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FROM US$3,020-US$4,130

Caracal Self-drive Safari

The quintessential Namibian self-drive adventure exploring the highlights from Sossusvlei and the Namib Desert to Damaraland’s wilderness and a safari in Etosha. A great mix of accommodation and excellent value.

Caracal Self-drive Safari: Summary

Caracal Self-drive in a nutshell

This self-drive trip is the perfect introduction to Namibia. A two-week adventure taking in all the best bits and staying in a great mix of lodges, the Caracal Safari is our "go to" for first timers here.

Begin in Windhoek, picking up your rental car for an easy drive into Namibia’s small capital for the night before setting off into the wilderness. The first stop is BüllsPort Lodge & Farm, a welcoming spot offering scenic hikes and horse rides in the rugged Naukluft Mountains. Then continue west to the edge of the Namib Sand Sea and a stay at Kulala Desert Lodge. With its private entrance to the Namib-Naukluft National Park, be among the first to arrive at the surreal Sossusvlei pan for the best of the morning light and a chance to climb one of the world’s tallest sand dunes before things heat up.

Turning north, stop as and when you like en route to the quirky seaside town of Swakopmund, where you can try your hand at sandboarding or kayak among its seal colony. Cross Damaraland’s rolling hills to Doro Nawas. Highlights here include tracking desert adapted elephants and a visit to the ancient rock engravings at Twyfelfontein.

Reach Etosha National Park for two nights at Okaukuejo Camp, whose somewhat basic nature is more than made up for by a waterhole which is the best spot in Africa for wild black rhino sightings, with another two nights at the excellent Mushara Bush Camp. Spend your time exploring Etosha completely at your own pace, spending as much on safari as you fancy. Finally, return south with one final night at Ai Aiba Lodge en route to Windhoek.

At a glance

Starts: Windhoek International Airport
1 night Galton House - Windhoek, Namibia Bed & Breakfast
2 nights BullsPort Lodge & Farm - Namib-Naukluft National Park, Namibia Half Board
2 nights Kulala Desert Lodge - Namib-Naukluft National Park, Namibia Half Board
2 nights Cornerstone Guesthouse - Swakopmund & Walvis Bay, Namibia Bed & Breakfast
2 nights Doro Nawas - Damaraland, Namibia Half Board
2 nights Okaukuejo Camp - Etosha National Park, Namibia Bed & Breakfast
2 nights Mushara Bush Camp - Etosha National Park, Namibia Half Board
1 night Ai Aiba Lodge - Central Highlands, Namibia Half Board
Ends: Windhoek International Airport

Galton House

Day 1

Galton House, named after the early explorer Sir Francis Galton, is just ten minutes' drive from central Windhoek. A modern yet homely guesthouse, with a backdrop of rolling hills, it was opened in the residential suburb of Eros in 2011. There's a mix of comfortable indoor and outdoor spaces in which to relax and the convenience of an in-house restaurant that caters for all meals.

View full itinerary
Galton House

Galton House

Windhoek, Namibia

BullsPort Lodge and Farm

BullsPort Lodge & Farm

Namib-Naukluft National Park, Namibia

Kulala Desert Lodge

Kulala Desert Lodge

Namib-Naukluft National Park, Namibia

Cornerstone Guesthouse

Cornerstone Guesthouse

Swakopmund & Walvis Bay, Namibia

About image

Highlights

Our thoughts on five of the top experiences of this Caracal Self-drive Safari.

  • Climbing Sossusvlei’s dunes at dawn
  • Watching wildlife at Okaukuejo waterhole
  • Tracking desert elephants in Damaraland
  • Hiking in Namibia’s Central Highlands
  • Experiencing an Etosha safari at your own pace

Activities

Some activities which can be included in the Caracal Self-drive Safari: talk to us about those which interest you.

  • 4WD Safari

  • Birdwatching

  • Boat trip

  • Cultural excursion

  • Dune-boarding

  • Fishing

  • Guided walking safari

  • Helicopter

  • Horse-riding

  • Hot air ballooning

  • Kayaking

  • Mountain biking

  • Night drive

  • Private activities

  • Quad-biking

  • Self-guided walking

  • Sleeping under the stars

About image

Key species to see on the Caracal Self-drive Safari

Based on our travellers' observations, we’ve estimated the likelihood of seeing these species during the Caracal Self-drive Safari. Click on the animals and our wildlife surveys page for more info.


Elephant

100% chance

Giraffe

100% chance

Oryx

100% chance

Wildebeest

100% chance

Zebra

100% chance

Black Rhino

94% chance

Lion

85% chance

Eland

82% chance

Spotted Hyena

81% chance

White Rhino

59% chance

Cheetah

58% chance

Brown Hyena

53% chance

Roan antelope

40% chance

Leopard

34% chance

Sable antelope

34% chance

Meerkat

7% chance

Aardvark

0% chance

Pangolin

0% chance

Side-trips whilst on this trip

We may be able to build in some of these optional excursions from the Caracal Self-drive Safari. Talk to us: they’re usually best arranged when you book.


Ballooning in the Namib Desert

Ballooning in the Namib Desert

Half day, including breakfast

Ballooning over the world’s oldest desert is an experience you shouldn’t miss. Enjoy spectacular views as the sun rises over the dune-covered plains and rocky mountains of the Namib Desert. You may even spot the occasional oryx or black-backed jackal punctuating the landscape below.

More about Ballooning
95% (82 reviews)
Kayaking with seals

Kayaking with seals

Morning incl. tea, coffee & sandwiches

Get up close and personal with a colony of Cape fur seals on a kayaking excursion from Walvis Bay. Enjoy a gentle morning’s paddle in Walvis Bay Lagoon as seals surround and interact with you and your kayak. If you’re lucky you may even catch a glimpse of some Heaviside’s or bottlenose dolphins.

More about Kayaking with seals
98% (184 reviews)
Coast and Sandwich Harbour

Coast and Sandwich Harbour

Full day

Experience this usually inaccessible part of the Skeleton Coast, where the dunes of the Namib plunge into the Atlantic Ocean. One of our top recommendations, this is an adventurous 4WD trip, guided by experts. You'll explore the Kuiseb Delta and (tides permitting) traverse dunes and the beach to reach Sandwich Harbour, a remote freshwater lagoon with abundant birdlife.

More about Coastal tour
94% (230 reviews)

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