What to Know for Your First Time in Namibia
We know Namibia is in Africa but Where?
If you’re visiting Namibia for the first time, prepare yourself. You will discover an amazing hidden gem on the South West coast of Africa. I grew up in Africa, so I may be biased. Still, it’s truly a magnificent country. Take it from me, Namibia is well worth visiting, particularly if you are considering a trip to Africa.
At Glamorous Gallivant, we believe travel at this stage in life should be thrilling yet thoughtful. Namibia delivers exactly that.
If you aren’t exactly sure where Namibia is in Africa, you would not be alone. It’s not as well known as its African neighbours, South Africa and Botswana. Yet, it offers so much to those seeking an African adventure.
The iconic Tropic of Capricorn passes through its land. With this it marks the most southerly latitude at which the sun can appear directly overhead at noon.
Best Time to Visit Namibia
In general, the very best time to visit Namibia is from May to October. This is the dry season. The roads will be more manageable to navigate and you can enjoy your activities without the downpours. It’s also a good time for wildlife spotting in Etosha National Park.
What is so special about visiting Namibia
One of the reasons I love visiting Namibia is that it’s still off the main tourist routes. It remains authentic and unspoiled. Yet it is a country that offers so much.
Whilst Namibia is vast and sparsely populated, it possesses wonderfully diverse landscapes. It boasts a wild ocean coastline, mountains, national parks filled with wildlife and not just one desert but two.
The Namib Desert, the oldest desert in the world lies here. And on the eastern side of the country, the Kalahari Desert stretches across from Botswana and South Africa.
Who are the Namibians?
A Brief History
In 1884, Namibia was a German Colony and known as German South West Africa. The discovery of diamonds in 1908 prompted an influx of Europeans.
German rule ended during the First World War with a defeat by South Africa. Under South African administration, Namibia became known as South West Africa. Until finally, in 1990 and after a 25yr war, Namibia gained its independence.
Namibia today
Namibia’s population is 2.6 million with just 3.1 persons per square kilometre. Its very mixed population is formed from tribal ancestry, Damara minorities, nomadic San Bushmen and German colonisation. This in itself makes up for a country full of diverse cultures.
Visiting Namibia today, you’ll find a peaceful and happy country to visit. It’s very safe to travel around. Namibians are an extremely friendly and welcoming nation. All the hosts at our lodgings were more than happy to chat and regale stories of their local area.
Furthermore, the official language is English making it extremely easy for all us Anglophones too!
In Namibia, you will wake up to stunning sunrises and close your day with spectacular sunsets. All this, before going to bed with a sky so dark that the sky is filled with endless twinkling stars. You can see the Milky Way stretching from horizon to horizon.
What is there not to like?
Experiencing Namibia for the First Time
Please consider visiting Namibia without an organised tour. You can quite easily navigate this country independently. If you like driving, this is surely one of the unmissable epic self-driving destinations.
Look at my Itineraries page to see the route I took. Apart from most of the roads being made up of never ending gravel, it really is a breeze. Get yourself a good 4WD and you’ll enjoy every moment.
I’m pleased to say I felt very safe travelling around Namibia. If you stay outside its capital, Windhoek, which you would probably want to do anyway, you will feel very secure. Otherwise, just exercise precaution here as you would in any major city.
One of the reasons for Namibia being such a safe country is that it is so sparsely populated. Namibia is one of the least densely populated countries in the world. Desert covers much of the country, making it quite inhospitable. But, it also adds to its attraction.
Self-Driving is so rewarding in Namibia
As I found our self-drive to be so incredibly exhilarating. It feels only right to dedicate a section to the pros of this particular adventure.
Open Roads and Magnificent Landscapes
Driving in Namibia is quite unique in that you can often drive for hours without seeing any other cars. When they finally approach, you see this wonderful dust ball on the horizon getting closer and closer. It was quite incredible taking in the huge open spaces around and feeling almost on top of the world.
Given the large expanse of empty spaces, you do need to plan your trip carefully. I have written a detailed account of this in my Itineraries page. There are several considerations to take into account. Nonetheless, with the correct preparation, it will be the most amazing road trip.
Be prepared for roads made up of gravel, sand, rocks and more. Download your music or podcasts. Prepare for 5-6 hours a day of driving. Marvel at your surroundings and just drive.
Drive with Awareness
Plan to do all your driving during the day. The distances will no doubt be long between each of your overnight stays. Added with the poor road conditions means slow progress is often inevitable.
At night, there is no lighting on the roads. More importantly, the wildlife comes out and strays onto these roads. I once mistimed my driving to my next accommodation and found myself in the dark for 15 minutes. I literally had to zigzag around zebras in front of my vehicle as I crawled along in first gear.
Namibia: A Destination for All the Non-Drivers
If you’d prefer not to drive in Namibia, do not worry. You should definitely not rule out Namibia as a destination. There are many, popular options for you to discover this beautiful country.
You could quite easily base yourself in Swakopmund or Walvis Bay and take short tours out from there. Equally, if you don’t mind being in a bustling city, you could stay in Windhoek and tour from there. These are very popular choices for visitors that do not want to be constantly on the road.
Another very popular option is to hire a 4WD with a driver. You can travel privately or with other 4WDs in a group. Whichever manner of travel you prefer, Namibia will have an answer.
Recommendations for Organised Travel
- Take an organised tour from your own country. There are a range of different types of tours on offer.
- Fly to Namibia and independently arrange your private tours with local companies.
Vegetarians Take Note…Namibians Like Meat
Meat is very much on the menu in Namibia. Apart from the coastal areas, you will find that meat is on offer everywhere.
You will find zebra, impala, oryx, kudo and more local wildlife on your menus. Game is the natural source of food for Namibians. This is especially true away from the coast. Thus, this should come as no surprise.
By the coast, however, you will be spoiled with their wonderful seafood and shellfish. The very rich coastline and marine life offers true delights for fish lovers. The oysters are up there with the best oysters I’ve ever tasted.
Top Places to Visit in Namibia
I’m sure as you’re reading this that you are getting the message that Namibia is BIG. So, depending on how much time you have, you may well have to pick out certain areas to visit.
I’m going to give you a list of key places to see whilst visiting Namibia. Hopefully, you can decide which locations are a must for you! If you need more help, make sure you look at my Destinations page on Namibia.
Going North from Windhoek
Damaraland – wild and rugged. Home to Gross Spitzkoppe and Brandberg Mountain and famous for its wealth of rock art.
Etosha National Park – drive alongside elephants, leopards, giraffes, lions, black rhinos and more. The size and moon-like landscape is magical. (July-Sept good months for wildlife spotting)
Skeleton Coast – stunning, formidable coastline stretching up to Angola. A graveyard for ships and animals dot the golden beaches.
Going East from Windhoek
Walvis Bay and Swakopmund are quite similar. They both serve as excellent bases for adventurers. Thrill seekers will find them ideal as well. They are only 30 minutes apart from one another. They are also perfect for those who do not want to self-drive and prefer to have comfortable base. From here, its easy to join an organised tour to places like Sesriem, Skeleton Coast, or Etosha National Park.
This area offers a vast range of activities like quad bike riding, sand boarding, and desert biking. Other activities are hot air ballooning, kite surfing, and windsurfing.
On the sea, you are also spoilt for choice. There are catamaran trips including dolphin, seal, and whale watching. There’s also deep sea fishing if that is your interest.
Swakopmund – livelier than Walvis Bay. A popular beach resort with German architecture
Walvis Bay – a harbour town. Its a great base to explore the surrounding area. Good for bird watching, particularly flamingoes. It also has an airport. The huge Dune 7 is nearby offering amazing views from the top.
Going South from Windhoek
This route is a definite must if you are visiting Namibia. It showcases some of the most iconic Namibian sights. You will find these in the magnificent Namib-Naukluft National Park.
Sesriem – small settlement in the Namib-Naukluft National Park BUT the gateway to Sossusvlei. An a spectacular area filled with incredible dunes, rocks and clay pans.
Sossusvlei – is often used to refer to a large area in the park. This area includes famous sites like Dune 45, Hiddenvlei, Big Daddy, and Deadvlei.
- Dune 45 – iconic shaped dune
- Deadvlei – claypan with dead camel thorn trees
- Big Daddy – highest dune in the park over 1,000ft tall
- Sesriem Canyon – gorge offering some well needed shade whilst visiting Sossusvlei
Fish River Canyon – largest canyon in Africa and second largest in the world after Grand Canyon. The Fish River is the longest river in Namibia.
Kolmanskop – Ghost town in the desert. A former diamond mining town. In 1956, this German settlement was abandoned when the richest diamond fields ever were found further south.
Luderitz – colonial diamond mining town. A desert and seaside town at the same time. German architecture mixed with art nouveau.
Places to Stay in Namibia
Damaraland
Etosha National Park
Sossusvlei
Swakopmund
Walvis Bay
In Summary
If you are drawn to Africa, I encourage you to visit Namibia. Namibia has much of what visitors seek out from Africa. However, it doesn’t have the big fancy cities of South Africa. Nor does it have the well-honed safari tours of Botswana. It really is authentic Africa and a land of excitement and adventure for all ages
