Namibia
Namibia is a country in Southern Africa. It is bordered to the west by the Atlantic Ocean. It is bordered to the south by South Africa, to the east by Botswana and to the north by Zambia and Angola. With its incredible landscape and wildlife it should be at the top of your African destination list.
top Namibian tourist destinations
This list is not exclusive but these were some of the top experiences and destinations from my travels in Namibia. I hope this gives you some inspiration for your own Namibia travels!
Hoba Meteorite
This Meteorite is located around Grootfontein in Namibia. It has never been moved from where it fell. It fell to the earth about 80,000 years ago. It is estimated to be about 66 tons. It was found in 1920. It is the largest single meteorite ever found. It consists of iron primarily and nickel. It measures about 9ft by 9ft by 3 ft. This is the largest meteorite in the world. When we went it was about $5 USD to enter but the most recent tripadvisor reviews report it costs $250N to enter which is around $16.5 USD. When our tour arrived, some of our group asked if it was worth it for the fee of $5. Our tour group tried his best to explain it but in the end said “it is a rock”. In the end, most people decided to visit it despite our hilarious tour guide’s response. Not sure if it is worth the higher price but definitely cool say you saw the largest meteorite!
Solitaire
This is a small settlement at the edge of the Namib-Naukluft National Park and it has been a tourist stop since 1949. It is a great rest stop to fuel up and grab drinks and snacks. You can also spend a night here in one of the two available lodges. It is apparently great for night skies but we just did a small trip during the daytime on our way to Swakopmund.
Tropic of Capricorn Sign
The Tropic of Capricorn marks 23.5 degrees of latitude across the world. In Namibia, it cuts across the Kohmas, Erongo and Omaheke regions. We crossed it on C14 1 hour north of Solitaire after leaving Swakopmund.
Africat Cheetah Rescue
Africat is a cheetah rescue. They take in cheetahs that are injured, tamed or otherwise would have been killed. We were able to have close experience with these beautiful animals and do a game drive. They offer day visits, camping and lodging and game drives. For more information: https://okonjima.
Cape Cross Seals
If you have a sensitive nose this may not be your favorite activity in Namibia but once you get past that this is absolutely incredible. There are seals everywhere. They are hilarious with their noises and movements. You will never see so many seals in one place!
Swakopmund
This coastal city in Namibia was established by German colonists in 1892. It is a resort town and has beautiful German colonial architecture. It is located next to the Namib Desert. It is a great base for many activities including sandboarding, skydiving, quad biking, hot air ballooning and more. It has a variety of great restaurants and bars.
Quad Biking Namib Desert
Quad Biking or ATVing can be done from Swakopmund to explore the desert. This is an awesome way to really explore the dunes. There are several companies that offer tours. There are also combined sandboarding and quad biking tours if you want to experience the dunes in different ways. Quad biking really gets you to cover some ground and gets you to some epic views!
Sandboarding
Sandboarding is the act of sliding down sand dunes on a board. It is exhilarating. It is also a workout as you have to climb the dunes in order to go down them. If you snowboard you can do it with a similar board or if you are a novice you can ride boards down on your stomach. On this tour we got flimsy little bendable boards and they waxed them to help you go faster. It was so much fun!
Orange River
This river forms the international border between South Africa and Namibia. There are many canoeing tours you can do from the area from day trips to multiple day canoeing and camping trips.
Spitzkoppe
These granite mountain peaks are estimated to be about 120 million years old. They stand out amongst the relatively flat plains around it. It is a popular destination for camping, hiking, rock climbing, photography, and stargazing. It is also a great place to take in the sunrise and sunset.
Etosha National Park
This National Park is a large salt pan in the northern part of Namibia. It is the largest wildlife sanctuary in Namibia so excellent for game drives. It was started as a game reserve in 1907 and is one of the largest national parks in Africa. It is ideal for game viewing to come in the dry season between May and October when animals congregate around watering holes. If you are more into birding then the rainy season is best. There are several great camps within the park.
Fish River Canyon
The Fish River Canyon is the largest canyon in Africa. It is approximately 160 kilometers long, 27 kilometers wide and 550 meters deep covering an area of 2,278 miles squared. Only the Grand Canyon in the United States is larger. It is the second most visited tourist attraction in Namibia and for good reason. Be prepared to have your breath taken away.
Sossusvlei
Sossusvlei is a salt and clay pan surrounded by red dunes in the Namib-Naukluft National Park. It is located in the southern part of the Namib Desert. It is considered the best known attraction and for good reason. Some of the landmarks include Sossusvlei, Big Daddy, Dune 45, Hiddenvlei and Deadvlei.
Dune 45
Dune 45 is one of the best places to catch sunrise in Namibia. Dune 45 is sand only and it is about 550 feet high. Depending on how many times you stop to take photos and rest it can take about 25 minutes to 1 hour to reach the top. It can be busy so it is best to go early. It is safe to leave your shoes at the bottom to climb up. It is a popular spot but for good reason. You won’t regret it.
Deadvlei
This clay pan located about 2 km from Sossusvlei used to be an oasis with camelthorn trees. The trees have become petrified and they create a surreal landscape. It was my favorite place in Namibia. It will take your breath away!
