9 Campsites in Namibia Where I’d Happily Sleep in a Rooftop Tent Again

Planning a self drive road trip around Namibia? Working out which campsites fit your route and which ones are worth booking in advance can take a bit of research, especially when you’re covering so much ground.

We spent 25 days driving around Namibia, camping at nine different sites and mixing things up with the odd lodge or apartment when our backs needed a rest!

And honestly, we bloody love camping. I think it’s one of the best ways to see Namibia, from waking up surrounded by nature to spending your evenings under some of the clearest night skies you’ll ever see.

Spitzkoppe was easily one of my favourite places we stayed. It’s about as basic as camping gets, but that’s exactly what made it feel so special. It’s ridiculously peaceful, and the Milky Way here is just unreal.

Onguma Tamboti was a bit more luxurious (for us, anyway), with our own private bathroom and wash-up area. We also spotted a leopard at the waterhole while having dinner here, which I still can’t quite believe we were lucky enough to see!

I’ve listed all the campsites in the order we visited them, so you can follow our route and get a feel for what each stop was like.

One thing worth knowing before you go is that some campsites book up fast, especially during high season and those inside the parks, so it’s good to get organised in advance rather than leaving all your bookings until the last minute.

Here’s what we learnt from our trip, including what the campsites are actually like, the facilities they offer and what you need to know before booking your own Namibia adventure.

Campsite Map

Urban Camp

We stayed at Urban Camp for one night, and I was actually so chuffed with the facilities here. The bathrooms were some of the nicest I’ve ever had at a campsite, which, if you’ve spent much time camping, you’ll know is a pretty big deal!

There’s also a small swimming pool next to the bar and restaurant, so obviously we had to spend some time cooling off in the pool with a couple of cocktails!

Believe it or not, one of the main reasons we chose Urban Camp was the food. The restaurant has a good few vegan options, which can be surprisingly rare at campsites around Namibia, so when we find somewhere with actual choices, we’re absolutely making the most of it!

The campsite is gated with security and in a handy spot in Windhoek, which made it easy to stock up on everything we needed before starting our road trip.

They also have different accommodation options, including garden tents and glamping tents, so you don’t need to have picked up your camper yet to stay here. It’s a great option for your first night in Namibia!

Garas Park Rest Camp

I absolutely loved Garas Park Rest Camp! Yes, it’s basic, but you get to camp right among the quiver trees, and it’s honestly just so bloody pretty and peaceful.

One of the biggest bonuses is Julian, who runs the place. He’s such a sweetheart, and his two gorgeous dogs, Luna and Olga, are lovely. Luna even came along on a walk with us through the quiver trees, which was just so sweet!

There’s also some really quirky artwork dotted around the site, which I thought was so cool and adds to the camp’s charm.

The facilities are very basic, with a simple ablution block, but it was absolutely fine for one night. Each camping spot has its own small fire pit, and there’s a little covered area with a few seats at reception if you fancy somewhere to sit outside your pitch.

You can turn up without booking, but we booked ahead because we were travelling during high season. That said, there were only a few other campers there when we visited, so it wasn’t particularly busy.

To book: Email Marian at marian.hulme.z@gmail.com.

Planning Namibia and no idea what to book first?
​
Grab your free Namibia booking timeline and take the stress out of planning!

Send me the guide!

We respect your privacy. Unsubscribe at anytime.

Built with Kit

Hobas Campsite

Hobas Campsite is inside the entrance to Fish River Canyon, which is actually why we booked it in the first place. It turned out to be a really sweet campsite and a comfortable base for exploring the area.

It’s run by NWR, which tends to be on the pricier side, and we’ve found that the facilities at some of their campsites don’t always compare to privately owned sites. But, we were happy with the set up at Hobas and had a really comfortable stay here.

The pitches have electricity, but you’ll want to bring a long extension cord. Luckily, ours came with the camper, but it only just reached our pitch!

It was absolutely roasting when we visited, so having a swimming pool was a welcome bonus. The water was bloody freezing, but that didn’t stop us from appreciating it in that heat! The Fish River Canyon viewpoint is around a 25 to 30 minute drive away from the gate.

There’s also a small shop with a limited selection of essentials, which is handy if you’ve forgotten anything. The restaurant wasn’t great for us as vegans, as the only option we could find was chips. Still, we happily tucked into those with a beer and cider, after a day exploring!

The bathroom block had everything we needed, although just a small heads-up: leaving the lights on at night attracts a few creepy crawlies (obviously). Some people had left them on after using the facilities, so remember to switch them off when you’re done!

The downside of camping inside the park gates is the extra cost. On top of your camping fee, you have to pay the park fees for every day you stay. This is currently 280NAD per person per day, plus 60NAD per vehicle per day.

Sesriem Camp NWR

I actually really liked Sesriem Campsite! It’s another NWR site, so yes, it’s more expensive, and the bathroom blocks were a little bit tired (although they were fully functional!).

The main reason we booked it was that we could camp inside the park gates, which makes a big difference if you want to get to the dunes for sunrise.

There are two gates, and Sesriem Campsite sits inside the outer one. This means you can go through the inner gate to Sossusvlei as soon as it opens, an hour before sunrise.

If you’re staying outside the park, you’ll have to wait until sunrise to enter, so you’re already an hour behind those staying inside.

A lot of the pitches have circular walls around them and sit underneath big trees for shade. They’re really spacious, and with the dunes in the background, it’s actually a really lovely place to camp. There’s also a swimming pool, which was great for cooling off after climbing the dunes in the heat!

We even managed to get our laundry done here. It was collected first thing in the morning and waiting for us when we got back that afternoon.

There’s Wi-Fi at reception and the restaurant, but honestly, Wi-Fi in Namibia isn’t the best, so don’t expect to get much done online.

Like with Hobas, because Sesriem campsite is inside the gates, you do need to pay the park fees per day on top of the camping fees. It can add up pretty quickly if you’re staying for a few nights, so it’s worth factoring into your budget.

Tiger Reef Campsite

Tiger Reef was an amazing little campsite just on the outskirts of Swakopmund. Each pitch is a small, enclosed area, so you get a bit of privacy, and they all have a covered space with a bench and a braai (BBQ), which is handy if you’re planning to cook at camp.

The showers have to be some of the nicest we had on the whole trip. The facilities were fairly new, and the water was consistently warm, which isn’t always a given when you’re camping!

They were renovating when we visited in September 2025, and it looks like they’ve since added a shared picnic area too.

One of my favourite things about Tiger Reef is the little beach bar and restaurant just a few steps from the campsite. We didn’t eat here, but we did enjoy a few beers and ciders. This became a bit of a nightly ritual for us on the trip!

The campsite is gated with security, and I thought it was really good value for money considering how good the facilities were. It’s also a great base for exploring the Skeleton Coast and picking up a Sandwich Harbour tour.

One thing to keep in mind is that you’re right by the ocean, so it can get pretty windy. Make sure you have a warm jacket, even if it’s lovely and sunny during the day!

Spitzkoppe Rest Camp

Omg, when I say Spitzkoppe was my favourite place we camped on our Namibia road trip, I mean it! It’s the most basic campsite we stayed at in terms of facilities, but honestly, that’s what made it so special.

There were no distractions, just us camping beneath these beautiful orange rock formations. It was so peaceful, and I could have stayed here for days.

Each campsite has a dry toilet and a braai, and that’s pretty much it. The pitches are spread out, so you don’t feel like you’re camping on top of everyone else, and it really does feel like you’ve got the place to yourself.

If you fancy a warm shower or a flush toilet, you’ll find these near reception, although some campsites are a 10 to 15 minute drive away, so bear that in mind! There’s also patchy Wi-Fi at reception and a small restaurant near the bathrooms.

You can book your stay in advance, but you can’t reserve a specific campsite. It’s first come, first serve, and you claim your spot by leaving your table and chairs there. My favourite spots were around numbers 9, 10 and 11. We stayed at 11B on our first night and Summit on our second.

And the stars here are just unreal. We could see the Milky Way so clearly with the naked eye!

If you feel like a break from your rooftop tent, there are also cabins available here, so you can still enjoy the incredible surroundings without having to camp.

Make sure you spend some time exploring the area while you’re here. You can visit Bushman’s Paradise and Little Bushman’s, or book a guided hike if you’d like to learn more about the landscape and its history.

Namutoni Camp

Namutoni is on the eastern side of Etosha National Park, near the Von Lindequist Gate, and it’s another NWR campsite located inside the park. There’s even an old fort within the camp, which gives it a bit of quirky character!

As with some of the other NWR sites we stayed at, the bathroom facilities were a little in need of some TLC, but everything was fully functional, which is all that really matters to me when I’m camping.

One of my favourite things about Namutoni though, is that it has its own waterhole, so you don’t even need to head out on a game drive to see wildlife. We were really lucky, and almost every time I walked over, there was a group of elephants hanging around.

There’s also a swimming pool, which looked like a lovely spot to chill out between game drives, although we didn’t actually use it ourselves.

The camp runs guided safaris, too, but we chose to explore Etosha on our own with our hire vehicle.

There are also a few rules to be aware of when entering Etosha. Drones and plastic bags aren’t allowed, and you can’t take meat out of the park, so make sure you check the current rules before you arrive.

As you’re inside a national park, you’ll need to pay the daily park fees on top of your camping costs. Currently, these are N$280 per person per day, plus N$60 per vehicle per day.

Food wise, the restaurant wasn’t particularly vegan-friendly, and chips were the only option we could find. But honestly, we were happy enough with a plate of chips alongside our evening drinks!

Onguma Tamboti Campsite

Onguma Tamboti was a very close second to Spitzkoppe as my favourite campsite in Namibia, and honestly, it couldn’t be more different if it tried!

I think this was the most luxurious campsite we stayed at. I know there are some seriously fancy lodges in Namibia, but for us, this was peak luxury!

Each pitch has its own private bathroom and kitchen prep area, including a sink for washing up, as well as a braai and fire pit. Having your own facilities felt like such a treat after some of the more basic campsites we’d stayed at.

Onguma Tamboti is just outside Etosha’s Von Lindequist Gate and is part of Onguma Nature Reserve. The camp is gated and has a beautiful swimming pool, a restaurant and its own waterhole.

The restaurant even had a lovely vegan curry for us, which was a very welcome change after cooking most nights!

We saw quite a bit of wildlife at the waterhole, but the absolute highlight was a leopard turning up while we were eating dinner. He was trying his luck with one of the flamingos but gave up pretty quickly and skulked off. I was so happy I was quietly losing my shit while we watched.

You can also book guided game drives around Onguma Nature Reserve. We booked a sunrise drive during our stay, as you can’t self-drive around the reserve, unlike in Etosha itself.

Waterberg Wilderness

Waterberg Wilderness was another beautiful campsite, with stunning views of the red sandstone plateau. We stopped here on our way back to Windhoek, and I think it’s a really good final stop to break up the drive before heading back to the city.

There’s no electricity at the pitches, but you do get your own private bathroom cubicle in a shared block. Each one is numbered, so you have your own space.

There’s also a restaurant on site, but you do need to let them know in advance if you want breakfast or dinner. We just cooked for ourselves while we were there as we had loads of food to use up.

There are loads of walks around the area, and you get given a map when you arrive so you can see how long each route is.

You can also go rhino trekking or go on the Waterberg Plateau hike if you fancy something a bit more adventurous. There are a few pools on site, too, but my favourite thing was actually sitting up at the lodge. The views from there are just gorgeous.

We also had a bit of unexpected drama when an angry honey badger decided to raid both our bin and our neighbours’! If you’ve never heard of honey badgers, Google them. They’re fearless little things.

We stayed tucked up in our rooftop tent while it rummaged around, but it also tried to get into our neighbours’ stuff, so make sure you keep your belongings and anything that might attract wildlife safely put away. You don’t want one of these turning up for a midnight snack!

Things To Know Before Camping In Namibia

Some campsites in Namibia are miles from the nearest town or supermarket, so you can’t always just pop out if you’ve forgotten something! You do need to plan a little bit more because of this.

Book In Advance

This really depends on when you’re going and which campsites you want to stay at, but if you’re travelling between May and October, I’d definitely recommend booking a few months ahead, especially for campsites inside the national parks.

We booked ours around four months in advance, once we’d finally got our route sorted. We usually like to have a bit more flexibility when we travel, but we knew we needed to be a bit more on the ball with Namibia.

We actually tried to book our camper around six months ahead because we wanted a manual, but even then, they only had automatics left. In the end, I’m actually glad we got an automatic anyway!

Bring Plenty Of Water

I genuinely can’t stress this one enough. Namibia gets bloody hot, and you’ll get through SO much more water than you think, especially when you’re also using it for cooking.

We bought four 5 litre bottles and kept refilling them whenever we could. A lot of the bigger supermarkets have refill stations where you can top up for a small fee, so take advantage of these when you see them.

We also kept a few 2 litre bottles in the car so we had extra water easily accessible.

Fill Up On Petrol As Often As You Can

Namibia is fucking HUGE, and some of the drives are long. You can go hours without passing a petrol station, so don’t assume you’ll just find somewhere to fill up when you need to.

Our camper had two fuel tanks, and we made a point of filling them both before setting off on a long drive.

Basically, if you see a petrol station and you’re not sure when the next one will be, just fill up. It’s much better than spending the next few hours wondering whether you’re actually going to make it to your next stop!

Stock Up In The Bigger Towns

I’m probably sounding like a broken record here, but stock up on food and essentials whenever you get the chance.

Some campsites have little shops, but the choice can be pretty limited, and things are often more expensive. If you’re camping and cooking for yourself, it’s worth doing a proper supermarket shop before heading off into more remote areas.

We found Windhoek and Swakopmund particularly good for stocking up, and even managed to find a few vegan goodies to take with us, which always makes me happy!

Arrive Before Dark

This is a big one. Try to get to your campsite before sunset, especially if you’ve got a long drive ahead of you.

Many rental companies restrict driving after dark because of the risks from wildlife, so make sure you check your rental agreement before setting off.

We learnt this one the hard way on the drive from Lüderitz to Sossusvlei. Google Maps estimated six hours, but it ended up taking us almost nine! We were getting so worried that we weren’t going to make it through the park gate, especially as it closes at sunset.

Give yourself plenty of wiggle room, start early when you’ve got a long drive ahead, and try not to leave yourself scrambling to find your campsite as the sun goes down.

Planning Your Namibia Road Trip

Camping is honestly one of the best ways to experience Namibia, but a little planning goes a long way. You’ll want to work out your route, figure out which campsites make sense for each stop and book ahead where you can.

It’s also worth thinking about where you’ll stock up on food, water and fuel, especially when some stops are miles from the nearest town. You really don’t want to be running low on supplies when you’re in the middle of nowhere!

And if you’re visiting Etosha, I’d really recommend making time for Onguma Nature Reserve, too. We originally booked Onguma Tamboti simply because it was close to the Etosha gate, but I had no idea there was a separate nature reserve here as well. What a lovely surprise!

It ended up being one of my favourite places we stayed on the whole trip, having our own bathroom and kitchen area was also absolute bliss after a few weeks on the road!

Doing An Etosha Self-Drive Safari?

Grab This Checklist With Everything To Pack And Sort Before The Gates Open!

Send Me The Checklist!

We respect your privacy. Unsubscribe at any time.

Built with Kit