Self-drive vs Private Guided

On a self-drive safari you rent a 4x4 vehicle and set off on your own adventure. You’ll be driving yourself between destinations, choosing your own activities along the way and navigating the journey at your own pace.

On a private guided safari you have a dedicated private guide throughout your trip who will handle all the driving, take you on various activities and share their expert knowledge about the wildlife and landscapes you encounter. While the itinerary remains flexible, the key difference is that with a private guide, you’ll have an expert to navigate for you and ensure you don’t miss any hidden gems along the way.

Why a Self-drive?

1. A self-drive is cheaper than a private guided safari, but it’s important to keep in mind that a private guided safari usually includes your fuel costs, park entry fees and extras such as drinking water in the vehicle and most meals throughout. On a self-drive basis these costs are additional so doing a direct comparison can be misleading. If you break it down though you are skipping on the daily costs of the private guide and his/her accommodation so a self-drive will always be a cheaper option.

2. Travel at your own pace and on your own schedule. While your accommodations are pre-booked, you’ll have the flexibility to take your time and enjoy the journey at your own speed.

3. Embrace your sense of adventure. While we are not talking about getting lost in the wilderness - everything is well-organised and civilised - you will need to be ready to change a tyre if you get a flat and navigate your route on a map. We’ll ensure you’re fully equipped and ready to go with a GPS and detailed travel diary.

4. NTS is always on hand if you need us, so while you may be on the road on your own, we’re always there for you 24/7.

Why not?

1. Most activities will be done on your own, which is great if you are happy to venture off and explore alone but this means relying on your own skill and some luck. Now it’s not that you have to do the activities on your own, there are always guided activities that can be booked with lodge guides, but these will come at an extra cost and best booked in advance if you want to guarantee your spot to avoid disappointment. Unless booked on a private basis, these activities are done shared with other lodge guests.

2. Have a question? You’ll have to wait until you have a WiFi connection again and ask Google or hope you have a know-it-all on tour with you. You could be left with a lot of unanswered questions depending on how inquisitive you are about that strange looking plant, the animal that just fleeted across the road or that bird chirping away at your roadside picnic spot.

3. There’s loads to do and see along the way. It might be nice to consider a second driver so you can take turns behind the wheel and enjoying the scenery. If not, there are plenty of places to stop en route as you go along to ensure you don’t miss the wonder of it all while driving.

4. You’ll only see what you know or what you have researched. Navigating on your own can sometimes mean missing things. Your travel diary gives advice for what to look out for and your meet-and-greet representative will have also given you the low-down on arrival, but let’s face it, there are always hidden treasures you could miss.

Why Private Guided?

1. You can sit back and relax for the duration of your trip. You won’t have to drive and this means it’s a stress-free vacay especially if this is your first time travelling in unfamiliar territory. Let your guide do the “heavy lifting” so you can just enjoy your holiday.

2. You have your own private guide with you from start to finish. Someone that will take care of your schedule, make all arrangements as well as offer advice as you go along and that’s on top of offering invaluable information on sites and highlights, wildlife, flora, fauna, geology and even astronomy.

3. Your guide is a wealth of first-hand knowledge on all things safari, so don’t hesitate to ask as many questions as you like. From wildlife and landscapes to local culture and hidden gems, they’ll bring the journey to life with fascinating insights and stories - especially around the campfire. Experience the country through their eyes and deepen your connection to the adventure.

4. A guided tour offers a richer, more immersive journey through the country, your route, and everything in between. There’s no need to worry about logistics - it’s all expertly planned for you. And because it’s a private tour, you still have the flexibility to adjust along the way. Simply discuss your interests with your guide, and they’ll tailor the experience to make it even more memorable.

Why not?

1. A private guided tour is more expensive as we covered above. Although there’ll be few extra costs once in country as most are included, it’s still more pricey overall.

2. There’s less privacy, but that’s only because your guide is with you most of the time driving between destinations and on activities. For the rest it offers as much privacy as a self-drive tour would.

3. Some activities at some destinations, such as private reserves, can only be done with lodge guides. This means you will have to pay for these additional activities despite having your own guide and vehicle.

Conclusion

So whether the beauty of a safari lies in the assurance of having someone take you around to explore and assist you along the way with bookings, additional activities and restaurant recommendations or you prefer to go it alone, which for you is the sense of adventure, there’s never a wrong way to travel to Namibia and beyond. If you are, however, still undecided as to whether a self-drive, private guided or even a fly-in safari is for you, speak to a travel expert for further advice based on your route and expectations. There’s always the option to combine different tour types to get the most out of your safari too. We’ll figure it all out for you based on your custom itinerary and if you aren’t sure about your itinerary yet, no problem, just get in touch.