Namibia

Why

Namibia, nestled in the south-western region of Africa, is a sparsely populated country with a unique and protected landscape of vast desert, sprawling savannahs, salt pans, and breathtaking coastlines. It has a strong German architectural influence and is ideal for sandboarding, swimming in the ocean, and exhilarating safaris.

Boasting the world’s largest population of free-roaming cheetahs, the malaria-free Etosha National Park offers an incredible safari experience and a variety of accommodation options, including authentic tented bush camps and exclusive luxury lodges. Etosha boasts some of the largest elephants in Africa, along with other incredible species such as the endangered black rhino, lion and leopard, as well as 340 bird species, making it a great birdwatching destination.

After some time in the bush, explore the 80 million-year-old Namib Desert, the most ancient desert on the planet, home to Dune 7 at 383 metres. The Namib Desert offers some of the most incredible photo opportunities and mesmerising sunsets.

Swakopmund and Walvis Bay are coastal towns that boast fishing boats, crafts, and swimming beaches, whilst the long and desolate Skeleton Coast offers a more eerie experience, with the waves of the Atlantic Ocean crashing into the Namib Desert and rusting shipwrecks scattered along the shore.

Every corner of Namibia offers a contrasting landscape and a unique selection of activities that afford an unforgettable vacation.

When

The mesmerising sand dunes at Sossusvlei can be visited at any time of year, but the dry May to October winter months are widely regarded as the best time to visit Namibia for game viewing - especially in Etosha National Park. The skies are clear, and animals are increasingly concentrated around waterholes as the dry season arrives. Temperatures drop considerably in the evenings during June and July, whereas September and October can be extremely hot.

The summer rains between November and April turn the country lush and green, with occasional floods into the desert. December offers rewarding game viewing in Etosha, and summer is the best time visit Namibia for bird watching. The Caprivi Strip (known as the Zambezi Region) is Namibia’s wettest region and best avoided in the peak wet months of January and February.

Where

Often referred to as “Africa for beginners”, Namibia is a wonderful place to start your travels in Africa. Derived from the world’s oldest desert, the Namib, a UNESCO World Heritage Site in Namibia, features the world's only coastal fog desert, a perfect dead-tree valley in Sossusvlei, and spectacular sand dunes plunging down to the sea at Sandwich Harbour and the Skeleton Coast.

Inland, running through the heart of the country, you will find a glorious sight of mountains – the Naukluft Mountains, the Brandberg, Spitzkoppe, Damaraland and the jaw-dropping Fish River Canyon. With rivers and wetlands in the Caprivi Strip and the endless gold-grass plains of the Kalahari, it is hard to find a country that offers such diversity.

Namibia’s northern region is one of Southern Africa's best places to watch wildlife. Etosha National Park provides an elite wildlife-viewing experience – big cats, elephants, black rhinos and plains game in abundance. Damaraland is a wonderful place to see desert-adapted elephants and lions, and also inhabits one of Africa's largest populations of free-ranging black rhinos – rhino tracking is a real highlight here. In the Caprivi Strip, the wildlife is returning, with Bwabwata and Nkasa Rupara becoming wonderfully rich parks to explore. There are also private reserves in Namibia - Okonjima and Erindi are two of the most established reserves and provide fantastic experiences.

Windhoek

Windhoek is the capital of Namibia, in the country’s central highlands, within close proximity of the international airport. It is the largest city and the starting point for a safari in Namibia. Highlights in Windhoek include the National Museum and Christ Church, built in the early 1900s. Windhoek has a range of high-end hotels, boutique hotels and small lodges to check into before starting a Namibia adventure.

Etosha National Park

Covering more than 20,000 square kilometres, Etosha National Park is one of Africa’s biggest and most elite conservation areas. The beauty of Etosha lies around several waterholes where a phenomenal number of animals gather to drink, including lions, elephants, springboks, and gemsboks. This occurs frequently during the dry season months, from May through October.

Sossusvlei

Sossusvlei is a salt-and-clay pan surrounded by high red dunes, located in the southern part of the Namib Desert, in the Namib-Naukluft National Park of Namibia. The sand dunes of Sossusvlei in the Namib Desert are often referred to as the highest dunes in the world and the most popular photographic destination in Namibia. The desert offers a tranquil experience and is Namibia’s top attraction.

Swakopmund

Swakopmund is a coastal city in Namibia, west of the capital, Windhoek. Sandwiched between Atlantic rollers and the Namib Desert, Swakopmund is the country's biggest coastal town and premier holiday resort. For those interested in adventure activities, Swakopmund offers sandboarding, quad biking, dune carting, parachuting, hot air ballooning, shark fishing, deep sea fishing, and beach angling, to name a few.

Skeleton Coast National Park

Skeleton Coast National Park is located in northwest Namibia and features some of the most inaccessible shores, dotted with shipwrecks. It’s a 40 km-wide and 500 km-long coastal wilderness. The name came from the bones that lined the beaches from whaling operations and seal hunts, but more than a few of the skeletons were human. The San called it “The Land God Made in Anger”. Despite its dry, deadly appearance, the Skeleton Coast has as many as 247 bird species and a greater variety of animals than many other parks in Southern Africa. Cape Cross Seal Reserve is a breeding ground for thousands of Cape Fur Seals.

Damaraland

One of Namibia’s most scenic areas, the beautiful region of Damaraland is set amongst open plains, massive granite koppies, and deep gorges. Highlights include the Brandberg Mountains, home to the famous “White Lady” San painting; the rocky outcrop of Twyfelfontein, a million-year-old petrified forest; and the various desert-adapted wildlife. A new addition to tourism in the area is the exciting rhino and elephant tracking safaris.

Kaokoveld

Located in the far northwest of Namibia, Kaokoveld, also called Kaokoland, is a breathtaking retreat and remote wilderness. Wildlife is sparse, but most of it is unique to the region. Enjoy wide-open vistas and lonely desert roads with hardly anyone around you. This is a photographer's dream destination.

Caprivi Strip

The Caprivi is a narrow strip that juts out from the northeastern part of Namibia and links the country to Zimbabwe, Zambia and northern Botswana. It is a 450-kilometre panhandle filled with animals. You can see large herds of elephants, hippos, crocodiles, lions, leopards, and wild dogs, along with a variety of antelope.

Fish River Canyon

The Fish River Canyon is located in southern Namibia and is the second-most-visited tourist attraction in Namibia. It is the largest canyon in Africa and the second largest in the world. In some places, it is 27 kilometres wide and up to 550 meters deep. The Canyon hike is one of the most popular in Southern Africa, with visitors from all around the world.

Okonjima Nature Reserve

Located halfway between Windhoek and Etosha National Park, the private 55,000-acre Okonjima Nature Reserve is the perfect stop for travellers looking for exceptional accommodation and the opportunity to see cheetah and leopard in their natural habitat. Nestled among the Omborko Mountains, Okonjima, meaning “Place of the baboons”, is also home to the internationally renowned AfriCat Foundation.

Waterberg Plateau National Park

Located in Central Namibia, the plateau and the national park are named after the prominent table mountain that rises from the plateau, the Waterberg. The land, which is largely inaccessible, is home to 25 species of mammals, including black and white rhinos, Cape buffalo, and blue wildebeest. Sightings of the elusive leopard prowling along the cliffs, cheetah, caracal, black-backed and side-striped jackals are made on the plateau or in the savannah below. There are several privately owned lodges around the Waterberg Plateau.