9 good reasons for a trip to Namibia / Travel Guide

Namibia has been hailed as one of the top travel destinations for years. And that’s no wonder. After all, the country in Africa has a lot to offer: Endless expanses and more animals than you can count, great hospitality and one or the other natural wonder.

Many vacationers dream of a trip to one of the most spectacular countries in the world. Namibia inspires with sights such as stone inscriptions that are thousands of years old, a spectacular starry sky and of course the “Big Five”. We give an overview of why a trip to the state in southwest Africa is worthwhile.

The best travel tips for Namibia by Andi & Jenny

1. Namibia has the most exciting deserts in the world

With the Namib in the west and the Kalahari in the east, Namibia has two exceptional sights and two of the most interesting deserts in the world. The Namib is considered the oldest desert on earth and is dominated by mighty shifting dunes and dense morning fog. The Kalahari has dry savanna character. Sparse vegetation fastens the dunes, which shimmer red in the sunlight. If you are particularly lucky or flexible when it comes to travel time, watch out for the rains between November and April, when the Kalahari is green and blooming. However, the most beautiful overview of the dune landscape is from the air: Various companies offer sightseeing flights from Swakopmund.

2. A landscape as if painted

The Namib Naukluft Park is one of the most scenically fascinating regions in Namibia. It also includes parts of the Namib, including Sossusvlei – a clay pan that is only fed by the Tsauchab every few years. The river ends blindly between the dunes, but when the lake forms, the area turns green. Only about a kilometer walk through the hot sand you reach the Dead Vlei with its world-famous dead acacia trees, which stand magically like skeletons in the dry clay pan in the evening sun.

A special sight in Namibia borders directly on the Dead Vlei: Big Daddy, the largest shifting dune in the world at over 380 meters. If you have good stamina and plenty to drink, you can climb it on foot and enjoy an amazing view.

Alternatively, you can climb the lower Dune 45. Further west, the Naukluft Park awaits you with savannah structures and when the sun goes down behind the stony hills, you can relax well in the Namib Naukluft Lodge, for example, with pleasant temperatures and a cool Windhoek camp. And maybe one or the other black-backed jackal will stop by.

3. The second largest canyon in the world

In the southern part of Namibia, a place seems almost magical: the Fish River has eaten its way through the rocky subsoil over millions of years and created the Fish River Canyon, which is 160 kilometers long and 27 kilometers wide, the second largest canyon in the world. From the Fish River Canyon Viewpoint you have a perfect view over the river at a depth of 550 meters, which only carries water when it rains heavily, but never completely dries up. With a bit of luck, you might spot antelopes or even leopards drinking. In the Namibian winter (May to August) hiking tours are also offered, but they require a good level of fitness.

4. Safaris of the extra class

Many tourists rave about the Kruger National Park in South Africa, but there are always unlucky people who hardly see any animals for days. This cannot happen to you in Etosha in northern Namibia. Due to the extensive fence and a high animal density, every safari becomes a once-in-a-lifetime experience. In addition to countless antelopes, zebras and giraffes, elephants, jackals and rhinos also cross the path again and again. You will also see lions comparatively often. You need a bit more luck with the shy cheetahs and leopards. And the gigantic salt pan in the north of the park gives you the feeling of looking into empty infinity.

5. Taunt Rare Species

In Namibia there are the extremely rare desert elephants, which have specially adapted to the desert habitat – elephants are not normally found in these territories. The authorities are keeping the exact number of animals secret in order to protect them, but estimates are based on around 50 to 500 elephants. Their special feature: the long front legs have much wider sole pads on which the pachyderms can sneak practically silently.

6. Getting up close and personal with feral cats

If you are fascinated by the big cats, you should visit farms that house these animals. Many of the cats were found as orphaned kittens and were hand-reared and later released back into the wild. One of these farms is N/a’an ku sê. Director Marlice van Vuuren and her team have already appeared on German TV in the series “Wilde Waisen” and offer tours: So if you’ve always wanted to walk with a cheetah in the wild, you have the chance here.

7. View ancient rock engravings

The so-called Vingerklip, a limestone monolith about 35 meters high on a hill, offers a wondrous sight. Visible from afar, the solitary peak created by erosion processes rises above the flat land surrounded by table mountains. A hiking trail leads to its base, which you can walk around and enjoy the view. Another must-see attraction in Namibia is the rock carvings of Twyfelfontein, some of which are said to be as old as 24,000 years.

8. More stars than you’ve ever seen

Speaking of infinity: If you look at the starry sky over Namibia at night, you will hardly believe your eyes. You’ve definitely never seen so many stars. Since no cities flood the sky with light, nothing stands in the way of extensive observation. And even before the red dust of the day settles, the full moon rises blood-red on the horizon.

9. The culinary refinements

Namibian cuisine has been influenced and shaped by the different ethnic groups in the country. The basis is often a cornmeal-based polenta. Spicy, almost exotic dishes are prepared with fruits such as the nara, which belongs to the pumpkin family, and the venison typical of the region. Meat fans in particular get their money’s worth: with springbok, eland, kudu and oryx, extremely tasty and low-fat delicacies are on the menu – preferably “medium-rare” is ordered, because that’s when the flavor comes through best. Restaurant tip: The Gourmet on Post Street.