Daan Viljoen Game Park lies just over 20 kilometres west of Windhoek on the C28, in the hills of the Khomas Highland. At about 40 square kilometres it is small. You can hike here without a guide, which makes the park worth a look at the start or end of a trip. Leopards live in the park too.
- area
- about 40 km²
- west of Windhoek
- 20+ km
- bird species
- about 200
- hiking trails
- 3, 9 and 32 km
On the trails you see Hartmann's mountain zebra, kudu, oryx, blue wildebeest, springbok, eland and klipspringer. Visitors also report giraffe. The park is better for birders than for big game: some 200 species live here, among them Rüppell's parrot, the white-tailed shrike and Monteiro's hornbill, which barely occur outside Namibia and Angola.
The park is named after Daan Viljoen, who ran South West Africa as South African administrator from 1953 to 1963. Sources disagree on when it was founded. The environment ministry gives 1968, other sources 1962, the year the rest camp opened.
Three trails on foot
The shortest is the Wag-'n-Bietjie trail, three kilometres, good for an hour in the afternoon. The Rooibos trail runs for nine kilometres over hills and ridges, with views back to Windhoek from the top. For the 32-kilometre Sweet Thorn trail, with a night out, you need a booking and report to the office first.
Ask at the gate which trails are open to day visitors. A 2023 report says day visitors are sent to the short trail, because the Rooibos trail starts in the area reserved for overnight guests. Take water, as there is little shade on the ridges.Staying over or visiting for the day
Inside the park is a lodge by a small dam, run by Sun Karros, with chalets, a campsite, a restaurant and a pool. The lodge and restaurant are for overnight guests only. If you come for the day, bring your own picnic.
The park borders densely populated suburbs of Windhoek. According to the Tourism Board this makes poaching a problem, and the Augeigas river that runs through the park is polluted. For a first night after the flight, the lodge is still a quiet alternative to the city.
- Time needed
- half a day for hiking, a night at the lodge
- Cost
- park fee N$ 200 per day for foreign adults, children under 8 free (since 1 April 2026, as of October 2026)
- When
- May to November, early in the morning; the rains fall mainly from January to March
Our tipFit the park into the afternoon after you land or the morning before your flight home. Start the Rooibos trail early, before the sun beats down on the ridges.
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Check prices on trivagoDaan Viljoen: frequently asked questions
Can you hike in Daan Viljoen without a guide?
Yes, in Daan Viljoen Game Park near Windhoek you can walk the three- and nine-kilometre trails without a guide. The 32-kilometre overnight trail needs a booking.
How far is Daan Viljoen from Windhoek?
Daan Viljoen Game Park lies just over 20 kilometres west of Windhoek on the C28, in the Khomas Highland. The environment ministry gives 24 kilometres.
What animals can you see in Daan Viljoen?
Daan Viljoen Game Park is home to Hartmann's mountain zebra, kudu, oryx, blue wildebeest, springbok, eland and klipspringer, plus some 200 bird species such as Rüppell's parrot and Monteiro's hornbill.
Can day visitors eat at the Daan Viljoen restaurant?
According to reports since 2023, no: the lodge and restaurant in Daan Viljoen Game Park are for overnight guests. Day visitors bring their own picnic.