Sossusvlei
The red dunes. Worth the early alarm: the light before sunrise is the reason these photographs exist.
Dunes and distance
Self-drive safaris in Namibia
Parks I have driven myself
Worth knowing
Entry
Since 1 April 2025 an eVisa or a visa on arrival, around NAD 1,600 per adult
Driving
Left. Main roads tarred, otherwise long gravel roads.
Money
Namibian dollar, pegged 1:1 to the rand; rand is accepted. Card payment is widespread; carry cash worth at least one tank of fuel.
Malaria
North-east (Caprivi Strip, Zambezi Region): general risk. Centre and south: practically none.
Best months
May to November, dry and clear, cold before sunrise
As of October 2026. Entry rules change, so check with your own foreign ministry before you travel.
Borders: Natural Earth
What you see here
Where routes go wrong
- Starting the drive back too late. A common planning mistake is staying at the last waterhole until just before the gates close. Then a surprise sighting, a slow track or a detour is enough to use up your buffer. It is better to plan the return so that you reach the camp or the exit well before closing time. That way it is no problem if a spontaneous or exceptional sighting comes up on the way back.
- Sleeping outside the park to save money. You then arrive after the best light and leave before it comes back. And you miss the magic of the floodlit waterholes in the dark, when the park belongs to the animals again and nobody is allowed to drive around.
- Exploring the western part of the park with too little petrol or diesel. The last chance to fill up is at Okaukuejo. Fill the jerrycan too, then head west. Otherwise your range is very limited, and the west is worth it, because far fewer tourists visit it.
Questions about this country
Do I need a 4×4? Etosha National Park
As a rule, no. The main roads are well-kept gravel that an ordinary vehicle can handle, ideally one with a bit of clearance. The side roads are usually fine too, and a 4×4 is not strictly necessary.
When is the best time? Etosha National Park
The best chances for wildlife are from June to October. In the dry season life concentrates at the waterholes, and that is where most of the action happens.
The green season has its own charm: it is quieter, beautiful to look at and full of life. With the lush vegetation, though, the animals spread out more across the park, so sightings are harder.
Will I see rhino? Etosha National Park
Etosha is one of the best places in Africa to watch black rhino. In the evening at the floodlit waterholes in particular, you have a good chance of seeing them. A sighting is still not guaranteed.
Are there hippo or crocodile? Etosha National Park
No, because there is no river that carries water all year. That is also why there are no buffalo.
Can I combine it with Sossusvlei? Etosha National Park
Most routes combine the two, but there are long driving days on tar and gravel in between. If you definitely want to see Etosha and Sossusvlei, allow enough time: at least 14 days.
