Meerkat 14 Day Self-Drive

14 Days

This 14 day self-drive trip takes you around Namibia's main highlights.The accommodation used is a comfortable combination of mid-range establishments, chosen for their location, value for money or excellent activities. The self drive gains it's name from the ever popular Meerkat which were once called ant-cats, a reference to their ant-eating diet and cat-like appearance.

There is no better way to start a Namibian self-drive safari than by visiting Okonjima. The renown AfriCat Foundation, a non-profit organization that is committed to long-term carnivore conservation and rehabilitation, have been based here for years.

Next up is a drive further northwards to Etosha National Park. As self-driving is ideal for early morning or late afternoon safaris, game driving can be much more rewarding here. The combination of savannah and woodland, mainly to the south of Etosha Pan, ensure that vast herds of game roam freely. As the larger mammals and big cats frequent the numerous waterholes, at times together, you will be able to move freely around the reserve. Ornithologists can be on the lookout for some of the 340 bird species that occur in the park.

The adventure in Namibia continues into Damaraland. Driving around this area is both fun and testing. But it will also allow you the flexibility to search for desert-adapted elephants and other desert-dwelling creatures such as black rhino. Natural monoliths and mountains, prehistoric tree trunks and some organ pipes will also form part of the itinerary.

Swakopmund will give you a bit of a rest from driving yourself around the countryside. Besides being a welcome break from the often intense inland heat, the combination of old-world charm and coastal adventure lures people back time after time. Restaurants, bars and coffee shops are plentiful as is the plethora of well-preserved German colonial buildings.

It's time to shake, rattle and roll into the Namib Desert. Sossusvlei's magnificent, mountainous dunes lie at the end of the Tsauchab River. The tallest of them has graced many a photograph or painting as has the ancient camel-thorn trees eerily still lurking around in Deadvlei.

There are 2 more highlights to enjoy on this tour; Klein Aus Vista Namib Feral horses graze locally and the walking trails vary in length and difficulty. Fish River Canyon offers some fantastic photographic opportunities from the Hobas viewpoint. That leaves a night in the Kalahari Desert before your tarred road drive back to your accommodation in Windhoek.

Although it is possible to book this itinerary 'as is', as with all our self drive trips this is entirely customisable. We can add or delete days, change the accommodation used and generally design the tour to suit your individual requirements. Visitors who might prefer a break from driving themselves can arrange a guided safari.