6 Best Places to Go in Namibia – Top Namibian Safari Highlights.

It’s simple to understand why tourists from all over the world give Namibia Safaris such good ratings. Its bizarre and spectacular landscapes, game-rich wildlife areas, and vibrant civilizations make it an enthralling African safari destination.

Namibia is a very family-friendly and safe place to visit, with its beautiful scenery and sharp contrasts. Namibia is a fascinating and distinctive African safari destination that has something to offer everyone, from the untamed Skeleton Coast and ancient Namib Desert to the bleak Damaraland and well-known Etosha Park.

Top Destinations for a Namibian Safari

These six must-see Namibia travel highlights are the greatest.

1. The National Park of Etosha

Etosha National Park, Namibia’s premier game park, is the country’s top destination for wildlife safaris. The park is dominated by the arid salt pan, which has unending flat plains that make for an amazing scenic ride and excellent visibility for wildlife viewing.

Throughout this expansive 22 270 km² wilderness area in northern Namibia, one can observe Etosha’s wild animals gathering at the waterholes. About 114 mammal species, 340 bird species, 110 reptile species, 16 amphibian species, and even a fish species can be found in Etosha Park.

Photographers, nature lovers, and wildlife enthusiasts frequent this renowned Namibian site for game viewing, which is easily accessible and situated amid unique surroundings.

 

2. The Desert of Namib

The Namib Desert is arguably Namibia’s most well-known tourist destination and its most recognizable landmark.

One of the world’s oldest and largest deserts is the Namib Desert. An enticing vacation spot with shifting ochre dunes, desolate pans, and peculiar locals. This hostile landscape, which is still nearly entirely unoccupied by people, captivates the mind with its silent dune fields and eerie isolation.

The Sossusvlei Dunes, the world’s tallest sand dunes at up to 300 meters, are one of the highlights of the Namib Desert. The main draw of the Namib Desert is the famous orange-red Sossusvlei desert dunes in Namibia.

The next most visited location in the Namib Desert is the Sesriem Canyon. Over millions of years, the Tsauchab River eroded the sedimentary rock, forming the natural canyon known as Sesriem. When the water levels are high enough, visitors can stroll along the canyon’s floor and swim in the cold pools. The striking Sesriem Canyon is up to thirty meters deep, one kilometer long, and barely two meters broad in certain places.

Another popular safari destination in the Namib Desert is Dead Vlei, which is close to Sossusvlei. Dead Vlei is a dried-up marsh where the bones of camel thorn trees that shoot up into the open desert skies contrast sharply with the broken ground of dry pans. It is estimated that the charred tree remnants in the white clay pit at Dead Vlei date back around 900 years.

Located in the Namib between Sesriem and Sossusvlei, Dune 45 is regarded as one of the most photographed sand dunes in the world. Approximately 100 meters high, this well-known dune tower is a popular climb with breathtaking views of the desert.

From the northern Cape Province of South Africa to southern Angola in the north, the Namib runs along Namibia’s Atlantic Coast. One of Africa’s biggest national parks, Namib Naukluft Park, protects the center Namib Desert.

Due to its remoteness and uniqueness, Kunene is unquestionably one of Namibia’s top attractions. This captivating area of north-central Namibia features untamed, surreal scenery interspersed with intriguing geological and archaeological landmarks.

This expansive terrain features rocky hills and large granite boulders that rise dramatically out of the parched plains. The Brandberg Massif, Namibia’s highest peak, and the imposing Spitzkoppe are the most well-known features. Ancient rock engravings and paintings, such as the White Lady of Brandberg and the rock art at Twyfelfontein, are well-known in the untamed Damaraland region.

The well-known nomadic desert elephants, black rhinos, and a wide range of other wild creatures can be found in Damaraland and Koakoveld.

The Kunene Region, home to Namibia’s traditional, nomadic Himba Tribes, provides a singular cultural experience. The Organ Pipes stone pillars, the Vingerklip limestone rock stack, and the Petrified Forest, which is home to enormous fossilized trees that date back about 200 million years, are some of the other attractions of the Kunene Region.

The most well-liked beach vacation spot in Namibia is the beachfront town of Swakopmund, which is well-known for its extensive array of adventure sports.

Swakopmund, also referred to as Namibia’s Adventure Capital, is a delightful vacation spot with a charming colonial German ambience. This vibrant seaside town offers a wide range of activities, from dining out and sightseeing to outdoor adventure sports like bungee jumping, sandboarding, and breathtaking flights over the Skeleton Coast.

Named for the remains of shipwrecks and bleached animal bones discovered along this perilous coast, the Skeleton Coast stretches north from Swakopmund along the rocky Atlantic beach.

Beautiful beauty may be found here as the rocky shoreline is battered by the ice and dangerous waters. One of the world’s largest seal colonies, Cape Cross, and shore-based fishing are two of the Skeleton Coast’s most well-known features.

Namibia Safari to Swakopmund & Skeleton Coast: Sossusvlei Dunes & Swakopmund
Explore the Camping Safari of Southern Africa
Or have a look at our next tours that leave from Swakopmund.

5. Hoba Meteorite & Waterberg Plateau

High above the surrounding Kalahari plains in eastern Namibia sits a national park called the Waterberg Plateau. In addition to being of geological and historical significance, the park offers refuge to endangered and unique Namibian species.

 

6. Canyon of Fish River

The Fish River Canyon is a breathtaking natural beauty and the second largest canyon in the world. Among Namibia’s top tourist destinations is this striking canyon.

Additional Top Namibian Destinations to See: Quer Tree Forest, an old forest of 200–300 year-old aloe “trees.” The Quiver Tree Forest in southern Namibia is visited as part of an All-Namibia Camping Safari.

Ai-Ais Hot Springs: Located in the southern end of the Fish River Canyon, Ai-Ais Hotsprings is home to a significant sulfurous hot spring surrounded by picturesque mountain scenery. Ai-Ais features a chilly outdoor pool, a heated pool, and thermal baths. On your camping safari in Southern Namibia, stop by Ai-Ais.

How to Travel to Namibia’s Greatest Locations

Namibian travel primarily begins and ends in Windhoek, the country’s capital. The majority of our Namibian tours begin and end in either Swakopmund (see future Swakopmund departures) or Windhoek (see Windhoek tour departures). Etosha Park and the Namib Desert are frequent destinations for these Namibia safaris.

Numerous Namibian sites are visited by a number of our lengthier, less expensive safaris and overland journeys, including the Waterberg Plateau and Etosha parks in the north and the Fish River Canyon in the south. See our future trips leaving from Cape Town and Victoria Falls tour departures for longer travel choices, including Namibia.