Highlights
Sossusvlei and Deadvlei
In the Namib Sand Sea, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, some of the world's tallest dunes rise around white clay pans. Deadvlei's dead camel thorn trees against orange sand are best seen in early morning light; climb Big Daddy or Dune 45 for the view.
Etosha National Park
A vast salt pan surrounded by grassland and waterholes. In the dry season elephants, lions, rhinos, giraffes and huge herds gather at the waterholes, and floodlit waterholes at the rest camps allow wildlife watching after dark.
Skeleton Coast
A long stretch of foggy Atlantic coastline in the north-west, littered with shipwrecks and whale bones. Desert-adapted lions and elephants live in the dry river beds inland, and access to the northern parts is restricted.
Swakopmund
A coastal town with German colonial architecture, cool sea air and adventure activities from sandboarding and quad biking in the dunes to boat trips from nearby Walvis Bay to see dolphins, seals and flamingos.
Fish River Canyon
In the far south, one of the largest canyons in the world winds for over 150 kilometres. Viewpoints on the rim are easy to reach, and a demanding multi-day hike follows the canyon floor in the cooler months.
Damaraland and Twyfelfontein
A rugged region of red rock and dry valleys. Twyfelfontein's rock engravings, made by hunter-gatherers thousands of years ago, are a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and guided tracking trips look for desert elephants and rhinos.
Kolmanskop
A former diamond-mining town near Lüderitz, abandoned in the mid-20th century, where sand dunes have drifted into the houses. Guided tours explain its history.
Spitzkoppe
Granite peaks rising sharply from the plain between Windhoek and the coast, with natural rock arches, ancient rock art and remote campsites under some of the clearest night skies in Africa.
Interesting facts about Namibia
- Namibia was one of the first countries to write protection of the environment into its constitution, adopted at independence in 1990.
- The Namib is often described as the world's oldest desert, with arid conditions dating back tens of millions of years.
- The Hoba meteorite, near Grootfontein, is the largest known meteorite on earth and still lies where it was found.
- Namibia is one of the least densely populated countries in the world, second only to Mongolia among sovereign states.
- Coastal fog from the cold Benguela current is the main source of water for many desert plants and insects, some of which have adapted to harvest it.
Best time to visit
The dry season from May to October is the best time for wildlife, as animals gather at waterholes in Etosha, and temperatures are comfortable by day though cold at night, especially in June to August. October and November get very hot inland. The rainy season, from about November to April, brings short, heavy afternoon storms, greener landscapes, newborn animals and migrant birds, but some gravel roads and river crossings can become difficult. The coast is cool and foggy for much of the year.
Practical information
| Capital | Windhoek |
|---|---|
| Currency | Namibian dollar (NAD), fixed at par with the South African rand, which is also accepted |
| Languages | English |
| Plugs | Type D, M |
| Voltage | 220 V, 50 Hz |
| Emergency | 10111 police; ask your accommodation for local ambulance and medical contacts |
| Driving | On the left |
| Tipping | Around 10% in restaurants. Tip guides, trackers, lodge staff and petrol station attendants who fill and clean your car. |
Getting around
Most visitors self-drive, usually in a 4x4, sometimes with a rooftop tent. Main roads between towns are paved, but much of the country is reached on gravel roads that require slower speeds and care, especially on corners and loose surfaces. Distances are long and fuel stations are far apart, so fill up whenever you can. Avoid driving at night, when wildlife and livestock wander onto the road. Domestic flights and fly-in safaris reach remote lodges. Public transport is limited to buses and shared taxis between larger towns.
Staying connected in Namibia
Mobile coverage is good in Windhoek, Swakopmund, Walvis Bay and other towns, and along parts of the main highways. Across most of the country, including large stretches of gravel road, the desert, the Skeleton Coast and much of Etosha away from the rest camps, there is no signal for long distances. Many lodges and camps have Wi-Fi, sometimes only in the main area and sometimes slow. Download offline maps and let someone know your route. Install an eSIM before you fly and switch it on when you land in Windhoek.
See Namibia eSIM plans · How to install an eSIM
Useful apps for Namibia
- Tracks4Africa: Detailed offline maps and travel times for southern African gravel roads, widely used by self-drivers.
- Google Maps: Download offline areas for the whole route; signal is absent between towns.
- XE Currency: Convert Namibian dollars and rand to your home currency.