Things to do in Namibia: Attractions and places to visit

1. Namib Naukluft Park

The Namib gave this country its name – it is the oldest desert in the world. Already in 1907 the administration of the German colonizers declared the region between Swakopmund and the Kuiseb River a nature reserve. The modest beginnings at that time finally turned into an area the size of Switzerland. Today the Namib Naukluft Park is the largest wildlife park in Africa and the fourth largest in the world. Impressively framed by the Naukluftbergen, up to 2000 metres high.

Namib means “open space” in the native language, and those who cross the desert on the Gravel roads by car soon feel that this “open space” is full of wonders. The Namib is home to jackals, antelopes, hyenas, zebras and of course snakes. They have all adapted to the circumstances over many centuries. Hikes between the red rocks of the park are unique experiences.

2. Sossusvlei & Deadvlei

The up to 350 meters high dunes of the Sossusvlei are the optical highlights of the Namib Naukluft Park. The winds from the Atlantic Ocean have created the sandy giants that are at the top of Namibia’s sights. “Sossus” is borrowed from the Nama language and means “blind river”. This is to be understood literally, because every few years the river Tsauchab silts up in the dunes that separate the park from the cold sea.

On the way to Sossusvlei, which resembles an amphitheatre, he created the one kilometre long Sesriem Canyon. And where all paths ended for him, today there is a clay pan, which has been baptized “Deadvlei” and which is filled with the remains of her former acacias. It is a place of indescribable beauty and uniqueness. One of the highlights is climbing a big dune like Big Daddy or Dune 45 – but a certain amount of endurance is urgently needed!

3. Swakopmund and Walvis Bay

In Swakopmund one speaks German, because in this city at the Atlantic Ocean many “Südwester” have found their home until today. They are the descendants of those German settlers who more than a hundred years ago hoped to find their fortune in South West Africa. Only a few years ago the main street in Swakopmund was named after Emperor Wilhelm, today it bears the name of the former Namibian president Sam Nujoma.

Several houses are preserved in “Swakop” from the colonial period: The old post office, the Woermann house with the Damara tower, the Hohenzollern house, the lighthouse and last but not least the iron jetty, which rises into the Atlantic Ocean and once served as pier of the harbour. On a tour to Sandwich Harbour the visitor passes Walvis Bay, Namibia’s only deep-sea harbour. The legendary sailor Bartolomeu Dias anchored in the vicinity on 8 December 1487.

4. Etosha National Park

In the large Etosha National Park the authorities are not really stingy with numbers. They let visitors know that there are 16 different zones of vegetation and that this is home to 114 mammals and over three hundred bird species. But they conceal one thing for good reason: the number of black rhinos living there. The only known fact is that Etosha Park boasts the largest population of rhinoceroses, which are after poachers.

Those who drive by private car or accompanied by rangers through the park at the edge of the huge salt pan will feel very close to the Garden of Eden or the Noah’s Ark. Here the visitor encounters with a little luck the “Big Five”, i.e. the lions, buffalos, rhinos, leopards and elephants. You can also stay inside the park in state camps and watch the parade of thirsty wild animals at night from the illuminated waterhole of Okaukuejo.

5. Twyfelfontein

In 1947, a farmer roamed the Damara Mountains, west of the small town of Khorixas, in search of a suitable territory for his goats. Although he found a source, he doubted whether it would be sufficient to settle here. This is how the name “Twyfelfontein” came into being and today it is the epitome of an incredibly high number of rock paintings.

Probably it was the San, a people of hunters and gatherers, who carved these small works of art in the red rocks several thousand years ago. In 2500 pictures they show giraffes, lions, antelopes and zebras. Twyfelfontein has been added to the UNESCO World Heritage List.

6. Lüderitz and Kolmanskop

Originally, this now sand-blown and long abandoned place was supposed to be a jewel in the desert. Today in Kolmanskop, not far from the harbour town of Lüderitz, only the memory of glittering days of diamond finds in Namibia is still preserved. Because the place has degenerated into a kind of “ghost town”. In December 1908, the German authorities declared a zone north of the Orange River a restricted area. Nothing has changed in this respect to this day, because valuable rock is still being searched for there. And if you want to enter the forbidden zone, you have to register.

This is also true of Kolmanskop, where the wind whistles through the windows of houses where champagne once flowed in torrents during the golden age. In the small museum the history of the abandoned city is told with pictures and on boards. But if you walk through the sand from house to house, you should watch out for snakes. The neighbouring town of Lüderitz, which owes its name to a Bremen merchant, has an interesting history. Also this city with its famous rock church runs the risk that the inexorable nature brings back the once splendid place at the Atlantic Ocean.

7. Fish River Canyon

The Fish River Canyon is undoubtedly one of the most beautiful sights in Namibia. It is the largest canyon in Africa, the second or third largest canyon in the world, depending on the calculation. Here the river water has dug its way into the rocks for a distance of 160 kilometres to 550 metres. The eponymous fish river is the longest river in Namibia. It is a scenery that will take your breath away when you look down at the edge of the abyss, for example.

The Fish River Canyon Hiking Trail is one of the most popular hiking trails in Southern Africa. It leads through a rugged landscape and requires a good physical condition. There are no real accommodations directly in the canyon – one always spends the night under the open sky. However, there are two state camps in Hobas at the northern end and in ?Ai-?Ais near the hot springs in the south of the canyon. In the African winter, trekking tours guided by the camps are offered.

8. Waterberg Plateau

An extraordinary Table Mountain rises in the north of Namibia – the Waterberg Plateau. It is about fifty kilometres long and 16 kilometres wide, and with its reddened rock faces it rises two hundred metres above the grassland of a plain. In 1972 the plateau was placed under nature conservation and is home to numerous endangered animals such as sable antelopes, white and black rhinos and buffalos.

Until today, the Waterberg Plateau is one of the most important sightseeings of Namibia and should not be missed on any bigger round trip. It is a fascinating mountain world that can be hiked individually or accompanied by experienced rangers. The Waterberg, historically known as Omuverumue, gained sad fame through the Battle of Waterberg in the context of a Herero uprising in August 1904.

9. Caprivi Strip

Besides endless deserts like the Namib and the Kalahari, Namibia also has a tropical paradise – the Caprivi Strip. It is the product of colonial times and the Helgoland-Sansibar Treaty, with which the German Empire wanted to secure access to East Africa. Between Angola and Botswana this is a wild and water-rich area with countless elephants, lions and many hippos. The Caprivi tip forms the northeastern end of Namibia.

Due to the extension of the national road B8, the Caprivi tip has become increasingly important for tourism and is now one of the most important sights in Namibia. At the same time the natives, the Itengese people, try to make the region independent from Namibia and to declare it an independent Free State. In addition to some lodges and camps, luxurious safari houseboats such as the ships “Zambezi Queen” and “Chobe Princess” operate in the Caprivi Strip on the famous Zambezi River.

10. Skeleton Coast

The term Skeleton Coast refers to the northern section of the Namibian seacoast and the bordering areas of the hinterland. The region begins slightly above Swakopmund and extends up to Kunene on the border with the neighbouring state of Angola. The Skeleton Coast is part of the Namib and yet unique in many ways. The park is divided into two areas:

Up to Torra Bay the area is freely accessible with an appropriate permit, above it from Torry Bay to Kunene entrances are only possible in the context of guided tours with licensed safari providers. At first sight, this extraordinary Namibian sight seems hostile to life, but many species have adapted to the harsh conditions. With a bit of luck you will meet seals at Cape Cross, desert elephants, lions, rhinos, brown hyenas and giraffes.

Best time to visit Namibia

We recommend the following months as best time to travel for exploring the attractions and acivities of Namibia:

March, April, May, June, July, August, September, and October

You can find more information about the weather, including all climate data, on our climate page for Namibia.