Namibia overview

Contact a specialist about your Namibia Safari

Namibia, as they say is the land of contrasts, and having had first hand experience of this beautiful country, I can agree full heartedly. I visited Namibia in February 2006 with a group of fellow tourism associates, on a mission to learn about the 'Land of Contrasts'.

Sarah Renshaw
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The land of Namibia is one of the world's last great wilderness areas and our adventure tours of Namibia are perfect for any traveller seeking a real travel adventure. The heart of all travel to Namibia is the ancient Namib Desert which is home to many unique plants and animals, an excellent location for a Namibia Self Drive. The world's largest sand dune, Dune 45 is in the Namib Desert and watching the sunrise from its peak is a memorable experience.

Travellers can camp, walk, hike or relax in the bubbling hot springs of the mighty Fish River Canyon which is 160km long and 27km wide. The seemingly barren land of Namibia is surprisingly full of life; Etosha National Park is home to 114 mammal species as well as 340 bird species making at a popular destination for safaris.

Most famous of all Namibia's natural wonders is the Skeleton Coast, a 300 mile desert of baking sand sitting on the Atlantic, and renowned for its fur seals. Inland from the Skeleton Coast covering some 50,000km2 lies the harsh mountainous area Kaokoland – one of the wildest and most untouched areas of Africa. This is the home of the semi-nomadic Himba, some of the last people in Africa to be effected by the western world. A new addition to tourism in the area is the exciting addition of Rhino and Elephant tracking safaris in the Damarland and Kaokoland region.

Those seeking adrenalin trips to Namibia often head to the old German town of Swakopmund which provides activities such as free-fall parachuting, dune-bike riding and sand boarding.

The lush savannah area of the Caprivi Strip, also known as the panhandle, stretches eastwards to the border junction of Namibia, Botswana, Zimbabwe and Zambia. In many ways the Caprivi Strip is more like the countries that surround it than the rest of Namibia. Activities include hiking, game-viewing safaris or a river trip in a traditional mokoro.

Tourism in Namibia is based squarely on the countries natural assets. Its remarkable diversity can make planning a trip to this huge country a daunting task. Namibia has so much to offer and unless you have plenty of time on your hands, don’t expect to see everything on your first visit. We suggest you focus on one specific destination or experience and build your itinerary around this. Then decide when you are able to travel.

Namibia is a year round destination. The country experiences two main seasons: summer from October to April and winter from May to September. The summer period is characterised by massive rainfall between January and April, less so from October to November. Therefore, the days are hot and sultry with temperatures up to 40 degrees C. The climate is more temperate along the coast and in the mountains. The winters are dry and daytime temperatures vary around 23 degrees C. Regardless of season, the nights are chilly and the thermometer can drop to zero.

Namibia has a well established network of roads and driving is easy so it’s an excellent destination for independent travellers, self drive tours are a popular choice – see our Namibia Self Drive Safari, for an idea of how to use your time. Self driving gives you the freedom and flexibility to travel at your own pace. There is a good selection of lodges and camps to suit most budgets.

Our Ultimate Adventure Safari to Namibia will enable you to see all the highlights and access very remote areas in comfort and style at a relaxed pace, a fine introduction to Namibia.

For those with limited time, our 7 day Fly-In Safari is a great choice, you will see the highlights of Namibia and stay at some of the country’s finest wilderness camps. This trip can easily be added on to a trip to neighbouring South Africa, Zambia or Namibia giving you a comprehensive tour of southern Africa.

The Skeleton Coast Park is one of the most wild and desolate places on earth, the only practical way to venture in is by light aircraft. Our Skeleton Coast Fly-In Safari has 1 departure a week throughout the year. This trip can easily be added as an extension are included as part of a longer trip.

Group departures such as our Spirit of Namib Safari or the Great Namibian Journey are a great way to travel and give you the chance to meet like-minded people, share your experience and save money. We offer a selection of trips of varying duration from 3 to 18 days. Some are fully participative others whilst others offer fully serviced camping.

A visit to Palmwag Rhino Concession can be included on any of our departures. Tracking black rhino on foot is a thrilling experience and your visit supports this excellent project. As well as this many people also want to include a visit to Okonjima, home to the Africat Foundation, a non-profit organisation committed to long term conservation of Namibia's large carnivores, especially cheetahs and leopards.

Flights:: Flights from Europe to Windhoek take around 10 hours
Vaccinations:: Malaria prophylactics are required in northern and central areas. The rest of the country is malaria free. A Yellow Fever certificate is required if coming from an infected area.
When to travel:: Namibia is a year round destination. It is semi-desert with hot days and cold nights in winter from May to Sept; rainy season with high temperatures in summer from Oct to Apr.
Visas:: Most Europeans and Americans do not require a visa. Please chat to us regarding the latest information.