Damara- & Kaokoland, a self-drive Safari
Damara- & Kaokoland, a self-drive Safari discovering the north-western Part of Namibia, Kaokoland & Damaraland
Erongo, Etosha West, Kaokoland & Damaraland – Your Self-Drive Journey into Namibia’s Wild Northwest!
This is one of Namibia’s best self-drive adventures, made for anyone who loves nature, culture, and beautiful scenery. The northwest is still largely untouched by mass tourism, and the landscape keeps changing at every turn.
You’ll start with great game viewing at Mount Etjo or the AfriCat Foundation at Okonjima, where you may spot lion, rhino, and other wildlife right from the start. From there, you’ll drive to the Ugab Terraces and the famous Vingerklip, a tall rock pillar standing in a scenic, wildlife-filled landscape, before continuing into the game-rich western part of Etosha National Park.
Next, the road leads deep into Kaokoland: through Opuwo, home to the OvaHimba people, and on to the impressive Epupa Falls on the Kunene River. Continuing through Palmwag and the Grootberg, you’ll pass the reddish basalt rock of the Etendeka Formation and the red sandstone near Twyfelfontein. Along the way, desert-adapted elephants often graze between the rocky hills, resting in the shade of tall Ana trees.
Your journey ends among the huge, oddly stacked granite boulders of the Erongo, where you can see ancient San rock art up close. With its rock engravings, local communities, and desert-adapted wildlife, this is a drive that shows you the very best of Namibia.
We always put together our trips to be informative and enriching. While you drive the connecting routes yourself, we arrange the necessary locally guided safari drives and activities for you on-site.
“Give more back to nature than you take”
This is the guiding philosophy — and the goal — of Jan Oelofse, a world-renowned conservationist who founded the Okonjati Game Reserve in 1975.
Today you’ll arrive at the striking red sandstone formations of Mount Etjo, set amid the dense acacia savanna of Okonjati Game Reserve. Founded by Jan Oelofse back in 1975, the reserve has grown to around 36,000 hectares and is now home to about 10,000 animals and more than 600 bird species. Despite its name, meaning “Place of the Buffalo,” you won’t actually find any buffalo here.
Once there, you’ll head out on guided game drives in open safari vehicles with experienced guides, exploring this varied wilderness in search of its amazing wildlife. Elephant, rhino, giraffe, and lion are regularly spotted, along with greater kudu, warthog, and plenty of other species. Keep an eye out too for the impressive termite mounds dotted across the landscape, some standing up to five metres tall.
2 nights at one of the prime lodges of the Africat Foundation
Deep in central Namibia lies Okonjima, one of the country’s most fascinating wildlife reserves and home to the renowned AfriCat Foundation, which has spent decades protecting and researching Africa’s wild cats. The reserve is best known for its excellent chances of spotting free-roaming leopards, while brown hyenas are also seen regularly. With a bit of luck – and on request – you can even join a specialised search for one of Africa’s rarest mammals, the elusive pangolin.
Once on site, experienced rangers and researchers guide you on game drives in open four-wheel-drive vehicles, offering both remarkable wildlife encounters and fascinating insight into AfriCat’s conservation work. These well-planned excursions also make for outstanding wildlife photography.
1 night directly at the Ugab Terraces with beautiful views and high-quality ambience.
Dinner, bed and breakfast
The “Great White Place” stretches across more than 4,000 km² of pure, open emptiness, its edges framed by ever-changing vegetation. The drive takes you from arid forest into an endless grassy steppe, then on into acacia savannah where giraffe graze gracefully overhead and, with a little luck, lion rest in the shade of dense mopane trees.
Wildlife here has grown accustomed to vehicles, making for outstanding game viewing and photography at every turn. Along the way, look out for springbok, red hartebeest, wildebeest, steenbok, dik-dik, and even the rare black-faced impala and oryx. Lion sightings are fairly common, while leopard and cheetah appear a little less often. Both rhino species and elephant also call this place home, and the birdlife and smaller creatures are just as rewarding to spot.
2 nights in the central area of the National Park at a good private lodge outside the park or in a semi-state Waterhole Chalet directly at the world famous Okaukuejo Waterhole.
Dinner, bed and breakfast
The “Great White Place,” an expansive expanse covering over 4000 km2, stands as a canvas of vast emptiness, its borders adorned with ever-shifting vegetation. Our journey takes us through a arid forest, leading into an endless grassy steppe where zebras roam freely. This expanse transforms once more into an acacia savannah, where graceful giraffes graze, and if we’re fortunate, we may spot lions seeking respite in the shade of dense mopane trees.
In this realm, wildlife has grown accustomed to the presence of vehicles, providing exceptional opportunities for both game viewing and photography. Along the way, you’ll encounter several antelope species, including springbok, red hartebeest, wildebeest, steenbok, dik-dik, and even the rare black-nosed impala and oryx. Predators such as lions make frequent appearances, while leopards and cheetahs may grace us somewhat less often. Pachyderms, including both rhino species and elephants, also call this place home, with giraffes gracefully towering above the trees. Additionally, there’s an abundance of small animals and a vibrant avian presence to observe and admire.
If you’ve added the extra days for the extended drive through Etosha’s western region, expect a journey full of surprises. Along the way, you’ll pass waterholes where Africa’s wildlife regularly gathers — often for unforgettable, up-close encounters.
This is truly unspoiled country, home to the endemic Hartmann’s mountain zebra, plentiful antelope, and graceful giraffe. Lion, leopard, cheetah, and elephant also roam here, though spotting them is always a matter of luck — and a little experience.
Bird lovers will love this stretch too: species like the Bare-cheeked Babbler, Little Sparrowhawk, and African Scops Owlet are often seen right in the lodge garden. Once you arrive, the lodge also offers guided night drives, a great chance to spot aardvark, porcupine, genet, bat-eared fox, spring hare, and other nocturnal creatures that add a touch of magic to your safari.
The drive takes you toward the Kunene River, the natural border between Angola and Namibia. Along the way, you’ll likely pass herds of cattle — lean, long-horned animals often trailed by oxpeckers, making for excellent birdwatching. These herds belong to the Himba people, and as you continue, the first traditional settlements come into view, offering a glimpse into their pastoral way of life.
On arrival, a local Himba guide takes you to visit a kraal, sharing insights into their customs, including the women’s use of ochre fat. The guide also serves as a cultural bridge, so you’re welcome to photograph freely and respectfully.
From here, the road leads on to the spectacular Epupa Falls, a natural wonder that draws wildlife, local residents, and only a handful of travellers.
Nestled within the basaltic Etendeka Formation of Damaraland lies the Palmwag spring, framed by dense reeds and swaying Makalani palms. This desert oasis draws in local wildlife from far and wide, including desert-adapted elephant, giraffe, and antelope such as springbok and oryx. Among the surrounding Euphorbia bushes, you may even spot small herds of the endemic Hartmann’s mountain zebra.
The dry riverbeds of Damaraland are home to desert-adapted elephant, black rhino, and the rare desert lion, making this semi-desert landscape one of the most sought-after in the region. On site, you can join an optional, locally guided day tour in search of the endangered black rhino, also known as the hook-lipped rhino. Along the way, you’ll also have good chances of encountering desert elephants on the move and, with luck, the elusive desert lion.
Damaraland is one of Namibia’s last great wilderness areas, best known for its free-roaming, desert-adapted elephants. Following the dry riverbeds of the Huab and Aba-Huab, lined with magnificent Ana trees and scattered Makalani palms, you can search for these remarkable elephants, uniquely adapted to one of Africa’s harshest environments.
Beyond these unforgettable wildlife encounters, the region also holds some of Namibia’s most important geological and cultural sites: the 4,000 to 6,000-year-old rock engravings of Twyfelfontein, the eerie Burnt Mountain, the striking basalt columns of the Organ Pipes, and the Petrified Forest, with fossilised tree trunks dating back some 200 million years. Together, they tell the fascinating story of this extraordinary landscape.
Visible from afar, Spitzkoppe, Namibia’s most famous inselberg, rises dramatically from the vast gravel plains of the Namib. Its striking granite formations rank among the country’s most iconic landscapes, offering exceptional opportunities for nature and landscape photography.
On sheltered granite walls nearby, the San people left behind numerous well-preserved rock paintings, offering fascinating insight into their traditional way of life and the wildlife that once roamed the region.
Equally impressive are the massive granite domes of the Erongo Mountains. Surrounded by towering rock formations and dramatic valleys, you’ll gain a true sense of the immense scale of this remarkable landscape. Walks through the area reveal a fascinating semi-desert flora, numerous endemic and near-endemic bird species, and further traces of Namibia’s earliest inhabitants.
Bushman Walk (optional): On site, join members of the San community for a short guided walk and gain fascinating insight into their traditional way of life — from edible and medicinal plants to ancient hunting techniques, traditional fire-making, and the craft of jewellery made from ostrich eggshells.
Good weather for departure…
Many night flights to Europe or the Americas are available, allowing our guests to make a choice regarding their last day arrangements. Some prefer to combine the airport transfer with an afternoon check-in, while others seek to explore the city further or eliminate the stress of their final day.
For those who wish to extend their stay, we can arrange additional accommodations within Windhoek or offer stylish lodging options near the airport. Furthermore, some guests opt for extra components, such as a fly-in experience to the Caprivi, the Okavango Delta, or a few days in captivating Cape Town. We aim to provide flexible choices to enhance your travel experience.
As you travel along the east-west connecting route today, you’ll make good time, leaving plenty of time in the capital. Whether you’d like to shop for Namibian handicrafts as souvenirs or sit down to enjoy some lovely Namibian cuisine, there’s time to savour these last experiences.
In the afternoon, you’ll drop off your rental car at the airport or a recommended accommodation, and we’ll arrange a transfer for you as needed. Safe travels, and until we meet again
You will be picked up as the four-wheel drive route takes you deep into the real wilderness of the Etendeka volcanic landscape. On the way there, our guests could already observe desert lions and see desert elephants grazing in the red scree between the thousands of Damara spurge bushes. The area is “breathtaking” and the wilderness camp is an accommodation in its own highly individual way. We recommend this alternative for active nature and landscape lovers, as some of the activities are on foot, but without the stress of hiking.
The lodge, more of a high-end camp in the mountainous wilderness, operates very close to nature and has a very nature-friendly “low impact approach”. You feel like a guest in nature here and are travelling in an environmentally friendly way.
Vast stretches of fine sand dunes weave through rugged terrain bordered by slate, sandstone, and granite mountains. Grass-fringed valleys wind through the landscape, while the dry riverbeds are often lined with dense stands of mopane. Together, this ever-shifting scenery makes for a truly breathtaking drive.
Far beyond the usual tourist circuit lies one of Namibia’s last untouched wildernesses: the Hoanib Valley, where towering Winter-thorn acacias line the sandy riverbed, their pods a vital food source for the desert-dwelling elephants that call this place home.
The dry rivers of Kaoko and Damaraland form linear oases and the natural habitat of the desert-adapted elephant. On site, extended game drives take you in search of these magnificent animals, and with a little luck, you may even spot lion. Remarkably, this is one of the last semi-desert wilderness areas where elephant, rhino, and lion still roam free together — a truly rare and special place.
Yes, it still exists, this one abandoned place in the world that is truly beautiful and unique in untouched wilderness… without ever having to meet the neighbour or other any tourists. No one is allowed here! Except, for now, you!…The Skeleton Coast Park offers in its rough desert nature wonderful nature observations in extremely changeable completely untouched rugged, yet stunningly beautiful, wilderness – landscape.
Yes, it still exists, that one abandoned place in the world, a realm of unspoiled beauty and unique untouched wilderness. Here, you won’t encounter neighbours or other tourists—this place is strictly off-limits to everyone, except for you, at least for now.
The Skeleton Coast Park is a haven of raw desert nature, offering incredible opportunities for observing the ever-changing, untamed, and strikingly beautiful wilderness landscape.
The Hoarusib River, another of the region’s remarkable linear oases, winds its way through the heart of “deep” Kaokoland. Despite its remoteness, it remains accessible through guided four-wheel-drive excursions, giving you a well-rounded look at both the upper and lower Hoarusib and excellent chances of the kind of breathtaking moments usually reserved for wildlife documentaries.
As you make your way along the riverbed, expect ever-changing scenery and surprisingly diverse wildlife at every turn. This stretch feels wonderfully untouched — still off the radar for most travellers. Later, the route continues into the western Hoarusib, revealing an entirely different side of this arid paradise.
| Participants per vehicle Rates are per Person | Natural | Classic | Luxury |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 Person | $8,029 | $9,629 | $11,828 |
| 2 Persons | $6,082 | $7,682 | $9,881 |
| 3 Persons | $5,433 | $7,033 | $9,232 |
| 4 Persons | $5,108 | $6,709 | $8,907 |
| Single room supplement | $945 | $995 | $1,541 |
The cooler months are perfect for this trip, as it doesn’t get so bitterly cold in the northwest, but the summer is blisteringly hot and dusty.
Windhoek or Walvis Bay. Walvis Bay International is served daily by several airlines and is an excellent choice for this trip, especially if you want to add some “holiday” at the end.
Your vehicle is a four-wheel drive and you could theoretically drive through the thick sand. However, we will organise a transfer or at least a local helper to keep you safe on the critical stretches in the river bed.
Accommodation preference: Northwestern Namibia offers only a limited selection of accommodation categories. This itinerary includes mainly comfortable mid-range lodges, but also a few extremely high-end and expensive accommodations. These exclusive lodges are located exactly where you want to stay, in the heart of the wilderness and they are often the only ones that provide access to these remote and worthwhile areas. We can certainly adjust the trip to be more budget-friendly by choosing alternative accommodations. However, this would require a high degree of flexibility and tolerance when it comes to comfort and location.
In a time when flight bookings are just a few clicks away, it may seem old-fashioned to involve a travel agent. But when it comes to navigating the ever-changing world of air travel—delays, reroutes, strikes, cancellations, and the charming surprise of “you no longer have a seat”—working with a real human still has very real advantages when unexpected challenges arise, such as:
Delays and last-minute flight changes
Strikes or changes made by the airline
Seat changes without prior notification
The need to rebook during your trip
Especially in those moments—just imagine being on safari while these changes occur—it is incredibly helpful to have a reliable contact person who handles everything quickly and professionally.
Even if booking flights through a travel agency may seem slightly more expensive, it is absolutely worth the investment. The service, support, and peace of mind it provides, particularly in problematic situations, are priceless.
We’ve had consistently excellent experiences with the following agencies – they are professional, fast, and reliable.
Please make sure to always mention that you are booking through Leaflove Safari / Albert Voigts.
This is the only way we can ensure that all flight times are accurately recorded and that we can coordinate with the agents to perfectly align the itinerary with your travel plans – e.g. for organizing transfers, airport greetings, or handling last-minute changes.
📱 +264 81 249 8760
✉️ ticketing@tokkiestravel.com
➡️ Anja has already assisted many of our guests – reliable, fast, and solution-oriented.
📱 +264 81 202 6002
✉️ sonja@moloafricatravel.com.na
➡️ Sonja is also highly experienced and particularly helpful when it comes to last-minute rebookings.
This Safari was last updated on 12. August 2026 @ 10:36.
Damara- & Kaokoland, a self-drive Safari discovering the north-western Part of Namibia, Kaokoland & Damaraland
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