Namibia is a vast landscape of silky dunes and starry skies. It’s one of the most intrepid destinations in Africa for those who seek a self-driving adventure. On the flip side, it can be one of the most luxurious for those who fly over the vast landscapes, hopping from camp to camp, and swimming pool to swimming pool.
The great thing about an Africa Odyssey safari is that it doesn’t have to be one or the other. You can drive into some of the most luxurious lodges on the continent, or you can mix it up with a bit of road and a nice sprinkling of sky hopping.
© Wilderness
Here, it’s not about ticking off animals. But Namibia’s draw is in its ethereal scenery, the Milky Way, and incredible desert-adapted species. When you do come across a roaming elephant, hunched brown hyena, or pride of desert lions, it’s a once-in-a-lifetime view.
Whether you fly or drive, you can still get to every part of Namibia if that’s what you want. But your choice comes down to two key logistical decisions: budget and time.
Budget
If you’re a group of four, self-driving is definitely the cheaper option as you can split the cost between you. However, flights are so expensive – with each leg in the hundreds of pounds – it’s still often much cheaper to drive if you are two travellers. You can half your safari budget by renting a car for a reasonable cost on arrival, and zipping in and out of your chosen destinations.
© Shipwreck Lodge
Don’t worry though, if you break down there are lots of people waiting to help you out (even if you feel totally isolated in the wilderness, our brilliant ground operators are on hand to help 24/7). Plus, there aren’t the huge concentrations of wildlife hiding around every bush – and less bushes, for that matter – like there are in classic safari parks, making it a less tricky place to beetle around in for a less experienced safari-goer. Instead, it will be the most epic road trip you will ever take.
Time
The beauty of flying is that you can see a lot in a shorter amount of time. While driving between destinations can take anywhere from between 3 and 6 hours up its magnificent coastline, flights are a short hour’s hop from one airstrip to another.
© Shipwreck Lodge
That means you’ve got more time at lodges to enjoy relaxing or getting some hiking and activities in. It also allows you to see 4 places in eight days without feeling like you’re always on the move. Whereas two-night stops in each lodge on a self-drive means a lot of travel, and it also requires you to stop in some places you could skip over on a plane.
Style
If your budget and time aren’t an issue, then we would recommend you enjoy both driving and flying on your trip. This way you get the full Namibia experience without blowing the budget or getting fed up with long driving stretches.
The roads in the south of the country are fantastic for driving, as they are scenic and fun, whereas the stretches get longer in the north, with the views less exciting.
A brilliant trip with a bit of everything would be driving up from Sossusvlei north, reaching the Skeleton coast, and flying to Etosha – as this is a long driving stretch – before taking another small plane to Windhoek.
Don’t worry though, we can talk you through all your options and the price difference between each. Your itinerary, as ever, depends entirely on you. Just give us a call to chat!
