The Best Namibia Camping Experiences in 2024

So, you’ve browsed the Drive South Africa Namibia 4×4 hire page and you’re ready to plan your overlanding adventure. Next, you need to figure out where you’re going. That’s why we’ve compiled a list of the very best Namibia camping experiences you can enjoy in 2024.

Whether you want to unwind in natural hot springs or visit incredible Namibian landmarks like the Fish River Canyon or Spitzkoppe, we’ve included something for everyone. Read on to learn more about where to go, when to visit, and what you can expect to see.

Hobas Campsite, Fish River Canyon

The view over the Fish River Canyon, which is easily accessible from the Hobas Campsite

Travellers come from all over the world to see the Fish River Canyon, one of the largest canyons on the planet. What many don’t know, however, is that you can enjoy Namibia camping just a few kilometres away.

The Hobas Campsite features 14 individual campsites and six bush chalets, as well as a restaurant, bar, shop, and swimming pool. You can pitch your tent under the shade of some huge trees and each site has electricity and water.

The best thing about Hobas Campsite is its proximity to the Fish River Canyon. Whether you plan to take on the six-day hiking trail or simply watch the sun rise over the chasm, there’s no better place to make your base camp.

Olifantsrus Campsite, Etosha National Park

Etosha National Park is home to the tallest elephants in Africa

Further north in Namibia, the landscape transitions from desert to salt pans in Etosha National Park. Aside from the threatened black rhinoceros, it’s also home to the rest of the Big Five, including the tallest elephants in Africa.

Many travellers opt for self-drive 4×4 adventures in Etosha National Park. Here, you can experience wild Namibia camping at its best, especially at Olifantsrus Campsite. The park’s newest rest camp has 10 sites with electricity and firepits.

There’s no luxury here, but visitors can enjoy an interpretation centre, small kiosk, and hot showers. Several water holes surround Olifantsrus and you can observe wildlife from a double-story hide.

Epupa Falls Lodge and Campsite, Kunene Region

Epupa Falls in all its magnificence

Even further north than Etosha, right on the border with Angola, you’ll find a place where the Kunene River cascades down into Kaokoland. Epupa Falls is one of Namibia’s most underrated attractions, comprising several waterfalls and rapids along a 1.5 km course.

Countless 4×4 enthusiasts brave a difficult journey to get to the falls each year. Despite the tough terrain, the Epupa area is home to the semi-nomadic Ovahimba and several other indigenous peoples. The waterfalls make for an incredible photo opportunity, with baobabs and makalani palms framing them on all sides, and it’s also a great destination for camping in Namibia.

Epupa Falls Lodge and Campsite is the oldest accommodation in the area and features six campsites and a half-board lodge. The campsites sit along the riverbank, giving you an exclusive view of Epupa Falls. The lodge also offers activities like Himba village experiences, river walks, and a sunset experience.

Spitzkoppe Namibia Camping, Namib Desert

You can hike several routes up the Spitzkoppe

Groot Spitzkop might not be the tallest mountain in Namibia, but it’s arguably the most famous. Together with several other bare granite peaks, it forms the Spitzkoppe mountains, rising 1,728 m above sea level. For more than a century, explorers have climbed its high-grade routes, but most visitors enjoy the view from Spitzkoppe Campsites.

The company operates several secluded Namibia camping spots around the mountain. Some are hidden between massive boulders, while others have sweeping views of the surrounding plains and koppies. Incredibly, there are 31 campsites in total and each can sleep up to eight people.

It’s the best way to experience Namibia’s own Matterhorn. From here, you can try your hand at hiking, rock climbing, and birding. After the sun sets, take in the light show as the stars come out over the Namib Desert.

Sossus Oasis Campsite, Sossusvlei

Dead trees at Deadvlei near Sossusvlei

Sossusvlei and Deadvlei are two of Namibia’s most popular attractions. You’ve probably seen images of the dead trees hunching over the salt pans, surrounded by some of the world’s largest sand dunes. Travellers come here to capture incredible photographs and climb the nearby Dune 45. Some even get airborne in hot air balloon rides.

Periodically, the ephemeral Tsauchab River flows down from the Naukluft Mountains and fills the pans with water. For the most part, however, the landscape is barren and heavily dependent on the morning fog that wafts over from the Atlantic Ocean.

While you can’t camp at Sossusvlei and Deadvlei, the Sossus Oasis Campsite provides nearby accommodation, fuel, and food. It’s a popular rest stop for locals and tourists alike and gives you access to the pans and the nearby Sesriem Canyon.

Oryx and other antelope regularly visit the 12 campsites, making this a genuine Namibia camping experience. There’s also a fuel station, shop, tyre workshop, and an internet café. If the desert heat becomes too much to take, you can cool off in the resort’s sparkling swimming pool.

Ai-Ais Hot Springs, ǁKaras Region

The giant quiver tree is an icon of the Ai-Ais region

In the Nama language, /Ai-/Ais means “hot as fire”. That’s because nearby the Fish River Canyon, natural, sulphur-rich hot springs gush out of the earth, creating an incredible health and wellness resort. People have used the springs for more than 150 years and today, they’re the site of the Ai-Ais Resort.

The geological feature forms part of the ǀAi-ǀAis/Richtersveld Transfrontier Park. This protected area spans 6,045 km2 of wilderness in northern South Africa and southern Namibia. It’s home to some unique plant life, including the halfmens and the giant quiver tree. In fact, the Richtersveld Cultural and Botanical Landscape is a UNESCO World Heritage site.

The campsites at the Ai-Ais Resort lie along the riverbed at the end of the Fish River Canyon, marking the finishing point of the Fish River Canyon Hiking Trail. Here, you can enjoy Namibia camping with an added touch of rest and relaxation. The spa complex directs the hot water into several pools and you can also book spa treatments and enjoy meals at the resort’s restaurant.

If you’re heading back to South Africa, Ai-Ais Resort is the perfect place to unwind and prepare for the long drive home.

Namibia 4×4 hire and RV hire with Drive South Africa

Enjoy the star show wherever you camp in Namibia

If you plan to enjoy Namibia camping in 2024, you’ll need the right vehicle to navigate the country’s dusty, rocky roads. At Drive South Africa, we offer a wide selection of 4×4 rental options that you can pick up in South Africa or in Namibia itself.

If you don’t want to haul along your own camping gear, you can also hire an RV or campervan with 4×4 capabilities. You might even be interested in the epic six-sleeper Toyota Land Cruiser HJ 76.

Ready to go camping in Namibia? Speak to one of our expert car rental agents today.

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