Namibia holidays

What you can find in Namibia that you won't find anywhere else?

Wedged between the Kalahari and Namib deserts, Namibia is a country of contrasting landscapes. The Namib - the oldest desert on Earth - runs the length of the country's Atlantic coast and is home to the monumental dunes of Sossusvlei and to the desolate reaches of the Skeleton Coast. The majestic Fish River Canyon snakes through the south of the country, while the north has superb game viewing in the Etosha National Park and the lush vegetation of the Caprivi Strip. In between are rugged mountains, endless plains and an awe-inspiring sense of space.

Littered with the bleached rib-cages of whales and the rusting hulks of stranded ships, the aptly named Skeleton Coast is wilderness in the truest sense. Most of this desolate but hauntingly beautiful region is only accessible on a fly-in safari by light aircraft. From remote camps, Land Rovers, guided walks and low-level flights are then used to explore the desert's various points of interest, from canyons, salt pans, dune belts and lichen fields to shipwreck sites, ancient rock art, strange 'roaring dunes' and the clay 'castles' of the Hoarusib River. Safaris on the Skeleton Coast are primarily about experiencing the stunning physical beauty and extraordinary geographical diversity of the landscapes rather than game viewing. And yet (to get all David Attenborough for a moment) even in this seemingly inhospitable environment, life manages to find a foothold. Seal colonies cling to the shoreline, patrolled by scavenging jackals, and rare, desert-adapted elephants inhabit the dried-up riverbeds. Equally fascinating are plants such as lithops, known as 'flowering stones', and the villages of the local Himba tribe - some of the last nomadic people in Africa.

Heading inland, in a country famed for its spectacular scenery the ancient Namib Desert, from which Namibia takes its name, is undoubtedly the star attraction. This 80 million-year-old wilderness - the oldest desert in the world - contains unique flora and fauna, but is above all a visual paradise. The giant red dunes of Sossusvlei, framed against a blue sky, are perhaps the most impressive sight of all - especially at sunrise or sunset, when the colours are at their most intense. On the rare occasions when the vlei fills with water, the resulting turquoise lake makes the view from the top of one of the 300-metre-tall dunes even more surreal. Not far from Sossusvlei lie the broad, open expanses of the NamibRand Nature Reserve. Virtually all facets of the Namib are represented here, from mountains to dune belts and grassy plains dotted with granite kopjes. This is the perfect place to unwind for a few days, experience the peace, space and grandeur of the desert, and discover the remarkable adaptations of interesting plants and creatures - from the !nara melon (the '!' indicates a click in the Nama language) to the fog-harvesting tok-tokkie beetle and the graceful oryx - all surrounded by some of the most breathtaking scenery in Namibia, if not the whole of Africa.

That's not all - landscape safari holidays are all well and good, but Namibia has the big beasts as well, namely in Etosha and Damaraland. Etosha National Park may be (relatively) flat, but its low dolomite hills, mopane woodland and large salt pans, particularly in the 30,000 hectare Ongava Game Reserve, have healthy populations of Lion, Leopard, Cheetah, spotted and brown Hyena, with a smattering of Black and white rhino. Meanwhile Damaraland has extraordinary scenery consisting of huge boulders that wouldn't look out of place on The Flintstones with no fences for mile upon mile and plenty of Oryx, Springbok, Ostrich, Kudu, Giraffe and even Black Rhino (in the west) to spot.

What are the best options for a Namibia holiday?

The Etosha National Park

One of the largest game reserves in the world, the sprawling salt desert of Etosha boasts some of the best wildlife watching in the world. During the dry season, make your way to a watering hole and watch as hundreds of species - from lions and elephants to springboks and gemsboks - come for a drink. Then, when the wet season trickles in, the park bursts with life and the lagoons are taken over by flocks of flamingos and baby zebras taking their very first wobbly steps.

Namib Desert

Travel to the Namib Desert - one of the oldest deserts in the world - and, immersed in a sea of sand, it's easy to believe that you're the last person left on the entire planet. Running along the country's Atlantic coast, it is home to the iconic Sossusvlei dunes and hauntingly beautiful Skeleton Coast which you can explore on thrilling 4x4 expeditions and flying safaris by light aircraft. In this inhospitable environment, life finds a way and if you keep your eyes peeled, you may just catch sight of a rare desert-adapted elephant plodding through this sandy wilderness.

The Waterberg Plateau

An ochre monolith in a sprawling plain, the Waterberg Plateau is home to a number of rare species including the white rhinoceros, the sable, and the wild roan antelope. With thick forests fanning out in every direction, the challenge here is spotting them but even if you don't, the views from the top of the plateau are spectacular enough to leave you slack-jawed and utterly lost for words.

Kavango

The Kavango delivers a landscape that is a stark contrast to the rest of the country. Rolling fields of green boast lush vegetation and the wetlands of the Caprivi Strip are the perfect example of a wildlife refuge that is absolutely thriving. Pack your walking boots, set off with a knowledgable guide and enjoy an unforgettable walking safari.

Kaokoland

The region of the Himba people, Kaokol and feels wonderfully wild and isolated with its ochre mountains plummeting into deep valleys, and it’s rushing rivers crossed by zebras, elephants, and bouncy springbok.

Damaraland

Dreamy Damaraland remains wild and rugged and is one of the last areas of the continent where zebras, oryx, giraffes and black rhinos still live outside the boundaries of the national parks. Beyond where the wild things are, Damaraland is the place to discover some of the oldest rock engravings in the whole of Southern Africa, an experience that will thrill the most discerning of cultural connoisseurs.

The Deep South

Sitting at the heart of the desert plain of Namaqualand, the Fish River Canyon National Park is one of Africa’s most unique nature reserves. A colossal canyon with endless scope, this is the home of monumental hikes that will leave you puffing and panting and gorgeous geological structures that give you a taste of nature's boundless beauty.

The Kalahari

Straddling the borders of Botswana, South Africa and Namibia, the Kalahari is a land of endless red dunes. Here, remains the living territory of the San people whose knowledge of the Kalahari - passed down through the generations - knows no bounds.

Reasons to Love Namibia

From the skeleton coast to soaring sand dunes, and safari walks, Namibia invites you to explore Africa’s vast and varied spaces. Admire the rock carvings of Twyfelfontein, meet with the Himba people in Kaokoland and stand in awe at the endless reach of the Kalahari landscape. Whether you witness the desert bloom during the southern spring or witness the last of the desert elephants wandering across their homeland – you can be sure that your Namibia holidays will be nothing short of spectacular.