NAMIBIA

Get your just deserts...

The word remote takes on new meaning when you visit Namibia. This arid nation in South West Africa is home to the world's most ancient desert, its tallest sand dunes and some of Africa's most scenically spectacular and unique wilderness areas. It also offers some of the most varied and sought-after safari experiences on the continent.

When you say "desert" most people think "empty" (apart from sand, of course). Yes, there's a lot of sand in Namibia, but it's far from devoid of life. In fact, there are spots out there in the vast expanses that have more biodiversity than the Amazon rainforest. Honestly. Even if they are surrounded by sand.

Yes, it does get hot in the desert. But it also gets absolutely freezing cold too. On the same day. With no cloud cover to keep the heat in, once the sun goes down the temperature drops like a rock off a precipice. And yes, there's lots to see in the desert other than sand. A huge amount, in fact.

Whether it's tracking desert-adapted wildlife like elephant, black rhino and lion to discovering the smorgasbord of life that lives in the slip face of a sand dune, examining the fauna and flora of Namibia is absolutely enthralling. The sheer abundance of species that survive in some of the most challenging environments on the planet is mind-bloggling.

Namibia is a place where adventure is a given and where you'll fall in love with the enormity of everything. And sand.

Best Times To Visit

Things To Do

Hot air balloon over Sossusvlei

Soar over a sea of sand as the sun begins to break the bonds of night and first light dawns. Welcome to Sossusvlei - home of the tallest sand dunes in the world. Viewed from the basket of a hot air balloon you'll be blown away (figuratively, not literally) by the drama of the landscape below you. Guaranteed to make you feel insignificant and puny in the face of nature's majesty, this is a must-do activity.
Sand boarding

Who said you can't surf in the desert? Get that Beach Boys vibe going as you perch atop an oversized skateboard without wheels and effectively ski down a sand dune. Or two. Or three. Find yourself humming Miley Cyrus's "The Climb" as you trudge upwards knowing that it'll take a fraction of the effort to go down again, but that every single step is worth it. This is sand boarding. Fun in the sun. And sand.
Scenic flights over Skeleton Coast

There's lots of theories as to how the Skeleton Coast got its name. Some say it's the bones of countless whales that litter the endless sands thanks to the whaling industry. Others say it's the remains of an untold number of ships whose iron carcasses are slowly rusting away, having perished on the unforgiving and treacherous shores. Whatever the case, this forbidding stretch of Africa's coastline is spectacular to behold from the air. Another "not-to-be-missed" experience.
Desert elephants in Damaraland

When you're following in the footsteps of giants in one of the most dramatic and lethal landscapes on the planet, the realisation that you could not survive more than a couple of hours in the desert unaided brings new appreciation for the desert elephants who live here. Being humbled in the face of nature is something Namibia does especially well and seeing desert-adapted elephants in an environment that would have you turning up your toes before sunset is extremely grounding to say the least. It's a magical experience. Just do it.
Track desert rhinos

Yup. Rhinos. In the desert. Bizarre, isn't it? Strange, but true. Getting out into one of the harshest eco-systems on our planet to track one of its most threatened species has to be up there with the most incredible experiences anywhere on Earth. Pretty much ditto the desert elephant experience above, really.
Meet the Himba

In the far north of Namibia, where the Kunene River slices through the rock and sand on its way to the Atlantic, live one of Africa's most legendary tribes. Renowned for their women smearing their bodies and hair in a paste of rich ochre and animal fat, the Himba are among the last nomadic people in Africa. No visit to the Kaokaveld region is complete without meeting these incredible humans and learning more about their fascinating heritage.