Why is this mostly ’empty’ country so well suited for self drive adventure? 

Overlanding will always hold a special place for us, no matter where in the world we do it. But Namibia has something extra. I am not usually the type of traveller who waxes lyrical about deeper feelings for a place. I enjoy journeys for what they are, soak up the experiences, and carry the memories. Namibia, though, has always felt different.

My first visit was in 2017. I remember flying into Windhoek, looking down at the sandy, dusty expanse beneath the plane, and thinking it looked exactly as I had imagined, even before I had set eyes on the famous red dunes or Etosha’s salt pan. That trip was with a wildlife conservation NGO, and it gave me the chance to see much of the country: the Namib Desert, Etosha National Park, and Sossusvlei among others.

One particular memory has stayed with me vividly. We were driving the stunning D707, through southern Namibia and the Namtib Biosphere, when our minibus suffered a puncture. As we waited on the roadside, I had a rare chance to absorb the silence, no rattling engine, no conversation, just the endless desert around me. That moment made me fall in love with Namibia. To this day, the D707 remains one of my favourite roads anywhere in the world.

Namibia stirs something deeper than simple enjoyment. I remember talking to a desert researcher, who is still a friend today, and he told me many visitors feel the same sense of connection here. Standing in those open spaces feels almost ancestral, as if humans were always meant to live in environments like this, vast, quiet, and free.

Despite growing popularity, Namibia is still underrated in the wider travel world. Perhaps that is because of its more famous neighbour to the south, or because the country only gained independence in 1990. More likely, it is because Namibia is not easy to access without your own vehicle, a guided tour, or a stay in one of its high-end lodges. For us, though, that is part of the magic. The effort it takes to explore here keeps the crowds away. Yes, you will meet other travellers at Sossusvlei or Etosha, but compared to global hotspots of similar beauty, Namibia still feels wonderfully empty.

Endless Space and Freedom

Namibia is the second least densely populated country in the world, just 3.2 people per square kilometre compared with over 280 in the UK. Most of the time you have the horizon entirely to yourself. When you do pass another vehicle on the gravel roads, it feels like a small event, you almost always exchange a wave as you disappear into each other’s dust trails.

Otherworldly Landscapes

The scenery changes constantly here. Drive for half an hour and you might go from wide open plains to jagged mountains, from rolling red dunes to Mars-like rock outcrops. Some parts genuinely feel like another planet. Looking back at our photos or seeing Namibia appear in a documentary, we always feel a deep longing to return. Few countries stir that same pull.

Roads Built for Adventure

Despite its emptiness, Namibia is surprisingly easy to travel with the right vehicle. The gravel and sand roads are well maintained, and with an off-road capable 4×4 you can cover huge distances in comfort. It feels almost too easy, given how wild it looks. Fuel stops are well spaced too, keep a jerry can for peace of mind, but range anxiety has never been an issue for us.

Accommodation for Every Explorer

Namibia caters for every style of overlander. Whether you are looking for remote but well-equipped campsites, characterful mid-range lodges, or luxury stays in the desert, you will find options across the country. Personally, nothing beats setting up camp under a canopy of stars, with everything we need packed into our home on wheels.

Wildlife Everywhere

Namibia’s wilderness is more than empty space. Etosha National Park offers one of Africa’s best self-drive safari experiences, and in the right regions you may even encounter desert-adapted elephants or lions. Outside the parks, wildlife is part of everyday travel, oryx crossing the desert, ostriches sprinting across the plains, giraffes silhouetted at dusk. Even a roadside pause to watch a lone antelope feels like a privilege here.

The Namibia Effect

Overlanding in Namibia is not about rushing from one highlight to the next. It is about immersing yourself in a true sense of wilderness. Camping under skies thick with stars, wake to nothing but the sound of birds, and spend days without seeing another vehicle. That rare feeling of being far away from it all is what keeps us returning and why in my humble opinion, Namibia may be the best country for this kind of travel anywhere in the world.