alberto47

Hi everybody, we finally booked all our accommodations for our 3 weeks tour in november for this year, in 8 weeks we are there. We also booked a 4x4 car Toyota Hillux pick up double cap. We are just 2 people.

You can help us with any tips, ideas, tours, restaurant advice and so on, also off the beaten track (but please note our route in pretty fixed and booked).

Our Route:

1. Arrival Windhoek, go to Goche Ganas lodge, 29 kilometers south east of Windhoek: http://www.gocheganas.com/
3 nights

2. SossusVlei: http://www.mirage-lodge.com/ Le Mirage desert lodge and spa
3 nights

3. Swakopmund: http://www.beach-hotel-swakopmund.com/ , beach hotel swakopmund
3 nights

4. Damaraland / Twijfelfonteijn: http://www.kipwe.com/ Camp Kipwe
3 nights

5. Etosha West (or more Epach Game) : http://www.epacha-lodge.com/ Epacha Game lodge
2 nights. ALSO POSSIBLE WE STAY HERE IN: Vreugde Guest Farm http://www.vreugdeguestfarm.com/ a 30 minutes from the entrance of Etosha. Your advice?

6. Etosha (middle): halali camp, http://www.nwr.com.na/halali_camp.html
1 night

7. Etosha (east): Onguma Game park: Onguma the fort http://www.onguma.com/about-us/onguma-the-fort.htm
3 nights

8. Windhoek: Hilton Windhoek. http://www3.hilton.com/en/hotels/nam...IHI/index.html
2 nights

SO ALL YOUR SECRET TIPS, SECRET THING TO DO, NOT TO BE MISSED, RESTAURANTS, PERSONAL ADVICE AND SO ON, IS MORE THAN WELCOME!

Elizabeth_S

I chuckled at your request for places "off the beaten track" - some would consider all of Namibia that!

We did a similar drive a few years ago and had a great time - here are a few tips:

- you might get a flat tire (we had two). I recommend you reacquaint yourself with changing a tire before you go, if it's been a while since you've changed one
- staying with tires - I read several times to get an extra spare but was talked out of it by the Hertz guy at the Windhoek airport. ("these tires can be found anywhere in Namibia" - wrong - we waited a day for a tire to arrive)
- acquaint yourself with proper tire inflation as well

(if the above sounds negative it's not meant to - just practical - we had a great time doing the self drive)

Before you leave Windhoek pick up a small cooler so you can have cold water in the car. Good for the longer drives and good for safety. (and the very lovely people who offered to help us with our tire appreciated the water). There are a couple of Supermarkets along the main street that have general housewares as well - including coolers.

In Sossuvlei recommend you get to the gates as early as possible to see the sunrise on Deadvlei. (link to our blog below with pics)

In Swakopmund we had a great time quad biking and did a flightseeing tour over the dunes. Ate (and drank) at Kuckis Pub - had lots of fun there.

Are you planning to stop at Cape Cross to see the sea lions (or more precisely to smell them? - see blog)

Have a great time - we loved Namibia.
http://lizandrichardsa.typepad.com/africa/g-namibia/

alberto47

thanks a lot, I have some qquestions:
1) the cooler, how does it work, what is the price to buy one?

2)what did you pay for the flight in swakopmund?

3) how far is cape cross? is it on our route you think? worth stopping there?

4) about the extra spare tire, is it usual to have an extra spare tire, so I guess that means you have 2? We also have the toyota hillux from herz, how much is an extra spare tire?

5) what do you recommend to do in windhoek?

thanks a lot! regards Albert

Elizabeth_S

1) just a plastic, insulated cooler - I think we paid the equivalent of $15 for it. If you choose not to buy it, just be sure to have lots of water in the car

2) it wasn't cheap - $150 per person I think - but they do negotiate on the same day as they want to fill the planes (there are several operators - they're pretty obvious in Swakopmund)

3) Cape Cross is north of Swakop on the way to Damaraland - (100km or so) - we actually left Swakop mid day and drove there and stayed at the inn by the seals (far enough away it doesn't smell - nice place) and that broke up the longer drive to Damaraland, but perhaps your Swakop hotels are booked.

http://www.capecross.org/

4) yes, you would have two. I don't know the cost as we didn't do it

5) We didn't spend any time in Windhoek

Best

Liz

ElaineAust

Hi Alberto47
I agree with Liz on the cooler box and second spare tyre.
If you can manage it, the dawn balloon ride over Sossuvlei is great. The highlight of my trip to Namibia in May. And make sure you climb up to the sunset viewing area at Kipwe.
Enjoy
Elaine

alberto47

Sorry i still do not understand the cooler, is it an electric cooler or just a triplex box where you have to put ice in every day or ..... Where to buy it??
And what does a extra spare tyre cost??

Elizabeth_S

The cooler is just a triplex box you put ice in --- it's just so you have some water in the car for your convenience and for safety purposes.

Call Hertz for the price of the second spare.

alberto47

ok thanks, but will there be in all the lodges we stay ice??
i mean i know in the states there is...but this is namibia

Elizabeth_S

Hi alberto47 - we didn't have any trouble getting ice for our cooler in our hotels or the larger gas stations sell ice in bags.

Elizabeth_S

Gas stations - that reminds me of another tip!

Gas up where you can......the general rule I read was to gas up every 300 kilometres but there we did encounter some gas stations closed due to lack of gas. So top up when you can!

alberto47

ok thanks a lot, great help

any tips of what to do or not to do and visit during our route???