Top 10 Namibia Activities
Here’s our list of ten wonderful experiences to consider including in your Namibia safari:
- Starry Namibian Sky
- The hauntingly beautiful Skeleton Coast
- The mighty dunes at Sossusvlei
- Track desert adapted rhino on foot
- A Private Aerial Safari
- Meet the Himba
- Etosha, the Big Five and So Much More
- A Swakopmund marine safari
- Fish River Canyon
- Ancient Damaraland Rock Art
Sossusvlei Desert Lodge even has its own observatory, telescope and resident astronomer who will share their knowledge of the night skies with you. With a skylight directly above your bed too, the celestial experience will continue all night.
But it’s also the place of the living, of immense seal colonies and skulking jackal waiting to pick off the young, the weak and the old. It’s desolate, hard to reach, and rarely visited by tourists, but for us, that adds to the appeal and makes it even more atmospheric. We’ll arrange a fly-in safari where you’ll explore on foot, hiking across coastal plains, in a vehicle, or even from the skies.
To walk up famous Dune 45, the most photographically reproduced dune in the world, is strenuous but you are rewarded by panoramic vistas of the surrounding dune valley. These are some of the tallest dunes in the world, and yet they are soft and ever-shifting, as is the glorious light that illuminates them.
And, as well as enjoying this heart-pumping, and privileged experience you will be contributing to the protection of black rhino in Namibia as funds raised through this unique activity supports the work of Save The Rhino.
They fly their small planes from Windhoek to some of the most alluring and remote bush camps and landscape locations, specialising in a four-day tour that is packed full of the best that Namibia has to offer.
As a visitor, you will have a chance to spend time with Himba people, to learn some of their desert secrets and to hear their stories and folklore whilst staring into the flames of a campfire. Humanity is built and maintained by connections; this experience of embracing another culture can be life-changing.
Dotted with waterholes, Etosha supports populations of elephant, giraffe, lion and leopard, alongside white rhino and black rhino and a variety of plains game. We recommend staying on some of the excellent private reserves bordering the national park where you can enjoy the most exclusive wildlife encounters.
The area between Swakopmund and Walvis Bay is one of the best places in the world to see three different species of dolphins and, if you are visiting between July and November, you will also be able to see whales. There’s so much more than marine mammals too; huge leatherback turtles, sharks, orca, sunfish, seals and penguins.
For the most serious adventurers, we recommend that you take a specialist hiking guide who will organise camps and supplies along the way. Otherwise, there’s Fish River Lodge, perched on the rim of the canyon and open all year. From the deck of the lodge, you can gaze into the abyss and take walks into the surrounding 45,000 hectares of wilderness atop this marvel of the landscape.
Dating from as long ago as 4000BC, many images depict animals, but some are more mysterious, such as humans morphing into animals and are open to multiple interpretations. In the company of your expert guide you will learn about the paintings’ cultural significance to the local Himba people.
We are a boutique travel specialist. For over 30 years we have been creating luxury tailor-made safaris to the timeless savannahs of Africa. Your time is precious and with a world to see, we understand the importance of getting it absolutely right for you, every time.We are a boutique travel specialist. For over 30 years we have been creating luxury tailor-made safaris to the timeless savannahs of Africa. Your time is precious and with a world to see, we understand the importance of getting it absolutely right for you, every time.
Embark on a journey through the wild terrains of Botswana and Namibia, experiencing the epitome of a luxury safari. Encounter majestic wildlife in the Okavango Delta, traverse the surreal landscapes of Namibia's deserts, and unwind in opulent lodges amidst nature's grandeur.
Here’s our list of ten wonderful experiences to consider including in your Namibia safari:
Namibia has a diverse cultural heritage and is home to one of the most distinct African tribes — the Himba — a group of semi-nomads who live in the Kunene region.
Hansa Hotel is the oldest and finest hotel in Namibia, a monument in its own right in Swakopmund. The building dates from 1905, so is an important part of the town’s architectural heritage, and is a very charming place to stay.
This luxury tented camp is situated close to the Hoanib River and straddles both the Palmvag Concession and the Skeleton Coast National Park. The Hoanib Valley is a truly unique environment, strikingly beautiful and remote. Staying at the Hoanib Skeleton Coast Camp you will see the valley at its finest, and get close to the wonderful wildlife residing here.
Unique design set in the heart of Namibia’s sun-bleached coastal dunes, Shipwreck Lodge is one of Africa’s most innovative new camps.
Natural Selection’s Hoanib Valley Camp is a joint venture between local communities and the Giraffe Conservation Foundation. It’s an elegant, intimate camp in the desert with strong ecological and sustainability credentials, reflecting the priorities of its local partners.
&Beyond’s Sossusvlei Desert Lodge is nothing short of magnificent, a secluded palace in a rugged oasis in the heart of the desert, lying beneath an endless sky.
Watch oryx and other desert-adapted wildlife cross the highest sand dunes on earth when you stay at Little Kulala in Namibia’s stunning Sossusvlei.
Treat yourself to an authentic desert camp experience when you sleep under canvas in the well-appointed luxury chalets at Wolwedans Dunes Lodge.
Give yourself plenty of flexibility in Namibia’s historic Swakopmund when you choose Cornerstone Guesthouse or its seaside sister property, the self-catering Atlantik Sicht.
The Strand Hotel is a modern, well-run property right on the beachfront, so you can walk out straight onto the sands and along the coast.
Few guests ever venture to this remote part of Namibia, but if they knew the secret which is Okahirongo River Camp, they’d be flocking here in great numbers.
Canyon Lodge is located in a semi-arid remote region near the Fish River Canyon in the southern reaches of Namibia.
Set in a grove of ancient Kokerbome, Fish River Lodge has been carefully designed to echo the terraced and rugged terrain as well as the colours and textures of the landscape.
Lianshulu Lodge is located in the western section of the Caprivi Strip overlooking the Kwando River.
Nunda River Lodge sits at the entrance to Namibia’s beautiful Caprivi Strip just a short distance from the entrance to the Mahango Game Park nestled at the mouth of the Okavango Pan Handle.
Here’s our list of ten wonderful experiences to consider including in your Namibia safari:
Namibia has a diverse cultural heritage and is home to one of the most distinct African tribes — the Himba — a group of semi-nomads who live in the Kunene region.
Etendeka Mountain Camp offers a unique, pristine wilderness experience which will appeal to photographer, naturalist, astronomer and geologist alike, as well as lovers of peace, quiet and open space.
The Huab Conservancy, about 90km north-west of Khorixas in Damaraland, is a core desert-adapted black rhino area and a pioneering community and conservation development. Ultimate Safaris has entered into an agreement with the conservancy which has secured exclusive use area for the purposes of their Journeys Under Canvas camp.
Embark on a journey through the wild terrains of Botswana and Namibia, experiencing the epitome of a luxury safari. Encounter majestic wildlife in the Okavango Delta, traverse the surreal landscapes of Namibia's deserts, and unwind in opulent lodges amidst nature's grandeur.
Etosha is a unique safari location in the heart of Namibia. The 1,900 square-mile Etosha salt pan is vast and extremely flat, creating an otherworldly landscape and one-of-a-kind location for spotting wildlife.
Damaraland is a glorious mix of Namibia’s diverse and dramatic landscapes. Take in the vast deserts, flat-topped mountains, wide canyons and classic savannahs, each proffering its own array of highly adapted wildlife.
Kunene, in northwestern Namibia, is among the most remote areas of the country. The Kunene River flows south through undulating dunescapes and rocky ridges, creating an unbelievable landscape flanked by golden-green grasslands.
Skeleton Coast’s ominous name comes from the shipwrecks and whale bones that litter the shore. An estimated 500 ships rest here, having long ago met their end against the harsh breaks of the Atlantic Ocean.
The giant red dunes of Sossusvlei are a quintessential sight on a Namibia safari. Landscapes here are surreal, with multicoloured sand formations and dramatic canyons, along with a surprising array of plant and animal life.
Swakopmund looks more like a village in Germany than a Namibian seaside town, but it’s a lovely stopover for boating and seal watching during your overland safari.
Sculpted by its namesake river, Namibia’s Fish River Canyon is the second-largest canyon in the world. Enjoy breathtaking views during guided day or multi-day hikes along the canyon’s edge.
The Caprivi Strip is the part that juts out from the north of Namibia over the top of Botswana. It’s a fertile, lush area unlike the rest of this spectacularly desert-covered country.
Stay at Little Ongava, the natural home of luxury safaris in Namibia, to explore a beautiful private reserve and the thriving Etosha National Park, abundant with intermixed flocks and herds of uncountable numbers.
Safarihoek is a spacious and elegant lodge with the main building on an elevated deck to catch the breeze and positioned under vaulted thatch, allowing for infinite 180º views over the plains below.
In the local Herero language, Onguma means, "the place you don't want to leave." Having stayed here, we can say without question that you’re sure to agree.
Set in one of the most private areas of Damaraland, Onduli Ridge is the perfect property if you relish tranquility.
Nestling among rugged boulders on a ridge that provides panoramic views over the surrounding area, Mowani creates the impression of an African village. The asperous landscape is a magnificent backdrop to the camp’s thatched cottages, and the desert-adapted wildlife remains completely undisturbed as its environmental footprint is so light.
Sorris Sorris blends a Scandinavia-influenced minimalism with luxurious comforts, spread beneath a dramatic red granite backdrop.
Looking across the river the scenic mountains of Angola, a remote sense of peace envelopes you at Serra Cafema.
Okahirongo Elephant Lodge is surrounded by beautiful mountain landscapes and rugged tranquillity.
Spectacular desert landscapes and dark skies meet a storied coastline.
Named after the area’s resident giraffe, Onduli Enclave is your own private Damaraland retreat. This refined and elegant lodge is set in an otherworldly landscape of dusty red plains, huge boulders, mountains and several jagged rocky outcrops. With a private guide and a helpful team back at the lodge to look after you, you can explore entirely at your own pace.