![jumping giraffes on the morning scenic game drive - Dusty Trails Safaris Namibia & Dusty Car Hire Namibia](https://b3043373.smushcdn.com/3043373/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/web_bagatelle_giraffes.jpg?lossy=2&strip=1&webp=1)
End of year is travel planning time 😉
Whilst the year is reaching its end – many people like starting to dream about travel plans for the upcoming year.
For this reason we want to dedicate this news letter to some thoughts about travel planning and preparation for a trip to Namibia / Botswana. Check out some of the important things and start dreaming a bit more about your next trip!
Travelling an unknown country: Planning is the key to relaxation
You like travelling just on the go? Keeping it simple and flexible? In a vast country like Namibia a bit of advance planning can be very advantageous. You obviously can do this on your own – or you simply use the knowledge and support of Dusty Trails Safaris and Car Hire. With our many years of experience, we will make sure your holidays become an unforgettable wonderful time. We can make sure to find your perfect fit destinations as well as your dream route. Don’t forget: pre-booking is smart – especially during the high season.
![animals nearby in Etosha National Park Namibia - Dusty Trails Safaris Namibia & Dusty Car Hire Namibia](https://b3043373.smushcdn.com/3043373/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/WEB_Etoscha_CarCloseToAnimals.jpg?lossy=2&strip=1&webp=1)
![oryx antelope - Dusty Trails Safaris Namibia & Dusty Car Hire Namibia](https://b3043373.smushcdn.com/3043373/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/WEB_Etoscha_Oryx.jpg?lossy=2&strip=1&webp=1)
![yawning lion - Moremi Botswana - Dusty Trails Safaris Namibia & Dusty Car Hire Namibia](https://b3043373.smushcdn.com/3043373/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/web_lion_yawning_botswana.jpg?lossy=2&strip=1&webp=1)
![landscape view from Opuwo Country Lodge - Dusty Trails Safaris Namibia & Dusty Car Hire Namibia](https://b3043373.smushcdn.com/3043373/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/web_opuwo_lodge_view.jpg?lossy=2&strip=1&webp=1)
Where to and What would you like to experience?
A first big question to be answered for travel planning is – “which things you always wanted to experience”. Why is that important? Because it helps to find the right destinations for your trip and build up the best route to make it your dream trip!
Namibia, Botswana or even both is the question to determine the basic destinations. Need more input to find a decision? Feel free to have a look to the following!
Travel Botswana – endless adventure
Travel Namibia and discover its wonders
The best of Namibia and Botswana
Getting around: guided tour or self-drive
In Namibia, there is barely any public transport to be found. Therefore, you can choose between a guided tour and a self-drive. Should you opt for a guided tour, you can either consider joining a group travel in a mini-bus. Or you decide to book a private guide along with a car. In case you want the pure experience and travel independently, you chose to do a self-drive.
For this travel version, a rental car is the best solution for bridging the long distances between places and sights. Due to the gravel roads, an off-road vehicle is the safest choice. 4×4 is an optional extra, not a must. You should allow enough driving time to not stress out. On gravel roads the average speed is 60 km/h. Quite often the distance from one accommodation to the next can be more than 100 km. Our clear advice is not to drive more than 350 km per day. This might already take a full day driving.
![Toyota Hilux 9 seater - Dusty Trails Safaris Namibia & Dusty Car Hire Namibia](https://b3043373.smushcdn.com/3043373/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/WEB_9seater_Hilux_Front_3.jpg?lossy=2&strip=1&webp=1)
![Toyota Hilux 9 seater - Dusty Trails Safaris Namibia & Dusty Car Hire Namibia](https://b3043373.smushcdn.com/3043373/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/WEB_9seater_Hilux_Front_3.jpg?lossy=2&strip=1&webp=1)
![2022 IZUZU D-Max Double Cab with rooftop tent](https://b3043373.smushcdn.com/3043373/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/2022-izuzu-dmax-rooftop-tent-front-sideview.webp?lossy=2&strip=1&webp=1)
![2022 IZUZU D-Max Double Cab with rooftop tent](https://b3043373.smushcdn.com/3043373/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/2022-izuzu-dmax-rooftop-tent-front-sideview.webp?lossy=2&strip=1&webp=1)
Travel planning: Tips & Tricks about Car Rental
Car Hire Insurance Packages
Breakdown or accident – What to do?
Sand, gravel and 4×4 driving
Self-drive tips: Rental Car & Driving
Safe driving in Namibia
Camping: Ground tent or rooftop tent
When going to Namibia, you can choose to stay in one of the many lodges which are spread around the whole country. Most lodges are good middle class or higher category. For backpackers, appropriate accommodation can generally only be found in larger towns such as Windhoek or Swakopmund.
Still the most close to nature experience you can get are camping trips. Their popularity even increased in the last years. For multiple reasons: you can keep your travel costs lower – and you fancy the real Namibian adventure – a camping trip can be your ideal choice!
Don’t be scared of having to build up your tent. You can choose in between ground tents and rooftop tents. Some lodges or high class campsites are even offering large pre-built tent suites!
![camping car with rooftop tent - back view](https://b3043373.smushcdn.com/3043373/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/camping-car-rooftop-tent-back-view-300x225.webp?lossy=2&strip=1&webp=1)
![camping car with rooftop tent - back view](https://b3043373.smushcdn.com/3043373/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/camping-car-rooftop-tent-back-view-300x225.webp?lossy=2&strip=1&webp=1)
![ground tent sample - Dusty Trails Safaris Namibia & Dusty Car Hire Namibia](https://b3043373.smushcdn.com/3043373/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/WEB_Camping_Tent-300x225.jpg?lossy=2&strip=1&webp=1)
![ground tent sample - Dusty Trails Safaris Namibia & Dusty Car Hire Namibia](https://b3043373.smushcdn.com/3043373/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/WEB_Camping_Tent-300x225.jpg?lossy=2&strip=1&webp=1)
![Namibia Harnas Wildlife Foundation Campsite - Dusty Trails Safaris Namibia & Dusty Car Hire Namibia](https://b3043373.smushcdn.com/3043373/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/camping_sunset-300x225.jpg?lossy=2&strip=1&webp=1)
![Namibia Harnas Wildlife Foundation Campsite - Dusty Trails Safaris Namibia & Dusty Car Hire Namibia](https://b3043373.smushcdn.com/3043373/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/camping_sunset-300x225.jpg?lossy=2&strip=1&webp=1)
![camping at the Mesosaurus Fossil Bush Camp - Dusty Trails Safaris Namibia & Dusty Car Hire Namibia](https://b3043373.smushcdn.com/3043373/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/web_mesosaurus_camp-300x225.jpg?lossy=2&strip=1&webp=1)
![camping at the Mesosaurus Fossil Bush Camp - Dusty Trails Safaris Namibia & Dusty Car Hire Namibia](https://b3043373.smushcdn.com/3043373/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/web_mesosaurus_camp-300x225.jpg?lossy=2&strip=1&webp=1)
![Neuras Wine & Wildlife Estate - luxury camp](https://b3043373.smushcdn.com/3043373/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/neuras_wine_wildlife_estate_luxury_camp-1000x563.jpg?lossy=2&strip=1&webp=1)
![Neuras Wine & Wildlife Estate - luxury camp](https://b3043373.smushcdn.com/3043373/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/neuras_wine_wildlife_estate_luxury_camp-1000x563.jpg?lossy=2&strip=1&webp=1)
![tented hut in Elephant Sands Lodge Botswana - Dusty Trails Safaris Namibia](https://b3043373.smushcdn.com/3043373/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/WEB_Lodging_tented_hut-300x225.jpg?lossy=2&strip=1&webp=1)
![tented hut in Elephant Sands Lodge Botswana - Dusty Trails Safaris Namibia](https://b3043373.smushcdn.com/3043373/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/WEB_Lodging_tented_hut-300x225.jpg?lossy=2&strip=1&webp=1)
![private ablution block in Senyati campsite Botswana - Dusty Trails Safaris Namibia](https://b3043373.smushcdn.com/3043373/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/WEB_Camping_Senyati_Facilities-300x225.jpg?lossy=2&strip=1&webp=1)
![private ablution block in Senyati campsite Botswana - Dusty Trails Safaris Namibia](https://b3043373.smushcdn.com/3043373/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/WEB_Camping_Senyati_Facilities-300x225.jpg?lossy=2&strip=1&webp=1)
![camping close to the okavango river in Namibia](https://b3043373.smushcdn.com/3043373/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/web_mahangu_sunsert_fire-300x225.jpg?lossy=2&strip=1&webp=1)
![camping close to the okavango river in Namibia](https://b3043373.smushcdn.com/3043373/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/web_mahangu_sunsert_fire-300x225.jpg?lossy=2&strip=1&webp=1)
How to handle rooftop tents?
All our tents are very easy to handle. Rooftop tents are anyway to most popular choice of most foreign tourists. See our short videos from some guests on how to build up and un-do our rooftop tents.
Missed a Newsletter? – Check here
![header image: green chameleon sneaking over gravel road - Dusty Trails Safaris Namibia & Dusty Car Hire Namibia](https://b3043373.smushcdn.com/3043373/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/header_sneaky_chameleon-600x264.jpg?lossy=2&strip=1&webp=1)
![header image: green chameleon sneaking over gravel road - Dusty Trails Safaris Namibia & Dusty Car Hire Namibia](https://b3043373.smushcdn.com/3043373/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/header_sneaky_chameleon-600x264.jpg?lossy=2&strip=1&webp=1)
Things to know about Namibia
![A3M Travel Risk Map 2024](https://b3043373.smushcdn.com/3043373/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/A3M-Risk-Map-2024-1-600x404.png?lossy=2&strip=1&webp=1)
![A3M Travel Risk Map 2024](https://b3043373.smushcdn.com/3043373/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/A3M-Risk-Map-2024-1-600x404.png?lossy=2&strip=1&webp=1)
“When someone goes on a journey, they can tell a story” – how safe is Namibia?
![group of bushmen / san people Namibia - Dusty Trails Safaris Namibia & Dusty Car Hire Namibia](https://b3043373.smushcdn.com/3043373/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/cropped-header_bushmen-600x264.jpg?lossy=2&strip=1&webp=1)
![group of bushmen / san people Namibia - Dusty Trails Safaris Namibia & Dusty Car Hire Namibia](https://b3043373.smushcdn.com/3043373/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/cropped-header_bushmen-600x264.jpg?lossy=2&strip=1&webp=1)
Namibia’s cultures – a balancing act between tradition and a modern world
![](https://b3043373.smushcdn.com/3043373/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/Dusty-Family-behind-the-scenes-600x338.png?lossy=2&strip=1&webp=1)
![](https://b3043373.smushcdn.com/3043373/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/Dusty-Family-behind-the-scenes-600x338.png?lossy=2&strip=1&webp=1)
Behind the scenes – The Dusty Family
![Dusty Trails Safaris rental car in front of a cruise ship - ready to serve a day trip in Namibia](https://b3043373.smushcdn.com/3043373/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/Car_in_front_of_cruiseship_enhanced-600x338.jpeg?lossy=2&strip=1&webp=1)
![Dusty Trails Safaris rental car in front of a cruise ship - ready to serve a day trip in Namibia](https://b3043373.smushcdn.com/3043373/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/Car_in_front_of_cruiseship_enhanced-600x338.jpeg?lossy=2&strip=1&webp=1)
Cruise Shipping to Namibia!
![Flamingos in Namibia - By Solly Levi https://www.sollylevi.com/Namibia/](https://b3043373.smushcdn.com/3043373/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/web_solly_levi_flamingos_pano-600x358.jpg?lossy=2&strip=1&webp=1)
![Flamingos in Namibia - By Solly Levi https://www.sollylevi.com/Namibia/](https://b3043373.smushcdn.com/3043373/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/web_solly_levi_flamingos_pano-600x358.jpg?lossy=2&strip=1&webp=1)