and petrol along the way. Omaruru is the nicest town to stop, it’s about halfway. There are a couple of coffee shops that serve good coffee, sandwiches, and freshly-baked pastry. 

Etosha National Park entrance fee for South Africans – NAD$100/ZAR$100, for tourists from other countries NAD$150/US$8 per day. Children under 16 are free.

Alya next to a giant termite nest on the way to Etosha

Day 10. Etosha National Park

Etosha National Park is one of the largest safari parks in Southern Africa. It’s a must-include in your road trip itinerary. If you have time I suggest staying here for a couple of days to make sure you get the most out of your visit.

The park occupies a massive area of 4731 km². A big part of it is a dried salt pan that in the rainy season turns into a massive lake which makes it difficult to see animals. During the dry season when water is scarce, all animals come to waterholes so visitors can easily spot them just waiting at one of the waterholes in the park. 

We did our Cape Town – Namibia road trip in January – February and when we reached Etosha it’d already rained a lot. There was a lot of water in the park. We saw a lot of deer, giraffes, elephants, zebras, hundreds of birds and one hyena. No lions or other predators. If you want to see mammals come here during the dry season between May and October.  

In Etosha, you can see 4 of the African Big 5; lions, elephants, rhinos, and leopards. The buffalo is the one you can’t see here. Lions and elephants are in abundance in the park. There is a healthy population of black rhinos. Leopards are present in the park but they’re always difficult to spot. You can see many other mammals in Etosha such as giraffes, wildebeests, cheetahs, hyenas, zebras, jackals, foxes, etc. In total more than 100 mammal species can be found in the park. 

There are 6 campsites inside the park where you can camp with your tent/caravan or stay in a bungalow. All campsites are fenced and have good facilities. 

We saw hundreds of springboks in Etosha but no predators.

After Etosha, you can continue your road trip through Northern Namibia to Victoria Falls or turn around and start driving back to South Africa. The drive back through Windhoek on the B1 is much faster than driving on gravel roads. You can get back to Cape Town in 2-3 days.

The pretty half of Stingy Nomads, responsible for all our land adventures (hiking, climbing, walking the Camino) and following them write-ups. Alya loves walking since she was a child, she prefers to walk 1000 km with a backpack rather than to do a 10 000 km road trip (actually any road trip). Alya is a big fan of Latin America, the Spanish language, and dancing. Every time we go away she desperately misses our dog Chile.

Източник за тази статия

Наши спонсори са:

Български трактори на добри цени при изключително качество