Recommended Itineraries in Namibia

Namibia is a big country - six times bigger than England - and a lot less rainy. Given its huge size and the fact that there is a great deal of horizon in between destinations, a Namibian safari needs some careful planning.

Practice makes perfect: we've done a lot of travelling in Namibia and have compiled a list of recommended itineraries - routes that will make the most of your time in Namibia and enable you to see the very best that this fascinating country has to offer.

These recommended routes can be used to plan a fly-in safari or a self-drive adventure - or just to get an idea of how things fit together in Namibia.

Classic Namibia Circuit

Windhoek/Sossusvlei/Swakopmund/Damaraland/Etosha/Windhoek

It's the route that most safari-goers take, whether on a scheduled trip, self-drive or fly-in safari.

The capital city of Windhoek is usually the beginning and end of a Namibian safari. From its bustling, friendly streets head out of town in a south-west direction for the Namib Desert and its piece de resistance: the stately dunes at Sossusvlei.

From there aim north-west for the coast to reach the resort town and adventure activities of Swakopmund and its quieter sister, Walvis Bay. A tar road heads straight back east to Windhoek or a more north-easterly direction will take you through the scenic wilderness of Damaraland and ultimately to the country's conservation flagship: the Etosha National Park.

The road that leads directly south will take you back to Windhoek.

North West Namibia - Frontier Country

Windhoek/Damaraland/Skeleton Coast/Kunene/Windhoek

In the mood for something different? Grab bragging rights at your next dinner party with an itinerary that showcases some of southern Africa's last remaining wilderness areas. First, head north from Windhoek to the harsh desert mountains of Damaraland, home to black rhino and desert elephants.

You'll need to fly in to the next 2 destinations: it doesn't get much wilder than the Skeleton Coast National Park - we'd recommend middle-of-nowhere Skeleton Coast Camp and the outrageously remote Serra Cafema Camp on the banks of the Kunene River, deep in the territory of the ochre-coloured Himba tribespeople.

From there it's due south back to Windhoek.

Southern Namibia - Deserts and Oceans

Windhoek/Sossusvlei/Swakopmund/Windhoek

For those who want a desert and mountain experience, and are on limited time the best route would be south-west from Windhoek to the Namib Desert and glowing, picture-perfect sand dunes of Sossusvlei.

Aiming north-west will bring you to the Atlantic coast and Namibia's adventure activity capital of Swakopmund. Take some time to explore the desert coastline before heading west on the road back to Windhoek.

Northern Namibia -Big Game Country

Windhoek/Waterberg/Etosha/Windhoek Windhoek/Waterberg/Etosha/Caprivi Strip/Chobe/Victoria Falls

Namibia isn't all about deserts - it is also home to huge numbers of big spotted, tusked and horned animals and has excellent birdwatching opportunities. Head north from Windhoek to the Etosha National Park for all the game viewing you can handle.

En route, and if you have the time, you can spend a couple of days at the Waterberg Plateau Park which has great game in the most awesome setting - a massive flat topped chunk of vegetation-covered rock.

From Etosha it's straight back down to Windhoek, but why not head east into the wild wetlands of the Caprivi Strip? There's great game viewing and superb birdwatching, and you can double back to Windhoek or carry on heading east to Botswana's Chobe National Park and neighbouring Victoria Falls for pretty much the best southern African safari combination you can get.

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