Miles Beyond Home

How we spent 10 days self-driving across Namibia without compromising on comfort – all for under $3,000

When people think of honeymoons, they often imagine expensive resorts, overwater villas, and luxury islands. But for us, the perfect honeymoon looked a little different: a 10-day self-drive adventure across Namibia, all for less than $3000.

And honestly? It was one of the best trips we have ever taken.

Arriving in Namibia

We flew into Namibia from Johannesburg, South Africa, where we had spent the weekend beforehand. Since Uber was unavailable at the time, we booked Sunday Airport Transfer & Shuttle services to take us from the airport to our hotel in Windhoek. The drive took around 40 minutes.

We began our trip in Windhoek, Namibia’s capital city, where we stayed at The Weinberg Hotel, Gondwana Collection Namibia. Located in the upscale suburb of Klein Windhoek, the hotel felt modern, peaceful, and affordable; exactly what we needed.

One thing we especially loved was the convenience of having restaurants onsite, including Cape Town Fish Market, which had already become of one of our favourite restaurant chains from previous trips to South Africa and Tanzania.

Renting a 4X4 for Namibia

For our self-drive trip, we rented a 4X4 car through GG Indongo Family Car Hire, and I genuinely could not recommend them enough. Their correspondence and customer service were excellent from start to finish, and they accepted debit and credit cards, which made things easier for international travellers like ourselves.

If you are planning a self-drive Namibia itinerary, I would highly recommend renting a 4×4. Namibia’s roads are long, remote, and often gravel-based, so having the right vehicle makes the journey far smoother and much less stressful.

Swakopmund & Walvis Bay

Our first major stop was Swakopmund, a charming seaside town on Namibia’s west coast. The drive from Windhoek took approximately 3.5 hours, and the roads were fully tarred, making the journey straightforward.

The town has a unique atmosphere – a mix of German colonial architecture, ocean views, desert landscapes, and a relaxed coastal energy. We used Swakopmund as our base while also exploring nearby Walvis Bay, located about 30 minutes away.

During our stay we checked into At The Sea Boutique Guesthouse, where the management kindly upgraded us to their most luxurious room as a honeymoon surprise; a gesture we still remember fondly.

Things we did in Swakopmund & Walvis Bay

While in the area, we explored Namib-Naukluft National Park and booked the famous Sandwich Harbour drive through Viator. You need an experienced driver for this. Driving between the Atlantic Ocean and towering sand dunes was one of the most surreal experiences of the trip.

In Walvis bay, we joined a catamaran cruise with Sunsail Catamarans, where we got to experience Namibia’s incredible marine life up close. We spotted dolphins, seals, and even a few whales, as the peak whale migration season happens between July and November.

We highly recommend dining at the Tug restaurant in Swakopmund. The ocean views, incredible sea food, atmosphere and staff made it our favourite restaurants in the area. Reservations are a must especially during busy travel seasons.

Into the Namib Desert: Sesriem & Sossusvlei

After the coast, we continued our road trip inland towards Sesriem and Sossusvlei, driving through some of the most breath-taking landscapes we have ever seen.

One memorable stop along the way was Solitaire — a tiny desert settlement that truly feels like the middle of nowhere. It is one of those places that perfectly captures Namibia’s vastness and quiet beauty.

For the desert portion of our honeymoon, we stayed at Le Mirage Resort & Spa, a stunning castle-like lodge surrounded by endless desert views. It felt luxurious without being excessively expensive, which perfectly matched the type of trip we were trying to create.

One of our favourite parts of staying there was the spa. After long drives and early mornings exploring the desert, it became the perfect place to unwind and slow down; exactly the kind of balance we wanted between adventure and relaxation on our honeymoon.

Highlights from Sossusvlei

Some of our favourite experiences included:

• Exploring and hiking the iconic red dunes of Sossusvlei
• Walking through the surreal white clay pan of Deadvlei
• Exploring Sesriem Canyon

One thing we appreciated about booking these activities through our lodge was how seamless everything felt. They organised the park permits, entrance fees, and guided 4×4 transportation, which allowed us to simply enjoy the experience without worrying about logistics.

Returning to Windhoek

After four unforgettable nights in the desert, we made our way back to Windhoek using a slightly different route so we could experience even more of Namibia’s scenery.

For our final night, we stayed at The Windhoek Luxury Suites. The hotel has three sister restaurants nearby each with its own unique atmosphere and menu. This was the perfect place to rest and recharge before flying to our next destination, Cape Town, South Africa.

Why Namibia was the perfect honeymoon destination

What surprised us most about Namibia was how possible it was to experience luxury, adventure and breath-taking scenery all in one trip, and without spending a fortune.

By:

• self-driving
• choosing accommodations strategically
• and balancing comfort with affordability

we were able to create a honeymoon that felt both special and financially realistic.

And the truth is, we barely scratched the surface of what Namibia has to offer.

There is still so much we hope to see someday – Etosha National Park, Cape Cross and its enormous sea colony, Lüderitz, Kolmanskop ghost town, the wild desert horses, and Fish Canyon River, the largest canyon in Africa.

We already look forward to returning someday and experiencing Namibia all over again, this time through the eyes of our child.

If you are planning a similar self-drive trip through Namibia, I also offer travel planning services to help craft a personalised itinerary that suits your budget and travel style.

Contact: Substack: Miles Beyond Home | Email: milesbeyondhomeofficial@gmail.com | Instagram: @milesbeyondhome

Disclaimers:

• All pictures used in this blog post were taken by me during our trip.
• We travelled during the off-peak season in mid-October 2022, so prices may have changed since then.