Let’s talk money and the real costs of travelling Namibia as a family – this is your Namibia budget breakdown. Travelling Namibia with kids doesn’t have to break the bank – with a bit of planning and an adventurous spirit, it’s possible to experience the country’s wild beauty and vibrant culture while keeping an eye on costs.
Our self-drive trip certainly came in cheaper than doing an organised tour. Here’s our honest breakdown of what we spent over 16 unforgettable days exploring Namibia, including all the essentials: flights, truck hire, accommodation, eating, activities, and those inevitable extras.
You could also check out our practical guide to travelling in Namibia.
Flights to Namibia
Getting to Namibia was our biggest upfront cost, but we think we got an incredible deal for our flights to Namibia. For our family, return flights to Windhoek totalled £1,668 which included 2 check in bags per person as standard – not that we needed that much.
We kept prices down by booking early (in May 2025 for April 2026 travel) and being flexible with our dates. We took the kids out of school for 2 days and flew back 2 days earlier than we originally planned to keep the costs down. You can’t fly direct from the UK to Namibia anyway, so there was always going to be a stopover and for us this meant Ethiopia! We stumbled across our flights by complete chance and just randomly searching random places for the Easter break!
Flight spend: £1668
4×4 Truck and Insurance rental
After a quick bit of research we knew we wanted to self-drive in Namibia. To make the most of Namibia’s stunning landscapes, we hired a 4×4 truck with roof tents. This not only gave us the freedom to explore at our own pace but doubled as mobile accommodation.
The cost, including comprehensive insurance, came to £1,900 for the full 16 days. It’s a splurge, but an absolute necessity for families wanting to venture off the beaten track. Comprehensive insurance meant no excess, no deposit to pay and tyre and windscreen cover. It cost us around £400 for the duration, a cost we don’t usually bother with, but seemed to make sense on Namibia’s roads!
We have a full blog on the perils, pitfalls and absolutely perfection of driving in Namibia.
Transport spend: £1900
Accommodation costs in Namibia
We balanced comfort and adventure by mixing camping with stays in apartments and lodges. Campsites in Namibia are well-equipped and family-friendly, while the occasional lodge or apartment offered a welcome break from the wild and packing the tents away every day!
Over the whole trip, we spent £1,394 on accommodation. That was split as £428 on campsites (£61 per night average) and £986 on lodges and apartments (£123 per night average). It is worth noting that 3 of those nights included dinner and breakfast for the 4 of us so it is a little skewed. Our apartment in Swakopmund was £80 per night for a great location.
There’s a blog dedicated to the accommodation we stayed in whilst in Namibia. This was all family friendly and we only ever list places we would recommend. Read it here.
Accommodation spend: £1394
Eating Out Prices
While we did plenty of self-catering, we were also on holiday so ate out as well, either lunch or dinner or both! We spent £437.78 on meals at restaurants and cafés, sticking to budget-friendly options most of the time. Eating out in Namibia was surprising less than we expected. Lunches came to around £20-£25 for us all, and evening meals with a drink around £35. A pint of lager was generally c. £2 and main meals around £6.
Eating out spend: £437.78
Groceries and shopping
Most of our meals were prepared at campsites or in self-catering accommodation, which helped keep costs down. We spent £352.13 on groceries for the trip, stocking up in larger towns where the selection and prices were best. The fridge in the truck held a lot more than we expected it to, easily enough for 3 days at a time.
Being a parent of two kids age 7 and 10, I estimate 80% of this spend went on snacks!! As a comparison we found groceries in supermarkets to be similarly priced to the UK. There were also plenty of cold drinks and ice cream stops along our drive days!
Grocery spend: £352.13
Activities in Namibia
Namibia is an adventure playground, and we made the most of it! From kayaking with seals at Swakopmund to hiking in the desert to find chameleons and geckos, we spent £463.18 on organised activities which also included entrance fees to Twyfelfontein and Damara Living Museum. We would do all of them again, they were so well suited to us as a family. There wasn’t a single bad one and the guides we had were so passionate in what they did!
Activity spend: £463.18
Game Drives, Park Fees, and Guides
No trip to Namibia is complete without seeing its wildlife. We spent £631.30 on guided game drives, national park entry fees, and the occasional local guide. These experiences were worth every penny, giving us memories we’ll treasure forever. Had we not had our guide in Etosha, I don’t think we would have seen the rhino and elephants. This cost included 3 game drives on private reserves and the visit and drive at the Cheetah Conservation Foundation. I think we got a lot from our Namibia budget when it came to wildlife.
Wildlife spend: £631.30
Fuel prices in Namibia
Given the distances covered and the rugged terrain, petrol was a significant expense at £305.13, but for 2800km that’s less than we would have paid in the UK. A litre of diesel was just over £1. The top tip when driving in Namibia is to fill to the max whenever you see a fuel station!
Fuel spend: £305.13
Data
Staying connected is handy for navigation and keeping in touch with home. We purchased a local SIM card and data, spending £34.97 for reliable coverage throughout most of the country. It’s a small cost for peace of mind and convenience. You can get your MTC sim card from the airport – use the kiosk before clearing customs for shorter queues.
Data spend: £34.97
Cash / Other
This covers all those miscellaneous expenses – tips, souvenirs, gifts, toys, and the odd unforeseen cost. We withdrew cash as needed and kept some small change handy for local markets and roadside stalls. We generally tipped £5-£10 for a guide, £1 for the fuel attendant and £1 for the car park attendant and then around 10% for meals out.
Cash / other spend: £392.55
Namibia Budget and Grand Total
All told, our 16-day Namibian family adventure came to £7,579.07. So that’s £1894 per person, or £118 per person per day all inc.! I’ve seen 14 days in the Canaries cost more than that!
While not the cheapest destination, careful choices and a spirit of adventure allowed us to experience the best of Namibia without overspending. Every penny was well spent on memories that will last a lifetime. It was less than I expected and around 50% of the prices I’ve seen in Trailfinders for their tours (before you even land!).
