Namibia in a Nutshell

I briefly worked as a manager in a restaurant when I first moved to Namibia before going back into the industry that I loved. However, instead of planning and booking holidays I was on the other side, hosting and welcoming guests to their lodge accommodation. It was a dream come true to become a manager in two beautiful lodges in the Erongo Mountains, this was a wonderful experience to see how operations worked from the other side.

I will start with introducing this fascinating country, to give you an idea of why this should be on your bucket list of places to visit. The history of Namibia is quite fascinating. From the late 19th century Namibia was a colonised country. It was a German colony until the end of the 1st World War. You will notice even today, there are many families with German heritage still living there. Between the 1st and 2nd World War, Namibia became the territory of the League of Nations. After this, South Africa administered Namibia until 1990 when it gained independence.

A trip to Namibia would not be the same without seeing the rock painting art, which is known to be the oldest works of art in the world, estimated to be 13 million years old in some areas, like in the Otavi Mountains.

I managed a lodge in the Erongo Mountains region which was one of the areas in which travellers can see this ancient artwork. We organised nature drives daily for holidaymakers to see this wonderful site which I highly recommend doing. The San (Bushman) and the Damara tribes are known to be the oldest ethnic group in Namibia and were the creators of this work.

This diverse country is outstanding and is free from conflict and political unrest making it one of the ‘Top 10’ safest African countries to visit.

The country is known for its vast deserts, we spent many trips visiting Swakopmund with the dessert as its backdrop. It is also famous for the highest dunes in the world at Sossusvlei.

An epic road trip, is one of the best ways to get around Namibia. One of my tips if you are considering hiring a vehicle, is to only rent a 4x4 or similar. There are so many off road tracks to follow which makes it unsuitable for smaller vehicles.

You cannot visit Namibia without seeing the magnificent wildlife, including the Big 5 beauties: rhinoceros, leopard, elephant, buffalo and lion. Besides this there is so much more wildlife to see whilst you visit, such as the oryx, giraffe, kudu, pangolin, rock hyrax and the smallest antelope, the dik dik, naming just a few. For the bird watchers out there Namibia is a haven, there are many holidaymakers who come out to see some interesting birdlife including the Nightjar, Hornbill, African Black Eagle and Lovebirds. If you would like to go whale watching and see all the stunning sea life then take a boat ride from Walvis Bay, which is just down the road from Swakopmund, this is a fun experience and the guides are very knowledgeable.

And then you have the adventure experiences for the adrenaline junkies, from sand boarding, quad biking and skydiving. There are lots of companies offering these types of activities.

Places to visit (North)

Etosha Pans National Park- There a 115 species of mammals to explore, including four of the Big 5 (Buffalo is absent from this area). You can either travel within the park with your own vehicle or go on one of the many game drives that are offered in one of the many hotels/lodges located close-by.

Skeleton Coast - Located in the northern part of the Atlantic coast just south of Angola, the name Skeleton Coast derives from the many abandoned ships left on the beach which, due to rough seas, roaring winds and strong ocean currents is primarily the reason for the fate of these beached ships.

Swakopmund - A coastal city dotted along the Atlantic Ocean is a must-see when visiting Namibia. The colonial remnants are plain to see by the many buildings which still stand today including the Swakopmund Lighthouse and the Mole, an old sea wall. Swakopmund is known as Namibia’s adventure hub.

Spitzkoppe - Spitzkoppe is a group of bald granite peaks which are just awe-inspiring to see with the naked eye. For the adrenaline junkies you can try your hand at some rock climbing with some great views at the top of these peaks.

Places to visit (South)

Sossusvlei - The highest dunes in the world can be seen at Sossusvlei. This area is within a salt and clay pan surround by these awe-inspiring red dunes sitting high above you.

Ghost Town - Close to the coastal town of Luderitz, this Ghost Town is known as Kolmanskop. Once a diamond mining town which was thriving in the early 1900’s is now derelict in the Namib desert. Many people visit the town to see the dilapidated houses with brightly coloured wallpaper peeling off the walls and the inundated rolling banks of sand which has taken up home within these houses.

Fish River Canyon - This is the largest canyon in Africa making it a must see. It is the second most visited tourist attraction in Namibia. Fish River is the longest river in the country with the canyon stretching for almost 160km. There are many hiking trails to take advantage of, where you can explore at great length. The views on these hikes are just awe-inspiring!

The places mentioned above are just some of my favourite places and I recommend you seeing them all but there are so many more places to see so don’t limit yourself.

To do the ultimate trip of Namibia, taking in all that is on offer, from the north to the south, you ideally need to plan a trip for at least 4 weeks, this will give you time to see everything on your itinerary without the rush.

If you are limited to 2-3 weeks then I would suggest concentrating on one part of Namibia, giving you the opportunity to see everything in a good amount of time before making another visit to the other side.

It is still possible to do an itinerary taking in most parts of Namibia, this will be more of a taster option since it will only give you the opportunity to stay in one place for 1, possibly 2 nights, max to fit everything in.