Why You Should Go For A Namibia Safari?
Namibia safaris and tours will offer you a chance to discover a wild, untouched area of Africa seen by very few explorers. Namibia is a big place – bigger than France and Germany combined. This vast country is flanked by the mercurial Atlantic Ocean that brings in cool air to give life to myriad creatures in the ancient Namib Desert.
It is a place of big game, proud tribes steeped in tradition, herds of rare desert-dwelling elephants, wild horses and massive colonies of seals, and sky-high sand dunes that embody the very best of Africa’s raw landscapes.
From charming German-inspired towns to dramatic desert scenery, bushland filled with rare wildlife and a rocky coastline littered with shipwrecks, the untamed charm of Namibia is captivating, fascinating and camera-worthy.
Unique Desert-Adapted Wildlife
It can be difficult to imagine that animals like lions, zebras, leopards, elephants, and even wild horses can live in an arid region with limited water sources.
However, this is what makes Namibia’s wildlife so unique from their counterparts in the rest of Africa safari destinations. Taking game drives in Etosha National Park and Namib-Naukluft National Park is an excellent a way to witness the desert-adapted versions of your favourite African animals.
dramatic desert scenery
Similar to a natural art gallery, Namibia’s dreamlike topography is enthralling; its beauty lulls you into a deep trance that is hard to break out of. The nation has two of the biggest deserts on earth, as well world-famous sand dunes, jagged mountain ranges, extensive savannas and a spectacular coastline scattered with shipwrecks. Namibia’s wilderness offers a plethora of opportunities to a world of natural wonders.
Self-Driving Safaris
A self-drive trip is one of the greatest and most well-liked ways to experience a safari in Namibia. While a 4WD African safari is always an ambitious undertaking, Namibia has good roads, well-equipped campsites and sensibly priced rental vehicles. This is one of the easiest Southern African countries to explore from the driver’s seat. Hire a jeep and drive yourself from one stop to the next if you have time and you’re the type of person who loves taking the adventure into your own hands. Everything you need to have a safe and enjoyable time will be given to you, including detailed maps and an itinerary.
Thrilling Adventures
The breathtaking landscape of Namibia is a glorified playground for thrilling adventure activities. Hike through the world’s second-largest canyon, the Fish River Canyon. Or take off your shoes and scale Dune 45 or the Big Daddy Dune, and once at the top, use a sandboard to slide down the Namib’s gigantic dunes. Enjoy an exciting rock climbing experience at Spitzkoppe before quad biking (ATV) or mountain biking through the sand dunes. And top it all off with an early-morning balloon safari above Sossusvlei.
Life-changing Cultural Encounters
The native inhabitants of Namibia are experts in the desert, and you would be thoughtless if you let the chance to meet the San People /Bushmen or the Himba tribe passes you by. Regarded as one of the top cultural interactions you can have in Africa, spending time and learning from some of the first cultures to exist in Southern Africa is truly a life-changing experience.
Our Best Namibia Safaris and Tours
Our Africa Safari Experts have selected the most popular Namibia safaris and tours for those who are struggling to decide where to go and how to get there. Really tried and tested, so to speak, and complete with lodging, activities, and transportation.
How much does a safari cost in Namibia?
A self-drive budget Namibia safari starts from $150 per person per day and a high-end exclusive safari from $500 per person per day. Below is the average cost of a safari in Namibia per person per day. The costings here give an instant overview of how much the average Namibia safari will cost, depending on your travel style.
- Budget Camping – Private ($225) / Group ($175)
- Budget Accommodation – Private ($225) / Group ($175)
- Mid-Range Accommodation – Private ($225) / Group ($175)
- Luxury Accommodation – Private ($575) / Group ($525)
Where To Go In Namibia | Best Places For Namibia Safaris and Tours
A Namibia safari is a delight, thanks to its good infrastructure and well-developed tourism industry. For a taste of the country’s highlights, here are the best places to visit.
1. Etosha National Park
One of the largest wildlife reserves in the world, Etosha means “Great White Place” referring to the colossal salt pan in its middle. Etosha is home to a staggering amount of wildlife, both common and rare, including several threatened and endangered species.
It is home to four of the Big 5 (Etosha’s environment does not support buffalo) and it is the best place in the world to see Black Rhinos. Etosha is also a photographer’s heaven. Many a guest’s “lifer shots” of African animal and bird species were taken here.
In the drier months, nearly all animals tend to congregate around the park’s waterholes. They come to drink water and are inevitably followed by predators; this allows you to sit and wait at some of the waterholes and wait for the action to come to you. This is what sets Etosha apart from other parks in Africa; unique indeed!
2. Namib Desert
Regarded as the oldest on the planet, the Namib Desert is one of only two places on earth where desert-adapted elephants still roam (they feature smaller bodies, longer legs and bigger feet than their non-desert relatives).
Meaning ‘Vast Place’ in the Nama language, it spans over 2,000km from the South African to the Angolan borders. Search for herds of wild horses and crashes of desert-adapted black rhinos if you go off the beaten track.
3. Sossusvlei
The mesmerizing sand dunes of Sossusvlei in Namib Desert are the highest dunes on Earth. Located in Namib-Naukluft National Park, Africa’s largest conservation area, Sossusvlei is one of Namibia’s most remarkable sights and delivers incredible photographic opportunities – best around sunrise and sunset.
Some of many dunes in Sossusvlei include:
- Dune 45, the most photographed dune on earth
- Hiddenvlei, perfect if you are looking for solitude in the desert;
- The magnificently tall Big Daddy dune
4. Deadvlei
Deadvlei is an unearthly place and photographer’s dream destination, petrified remains of about 50 trees that thrived more than 260 million years ago.
Their stark black silhouettes stand out superbly against the ochre sand and make for an evocatively beautiful scene.
5. Damaraland
Gravel plains, rugged mountains and flash-flood Rivers characterize the dramatic region of Damaraland. Located in the Kunene area of north-west Namibia, Damaraland’s untouched scenic beauty and a plethora of desert adapted wildlife – including desert-adapted elephants, black rhinoceroses and antelope – has made it one of the top destinations Namibia safaris and tours.
6. Swakopmund
The coastal town is noted for its largely pristine 19th-century German colonial architecture, which is something of an anomaly in Africa (about a third of Namibians speak German). ‘Swakop’ (as the locals call it) is an adventure centre from where you can go skydiving, quad biking, sand boarding and hiking in the Namib.
The neighboring town of Walvis (Whale) Bay is the starting point for marine safaris in Namibia to see whales and dolphins in the Atlantic Ocean, and about 90% of South Africa’s flamingos literally flock here every year to see out the winter.
7. Twyfelfontein
Twyfelfontein translates as ‘I Doubt It Fountain’ in the Afrikaans language. It is the centre of ancient San Bushman art and paintings and etchings here date back at least 6,000 years. They are an enriching cultural experience for history buffs.
8. Fish River Canyon
Older than United States’ Grand Canyon, the Fish River Canyon clocks in at an astounding 500 meters (1,640 feet) deep, 27 kilometers (17 miles) wide and 161 kilometers (100 miles) long! To have a sundowner here is to know perfect peace.
9. NamibRand Nature Reserve
No matter when you take a safari to Namibia sunshine is almost always guaranteed. The country averages 300 sunny days a year. And during the night, the cloudless skies reveal another treasure: one of the three best sites in the world for stargazing, along with Hawaii and Chile, thanks to low light and air pollution.
In fact, the NamibRand Reserve is officially one of the darkest places on the planet and has been declared an official Dark Sky Reserve by the International Dark-sky Association. If you have always wanted to see the Milky Way as your ancestors saw it, then this is the place in Africa to do so.
10. Skeleton Coast
This bleak and evocatively named area is one of the most unusual coastal wildernesses on Earth, protecting about a third of Namibia’s long coastline.
It has a longstanding reputation of being a dangerous sea passage for sailors, and indeed the Portuguese sailors used to call this area the “Sand of Hell”, referring to the fact that even if one did survive a ship running aground, the harsh desert would almost certainly provide one’s final resting place. But there is more to this national park, like the huge seal colonies that attract brown hyenas, jackals and even lions seeking a fresh meal.
Which season is best for safari in Namibia?
June to October is the best time for Namibia safaris and tours. Etosha National Park is well-known for its productive water holes, and peak game viewing during this time of the year, when wildlife flocks to these oases dotted throughout the park.
This is also a cooler time of year to climb the dramatic dunes such as Dune 45 at Sossusvlei. Cloudless daytime skies, clear, cold nights and almost no likelihood of rain are the hallmarks of Namibia’s wintertime, from June to October
Questions About Namibia Safaris?
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