The diversely beautiful country of Namibia is situated on the Southwest coast of Africa. I was surprised how different it looks to other parts of Africa, from the white dust of the National parks to the fairly built up German towns that feel quite European.
Namibia has plenty to do and a variety of landscapes from desert to rivers and the coast. Here are 15 things to do in Namibia and why it should be next on your list of places to visit…
1. Deadvlei: Reason Alone to Visit Namibia
The dunes of Deadvlei are located in the Sossusvlei area, in the Namib desert and are one of the biggest reasons why people travel to Namibia. This place is like no other and a photographers paradise. The 900 year old camel thorn trees are scorched black by the harsh sun- creating stunning images again the white sand and red dunes. Add this to the top of your list.
2. Stroll Over Fish River Canyon
The impressive Fish River Canyon is the second largest in the world after Grand Canyon and is seriously impressive. I went at sunset, a perfect time with the low sunlight illuminating the canyon an intense orange colour. There is even a challenging 5 day hike into the canyon that can only be completed from May-mid September due to the burning heat. For day trippers it’s an easy stroll along the outside with various viewpoints to take some stunning selfies!
3. Get Close to Wildlife in Etosha National Park
Etosha National Park has a variety of terrain and it’s huge salt pan can even be seen from space. The landscape I saw was hugely vast with white ground and dust filling the air. With my tour group I camped out inside the park where it even had its own watering hole.
The animals are still completely wild and all gather to this watering hole at the same time! Elephants, giraffe, hippos, lions-ย you name it. It’s a once in a lifetime experience to just sit by this watering hole for hours- even into the night and watch the animals come and go.
4. Horse-riding into the desert
I booked a horse-riding tour with a couple of others from my GAdventures tour group which left straight from the Spitzkoppe Campย we were staying in. This camp is awesome btw- right in the middle of nowhere!
So after getting adjusted on the horse we literally rode off into the sunset. We had the place to ourselves and the setting was incredible. They cater for all levels also.
5. Climb up Dune 45
Dune 45 sits at 170 meters and takes around 40 mins to an hour to climb up (reasonably easy). Another one for the photographers here with vast views across the Namib desert. Also once you reach the top you can run back down again which is quite exciting.
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6. ย Enjoy the Drive
Although it can take a while to get from place to place, there’s plenty to see along the way. We stopped numerous times to snap animals in the road or just for the scenery of mountains and desert. If you are road-tripping be sure to stop at Solitaire town- a tiny desert town with abandoned cars by the roadside. Perfect for that much needed coffee break.
7. Snap a Photo at the Tropic of Capricorn
This is a popular photo spot situated about hour after the town of Solitaire, heading towards Walvis Bay. This marks the spot (approximately) of one of the 5 circles of latitude, running parallel to the equator. It’s really just a photo spot but interesting to see.
8. Quad Bike Through the Desert
Swakopmund is the place to book a quad biking tour. For the adventurers this activity will surely get your heart racing. Driving up and over the dunes, wind in hair and flying over the sand was some serious fun.
9. Visit the Petrified Forest
This strange place is formed of huge fossilised tree trunks estimated at about 280 million years old. ย The Petrified Forest sits at what was once an old river channel with ancient trees preserved and turn to stone. It’s something different to visit – perfect for those who like a bit of history.
10. See a Fascinating Shipwreck
Namibia is known for its shipwrecks that can be found along it’s coast. I visited Zeila shipwreck right on the beach. There is something so eerie about an abandoned ship and the stories that go with it. The birds taking up residence on what’s left of the vessels frame are kinda creepy don’t ya think?!
11. Take a Desert Tour
A lot of Namibia is desert and although it may look deserted there are plenty of animals that thrive here. Take an insightful tour over the dunes and find out about the animals that live here and how they survive. There is also fantastic photo opportunities at sunset, the suns golden glow creating a beautiful soft light over the landscape.
12. Canoe along the Orange River
Fiddlers Creek Rest Camp is situated on the Orange River that forms part of the border with South Africa. From here you can hire out canoes and cruise along the still river. Go as fast or slow as you like as you drift along the scenic landscape.
13. Shop at Local Stalls and Explore the Villages
Whilst driving along you will see arts and handicraft stalls run by the local women. These are great places to grab yourself a unique souvenir and to chat with the locals.
There will always be friendly children waiting to greet you- all very excited at the prospect of meeting a foreigner. There are also tours that take you into local villages and schools, giving a glimpse into the life of the locals.
14. Indulge in a steak at Joe’s Beerhouse
Joe’s Beerhouse in Windhoek is famous for it’s steak and oh my I can’t even tell you how delicious it was! You can get everything from zebra, kudu, springbok and crocodile. It’s a meat lovers paradise and the decor is amazing too. The waiters are super nice and even remembered our entire tables order of around 15 off my heart!
15. Enjoy a Simple Campfire
One of the best parts about my trip was setting up camp every couple of nights and sleeping under the stars. It makes for a true adventure and enjoying a beer by the fire after a long day is a welcome break. It’s great to sit back by the campfire out in the open, eating dinner and chatting about the day. Be at one with nature ๐
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Hope you enjoyed learning more about Namibia. It truly is a unique destination to add to your bucket list. If you enjoyed this post don’t forget to share it along to Facebook or Pinterest. You can also sign up for a free 4 day guide on solo travel confidence building.