DUFF’S

SUITCASE

Dreaming of Namibia

by | Apr 12, 2013 | desert, Namibia, photo blog | 8 comments

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.

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Namibia in photos

The harsh beauty, incredible wildlife and massive landscapes of Etosha National Park in winter

The dry salt pan of Etosha National Park Namibia

(Photo by Joseph C Lawrence)

Zebras, Etosha National Park, Namibia

Sunset, Etosha National Park, Namibia

(Photo by Joseph C Lawrence)

Etosha National Park, Namibia

(Photo by Joseph C Lawrence)

Onkoshi Camp, Etosha National Park, Namibia

Okakeujo Camp, Onkoshi Camp, Etosha National Park, Namibia

Vineyards in the desert at Kristall Kellerei in Omaruru

Namibian vineyards at Omaruru

Campsites in the middle of nowhere, where all you can hear is the sound of the wind in the grass

Aus campsite, Namibia

Sandboarding in the epic dunes near Swakopmund

Sandboarding Swakopmund, Namibia

Random roadside hotels

Cool hotel Namibia

Not the world’s second biggest canyon (as many believe) but incredible nonetheless – Fish River Canyon

Fish River Canyon, Namibia

Wild desert horses, like something out of Dances with Wolves

Desert horses, Aus, Namibia

The endless open roads

Road Namibia

Night time campfires in winter under the stars

Campfire Namibia

Hot air ballooning in the Namib Desert

Hot air balloon, Namib Desert, NamibRand, Namibia

Hot air balloon, Namib Desert, NamibRand, Namibia

Hot air balloon, Namib Desert, NamibRand, Namibia

Feeling like you’re the only people in the world when you explore the Namib.

Namib Desert, Namibia

TokTokkie Walking Trail, NamibRand, Namibia

And having magical desert breakfasts

TokTokkie Walking Trail, NamibRand, Namibia

Losing the tourists in Sossusvlei and finding our own dune to climb

Sossusvlei, Namibia

Thinking about the transience of life in the ghost town of Kolmanskop

Kolmanskop, ghost town, Namibia

And taking in a landscape that hasn’t changed in five million years

NamibRand, Namibia

Driving roads like these for hours and never seeing another car

Namibia road

8 Comments

  1. Liam

    WOW! I’m sold – Namibia it is!

    Reply
  2. Sarah Duff

    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 🙂

    Reply
  3. Roxanne

    Fabulously evocative photos, Sarah. I can never get enough of Namibia; it’s everything I love in one enormous package!

    Reply
    • Sarah Duff

      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.

      Reply
  4. Alissa

    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?

    Reply
  5. Sarah Duff

    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!

    Reply
  6. Bryan

    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.

    Reply
    • Sarah Duff

      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!

      Reply

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