10 Epic Namibia Camping Sites + Essential Tips

We absolutely love camping. Whether it’s camping on remote islands in Thailand or deep in the jungle of Sri Lanka, we thrive in finding the best camping sites wherever we wander and camping in Namibia is no exception. 

We road-tripped throughout Namibia for 6 weeks, spending every night in our trusty rooftop tent. We explored from the Orange River at the bottom to the Zambezi River at the top and in the process, we found some epic Namibia camping sites that will blow your mind.

Looking to do some Namibia camping yourself? Here’s all the information you need about Namibia camping, including the top 10 Namibia camping sites. 

Namibia Camping: Good to Know

Camping in Namibia is pretty intuitive, but there are still some good things to know before you set off and set up that tent.

If you’re renting a car, it really pays to get one with the whole camping set-up. It’ll make things a lot easier for you. Fortunately, Namibia really excels in the rental car + camping set-up, so you’re bound to find something that will suit your needs.

Pro tip: use Discover Cars to find the best deals on rentals for your Namibian adventure. It’s what we personally use and recommend.

Always carry water with you, just in case. Some places have potable water, but many don’t, so it’s good to have some on hand just in case. Plus, this is desert territory after all!

If you don’t want to worry about potable water, we recommend a Steripen. With this bad boy, you never have to worry about access to safe drinking water. It’s a game-changer. 

Exploring the south of Namibia? Check out Fish River Canyon

Namibia Camping Costs

In Namibia, camping is almost always priced per person, rather than per site. If you’re travelling solo, this is great news. If you’re in a group, well, it can add up!

The price for camping in Namibia also varies widely. We’ve paid as little as 100 NAD per person per night (pppn), but some Namibia camping sites can go up to over 400 NAD pppn (seriously!).

Namibia Camping Facilities

Generally speaking, Namibia camping facilities are pretty good. You can almost always expect to find ablution blocks (otherwise known as bathrooms) and some form of running water.

In the nicer spots, you’ll get a power point at your Namibia camping site, a private washing-up sink and if you’re lucky, even a pool!

Most of the Namibia camping sites we’ve included are privately run, but we’ve also included a few community campsites that we really loved. These are run by local members of the community, with profits going back into the community. They’re a great way to contribute positively through your travels and we encourage you to support them.

As a general rule, Namibia Wildlife Resorts (NWR) campsites are the most expensive and offer the least in terms of facilities and standards of maintenance. These are the campsites run in the Namibian national parks. They’re quite expensive (for foreigners at least) and run-down. We generally avoid them unless necessary – like in Etosha National Park, for example, where it really is worth it to stay in the park.

We haven’t included any of them in our list of the best camping sites in Namibia, because, well, they are far, far from the best.

Read next: How to Visit A Himba Tribe Ethically and Responsibly

Namibia Wild Camping

When we lived and explored the Northern Territory of Australia, we fell in love with wild camping. There’s a freedom to camping outside designated sites and completely immersing yourself in the wilderness.

In Namibia, there are some good wild camping spots, and it is generally safe. As always, you need to be smart and aware of your surroundings.

However, it’s important to note that wild camping in Namibia is more of a place to sleep for the night rather than a spot to relax and hang out. If you’re up for it, there are some good wild camping spots near Sossusvlei, Spitzkoppe, Kaokoland and the Caprivi Strip. These can be found by looking on iOverlander.

If you do wild camp, please leave no trace. Don’t leave behind any rubbish (especially used TP). The Deuce Ultralight Trowel is a great hiking tool that allows you to Leave No Trace cleanly.

Read more about exploring wild Kaokoland and mystical Epupa Falls

Namibia Camping Resources

Be sure to get a copy of the Bradt Namibia guidebook. It’s extremely helpful, with great practical and contextual information. Due to the lack of mobile signal in Namibia, getting online is hard, so we highly recommend having this bad boy on hand.

Download iOverlander. Seriously, we can’t recommend this app enough. iOverlander provides up-to-date information on anything overlanding/camping in Namibia and beyond and is indispensable. 

Travel insurance, as always, is essential. If something goes wrong, you want to be covered. We use and recommend SafetyWing. Trust us, we’ve used a lot of travel insurance and they really are the best.

Top 10 Namibia Camping Sites

1. Amanzi River Camp

• Price: 190 NAD pppn
• Facilities:
  • Communal ablutions with hot water showers
  • Water at sites (non-potable)
  • Washing up sinks at most sites
  • Electricity at sites
  • Wifi – limited, at reception 
  • Bar
• Activities:
  • Kayaks and canoes to use (highly recommended!)

Amanzi River Camp has beautiful spots on the Orange River and is a great place if you’re coming, or going to, South Africa. It’s a peaceful and tranquil space and a wonderful spot to spend a couple of days decompressing on the river. Plus, the management is friendly and helpful.

Our tip? Be sure to take a canoe out for a gentle paddle on the river!

Heading to Uganda? Check out 7 Epic Uganda Camping Sites + Essential Tips

2. Little Hunter’s Rest

• Price: 200 NAD pppn
• Facilities:
  • Communal ablutions with solar hot water showers
  • Shared washing-up sinks
  • Braai facilities
• Activities:
  • Hiking trails
  • Guided drives

Full disclaimer: we didn’t make it here, but it was recommended to us on very good authority and the reviews are great!

At Little Hunter’s Rest, each of the 5 sites are incredibly large and spaced well apart, meaning privacy and solitude is the name of the game here.

You can spend your time by going for walks around or just enjoying the beautiful views over the valley.

3. Bloedkoppie

• Price: 80 NAD per night for a camping site (regardless of number of people).
• Facilities: none really. Non-maintained long drop toilets and overflowing rubbish bins.
• Other: Permits are theoretically required but do not seem to be checked with any sort of regularity. They cost:
  • 150 NAD pp for foreigners
  • 100 NAD pp for SADC citizens
  • 50 NAD pp for Namibians

Bloedkoppie remains one of the most magical places we stayed in Namibia. Set in the remote northern section of the Namib-Naukluft National Park, it’s a rough road to the camp, and there are no facilities to speak of, but it’s worth the effort. It’s one of the most remote and off-the-beaten-track places you can find in Namibia.

Bloedkoppie translates to ‘blood hill’, due to the light on the hill during sunset. There are spots on either side of the hill, all set reasonably far apart. A warning: after campsite # 7, the track gets really sandy, so proceed carefully.

At this Namibia camping site, there aren’t many activities to speak of, but it’s a great space to enjoy the desert and relax. It’s unlikely you’ll have much company, as it’s still relatively unknown and sees few visitors.

4. Spitzkoppe

• Price: 210 NAD pppn, which includes entry to the reserve
• Facilities:
  • Water (potable) at reception only
  • Communal ablutions, with hot water showers, at reception only
  • Long drops at campsites (bring your own TP)
• Activities: 
  • Hiking, with guides only

Spitzkoppe is a very popular, community-run Namibia camping site in the Damaraland region of Namibia. Its popularity is for good reason: it’s a very beautiful and special area.

We’ll be honest, the 210 NAD pppn price tag is a bit expensive, considering the sites are pretty much akin to wild camping. But the money goes back into the community, the staff is professional and the sites are well-maintained. It’s a good example of community-based tourism, so worth the high rate for a night.

If you’re looking for good spots, we recommend campsite # 17B. It’s fantastic and very few people go to the far east end, so it’s very private with great views. Campsite # 1 is probably the most outstanding but can get really windy.

The guided hike to Bushman’s Paradise is lovely and worth doing. The fee is by way of a tip to the guide. It gives a good perspective of the rock, plus the rock art is cool. We particularly enjoyed the explanations of both the history of the Bushman people and the current community. We also loved our guide, Jennifer.

There’s an informal hiking trail that you can do yourself that starts from campsite #10B. The trail leads to a nice viewpoint of Sugarloaf. There’s a clear trail with rock cairns to guide the way and it’s marked on maps.me.

Read more with our complete guide to visiting Spitzkoppe

Khowarib Community Camp

• Price: 100 NAD pppn
• Facilities:
  • Private bathrooms with hot water showers (donkey-run)
  • Water (non-potable) at sites
  • Washing up sinks at sites

Khowarib Community Camp has to be one of the best community campgrounds in Namibia! It’s a real piece of paradise and a great place to stop if you’re making the dusty journey north to Opuwo.

The camp is set on the river, which feels lush after weeks in the dry Namibian desert. Some spots have a private veranda overlooking the river. Don’t be surprised if you end up staying an extra day.

Omenje Campsite Purros

• Price: 150 NAD pppn
• Facilities:
  • Ablution blocks with hot-water showers
  • Private washing-up sinks
• Activities:
  • Wildlife watching
    • Scenic drives
      • Himba village visits

Omenje Campsite in remote Purros is a sight to behold. In one of the most remote parts of Namibia, here you’ll find a nice campsite with beautiful views, under very shaded large acacia trees and overlooking Hoarusib river (it’s a dry river, so don’t bring your bathers).

Expect to see a lot of wildlife, from the special desert-adapted elephant, to giraffe passing right by your campsite.

Kaoko Mopane Lodge and Campsite

• Price: 180 NAD pppn
• Facilities:
  • Private bathrooms with hot water showers
  • Private washing up sink
  • Water (potable) at sites
  • Electricity at sites
  • Wifi
  • Pool
  • Bar and restaurant

Kaokoa Mopane Lodge and Campsite is a lovely oasis just outside Opuwo. This Namibia camping site is a tranquil haven in an otherwise busy town.

The staff are super friendly and it’s a great place to base yourself whilst you organise adventures in Namibia’s north.

Epupa Falls Lodge and Campsite

• Price: 200 NAD pppn
• Facilities:
  • Communal ablutions with hot water showers
  • Washing up sink at sites
  • Electricity at sites
  • Water (potable) at sites
  • Braai
  • Pool
  • Bar/restaurant
  • Laundry services
  • Massages available
• Activities:
  • Rafting, birdwatching and guided walks

Epupa Falls Lodge and Campsite is a very magical spot and this is one of our favourite Namibia camping sites. The campground is not only waterfront, but directly in front of Epupa Falls. You are so close that you can hear the roar of the falls.

The spots are nice and on grass (a welcome change from the regular dust of Namibia!). The pool is a great spot to cool down in, and if all of that wasn’t enough, you can even get fresh bread delivered to your campsite in the morning for 30 NAD.

Kapako Waterfront Camp

• Price: 120 NAD pppn
• Facilities:
  • Communal ablutions with hot water showers
  • Non-potable water at sites
• Activities:
  • Boat rides on the Kwando River
  • Kapako Village Tours

Kapako Waterfront Camp is a real hidden gem and a great Namibia camping site to support. It’s run by a friendly local man, Lukas, who has put a lot of love and hard work into the site.

The campsites are directly on the Kwando River in the Caprivi Strip. They’re basic, but that’s what’s so great about it. There’s no electricity or potable water, but there is a lot of serenity and time to spend in nature. Campsite #4 is the clear winner of them all.

Lukas can arrange community visits and boat tours on the Kwando River. A boat ride will cost around 650 pp for 3 hours, but be sure to negotiate this down. 

It’s best to call Lukas beforehand so that he knows you’re coming and he’ll set everything up for you: +264 81 478 7488. If he’s not there, just set up and honk – he’ll hear you.

Important: Google Maps won’t lead you there correctly but will leave you on the side of the highway. Follow directions on maps.me instead, which will take you to the correct place. To get there: on the C49, turn right at the Mukolo Camp sign. Keep going straight past until you hit a fence and sign. 

Mudumu National Park Camp Sites

• Price: Free, permit only
• Facilities: None
• Activities:
  • Wildlife watching
• Other: Permits are required and can be purchased at the northern gate. They cost:
  • 100 NAD pp for foreigners
  • 70 NAD pp for SADC citizens
  • 50 NAD pp for Namibians
  • 50 NAD for a car

Now, this is really off the beaten track, and one of the wildest experiences you can have in Namibia – or Africa for that matter. If you’re looking for a raw African experience, look no further. 

Set in a remote part of the Caprivi Strip, Mudumu National Park has 4 camping sites in the park. They’re unfenced, so you’re completely amongst the wildlife. They’re also very far apart, meaning complete privacy and serenity.

The camping sites are so beautiful, set right on a backwater of the Kwando.

With no facilities at all, it’s complete wild camping. You need to bring your own food, water and firewood. There are no rubbish bins or toilets.

In the park, you have excellent chances of spotting hippos, elephants, baboons, various antelopes, warthogs and zebras. With so many animals around, this Namibia camping is very wild. You need to be okay with this.

Important: some of the tracks in the park are very sandy. We mean super sandy (notably between campsites 2 and 3). To get there, you absolutely need a 4×4, to let the air out of your tires and experience driving in sand.

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