Namibia is one of my favourite countries. I haven’t been for two years now and I’m starting to feel an intense longing for its open spaces, giant night skies, seas of red sand dunes, apple pie bakery in the middle of nowhere, desert horses, incongruous German towns of Bavarian architecture, weissbier and sauerkraut, and the great baked salt pan of Etosha, with its epic horizons and waterholes packed with animals.
One of my well-travelled friends once asked me why I love Namibia so much. ‘It looks as boring as the dry, flat, barren Northern Cape.’
If you’ve never been to Namibia before, let these photos from my past two trips inspire you to dream about this magical country in the same way that I do.
To choose from 150 user-reviewed accommodation options spread across Namibia in a range of budgets, check out Accommodation Direct.
Namibia in photos
The harsh beauty, incredible wildlife and massive landscapes of Etosha National Park in winter
(Photo by Joseph C Lawrence)
(Photo by Joseph C Lawrence)
(Photo by Joseph C Lawrence)
Vineyards in the desert at Kristall Kellerei in Omaruru
Campsites in the middle of nowhere, where all you can hear is the sound of the wind in the grass
Sandboarding in the epic dunes near Swakopmund
Random roadside hotels
Not the world’s second biggest canyon (as many believe) but incredible nonetheless – Fish River Canyon
Wild desert horses, like something out of Dances with Wolves
The endless open roads
Night time campfires in winter under the stars
Hot air ballooning in the Namib Desert
Feeling like you’re the only people in the world when you explore the Namib.
And having magical desert breakfasts
Losing the tourists in Sossusvlei and finding our own dune to climb
Thinking about the transience of life in the ghost town of Kolmanskop
And taking in a landscape that hasn’t changed in five million years
Driving roads like these for hours and never seeing another car
WOW! I’m sold – Namibia it is!
You won’t be disappointed Liam! There’s so much to do in Namibia and it’s overwhelming in its beauty. It’s just not the right place to go to if you want to party, shop or see other people 🙂
Fabulously evocative photos, Sarah. I can never get enough of Namibia; it’s everything I love in one enormous package!
Thanks Roxanne. I know – as soon as I leave Namibia I just want to go back. I haven’t been there for two years now so I’m absolutely dying for a trip! I’d love to go far north to Kaokoveld and Damaraland and do an epic 4×4 trip.
Sarah, great photos, I’m sold too! I am planning a trip there and working the details soon – how did you travel there? Did you rent a car or mostly book guides?
Hi Alissa, the best way to travel around Namibia (a massive country) is by renting a car. Both times we drove our car from South Africa to Namibia but you could also fly into Windhoek and rent a car there. Driving is easy and safe, and while lots of roads aren’t tarred they are in a very good condition. You don’t need to have guides to take you around – just take a decent guidebook and perhaps stay a night or two at a lodge that has guides to take you on nature walks or drives. There are cool day guided tours you can do into the desert with experts on the fascinating flora and fauna. Have an awesome trip!
A great country, like the red sand of KTP once you have had Nam sand in your shoes (Soul) you will always long to return.
Definitely! I think of Namibia often, even though I haven’t been back in a few years. I need to get back to the beautiful Namib soon!