Namibia : 8 Not-To-Miss Places in Namibia

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Capital:  Windhoek
Airport:   Hosea Kutako International Airport  

Namibia is situated on the southern side of the African continent and opens up into the Atlantic Ocean on the western side. Botswana is situated on its eastern side while South Africa shares borders on the southern and eastern sides. To the north of the nation, it shares its borders with Zambia and Angola. It is a land with great geographical diversity and you will come across everything from moving dunes to colossal mountains, from sunny savannahs to excellent beaches, and so on! There is so much that this nation has to offer and only a trip to Namibia can show you how wondrous this nation really is. So, let's just dig into all the stunning places that you just have to see if you are planning on a trip to Namibia.

Etosha National Park

Etosha National Park is one of the gems of Namibia and should be on top of your list of places to visit in Namibia. It is situated about 435 km away from Windhoek, the most common entry point into Namibia. It is well-connected by roadways and you could hire a private or a shared vehicle to make the journey. It will take you roughly 6 hours to reach your destination on road. There are no regularly scheduled flights, however, there are provisions for chartered flights in the form of airstrips within the park.

Etosha is famous because of the number of rare animal species that you could spot here. It has been the hub for spotting rare animals for over 100 years and still continues to do so. The first time Etosha National Park was declared as a game reserve was in 1907. The region is lined with salt pans and trails often frequented by leopards. The famous Leopard Hills are definitely worth your time as you are exploring Etosha. You will also find African bush elephants and zebras near the water bodies within the park. The extremely rare black rhino might even make an appearance if you are lucky enough. The springing springbok is another of the rare marvels that the national park has to offer. In short, the variety of fauna has indeed made Etosha the safari kingpin of this nation.

Sossusvlei

Sossusvlei is situated within the expanse of the intoxicating Namib Dessert and forms part of the Namib-Naukluft National Park. The best way to travel to Sossusvlei is by renting a car and getting all the way to your destination on road. You may also collaborate with a tour operator to get easy access to the region from Windhoek. However, if you are driving, be sure to take certain precautions and follow the traffic rules. This is especially important since there are no fences and there are high chances that you may find a wild animal resting on the streets.

This is the place to enjoy the desert environment in its rawest form. All you will find are wind expanses of sand and dunes which occasionally shift with the change in the wind. Some of the dunes that you are likely to find at Sossusvlei could well be regarded as some of the highest dunes in the world. A fine example is the colossal Dune 7 which could go up to as much as 350 m above sea level after repeated deposition of sand by the wind. You could easily delve into the wildness of this arid region on a 4x4 and you are most likely to come across oryxes, springbok, ostriches, and antelopes in the region.

Kaokoland

Kaokoland is one of the destinations that is going to awe you the most. Few other destinations in the entirety of Africa or the world that could be so enchanting. In most cases, it is recommended that you hire a chartered flight to one of the airstrips in Kaokoland to reach the place. Driving a 4x4 is another option, though it is not recommended. You need to have the most exceptional skills with a 4x4 to make it safely into Kaokoland.

It is one of the remotest regions in Namibia and the beauty of this place is raw, pristine, and untouched. Winding river systems criss-cross through the landmass like a gigantic, slithering snake, cutting through the rockiest of mountains. This region boasts of an entirely different kind of arid beauty and could be easily reached through a chartered flight from any of the hot locations in Namibia. The indigenous Himba tribe is one of the major draws for tourists who are planning a trip to Kaokoland- they are ever smiling and have lived for ages in the wilderness as nomads. You will also get to see mountain elephants here, a particular kind of elephant species that has evolved through centuries to live in the absence of proper water resources.

Swakopmund

Swakopmund is one of the favorite destinations along the Atlantic Ocean offering you the benefits of a beach destination. The best way to reach this amazing location has to be through the roadways though other methods of transportation exist. It is situated about 362 km away from Windhoek and takes about 5 hours to reach. There are no airports in Swakopmund but you may hire a chartered flight and end up in one of the airstrips in the area. you may take a private cab or hail the local minibus services to reach Swakopmund from Windhoek.

This area was occupied by the Germans during the colonial era and it is very easy to spot the German influence in everything the Swakopmund has to offer. Saxon facades lining the outside of the Altes Gefängnis jail and the ochre-colored Woermanhaus are but some of the examples of the prevailing German architecture in this part. The beachside is lined with many beer bars where you can have a grand, relaxing time. The crafts markets are a great place to look for souvenirs and if you are lucky, you may even find such things as age-old Nazi trinkets.

Skeleton Coast Park

Skeleton Coast Park is one of the best examples of places that offers you a fine glimpse into the Namibian wildlife. There are different entry points into the park with the south one being the most popular. If you plan to enter the national park from the south, you have to travel about 200 km from Swakopmund or about 485 km from Windhoek on road. You could hire a private or a shared vehicle to make this journey.

From top to bottom, Skeleton Cross Park covers a span of about 500 km- on one side is the huge expanse of desert with dunes while on the other side, it opens up into the Atlantic Ocean. The area where the desert meets with the ocean on the shoreline is delineated and is regarded as one of the most dangerous shorelines in the entire world. The rusting remains of age-old tankers, broken fishing boats, and rusting convoy ships bear witness to the dangers of this coastline. You will also come across tales of many a sailor who had lost their lives along the shoreline. Thus, the main lifeforms dominating this region are hyenas and Namid elephants.

Twyfelfontein

Twyfelfontein is situated on the northern side of Namibia and is barely a town, to say the least. However, it sure is one of the most impressive places that you could visit in this country. The region gained the status of being a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2007 and was the first place in Namibia to be proclaimed so. It is situated about 430 km away from Windhoek, 300 km from Otijwarongo, and the nearest town is Khorixas just 99 km away. Most travelers going to Twyfelfontein start their journey in a car from Khorixas.
The charm of the place lies in the humongous displays of ancient rock art. It is situated within the Kunene Region at the heart of the northern parts of the country. There are about 16 individual sites spread throughout this region that tells an interesting tale about human habitation through rock art. Each of these locations has unique petroglyphs specific to the region. It is estimated that the region has been inhabited for thousands of years easily dating back to at least the 6th century BC.

Spitzkoppe

Namibia is all about dramatic natural features and captivating landscapes and Spitzkoppe is one of the most fascinating structures that you are likely to see in Namibia. It is very easy to reach by road and is situated at a distance of just 180 km from Swakopmund and 280 km from Windhoek. The roadways are the best way to reach this destination and you will definitely be awed by what you are going to see here!

When the Germans first came to the land and came across the Spitzkoppe in the early 1900s, they immediately compared it to the stunning Swiss Matterhorn. The comparison is very justified given that this natural structure is a gigantic mass of granite stone jutting out of the earth and reaching an elevation of about 1,700 m in the middle of the desert. There are many stunning rock formations to explore in this region which include bridges, arches, and caves that will leave you in absolute wonderment. The base of the Spitzkoppe is also lined with ancient rock paintings from the early inhabitants of the region. There is a campsite in the area where you could stay for a night or two and indulge in the raw charm that the place has to offer.

Fish River Canyon 

The fish River Canyon is located in the southern reaches of Namibia and is one of the most stunning sites to visit, especially if there is an adventurer within you. The Namibian side of the canyon is also the best place to get a taste of what the canyon has to offer. Some of the most picturesque views of the Fish River Canyon are available from multiple locations such as Hobas or Ais-Ais. The remote location of the canyon makes the journey long and arduous and it takes about 8 hours to reach the place from Windhoek. The region has an international airport and you could directly get down here instead of getting down at Windhoek.

The region is a stunning sight, one that you are never likely to forget. The canyon is lined with red rocky mountains that soar high above the deep valleys in the region. Deep pits of sand, colossal boulders, and a stunning blood-red sunset against the Three Sisters are some of the most stunning things that you would see in the canyon. The adventurer in you could go on treks through the canyon passing through rough terrain, long dusty lanes, high passes, and so on, and stretching for about 88 km from start to finish.