15 of the world’s best one-week road trips
Swakopmund • Skeleton Coast NP • Windhoek • Sossusvlei (1,100km approx)
The route: Sweeping throughout the shipwreckstrewn flat pans of Namibia’s coastline is one particular of the world’s most legendary routes, but be warned: it can get pretty samey. So consider to choose in a lot more than just the coast, commencing at Swakopmund before looping down to the dunes of Sossusvlei through the country’s charming colonial money, Windhoek.
In which to cease: Consider time out in Swakopmund to stroll its Germanic streets and promenades, or take a look at the dunes in the vicinity of Walvis Bay. North of the city, the Coastal Road (C34) operates 440km to Mowe Bay, however just receiving a taste is enough. With only a handful of change-offs en route, head west at Hentiesbaai, having manufactured a detour north to Cape Cross, where a wide reserve of Cape fur seals can be noticed throughout wintertime (November-December).
From here, head to the central highlands to explore the hilltop setting of colonial Windhoek, a five-hour push from the coastline. To end, fall down to the towering purple dunes of the Sossusvlei (via the C24/C14), in which you can possibly climb ‘Big Daddy’ (its tallest dune at 325m) or drive the salt pans. Along the way, end at the peaceful Naukluft Mountain Zebra Park for scenic camping and some 200 species of birdlife scattered amid its cool mountain trails.
Take a detour? North of Windhoek, the B1 road stretches previous Etosha NP, property to black rhinos and lions, and Waterberg Plateau NP, which lies on the slopes of Table Mountain. Return to the funds by means of the escarpments and baked valleys of Damaraland, with a taste of the northern Skeleton Coast thrown in.
