3 weeks itinerary recomendation

Dear friends,

At first i have to say sorry for not wrirting in english, but unfortunately i do not speak german...

I am a 36 spanish men who is traveling to namibia with my girlfriend, from 22nd october to 11th november. We already have the lufthansa tickets, and have booked a hilux with a tent roof in Zebra Campers. From what I have seen, I think that this forum is the best information source to plan the trip. My problem is that for search information on it I have to use a translator, and it is a huge job...

This is my first trip to africa, and what I am looking for is animal and nature contact. Unfortunately our badget is limited so our `plan is to sleep in campings...

I have used the lonely planet forum as a main info source... from what I have learnt, my itinerary would be as follw: windoeck, ethosa, opuwo, skelton coast, walvis bay, sesreim, luderitz fish river canyon and windoeck.... but it is just a little plan, I did not where to sleep, how many days in each place, etc...

I would really appreciate if some one could suggest any advice on planing the itinerary.

many thanks for your help

Willie

Hola Willie (eso no es un nombre espanyol 😉 ),

haces la falta principal de todos los principantes: quieres ver todo en pocos dias. No te parecen ridiculos los japoneses que quieren ver Europa en 2 semanas?
Te propongo limitarte en el norte: Windhoek, Sesriem, Swakopmund, Cape Cross, Erongo, Etosha. Y quedate 2 noches en cada camping. (En Etosha más, pero puede ser que no consigues sitios. En Etosha y en Sesriem es preciso reservar.
Por ahora es todo, tengo que marcharme a Bayreuth.

Un cordial saludo desde Hamburgo,

Karsten

(Quizás no séria mala idea comprarte una guía?)

Hola Willie,

Welcome to this forum. You already realized that it is here where all the Africa addicted people meet....

Forgive me for not speaking Spanish and therefor answering in in English, I am not as eloquent as Karsten in this language...

He is right in saying that at first you tend to pack too many sights into too short time - I say then you have an over view and if you like it you tend to come back. So I must admit we did the same and came back another four times...

There is a thread actually going on about the same question, see "Luederitz".

At our first trip I really enjoyed the special landscape in the South (Fish river Canyon, Red Dunes at Sossusvlei), but we did not see too many animals there. Then we had a break at Swakopmund with a thrilling experience of doing a boat trip from Walfish Bay, enjoying the company of pelicans, seals and dolphins. Also a guided tour though the dunes to see the tiny creatures you otherwise never happen to see (like Charleys or Tommies desert tour) was really a highlight there.

Futher north, there again is impressing landscape to admire in the Damaraland, but on our first tour we then put the point on watching animals in Etosha.

So far for now, back to you later, I am running out of time at the moment....

Best regards, Anke

hola Willie y bienvenido en este foro!

copio aquí tu idea/tu pregunta principal:
windoeck, ethosa, opuwo, skelton coast, walvis bay, sesreim, luderitz fish river canyon and windoeck.... but it is just a little plan, I did not where to sleep, how many days in each place, etc...

Se aprecia cuando se puede entrever que la persona que pregunta ha hecho sus deberes. O sea cuando se ve que se ha comprado un mapa, estudiado distancias, leido una guía de viajeros y recién después viene aquí para hacer preguntas concretas.

Lamentablemente esto no lo veo en tu caso, en especial lograste escribir con errores ortográficos casi todos los nombres de lugares que queres visitar....

Bueno, este foro es brillante y brinda un montón de información y de ayuda, pero no es una agencia de viajes que te arma itinerarios a medida. Porque hacerlo requiere mucho tiempo y dedicación.

Lo que te sugiero es comenzar YA! porque el 22 de octubre no está en una distancia muy lejana....y cuando lo tengas más armado y estudiado volvé para hacer tus preguntas concretas, serás muy bienvenido!

un cordial saludo desde Argentina
Leona

Hola Leona,

versuche gerade, mich von meinem Erstaunen zu erholen.

Darf ich mal fragen, was Du so beruflich machst?

Nachdenkliche Grüsse, Anke

Hallo luckydaisy
Ich bin selber erstaunt, und zwar darüber wie heutzutage Reisen geplant werden.
Mir ist bewusst dass meine Antwort direkt und hart ist.
Das Forum ist kunterbunt und es gibt auch Leute die die notwenige Zeit und Geduld haben um jemandem Neuen hier von null an zu helfen, ich gehöre nicht zu ihnen, denn ich erwarte von Allen auch einem newbie Eigenarbeit. Wenn aber konkrete Fragen kommen, dann bin ich sehr wohl bereit Erfahrungen zu teilen.
Fazit: es wäre wohl weiser gewesen, meinen Senf nur zu denken, anstatt auszusprechen.
Viele Grüsse
Leona

Hola Willie
Acá algo constructivo:
Faltan 8 semanas hasta el vuelo que ya compraron. No hay tiempo que perder porque octubre y noviembre son meses muy solicitados y los sitios de acampe en Etosha, Sossusvlei, Fish River Canyon y también los sitios para acampar dentro de estancias privadas se suelen llenar rápido.
Comprate una guía de viajeros específica para viajeros independientes. Traducido al español se venden buenas guías de las editoriales Lonely Planet, Trotamundos, Guía Azul, Guía Verde Michelin, Fuera de Ruta, Time Out. No sé si todos tienen una sobre Namibia. Recomiendo que te fijes en la fecha de publicación para estar más actualizado. En cuanto a mapas para empezar sugiero uno bueno de papel que siempre te vendrá bien durante el viaje después. En Alemania conseguís el mapa de Reise Know How que es bueno o la versión de papel Tracks for Africa, ver aviso en este foro.
Hay que leer las descripciones de todas las regiones para hacerse una idea personal de qué es lo que uno quiere ver y si es época propicia para hacerlo.
Una buena guía incluye recomendaciones de itinerarios sensatos. O sea probablemente todos sugieren limitarse al centro-sur o centro- norte porque las distancias son realmente grandes. Entonces una vez que hicieron sus "deberes" ya estarán mucho más cómodos y familiarizados con el destino para comenzar con la planificación fina. Armen un itinerario día a día y luego preséntenlo aquí. Hagan la lista incluyendo los lugares para pernoctar que encontraron interesantes y que les gustarían incluir. Seguramente no faltarán buenas sugerencias de los foreros para pulir todo y luego comenzar con las reservas de los sitios de acampe en dónde hace falta.
Nota: prepararse de esta manera es una herramienta valiosa para cuando las cosas no salen como uno las planificó. Ya sea porque sucedió algo con el coche o con el tiempo o simplemente uno quiere hacer cambios en el momento. Conocer el destino, tener preparación te va a habilitar a tomar decisiones espontáneas con seguridad.
Suerte!

Hi again dear friends,

I am triying to find a namibian guide in spanish, but it seems a huge job. I am not that bad in english, so what are the best options for an english namibian guides?? lonely may be???

I think that your advise of reduce the places is a good idea. I like the itinerary that KarstenB have proposed but the first question that arrives is why most itineraries I see are clokwise??? I think it is better the most important (for me it is Ethosa) at the begining just in case problems in the travel may change the itinerary.... Is there any particular reason to make the trip in the other side??

So, before I bought a guide (I am wating to your recomendations for buy one) the itinerary could be as KartenB suggested: Windhoek, Sesriem, Swakopmund, Cape Cross, Erongo, Etosha...

Could this be an starting point?

La Leona: I really appreciatte your constructive advice. But keep in mind that this is a Spanish guy planning in english a tryp at Namibia in a German Forum. It is not easy for me. I apologize for the ortographic mistakes.

Many thanks for your help!

Hola Willie,

regarding your "clockwise" question: most people think that Etosha is "the" highlight in namibia (because of the wildlife) and therefore put it at the end of their trip.

Kind regards from Bayreuth,

Karsten,

Hola Willie,

we did our first trip to Namibia "counterclockwise" with a quite similar itinerary.

Although you do not speak german maybe it would help to have a look at some of the travel reports in this forum.

Quite often the itinerary is mentioned at the beginning of the reports and a picture is worth a thousand words 🙂

Kind regards
Sabine

Hi again,

I have received the bradt guide, and for sure it has been a good idea to buy a guide. I have decided that the first destination from Windhoek will be ethosa. So the first question is if it is possible to drive from Windhoek to Ethosa in a whole day.

I am in a harry to book the Ethosa campsites, and this data is needed to do so.

Many thanks for your help

yllera schrieb:

I am in a harry to book the Ethosa campsites, and this data is needed to do so.

Many thanks for your help

...Hello, yes it is possible to drive from Windhoek to Lindequist gate (i.e. Namutoni area) in one day. The road is tarred and in good condition (highway).

yllera schrieb:Hi again dear friends,

I am triying to find a namibian guide in spanish, but it seems a huge job. I am not that bad in english, so what are the best options for an english namibian guides?? lonely may be???

!

Willie, the national language of Namibia is English. In case you are still looking for a Spanish or English speaking guide you can get in touch with any local tour operator who will be more than willing to support you.
http://www.abenteuerafrika.com/namibia-travel-info/index.php
Cheers, M.

Hi Yllera,

If your first destination is Etosha, you must be a desert fan! 😎

Usually the turists start with Sesriem and Sossusvlei. And then end with Etosha, the Highlight of a namibian holiday.

I am an animal freak and take a lot of pictures. I will always end my namibian trip with Etosha and Okonjima.

Best regards from France
Annick

Hola Willie,
si, es posible llegar a Etosha en un día. Pero, y eso es un "PERO" en mayusculas, no trates de hacerlo el día de tu llegada. Sería demasiado peligroso (cansancio a causa del vuelo), además necesitas tiempo para recibir el coche y hacer la compra.

@ Marimari: I don't think that he is speaking about a guide, but a guide-book. In spanish both words rather similar: el guía (the guide), la guía (the guide-book)

Saludos desde Hamburgo,

Karsten

Marimari,

Why your recomendation is to enter through Lindequist gate, instead of Anderson gate? it seems shorter through Anderson, Isn´t it?

KarstenB, you are right, I was refering to a guide book. Sorry for the misunderstanding....

Annick, I have another phylosophy: the best first, just in case of troubles.... This is why I chose Ethosa first....I am also an animal freak ( I have a donkey, and a sheep, as domestic animal, among others....)

KarstenB, i am arriving at Windhoek the 22nd of october at 14:15. As you said, transport from airport to Windhoek, pick up the car, and buy some food.. it is not enought time... so I need a recomendation to spend the first night in Windhoek.

Also I have another doubt: when going to ethosa, I have thought wnter trhough Andersson gate, and two nights in okaukuejo, then two other nights in halali, and then the last two nights in Ethosa in Namutoni, and then leave Ethosa trhough the north gate to opuwo....Friends, what do you think about this??? Is it better to enter trough the lindequist gate, and leave trough dolomite gate, and avoid opuwo???

Many thanks!

yllera schrieb:Marimari,

Why your recomendation is to enter through Lindequist gate, instead of Anderson gate? it seems shorter through Anderson, Isn´t it?


Many thanks!

Hello,
this way you can visit Namutoni first and then proceed to Halali, Okaukuejo - drive out through Anderson Gate and visit places such as Vingerklip etc (without driving back and forth).
Did you ever post your itinerary?

yllera schrieb:
Also I have another doubt: when going to ethosa, I have thought wnter trhough Andersson gate, and two nights in okaukuejo, then two other nights in halali, and then the last two nights in Ethosa in Namutoni, and then leave Ethosa trhough the north gate to opuwo....Friends, what do you think about this??? Is it better to enter trough the lindequist gate, and leave trough dolomite gate, and avoid opuwo???

What is your next destination after Etosha?

It seems to me that you don't really have a plan yet, do you?

A personal advice: Look at the Namibia map, ensure you are clear what your itinerary is all about and come back with specific questions. You will drive a lot during your vacation - for me it doesn't make any sense to start/end your Etosha visit at Anderson Gate...but at the end: it's your vacation (I don't have to drive 😛 )


Cheers, M.

You can also try the SA 4x4 community forum http://4x4community.co.za/
Over 40.000 members all over SA, Nam, Bots etc. to help with tons of infos 🙂

marimari,

This is a good starting point. I am planning to enter ethosa trough the lindequist gate, sleep in Namutoni, Halali and Okaukuejo and then dirve to the dolomite camp and exit Ethosa throught galton gate, but this is not possible, Isn´t it?? so your recomendation seems to be interesting, drive out through Anderson gate. Why do you recomend Vingerklip????

I do not post itinerary because I do not have one yet. I am building it know with what I read in the Bradt book guide, and with your recomendations....

The first steps of the itinerary seems to be like this:

22nd october Windoeck
23rd-24th Namutoni
25th-26th Halali
27th-28th Okaukuejo

from this point I think that the next destination could be the skeleton coast, but I need to find a place between skeleton and ethosa... any advice??

I have ordered the tracks4africa namibian map.. its caming tomorrow!!!

many thanks for your advice, I think I really need it....

yllera schrieb:
The first steps of the itinerary seems to be like this:

22nd october Windoeck
23rd-24th Namutoni
25th-26th Halali
27th-28th Okaukuejo

from this point I think that the next destination could be the skeleton coast, but I need to find a place between skeleton and ethosa... any advice??

I have ordered the tracks4africa namibian map.. its caming tomorrow!!!

many thanks for your advice, I think I really need it....

...yes, you do...
not sure what you want to do at Skeleton Coast?

You might want to have a look at places such as Spitzkoppe/Ameib Ranch (Erongo).

Vingerklip area is very scenic - however, you need to stay in the lodge.
A special place for camping is Spitzkoppe...if you don't go there you will regret...but again...you need to work out your itinerary first and see which stops make sense (or not).
Cheers, M.

Marimari,

Many thanks for your recomendations. Tracks4Africa map arrived, what a huge number of roads and places.... Regarding Skeleton Coast, some people I have talked to have included it, in their itinerary, with coments such as "The scenery is definitely well worth seeing. It is fascinating and desolate", but afte your question I am in doubt. I have read the descrption of the bradt book guide, and it seems to be a large drive with the sea in one side, and the sand or gravel in the other side...

I do not know what to do, if includes it or not. The alternative plan, could be cross Damaraland ( camping in Spitzkoppe for sure) till Cape Cross zone to try to see the colonie of Cape fur seals, which are supposed to arrive just in mid to late october, (just when we will be there) and then continue the tryp down till walvis bay... what do you think???

On the other side, I still do not know if it is possible to cross Ethosa, entering from Lindequist gate and exit trough galton gate. ¿is it possible??

as always thank to everybody for the help!!

Guten Tag!