The ultimate 2 week itinerary for Namibia - From Stunning Sand Dunes to Amazing Wildlife

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If you’re planning a trip to Namibia, two weeks is the perfect amount to see all the highlights without feeling rushed. I have packed this itinerary full of all the major spots, plus a few hidden gems I think people often overlook, while still keeping the pace relaxed enough to enjoy every surreal moment.

How to get around in Namibia?

The absolute best way to explore Namibia is by renting a car and exploring the country by yourself. This whole itinerary is based on that.

Yes, you can of course book a guided tour to take you through the country, but in my opinion it’s not necessary in Namibia. I’ve done fully guided tours in many other African countries like Uganda, Congo, Rwanda, Tanzania and Kenya, but Namibia is truly an easy and safe country to explore on your own.

We rented an SUV and I do recommend doing the same because some of the roads are just gravel and sand. Especially if you’re heading to Spitzkoppe or considering doing a self driven safari.

👉🏻 You can compare and find the best prices for your rental car here

Day 1–2 of your 2 week Namibia adventure:Windhoek

Windhoek might not be love at first sight, but give it a moment. This chilled-out capital is where German colonial buildings meet African energy. I wouldn’t spend too much time here, but it‘s the perfect spot for catching your breath post-flight, stocking up on road trip snacks, and mentally preparing for two weeks with a lot of driving and endless impressions. If however your flight lands very early I would probably change up this itinerary and start driving on day one and save the exploring of Windhoek for your last days in Namibia.

Where to stay in Windhoek?

There’s no shortage of both budget friendly or luxurious places to stay in Windhoek. Where you choose to stay might depend on when you land and how comfortable you are driving in a new city. Below you’ll find the options I stayed at and a couple more I would consider when I go back.

My favorite stays in Windhoek

Chameleon Backpackers & Guesthouse

Great budget friendly option in the city

The Windhoek Luxury Suites

This is a chic and comfortable hotel tucked away in a quiet corner of the city

The Olive Exclusive All Suite Hotel

If you want to splurge on your first or last night in Namibia this is the place to be!

Hilton Windhoek

We Stayed here for our last nights and it was walking distance to everything we wanted to see in the city

Mövenpick Windhoek

We stayed here when we arrived and loved the pools and quiet area. Great if you don’t want to drive into the city

Day 1: Get your bearings after traveling

You‘ve most likely traveled for a while and no matter where you’re coming from it‘s always nice to get your bearings after a long trip. Even if Windhoek isn’t the most exciting place in Namibia, it’s a great spot to relax. You can choose to explore more of the city if you desire or just relax at the hotel pool. I chose to relax here on my first day and saved the exploring for my last days in Namibia.

Day 2: Explore Windhoek or drive onwards

It’s up to you if you wish to explore more of Windhoek by doing one of the tours below or if you want to head on into the wilderness right away. Alternatively you can take a half day tour of the city and then head on towards Sossusvlei. The most important part is that you don’t start driving too late. It’s a bit of a drive and once it gets dark you will be surprised at how many animals you’ll see along the way. So plan accordingly.

My favorite tours in Windhoek

Half-Day Windhoek City and Township Cultural Tour

Windhoek City Tour

Private Guided Walking Tour with the San People in Windhoek

Traditional Cooking Class - Mahangu pap for beginners

Day 3–5 of the two week itinerary for Namibia: Sossusvlei

This is where Namibia really starts to show off. Sossusvlei is famous for its towering red dunes and Deadvlei’s ghostly trees stuck in clay. I‘ve never seen anything like it anywhere else!

Where to stay in Sossusvlei?

In Sossusvlei you can choose to stay at very budget friendly camping sites or pamper yourself at one of the stunning lodges. I did the latter and stayed at Sossusvlei Lodge, something I highly recommend! It’s really nice to have a pool to relax at after a full day exploring, and the food was amazing!

If you wish to see the trees or climb any of the dunes for sunrise or sunset you need to book your accommodation inside the national park.

My favorite places to stay in Sossusvlei

Desert Quiver Camp

Private chalets with epic desert views and your own BBQ setup

Sossusvlei Lodge

We stayed here and I can’t recommend it enough! It has great rooms, amazing food, stunning pool with sunset views and the staff helps you plan whatever you need.

Namib Outpost

If you want the ultimate luxury stay in the desert I would head here.

Sossus Dune Lodge

Thsi is the only Logde inside the national park, so if you want to hike for sunrise or sunset you need to stay here.

Day 3: Explore the national park with a guide

The area is huge and it might be hard to navigate on your own without having been there before. I booked a guided tour to the park where we hiked Big Daddy and ended up in Deadvlei and I highly recommend it. We got to learn about the different dunes, where the different hikes started and how to get around. Once you’re in the national park there really is only one road so driving isn’t a problem, but I wouldn’t have known where to stop the following days to start my hike without a guided tour to begin with.

You can book all tours you need through your hotel by contacting them in advance.

Day 4: Explore Soussusvlei on your own

If you did a guided tour yesterday you have probably marked yourself some spots you want to either go back to and spend some more time at or head to some other spots you didn’t get to see. For me this was Deadvlei. After hiking Big Daddy I felt rushed at Deadvlei and really wanted to see it once more. So I opted to go back there to truly explore it and then on the way back I hiked Dune 45.

Day 5: Another hike or helicopter ride

Depending on how many hikes you want to do you can either go back and hike Big Mama or choose to take a helicopter ride to see the area from above! I didn’t know about this option before I left and it was all booked up when I got there so sadly I didn’t get to do it. So if that’s something you want to do, I highly recommend learning from my mistake and booking in advance.

In the evening you can enjoy a sundowner in true Namibian style.

For every guided tour or activity you want to do in Sossusvlei just reach out to your hotel in advance and book.

Day 6–7 of your Namibian itinerary: Swakopmund

After days in the desert, Swakopmund feels like arriving in another world, one with salty air, seaside promenades, and German bakeries at every corner. It’s a cute coastal town where the Atlantic Ocean meets the Namib Desert. It’s also a place you can either relax or sign up for every adrenaline sport known to man.

Where to stay in Swakopmund?

First of all it’s important to know that you can choose to stay in either Swakopmund or Walvis bay, the two cities are not far from each other. I stayed in both and found them both to be cute towns to stay in, but I would rather choose to base myself in Swakopmund and taka a drive to Walvis Bay one day. There are more restaurants and hotels in Swakopmund. However, you won’t go wrong with either of them.

My favorite places to stay in Swakomund

The Delight Swakopmund

Nice boutique Hotel with a great location

Strand Hotel Swakopmund

A luxurious stay with killer sunset views from your balcony

Fancy Fritz B&B

Beautiful property with rooms that make you feel right at home

Skeleton Beach Backpackers

A great option for those looking to save on accomodation

Day 6: Drive to Swakopmund and explore the city

It’s a long drive to Swakopmund so once you‘re there you can choose to just relax for the evening or head into town to explore. It’s not a huge town but it absolutely has its charm. The promenade is also super cozy to just stroll along during sunset.

Day 7: Do a guided tour of Sandwich Harbour

The sandwich Harbour is another truly spectacular place in Namibia. You can walk on the high sand dunes and watch the ocean crash into it. You can drive to the area on your own, but not into the actual dunes. Our guide told us that they often find tourists who have tried and their car gets stuck in the sand. So if you want to truly explore this area you need to do a guided tour.

This is the tour we did of Sandwich Harbour

Day 8: Explore seal cross colony

Today I would head to the seal cross colony. This is one of the biggest seal colonies in the world and I didn’t really understand what that meant until I came there. Everywhere I looked there were seals relaxing, swimming or moving about.

Day 9: Walk or sandboard Dune 7

Dune 7 is a bit closer to Walvis Bay so today I would drive there and explore the town Walvis Bay and then later head out to Dune 7 to either just walk up and admire Dune 7 or do a more adventurous activity like Sand Boarding or Quad Biking.

My favorite tours from Swakopmund

3-Hour Quad Biking and Sand-Boarding Combo from Swakopmund

Scenic Desert Tour by Bike

City Tour of Historical Swakopmund

Scenic Sandwich Harbour Tour

Day 8–9 of your Namibia Itinerary: Spitzkoppe

I know that Spitzkoppe is a place many people come just for a day trip, but it’s one of my favorite places in Namibia and I think it deserves much more than a day trip. I highly recommend spending at least one night here. When the sky fills with stars at night I promise you won’t regret it.

Where to stay in Spitzkoppe?

There are actually only two places to stay in Spitzkoppe and even though I highly recommend spending the night here i understand if it’s not in everyone’s budget. They have one option for camping and one Lodge. I stayed at the Spitzkoppen Lodge and its one of the best places I’ve stayed in my life. I can’t recommend it enough!

My favorite places to stay in Spitzkoppe

Spitzkoppen Lodge

We stayed here and had one of our best stays in Namibia! Can’t recommend this place enough!

Spitzkoppe Cabin Camp

The only other place to stay in Spitzkoppe and a bit more budget friendly

Day 10: Explore Spitzkoppe

Head towards Spitzkoppe in the morning to get the most out of your time there. If you end up staying at the Spitzkoppen Lodge like I did you can join one of their tours. They have different tours to choose from both in the morning and the afternoon. Just send them an email before so you have the times. I would suggest doing one today with the major highlights such as the Arch and come back in time to enjoy the sunset.

Day 11: See more of Spitzkoppe and drive to Etosha

If you stayed the night in Spitzkoppe like I recommend you can choose a different tour to take today. Or alternatively relax at the stunning pool they have on the property. I opted for a hike to Chain Mountain and got to see more of the old stone carvings. I was also super lucky and saw a leopard on our way. I was told this almost never happens though.

After exploring for a bit it’s time to get in the car and drive towards Etosha.

Day 10–12 of your two week adventure in Namibia: Etosha National Park

This massive national park is home to everything from elephants and lions to zebras and leopards. The waterholes here are the real stars, attracting wildlife from everywhere. Even though I absolutely loved our time here, it has to be said that I don’t think the safari here rivals what I’ve seen in Uganda or Tanzania. However, the whole experience is completely different and I truly had an amazing time.

Where to stay in Etosha?

There are so many entrances to the national park, but to be honest I dont think it matters that much which side you end up staying at. You will drive around in the park no matter where you enter from. I chose to stay at the Toshari Lodge and loved our time here. Below you will also find some other options I would love to go to when I go back.

My favorite places to stay in Etosha

Onguma Forest camp

This is a cozy blend of classic safari charm and modern comfort outside Etosha’s eastern gate

Toshari Lodge

This is where we stayed and I loved everything about it!

Anderssons at Ongave

This is a true luxury stay on a private reserve near Etosha offering up-close wildlife viewing from an underground hide

Omsati Lodge

This is a simple, budget-friendly option, offering basic comforts and a peaceful garden setting

Oberland Lodge

This is a stylish mid-range safari retreat offering spacious rooms, a stunning infinity pool and waterhole views

Day 12: Spend the day on safari

In Etosha you can either do a self drive safari or book a guide to take you from your hotel. I’m personally no big fan of self drive safaris because the chances of seeing animals increase so much if you drive with someone who knows where to go and has constant communication with other guides driving around the park. However, it’s possible to drive around yourself here if your budget is very tight.

Day 13: Choose one more safari or meet the Himba tribe

Since you came all this way you might want to do another safari today. However, if you felt like you got to see everything you wanted yesterday you can choose to visit the Himba village today if possible.

The Himba tribe are a nomadic tribe so they’re not always at the same spot, but there is a tribe located in Etosha that has been there for a while. Our hotel organized this for us and it was an absolutely incredible experience I’ll never forget!

Day 14: Drive back to Windhoek

Sadly it’s the end of your trip to Namibia and its time to drive back to Windhoek.

You can choose to relax in Windhoek after two amazing weeks or explore more of the city!

Practical tips for your Namibia road trip

• Rent a 4x4 car – Many roads are made of gravel or sand, so you will thank me later for choosing something sturdy.
• Stock up on water & snacks – The distances between destinations are long and there aren’t that many places to stop along the way.However, there is noe need to stress about this. You will be able to fill up on gas and get whatever you need often enough.
• Drive with caution – Wildlife doesn’t care about your itinerary. Especially at dawn and dusk. I couldn’t believe how many animals we saw along the road and especially when it got dark. I don’t recommend driving in the dark at all.

Final Thoughts: 2 Week itinerary Namibia

Namibia is unlike anywhere else on earth, it’s wild, open, and absolutely amazing! This two-week itinerary gives you a front-row seat to Namibias most iconic spots, with just enough time to also make sure to take it all in.

I hope this helps you plan your trip to Namibia! If you have any questions don’t hesitate to reach out to me on social media. I would love to connect and help you out!

-Ingrid