On a continent of jam-packed wildlife reserves and lush landscapes, Namibia promises a completely different experience, making it one of the most unique places to visit in Southern Africa. Swathes of desert are dotted with hardy, sand-adapted creatures, large and small, and the crashing Atlantic coastline is a beautiful contrast. There are many ways to explore the country and we’ve put together our top ten things to do in Namibia to get you started.
A self-driving journey
Anyone who’s flicked through a guide book on Namibia will know that it is one of the best countries in Africa for a self-driving expedition. What’s so good about it, you ask? Well, the roads between Namibia’s highlights are easy to navigate and scenic beyond words, and you’ll be able to see it all at your own pace. On a trip like our classic self-drive journey, you’ll set off from Windhoek and make your way through wide-open landscapes without a town or tourist in sight. Enter the Namib-Naukluft National Park to see the breathtaking dunes in Sossusvlei and visit Deadvlei’s iconic fossilised trees. Then, keep the adventure going in Swakopmund where you can go sandboarding or quad-biking in the desert, skydive over the Swakop River mouth, or dolphin-spot on a catamaran cruise. After that, head off in search of elephant and rhino in Etosha and learn all about cheetah conservation in Otjiwarongo. There’s nothing quite like a road trip in Namibia!
Experience Namibia from the air
With its endless orange deserts and wildly-beautiful coastline, Namibia is jaw-dropping from the air. Whether you’re admiring the view from a chartered plane or hot air balloon flight, the vistas are truly spectacular and you’ll scarcely want to blink. We love floating above Sossusvlei in a hot air balloon at dawn with the sun slowly creeping over the dunes and casting giant shadows across the apricot sand. Watch as solitary oryx, ostriches and herds of zebra become ant-sized, and keep an eye out for the mysterious ‘fairy circles’ too. If a plane is more your thing, soar along the Atlantic coastline, taking in the beaches of Swakopmund and the surreal Skeleton Coast with its bleached elephant bones and scattered shipwrecks. This is a highlight of our fly-in trip, which also includes a bird’s eye view of Damaraland, Etosha and Sossusvlei.
The Sossusvlei dunes & Deadvlei
Sitting within the world’s oldest desert and largest conservation area in Africa, the dunes of Sossusvlei are icons in their own right. Standing at around 325 metres, Big Daddy is the tallest and most challenging to climb, but the views from its summit are astounding – you may even spot an oryx strutting slowly in its shadow – while Dune 45 provides a far easier climb. If you’re handy with a camera, sunrise and sunset are the best time to trek these giants. Not to be forgotten is Deadvlei, a sun-baked clay pan punctuated by ancient, fossilised camel thorn trees and hidden amongst the towers of sand. Your guide will share the story of its 600-year-old genesis as you wander around the surreal scene. We suggest combining Sossusvlei with a couple of Namibia’s other highlights on this short but sweet trip.
Adventures in the desert
If there’s one thing Namibia isn’t short on, it’s desertscapes to explore. A sprawling playground for every age, the deserts run parallel to the coast so you can enjoy a day trip from the seaside or spend a few days at a sand-strewn lodge. If you’re plumping for the former, head out for a day of quad biking, sandboarding or fat biking before returning to enjoy the ocean breezes in Swakopmund, or escape to the rugged Skeleton Coast where you can venture inland to spot desert-adapted elephant, oryx and birdlife; a picnic in the shade isn’t a bad idea either. When it comes to exploring the desert on foot, Sossusvlei is at the top of the list but if you head north, Damaraland offers epic horseback riding safaris where you can see wildlife up-close thanks to your four-footed guide. This self-driving journey is just the ticket.
Visit the Petrified Forest & rock art in Damaraland
In a country of mercurial landscapes, Damaraland is a curious combination of grassy plains, flora-less desert and mountains in every direction. The terracotta cliffs and boulders are also the site of a rich collection of rock art, and one of the most remarkable and well-preserved sites is Twyfelfontein. The UNESCO World Heritage Site is home to hundreds of paintings and thousands of engravings dating back to the early Stone Age and as you explore, your guide will share the insight these works give us into the lives of Damaraland’s original people. This region is also famous for its Petrified Forest, where you can walk amongst 260-million-year-old tree fossils, some of which stand as tall as 30 metres. Experience the best of Namibia’s deserts and coast on this see-it-all trip.
Meet the Himba people in Kaokoland
Having rejected modern inventions and ideologies, the Himba people survive in the seemingly inhospitable environment of Kaokoland (now known as Kunene) using the tools developed by their ancestors may centuries ago. The chance to meet and learn from this tight-knit community doesn’t come around every day, and a high level of respect carries the entire experience. You’ll learn about their beliefs and customs as well as their day-to-day lives, including their unique diet, smoke ‘showers’ and the use of otjize (a paste made from cattle fat, ash and red ochre) to protect their skin from the sun. Plan an unforgettable visit on a trip to the hidden gems of Namibia.
A safari in Etosha
In complete contrast to the rest of Namibia, Etosha is the country’s main wildlife-filled reserve, providing a classic Southern Africa safari experience. Over 40 shimmering waterholes attract big and small beasties in their thousands and all you need to do is park nearby and wait…If you’re lucky, you’ll spy families of elephant cooling off in the mud, giraffe stooping low for a drink, plains game gathered in watchful groups, big cats lapping along the banks, and both black and white rhino. Visit after the rainy season to see the usually arid salt pan become a brimming lagoon where flamingo, pelicans and other colourful birdlife gather in droves. See it all on this trip from the desert to Namibia’s wildlife hot spots.
Ogle shipwrecks on the Skeleton Coast
So named for the bleached bones of whales and the time-worn hulls of unlucky ships, Skeleton Coast is mysterious and other-worldly. Hear all about the legends (and true stories) of the most famous wrecks that were overcome by the harsh waters and blinding fog that rolls along the coast. A few highlights on this trip include the beacon where Gertud Woermann II sat before it was reclaimed by the water, and the Eduard Bohlen shipwreck, which lies 800 metres inland, completely buried in the sand. The wrecks range from well-preserved to barely there, but the result is a striking scene against the crashing Atlantic Ocean so bring your camera!
Make a splash in Caprivi
Where Namibia meets Botswana and Zambia, the Caprivi Strip (now called the Zambezi Region) is kept watered, green and lush by the Okavango, Linyanti and Chobe Rivers. Wetlands, watery channels and waterfalls attract a plethora of species including pods of hippo and crocodile, buffalo and elephant herds, and shy antelope. You can spot these creatures and more on a game drive, or glide along the water in a mokoro boat and watch the rare birdlife twitter along the banks. Why not combine this gem in north-eastern Namibia with other wildlife experiences in Etosha, Damaraland and Otjiwarongo?
Search for desert-adapted wildlife
Rugged and sparse, it’s hard to believe the deserts of Damaraland allow for any life at all. However, venture out on a game drive or walking safari and you’ll discover a cast of wildlife that have adapted to survive here. Keep your eyes peeled for oryx, mountain zebra, the tiny dik-dik, elephant and, the stars of the show, black rhino. For the ultimate, up-close encounter, join your guides to track rhino on foot, watching them trundle between boulders and snack on euphorbia plants. Or, follow the desert-adapted elephant as they wander along sun-baked riverbeds; these majestic animals have learned to live with as little as 100 mm of rain every year! Then again, exploring Damaraland on horseback and getting closer to the wildlife than you thought possible could be the adventure you’re looking for. Explore the wonders of northern Namibia on a self-driving adventure like this.
