Have a relaxed start in Windhoek

Windhoek may not be the most thrilling city in the world, but you can entertain yourself for a bit, for sure. The Christuskirche and Zoo Park are some important sights in Windhoek, but for me, a trip to the Katatura township is the coolest thing. You can see the Soweto market (see picture above) and enjoy kapana, local meat, which is very tasteful. Also enjoy the local community and the shebeens (old bars during Apartheid). End your evening at Joe's Beerhouse to have some fun with the locals and eat good local food. Overall, Windhoek may not be the highlight of your trip, but this is an underrated start.

Tourist occurrence: Low

How to get here: Windhoek is reached by many African countries by flight, and from at least Germany as well. In Namibia it is the central part to head out to the rest of the country.

How much time needed: 1 full day

See how conservation works in Okonjima National Reserve

Okonjima National Reserve is a national reserve that focuses on conservation for big cats like leopards and cheetahs. There are some closed enclosures for these species, but they are visible in the wild as well. You can also go on a safari and spot these animals (although tough) and many more, such as eland, dikdik, and gemsbok. This is a great spot to learn about conservation and see some cool animals.

Price: 250 NAD

Tourist occurrence: Low

How to get here: It is a 2 hour drive from Windhoek.

How much time needed: 4 hours

Spot as many wildlife as possible in Etosha national park

Etosha is one of the most famous and impressive national parks in Africa. This park has an overload of wildlife, and there is a variety of species, so you should be here a while to enjoy this fantastic park. The Big Five are present except buffalo, where lions and particularly elephants are easily spotted. Giraffes, cheetahs, hyenas, multiple antilopes, and bat-eared foxes are commonly spotted. This is one of the best places to spot black rhino in Africa, especially at night at some pools at camping sites, for example, Okaukuejo. In general, head to water pools to increase the chances of wildlife.

Price: 150 NAD pp per day

Tourist occurrence: High

How to get here: 4.5 hour drive from Windhoek

How much time needed: At least 2 nights

Find the drawings of Bushmen in Twyfelfontein

Twyfelfontein is a lovely hike in rocky nature. The views are amazing, and I recommend taking a guide who can talk about the Bushmen who were here centuries and centuries ago. They made very cool drawings on rocks of animals, and they communicated that way by saying animals were here. The lion with a hand on his tail is the highlight of the visit.

Tourist occurrence: Low

How to get here: 4 hour dive from Etosha and 5 hours from Windhoek.

How much time needed: 2 hours

Don't come too close to seals at the Cape Cross Seal Reserve

Cape Cross Seal Reserve is mostly a seal colony that is based here, and you can visit these animals any time of the year, but in some months there are twice as many as in other months. Mostly, there are at least 30,000 individuals, but it can add up to 100,000. This is a fantastic sight in Namibia and perfect to get acquainted with the Skeleton Coast.

Price: 150 NAD pp and 50 NAD per car.

Tourist occurrence: Medium

How to get here: Swakopmund is 1.5 hour drive away and 4.5 hour from Windhoek.

How much time needed: 1 hour

Feel alone on the world in Damaraland

Damaraland is an incredible region in Namibia. The area is in a desertlike region with insane rock formations. There is not a huge variety of wildlife, but you can find black rhinos, even with specialized tours. Besides black rhinos, there are desert-adapted lions, giraffes, and elephants. However, the scenery is the highlight of this area. There are some insane campsites, and you feel alone in this area. 

Tourist occurrence: Low

How to get here: The area is around 4-5 hours from Windhoek and 3-4 hours from Swakopmund.

How much time needed: 1-2 nights

Do an activity in Swakopmund

Swakopmund is a coastal city with around 45,000 inhabitants and a variety of things to do. The city itself has some good architecture and some nice restaurants and bars, like the Desert Tavern. However, it is mostly famous for the variety of activities around the city. Here are some of them:

• Visit Snake Park to see a lot of different venomous snakes 
• See some fish in the National Marine Aquarium
• Go sandboarding, which Swakopmund is famous for
• Take a Desert Tour to find side-winder snakes and desert chameleons (see picture below)

• Have a flight seeing the Skeleton Coast and Namibia Naukluft national park
• Bike through the township Mondesa
• Do a marine wildlife tour (See more below)

Tourist occurrence: High

How to get here: Swakopmund is around 4 hours drive from Windhoek 

How much time needed: 2-3 days or even more, depending on the amount of activities you will do.

See Namibia Naukluft national park

Namib Naukluft is the biggest wildlife reserve on the whole continent of Africa. It gives some outstanding views with amazing sand dunes. The most famous area is Sossusvlei, which is incredible. This area is not famous for its wildlife, but seeing oryx next to the dunes is a picture that will always be in my mind.

Tourist occurrence: Low

How to get here: The park is 1 hour drive from Swakopmund.

How much time needed: 2 days

Find marine wildlife at Walvis Bay

Walvis Bay is the city where you can take a tour to find different species of marine wildlife. First, you will stop at a boulevard to see a colony of flamingos. This gives a beautiful sight of these birds. Afterwards, head to the harbor to go on a boat. On the boat, there are drinks and food included, which is great. Pelicans came on the boat, and a seal as well (which I did not like that much because there was not a lot of wildlife appeal). When in the ocean, you have chances to see cape fur seals (almost guaranteed with their colony), whales, sunfish, sea turtles, African penguins, jellyfish, and 2 species of dolphins.

We saw African penguins, jellyfish, cape fur seals, bottlenose dolphins, and heavyside dolphins (see picture above). Both species of dolphin were very close to the boat and went with us for a while, which was a fantastic experience! 

Price: Between 550 and 1000 NAD

Tourist occurrence: Low

How to get here: From Swakopmund it is half an hour drive, and you can also book a tour from here and go along to Walvis Bay.

How much time needed: 3 hours

See the sunrise at Dune 45

Maybe the most popular thing to do at Sossusvlei is hike up Dune 45 during sunrise. Everyone will go to the same dune; as it is one of the only dunes, you are allowed to go up. Hiking up is pretty rough as the sand is very soft, so step in the footsteps of people before you. When at the top, the view is just so insane. The sun at the dunes is gorgeous. Stay here until the sun is up, and then head down by jumping in the sand.

Price: 100 NAD for the Sossusvlei

Tourist occurrence: High

How to get here: 5 hour drive from Swakopmund and from the entrance of the park, around half an hour.

How much time needed: 2 hours 

See the amazing Deadvlei

Very close to Dune 45 in the Deadvlei, which is one of the highlights of Namibia. The 3 colours are in beautiful contrast, and the old, dead trees finish the amazing view. Walking through it is a surreal experience. You cannot miss this area, and definitely not Deadvlei.

Price: 100 NAD for the Sossusvlei

Tourist occurrence: High

How to get here: 20 minutes drive from Dune 45.

How much time needed: 1 hour

Hike Big Daddy dune

Big Daddy is one of the highest sand dunes in the world, and you are allowed to walk on it. The hike is rough, but absolutely worth going up. From the top, you will have a view of Deadvlei (see above) and other beautiful dunes. When heading down, you can jump in the direction of Deadvlei.

Price: 100 NAD for the Sossusvlei

Tourist occurrence: Medium

How to get here: 20 minutes drive from Dune 45.

How much time needed: 1-1.5 hour

Find baboons in Sesriem Canyon

Sesriem Canyon is a lovely canyon to have a hike in. There are cool rock formations, and to walk here is great. This is close to some campsites close to Sossusvlei. If you are lucky enough to find some baboons and see them in one of the coolest places, you can encounter them. This is the perfect ending to a day of seeing beautiful dunes.

Tourist occurrence: Medium

How to get here: Have an hour drive from Dune 45

How much time needed: 1 hour

Have a small hike on Elim Dune

Elim Dune is an adorable dune to hike on, but it does not contain the beauty of Dune 45 and Big Daddy. Nevertheless, this is a really cool and "start" dune to visit. You cannot really see the top, and every time you think you are there, you are not, because there is another top. I would recommend doing this hike the day before the other dunes.

Tourist occurrence: Medium

How to get here: Only 8 minute drive from Sesriem canyon.

How much time needed: 1 hour maximum.

See the rough coast of Diaz point

Diaz Point is a point with a beautiful lighthouse and a very rough coast. You can get up to the point and have a wonderful view of the Atlantic Ocean. There is an island where we saw some cape fur seals. The hike there is a bit weird and difficult to find where to go, but the view is worth it.

Tourist occurrence: Medium

How to get here: Diaz Point is a 30 minute drive from Lüderitz.

How much time needed: 1 hour

Have a walk in the cute city of Lüderitz

Lüderitz is a nice coastal town that is perfect for a stroll. The church (especially if you walk higher) is beautiful, with the Atlantic Ocean in the background. The old train station is also worth a visit. Also, the coast is cool to see. 

Tourist occurrence: Low

How to get here: Lüderitz is a 7 hour drive from Windhoek.

How much time needed: 2 hours, but also a nice place to spend the night.

Observe the sand get higher in Kolmanskop

Kolmanskop is a weird but very cool sight. It is a small village that is totally overtaken by sand because of sandstorms. You are literally walking higher in rooms, and that is very funny. You can take a small tour that gives some information. Further walk by yourself through the hospital, large houses, and small houses, which are especially drowned in sand. Look out as the village closes at 13.00/1 pm. 

Price: 200 NAD

Tourist occurrence: High

How to get here: This is a 15 minutes drive from Lüderitz. 

How much time needed: 2 hour 

See the beauty of the Fish River Canyon

The Fish River Canyon is, after the Grand Canyon, the deepest canyon in the world. It is fantastic to see this view, and pictures do not show the depth as it is when you are there. This is one of the absolute highlights of Namibia. You can walk from 2 viewing points in 25 minutes, and those give 2 different views of the canyon. You can also do multiple-day tours through the canyon.

Tourist occurrence: Low

How to get here: 7 hour drive from Windhoek.

How much time needed: 1.5 hour

Find wildlife in the Kalahari Desert

The Kalahari Desert is a cool place to find some more desert-adapted wildlife. There are also populations of meerkats (which I unfortunately did not find), bat-eared foxes, jackals, ostriches, and many different species of antilope and giraffes. You can have a good safari and see some wildlife. Have a gin & tonic at sunset to finish your safari.

Tourist occurrence: Low

How to get here: It depends on where you are, but mostly around 5 hours from Windhoek.

How much time needed: 1 day

Have a walk in Daan Viljoen Game Reserve

From Windhoek, this park is a perfect place to find wildlife on foot. There are wildebeests, giraffes, warthogs, zebras, and antilopes. Wildlife looks way bigger when you are walking than when you are in a car. There is a trail of 9 kilometres, that you can't walk alone, but you need two people. I was alone and had to hire a guide. There is also a 3-kilometres trail, which you can do alone. I did it by myself and spotted a black mamba, which was both cool and scary. Note that this was the first one seen in the park in 9 months, so it is a rarity and has not happened often, so don't worry. 

Price: 70 NAD

Tourist occurrence: Very low

How to get here: This is a 30 minute drive from Windhoek.

How much time needed: Half a day, to do both trails.

Things I have not done, but can be interesting

• Spitzkoppe - beautiful mountain
• Waterberg Plateau - nice nature
• Caprivi - Good wildlife viewing 

Final thoughts

Namibia is an amazing country to see different beautiful types of nature. Besides the incredible deserts, there is a fantastic coastline, extremely cool sand dunes, and interesting rock formations. There are also some good parks for wildlife viewing, with Etosha being the absolute best. The plains, with kilometres of nothing, are also very impressive to see. Namibia is a great country for every nature lover.

If you want to know more about Namibia, check out: