Namibia

If we had to describe Namibia in two words to you they would be 'bewilderingly vast'.

There is an endless, quiet, untouched beauty to Namibia that is unlike anywhere in the world.

In Africa it is unique in its landscapes, atmosphere and tradition. While on the surface you'd be forgiven for thinking there's just a lot of sand, there is actually an unbelievable diversity throughout the regions of the country, and you will never cease to be amazed at how much wildlife lives in the harshest conditions.

Namibia is dramatic from the far south right to its northern tip. In the south, the world's second largest canyon, Fish River Canyon, sets the scene for what's to come. As you wind north there are the iron red dunes of the Sossusvlei, the mythical and eerie shores of the Skeleton Coast, ephemeral rivers of the Hoanib Valley dotted with incredible desert-adapted wildlife and finally endless rolling dunes in far north. While there are almost as many springbok as there are people in Namibia, the country has a rich culture with unique and deeply engrained heritages. From the Himba tribes along the border with Angola to the long-forgotten German ghost-towns of Kolmanskop, it's not uncommon to begin your day witnessing ancient traditions before rounding it off by eating an apple strudel.

With all of this to discover, it can be hard to know how to approach everything the country has to offer. Namibia is one of the best countries for you explore under your own steam from the comfort of a 4x4 self-drive. If long drives aren't for you though, you can easily fly to all of our favourite areas to experience safaris, dune hikes, black rhino tracking on foot, scenic hot air balloon flights and so much more.

When it comes to the style of accommodation throughout Namibia, there is a certain familiarity with the beautiful camps in countries like Botswana and Tanzania, but with a quirkiness befitting of Namibia's uniqueness. Aside from the more traditional and luxurious safari camps and lodges, you can also find lodges built to resemble the nest of the gregarious sociable weaver birds, or camps built on stilts designed like a nest fit for a martial eagle.

What to see

Sossusvlei & NamibRand

Picture perfect Namibia. Characterised by the tall iron-red sand dunes of the Sossusvlei and pre-historic dried pans of the Deadvlei, this is one of Namibia's most iconic environments. The greater NamibRand region offers a softer beauty, with endless amber grasslands and rocky outcrops.

Damaraland

A place of wild solitude. Damaraland stretches between the Skeleton Coast to the west and Etosha National Park to the east. It is home to rhino, elephants, giraffe, lions and so much more but in a landscape that defies belief.

Etosha National Park

Safaris in Etosha can sometimes feel as though you have stepped into Photoshop where every wild African animal has been placed into a single frame. Whether camping within the park or staying at one of the number of high-end camps outside the park, there is an option perfect for everyone.

Kaokoland

To the far north of Namibia, Kaokoland is an area of endless sand dunes stretching between the Hoanib and Kunene River that forms the border with Angola. This is one of the most remote regions of Africa that one can hope to explore.

Skeleton Coast

A harsh, dramatic and eerily beautiful landscape. The Skeleton Coast once again defies belief in Namibia, while the area is predominantly scattered with shipwrecks and seal colonies it is not unheard of to see lions, jackals and hyena roaming the endless coastline.

Mariental

An often overlooked area, this vast region of Namibia offers a vast diversity of landscapes from the Orange River to Quivertree forests. While not abundant with wildlife the beauty of the area and that light that touches the landscapes is mesmerising.

Zambezi Region (Caprivi Strip)

A tiny sliver of land that reaches out from Namibia to the meeting point of Botswana, Zambia and Zimbabwe, the Caprivi Strip is a mini-Okavango Detla. The region is a birders paradise with around 450 species. The easiest access to this area is from Botswana however it also makes for an amazing self-drive extension after Etosha.

Fish River Canyon

Standing on the edge of the Canyon you stare down through the layers of our planet. The magnitude of the canyon is silencing and truly awe-inspriring. For hikers this is a must-see destination, however there are also 4WD and even mule tours available too.

Swakopmund

Swakopmund is a quaint Germanic town that for many acts as halfway stop-off between southern and northern Namibia. There are a plethora of activites on offer along the coastline from boat trips to dunebiking.

Itineraries

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Dimitris K | Namibia & Rwanda

"Both trips were tailor-made to our style and preferences and we now feel we have a travel agent that knows us beyond the professional relationship."

Time your visit with Namibia's seasons

Namibia's seasons follow a typical Southern Africa pattern, however with the desert landscapes the 'wet season' is rarely wet at all. The cooler winter months do however offer a nice respite from what can be very warm summer months.

Namibia’s climate varies across the country. For the best game viewing in Etosha National Park, we would recommend visiting during the dry season between June and October.

November to February is the best time to see flamingos gather at lagoons in eastern Swakopmund. It’s also a great time to visit the Caprivi strip in the north.

Southern Namibia has a much more stable climate and receives very little rain throughout the year. When a rare downpour does start during summer between January to March, the thin, baked soil turns into a stunning blanket of green.

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Peak Season

Green Season

Botswana

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Namibia

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