A GUIDE TO AFRICA
OUR 10 FAVOURITE DESTINATIONS IN NAMIBIA
Namibia is a wonder of a destination – it is one of the least densely populated places on Earth and is home to the world’s oldest desert, the Namib Destination. Not only this but it has enormous sand dunes, which also crack the nod as some of the tallest in the world. From Mars-like terrain to silvery, sandy pans to harsh coastlines, Namibia has some of the most dramatic and awe-inspiring scenery and landscapes you will ever see.
Wildlife enthusiasts will enjoy fantastic safaris. Independent adventurers will find the easy-to-navigate roads ideal for self-drive holidays. Honeymooners will find romance and privacy with the remote, luxurious and exclusive accommodations options. Families will be welcomed by family-friendly and safe nature.
Here are our 10 must-visit destinations in Namibia:
Sossusvlei
The striking red sand dunes contrasting against the white salt pans and blue sky, makes Sossusvlei one of Namibia’s most spectacular attractions. The mesmerising sand dunes are often called the highest dunes on the planet. Sossusvlei translates to ‘dead-end marsh’ – it is the place where the dunes come together and stop the Tsauchab River from flowing any further. Sossusvlei is the epitome of the desert landscape for which Namibia is so iconic.
Why Go
- To climb Dune 45 or Big Daddy (approx. 1 150 feet / 350 metres)
- To take a hot-air balloon safari over the spectacular desert
- To visit the Deadvlei, ‘dead marsh’
Damaraland
Highlights
Twyfelfontein
Twyfelfontein, ‘doubtful mountain’ is a World Heritage Site made up of 2 000 ancient rock engravings and paintings. These are considered to be some of the best-preserved etchings on the African continent. The age of the engravings is between one thousand and ten thousand years old. What is remarkable is that the engravings were made without the use of metal tools.
The Brandberg Mountain Range
The Brandberg Mountain Range has Namibia’s highest mountain peak and is also home to thousands of ancient rock paintings. The Brandberg stands at a towering 2,000 metres over the surrounding plains and is a popular hiking spot. The name “Brandberg” (burning mountain) derives from the glowing colours that the setting sun paints onto the mountain range.
The Organ Pipes
The Organ Pipes are a distinctive series of dolerite pillars. They were formed about 150 million years ago by the intrusion of liquid lava into a slate rock formation.
Swakopmund
Swakopmund lies on the coast of Namibia, between Sossusvlei to the South and the Skeleton Coast to the North. It is considered the jewel of Namibia’s coastline and the country’s adventure capital. It is a quaint, laidback seaside town that blends its German heritage with distinctive African elements.
Swakopmund offers sandboarding, quad biking, dune carting, parachuting, hot-air ballooning, deep sea fishing and beach angling. If you are more inclined to relax, you can enjoy restaurants, cafes, art galleries, the Swakopmund Museum, and aquarium. You can also take a boat trip to the “Cape Cross” seal colony.
Why Go
- It is the perfect stop-over between the Skeleton Coast or Etosha and the Namib Desert.
- The adventure activities.
- The quaint cafes, restaurants and art galleries.
- The Guided tour to see the Little 5 of the Namib Desert: Namaqua chameleon, sidewinder snake, Namib dune gecko, Fitzsimons burrowing skink and the white lady dancing spider.
Etosha National Park
Etosha National Park is one of Africa’s great game reserves and offers a unique safari experience. It has great roads making it ideal for self-drive trips. Etosha, which means “the great white place”, or “place of dry water”, owes its unique landscape to the colossal Etosha mineral pan, a vast shallow depression four times the size of Los Angeles.
It is home to 114 different mammal species, including the Big Five. Herds of up to fifty elephants are not unusual. Etosha is also an ideal destination for serious birders with 340 bird species. There are also 110 reptile species, 16 amphibian species and, believe it or not, one species of fish!
Why Go
- The incredible game viewing between May and October.
- The ease and safety of self-driving.
- The game viewing of black rhino and cheetah.
- The excellent accommodaton in adjacent private reserves.
Hoanib Skeleton Coast
Part of the Namib Desert, the Hoanib Skeleton Coast is a hostile yet fascinating area in the far north-western corner of Namibia. It is usually associated with famous shipwrecks and tales of sailors wandering for miles in search of water. It is a mysterious place – the dunes of world’s oldest desert meet the turbulent waters of the Atlantic Ocean to from one of Earth’s most dramatic coastlines.
Despite the hostile character and lack of rainfall of the Skeleton Coast, wildlife thrives here with the help of the damp coastal fog. Rivers and freshwater springs support healthy populations of zebra, giraffe, oryx, kudu, springbok, cheetah, meerkats, jackal and small spotted genet. It is also home to desert-adapted elephant and lion.
Why Go
- For the 4×4 excursions into the Namib Desert and Hoanib River Delta.
- To track desert-adapted elephant, lion and brown hyena.
- For the birdwatching – 247 species have been recorded.
- To take a scenic flight over the beautiful, dramatic coastline.
The Fish River Canyon
The Fish River Canyon is the second largest canyon in the world. It is awe-inspiring, featuring a 160km (100 mile) long ravine, that is up to 27km (17 miles) wide and is almost 550 metres (1,805 feet) at its deepest point. You will be left breathless by the immensity and beauty of this incredible landscape – a flat plateau suddenly drops half a vertical kilometre into a weaving and twisting kaleidoscope of colours formed by millions of years of erosion.
Many mammals, such as zebra, kudu and oryx, and abundance of reptiles, insects and fish find refuge here. There are natural hot springs on the canyon’s floor which form pools of water that attract many species of water birds.
Why Go
- You can explore the Fish River Canyon by foot or horseback.
- To visit the Ai-Ais – natural hot springs.
- To explore some of Southern Africa’s best hiking trails.
Kaokoveld
Kaokoveld is considered one of Southern Africa’s last remaining wildernesses. Vast, silent and in most part empty – it is the perfect destination for introspection, to get off the beaten track. Like Etosha, it is home to desert-adapted elephant, lion, black rhino, giraffe and oryx.
It has a population density of only one person per 2 square kilometres (0.8 square miles). Approximately one-third of the population are the Himba – a semi-nomadic and pastoral people with an incredible ability to survive in this arid, unforgiving landscape.
Why Go
- To visit one of Southern Africa’s last untouched wildernesses.
- For cultural interactions with the local Himba people.
- To track the desert-adapted wildlife.
Kolmanskop
Kolmanskop is a famous ghost town in the Sperrgebiet (‘forbidden territory’) of the Namib Desert. In the early 1900s, a diamond was discovered there which led to fortune hunters moving into Kolmanskop in a frantic diamond rush. It soon developed into a flourishing town with elegant houses, a hospital, ballroom casino, school and even an ice-cream factory. It was at its pinnacle of development in the 1920s but suffered a massive decline after WWI with the crash of diamond prices.
Within 40 years, Kolmanskop was a skeleton of a town and is slowly being consumed by the Nambi Desert. It is a popular destination for film shoots and offers eerie photography opportunities.
Why Go
- To take a tour through a real-life ghost town
- For one-of-a-kind photography opportunities
Zambezi Region
The Zambezi Region, formerly known as the Caprivi Strip, is considered the Namibian eqiuvalent of the Okavango Delta. It offers fantastic water-based safaris with its vast wetlands and riverine forests. The region is surrounded by four perennial rivers – Kwando, Chobe, Linyanti and Zambezi – which makes it a favourite spot for elephant, hippo, buffalo and crocodile.
It is a birder’s paradise – the region has recorded over 600 species. The region is also home to several intimate game reserves, each with excellent lodges offering boat safaris and sunset cruises.
Why Go
- For the incredible birdwatching.
- The water-based safaris.
- Excellent safari lodges in tranquil riverside settings.
Okonjima Nature Reserve
Lying conveniently halfway between Windhoek and Etosha National Park is Okonjima Nature Reserve. It is known for its fantastic cheetah and leopard sightings. Namibia is home to the largest and healthiest cheetah population in the world. Okonjima is home to the AfriCat Foundation, a non-profit organisation working to the long-term conservation of Namibia’s largest carnivores, such as cheetah, leopard and brown hyena, in their natural habitat.
Why Go
- It is one of the best places to see leopard in Namibia.
- To track cheetah and brown hyena on game drives.
