Namibia Road Trip: Sossusvlei, Swakopmund and Etosha

Namibia is a road-trip country. Distances are huge, the roads are mostly gravel, and the landscapes are so empty and beautiful that driving becomes the main event. A classic two-week loop runs from Windhoek to Sossusvlei, the coast, Damaraland, and Etosha.

Start with Sossusvlei. The red dunes here are the tallest in the world, and climbing Dune 45 before sunrise is a rite of passage. Deadvlei, with its black camel-thorn trees against white clay and orange sand, is one of the most photographed spots in Africa. Stay inside the park or nearby at Sesriem to get in early.

From the desert, head west to the Skeleton Coast and Swakopmund. The town feels like a small German seaside resort dropped into the Namib desert, complete with bakeries and adventure sports. Try sandboarding, quad biking, or a seal colony tour at Cape Cross.

Damaraland is the wild middle: desert elephants, black rhinos, and ancient San rock art. Track rhinos on foot with a local guide for one of the most intimate wildlife experiences in Africa. The lodges here are expensive, but camping is a good budget option.

Finish in Etosha National Park, where waterholes draw elephants, lions, rhinos, and antelope in the dry season. Self-driving is easy: buy a map at the gate, pick a waterhole, and wait. The park has good rest camps with shops, restaurants, and floodlit waterholes for night viewing.

Rent a four-wheel-drive vehicle with two spare tires and a good GPS. Carry extra water, fuel, and snacks, because distances between towns can be hundreds of kilometres. The best time is May to October, when it is cooler and animals congregate around water.