Namibia
Ethereal expanses of dunes merge into wild, coastal wilderness in this sun-baked land, casting the spooky spell of the sands that’s all too exciting and easy to succumb to.
Ethereal expanses of dunes merge into wild, coastal wilderness in this sun-baked land, casting the spooky spell of the sands that’s all too exciting and easy to succumb to.
Desolate and unruly, the turmeric-tinted landscape where the Namib and Kalahari sands collide secretly bubbles with life below the heated haze. The breeze whispers through the dunes, cave paintings hark to old civilisations, and a surprising amount of fauna roams.
But head to the calm-yet-chilling coastlines near Swakopmund’s city and in less than a few hour’s drive you’ve travelled between worlds to the seemingly haunted Skeleton Coast. No camera can do it justice, no entity can tame it, and there’s no better place to throw caution to the wind.
In pursuit of...
… a lucky dip of landscapes
While it’s taken rhinos and elephants a few million years to adapt to these tricky terrains, the thrill of it all for adventurers is throwing yourself right in the (dry)-end. This means defeating challenging sand dunes for the reward of incredible vistas, daring to self-drive the rugged coastlines, and putting your brave face on for fearless walking safaris where lions stray. And, for when the ground just can’t quite raise the hairs on your arm, there’s a chance to hop into a hot air balloon and see it all from above. From canyons to coastlines, and deserts to dry forests, dipping your hand in means winning every time.
No camera can do it justice, no entity can tame it, and there’s no better place to throw caution to the wind.
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A sense of place
Get to know our favourite spots in Namibia, from getting lost in the petrified forests of Damaraland to the remote home of the Himba, Ovahimba, Damara and Herrero people.
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![An aerial view of a rocky landscape]()
Damaraland
A fantasy for a life beyond our wildest imaginings, the Namib Desert tempts everybody’s inner anthropologist out. With its 10,000-year-old rock engravings crafted by the indigenous San people and the petrified forests dating back 250 million years ago, simply getting lost is a means of finding a story.
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![Looking up at an old lighthouse between trees]()
Swakopmund
A unique blend of African and German influences pervade this laid-back coastal city, where traditional red lighthouses and promenades set the unsuspecting scene at first sight, but Namibian influences leave a lasting impression with seriously great food, art galleries and a number of adrenaline-filled activities from desert tours to horse riding.
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![A view of people walking up a sand dune]()
Sossusvlei
Picture the first iconic image of Namibia’s gregarious sand dunes that springs to mind and imagine the feeling of standing at the bottom of its expansive midst. Down here, you’re a tiny grain in a gigantic-system; but it just makes the view all the more exhilarating.
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![River running through green vegetation and trees]()
Kunene
The remote home of the Himba, Ovahimba, Damara and Herrero people, this rugged desert wilderness graced with waterfalls and rivers just goes to show the breadth of everyday life being lived. Steeped in tradition, culture, and filled to the brim with wildlife, this region offers a chance for unexpected understandings and connection.
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![A pod of seals on the beach]()
Skeleton Coast
A hate-to-love-it coastline that conjures the idea of pirates and paranormal activities, this coastline’s rugged shallows is no stranger to a shipwreck. Making it a great spot for days spent exploring vast marine life (with one of the largest settlements of Cape fur seals) and spending nights telling eerie ghost stories.
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![Zebras drinking in the foreground with giraffes walking behind]()
Ongava Game Reserve and Etosha National Park
The best of all the big distractions, Namibia’s classic safari experiences bring a completely different experience of the wildlife we already thought we knew; from desert-adapted elephants and giraffes to red lechwe, puku, and roan antelope.
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Its essence...
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AWE-INSPIRINGAWE-INSPIRINGPassages from a journal A week spent here
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Day 15
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Day 15
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![A Oryx on a small sandy dune next to small shrubery and trees]()
2pm
We’ve just got back from our morning drive around the rich red dunes of the NamibRand Nature Reserve, spotting insects, oryx, bat-eared foxes, black-backed jackals and African wild cats along the way. It was amazing to learn about how all the wildlife’s desert adaptations, with our favourite being that the fog beetles strike a pose every morning to gather any water droplets on their wings so that they can drink them.
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![The night sky with stars above a rocky outcropping]()
10:30pm
A picture is worth a thousand words, so you can trust that today, we’ve taken plenty. Starting off with a trip to Sossusvlei (locally called the Big Daddy dune), we’ve had the joys of witnessing one of Namibia’s most breathtaking vistas; while now, we’re looking out at the starry show of the skies from our Skybed experience. We’ve already found the Jewel Box Cluster, so we can’t wait to see what the night brings.
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![Red and blue hot air balloon on brown field]()
6am
After a couple of days of getting up close and personal with this incredibly vast landscape, we’re off to witness it from new heights with a hot air balloon flight at sunrise. We can’t wait to see all the colours painting the skies – but don’t worry, there’s a champagne breakfast to finish, to make the landing that bit sweeter.
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![A truck driving on a sandy route in between a tall dune and the sea]()
1:44pm
We’re currently having a picnic at the very aptly named Sandwich Harbour, feeling surprisingly close to home with all the homemade cakes and savouries, while feeling completely worlds apart. This morning’s tour took us off-roading around some harder to reach landscapes, spotting 450-year-old animal tracks and a whole host of archaeological sites – and next up, we’re off to spot bird species and explore the marine history of the coastline.
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![Two african bush elephants in shallow water]()
5:50pm
Onto Twyfelfontein today where we’ve spotted desert-adapted elephants and found all the San Rock Art carved into the rocks by the indigenous people. Our local guide explained their whole range of stories, from the types of wildlife being hunted thousands of years ago to the religious beliefs of the time. Apparently, they would draw them in a trance-like state brought about by medicine, dancing and drumming.
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![A close up of a rhinos face]()
6pm
The Hoanib Valley has been our home for the last couple of days, heading down the Hoarusib river to check out the Clay Castles and going desert rhino tracking on foot for the elusive black rhino. This evening we’re going to dine under the stars and soak in the atmosphere – we’ve heard all about the tales of this coastline so there might even be time for a spooky ghost story or two.
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![A tribe group playing music and dancing]()
4:12pm
We’ve just got back from our day spent with the local Himba and Herero people, learning all about their unique cultures and remote lifestyle living in these desert landscapes. They told us all about how their villages are made, and the types of farming practices that take place to ensure a sustainable lifestyle.
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![Six zebras drinking from water]()
10am
It’s our final day, so we’re heading out on our last safari in Ongava – this time, with a twist. We loved getting out on our feet yesterday, so we’re heading over to a hideout by a watering hole for some unobtrusive game viewing. We’re hoping to see warthogs, zebra, giraffe, antelope and maybe even rhinos and lions. It feels like the perfect ending to an amazing trip.
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The leading line-up
Namibia
Extraordinary
experiences
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![An orange sandy dune next to grey sandy flat desert]()
Soak in a bird’s eye view of the dramatic Sossusvlei landscape in a hot-air balloonOne of the best ways to experience the Namib Desert is in taking to the skies, in an increasingly popular hot air balloon experience. From above, the gigantic orange dunes, dramatic shadows, undulating plains and rocky mountains create a magical kaleidoscope of colours and shapes. And to make the landing a little sweeter, it’s all topped off with a champagne breakfast set up in the middle of nowhere.
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![Leafless tree on white sand during night time]()
Sleep under the stars in a skybed experienceSome of the best star-gazing in the world takes place here, making it the ultimate spot to watch the show evolve from above in a special sleep-out experience.
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![A giraffe carved into a red rock]()
A guided walk with a local, uncovering the indigenous rock art in Twyfelfontien’sHome to some of the finest examples of San Fran Art in Southern Africa, these rock formations are etched with stories from the indigenous San community, reaching as far back as 10,000 years ago.
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![Smooth sandy desert dunes]()
Go quad biking along the roaring sand dunesA thrilling activity that’s specially approved to minimise the effects on the environment, thrill-seekers from 16 years old onwards can go bounding along the dunes in this adrenaline-junkies paradise.
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![Giraffe standing on brown grass field]()
Take a walking-safari, game drive, or tuck away into a watering hole hide-out at Ongava’s Game ReserveThere’re plenty of ways to experience safaris up at Ongava, learning about the adaptations of rhino, lions and endemic black-faced impala. Whether it’s boots on the ground or a few hours spent quietly hiding away, this is a wildlife experience unlike many other.
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Destination essentials
SEASON
Flight
Time difference
Currency / Language
FROM THE READING ROOM
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Get in touch your way…
We customise every trip to you and our quotes are bespoke. We’re here to offer advice, recommendations and answer your questions.
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