Why Namibia Should Be On Your Bucket List

Why Namibia Should Be On Your Bucket List

Located on the south-west coast of Africa, Namibia is much more than the sun-baked Namib desert it's famous for. With wildlife-filled reserves, friendly coastal towns, and stunning scenery, it offers something for every kind of traveler, from families, to honeymooners, and even celebrities like Lewis Hamilton. According to Google trend data, searches for "holidays in Namibia" have seen an enormous uplift of 5,800% in the last month. So why is Namibia such a popular destination? Go2Africa reveals why everyone is adding it to their bucket lists, and why you should add it to the top of yours too.

Namibia is ideal for wildlife enthusiasts, with plenty of guided safari tours as well as self-drive safaris for more independent travelers. It’s the second least densely populated country in the world, second only to Mongolia. It is, however, home to the world's largest population of endangered black rhinos, with more than two hundred, and is one of only two countries that has desert elephants. It’s an extremely safe and friendly country, great for the family holiday of a lifetime, and luxurious and exclusive accommodation also makes Namibia a perfect honeymoon destination.

When to go

Peak tourist season is in June to September, when it’s winter and the temperature ranges from 20 - 30˚C, depending on where you are. The temperature does fall drastically at night, however, to 5 - 10˚C, and even below zero in the desert and mountainous areas. The winter is the dry season so there’s practically no rain and cloud, which means the night skies are stunning and filled with stars, and it’s easier to spot wildlife as there’s less vegetation. Wet season usually begins at the end of November until early April, with intense thundery showers transforming the landscape.  The countryside is greener and more scenic during that rainy season, but the renewed vegetation does make it more difficult to spot wildlife.

Namib Naukluft National Park

 

The Namib (meaning 'vast) desert is home to one of the largest conservation areas in the world, the Namib Naukluft National Park. The incredible landscape includes the famous Sossusvlei sand dunes - the tallest in the world, at up to 300m high. Sossusvlei is one of the top travel experiences in the country, and it's easy to see why. The rich colours of the sand are perfect for dawn and sunset photography, and there are views of the Atlantic Ocean from the top of the dunes.  Wildlife in the area includes springboks, ostriches, wild horses and even the elusive aardvark at night. View the dunes and animals from above in a hot-air balloon safari or see the skies another way with an evening of stargazing.

Etosha National Park

For a classic game viewing safari, look no further than Etosha National Park. Widely regarded as one of Africa's greatest wildlife reserves, it's 22750 km² of thick scrub and grassy woodland, home to elephants, lions, leopard, and zebras. You can also see lions, hyenas, and cheetahs at the packed watering holes, especially from May to October. It's one of the best places to see the endangered black rhino and cheetah in Southern Africa, and rare antelope species like the Damara dik-dik and the black-faced impala.

Damaraland

 

Damaraland sits between Etosha National Park and Skeleton Coast and boasts stunning mountainous scenery and rolling grasslands. In the south you'll find the area’s most famous geological and geographical features, like the Burnt Mountain, Doros Crater, and the Petrified Forest. Twyfelfontein is known as the greatest outdoor art gallery in the world and contains around 5000 Stone Age and Khoikhoi paintings and carvings. The art was created 6,000 - 10,000 years ago, and depicts local animals like lions, giraffes, seals, and flamingos - many of which are still in the area and can been seen on safari.

Swakopmund

Safaris aren't the only things to do in Namibia. Swakopmund is Namibia's second biggest town and is an extraordinary and surreal place to visit. It's a former colonial town on the coast and is usually covered in thick coastal fog in the mornings and late afternoons. When the fog clears, you'll see Bavarian churches and brightly coloured, German-themed architecture, where many locals speak German - and they even hold Oktoberfest every year. Adventure activities like quad biking, sand boarding and camel rides can be found in the sand dunes just outside town - or try a boat trip to see dolphins and seals. The 'Moon Landscape' is a range of barren hills that make you feel like you're in the moon's Sea of Tranquillity, especially at dawn and dusk, which is the perfect spot for photographers.