Any anxiety you might feel when you read the words self-driving holidays in Namibia evaporates almost the instant you arrive at the Explore Namibia offices in Windhoek.
There are a lot of 4×4 vehicles being prepped, cleaned, safety checked and equipped for independent adventurers eager to discover this wonderful country for themselves.
There were four of us on our trip, two photographers, a filmmaker and a psychotherapist, the latter a handy addition in case the anxiety of independent driving didn’t dissipate. Explore Namibia selected a brand-new Toyota Hilux 4×4 for us with only 170 kilometres on the clock.
All of this added to the reassurance this highly organised tour company specialises in. They facilitate the self-drive experience for first-time drivers, as well as returners eager to embrace this awe-inspiring country. After the check-in process was completed, driving licences shared and keys handed over, we were given a thorough lesson on how the rooftop tents work. They are surprisingly simple, straightforward and super quick to assemble. This is very useful if you are arriving at a campsite close to sunset and want to set up quickly before dark.
At this point, you might think Explore Namibia had met your expectations, but the team, led by Johannes and Helena, then hands you the most comprehensive guide, with route maps and very clear, detailed instructions, following a pre-arranged route, so clear in fact that you never need to engage a sat nav. The guide also includes vouchers for each campsite, which makes the check-in process much simpler and more streamlined on each arrival.
As we climbed into our 4×4 I noticed the slogan on the side ‘Asco Car Hire Where Your Adventure Begins’. With over 30 years of car hire service in this unique environment, the company prides itself on being the biggest and most trusted provider of a fleet of over 250 vehicles for Namibia.
On the road
As we pulled out of the forecourt, we knew that we might encounter the harshest and the bumpiest of roads and the deepest desert terrain, we might encounter the wildest beasts, but we knew whatever came our way our vehicle would never let us down.
Moving north, we headed toward Etosha National Park, the biggest and most famous park in Namibia. It’s an easy four-hour drive from Windhoek on a good tar road and we arrived at Okaukuejo Camp just inside the park with little trouble. The rest camp, with its central lookout tower, is like a small village with all the facilities you would expect including a restaurant, pool and waterhole. There are many luxury chalets as well as the well-kept campsites.
Wild animal sightings are unpredictable, but during our two-day stay we saw zebra, rhinos, giraffes, elephants, wildebeest, springbok, kudu, ostrich and jackals. Leaving Okaukuejo, we passed sleeping lions, witnessed jackals killing a springbok, passed herds of zebra, wildebeest, oryx and giraffe and finally the largest herd of elephants we’d ever seen gathering around a waterhole near the western gate. There were so many that we were fearful of getting too close to them. These wildlife encounters made the experience that much more special.
Ongongo Waterfall
At the suggestion of Explore Namibia, we stayed two nights at Ongongo Waterfall Campsite. Ongongo means magical in the local Herero language, and this place truly lived up to its name. It’s about 90 kilometres from Sesfontein in Damaraland and the campsite can only be reached by 4×4 as it is situated deep into the gorge.
We arrived in time for a swim in the rock pool a short walk away from the campsite. The waterfall ensures a constant supply of fresh water giving it a crystal-clear appearance. With only nine luxury plots here, each provides a very private and quiet spot to enjoy the incredible nature of this wonderful place.
Travelling south through Damaraland’s spectacular scenery, we headed for Sossusvlei to experience the largest sand dunes in the world and Namibia’s number one attraction, Dead Vlei the petrified forest.
Our epic adventure continued south, eating up the kilometres as we crossed the Tropic of Capricorn as we headed to the southern end of Namibia to the Fish River Canyon.
This is the world’s second biggest canyon after America’s Grand Canyon and boy is it spectacular. Located in the Richtersveld National Park, Fish River Canyon Viewpoint is a government-built lookout station on the edge of a sheer escarpment with incredible views down to the floor, half a kilometre below.
We arrived from Karasburg via Ai Ais for sunset and after picking our jaws up off the floor at the initial reveal, we were rewarded with an incredible 360° light show with lightning flashing behind the clouds and all around. It was a truly biblical experience that we will never forget.
We stayed at the government camp which gives the best and quickest access to the national park. It’s a sleepy site with a mini store, garage, restaurant, bar and swimming pool. The viewpoint is a short ten-kilometre drive which we did on three successive occasions, just before sunset and sunrise to get the best views and light conditions.
Explore Namibia and ASCO 4×4 Hire were the perfect partners for our trip of a lifetime and made the experience a real joy for our previously nervous, first-time visitors to Namibia.
More Information: Namibia is easily accessible on Lufthansa Discover Airlines.
Explore Namibia offers organised self-drive holidays and private guided tours. You can go on an adventure in a fully equipped vehicle of your own choice. They will arrange your accommodations in advance, whether you wish to stay in lodges and guesthouses, on campsites or both.
Find out more on Explore Namibia website, or there is more Asco Car Hire here.
Words & Images: Mark Hakansson, Frank Noon and Sally Bowness
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