You have 2 weeks to spend in Namibia but with such a vast area to cover and so much to see, where do you go?
We did the most amazing 2 week Namibia itinerary with kids and wanted to share it to help you plan your own family holiday in Namibia.
We did most of the main sights and destinations. Bear in mind you can’t see and do everything in Namibia in 2 weeks.
It also includes details on where we went wrong so that you don’t make the mistake we did.
If you like this, you may also want to read our family-friendly 2 week South Africa itinerary.
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Our 2 weeks in Namibia with kids was self-drive apart from a few tours here and there.
When doing a self-drive Namibian holiday – we recommend getting either this Namibia Lonely Planet or the Namibia Rough Guide. They are useful for planning but also to have in the car with you.
But we’ve also summarised some of the most important things to know about a Namibia road trip with kids.
And if you feel you need to speak to an expert to help you book your trip, please do reach out to Go2Africa. They are the leading tour operator in Africa and know Africa better than anyone else. We have used them multiple times and they are travel industry award winners for a reason.
Visiting Namibia with kids for the first time
Here are just a few things you need to know about travelling to Namibia with kids and things that will help you plan your two week Namibia self-drive itinerary with kids:
- Birth certificates – if you are travelling to Namibia with kids, at the time of our travels, long form / full unabridged birth certificates were required for each child.
- Malaria – the risk of Malaria is generally low in Namibia, especially during the dry winter season (May to October) but there is still a risk. Speak to your healthcare provider to discuss antimalarials (and other travel vaccinations). If you’re at all concerned, see here for safaris for families in non-malarial areas.
- Weather – The rainy season in Namibia runs from October to April when temperatures can soar and roads can become impassable, even in Etosha.
- Namibian safari with kids – we highly recommend buying a couple of animal spotting books for kids. Our kids loved this mammal one and this bird one and here’s a general Etosha one. Honestly, they kept them so engaged on safari. See here for our guide on what clothes kids should wear on safari and a family packing list for safari.
- Driving in Namibia – for the most part it is easy to drive in Namibia. The roads are quiet and the main roads (from Windhoek to Etosha and Windhoek to Swakopmund) are paved. There are also a lot of gravel roads. Our best advice is to take it easy. You may encounter other inexperienced drivers driving too fast on gravel roads. Many tourists have lost control this way. Always fill up with petrol when you see a filling station as they are few and far between outside of the main towns. See more in our post on driving in Namibia.
- Best time to visit Namibia – July to October is the best time to visit Namibia, as the temperatures are a bit lower and there is less chance of rain. Less rain means a better chance of spotting animals. This is also the busy season though and lodges can get booked up months in advance.
- What to pack for Namibia – in general, light, long sleeved clothing is recommended for safaris. The temperature rarely drops below 20°C in most of Namibia (and can get up to 50°C). However, if you are visiting Swakopmund or Walvis Bay, you should make sure you have some warm layers as it can get much cooler on the coast.
- Water – in most places it is best to drink bottled water. Also keep a good supply of water in your car. Like petrol, shops can be few and far between when you get out of the larger cities.
- Sim card – if you don’t want to incur charges using international roaming, it is a good idea to get a Namibian Sim card. You can get one at the airport on arrival. You will need to show your passport. Or you can can an eSim if your phone is compatible.
Highlights of our 2 week family road trip in Namibia
Our self-drive Namibia itinerary included an awesome self-drive safari in Etosha, tracking desert elephants in the Hoanib Valley, meeting a Himba family and viewing 6000 year old rock carvings in Damaraland.
We sought out unique wildlife in Swakopmund and finished with an amazing dark sky desert experience.
Obviously things can be tweaked here and there to suit your own family needs but on the whole, this 14-day Namibia itinerary covers the most popular places to visit in Namibia.
Our 2 week Namibia itinerary with kids
This 2-week Namibia road trip for families shows a day by day account of where we went, what we did and where we stayed.
It does include a section in the Hoanib Valley which is aimed at more adventurous travellers, but it is easy to subsitute this with more time in Damaraland or Sossusvlei.
Day 1 – Arrival in Windhoek
Windhoek airport is very small and easy to navigate. If you are picking up your car at the airport, you will find the car rental companies just after baggage reclaim.
We used Rentalcars to find a car hire company that had an office at the airport and we hired a standard 4WD SUV (Nissan Xtrail).
If you are picking up a more specialist 4×4, you will most likely find that the offices are closer to the centre of Windhoek – although some of them deliver to the airport. We didn’t hire a 4×4 as we weren’t camping but were advised that Namibia2Go is a good company to use.
Assuming you want to spend your first day of your 2-week Namibian itinerary in Windhoek, here are a few suggestions on things to do.
- Christuskirche is Windhoek’s best-known landmark
- 4 hour city and township tour
- National Museum of Namibia
Whilst in Windhoek, take this opportunity to visit the supermarket and stock up on some snacks for your journeys. Supermarkets and shops are few and far between outside of the larger towns.
We arrived in the afternoon in Windhoek and didn’t want to drive at night (check that your rental company even allows driving at night) so we stayed in Windhoek for our first night.
Day 1 accommodation
We stayed at Chameleon Backpackers. It is a fantastic budget option for families. They have secure parking, a lovely pool and recreation area and family rooms. It is so friendly and welcoming. They also do basic backpacker food.
If you want a self-catering option, we also stayed at Alluring Self-Catering at the end of the trip and loved it. They have a shared pool and the 2-bedroom apartment is modern and clean.
If you are looking for a hotel, we recommend The Hilton with large family rooms, outdoor pool and fabulous roof terrace. It’s very central and close to the Christuskirche.
Family-friendly restaurant in Windhoek
There are lots of restaurants to choose from in Windhoek but first time visitors to Windhoek shouldn’t miss Joe’s Beer House.
People come for the eclectic / bizarre collection of artefacts and the chance to try some exotic sounding African meats including Crocodile, Springbok, Kudu and Zebra.
Day 2 – Windhoek to Etosha National Park
Our two week Namibia itinerary really started with our visit to Etosha National Park. We highly recommend including it in your own itinerary. Etosha is one of our top recommended places to go on safari with kids.
The drive from Windhoek to Etosha National Park is very straightforward and is paved all the way.
At Ojitwarongo you will branch off either up to western Etosha (Okaukuejo) or eastern Etosha (Namutoni).
Depending on where you are staying, the journey may take around 4 hours to western Etosha or 5.5 hours to eastern Etosha.
On the way up to Etosha you could visit Okonjima – home to the Africat Foundation. There are lots of activities here including tracking Cheetah (check their age restrictions).
Alternatively, if you are driving up to western Etosha, you could pop in to the Cheetah Conservation Fund near Outjo and have lunch.
We headed to eastern Etosha as we were staying at Onguma Forest Camp (kids must be age 7+ because it is unfenced) which is set in a private reserve adjacent to Etosha. Onguma Bush Camp nearby is fenced and suitable for kids of all ages.
You can stay also inside Etosha National Park (see here) but the accommodation is fairly basic. Okakuejo was our favourite camp within Etosha.
You can book game drives at Onguma which take place in their private game reserve. Alternatively, you are right next to one of the main gates into Etosha National Park (Namutoni Gate) and it is easy to do your own self-drive safari.
This makes for a much more affordable family safari.
We had a lovely late afternoon game drive. The best times for wildlife spotting are early morning or early evening and during the dry season, make sure you head to the water holes. Find out about the best time of year for visiting Etosha National Park.
Back at camp for dinner we saw honey badgers run past our table. In all our years on safari, we’ve never seen honey badgers so this was incredible. Apparently they live just under the boma deck.
There’s also a very active waterhole which you can observe from the pool or the dining area.
Accommodation: Onguma Forest Camp (full board). which was perfect for families with lovely family suites, a lovely pool overlooking a busy waterhole and an excellent nature walk for the kids.
Day 3 – Safari in Etosha National Park
Onguma Forest Camp offer a range of activities and on this morning we arranged a kids’ bush walk.
We were driven to the nearby Bush Camp which is fenced and the kids followed the guide around on a trail where they learned about animal behaviour, animal tracks and droppings. They also had a go with a sling shot and bow and arrow that local tribal people used to use years ago.
We were back at the lodge in time for lunch and then we relaxed by the pool. It’s really important when on safari with kids to find some downtime.
There is no need to be on safari the entire day because the animals don’t like being out in the midday sun.
After relaxing, we set off on another afternoon game drive in Etosha National Park.
If it is your first time in Etosha National Park, here are a few tips you might find helpful.
Please also read our guide to spotting wildlife on safari to maximise your animal sightings and this self-drive safari guide.
Day 3 accommodation: Onguma Forest Camp (full board).
Day 4 – Safari in Etosha National Park
We entered Etosha via Von Lindquist Gate in the east of Etosha in the early morning and drove across to Okaukuejo Camp in the west.
The drive took around 5 hours. It would be less than this if you drove straight through but we were treating this transfer day as an additional safari.
Day 4 accommodation: Okaukuejo Camp is basic but fairly cheap with different accommodation options and there is a swimming pool, tourist shop, restaurant and a fantastic waterhole that is floodlit at night. We saw black rhino come to drink!
Day 5 – Etosha to Hoanib Valley
3 days on safari in Etosha with the kids was enough for us considering we have done lots of safaris before. At this point you might like to spend one more day on safari.
We left Etosha in the morning and the drive took around 6 hours from Etosha to Sesfontein. It was part paved road and part gravel road.
We took the C38 south down to just north of Outjo and then the C40 west to Kamanjab. Both roads were paved and was an easy drive. We had a quick refuel in Kamanjab and then set off for Sesfontein. The rest of the route was gravel roads.
At Sesfontein we left our car and transferred to a safari jeep with driver (provided by Hoanib Valley Camp) for the remainder of the journey to Hoanib Valley Camp.
You could attempt the journey yourself if you have a decent 4×4 truck, but even then the ‘road’ was not well marked.
It felt like we were somewhere truly remote. It is definintely off the beaten track.
After a long day of driving we were greeted by the staff at Hoanib Valley Camp with a welcome song and a very welcome cold drink.
We were just in time for a quick swim and then set out for a sundowner drink just outside of camp before settling in for a lovely dinner by the camp fire.
Day 5 accommodation: Hoanib Valley Camp (all inclusive). The family safari tent at Hoanib Valley Camp was just perfect with a large double bed and two single beds. Even though it had been extremely hot during the day, the tent cooled right down in the evening and was very comfortable. Hoanib Valley Camp is an absolutely beautiful luxury lodge. A real treat.
Itinerary variation
This is where you can make a change to your itinerary if you don’t want to visit Hoanib. Most people head down the Skeleton Coast or to Damaraland from Etosha.
Day 6 – Tracking elephants in Hoanib Valley
After a delicious breakfast (with an incredible view I might add), we set off at a reasonable time in search of the elusive desert elephants.
This morning game drive took us down the dry bed of the Hoanib River. We kept seeing tracks but the elephants can walk on average 35 miles per day and they were heading away from camp.
The family of elephants that we were tracking were on their way to the coast. As it turns out, if we had been out looking just one day later, we wouldn’t have seen them and they wouldn’t have returned for a couple of weeks. BUT we saw them!
It was such a special moment and what made it extra special is that there was nobody else around. There is only one other camp in the vicinity which makes for a very exclusive experience.
On our way back to camp we were surprised with a bush lunch before heading back to camp for a swim.
We spent the afternoon relaxing and then took a lovely sunset drive before dinner.
Day 6 accommodation: Hoanib Valley Camp.
Day 7 – Hoanib Valley to Damaraland
We had another long drive ahead to reach Damaraland so we set off early with a quick stop to visit a lovely Himba family and learn about their way of life and buy a couple of trinkets.
The road from Sesfontein to Damaraland, was mostly gravel and took around 3.5 hours.
Bizarrely the last 5km was paved.
Most people visit Damaraland to view the ancient rock carvings but I must admit, we went for the hotel!
We visited in 2010 and fell in love with Camp Kipwe. We actually got engaged there so we had to return with the kids!
Camp Kipwe is a stunning boutique hotel built in and around a rocky outcrop.
One of the main reasons we love Camp Kipwe is because of the incredible sunset view you get from the top of the rocks above camp. You absolutely have to head up there for sundowners.
They also have a small but fun pool built into the rocks and a gorgeous main lodge area where the main dining area is located. All of the food was delicious.
Day 7 accommodation: Camp Kipwe (full board). We had a family room which had a main area for the adults with outdoor shower and a separate tent with outdoor shower for the kids. Such an adventure for them!
Day 8 – Tracking desert elephants in Damaraland
Obviously not having had enough of the desert elephants in Hoanib Valley we decided to book another elephant game drive – this time in Damaraland.
We had an early breakfast and set off in a shared jeep at sunrise and took us through the beautiful Damaraland scenery.
We drove for about an hour before we saw footprints and then followed them for a way down a dry riverbed until we found a small family group.
Whilst the experience was amazing, it just couldn’t compare with Hoanib Valley. Damaraland is much more accessible and a very popular tourist destination so there were several jeeps surrounding the elephants.
After the game drive, we relaxed by the pool back at camp and after lunch we went to go and see the rock carvings at Twyfelfontein.
Twyfelfontein is a UNESCO World Heritage Site with rock carvings dating back between 1000 and 10,000 years when a group of hunter gatherers inhabited Twyfelfontein Valley.
Plan to spend around 45 minutes to 1 hour visiting Twyfelfontein. A guide is included in your entrance fee and you are guided on a 2km loop past the rock carvings.
The entrance fee seemed quite high compared to the Etosha entrance fee. It was about £35 / $45 for a family of 4.
After Twyfelfontein we popped in on Burnt Mountain and The Pipe Organs. The entrance fee for these two sites was the same as Twyfelfontein.
Being totally honest, I wouldn’t recommend these last two with kids. There’s not a lot to see and it’s quite expensive (same price as Twyfelfontein).
We did, however, stumble upon a Horned Adder which to me was horrifying but the rest of the family loved. If you are heading to Swakopmund, you can learn all about these snakes in the Snake Park.
We were back in time for sundowners. Always make sure you are back in time for sundowners if you are staying at Kipwe!
Day 8 accommodation: Camp Kipwe (full board).
Day 9 – Damaraland to Swakopmund
The drive from Damaraland to Swakopmund should be around 4 hours. I took us 5 hours because of roadworks.
We had previously driven the Skeleton Coast in 2010 so we didn’t do it on this trip. It was also rainy season and we weren’t sure of the condition of the roads.
If you decide not to drive the Skeleton Coast, you can view a shipwreck just off the C34 between Hentiesbaai and Swakopmund. It is called the Zeila Shipwreck.
On arrival in Swakopmund we went down to the beach, passing the main sights in town.
We walked along the beach at sunset to Swakopmund Pier and chose The Tug restaurant for dinner. It was a beautiful setting at sunset watching the surfers and the waves crash against the pier.
Read: what to do in Swakopmund with kids.
Day 9 accomodation – Hansa Hotel.
We checked into the Hansa Hotel in Swakopmund. It is the oldest hotel in Namibia and has maintained a lot of its historic features. The rooms could do with a bit of a refresh but overall, it was very comfortable and in an excellent location.
If you are looking for a more modern hotel, The Strand Hotel is right on the waterfront.
Variation to itinerary
If you want to drive the Skeleton Coast from Damaraland, you need to head north from Camp Kipwe and then west to Torra Bay.
You can drive from Torra Bay to Swakopmund in a little under 4 hours if you don’t stop. A lot of people stop at Cape Cross which is around half way to see the seal colony.
Day 10 – Swakopmund to Walvis Bay
In the morning we had a lovely breakfast in the hotel and went to the meeting point for our Living Desert Tour.
We set off in a 4×4 jeep into the Dorob National Park, part of the Namib Desert, in search of small desert creatures.
The tour lasted around 4 hours and in that time we learned about the flora and fauna of the desert. It is incredible how animals and plants can survive in such a harsh environment.
The kids found it really interesting as the guide kept engaging with them. We saw geckos and snakes and all sorts of tiny animals.
If you can’t book the tour we did, our friends did this one and it is very similar.
We then set off for Walvis Bay which is about a 30-minute drive away. We were just in time to catch the sunset. It was magical with a flock of flamingoes shimmering in the golden light.
We were just in time to catch the sunset. We went out for dinner at Anchors Waterfront Restaurant and had an amazing meal. There is seafood in abundance on the menu.
Day 9 accommodation – Lagoon Chalets was a budget self-catering option. Nothing to write home about but we only spent a few hours in the room.
If you are doing the seal kayaking, you can also stay at the Protea by Marriott at Pelican Bay as that is where you get picked up from but they don’t have family rooms. If you call you may get interconnecting rooms.
NOTE there isn’t really a great choice of accommodation in Walvis Bay and things get booked up in advance. You could spend 2 nights in Swakopmund but if you’re doing an early morning tour in Walvis Bay, you might find it easier (like we did) to stay in Walvis Bay.
Day 10 – Walvis Bay to Sossusvlei (Sesriem)
We were picked up at the meeting point at 8.30am by Eco Marine Kayak Tours for our seal kayaking trip.
You travel by jeep to Pelican Point past the salt pans. The guides explain how to interact with the seals and you receive waterproof clothing.
You have about an hour kayaking with the seals. And there are over 2 million of them to interact with. They love coming up to your kayak and nibbling your paddles.
It is a really incredible experience.
After the tour we set off for Sesriem (actually passed Sesriem and into the Namib Rand desert). It was a very long 5 hour drive with a quick stop at the Tropic of Capricorn sign near Oase.
We really stretched ourselves on this day and wouldn’t recommend doing this if you can avoid it as we arrived quite late. In hindsight (and if we had more time) we would have stayed this night in Sesriem.
However, we arrived at Kwessi Dunes and all was forgotten. It is beautiful!
Note: You need a 4×4 to access Kwessi Dunes! Alternatively, you need to go to the visitor centre 15km away and get them to phone Kwessi Dunes to pick you up.
We chose Kwessi Dunes because it is located in the Namib Rand Nature Reserve – a Dark Sky Reserve and the tents have an additional bed outside for stargazing. How amazing!
One thing to note here is that Kwessi Dunes is about a 2 hour drive from the dunes at Sossusvlei. If you are wanting to visit the dunes in Sossusvlei and Deadvlei, you may want to choose somewhere in Sesriem to stay (preferably within the park so you get early access before other tourists).
We can suggest Dead Valley Lodge (although the don’t have family tents).
Day 11 accommodation: Kwessi Dunes – we had a large family tent with an incredible outdoor bedroom area for stargazing.
Day 12 – Sossusvlei
We booked our tour through Kwessi Dunes. It is one of the many activities they offer.
It was a very early morning start to visit Sossusvlei from Kwessi Dunes. In hindsight, we should have spent the night before visiting Sossuvlei in Sesriem (within the park), done Sossusvlei and then headed to Kwessi.
You can drive to Sossusvlei but it was just easier for us to arrange a guided tour which included a picnic. Also you don’t need to worry about getting stuck in the sand if you don’t have a 4×4!
There are 2 gates into Sossusvlei. The first one opens at sunrise. The second one opens an hour before sunrise.
Again, ideally you want to stay inside the park (inside the first gate) so that you can access the 2nd gate an hour before sunrise (and before most other tourists arrive).
Sossuvlei is actually a further 60km from Sesriem so if you stay outside of the park, then you won’t arrive at Sossusvlei until well after sunrise and you’ll miss the best part of the day for photos and climbing the dunes in the midday heat is not easy.
We had been to Sossusvlei in 2010 so this wasn’t a concern for us and the kids were none the wiser but we wanted to highlight this to you.
After a long day out we got back to camp and chilled by the incredible pool. I’ve never experienced a pool like it. You’re in the middle of the desert having a swim and a herd of Oryx come wandering right up to take a look at you!
We also did a bit of quad biking in the dunes and then set off on a sunset drive through the desert before heading home for dinner and more stargazing.
Day 12 accommodation: Kwessi Dunes.
Variation to itinerary
If you have cut out the Hoanib Valley part of the trip, then you can adapt this 2-week Namibia road trip itinerary to include more days in Sossusvlei so that you aren’t so rushed.
Day 13 – Sossusvlei to Windhoek
We spent the morning relaxing by the incredible pool at Kwessi Dunes then spent the afternoon driving from Sossusvlei to Windhoek.
If you didn’t spend any time in Windhoek at the beginning of your trip then you might be able to fit in a bit of sightseeing at the end.
Day 13 accommodation: We stayed at Alluring Self-Catering as mentioned before.
We ate at Joe’s Beer House.
Day 14 – Windhoek
If you have time before your flight, you can spend a little time seeing a few of the main sights in Windhoek if you missed them at the beginning of the trip.
We hope you found this suggested 2-week Namibia road trip with kids helpful. If you have any questions about planning your own Namibian itinerary, please email us and ask.
