r/Namibia • u/FreeSpirit-94 • Nov 29 '24
Backpacking Namibia for 2 weeks - itinerary feedback and other question Tourism
Hello all! I hope you are well. I (30M, american but look pakistani) will be backpacking Namibia for around 2 weeks. I don't really have an end date but I am giving myself 12-13 days before going to the next country. As such, I am sharing my itinerary for your feedback and to see if I should add or subtract anything from the list. I am quite flexible in what I want to do. Of course lots of nature, but also want to enjoy the cultural aspects and 'way of local life' when I backpack. FYI I will be getting a rental car and have driven in many countries (toyota starlet or corolla). If any other travellers, or locals, want to join, feel free. I do plan to be 'budget friendly', so lots of couchsurfing (where available) or sleeping in the car/campsites.
Route:
- Land in Windhoek on evening of 08/12 and stay for 2 nights. pick up rental car on 9th.
- 10th drive to Fish River Canyon and stay try to stay overnight at a campsite there and explore there the next day. Otherwise stay overnight in Keetmanshoop. I plan to stop in between for the Quiver Tree Forest.
- 11th drive to Kolmanskop and Luderitz, explore, and then probably drive and stay overnight in Luderitz.
- 12th drive to Tok Tokkie Hiking Trails in Namib desert and hike there. Drive and stay overnight outside of Sossusvlei.
- 13th explore and hike around Sossusvlei and drive and stay overnight in Walvis Bay.
- 14th do Sandwich Harbour Historic tour (probably can't self-drive in a city car) and and drive along C34 stopping in Swakopmund and stay overnight there or somewhere close to Spitzkoppe.
- 15th hike around Spitzkoppe then continue on C34 along Skeleton Coast. probably sleep somewhere around there.
- 16th drive to Etosha and do a self drive and stay overnight.
- 17th drive around some more and then drive back to Windhoek.
Now I know this seems very rushed and maybe I am underestimating the drives and stuff, but there is a rough guideline and as you can see, I have plenty of days to stay more than one night in certain areas which I am sure I will. In addition, this itinerary is very nature heavy and I don't have a lot of 'cultural' or 'local cities' to experience their way of life in there, so open to suggestions.
As for other random questions, I saw the 'best' network provider is MTC? I also read about namibia being quite spread out and depending on where one is driving petrol stops and supermarkets are hard to come by. I was wondering if Visa credit cards are widely accepted at places (gas stations, accommodations like campsites, entrance fees for parks, restaurants) or do I have to carry cash?
Cheers!
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u/Aggressive-Pair-7897 Nov 29 '24
My friend and I will be doing a very similar itinerary during those days. We arrive on the 3rd but will likely be in the same place as you on the 13th-17th. We’ll be camping at pretty much each spot (unless we really need a break). Hopefully we run into each other, I’d love fo hear about your experiences as well be doing a slightly different route!
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u/FreeSpirit-94 Nov 29 '24
Awesome to hear, would love to stay in touch. If that's cool with you, you can DM me and maybe we can see if our paths cross? Cheers!
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u/Tiny-Pain-5875 29d ago
In the bigger towns like keetmans, I swakop, and Walvis the filling stations are open 24/7.i am not hundred percent sure about luderitz. Yes you can just use your visa card to swipe. Driving luderitz to sossusvlei make sure you have enough fuel because that's you really start feeling how empty Namibia is. Also remember this time of the year it's extremely hot in the interior parts. Have lots of water and sunscreen.
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u/FreeSpirit-94 29d ago
Thanks!
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u/exclaim_bot 29d ago
Thanks!
You're welcome!
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u/FreeSpirit-94 22d ago
Hey - question, I read that the c27 road from aus to sesriem is gravel, and I will have a sedan. Not ideal but I read it was a doable drive. Wanted to get your thoughts, if you have knowledge about that road.
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u/FreeSpirit-94 22d ago
Hey - question, I read that the c27 road from aus to sesriem is gravel, and I will have a sedan. Not ideal but I read it was a doable drive. Wanted to get your thoughts, if you have knowledge about that road.
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u/Spring_Potato_Onion Nov 29 '24
This itenerary is very rushed. I understand you want to see as much as possible but you have to take into account some of the places you'll be travelling to will be at least 4 - 6 hours drive inbetween each stop. It's doable if you have stamina and energy to do it. But I would suggest against driving at night. Especially along some of the gravel roads. Lots of animals come out at night or are attracted to the headlights so it's potentially more dangerous to drive at night.
Your choice of car is also bad. As mentioned some places will not have tarred roads, so you will need a 4x4 vehicle for optimum comfort. Otherwise you will not enjoy the ride, it will be too bumpy with sedan-type cars. It's also rainy season right now. So potentially some gravel roads will be washed out or muddy, and you definitely need a 4x4 to cross those areas. The worst thing that can happen to you is to get stuck somewhere 200km away from the nearest town.
So my advice is get a 4x4, extra Jerry can of fuel, a jack and spanner and at least 2 spare tyres for all the driving you're going to do.
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u/FreeSpirit-94 Nov 29 '24
Thanks for those tips! As mentioned, I do have extra days that I will use to give myself more time, but noted about driving at night and it being rainy season. Unfortunately, 4x4 is too expensive so will be sticking with sedan but noted about spare tire and extra jerry can of fuel.
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u/Spring_Potato_Onion Nov 29 '24
Some of the places you want to go like Spitzkoppe is literally just gravel and rocks. And Sossussvlei is just soft sand. So I HIGHLY suggest getting a 4x4. Because with the larger tyres you can navigate around rocks and mountainous terrain. And you can also let our air to reduce the tyre pressure so you can more easily traverse the sand of sossuvlei. But if you're really going with a sedan then best of luck. Hope your trip goes well!
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u/FreeSpirit-94 Nov 29 '24
thanks, yea let's see what I can and can't do. I also heard that at Sossussvlei there's shuttles to there and I can also hitchhike to the dunes. so that's my plan. as for Spitzkoppe, let's see about it once im there. I saw some vlogs and the roads were fine enough to travel far enough to the hiking spots.
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u/Spring_Potato_Onion Nov 29 '24
Yes but generally people go to those areas in winter when it's cooler and drier. The roads can get pretty bad during rainy season, but hopefully the roads you choose will be fine. All the best
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u/FreeSpirit-94 Nov 29 '24
Ah ok got it. Yea the rain does make a big difference. Has it been pretty rainy so far in Namibia?
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u/Spring_Potato_Onion Nov 29 '24
Rainy season is starting. Some parts are getting heavy rain some parts are still quite dry. Just depends on the area.
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u/Bitter_Initiative_77 29d ago
Rushed itinerary. You're also going to need a 4x4 rather than a normal car (and that's going to be much more expensive). Be prepared for the campsites to be more expensive than you think they should be.
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u/afrikanwolf Nov 29 '24
Hi, so:
Is that the rental car you chose, coz if so, it's a no. Too much fuel consumption for refueling, the way you're traveling. Get a 4x4 pick up truck (toyota)
Would you be traveling on the shortcut gravel road situated at Aus? Would be best so you dont do a double trip (eg. From walvisbay to sossesvlei, but straight from Aus to sossesvlei then to walvisbay)
Visa is accepted, charges won't be much since dollar is stronger than ours.
Well those be my 2cents.
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u/FreeSpirit-94 Nov 29 '24
Hi, thanks for your feedback. noted on points 1 and 3, but can you expand on 2? I am confused a bit. what is the shortcut road Aus?
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u/afrikanwolf Nov 29 '24
I hate that one can't post pictures on here. So Aus is situated before Luderitz (B4) road, then after you're done with your touring in kolmanskop and luderitz, you take the (c14) road and travel until you get the (c27) road.
Note: this is completely up to you, as you mentioned you wanted to hike to sossesvlei from walvisbay. My method is to cut out the middle man per se.
My Namibians please insert your POV, whether it's cool to travel this way or not.
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u/FreeSpirit-94 Nov 29 '24
ah I see what you mean now. Yea that was my plan but didn't realise it was a 'shortcut' and a gravel road lol
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u/JowDow42 Nov 29 '24
It’s also not the best gravel road I have known some people only traveling 40km an hour for most of the trip
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u/FreeSpirit-94 22d ago
Hey - question, I read that the c27 road from aus to sesriem is gravel, and I will have a sedan. Not ideal but I read it was a doable drive. Wanted to get your thoughts, if you have knowledge about that road.
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u/SpecialistDrama565 Nov 29 '24 edited Nov 29 '24
Stay in Otjiwarongo one night instead of Windhoek. The hotels are cheaper. That’s what all tourists are doing.
One day Etosha is ambitious. Should perhaps be more days. Although due to rain there are currently little animals to be seen.
Most tourists don’t like Walvis Bay and Swakopmund. But perhaps you like it. I would recommend to do Etosha instead.
I get a general feeling that you are underestimating the distances between places. You will be on the road a lot and way too rushed.