Namibia, a country in Southern Africa with a population of 2.5 million people, is bordered by South Africa to the south, Botswana to the east, and Angola to the north. The best months to visit this magical country depend on what you want to do, but most tourists prefer to explore during the dry season. This runs from June to October, and it’s considered the best time to see wildlife. With 300 days of sunshine a year, however, there’s not really any bad time to visit! To get there, you may need to connect through one of South Africa’s main cities. Some airlines, however, do fly directly to Namibia.
While you plan your trip to Namibia, add these six amazing experiences you shouldn’t miss to your to-do list:
Go hot air ballooning in Solitaire
If you’d like to see the Namib Desert in the most unique way possible, consider taking a hot air balloon ride. Float above Solitaire, a remote settlement roughly in the centre of the country. Here, you’ll be able to enjoy incredible views of awe-inspiring mountains, majestic dunes and gravel plains.
Visit the Etosha National Park
If you’re interested in seeing wildlife on your trip to Africa, you won’t want to miss the incredible Etosha National Park. Etosha, which means ‘Great White Place’, is more than just a place to get up close to wildlife safely – it’s one of Namibia’s most beautiful attractions. You can stay at one of the park’s numerous camps, or at accommodation within close proximity. Game viewing is best undertaken at sunrise when you can watch animals head to the waterholes. You can drive yourself, or take a guided tour of the park. However you choose to experience this spectacular park, you’ll find plenty to marvel at. Among Etosha’s unspoilt natural landscapes and herds of wildlife, there’s something for everyone.
Take a scenic flight over the Skeleton Coast
Some places are just better when they’re seen from above, especially when they’re as wild as this. If hot air ballooning isn’t your thing, but you don’t want to miss out on spectacular views, you might like to take a scenic flight. The Skeleton Coast, which gets its spooky name from the bones of animals that once littered its shore, is the perfect place to explore from above. In flight, you can enjoy breathtaking views of Namibia’s most rugged coastline.
Meet the locals
One of the best parts of travelling is meeting people from new countries and cultures. Namibian communities are some of the most interestingly dressed in the world. The Herero are recognisable by their colonial garb, while the Himba wear their hair in textured styles. When you’re searching for a way to meet the locals, look for tours that offer authentic experiences that benefit Namibians.
Gaze at the stars
If you’re from a city or a densely populated region, you probably don’t regularly experience the beauty of a starry night sky. If you travel to Namibia you will have that opportunity. Because of the low population density there’s not a lot of light pollution, making it the perfect place to marvel at distant light sources. If you’d like a little more adventure, you might choose to take a hiking tour that involves a night sleeping outdoors, or simply stay at Namib Dune Star Camp. What better way to connect with nature?
Wonder at the ancient art
Namibia’s first UNESCO World Heritage Site is at Twyfelfontein (Fountain of Doubt). The site is home to over 2500 fascinating rock drawings, which date back thousands of years. Among the drawings, visitors can see engravings as majestic as giraffes and as puzzling as seals.
Namibia has so much to offer and I hope you’ll include a few of these experiences during your Namibian adventure. So, what are you waiting for?
Which Namibian experiences do you look forward to most? If you have visited before what was your most memorable experience?
Writer: Maia Fletcher is a freelance writer based in the charming city of Gisborne, New Zealand. When she's not busy writing articles for business and technology sites like Trustpower, Maia likes exploring new places. To learn more about Maia, check out her personal blog.
