After landing, the rental company collects you at the airport for the 4x4 handover. A full vehicle briefing and the formalities come first. Then the road trip begins.

The first night is deliberately planned in Windhoek. There is time to settle in, get familiar with the 4x4 and buy most of the supplies for the days ahead.

You stay at Arebbusch Travel Lodge.

Drive to Namib Naukluft National Park today. The distance is comfortable, so depending on when you set off there may still be time for a hike.

The 10-kilometre Olive Trail takes around 4 to 5 hours. If the afternoon runs short, you can walk it the following morning before continuing to Sesriem.

You stay at Naukluft Campsite.

The morning can still start with a shorter hike in Namib Naukluft National Park. Then pack up camp and drive towards Sesriem, close to the dunes of Sossusvlei.

You can reach Sesriem Restcamp in the early afternoon, leaving time to settle in before tomorrow’s early start.

You stay at Sesriem Restcamp.

Keep the full day for Sossusvlei and Deadvlei. An early start is recommended. At sunrise, the dunes shift through red and orange while long shadows cut across the sand.

The return drive to the dunes is around 120 kilometres. Afterwards, continue roughly 110 kilometres from Sesriem towards the foot of Spreetshoogte Pass.

You stay at Camp Gecko.

After two nights around Sesriem and the dunes, the route turns towards the Atlantic. Drive through Kuiseb Canyon and across the broad gravel plains of the Namib Desert.

Reach Swakopmund in the early afternoon. Duneboarding, skydiving and paragliding are all on offer. In the evening, you can eat at one of the restaurants in town.

You stay at Alte Brücke Campsite.

Optional upgrade: B&B in Swakopmund.

The 4x4 stays parked for most of today. From Walvis Bay, head out on the kayaking excursion included in this journey. Seals are among the wildlife you may see, and the morning finishes with breakfast together.

In the afternoon, choose a Fat Bike Tour, a Little Five Tour into the Namib Desert or a visit to the Swakopmund Museum.

You stay again at Alte Brücke Campsite.

Optional upgrade: B&B in Swakopmund.

Leave Swakopmund and continue towards Spitzkoppe. If you need more supplies, buy them before setting off.

The granite peaks rise sharply above the open plain. Camp among the rock formations at Spitzkoppe Restcamp.

After sunrise at Spitzkoppe, drive towards Mile 108. Henties Bay is a practical stop for supplies before the road follows the coast.

At Cape Cross, spend time around the seal colony and look for shipwrecks along the Skeleton Coast. Continue to Mile 108 Campsite towards the end of the afternoon.

It is a simple campsite right on the coast.

Leave the coast behind and drive towards Palmwag. The journey takes several hours. A walk through the dunes makes a good stop along the way.

Later in the day, reach Palmwag Lodge as the sun drops over the dry landscape.

Overnight at Palmwag Lodge Campsite.

Use the full day to explore the area around Palmwag. A Guided Nature Hike, Nature Drive and Rhino Tracking are all on offer.

You can also visit one of the viewpoints along the Uniab River.

You stay again at Palmwag Lodge Campsite.

Optional upgrade: B&B in Palmwag or a self-catering Safari Tent.

Today you enter Etosha National Park. The first overnight stop is Olifantsrus Restcamp.

The site was once used as an elephant abattoir. Today it has a campsite, viewing tower and floodlit waterhole. Rhino, lion and elephant regularly come here to drink.

This is the first of three nights in Etosha, each at a different rest camp.

Continue through Etosha. After around 130 kilometres, reach Okaukuejo Restcamp.

The former military post is recognisable by its stone tower and is also home to the Etosha Ecological Institute. A guided night drive or game drive can be booked here.

The day can finish with a meal in the restaurant.

Continue to Namutoni Restcamp in eastern Etosha.

Take a swim in the pool, eat at the restaurant or stock up on supplies for the final days.

Klein Namutoni has a large waterhole where giraffe and zebra are often seen. Fisher’s Pan is nearby, making this part of Etosha rewarding for birdwatching too.

On the way to Waterberg Plateau, stop at the Hoba Meteorite, the largest meteorite in the world.

Then continue to Waterberg. The plateau is ecologically varied and well suited to walking. Black rhino were reintroduced here in 1989.

You stay at Waterberg Plateau Campsite.

Keep the 4x4 parked for most of the day. There are plenty of ways to explore Waterberg.

A Plateau Hike combines local cultural context with views across the valley and the Kalahari plains. A Rhino Drive is another option.

You can also walk the History Path, visit the Botanical Garden via one of the Nature Trails or choose a sundowner on Mount Olympus.

You stay again at Waterberg Plateau Campsite.

Leave Waterberg Plateau in the morning. The final stop of the self drive is Okonjima Nature Reserve.

Explore independently in the 4x4 or book an organised game drive.

You stay at Omboroko Campsite.

The final day of your Namibia journey. Drive back to Windhoek and return the 4x4 at the depot.

A shuttle then takes you to the airport for your flight home.