- 1. Climb the Highest Dune in the World’s Oldest Desert<\/a><\/li>
- 2. Go on a Game Drive<\/a><\/li>
- 3. Explore the Skeleton Coast and Cape Cross Seal Colony<\/a><\/li>
- 4. Take to the Skies over the Namib Desert<\/a><\/li>
- 5. Track Desert Adapted Wildlife<\/a><\/li>
- 6. Meet Fascinating Local Communities and Cultures<\/a><\/li>
- 7. Explore Namibia’s Wetlands in a Mokoro<\/a><\/li>
- 8. Visit the Eerie Ghost Town of Kolmanskop<\/a><\/li>
- 9. Visit the Fish River Canyon or Take a Hike<\/a><\/li>
- 10. Sleep Under the Stars<\/a><\/li>
- Why Only Top 10 Things To Do in Namibia?<\/a><\/li>
- Make your booking<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
1. Climb the Highest Dune in the World’s Oldest Desert<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/i2.wp.com\/blog.tripsafaris.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/top-things-to-do-in-namibia-1024x708.jpeg?ssl=1\")
<\/figure><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\nAt 80 million years<\/strong> by some estimates, the beautiful Namib is the world’s oldest desert<\/strong>. That means two things: 1) this is not a man-made desert and 2) life has adapted to its arid conditions. At 81,000 square kilometres<\/strong> in size, it is indeed vast and therefore it\u2019s no surprise that it gives the country its\u2019 name, which in itself means \u201cvast place\u201d<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
So it goes without saying, if you\u2019re visiting Namibia, you need to include a visit to the desert boasting some of the world\u2019s highest dunes<\/strong>. The view from the top is well worth it, which says a lot when the climb is, well, 325 metres<\/strong> up, in thick sand.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
If you\u2019ve seen any pictures of Namibia you\u2019ll have surely come across one of Dead Vlei<\/strong>, the dry pan scattered with eon old trees against a red dune backdrop. That dune, is the monster we\u2019re talking about. Hello Big Daddy. It\u2019s impressively large at its base and even more impressive from its peak. Take a moment to catch your breath from the climb, then have your breath taken at the sheer extent of that view.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
A visit to Namibia isn\u2019t complete without a visit to this natural wonder. The great sand sea of the Namib Desert tops our\u00a0Best Places to Visit in Namibia\u00a0list with good reason.\u00a0Sossusvlei\u00a0is a must.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Conquer Big Daddy<\/strong>, Dune 45<\/strong> or Elim Dune<\/strong> in the area of Sossusvlei and if that wasn\u2019t enough for you, you can always take on Dune 7 (at 383 metres high). As you make your way to the coast from the south, it towers over Walvis Bay. A different view, that much higher, equally as impressive and just as rewarding.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
2. Go on a Game Drive<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/i2.wp.com\/blog.tripsafaris.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/top-things-to-do-in-namibia2-1024x708.jpeg?ssl=1\")
<\/figure><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\nWhen thinking about Namibia, of course the first image that comes to mind is of the dunes. The ones we\u2019ve just revelled on above, but for all its jaw-dropping scenery, astounding adventure activities and unique experiences – Namibia remains a prime wildlife safari destination<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Etosha National Park is one of the\u00a0greatest game reserves in Africa<\/strong>\u00a0with enormous elephants, plenty of lion even black and white rhino, in fact the only animal not in attendance is the buffalo. But don’t worry there’s plenty of those in the\u00a0Caprivi.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Vast private reserves offer exclusive game viewing around\u00a0Etosha\u00a0and on the plains of central Namibia. Luxury lodges, open-air safari vehicles, professional guides and abundant game make a Namibian safari something special.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
3. Explore the Skeleton Coast and Cape Cross Seal Colony<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/i1.wp.com\/blog.tripsafaris.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/top-things-to-do-in-namibia-skeleton-1024x708.jpeg?ssl=1\")
<\/figure><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\nThe\u00a0Skeleton Coast\u00a0is an area that\u00a0stretches almost the length of the country<\/strong>, where dunes trundle into the sea. It\u2019s remote for the most part (as a National Park) and that\u2019s its charm. \u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n
By an ironic twist of nature, the cold Atlantic current responsible for 2,000km of desert on Africa’s west coast is itself teeming with life and abundance. Micronutrients by the billion blown north and upwards from the south pole sustain the highly productive Benguela ecosystem.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Skeleton Coast of Namibia, so rich in life and activity, is an open-air, all-natural aquarium. Marine cruises in the\u00a0Walvis Bay\u00a0lagoon bring you into close contact with dolphins, seals, mola molas, penguins, turtles and humpback whales (from July to November). Birdlife is prolific as well with flamingos, pelicans, cormorants, petrels, gannets and oystercatchers swooping down on you. For an even closer encounter join an early morning sea kayaking tour of the lagoon or you can combine a marine cruise with a desert tour in the same day.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Walvis Bay lagoon is a RAMSAR Wetlands Site meaning it’s got lots and lots of birds including plovers, grebes, egrets, herons, sandpipers, teals, geese, gulls, terns and many more. The lagoon is also a reliably windy spot and its flat-ish waters offer excellent kite surfing for a more adventurous Skeleton Coast experience.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Sandwich Harbour<\/strong> is a must to get that real skeleton coast experience. Drive along the desolate beach to Sandwich Harbour Bay and explore the rolling dunes as they meet the cold Atlantic along the way.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Further north on the Skeleton Coast at Cape Cross<\/strong> along a stretch of salt road, bordered by desolate gravel plans and fog-shrouded dunes on one side and the roaring shipwreck-dotted Atlantic coast on the other, is one of the largest Cape fur seal colonies in the world. About 100,000 <\/strong>seals inhabit a rocky outcrop patrolled by sharks and presided over by a rather tactile stench.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
There\u2019s plenty to do and loads to see from Walvis Bay and\u00a0Swakopmund, both central towns on the Skeleton Coast. This is the country\u2019s hub for activities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
If the Skeleton Coast has led you to dream about one of the isolated lodges in the area of the\u00a0Skeleton Coast National Park<\/strong>\u00a0which is otherwise inaccessible. Take a peek at\u00a0Shipwreck Lodge\u00a0and\u00a0Hoanib Skeleton Coast Camp.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
4. Take to the Skies over the Namib Desert<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blog.tripsafaris.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/top-things-to-do-in-namibia-helicopter-1024x708.jpeg?ssl=1\")
<\/figure><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\nPerhaps the most striking difference between Namibia and pretty much anywhere else on Earth is the vastness of our open skies<\/strong>. Horizons disappear into the future and the unpolluted night sky into the distant past. Be humbled, it’s quite liberating.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Turn the tables and experience the scale of Namibia’s landscape from the sky. Discover just how big, how empty and how spectacularly beautiful this great country is.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Top of the airborne activities has to be\u00a0hot air ballooning<\/strong>\u00a0over\u00a0Sossusvlei. Colours, patterns, changing light and the eerie silence of balloon flight combine to make this an almost surreal experience. Do it. Save up, break into the college fund, raid Grandma’s “cookie jar” or sell the Eiffel Tower. Whatever. Just do it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
If your itinerary intervenes or you\u2019re not the balloon type, you can also take a\u00a0scenic flight<\/strong>\u00a0from\u00a0Swakopmund\u00a0over the\u00a0Skeleton Coast\u00a0to Sossusvlei and back. You’ll see more and be back in time for happy hour. Either way, make sure you budget for either of these activities or do both. Why not? After all, these are the experiences that will take your itinerary up a notch (excuse the pun).<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Not that you’ll notice the scenery much but exhilarating all the same is a tandem skydive<\/strong> out of a perfectly good aeroplane at 10,000 feet or, for the (slightly) less insane, some low-level paragliding<\/strong> over the dunes at Swakopmund.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Victoria Falls\u00a0is not technically a Namibian attraction but as it’s one of our most popular add-ons we’d be remiss to leave out the\u00a0Flight of Angels<\/strong>\u00a0– an aerial view of one of the Seven Natural Wonders of the World. At one mile wide, Victoria Falls is almost too big to appreciate. From the air, you can appreciate the scale and majesty of this World Heritage Site and understand just why it is one of Africa’s most-visited attractions. Those who have done it swear the Flight of Angels is the only way to experience the might of Victoria Falls.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
5. Track Desert Adapted Wildlife<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/i1.wp.com\/blog.tripsafaris.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/top-things-to-do-in-namibia-damaraland-1024x708.jpeg?ssl=1\")
<\/figure><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\nThat\u2019s right. We\u2019re talking about the elephants you will find in the arid regions of northern Namibia. Being only one of two countries in the world with desert-adapted elephants<\/strong>, it makes perfect sense to include this when visiting Namibia, unless of course you have plans for Mali anytime soon and even then, no two experiences are the same.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Track the elephants in the dry ephemeral river beds. In an area as rugged as these parts they inhabit, the wonder is not just seeing them, but knowing they survive in this environment. It\u2019s hot. It\u2019s hard and sparse. It\u2019s dry and yet there they are. They\u2019re majestic and they\u2019re not alone out here either. \u00a0Be on the lookout for rhino, lion, oryx, springbok, ostrich and many, many birds. All this in the stunning open\u00a0Damaraland\u00a0and\u00a0Kaokoland\u00a0landscapes. Now we’re back on familiar territory: Namibia’s unique landscape and wildlife.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
6. Meet Fascinating Local Communities and Cultures<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/i1.wp.com\/blog.tripsafaris.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/top-things-to-do-in-namibia-san-tribes-1024x708.jpeg?ssl=1\")
<\/figure><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\nFrom the fascinating ochre-stained, braided Himba<\/strong> living off the land and in harmony with the wildlife and the extraordinary Victorian-garbed Herero<\/strong> women to the charming San<\/strong> hunter-gatherers and their ancient rock art, Namibia has its fair share of distinctive and interesting cultures<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
There are 11 ethnic groups<\/strong>, to be exact, and exploring their differences, not only sees you learning about them but discovering yourself. The people in part, a large part at that, are integral in making a country what it is. They are the soul and heart, so while the landscapes are spectacular and the wildlife prolific, the people are friendly, unique and equally as much a reason for visiting the country.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Explore the rich history of Namibia, a confluence of German influence juxtaposed onto an African setting. It’s a strange old place this Namibia. You’ll love it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
7. Explore Namibia’s Wetlands in a Mokoro<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/i2.wp.com\/blog.tripsafaris.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/top-things-to-do-in-namibia-mokoro-1024x708.jpeg?ssl=1\")
<\/figure><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\nWhile most of this massive country is permanently parched, the north-eastern reaches of Namibia are lush sub-tropical wildlife paradises with perennial rivers winding through the\u00a0Caprivi\u00a0in languid splendour.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Three great rivers cut through this narrow strip en route to great ends: the Okavango becomes the\u00a0Okavango Delta\u00a0in Botswana, the Kwando-Linyanti-Chobe river system flows through\u00a0Chobe National Park\u00a0and joins the big one – the Zambezi River – adding its significant weight to Victoria Falls.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Swamps, floodplains, woodlands and open savannahs surround the rivers and several game reserves protect the whole biosphere. Filled with Africa’s famed wildlife<\/strong> including lions, elephants, buffalos, giraffes, hippos, crocodiles, leopards, cheetahs, hyenas, hunting dogs and many antelope species, the Caprivi is genuine safari territory<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
And what better way to enjoy a safari than floating gently down the river? Options include traditional dug-outs (Mokoros), poled by a local guide in silence through the channels and around islands, canoeing, sunset cruises and luxury houseboats with air conditioning and haute cuisine. You can stay in a luxury lodge on an island, overnight on a sandbank on a boating safari or take daily game viewing cruises from any number of safari lodges themselves an experience of wild beauty.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
8. Visit the Eerie Ghost Town of Kolmanskop<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/i2.wp.com\/blog.tripsafaris.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/top-things-to-do-in-namibia-luderiz-1024x708.jpeg?ssl=1\")
<\/figure><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\nThe ghost town of Kolmanskop is an eerie remnant of the diamond era at the beginning of the 20th century. This sand-filled skeleton of a town about 10km from\u00a0L\u00fcderitz\u00a0was once a prospering community with a clubhouse, restaurant, bars, saloons, a concert hall and a free block of ice per household every day. You can buy diamonds here and join a guided tour for a detailed look at the history of the diamond boom.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Another peculiarity of this area is the feral horses<\/strong> that have settled near the man-made waterhole at Garub Pan. Numbering about 150, these horses have adapted to the harsh conditions and roam at will across the Sperrgebiet (Prohibited Area).<\/p>\n\n\n\n
9. Visit the Fish River Canyon or Take a Hike<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blog.tripsafaris.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/top-things-to-do-in-namibia-river-canyon-1024x708.jpeg?ssl=1\")
<\/figure><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\nStand at the edge of the world’s second largest canyon<\/strong> and explore the rocky outcrops to experience the sheer scale of this enormous 170 million<\/strong> year old fissure.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
If you’re feeling brave, join a 4-day hike of the canyon. This\u00a0Fish River Canyon\u00a0hike is an 85km boulder-hopping, sand-trudging, river-fording monster of a trek, easily one of the world’s greatest wilderness hikes. The hot springs at the end make it all worth it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Namibia is a hiker’s dream<\/strong>: unique and spectacular scenery devoid of humans or predatory wildlife and dry almost all year round.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
If the Fish River Canyon hike is too daunting, pick your landscape and there’s a hike for it: you want mountains and streams, there’s the 17km Waterkloof Trail in the Namib-Naukluft Park or the\u00a0Waterberg\u00a0Plateau Trail; you want to experience the Namib Desert by night there’s the unmissable Tok Tokkie trail, portered and luxurious; or if you want wildlife, there’s the Mundulea Nature Reserve walking trails.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
From slackpacking sojourns to multi-day, self-guided treks, Namibia’s hiking options are legion.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
10. Sleep Under the Stars<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/i2.wp.com\/blog.tripsafaris.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/damaraland-night.jpg?ssl=1\")
<\/figure><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\nNamibia, being as vast and predominantly uninhabited as it is, is almost entirely void of light pollution over its great expanses and has one of the darkest night skies you could ever imagine. And we\u2019re not just saying it. The\u00a0NamibRand Nature Reserve\u00a0in southern Namibia, is actually a certified\u00a0International Dark Sky Reserve<\/strong>. Ahem. As for the rest of the country, the skies are equally as impressive in all remote areas.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
If you\u2019ve never seen the Milky Way, you can\u2019t miss it and constellations have never been so vivid. Star gaze, marvel at the skies and the best part, you can even do it from the warmth and comfort of your bed. Just roll it out onto your private deck at\u00a0Namib Dune Star Camp\u00a0and\u00a0Kwessi Dunes\u00a0or camp on the roof at\u00a0Le Mirage Desert Lodge\u00a0or\u00a0Desert Homestead Outpost, to name a few. Gaze through your very own skylight above your bed in lavish luxury at\u00a0Sossusvlei Desert Lodge\u00a0or above your bubble bath at\u00a0GocheGanas. From a bed roll on a sleep-out excursion, if you\u2019re more the adventurous type, on the Tok Tokkie Trail in the Namib Rand Nature Reserve itself. Or from your very own tent on a wild camping expedition into the northern reaches.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Whichever way you decide, you\u2019ll be amazed and bewildered at the sheer magnificence. Take a closer look by telescope with a resident astronomer, allow your guide to point out the wonder with a laser or simply take it all in. It\u2019s almost always guaranteed to see a shooting star or even spot a passing satellite, floating up there in space. In the silence, if you listen close enough you can almost hear the stars twinkling. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Why Only Top 10 Things To Do in Namibia?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Why not the top 9 things to do in Namibia? Or 13? Truth be told if we could list all the amazing activities Namibia has on offer you’d be overwhelmed by choice. Like a farmboy in a mega toy store. And maybe, just maybe, we’d include the apple strudel at Solitaire.<\/p>\n\n\n
- 2. Go on a Game Drive<\/a><\/li>