Namibia is a country in South Africa and borders Zambia to the North and Botswana to the East. It is inhabited by the khoi and san. It is the driest country in Sub Sahara. The name is derived from the oldest desert in the worlds, the Namib Desert.
Namibia is among the most sparsely populated area in the world with a total of approximately 3 million people. If you are looking for an adventure with less crowded people in the world, then you should be considerate of Namibia.
Seeing people travelling, from other parts of the world to Namibia, clearly shows that there is something special about the place. Here is a form of guideline that can help you have an idea of where to go once you are planning for a Namibia Safari.
First the country can be explored well by road. Some of the places you may opt to visit while in Namibia include; Sossusvlei & Deadvlei, Etosha National Park, Fish River Canyon, Swakopmund, Skeleton Coast, Sandwich Harbour and many others.
One may take a flight from Johannesburg to Windhoek. On your arrival, you find a 4×4 vehicle that will ease your safari. This vehicle will take you to all the destination that will be listed in your itinerary. Ensure you are ready for the adventure that awaits you.
Let’s go straight to some of the beautiful places you won’t want to miss when you visit Namibia.
Sossusvlei
Sossusvlei is a clay pan surrounded by high red dunes. These dunes are some of the highest in the world. It is in the Namib Naukluft National Pak southern of Namib Desert. These are one of the landmarks in Namibia that attracts tourist.
In Sossusvlei there is a site known as Sesriem. So basically Sossusvlei is a National Park that one can go for camping in the Sesriem to get better access of the dunes. During the prime time, early morning or late evening, you won’t get difficulty in accessing the dunes once you decide to camp there.
Also you can opt to drive to the dunes. If you have a 2×4, it will be difficult for you to access the area due to the thick sand. The best vehicle to go on this adventure is by a 4×4 vehicle, drive it to the tallest dune of Sossusvlei.
You can take an adventure of climbing the sand dunes to reach the Deadvlei. Although it may be difficult to trace it and in the process you may get lost, one should try. It is adventurous in its own ways. The signpost of the Deadvlei is usually not clear hence making people to get confused while tracing them.
The deadvlei is a clay pan with around 900 old dark dead camel thorn trees against the whine pan floor. There is nothing more adventurous in the Sossuvlei that walking around, getting lost while in search of the Deadvlei. You should consider putting it in your bucket list.
Solitaire
Solitaire is in Central Namibia near Namib Naukluft National Park with a small settlement in the Khomas Region. The area has a hard Sand Airstrip that is well maintained and is frequently used by the private aviators, charter operators and self-fly tourists.
The area is sparsely populated by approximately 100+ people. Due to the less number of people in the region, it is commonly used as a stopover for multiple of tourists as they en route to Swakopmund from Sesrien.
The reason for it used as a stopover, is because of the bakery that is found within the region. One stops by, enjoy cakes and apple pies that are made in the bakery around before proceeding with your journey to Swakopmund.
Secondly, it has a refueling station nearby that you may use the opportunity to stretch a bit from your safari. Many opt to recharge their vehicles with fuel and this saves them the stress of running out while doing drive in their safari.
Lastly, car repairs are around in case of any breakdown. The Namibia roads to these destinations do not favor vehicles as much due to the hard sand that is in the desert. Thereby, a small garage is found around the place to give you a handy.
After leaving the Solitaire, a sign Tropic of Capricorn is always there and tourist opt to takes pictures for good memories. Solitaire may seem small but it is a cool place set aside for stopovers. You will definitely want to experience especially the delicious apple pies made in the bakery are exemplary.
Swakopmund
Swakopmund, a premier Namibian coastal Town is known to be the capital Nation’s adventure. It was founded in 1892 as the main harbor of German South West and till date it displays significant German Influence. It was established by a German Colonist.
The annual rainfall of Swakopmund is 16mm, making the climate cool for the coastal. It is the coastal city of Namibia west of Windhoek. Here is where the desert meets with the ocean and offer the memorable experience.
One of the landmark is the Swakipmund Lighthouse and the mole. Next to Light house, you will find a museum that documents the history if the Namibian desert. You will get to learn when and how it was founded, artefacts and many more.
If you are aiming to visit the place in a day, you may visit Walvis Bay where you can enjoy boat riding, Kayaking with seals and exploring the lagoons. Also get to enjoy the Sandwich harbor where the sound dunes meet with the ocean.
Also head to Damaraland to see ancient rock art and desert Landscapes. Other activities that you may opt to enjoy include skydiving, sand boarding and camel riding. This place just gives costal vibes and one can’t tell is in a desert place.
If you plan to visit Namibia, this must be in your bucket list after the desert Safari for you to feel the change of the environment totally. It leaves nothing unturned especially for nature lovers.
Walvis Bay
Walvis Bay is the largest coastal city in the country and second largest city in Namibia. It covers 29 square Kilometer of the region. Due to the harbor, the bay is haven for sea vessels. It is the only natural water deep harbor in the coastal region in Namibia.
It is rich in Plankton and Marine life hence drawing large numbers of southern right whales. Due to this, it enhance the activity of fishing around the area. This is one of the activity that you may enjoy in Walvis Bay.
It has a lagoon that is home to a lot of flamingos, pelicans and Damaras. The presence of the flamingo attract a large number of tourists in the area. But, do note that you can see the flamingos during a specific season in the year.
It has dune 7 that is located in between Swakopmund and Walvis Bay known to be the highest dune in Namibia. One can enjoy climbing through the dune and is regarded as another activity that can be enjoyed in Walvis Bay.
A lot of tourist are corded in numbers from the port and the airport visiting the Walvis Bay. They tend to enjoy activities that are there. The tourists enhance tourism as an economic activity in the area that enables the growth of the coastal region.
Looking for a place to relax and unwind, then Walvis Bay should always be included. It is near Swakampund, you may opt to visit the both places day by day.
The Skeleton Coast
Skeleton Coast stretches from the Kunene River to the Swakop River. It measures approximately 500 meters long and fog shrouded section of Atlantic coast in Nothern Namibia. it is said that the people of the San in the interior of Namibia called the region “the Land that God made in anger.”
The land is known to be the world’s largest ship cemetery. This is because of the number of shipwrecks that have washed up along its shores. Another reason is due to the fog, strong winds and rough seas that makes the ships to sink.
Funny thing is that most of the ship wrecks are not accessible today, either they got crushed to an extent disappeared in the sand or nowhere near the road. It has a national park that was claimed in 1973.
It covers 500 Km of the coastline. It holds animals as the Jackal, hyenas, Oryx and the Cape Fria. The activities one can enjoy is sand dunning and visiting the seal colonies. Although the shipwrecks are rarely seen, it is also an activity that is practiced in the area.
You can access the area by driving from Swakopmund or to the north catch a light flight or a fly in safari. To access the park fee is required. Although it is not that interesting, you should still plan a safari to get the experience of the place. Do note people have their own different understanding of safari and experience too.
Windhoek
It is the capital city of Namibia located in the central highlands. It is an economical center due to the activities that happen and the tourist attraction itself. On arrival, there are many activities that one may opt to take before starting the safaris.
One of the activity you can involve yourself is enjoying the meals that are prepared in the land. Get to visit different kind of restaurant while you take delicious meals. Make sure to try different options and learn some recipe to take with you back home.
It is a city, and cultures are different opt to go for a shopping at the stalls around. You can choose to buy an attire or even artefacts that makes one look glamorous. You can by as many gifts as possible for your friends or family.
Also get a city tour of how the place really looks like and how errands ran in the area. You can interact with the people from the local region and get to learn their culture, fashions or even help more in familiarization of the place.
Also you may opt for a game sanctuary around windhoeck. You will see the species of the animals that are found in Namibia. This will give you a sense and opening of you Safari in Namibia. Never miss a moment when visiting a new place. Especially the capital cities of certain countries cause it unfolds and summarizes on how you Safari will be like.
Etosha National Park.
This is a national park in the North Western part of Namibia and actually one of the largest park in Africa. It is the oldest park in Namibia. It was claimed a national reserve in 1907. The park is a salt pan and large of it and be seen on space.
Due to the open land scape, one is able to enjoy game drive. During game drive one can see the big four. Buffalo is not found in the Park. Other wildlife that can be enjoyed includes the cheetahs, hyenas and jackals. If you happen to see them match towards the waterhole, makes your game safari even a bonus. Etosha is a place one can never be tired of.
Another plus of Etosha as a destination is that one can acquire it from South Africa or Namibia. Etosha is malaria free and any car can be used for game drive through the park. It has no limitation making it favor people who wants to do self-driving.
On your way to Etosha, depending on the route you have chosen, you might encounter different types of wild animals but they cannot attack. They keep off for they don’t get bothered by people.
Etosha National Park gives one a chance to have perfect views. It is one of the park that you can never come out of it with regrets but only full of memories that will make you forever happy. You should add this to your bucket list.
Damaraland
This is a rugged region in the North western Namibia known for its desert adapted wildlife, ancient rock art and rocky landscape. You are likely to pass via the Damaraland from Etosha to the Skeleton Coast en route. It is located between the Namib desert and ugab river.
The rocky landscape offers a breathtaking and unique view of the place. It also has a variety of wild life including the zebras, rhinos, elephants and lions. You get to enjoy these beautiful wild animals in the comfort of your zone.
Namibia’s highest mountain, the Brandberg is located in Damaraland. It attracts a lot of tourists and also a home to lots of rock painting. Tourists visit the area only to get a glimpse of how unique and beautiful the place is.
Also other activities that you may enjoy in Damaraland include guided nature drives to see some wild life, hiking, mountain biking and visiting local communities to know their culture. Also there is a forest that one can get to learn about the flora and fauna. You may visit with a guide to gain the understanding of the walk.
The best time to visit the area is during the dry season for you will have more chances to see the wild life as they head to the waterhole to drink water. The place is ideally beautiful also during the wet season because of the lush landscape in the area. Whether in dry or cold, you will get to enjoy the place.
The Namib Desert
This is one of the oldest desert in Namibia with over 55 million years. It stretches over the Atlantic Angola, Namibia and South Africa. It the world’s highest sand dunes with dunes in sossusvlei, Deadvlei and Arid Skeleton.
The Namib Desert is also home to some wild animals as iconic Oryx, Hermann’s mountain Zebras and desert lions, these are some of the wildlife animals that you may enjoy viewing there. The desert is closely in contact with Solitaire.
The desert experience less that 10mm of rainfall annually. The climate cool and hyper –arid. The plants and animals that survive there are due to the regular morning fog that the place have. So the animals depend on it for survival in the dry desert without it the chances of survival are minimum.
The Namib Desert attract large number of tourists. They carry out hiking in the sand dunes and scenic helicopter flight for aerial view of the desert. Others visit the Namib Naukluft Park for game drive. The Desert looks best in the morning and the evening due to the color change of the dunes with the sun. The best time to take a picture is recommended either in the morning or evening.
Due to the visitors who often visit, the Namib plays an important role in the community. You don’t want to miss the opportunity of hiking and walking through the desert and feel the heat of the place. It is one nice experience.
Fish River Canyon
Fish River Canyon is the Largest Canyon in Africa located in the southern part of Namibia. It is noted to be the second place to be mostly visited in Namibia. It is 160 Km long, 27 Km wide and almost 550 meters deep.
Once you visit the place some of the activities that you enjoy include hiking, sightseeing and relaxing in the hot spring. It is your choice on what you like best and what you prefer doing most before selecting on whatever you will do. The hot springs are the Ai- Ais hotspring.
Entrance fee is required to access the place. For hiking, it is allowed to be done during the wet season due to the harsh climate in the Canyon. That is May to Mid- September is when one is prohibited to visit the Canyon.
Hells Bend, a rest camp is located 10 Km from Hobas. This is a site where people go and have beautiful view. Here, you are opted to take as many pictures as possible because of the view. In short, anywhere you opt to travel, make sure your camera is fully charged since all the destinations has sites for good photography.
