Namibia Travel Guide

Namibia is Southern Africa's definitive desert destination; famous for its iconic orange-red dunes, spectacular scenery and surreal flora and fauna. Beyond the allure of the ancient Namib Desert, this vast country offers some of Africa's best game viewing in Etosha National Park, making it one of the most popular travel destinations on the sub-continent.

Given Namibia's low population density and expansive 'empty' landscapes, it is a safari destination that can absorb huge volumes of travellers without feeling crowded, for the most part.

Infrastructure

Namibia is known for its excellent infrastructure, with an expansive network of well-maintained roads and high-quality lodges. Land travel in this arid country entails covering long distances on often-deserted roads (no pun intended!), either on escorted tours or self-drive safaris.

Self-driving is popular with experienced travellers in Namibia. The vast distances and sometimes gruelling terrain can be challenging to less accomplished drivers. Accommodation options range from good camping to B&Bs, lodges, boutique hotels and luxury tented safari camps. If you have limited time to see Namibia, it's often a good idea to fly between destinations.

Safety and family safaris

Namibia is a popular family safari destination because it is a safe country to travel in and it offers a diversity of engaging attractions. The majority of the country is malaria-free; the only risk areas are in the far north and northeast.

Part of Namibia's appeal is its political and economic stability, small population and ease of travelling in this relatively modernised African nation. Another drawcard is the range of activities it has to offer, especially in and around Swakopmund, which is considered one of the prime adventure destinations in southern Africa.

Namibia is a visual destination

Namibia is a photographer's dream, where open plains, deserts and shimmering pans call for wide-angle lenses. The most memorable aspect of travel in Namibia is its striking, almost lunar-type terrain and remarkable geographical features; be it the deep chasm of the Fish River Canyon, the contrasting colours of Sossusvlei, or the savage beauty of the Skeleton Coast.

The harsh desert-scapes offer Namibia's most startling imagery with their vivid colours, shifting shadows and sharp silhouettes, particularly at sunset and sunrise, while the flat, white setting of the Etosha Pan are visually arresting, and ideal for capturing wildlife and scenery in the open. But here you will need a longer lens for best results, ideally up to 400mm or 600mm.

Sense of space

Namibia is one of those rare places where you can really stretch out, slow down and take a deep breath, miles from the bustle of human development. Its travel highlights of Etosha, Windhoek, Sossusvlei and the Fish River Canyon lie far apart with seemingly endless spaces between them.

Endless landscapes stretch from horizon to horizon with expansive distances between destinations becoming a part of the journey. The remote deserts, shores, hills and plains of Namibia are ideal for stargazing or staring up at boundless blue skies and soaking up the silence and solitude of this spectacular destination.

Best time to visit

Namibia is considered a year-round destination, despite the sometimes baking-hot summer temperatures. Winter and spring (May to October) are the best times for game viewing in Namibia. The roads are dry and the wildlife is easy to spot in the sparse vegetation as animals gather around dwindling water sources. The coastal areas are best visited in spring, summer and autumn when winter sandstorms have abated.

Travel in the desert regions is recommended during the cooler winter months, despite the sharp drop in temperature at night and in the early morning hours. Conditions are more comfortable than in the summer season when daytime temperatures soar over 30°C (86°F) and showers occur. The wet season is not ideal for self-driving in Namibia, due to the unpredictability of gravel road conditions after rains.

How long to stay

Due to the immense distances involved, Namibia is not a short-stay destination that you tag on to the end of a Botswana or South Africa itinerary. If you have enough time, you can combine it with destinations like South Africa, northern Botswana or Victoria Falls, but it is a wonderful destination in its own right and deserves a stay of at least six to seven days. An ideal Namibia itinerary would be 10 to 14 days, or even longer if you want to see all that this magnificent country has to offer.

Getting there

The best way to get to Namibia is to fly in via the international airport in the capital city of Windhoek. Connecting flights travel between Windhoek and regional destinations, such as Cape Town and Johannesburg in South Africa, Maun in Botswana and Lusaka in Zambia. There are also flights to and from London and Frankfurt.

You can also easily access Namibia overland from South Africa, by bus, train or rental car. For overland 4x4 enthusiasts, there are also roads connecting Windhoek and northern Botswana, but the routes are less direct.

There is little in the way of public transport between the major travel hubs. From Windhoek, most visitors make their way to Etosha National Park or Swakopmund by road, travelling with tour companies or self-driving. There are, however, flights to Walvis Bay, near Swakopmund, as well as trains, shared taxis and buses.