Namibia & Cape Discovery — Self-Launched

Land in Windhoek (HKIA) and take the Airport Shuttle (≈£12) into the city, then an early Intercape or NAMIBIAN shuttle bus north to Outjo/Tsumeb (≈£20–25, 5–6 hrs). Continue by minivan taxi or pre-arranged camp transfer to your camp near Okaukuejo or Namutoni gate. Join an afternoon game drive with a local guide (≈£25) and settle in for the evening at the camp's floodlit waterhole — one of Etosha's best free wildlife experiences. Stock up on snacks and water in Windhoek; camp shops are pricey.

🚌Airport shuttle to Windhoek city (£12) + Intercape/NAMIBIAN shuttle to Outjo/Tsumeb (£20–25) + local transfer to camp (£8–12)

🛏Budget camp/lodge near Okaukuejo or Namutoni gate (≈£20–28 pp, twin share) or NWR campsite (≈£12 pp)

• →Afternoon game drive with local guide
• →Evening wildlife viewing at floodlit waterhole

Get up before sunrise and do a full-day self-drive or guided game drive across the park, linking Okaukuejo, Halali and Namutoni waterholes. Park entry is ≈£8 pp per day plus ≈£4 for the vehicle if self-driving; a guided seat-in-vehicle day trip runs ≈£35–45. Bring your own breakfast and lunch — the camp shops and petrol stations are the only resupply points. Expect elephant, lion, giraffe, springbok and huge herds at the pans in the dry season.

🚌Self-drive hire (share cost ≈£10–15 pp per day) or booked seat-in-vehicle day tour

🛏Budget camp/lodge near Okaukuejo or Namutoni gate (≈£20–28 pp) or NWR campsite (≈£12 pp)

• →Full-day game drive across Etosha
• →Waterhole circuit: Okaukuejo, Halali, Namutoni

A long travel day southwest: shuttle back to Outjo or Tsumeb, then a shared minivan/bus toward Usakos or Swakopmund with a drop at the Spitzkoppe turnoff (≈£20–25 total, or use an overland shuttle service like those sold in Windhoek hostels for ≈£30). Locals at the turnoff arrange 4x4 lifts to the community camp (≈£5). Late afternoon, walk among the granite peaks, find the Bushmen rock-art panels (guide ≈£4) and catch the sunset glow on the boulders. Basic but spectacular campsite; bring food and cash.

🚌Shared minivan/bus to Spitzkoppe turnoff (£20–25) + local 4x4 lift (£5)

🛏Spitzkoppe Community Campsite (≈£10–14 pp) or nearby budget lodge (≈£25–30 pp)

• →Bushmen rock-art walk with local guide
• →Sunset among the Spitzkoppe rock formations

Early shared transfer into Swakopmund (≈£8–12, 2 hrs). Check into a hostel or guesthouse near the centre, then pick one activity: sandboarding (≈£28–35 with companies like Alter Action), quad-biking in the dune belt (≈£30–40) or a dolphin-and-seal cruise from Walvis Bay (≈£45–55). Evenings are cheap and sociable — Swakopmund has a good hostel bar scene. Book activities the day before via GetYourGuide or directly with the operators on the waterfront.

🚌Shared transfer from Spitzkoppe (£8–12); walkable town

🛏Swakopmund hostel dorm (≈£14–20 pp) or guesthouse twin (≈£28–35 pp)

• →Sandboarding in the dunes
• →Quad-biking (optional alternative)
• →Dolphin-watching cruise from Walvis Bay (optional alternative)

Second day on the coast for optional skydiving (≈£180–220 — a splurge, not in the budget figure) or a gentler day: the Swakopmund museum, the jetty, and a walk along the beach. Book your onward Sossusvlei transfer today — most travellers use a shuttle to Solitaire or Sesriem (≈£30–40, 5–6 hrs) departing early the next morning. If you're self-driving, refuel and stock up for the desert leg.

🚌Walkable town; no transport cost

🛏Swakopmund hostel dorm (≈£14–20 pp) or guesthouse twin (≈£28–35 pp)

• →Optional skydiving
• →Swakopmund jetty and beach walk
• →Book onward Sossusvlei shuttle

Shuttle south through the Namib gravel plains, stopping at the Tropic of Capricorn sign for the classic photo. Arrive in Solitaire (famous for Moose's apple pie) in the afternoon and continue to a camp near Sesriem, the gateway to Namib-Naukluft. Pre-book your Sossusvlei permit and, if budget allows, a sunrise 4x4 shuttle into Deadvlei (≈£35–45 pp) — it saves hours versus queuing at the gate.

🚌Shared shuttle Swakopmund–Solitaire/Sesriem (£30–40)

🛏Camp or budget lodge near Sesriem (≈£15–25 pp)

• →Tropic of Capricorn photo stop
• →Solitaire stop and Moose's apple pie
• →Buy Namib-Naukluft park permit

Enter the park at sunrise (entry ≈£10 pp plus ≈£4 vehicle). Climb Dune 45 for the classic ridge view, then take the 4x4 shuttle the last 4 km into Sossusvlei and walk to Deadvlei's dead camelthorn trees. Carry 3L of water per person — it gets brutally hot by 10am. On the way out, stop at Sesriem Canyon for a short walk. A guided Sossusvlei day tour (≈£45–55) is a good option if you don't have a car.

🚌Self-drive or guided tour vehicle; 4x4 shuttle into Deadvlei (£10–12 pp)

🛏Camp or budget lodge near Sesriem (≈£15–25 pp)

• →Dune 45 sunrise climb
• →Deadvlei walk
• →Sossusvlei pan viewpoint
• →Sesriem Canyon walk

This is the trickiest transport leg — there's no direct public service. The usual approach is a shared shuttle or overland transfer via Keetmanshoop (≈£40–50, 7–8 hrs), which most desert camps can arrange with a day's notice, or a hired car if you're driving. Arrive at Hobas camp in time for late afternoon at the canyon rim. Fish River Canyon entry is ≈£6 pp; the viewpoints at Hell's Corner and the main amphitheatre are a short drive or walk from the camp.

🚌Shared shuttle/overland transfer via Keetmanshoop (£40–50)

🛏Hobas campsite (≈£12 pp) or Canyon Roadhouse/budget lodge (≈£25–30 pp)

• →Fish River Canyon rim viewpoints
• →Hell's Corner viewpoint
• →Sunset over the canyon

Cross into South Africa at Noordoewer/Vioolsdrift (≈£8–12 shared taxi from the canyon area, or arranged camp transfer). Base yourself at a riverside camp near Vioolsdrift or in the Richtersveld buffer zone. Afternoon: a half-day canoe safari on the Orange River (≈£35–45, book direct with Felix Unite or a Vioolsdrift camp) drifting past the Richtersveld's dramatic cliffs. Braai and star-gaze at camp.

🚌Shared transfer to border and Vioolsdrift area (£8–12)

🛏Orange River riverside camp/cabin (≈£15–22 pp)

• →Orange River canoe safari (optional)
• →Richtersveld scenery
• →Camp braai

Long drive south via Springbok and Clanwilliam by Intercape bus or shared minivan (≈£25–35, 6–7 hrs). Base in Clanwilliam or a Cederberg farmstay. Afternoon wine tasting at Cederberg Private Cellar or one of the small Clanwilliam estates (≈£8–12 for 4–5 tastings). If you have time, a short hike to the Stadsaal Caves rock-art site is worth it (permit ≈£6).

🚌Intercape bus or shared minivan to Clanwilliam (£25–35)

🛏Clanwilliam/Cederberg backpackers or farmstay (≈£18–25 pp)

• →Cederberg wine tasting (optional)
• →Stadsaal Caves rock art (optional)
• →Cederberg mountain drive

Morning bus from Clanwilliam to Cape Town (Intercape ≈£15–20, 3.5 hrs). Drop bags at a hostel in the City Bowl or Sea Point. Spend the afternoon walking the V&A Waterfront or take the cable car up Table Mountain (≈£18 return, weather permitting — book online to skip queues). End the trip with a sunset at Signal Hill or a cheap Long Street dinner.

🚌Intercape bus Clanwilliam–Cape Town (£15–20); MyCiTi bus in town (£1)

🛏Cape Town hostel dorm (≈£16–24 pp) — not included in total if you fly home same day

• →Table Mountain cable car (optional)
• →V&A Waterfront walk
• →Signal Hill sunset