Namibia travel - an overview of breathtaking places to visit

Visit Namibia

A trip in Namibia, southern Africa’s newest independent country, will reward the self drive traveller with unrivalled desert landscapes, diverse and rich cultures and histories, wild seascapes and cutting edge conservation strategies in which local communities have taken back responsibility for the animals and forests on their land. You will cover vast distances travelling in Namibia, but its excellent road system will help you get to your amazing destinations where great value accommodation and camping options await you.

Travel Africa will work with you to plan a range of fabulous touring options around Namibia – from flexible self-drive holidays to incredible luxury lodge sojourns. We will then book your holiday for you – providing you with detailed itineraries and information sheets. Don’t forget we provide superb value for money due to our in-depth knowledge of the region and our direct contacts which cut out layers of commission. Look at our fabulous range of sample itineraries to give you loads of ideas and places to start from. Here we describe some of the wonderful destinations Nambia has to offer.

Interactive country map and photographs at the bottom of the page.

When to visit Namibia - seasons

A country dominated by desert Nambia has a generally dry and pleasant climate – making it a good country to visit year round. It can receive a small amount of rain during the months of December and March which can also be very hot. During this time you can experience some humid days and localised thunderstorms – more common in the centre and east of the country. April and May are lovely months with increasingly dry days complementing the greener landscape. Namibia cools down from June to August with nights becoming colder and dropping to below freezing in some desert areas! This is a good time to see animals as they gravitate around waterholes. The weather warms up in September and October and the animals further concentrate around the last of the available water in a landscape that has dried out substantially. November can be variable – often hot and dry but sometimes the first clouds gather and the first rains can come early.

Click below for ideas of what to see and do

A World Heritage Site, Sossusvlei is a large ephemeral clay pan set amid spectacular red piles of sand that rank among the tallest dunes on earth. Deathly white against red sands, the pan is the endpoint of a usually dry river. Nearby Dead Vlei, where the ancient and skeletal camel thorn trees stand on the white pan with the backdrop of orange sand dunes and blue sky, is a photographer’s delight. At the entry to Sossusvlei is Sesriem Canyon, where centuries of erosion have incised a narrow gorge about 1km in length.

Etosha is one of the world’s great wildlife-viewing destinations. At its heart is the vast Etosha Pan – an immense, shallow, saline depression. In the bush and grasslands surrounding the Pan are a series of waterholes supporting over 115 mammal species including cheetah and black rhino, as well as elephant, lion, leopard, hyena, giraffe, springbok, black-faced impala and gemsbok. In conjunction 340 species of bird have been recorded, including flamingos and pelicans drawn to the Pan during the few days each year when the rains transform it into a shallow lagoon. Etosha is open throughout the year. There are 3 main camps – Okaukuejo in the west, Namutoni in the east and Halali between the two. Each has a floodlit waterhole where wildlife can be viewed throughout the day and night. Etosha is superb throughout the year, pick a waterhole and wait to see what animals emerge out of the bush.

Swakopmund resembles a small German town and creates a feeling of timelessness with its palm-lined streets, seaside promenades, restaurants, cafes, art galleries and museums. And while there’s plenty to do within the city limits, the real action happens in the surrounding desert. Quad-biking, sand-boarding and other guided adrenaline inducing activities are available. At Walvis Bay join a dolphin cruise or explore the Ramsar designated lagoon with its rich birdlife including migratory Greater and Lesser Flamingos. The reed-fringed lagoon at Sandwich Harbour, 48kms south of Walvis Bay at the foot of towering ivory-coloured dunes, is a spectacular and photo worthy destination.

The epic desert landscapes of north west Namibia will enchant those who enjoy more challenging travel. You will need a four wheel drive to make your way through the dry river beds and rocky mountain passes which characterise this region Admire the work of the Himba and Herero communities who have ensured the survival of desert elephants and black rhino in the region. Stay in community campsites and enjoy seeing springbok and gemsbok graze alongside long horned cattle and goats. The flora of Damaraland is as unique as the landscape, with amazing plants such as welwitschia, Moringa and variety of commiphora species.

Luderitz is a small town, dominated by the port and diamond mining. The sheer isolation of this town, colonial buildings, cold winds of the Atlantic Ocean and fishing boats make it unique. The Luderitz Peninsula has a varied coastline including Bogenfels (rock arch), a penguin colony and seal colonies. The ghost town of Kolmanskop, a deserted diamond mining town, is situated in the Sperrgebiet (Forbidden area – Diamond zone) just 10kms outside of Luderitz. Inland from Luderitz you may come across the desert horses of the Namibia around Aus. Stories abound about their origins … whatever the truth, these horses are tough and beautiful. Spend time in a hide and watch these horses come to drink and rest.

/Ui-//ais, also known as Twyfelfontein, is a World Heritage site with one of the largest concentrations of rock engravings (petroglyphs) in Africa. Over 2,500 engravings over 2,000 years old are set on a stunning hillside amongst red sandstone boulders. Guides take visitors to view the amazing engravings including elephants, lion, giraffe and kudu – all which once drank from the spring (fontein) found at the base of the hillside.

Rising an impressive 700m above the flat surface of the Namibian plains, Spitzkoppe is a well-known landmark and was formed by the collapse of a giant volcano about 100 million years ago. Several rock-painting sites are scattered throughout the Spitzkoppe and Erongo Mountains. The area around Spitzkoppe lends itself to both short and long walks and avid hikers will be entertained for hours exploring the many facets of the mountains.

A thin finger of land between Angola and Botswana, the Caprivi Strip links Namibia with Zambia and Zimbabwe. In this northerly section the country and vegetation differs vastly from much of Namibia. Rivers, wetlands and an abundance of animal and bird life make it unique and one of the forgotten jewels of Namibia. The region has over 430 species of bird, huge herds of elephant and other water dependent game such as hippo, crocodiles, red lechwe, waterbuck – many of which are not found elsewhere in Namibia. Game reserves include Mudumu, Mahango and Nkasa Rupara – each small and unique with migrating species of game, huge baobab trees and deciduous woodlands.

The highlight in the far south of the country is the Fish River Canyon, one of Namibia’s most spectacular geological wonders. The canyon lies in the lower reaches of Namibia’s longest river – The Fish, and took millions of years to evolve to its present shape. The Canyon is a massive 161km long and 27km wide, with a varying depth of 550m. Amazing vistas and spectacular hiking trails await you.