Namibia is another of Africa’s spectacular desert nations. It’s also undoubtedly one of the worlds great natural, outdoor travel destinations. Overlooked for many years, it’s now starting to get the exposure it’s amazing landscape deserves. This desert nation is home to some truly unique natural features and it’s becoming increasingly accessible, either directly or via a short commute from neighbouring South Africa.
Part of Namibia’s appeal is that its attractions are many and varied. It’s natural attractions are truly world class with the star attraction undoubtedly Sossusvlei National Park. This park is home to the largest sand dunes in the world and some surreal landscape. Coming in a close second is the enormous Fish River Canyon. It’s the second largest canyon in the world after the Grand Canyon. Lastly and by no means least is Namibia’s safari park offering, Etosha National Park. Home to an abundance of wildlife in a unique desert setting, a visit here is an unforgettable and unique experience.
There’s plenty more to Namibia than just these big name attractions. The seaside town of Swakopmund is an excellent base for exploring the surrounding areas, which includes ship wrecks, ghost towns and seal colonies. If you’re after an adrenaline rush there’s dune buggy trips across the sand dunes and even sand boarding. All of this begs the question, why haven’t I heard about all these attractions before?
Namibia is a desert nation that’s located in south west Africa. The country has a long Atlantic Ocean coastline that extends for 975 miles along it’s western coast, while it is bordered by 5 other African countries. South Africa lies to the south, Botswana to the east and Angola to the north. Zambia and Zimbabwe share a border via the long thin Caprivi Strip, located in north east Namibia. In Zimbabwe’s case, the border is more technical than geographical as the countries along with Zambia and Botswana meet in a quadripoint.
Namibia’s climate and especially the heat play a big part in deciding when to visit this desert nation. The climate can largely be characterised as hot and dry, meaning there’s no real bad time to visit and much depends on whether you’re camping and visiting Etosha National Park, where some months are better for seeing wildlife.
During Namibia’s winter months of July through September, you’ll experience warm days and cool evenings. As you progress into spring temperatures increase and regularly hit 90°F. Over the summer months of December through February the mercury can easily hit 100°F to 110°F, which can be hugely uncomfortable. Autumn largely mirrors spring with temperatures easing from the summer peak.
It’s generally considered that both the spring and the autumn are the best times to visit Namibia. The exception to this is if you plan to visit Etosha National Park, where the dry winter months tend to result in the best wildlife spotting.
As we’ve covered above, Namibia has a wealth of natural attractions which are the primary reason to visit the country. However most visitors find that once they’re in Namibia, they really enjoy the towns, culture and some of the lesser known attractions. So when planning your trip, keep an open mind as some of the highlights listed below might just make it onto your must see list after a few days in Namibia.
From the capital city to coastal towns and desert outposts, Namibia has an eclectic mix of towns to explore and experience.
Our top 5 towns and cities in Namibia:
This is where Namibia really comes into its own. from towering sand dunes to safari parks, there’s a great depth and breadth of natural attractions to enjoy.
Our top 5 natural attractions in Namibia:
You can drive to Morocco from the neighboring countries of Spain and Mauritania, but not Algeria, despite a nearly 2000 km long border between the two countries. Travel between Morocco and any of its neighbors comes with its fair share of challenges. At first glance, you could be mistaken for
If you love solitude, amazing landscapes, and vast open spaces, you’re going to love Western Australia. This amazing land, and the northwest in particular, is often referred to as the ‘Last Frontier’. It’s a land of endless remote possibilities and nowhere showcases this better than the amazing array of national