Namibia Safari

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4.8/5

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Desert Paradise

With 92% of the country being a desert, arid, or semi-arid, a Namibia safari stuns you with unbelievable landscapes and makes you wonder how people and wildlife can survive, let alone thrive, here. Like many things in this country, it’s magic… plus specific skills developed over thousands of years. But this is what Namibia, aka the Land of the Brave, does best: turning challenging circumstances into something worth exploring.

Quick facts about Namibia

Population: 3.14 million
Official language: English plus 8 recognized national languages like Afrikaans and German
Capital: Windhoek
Currency: Namibian Dollar
National Parks: 12 parks and 9 protected and transfrontier conservation areas
National Animal: Gemsbok/Oryx

Swakopmund Hohenzollernhaus at the corner with two cars in front

Wild history in a nutshell

Of course we’re not going back thousands of years now, but rather summing up Namibia’s history in the most important milestones.

The San have inhabited the region for around 20,000 years, followed by Khokhoi herders and Bantu-speaking groups
1884–1915 German South West Africa, genocide of Herero and Nama, the first genocide of the 20th century
1915–1990 South African rule imposing apartheid on Namibia
The liberation movement SWAPO started the fight for independence
Independent since March 21, 1990, as one of Africa’s last countries
Today Namibia is one of Africa’s most stable democracies but still grapples with inequality, land reform, and the legacy of colonialism

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Otherworldly Landscapes

No matter if enormous dunes, extensive mountain ranges, endless plains, or mysteries like the fairy circles, Namibia’s landscapes don’t seem real.

Skeleton Coast

With its heavy fogs, rough seas, and spooky shipwrecks, the Skeleton Coast is a wild place of unparalleled beauty, where the desert meets the ocean.

Etosha Pan

This unique salt pan is a wildlife magnet, attracting elephants, lions, rhinos, and more during the dry season, with pink flamingos decorating the edges.

Stargazing

Due to the lack of light pollution, Namibia is one of the best destinations for astrophotography and stargazing. No telescope needed.

Sossusvlei & Deadvlei

Dunes up to 300 meters encircle the white pans of Sossusvlei and Deadvlei with mummified camelthorn trees. Not even Dune the movie can match this surreal scene.

Fish River Canyon

With a length of 160 kilometers and a depth of 550 meters, the Fish River Canyon in the south of Namibia is the second-largest canyon on earth.

Namib Naukluft Park

This park is home to the world’s oldest desert, estimated to be 55 million years old. It’s intersected by mountain ranges, and much of it remains untouched.

Damaraland

Damaraland is a rugged plateau of volcanic rock with ancient riverbeds, moonscape plants, San rock paintings, and Brandberg, the highest mountain in Namibia.

Stunning National Parks

Namibia’s national parks are a safe haven for rare animals and unspoilt nature, and worth exploring.

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Intriguing Cultures

Namibia is inhabited by many communities, with the Ovambo being the largest, making up around half of the country’s population. However, there are many more cultures that go back thousands of years, with some still living a traditional way of life.

Himba

Around 50,000 Himba live in Namibia today, merging modern life with traditional rituals. With a cosmetic paste called otjize they protect themselves from the sun and create their famous red-orange complexion.

San

The San have lived in Namibia for around 20,000 years but genetically go back 100,000 years: the world’s oldest continuous culture. Still today, the hunters and gatherers stick to traditional values and surviving skills.

Damara

The Damara are regarded as one of the oldest people in Namibia, too, even though their origin is a mystery since they have no ties to other African ethnicities. Ever since they have expressed their cultural narrative through artistry.

Captivating Wildlife

The whole of Namibia is rich in African wildlife. Just the Big Five are a bit of a gamble: while lions, elephants, and rhinos are easy to encounter in the north, leopards are harder to spot, and the buffalo is only found in the Caprivi Strip. But that doesn’t matter since these special animals might cross your path, too.

Desert Animals

Surviving days without water, raising the body temperature, or some booty action to get moisture from morning fog: countless animals have developed survival skills to get by in the stone-dry lands of Namibia. In Kunene and the Namib, you can encounter them, from desert lions and elephants to gemsboks, meerkats, and beetles.

Black Rhinos

Etosha is a safe haven for the critically endangered black rhinos. During a safari, you can see them roaming the land. Or you just relax at one of the park’s waterholes and let them find you. Thanks to conservation efforts, the numbers keep on rising, not just in Etosha, but also in Kunene or Waterberg.

Cheetahs

With around 3,000 of the world’s 7,000 cheetahs, Namibia is the “Cheetah Capital of the World”. Seeing them speed up to 110 km/h and seemingly fly over the ground is a unique sight. Conservation organizations protect the cheetah and offer unique experiences where you can get close to them in an ethical way.

Marine wildlife

Watch one of the world’s largest colonies of Cape fur seals chilling on the rocks at Cape Cross. Leatherback and loggerhead turtles call the northern Skeleton Coast their home, and humpback and Bryde’s whales roam the coast of Walvis Bay. On the south coast, you can sometimes see Heaviside’s dolphins and the great white shark.

Birds

Namibia’s birdlife makes your heart leap. See the beautiful-ish lappet-faced vulture, the objectively beautiful rosy-faced lovebird, or the dune lark endemic to the Namib. In Lüderitz you can watch clumsy African penguins, and if you’re lucky, you’ll spot one of the rarest birds along the Kavango River: the Pel’s fishing owl.

Small and quirky

Dancing lizards, cartwheeling spiders, and blind moles that swim through the enormous dunes: sometimes it’s the small animals that cause the biggest smile. With a bit of luck, you’ll see the world’s most trafficked animal, the pangolin, and with less luck, you can watch meerkats play, dig, play, dig…

Namibia’s most beautiful lodges

From luxurious lodges leaving no wish unfulfilled to comfortable tents surrounded by the sound of the desert: pick your favourite accommodation for your Namibia safari.

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Why a safari with Africa Safari Trips?

After reading all this, you might say, “Well that’s all great, but why should we travel with you guys?” This is why!

🦁 We’re 100% specialized in Africa safaris.

🐘 We turn your wishes into your dream holiday, private safari jeep included.

🐃 Our safari guides are world-class.

🐆 The best experience meets the best price.

🦏 We’ve already fulfilled thousands of dreams – now we want to fulfill yours.

We would understand, though, if you still have some questions. Have a look at our FAQ and if you cannot find the answers, feel free to get in touch.

: There are two main seasons in Namibia plus a shoulder season and each has its perks, making Namibia a year-round holiday destination.

The dry season (winter) runs from May to October. This is the most popular time since the sky is clear, the malaria risk is low, and wildlife gathers around waterholes, making animal spotting a piece of cake. While it’s not too hot during the day (max. 24°C), temperatures in the desert can fall below zero. The mornings and evenings are chilly, so best bring an extra layer. Since these are the most popular months, especially September, it can get crowded in places like Etosha and Namib Naukluft.

The wet or green season (summer) lasts from November to April. The weather is hot and humid, with a chance of thunderstorms in the afternoons. The temperatures during the day can be high, up to 40°C, and the nights get very cold. With the rain comes a green scenery, sometimes even flowers in the Namib and the calving season. This is also a great time for birdwatchers and photographers. The parks are less crowded and prices for safaris and accommodations are at their lowest.

April, May, October and November fall into the shoulder season, meaning the dry or wet seasons are coming to an end or haven’t properly begun. In April and May the landscapes bloom after the rainy season with temperatures in the low-to-mid 20s°C. October and November mark the end of winter, trees start to bloom and it gets warmer, with over 30°C during the daytime. This is a great time for wildlife watching and visiting the Cape Cross Seal Colony since it’s their calving season.
: In Namibia, Mother Nature shows off all her talents creating landscapes that seem out of this world: from rock formations in Damaraland to the endless salt pans and a thornbush savannah in Etosha, from the tropical floodplains in Zambezi to the bone-dry desert around Sossusvlei and Fish River Canyon. On top of that you encounter incredible wildlife that has perfectly adapted to the arid and semi-arid environments.

The coast awaits you with unparalleled beauty when the dunes of the Namib meet the ocean. Other highlights here are shipwrecks, seal colonies and ghost towns along the Skeleton Coast.

Besides animals and nature, you meet cultures that go back thousands of years, like the San or the Damara. It’s important to note that the distances are long. Going from one highlight to the next can take hours, especially if you go to more remote areas.
: The stars are definitely Sossusvlei and Deadvlei, the salt and clay pans with mummified skeleton trees surrounded by enormous dunes. Also in the south you can find the Namib Naukluft National Park with the world’s oldest desert and the Fish River Canyon, the second-largest canyon on earth.

Further north Etosha National Park is another highlight, a vast salt pan ecosystem with exceptional wildlife viewing at waterholes. In the northwest, Damaraland is home to Twyfelfontein with ancient rock engravings and desert-adapted wildlife. Just around the corner you can find Kakaoland with traditional Himba villages and ancient cultures.

And then there’s the coast, with the rugged Skeleton Coast and its Cape fur seal colonies and shipwrecks, and Swakopmund, the charming German colonial town and hotspot for adventure activities in the dunes.

And last but not least, the unparalleled starry sky at night wins all hearts.
: The north is heaven if you want to see classic African wildlife with a twist. Damaraland and Kakaoland are home to rhinos, elephants and lions that have evolved to survive in the desert-like environment. On top of these stars, you can look out for zebras, giraffes, and various antelope species.

Etosha is a stronghold for the black rhino, but also for lions, leopards, cheetahs, white rhinos, giraffes, zebras, wildebeest, oryx, kudus and almost all the who’s who of African wildlife.

The Caprivi Strip (Zambezi) borders Botswana, Zimbabwe and Angola and wows with hippos, crocodiles, African wild dogs, elephants, countless birds and rare antelope species like the red lechwe.

Keep your eyes open for Cape fur seals, brown hyenas, black-backed jackals, dolphins and whales when visiting the Skeleton Coast.

And last but not least the Namib Desert: here you can find surprisingly many animals like gemsboks, springboks, and ostriches, and plants like the Welwitschi plant which can live for more than 1,000 years.

In each of these places are many more animals to marvel at. Of course we cannot name them all, so keep your eyes open wherever you go.
: Yes, Namibia is a safe travel destination. In fact, it’s one of the safest countries in Africa with a stable economy and low rates of crime against tourists.

As in any other country, there are a few things to look out for.

Don’t carry your valuables with you when you’re out and about and keep your essentials close to you.

If you travel to the Caprivi/Zambezi or northern Kavango regions, anti-malaria medication is recommended.

The biggest risks are the roads and the distances. If you drive yourself, always carry extra water, tyres and fuel, drive slowly, watch out for wildlife, download offline maps and never drive at night.

Your travel consultant will give you more advice during your planning. But in general, if you stick to these few tips, you can enjoy a safe holiday in Namibia.
: No matter if cozy, luxurious, or something in between: Namibia offers plenty of accommodations that suit everyone’s style and budget.

All of them welcome you with genuine hospitality, local cuisine and details capturing the essence and culture of Namibia.

From comfortable tents in the middle of the desert to exclusive lodges with luxurious vibes, each accommodation has all the amenities you need plus a few more.

If you book a guided safari, you’ll enjoy full board. From continental breakfasts with fresh fruits of the season to yummy lunches and delicious dinners after adventurous and memorable days in Namibia’s unspoilt nature.