Namibia

Namibia is one of Africa’s most extraordinary safari destinations, a country where starkly beautiful desert landscapes host uniquely adapted wildlife. Rather than featuring classic savannahs, a tour here showcases the world’s oldest desert, towering red dunes, salt pans, and a dramatic coastline where the ocean meets the sands. The adventure often begins in the Namib Desert at the iconic Sossusvlei, where visitors can climb some of the world’s tallest sand dunes, like Dune 45 or Big Daddy, for breathtaking sunrise views over the surreal white clay pan of Deadvlei.

Beyond the dunes, Namibia offers exceptional wildlife viewing, most famously in the north at Etosha National Park. This vast park is centered on a massive, shimmering salt pan where animals congregate at life-sustaining waterholes, offering superb sightings of lions, elephants, and rhinos. For a more exclusive and conservation-focused experience, safaris venture into remote private reserves in Damaraland and Kaokoland to track rare desert-adapted species on foot, including critically endangered black rhinos and elusive desert elephants.

The diversity of a Namibian holiday extends to its culture and otherworldly scenery. On the Skeleton Coast, travelers discover shipwrecks buried in sand and massive Cape fur seal colonies. In the mountainous northwest, they can learn about the traditions of the Himba people, while the coastal town of Swakopmund offers a mix of German colonial architecture and thrilling adventures like quad biking and living desert tours to spot the “Little Five”.

Experiences can be tailored to all travel styles, from self-drive journeys using well-maintained gravel roads to luxurious fly-in safaris that maximize time in remote wilderness areas. The optimal time to visit for wildlife viewing is the dry winter season from May to October, when animals are drawn to permanent water sources and daytime temperatures are pleasant. Ultimately, a safari in Namibia is a journey of profound contrasts, leaving travelers with memories of vast, silent spaces, resilient life, and unforgettable beauty