Daan Viljoen

Daan Viljoen is located just 25 km west of Windhoek.
The best thing about Daan Viljoen is, is that you are allowed to walk in the park, instead of constantly sitting in your car, like Etosha.
When you pay the parkfees, you get a small map of the park, on this map you can find several walking trails, starting from a few kilometers to long distance walks. The best option is the Rooibos Trail, this is 9 km trail, most of the route you walk in a riverbed, untill the halfway point, where you have a stunning view of Windhoek, at the highest mountain of Daan Viljoen.
It sertainly is recommended to walk this trail, but because the trail is following a mountain, you need to have a good condition for this trail.

If you are walking in the park, you will often see some of the wild animals. Some of the species run away when they see you, others are more interested in you and wait a little longer before they also set off. That is the nice part of Daan Viljoen, you can get rather close to the animals in their natural environment.

There is also a self-drive option available. Although this route is accissible for 2wd (the park staff will say so), the route can be suprisisng for 2wd's, some slopes are really steep, spinning tires and good nerves are a must. But this also depents on the season and the weather.

Daan Viljoen is an excellent choise if you have a spare day in Windhoek. And above all, walking in this nature is very relaxing, and definitly recommended.
Daan Viljoen is often used by the locals in the weekend, then they bring a book, sit next to the water, and they just relax for that day.

Accomodation
Daan Viljoen is a NWR resort, but you don't see that from the buildings. The bungalows and restaurant look really nice. Campsite is also available.
If you are lucky you will have baboons as your neighbour during lunchtime in the restaurant, only a window will seperate you and the baboon, but they don't like photocamera's, everytime they run away when they see one.