Namibia route: 9 wildlife and desert places, Etosha to
This interactive route through Namibia connects nine key wildlife and cultural sites including Okonjima's leopard tracking center, Etosha National Park, traditional Himba villages, Grootberg's canyon lands, Camp Kipwe's desert elephant habitat, Swakopmund, Sandwich Harbour, and the ancient Deadvlei forest.
- Distance
- 1883.8 km
- Mode
- Places
- Start
- Okonjima
- End
- The Himba Village
- Stops
- 9
- Video author
- travmap
- Updated
Stops on this route
- Okonjima — Leopard tracking at the famous AfriCat Foundation reserve.
- Etosha National Park — One of Africa's great wildlife parks, home to rhinos and diverse game.
- Himba Village — Cultural visit to a traditional Himba community in northwest Namibia.
- Grootberg — Dramatic canyon landscape in the Grootberg Pass area.
- Camp Kipwe — Desert elephant tracking base near Twyfelfontein in Damaraland.
- Swakopmund — Coastal town on the edge of the Namib Desert with German colonial architecture.
- Sandwich Harbour — Spectacular 4x4 dune adventure where desert meets the Atlantic Ocean.
- Deadvlei — Iconic white clay pan with ancient dead camel thorn trees frozen in time.
- The Himba Village
Useful for your trip
- Transport
- Drive on the left-hand side of the road in Namibia
- Transport
- Rent a 4x4 vehicle for unpaved roads; essential for accessing remote areas and wildlife reserves
- Where to stay
- Book Okonjima (Plaines Camp) for leopard tracking research experiences with collared leopards in a 20,000-hectare nature reserve
- Where to stay
- Stay at Grootberg Lodge, a community-run conservancy lodge on a mountain pass with access to canyon landscapes similar to the Grand Canyon
- Tip
- Expect unpaved 'African massage' roads between lodges; inform your next lodge of detours before going off-grid to avoid miscommunication
- Timing
- Visit Etosha National Park early morning or at waterholes during hot midday hours when wildlife concentrates around water sources
- Tip
- Use radio tracking telemetry devices (not GPS) with guides to locate collared leopards; success rate is approximately 50/50
- Tip
- Visit Himba villages as unplanned stops along routes; plan time for guided village tours and cultural interactions with local guides
- Save money
- Book through Go2Africa and use code FERNWEH for up to $500 USD discount
- Transport
- Book 4x4 tours with Desert Dunes and Dust Tours for activities like Sandwich Harbour expeditions
- Tip
- Plan a two-week road trip to cover Windhoek, Etosha, Skeleton Coast, and the Namib Desert including Deadvlei
Video on this route
Tracking Leopards in Africa's Emptiest Country