What is Namibia?
Namibia, located in southwestern Africa, is one of the driest and least populated countries in the world. This is mainly due to the Namib desert, which is the oldest desert in the world. This coastal desert contains some of the largest dunes in the world, ranging from hundreds to thousands of feet in height. Additionally, Namibia is home to the Etosha National Park, one of the best conversation areas in the world.
Namibia is a very diverse country due to its location and geography, providing a home for many types of plants and wildlife. In addition, it also has some of the darkest skies in the world, making the Milky Way visible at night.
When is the best time to visit Namibia? Is Namibia safe?
It is best to visit Namibia during the dry season in September, where the weather will be better and animals are more likely to appear around waterholes and rivers during your trip. Also, Namibia is a great place to visit if you are traveling to Africa for the first time. It is one of the safest countries in Africa and its official language is English, so it shouldn’t be too difficult to navigate compared to other countries.
What is there to do in Namibia?
The best thing about Namibia is that it is filled with a plethora of fun activities that everyone can take part in.
In Swakopmund, you can experience an adrenaline rush sandboarding down high desert sand dunes. You can choose between lying or standing boards. For that quick experience of headfirst down the dunes, you should choose to ride prone. However, if you want to carve and maneuver in the sand, stand up boards are the way to go.
Surfing and seal watching
Also in Swakopmund, come and dip your feet in the water of the town’s coast. The waves are nice and consistent and enjoyable to surf most of the year. Also, you can drive to Cape Cross and watch thousands of seals relaxing on the sand and swimming in the water.
South of Namibia is Fish River Canyon, the second largest canyon in the world behind the Grand Canyon. You can take a couple of days walking the trail and encounter many types of wildlife while relaxing in the water of the Palm and Ai-Ais hot springs. However, if you are not a big fan of hiking, you can still visit the canyon and enjoy the amazing views it has to offer.
quick tips
When visiting Namibia, here are some tips, mainly about driving, to keep in mind:
Rent a car with 4×4 and drive slowly as most of the roads are gravel and there are very few highways. It is also recommended to avoid driving at night, as wildlife is more likely to hit the road at that time.
When driving in Namibia, you are likely to experience a flat tire or cracked windscreen, so be careful and get full coverage insurance for your rental car.
Make sure to always fill up your car’s tank every time you pass a service station, since the distances between cities can be very large from each other.
