How much does a Namibia trip cost?
Namibia can be a genuinely affordable self-drive country or a five-figure luxury safari. The accommodation tier you choose is what decides which. Rough per-person, per-day ranges below, excluding flights and the $90 visa on arrival fee most nationalities now pay online in advance.
Budget
≈ €225–250 / day
Self-drive with a compact 2x4, guesthouses and campsites, self-catering some meals.
Mid-range
≈ €325 / day
Self-drive or small-group tour, 3-star lodges and guesthouses, most meals included.
Luxury
€700+ / day
Fly-in or guided safari, design-led lodges, full-board with activities included.
Estimates only, per person per day. Actual cost varies with season, group size, and route. Excludes international flights.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a Namibia safari cost per day?
Roughly €225-250/person/day for a budget self-drive trip, around €325/day for mid-range, and €700+/day for a fully guided luxury or fly-in safari with all-inclusive lodges. These are per-person estimates covering accommodation, most meals, and a rental vehicle or guided transport; flights to Namibia are separate.
Is self-drive cheaper than a guided safari in Namibia?
Significantly: self-drive removes the cost of a private guide and vehicle, which is the single biggest expense in a guided trip. The trade-off is your own time spent on logistics and driving. See our self-drive guide for what that actually involves.
What currency does Namibia use?
The Namibian Dollar (N$), pegged 1:1 to the South African Rand. Rand is also widely accepted. Cards work in towns and most lodges; carry cash for fuel stations, park entry fees, and rural areas where card machines are unreliable.
What's the single biggest cost lever in a Namibia trip?
Accommodation tier, by far: the gap between a guesthouse and a fly-in luxury lodge is often 5-10x per night. Vehicle type (2x4 vs 4x4 rental) and guided vs self-drive are the next biggest levers.
How much are Namibia's national park entry fees?
They rose sharply on 1 April 2026, the first increase since 2021. International visitors now pay N$280/person/day (up from N$150) at major parks like Etosha and Namib-Naukluft, plus a N$620 two-person vehicle fee, with cheaper rates for SADC citizens and Namibians. Budget for this explicitly on a self-drive trip through multiple parks: it adds up faster than the older, lower figures still quoted on some older guides.