7 AFFORDABLE ACCOMMODATION FAVOURITES
1) Erongo Rocks, Erongo region near Omaruru.
We almost wanted to keep this boulder-strewn paradise a secret, but we want to support owners Didi and Terry's vision to maintain this tranquil Eden and share it with other like-minded adventurers. The 7 campsites are all individually designed with character and privacy in mind, each equipped with private flush toilets and open-air showers. The Erongo Rocks Reserve is part of the Erongo Conservation Sanctuary and offers stunning sundowner viewpoints and a variety of hiking trails among giant boulders. The Farmhouse offers comfortable self-catering accommodation for those who prefer not to camp. If you stay alert on a walk, usually around dusk, you may even encounter the smallest antelope in Africa, the Dik Dik, which inspired the name of one of our Suzukis. Terry is an artist, and her prints, including greeting cards, can be bought at the reception. We recommend that you book a guided hike in advance with Didi to learn more about the family farm history and discover hidden rock art high up the mountains.
2) Hansa Hotel, Swakopmund.
This historic hotel offers surprisingly affordable, clean, and well-equipped self-catering apartments – practically cheaper than most campsites. Swakopmund's charm often comes with cool, misty weather, typical of the Skeleton Coast, making camping less than ideal, which is why we love the Hansa Hotel and its conveniently central location in Swakopmund’s city centre. You can park your vehicle safely in one of their off-street private parking bays and explore the town on foot. Despite the abundance of choices, we find the Hansa Hotel to be a more convenient, personal, and cosy option than most Swakopmund AirBnBs. Be sure to try out the Hansa Hotel's Classic Coffee (which has a special kick) in their cosy vintage bar. The hotel offers great value with that old-school Grande Hotel hospitality that makes you feel like royalty from a bygone era.
3) NamibRand Nature Reserve. Remote south of Sossusvlei
To us, the NamibRand Nature Reserve is one of the most beautiful deserts in the world. Neighbouring the famed Sossusvlei dunes, NamibRand offers a different kind of desert magic. Here, the towering giants of Sossusvlei’s Big Daddy are replaced by pristine watercolour dune fields stretching endlessly toward the horizon, untouched by the crowds. The vast emptiness evokes a sense of quiet solitude, reminiscent of the Little Prince stranded on his tiny asteroid.
“I have always loved the desert. One sits down on a desert sand dune, sees nothing, hears nothing. Yet through the silence something throbs, and gleams...”
― Antoine de Saint-Exupéry, The Little Prince
From luxurious suites at Wolwedans Boulders to the affordable Family Hideout nestled in the heart of this dune wonderland, the NamibRand caters to a range of budgets and preferences. Seeking a truly remote experience? The NamibRand Hideout offers four well-spaced campsites, each with private facilities and breathtaking night skies – the NamibRand is Africa's only Dark Sky Reserve! NamibRand Nature Reserve | Dark Sky. Alternatively, the old farmhouse Family Hideout provides a comfortable self-catering option. We rented Fat Bikes and explored the landscapes by ourselves, surrounded by orange, red, pink, purple, and yellow hues - it was otherworldly. It’s located a bit of a detour from the main tourist attraction of Sossusvlei, but take the time and include a few nights here after visiting Sossusvlei.
4) Brandberg White Lady Lodge. Damaraland
We recommend that you arrive early to find a camp under the shade of a magnificent Ana Tree (shade being a luxury in sunny Namibia), as this lively campsite can get crowded. The communal bathroom facilities are basic but functional. Bookings for camping sites are on a first “first-come, first-served” basis. You can also book chalets, tree houses, or pre-erected tents and dine at the restaurant. Why do we love this camping site if it appears a bit too crowded and rustic? Because sometimes desert-adapted elephants wander through camp! Brandberg White Lady Lodge, next to the Ugab River, is a welcome oasis in this barren Mars landscape, where you can cool off in the refreshingly cold communal pool, then treat yourself to one of their deliciously naughty burgers and nothing quite like an ice-cold Namibian Hansa Beer on tap or Rock Shandy to end your day with.
5) Onguma Leadwood Campsite and Onguma Bush Camp. Eastern Etosha.
The camping sites of Namibia Wildlife Resorts (NWR), located inside the Etosha National Park, are popular as it’s assumed that staying inside the park guarantees you the best access to game viewing. True, the floodlit waterholes at the camps are a well-known attraction, but these very busy campsites are often overrun with bus groups and are a popular mass tourism attraction and therefore noisy and congested. The NWR accommodation lacks charm, and facilities are often in a state of neglect, which is not what camping should be like; we prefer staying at one of only 6 private campsites at Onguma Bush Camp’s Leadwood Camping Site. Here, you also have access to their own flood-lit waterhole, where we once saw a leopard come for a drink as we enjoyed a late-night drink. The camp is fenced-in and safe, but you feel like you are completely in the bush, waking up to the roar of lions on the private Onguma Game reserve. They also offer affordable chalets; you can linger all evening at the restaurant overlooking the waterhole. The Tamboti Camping Site is also wild and fun, but we love Leadwood the most. You can book game drives at the lodge, so consider a sundowner game drive on the Onguma Game Reserve, and you may find some rhinos and lion.
6) Okonjima / Omboroko Campsite. Otjiwarongo region, AfriCat
I am sure you noticed a trend with this blog by now? We prefer camping options which only have a handful of sites which offer privacy and tranquility, privately-owned and which are too small to host the noisy bus groups. The sites are luxuriously set-up, comfortable and even come with their own Wi-Fi. For an upgrade option you can book one of the chalets at the Okonjima Plains Camp or Bush Camp, but campers can also book meals at the Plains Camp with advance notice - the Okonjima Omelete is legendary. The Okonjima Game Reserve has its legacy founded in the research and conservation of leopard as it focused on the evolving conservation practices of Namibia’s farmland while managing human-wildlife conflict. Find out more about the AfriCat Foundation and join a leopard-tracking game drive. We love the various hiking trails which we explored on our own at our own pace as we came across Zebra, Giraffe and Kudu. Don't worry, no leopards are found on these trails. A crystal clear swimming pool, variety of walking trails, and also home to Dik-Diks, we often spend up to a week here.
7) Palmwag Lodge. Remote Damaraland
While campsites lack privacy, communal bathrooms are basic, and most sites don’t offer much shade (unless you get there early and find a site with a tree), Palmwag Lodge offers a lively oasis among the barren valley and is considered the last frontier in north-west Namibia to get an ice cold Hansa beer on tap. A busy place with travellers stopping by from all over the world, it also offers chalets and tented rooms. You can enjoy deliciously naughty burgers and dips in the cool pool and may even see a desert-adapted elephant pass by.
PS: Afterthought - Urban Camp. Windhoek city
Windhoek, Namibia’s capital, boasts lots of affordable accommodation, but for a truly unique experience, head to Urban Camp. This vibey spot attracts both locals and travellers with its ice-cold Hansa draughts and quirky branding. We consider their Schnitzels the best in Namibia, making Urban Camp a persona favourite for the coolest spot in Windhoek to unwind after a long week.
We recommend that you book your accommodation well in advance to avoid disappointment. Most of these sites do not allow drop-in visitors and will deny access to those without a pre-booking or get booked up quickly in advance. Others, like Brandberg White Lady Lodge, work on a "first come" basis.
As adventurers ourselves, we love exploring our home Namibia and continue to discover favourite places all around Namibia, so it was difficult to choose just 7 camps for this blog and inspire those renting a 4x4 Suzuki Jimny with us. But we will share part 2 of this blog of more of our favourite places to visit in due course; there is so much more to talk about.
Also, a friendly reminder: While Namibia's vast landscapes may appear unclaimed, much of the land is privately owned or part of a nature conservancy, so please always camp at allocated camping sites. Camping off-road or in the wild is not only illegal but also detrimental to the environment with trash, toilet paper, and scarring tracks left by reckless campers. Local Travel Namibia believes responsible adventurers should follow "Leave no trace, tread lightly" principles. Respect our country and leave it pristine for future travellers to explore. Namibia's untouched wilderness is its heart and soul; we hope you'll enjoy it as much as we do.
