JENMAN African Safaris has used a family self-drive report from destination expert Will Lane to promote its range of Namibia self-drive itineraries, offering advisors pricing and practical guidance for clients considering a guided or self-drive Namibia holiday. The company sells three main Namibia-focused itineraries, ranging from 10 to 21 days.
The 10-day Grand Landscapes of Namibia self-drive covers Sossusvlei and Swakopmund and starts from US$1,973 (€1,700) per person sharing. A 12-day Namibia self-drive extends into Etosha National Park and desert-adapted wildlife areas, from US$2,294 (€1,977) per person sharing. For clients wanting a guided option across multiple countries, the 21-day Great Trans-African Lodge Safari combines Namibia, Botswana and Zimbabwe, taking in Sossusvlei, Etosha, the Okavango Delta, Chobe National Park, Hwange and Victoria Falls, from US$6,790 (€6,110) per person sharing.
Trip advice relevant to advisors quoting self-drive clients
JENMAN’s guidance, based on the Lane family’s 17-day self-drive, offers useful context for advisors assessing whether self-drive suits a given client. The company recommends a reliable 4WD hired from a reputable operator, and notes that gravel roads make distances deceptive — 60 kilometres can take an hour, and a lodge sign indicating “10 km to go” may still mean 45 minutes of driving.
JENMAN suggests children around 12 years and older are generally better suited to the long driving days involved in a Namibia self-drive, and recommends building slower travel days into itineraries rather than tight schedules, along with balancing remote stretches with more comfortable lodge stays.
Route highlights from the family trip
The Lane family’s route included Aus, Lüderitz and the ghost town of Kolmanskop; Sossusvlei, staying at Desert Grace; Swakopmund; Damaraland, including Ondjamba Hills and Huab Lodge, noted for desert elephants and rock art; three nights across Etosha’s Okaukuejo, Halali and Namutoni camps; Otjiwa and the Waterberg; the Kalahari, staying at Bagatelle; and Fish River Canyon, reached via 100 kilometres of dirt road.
Advisors with clients weighing self-drive against a guided lodge safari can direct them to JENMAN’s comparison guide, or contact the company directly for a tailored itinerary and quote.
