Our trip started with an unexpected stroke of luck. While booked at The Weinberg in Windhoek, we received an upgrade to a spacious family apartment within their complex. This wasn't just a room; it was a McMansion.

The Ultimate Perk: The unit came with its own small, private splash pool and a fully stocked fridge. Being able to plunge in after the flight and not worry about immediately finding a supermarket for dinner was the just the ticket we needed before we departed for some long drives.

The Win for Kids: A pool that was ours meant low-stress splashing, instant cool-down, and immediate relief from the Namibian heat without bothering anyone else. They also loved the painting materials that were left for their use.

We also loved the shopping at The Grove. I was thrilled to see Woolworths (the South African version), Guess, and Forever New. We also got into KFC.

After a long drive across Namibia’s arid interior, arriving at The Delight Swakopmund felt like a breath of fresh air. The hotel’s vibrant, modern aesthetic was welcoming. I loved the studio-style rooms.

The central location of The Delight was ideal for walking to the restaurant strip at Jetty; it was nice to leave the car and get some very fresh air. The rooms were spacious enough to handle our road trip luggage and the kids' cafe play.

We had wonderful adventures through Catamaran Dolphin Cruises in Nearby Walvis Bay. The first half of the day was spent on a sea safari where we happened across pelicans, seals, and even a humpback whale. The second part of the day was spent in Sandwich Harbour on a 4×4 dune tour - it was surprisingly beautiful and the kids had a ball.

The following day, we booked sand-boarding with Alter Action. It was a huge day, not for the faint-hearted, and exhausting but we had bucket-loads of fun.

Just outside the Anderson Gate of the Etosha National Park, Etosha Safari Lodge was our gateway to the great safari.

The View: Perched on a hill, the lodge’s main viewing deck offered vast, stunning views over the African bush. This was our daily sundowner spot, giving the kids an exciting "last look" for animals before bed.

The Convenience: The lodge had three separate swimming pools and dedicated family units, ensuring that even when the park was shut for the night, there was plenty of space for the little ones to play and relax.

The Safari: Although you can self-drive the Safari, we chose not to (and we were pleased about that). Our guide, John, was fantastic - he knew where all the animals were and we were stoked to come across lions on the move, elephant crossings, and even a rhino without too much effort.

Was it a lot of driving? Yes. Was it worth it? Absolutely.

If you're considering a Namibian road trip but worry about keeping the kids safe, entertained, and—most importantly—awake for the wildlife, we ensured that our drives were not much longer than 4 hours so we could conquer the highlights in one incredible, perfectly-lodged week.

We booked our cars through Namibia2go and they were prefect. There was plenty of room for all of us, our luggage, and even included a huge fridge in the back for our road-trip snacks.

After booking all our itinerary with Zimtrek tours, we locked in our flights from Addis with Ethiopian Airlines.

Most countries are required to complete an online visa. You’ll also need to bring a significant amount of paperwork - your flight itinerary, your travel itinerary, your insurance papers, and birth certificates for children. Come prepared.

All the drivers will require an international driver’s licence. Ensure that you leave enough time to get that organised before your trip.

Internet and phone reception is patchy. I used a Nomad sim which worked pretty well. Your best bet is to get a sim upon arrival.

You’ll need Namibian Dollars for tips and to pay for parking. Ensure you get cash about 5000ND out at the airport.

Other than ensuring that the drives weren’t too long, making the trip fun for the kids was in the fore-front of our minds.

Road-trip Snacks: These need to be organized and topped-up at every convenience.

iPad Holder: When there’s no animals around, the kids will need something to watch. Ensure you’ve a good-quality device holder because the roads are bumpy! Internet isn’t great so do all of your downloads before you leave home.

Animals: Kids always love animals. We tried to ensure there were as many animals encounters as possible. Even in Brandberg we stayed at the White Lady Lodge which has meer-cats roaming.

Swim: We ensured that most of our stays included pools.