Our Motorcycle Route in Namibia

Planning a motorcycle trip to Namibia, but not sure where to go? Here’s the route we took on a downloadable map with suggestions and route info…

Our Motorcycle Route Through Namibia

By Andy Davidson

Mad or Nomad: Round the World Motorcycle Traveller

In September 2025, we rode through Namibia during our round the world motorcycle ride. We have attached a map with a rough route of the direction we travelled and some of the sights, points of interest and places we stayed along the way.

You’ll find more info below on some of the areas we visited and how to ride them with further route options and links.

Check out our Namibia motorcycle travel blog so you can see what riding this route was like for us.

READ MORE: Namibia Blog – The Desert

Namibia motorcycle route map

Map info

Open the tab in the top left corner of the map to see the legend and what each pin is for.

If you click the star in the map tab, you can save this map to your own Google Maps and toggle it on and off whenever needed.

We entered from Botswana and went to Windhoek. From there we headed south to Sossusvlei, north to Swakopmund, to Cape Cross and then inland to Damaraland before riding to Etosha and the Caprivi Strip.

How to ride to Sossusvlei and Deadvlei with a motorcycle

Motorcycles are not allowed to ride into Sossusvlei National Park. Instead, you can ride right up to the gate where you buy tickets. This is the exact pin for the ticket office and where you will leave your motorcycle: Google Maps

Before you reach the above point, you will first get to the outer gate. Just explain that you are going to park at the next gate and get a lift. You should be allowed through.

Once we walked into the ticket office, the staff in there already knew we were on motorcycles. It was a crowded room full of tourists. They saw us and shouted to the room “Who can give these two a lift inside the park”.

Fortunately for us, there were two kind Brits in front of us who offered to take us in their 4×4. You can always ask people yourself or ask the staff to help you.

We suggest going straight to Big Daddy Dune. This is the main attraction. When you arrive, you park up and then pay for a return shuttle to the start of the dune (or you can drive if you’re very confident in deep sand).

If you are planning on hiking to the top of the dune, the driver of the shuttle should stop half way and give you the option to jump out and start your climb. If you stay on the shuttle bus it will take you all the way to the Deadvlei carpark.

Instead, jump out halfway, climb to the top of the dune (1 -1.5 hours max). Once at the top, you can run down the ridge on the other side. It looks steep but the sand is so deep that you can’t really pick up too much speed.

Once you’ve run down to the bottom you are in Deadvlei with the dead trees. Walk through that and back to the carpark for your lift back.

Tips

Start early in the day. The sand is firmer in the cool morning air. By mid-afternoon it will be very hot and the sand is harder to walk in.
Once you start on the sand, take your shoes and socks off, it makes it easier to walk in the sand.
Take plenty of water, sun cream, shades, a hat and snacks.

Etosha National Park

Motorcycles are not allowed to ride into Sossusvlei National Park. The park is brimming with wildlife and animals that can bite, so a 4×4 is mandatory.

You have two options: join a self-guided tour or rent a 4×4 yourself.

We stayed at a hotel in Outjo, left our bikes and gear and rented a 4×4 for a day.

We rented a Land Cruiser from Bertie, the owner of Sophienhof Lodge. He delivered and picked the car up from our hotel. It would have been nice to stay at his place, but we had already booked in Outjo. Bertie was exceptional and gave us an incredibly good deal. We were really impressed and happy with his service.

We had the car dropped off the night before, and early morning we left to drive 1 hour to Etosha. We returned late and he collected the next morning.

More routes and rides

Have a read of the Namibia Motorcycle Travel Guide on Mad or Nomad. Written by Joshua and Joana, they list their favourite routes throughout Namibia with info on how to ride them. We also recommend you read the top tips and off-road riding section in that guide.

Bear in mind, Namibia has a lot of sand tracks – and even gravel roads can turn sandy. Consider this carefully if you are not experienced off-road or have a big, loaded and heavy motorcycle.

READ MORE: Namibia Motorcycle Travel Guide