A relatively unexplored region, the south-west contains some of Namibia’s most unforgiving environs. This is a truly remote place of often untouched desert, with a new national park in the diamond mining Sperrgebiet area and an astonishing wildlife phenomenon in the wild horses of the Namib. Situated roughly equidistant between Fish River Canyon and Sossusvlei, many itineraries seek to rush through this area, stopping for a night at Aus and perhaps making it over to Luderitz for a day before moving onto the more conventional highlights. But this does a great disservice to an area with such varied attractions.
Luderitz itself is the biggest town in the south west, its attractive pastel coloured buildings hemmed in by the desert on one side and the Atlantic on the other, making it arguably the most picturesque town in Namibia. Just south of here is Kolmanskop, an eerie former German diamond mining town. Abandoned in the 1950s, the grand colonial buildings are now swamped in desert sand, the Namib slowly and perhaps symbolically taking over a symbol of human avarice while providing sensational photo opportunities. Close to Aus, there are incongruous wild horses, somehow thriving amidst the arid conditions, and a selection of Commonwealth War Graves and POW camps that speak of the unlikely history of this isolated region. The attractions are undoubtedly very different from the guaranteed wildlife of Etosha and Damaraland, but there is much in this vast, mostly unspoiled wilderness to keep you occupied for at least three days.
We offer tailor-made holidays to suit a wide range of tastes. Our expert Kirsty is dedicated to all things Namibia and is here to help you plan your perfect trip.
Kirsty’s travelled all over Southern Africa for more than 20 years, and Namibia remains one of her favourite spots. She’s your go-to for remote lodges, unique wildlife encounters and properly otherworldly desert scenery.
Of all Africa’s renowned safari destinations, Namibia unquestionably offers the most diverse range of landscapes, experiences and activities. A vast country with very few inhabitants, the awe-inspiring scenery quickly moves from rippling sand dunes and rugged mountains to windswept coast and shimmering salt pans. There are great volumes of classic Big 5 wildlife and some truly unique, desert adapted rarities. An assortment of indigenous communities provides fascinating cultural interest, while modern conservation operations are among the most successful on the continent. All this goes without mentioning an intriguing colonial history, eerie deserted ghost towns, the world’s second largest canyon and a mini version of Botswana’s Okavango Delta. And to cap it all off, Namibia is safe, clean, welcoming, relatively good value and perfectly suited to self-drive adventures.
The holidays we design to Namibia are all so different. The variation of experiences offered throughout the country caters to many specific tastes and interests, but the country can also be looked at usefully through a simple geographical split. The south is mainly about the scenery and landscapes, including the vast, remote Fish River Canyon and some of the world’s tallest dunes at Sossusvlei overlooking the ethereal white dead lakes known as “vleis.” There's a short, populous respite in the centre, with the capital Windhoek and the exciting coastal activities at Swakopmund. Then, further north, a wildlife focus becomes prominent, from the teeming waterholes at Swakopmund to the watery pleasures of the Caprivi Strip and the unique desert-adapted rhino and elephant in Damaraland. There is also arguably more cultural interest in the north, with the nomadic Himba people, the ancient San Bushman survival techniques and the unchanged traditions of the Herero. Saying that, though, Namibia's north boasts its own exceptional, otherworldly landscape, the legendary Skeleton Coast.
One of the things we love most about Namibia, is that all of this diversity can be easily incorporated into one long itinerary, or into two more detailed trips focusing on the south and the north separately. Although driving distances can be long, the roads, scenery and sheer enjoyment of driving in Namibia are all perfect. And if you're not keen on the thought of self-driving, and fancy getting around as quickly as possible, there are scenic light aircraft flights connecting all the hotspots. With a wide range of accommodation styles and prices to suit all budgets, good restaurants and extremely welcoming people, Namibia genuinely does have something for everyone.
Namibia’s extreme and varied climate conditions make it a genuine year-round destination. The best time to go on safari is during the dry season from May to October, particularly later in the year when the arid conditions cause huge volumes of wildlife to congregate at Etosha’s water holes. This is particularly true of the late dry season, when the wildlife can really suffer in desert areas such as Sossusvlei and Damaraland. There’s a chance you might struggle a little too, as the barometer rises inexorably. For keen hikers and active visitors, the cooler dry months of May and June may be ideal. As the dry season progresses, the dusty, arid landscapes for which Namibia is perhaps best known become ever more prominent across the country.
Contrastingly, the rainy season brings different scenery and far more challenging travelling conditions but a wealth of other attractions. The formerly dry river beds can flood, meaning drivers may have to turn back and travel for an extra few hours to reach their destination. You’lll also not see the same numbers of wildlife during the rains, as animals are more widely dispersed due to abundant water sources. Having said all this, it is perhaps our favourite time to visit Namibia. The scenery can be truly inspirational, with sweeping carpets of green grasses and vibrantly coloured flowers emerging to cover the mountains and desert. Animals are content, young are born and prices are cheaper, while there are even fewer cars on the roads and less people at the tourist sites. In short, both broad periods offer a multitude of attractions, which is yet another reason to visit Namibia twice!
Food and non-premium drinks are often included at safari lodges.The safari exception is at the government restcamps, where the board basis is likely to be bed and breakfast. At guesthouses and hotels in areas such as Windhoek and Swakopmund, you are likely to stay on a B&B basis, so it is always useful to check on the best restaurants in town and the most convenient places to pick up lunch and snacks on self-drive itineraries. The NWR restcamps in Etosha and elsewhere will also have restaurant facilities, often in the form of buffets.
At safari lodges, the food tends to be delicious, international fare with large portions, numerous courses at dinner and a surprisingly wide range of options given that you are often dining at a remote camp with no easy access to fresh supplies or modern technology. Snacks and drinks are regularly provided between meals, meaning that most visitors to Namibia tend to return feeling extremely well fed! In Swakopmund, Walvis Bay and Luderitz there are some very good seafood restaurants, and Windhoek boasts a growing range of gourmet restaurants and modern cafes. For further advice or help with booking a table, just ask us, we’d love to help.
There are currently no direct flights into Namibia from the UK, but there are a number of convenient indirect options. There are daily, direct, overnight flights into Johannesburg or Cape Town, with connecting flights to Windhoek (or Walvis Bay) available with Airlink. Alternatively, Ethiopian Airlines has flights via Addis Ababa five times a week and Qatar Airways (via Doha) four times a week. Another indirect option is with Eurowings (Lufthansa’s low cost airline) who fly daily from Frankfurt to Windhoek.
To visit Namibia, your passport needs to be valid for at least six months after the date you arrive, and you’ll need at least three blank pages. If you’re travelling via South Africa, it’s important to check the latest travel advice for there too – they have their own entry rules.
If your passport is due to expire soon or doesn’t meet the requirements, make sure to renew it in good time, you won’t be allowed in if your passport isn’t valid or has been reported lost or stolen. It’s also worth ensuring you have evidence of a return ticket and travel insurance before you travel.
From 1 April 2025, UK travellers will need a visa to enter Namibia. Luckily, it’s a straightforward process. You can either get a visa on arrival at your point of entry or apply for an e-visa online before you travel.
The cost at time of writing is 1,600 Namibian dollars for travellers aged 12 and over. Visas for children aged 6 to 11 cost 800 Namibian dollars, and for kids under 6, you don’t need to pay a fee at all.
When granted, you’ll receive a multiple-entry visa valid for the length of time you’ve requested.
If you’re planning to work, volunteer or stay longer, you’ll need to arrange a different type of visa before you travel, the visa on arrival won’t cover you for these.
As we’re not medical experts, it's essential you contact your GP regarding vaccinations and the like for travel to Namibia. What follows are some suggestions, but they must be verified by a medical professional. In addition to such vaccinations as you’d routinely have for living in the UK, further boosters are recommended for Hepatitis A, Tetanus and Diptheria.
Malaria is not present in much of Namibia, particularly in the desert environs of the south. There are isolated instances reported in the north-west and around Etosha, and we would strongly recommend that you take malaria prophylaxis for itineraries travelling in the Caprivi Strip. However, if your route is confined to Windhoek, Swakopmund and destinations further south, it's unlikely that you'll need to take precautions against malaria. Please consult your GP for further, up-to-the-minute advice on what malaria precautions to take for your itinerary.
We also like these guys, but again, you must talk to your GP first: The Travel Doctor, an interactive website providing specialist health information for travellers, plus customised lists of travel medicines, vaccines and malaria tablets for holiday makers, global adventure travellers and expeditions.
Namibia has a long, dramatic Atlantic coastline, but it’s not your classic beach destination. The ocean is simply too cold and wild for swimming most of the time, and none of the beaches or accommodations are suitable for classic beach holidays. It’s not uncommon for our clients to fancy some downtime at the beach after tiring days of self-driving, hiking and game viewing. If so, we’d recommend transiting through Johannesburg before heading to the beach paradises of Mozambique, Mauritius or Madagascar. There are some coastal options available in South Africa itself, too. Flights to East Africa involve multiple connections, so we wouldn’t recommend combining your Namibia holiday with Zanzibar or the Kenyan coast.
Namibia is a very safe country, particularly in the areas most frequented by tourists. Crime rates are relatively low in the major cities too, especially when compared with other sub-Saharan African countries. There would normally be little to deter you from walking alone in Windhoek, Swakopmund or Luderitz at night, but if you do have any concerns about particular areas, we'd recommend chatting to the staff at your hotel or our local partners for real-time advice. In reality, the most pertinent safety advice for Namibia is that self-drivers exercise caution on the roads!
Self-driving is arguably the best way to experience Namibia. Driving is on the left, road signs in English and the road network is generally good, with decent gravel tracks in more remote areas and good tarmac roads used on some of the major routes. Perhaps more important, the wonderful, vast landscapes are entirely suited to appreciation from behind the wheel, allowing for numerous photography stops and an accompanying soundtrack of your choice! With so few people in such a large country, there are never many vehicles on the road, meaning you’ll often have these awe inspiring vistas entirely to yourself, and will never be stuck in traffic anywhere outside of Windhoek. If you’ve ever dreamed of the archetypal wide open highways of a road trip in the USA, our humble opinion is that Namibia will put this entirely in the shade.
Many companies will advise you that it’s fine to travel with a 2WD vehicle in Namibia, which is perhaps true for certain areas and for driving in the dry season. However, we have negotiated such competitive rates on 4WD car hire that we will always include a 4WD vehicle in a self-drive itinerary, unless there are any exceptional reasons why you would prefer a 2WD. With more space, durability and performance capabilities, we firmly believe that these are the best vehicles for exploring Namibia’s varied terrains. Furthermore, we are also confident that we provide the best, most comprehensive package of self-drive benefits available on the market. These include a fully programmed mobile phone; a complimentary briefing and ice box for all clients; full maps and detailed driving instructions; a second spare tyre; and the most comprehensive insurance package available, complete with Life Saver Medi Vac insurance and cover for undercarriage, tyre, windscreen and wheel rim damage. You’lll struggle to find this level of facilities and care elsewhere. Finally, you will be provided with a 24-hour contact name and number for both ourselves and our local partners, meaning there really is no safer way to enjoy a self-drive itinerary in Namibia.
Tipping is common, and always appreciated, in Namibia. It’s worth keeping in mind that many local communities face economic challenges, and tips can make a real difference to people’s livelihoods.
In restaurants, a tip of around 10% is standard. For porters at hotels and lodges, a small amount is expected too.
When you’re on safari, we suggest tipping your guide directly, about N$150 per person per day is a good guide. Most lodges and camps also have a communal tipping box for staff like housekeepers, chefs, and hosts. We’d recommend a similar daily amount for this shared contribution.
If you have a dedicated driver or spotter on safari, you might also choose to tip them directly, although they’re often included in the camp staff tips. For transfer drivers, around N$25 per journey is usually fine, unless it’s a particularly long drive.
At the end of the day, tipping is a personal choice. If you feel someone has gone above and beyond, feel free to give more. If not, or if you prefer not to tip at all, that’s completely up to you, these are just suggestions to help guide you.
We believe travel should be a force for good. That means exploring with open eyes, treading lightly, and respecting the people and places that make the world so special. Our code of conduct isn’t about rules, it’s simply a guide to help you travel thoughtfully, ethically, and with care. Because every small choice makes a big difference.
If you choose to trust us with your holiday, we’ll send you a “Travel Facts” document when confirming your booking. This includes useful facts and travel advice, such as restaurant recommendations, reading tips, basic language information, cultural traditions, climate information, brief historical overviews, and more. We feel that this offers a useful insight and can help you interact with local residents in a more sensitive, well-informed manner. Please do try to take the time to read this information before your visit, it’s worth the time!
A number of the countries in which we operate holidays are religious societies with a widely observed set of customs. Always respect these norms, particularly when visiting religious buildings.
To the best of our knowledge, all hotels, lodges, and camps within our portfolio operate stringent measures to minimise water usage. All of our destinations have issues with water supplies to a certain extent, so feel free to raise any possible wastage should you encounter it during your stay, either with the accommodation or with us upon your return.
Please ask permission before taking photographs of people, and respect their wishes if they are not happy to be photographed. We find that friendly requests and a smile are usually met with a ‘yes!’
Strive, where possible, to make your own contribution to environmental practices as you travel. This might include minimising your electricity usage, not smoking in protected areas, avoiding coral while snorkelling, and safely disposing of all litter (recycling where possible).
Where possible, try to purchase from local suppliers. This includes shopping for souvenirs, dining out at restaurants, and booking additional excursions during your free time. In areas where haggling is an accepted part of daily life, don’t be offended if you’re unable to obtain what you perceive as a fair price for an item.
We emphasise to local suppliers that our clients should never be taken on unsolicited shopping trips, but if this does happen, try to retain your sense of humour, provide a firm refusal to participate and do let us know about it on your return. We pass on all feedback from every trip undertaken with us to our relevant local suppliers, who all share our commitment to travelling with sensitivity.
Please don’t remove any indigenous items from their natural habitat and attempt to bring them home as a souvenir. This particularly applies to everything from coral, shells, plants and food in the natural world, to cultural artefacts and antiques.
If you’re unsure about anything relating to the above, please feel free to chat to us. We’ve travelled extensively in the country and will be more than happy to offer our considered advice.
We offer tailor-made holidays to suit a wide range of tastes. Our expert Kirsty is dedicated to all things Namibia and is here to help you plan your perfect trip.
Kirsty’s travelled all over Southern Africa for more than 20 years, and Namibia remains one of her favourite spots. She’s your go-to for remote lodges, unique wildlife encounters and properly otherworldly desert scenery.
Speak to one of our travel specialists today.
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