This blog post will be a very concrete overview of costs and numbers - for anyone interested in how much a 3-week trip to Namibia with their family costs on their own.
How many days did we travel?
21 days.
From May 7 to May 27, 2025.
How many of us traveled?
Four : two adults + two children (6 and 8 years old).
We traveled as a family, on our own, with a rented 4x4 car and a roof tent, and we slept in campsites all the nights.
How many kilometers?
We drove a little over 4,200 kilometers , mostly on gravel roads.
Total travel costs
In total, the trip cost us about €8,000 .
The estimated budget was €7,500. But we exceeded it. Oops. :)
| Category | Amount (€) | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| airline tickets | €2,466.12 | Return tickets for 4 people with luggage included. |
| car rental | €2,142.78 | 19 days rental through Savannah Car Hire (car with roof tents and all camping equipment). |
| accommodation (camps) | €891.47 | 20 nights – camping. |
| fuel | €475.00 | Total cost for approximately 4,000 km of driving. |
| food outside (restaurants) | €155.00 | Lunches and dinners in restaurants along the way (rarely). |
| food from stores | €585.00 | Shopping for camping food, snacks, drinks... |
| activities & entrance fees | €642.00 | Entrance fees for parks, tours (Sandwich Harbour, cheetahs, Himba, Etosha...). |
| visa | €322.00 | The cost of obtaining visas for all four people. |
| souvenirs | €80.00 | Bracelets, stones, local products... |
| Total | €7,789.37 | = Real total value of the trip |
Some facts:
– Most expensive activity: Sandwich Harbour tour (350 €), but worth it!
– Most expensive accommodations: Campsites within Etosha NP. Worth every penny.
– Most fuel consumed: on the Spitzkoppe – Opuwo – Ruacana route .
This trip was a real financial burden, but it was still a trip "on a budget". We gave up luxury and sleeping in various lodges . Otherwise the price would probably have been much higher. We slept in tents, the stove worked every day, but at the same time we didn't give up anything essential. We NEVER skimp on activities, sightseeing and adventures. But we do look at the prices of food and accommodation. And for what we got - wilderness, peace, animals, people, adventure - we would gladly pay again.
If anyone is interested in this trip: it's not cheap. But it's priceless and, above all, WORTH IT.