Namibia Holidays: Top Packages at Africa Travel

Venture inland on a holiday in Namibia to discover Damaraland, with its breathtaking collection of landscapes, featuring the impressive Petrified Forest and the 1,000-year-old Welwitschia plant. Damaraland also offers unforgettable sightings of endangered desert elephant and black rhino on an immersive game drive. Whereas at Sossusvlei, one of the oldest and driest eco-systems, climbing to the top of the highest sand dunes is a must. Alternatively, discover the famous salt pans of the Etosha National Park featuring an abundance of game, the wilderness of Kaokoveld in the far north, and the Fish River Canyon in the south – second only to the iconic Grand Canyon in size. Next, explore the Caprivi Strip; a narrow stretch of lush wetlands extending across the top of Botswana, where the idyllic Chobe and Zambezi rivers meet.

Interesting things to do in Zambia

Due to flight schedules, holidays in Namibia will invariably involve having to stay overnight in Windhoek, Namibia's capital city. Situated in the middle of the country it is relatively small and quiet with an interesting mix of Africa and Europe. For those who have a little time here there are a number of interesting museums and art galleries to visit and examples of German colonial architecture including Christus Kirche, an early twentieth century Lutheran Church with stained glass windows donated by Kaiser Wilhelm II and the Old Fort - Alte Feste - is now is part of the National Museum.

The hilly highlands to the north of Windhoek are worth considering as a stop between the capital and Etosha or Damaraland. There are a couple of places where the visitor can gain an insight into the rescue and rehabilitation of Namibia's big cats, the most famous being Okonjima, home to the Africa Foundation. The area also attracts visitors looking to explore on foot with good walking opportunities on the Waterberg Plateau and in the Erongo Mountains.

Fish River Canyon & The South

Wide open spaces feature a lot in holidays in Namibia, and to the south of Namibia is a vast, arid region that is sparsely populated with some superb desert scenery. On the journey from Windhoek to the Fish River Canyon the visitor may want to stop over at a game ranch to experience the red sand dunes and wildlife of the Kalahari and, near Keetmanshoop, a dense stand of aloes known as the Quiver Tree Forest is a popular attraction with good photo opportunities. The main attraction in the south of Namibia is the stunning Fish River Canyon, reportedly the world’s second-largest, which was formed over many hundreds of millions of years and, as one of the only sources of water throughout the year in the region, it has attracted humans for 50,000 years. Nowadays visitors come to its spectacular viewpoints and hot springs at Ai-Ais and the canyon is a magnet in the winter months for adventurous hikers taking on the challenge of a four day, 85km trek.

On the west coast is the town of Luderitz, built on the diamond trade and still an important port for the mining and fishing industries. Close by is Kolmanskop, an abandoned mining town from the diamond boom of the early twentieth century. A few of the buildings have been restored but others are being slowly reclaimed by the desert making for a fascinating and atmospheric visit. East of Luderitz close to the town of Aus you may be able to see some of the area’s population of wild desert horses.

Sossusvlei

Namibia holidays should always include Sossusvlei, famous for its huge red sand dunes, and one of Namibia’s iconic destinations. The vlei, or pan, is found in the heart of the Namib-Naukluft National Park. This is one of Africa’s largest parks and incorporates the dunes, river courses and mountains of the Namib desert said to be the world's oldest. It is most famous for the massive, slowly shifting sand dunes that are most accessible around Sossusvlei and whether climbing the dunes, exploring the skeletal trees at nearby Dead Vlei or flying above them in a hot air balloon the views are incredible. Despite the scarcity of water, the desert supports a surprising amount of life from grasses and trees to lizards and birds and larger animals such as ostrich, oryx, springbok and zebra. In the northern gravel plains of the park, to the south of Swakopmund, the strange and ancient welwitschia mirabilis plants are found. With their otherworldly appearance and their ability to survive in the harsh desert conditions, these fascinating plants are believed to live up to 1000 years or more. Located to the south of Sossusvlei, the Namib Rand Nature Reserve is a privately owned area conserving over 170,000 hectares of the Namib desert and featuring diverse landscapes including dunes, grassy plains and mountains. With minimal light pollution, the night skies are truly stunning, so much so that in 2012 the reserve was named as an International Dark Sky Reserve.

Swakopmund & The Skeleton Coast

On the edge of the wild Atlantic Ocean and surrounded by the Namib desert, Swakopmund is a charming coastal town full of German colonial history and buildings with much to see and do, and should be one of the highlights on any Namibia holiday. The town is relatively small and a stroll around its streets enjoying the splendidly preserved colonial architecture, museums and art galleries is a pleasant way to explore. Due to a large number of activities and excursions on offer the town is a popular resort for foreign visitors and also locals who come from the hot interior to the cooler climes of the coast. The adventurous will find a number of ways to fill their days with quad biking and sand boarding in the desert, skydiving and kayaking among the many activities.

From the nearby town of Walvis Bay, one can take a boat trip to see marine life including dolphins and seals and the lagoon is a great bird watching location with flamingos, pelicans, terns and more. A guided 4x4 trip to exploring the wetlands and massive sand dunes around Sandwich Harbour is highly recommended and aerial viewing of the coast and desert on scenic flights brings a whole new perspective.

The Skeleton Coast, which extends north of Swakopmund all the way to the Angola border, is a vast, desolate stretch of coastline where the Atlantic meets the desert. Many of the shipwrecks that gave the area its name are eroding and disappearing due to the relentless action of the wind and waves but the sense of wilderness remains. Self-drivers can access the southern section of the coast including the Cape fur seal colony of the Cape Cross but to explore the more remote northern stretches and inland desert take a fly in safari with Skeleton Coast Safaris or stay at Wilderness Safaris’ Hoanib Skeleton Coast Camp.

Damaraland & Kakoland

Many parts of Namibia are blessed with spectacular scenery, none more so than the north-west regions of Damaraland and Kaokoland. This is a stark and remote land of rocky, rugged desert, flat-topped mountains and red-brown lava landscapes. Visit rock formations such as the Organ Pipes, Burnt Mountain and the Petrified Forest and the World Heritage Site at Twyfelfontein where numerous bushman rock engravings are found. Damaraland is famous for its desert-dwelling elephants and free roaming black rhinos and other game found here includes kudu, giraffe, mountain zebra, oryx and springbok and there is even a small population of lion.

North of Damaraland is Kaokoland which is even more remote. Independent travel here is only for the very experienced, well prepared and adventurous. The best way to experience this true wilderness area is to fly in with Skeleton Coast Safaris or stay at Serra Cafema or Okahirongo River Camp. The Kunene River, lined with palm forests, marks the border between Namibia and Angola and venturing to this remote region you will be rewarded with the opportunity to explore a truly wild part of Africa, wonderful mountain and river views, a great variety of birdlife by the river and in the forests and boat trips on the Kunene. Whilst in Kaokoland guests may be able to visit a village of the Himba, a semi-nomadic, pastoral people who rub their skin and hair with butter and red ochre and wear elaborate jewellery.

Etosha National Park

Namibia holidays are all about the wildlife, so the Etosha National Park should be top of the list on any Namibia holiday package. Located in northern Namibia, Etosha is dominated by a huge, dried out salt pan surrounded by grassland and woodland and has Namibia’s best game viewing. This popular park is well set up for tourists and has a number of rest camps with floodlit waterholes, accommodation, shops and swimming pools and is a great park for self drivers to explore, moving between the numerous waterholes on the edges of the pan that attract all manner of game including elephants and giraffe as well as zebra, oryx and wildebeest and large herds of springbok. Black rhino may also be found and lion, cheetah and leopard are also present, although the latter is very elusive. There are a number of lodges located just outside the park gates offering a choice of accommodation from chalets and tents to luxury villas. Guests can take game drives with expert guides inside the park and additional activities such as night drives and walks are possible on some of the adjacent private reserves

Zambezi Region

Formerly known as the Caprivi Strip, this lush area of tropical rivers and wildlife has been renamed the Zambezi Region after the river that forms Namibia’s northern border with Zambia. A thin strip of land between Angola and Botswana, this is a region of flat floodplains and rivers, a complete contrast to the vast tracts of desert that dominate Namibia.

The main safari parks feature a mixture of woodland and riverine floodplains with abundant animal and bird life. At the western end of the strip is Mahango Game Park which borders the Kavango River and is a small but scenic reserve with savannah, floodplains and woodland studded with baobab trees. The bird watching here is superb, particularly during and after the rains, and among the animals found here are numerous antelope species such as sable and kudu as well as elephant and hippo. Nearby by is Popa Falls, more of a series of rapids than waterfalls, but a pleasant spot nevertheless for exploring the islands or enjoying a sundowner. Further east the woodlands and reed beds along the Kwando River of Mudumu National Park support a wide variety of wildlife including buffalo, sable, elephant and hyena and is best explored from Lianshulu Lodge.

At the eastern end of the strip, Impalila Island lies between the Chobe and Zambezi Rivers close to the point where four countries – Namibia, Botswana, Zambia and Zimbabwe – meet so there is easy access to Victoria Falls and Botswana. The island is a base for fishing, bird watching and boat trips to Chobe National Park and it is also possible to explore the river on a luxury cruise boat such as Zambezi Queen.

Whichever areas you wish to visit, for a once in a lifetime experience, book your Namibia holidays escape today to indulge in a combined trip of nature and adventure. Contact Africa Travel for your dream holiday to Namibia and let our experts help create your perfect trip.