Red dunes, empty roads and desert-adapted wildlife under huge skies.
Namibia is one of the least densely populated countries on earth, and its landscapes feel vast. The red dunes of Sossusvlei and the white clay pan of Deadvlei rise from the Namib Desert, Etosha National Park gathers elephants and rhinos around its waterholes, and the fog-bound Skeleton Coast is strewn with shipwrecks. Fish River Canyon and the rock engravings of Twyfelfontein add more.
This is classic self-drive country: long gravel roads, well-run campsites and lodges, and very few other cars. Swakopmund brings German bakeries, seafood and adventure sports. May to October is dry and cool, with July to October best for game viewing at Etosha as animals gather at water; summer from November to March is hotter, with afternoon storms.
Best time to visit Namibia
May, June, July, August, September.
Places to visit in Namibia
Sossusvlei: Towering apricot-red dunes and the white clay pan of Deadvlei, in the heart of the Namib-Naukluft National Park.
Etosha National Park: One of Africa's great parks, where elephants, lions and rhinos come to floodlit waterholes around a huge white pan.
Swakopmund: A coastal town of German colonial buildings where the Namib's dunes meet the cold Atlantic, with desert adventures on tap.
Windhoek: Namibia's compact capital, where most road trips begin, with colonial landmarks and a lively food scene.
Damaraland: A wild region of red mountains and dry riverbeds where desert-adapted elephants roam and Twyfelfontein's engravings survive.
Essentials
Currency: Namibian Dollar (NAD)
Language: English; Afrikaans and German are also widely spoken
Plugs: Type D / M, 220 V
Driving: Left side
Time zone: UTC+2
Tipping: Around 10% in restaurants; tip guides and fuel attendants
Getting around: Self-drive is the way; many roads are gravel, so a 4x4 or sturdy car helps
Entry: Check the official rules for your passport before booking