In case you missed our introductory blog post, we’re Cameron and Natasha and we’re currently driving across the African continent in our Land Cruiser.
As we travel through Africa we’re going to be writing here on yTravel highlighting destinations across the continent as part of our HashtagAfrica campaign.
We spent this past month driving all around Namibia visiting just about every sight to see. Namibia can leave you speechless with its sheer beauty and although photos of Namibia are incredible, it is hard to do these places justice through the lens.
However, there are a few locations that stand out the most, and these are the five best places to visit in Namibia.
1. Sossusvlei
Sossusvlei is the one place in Namibia everyone has likely seen a photo of. The name “Sossusvlei” refers to a salt and clay pan that is surrounded by some of the tallest sand dunes on the planet.
It is Namibia’s number one tourist attraction; however, due to the sheer size of the dunes and desert here one can still find complete solitude.
The dunes tower over visitors at 325m tall and seem to shift around slightly as high winds lead to a constantly changing landscape.
One must wake up way before the crack of dawn and catch the dunes at sunrise as the whole park takes on a unworldly feel.
2. Etosha National Park
Etosha National Park is arguably one of the best national parks in Africa for spotting wildlife. The real draw of the park is not in its animal density or natural beauty, but instead the game-viewing venue.
A massive salt pan dominates the Etosha landscape with a number of watering holes dotting the southern edge.
Simply sit at one of these watering holes and watch the Namibia wildlife come from kilometres away to have a much-needed drink as they try to escape the Namibian heat.
Over the course of just one afternoon, we saw lions, hyena, jackals, vultures, zebra, wildebeest, giraffes, and springbok. That’s some serious game viewing for not having to even move.
It helps to blend in though, so make sure to wear the right safari clothes.
3. Fish River Canyon
Fish River Canyon by some accounts is the second largest canyon on earth. The size of the canyon is awe-inspiring and a stop that beckons many when they travel to Namibia.
It is a place that is difficult to convey or conceive in photos. The adventurous can descend down the 550m to the canyon floor, but that hiking option is only available a few months out of the year due to heat and flash flooding.
The hike takes roughly five days and covers 88km of the canyon floor. Our tip for visiting the canyon is to get there in the evening with some cold Windhoeks, the local beer, in hand and watch the sunset. You can learn more about the park here.
4. Kalahari Desert
A sunset in the Kalahari Desert is one to behold. The vast expanse of deep red sand stretches across all of Southern Africa and occupies 1.2 million-square-kilometers.
Despite its desert environment there are many animals that have adapted to the conditions and are on display. Lions, gemsbok, meerkats, zebra, and cheetah can all be found here.
The Kalahari is a land of contrasts as the deep red sand draw out the thorn bushes and acacia trees that dot the horizon.
5. Skeleton Coast
The coast of Namibia was once referred to by the Portuguese as “As Areias do Inferno,” or the sands of hell. It is little wonder where the phrase originated from when traveling the Skeleton Coast of Namibia.
This part of Namibia is one of the least hospitable places on earth. On the coast, the colossal sand dunes of the Namib Desert meet the Atlantic in violent fashion.
Strong winds and heavy fog create a treacherous coast that has shipwrecked many seamen leaving them to an almost certain death. Still, marine life along the coast flourishes and a massive colony of seals call the Cape Cross Seal Colony home.
Need more tips on what to see in Namibia?
This only touches on a few places in Namibia. It is quite a large country, but one of the least sparsely populated in the world.
Most tourists, including us, self-drive through the country as the roads are smooth gravel and offer interesting sights along the way.
If you’re looking for help to plan out your route, read about our journey through Southern Namibia. Catch us in Botswana next month!
Tours of Namibia
If you did not want to travel to Egypt as an independent traveler, G Adventures offer guided tours. We partner wtih G Adventures for their commitment to the supporting the environment and conserving local cultures.
- Dunes, Deltas and Falls – 18 Days Vic Falls to Cape Town
- National Geographic Journey: Wonders of Namibia
More Africa travel
Plan Your Trip to Namibia
We’ve come to rely on a few trusted websites that save us money and time when booking accommodation, flights, and car rental. Below are our preferred partners:
- Booking.com has over 350 properties in Namibia including hotels, apartments, and guesthouses. You get free cancelation on most rooms and a best price guarantee.
Flights to Namibia
- Skyscanner is a comparison website that searches millions of flights. Once you find your best deal, book directly through the airline (no extra fees).
Car Rental in Namibia
- RentalCars.com is the world’s biggest car rental booking service that compares all the major brands like Hertz, Avis, Alamo, and Europcar.
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Can you recommend any places to visit in Namibia? Share in the comments.
OMG! What a wonderful place! I didn’t know that Booking had so much places there!! Tks for sharing it!
Namibia is awesome, so diverse. We have been there twice and the next time we hope to self-drive it. Some of my favorite campsites were in Namibia, and the stars are INSANE.
Yeah, hoping to take our kids to Namibia in the future, having visited as a couple many years ago. Some incredible landscapes there that we haven’t seen elsewhere!
I was looking at the pictures and thought that it would hurt to look at that sand if I was actually there in Namibia. Then I saw that they are called ‘sands of hell’ … well, it fits.
I didn’t really know that there’s a place like Skeleton Coast in Namibia. It seems like a really interesting spot and needs to be visited atleast once.
Definitely one of the most unique places to visit in Namibia.
Loved your post! Cool Photos and Namibia is one of the best place in Africa Region!!
Beautiful Pictures great words of choice. I will not forget to extend my tour of South Africa and get into this amazing country of Namibia. Thanks, Natasha for this beautiful article.