I remember hearing Drew Binsky describe Namibia as one of his favorite places in the world. Drew has been to every country in the world, and hearing that Namibia was such a standout made me really want to visit. However, planning logistics to a country I knew very little about felt daunting.
So, when the opportunity presented itself to join a South Africa to Zambia road trip/group trip with Exodus Adventure Travels which started with a day in Cape Town and ended by visiting both sides of Victoria Falls, I knew that meant I could simply go along for the ride without lifting a finger. While on my trip, what I quickly learned was that the reason I struggled to plan anything Namibia-related is because a car is pretty much required in order to properly explore.
Like Drew, I fell in love with Namibia’s vast beauty, friendly people, and majestic landscapes. Here are my favorite spots from my time there:
Pro-Tip: A road trip through Namibia road trip can get quite uncomfortable due to unpaved roads. As the locals say, it’s an “African massage!” Come prepared with this travel-sized massage gun to keep circulation moving. (Seriously, I would not travel on an African road trip without this.)
1. Noordoewer (Orange River)
After we crossed the border from South Africa into Namibia, our first stop for overnight accommodations was at a cute little “hut-like” hotel located directly on the Orange River in Noordoewer. Immediately, I was impressed by the sheer beauty of the landscape of Namibia. You could’ve had me fooled that we were in the lush jungles of French Polynesia or somewhere in the Caribbean, but alas, we were indeed in Namibia. We had the opportunity to go canoeing right on the water, and our hotel had a stellar pool overlooking the whole thing.
- Book Felix Unite River Adventures, a.k.a. where I stayed, here
2. Fish River Canyon
Did you know Namibia is home to the world’s second largest canyon, and THE largest canyon in Africa? I didn’t know either, until I saw this on my Exodus Adventure Travels itinerary. What seriously surprised me about arriving to Fish River Canyon was how empty it was. It is strikingly similar to the Grand Canyon in Arizona, but still its own thing in its own right. The biggest difference, however, were the crowds. Our group was the only one there for the hour (or so) duration of our visit. Fish River Canyon is simply a must when visiting Namibia.
3. Sossusvlei
Sossusvlei was the destination I was most excited for when visiting Namibia. In fact, it was seeing photos of Sossusvlei on social media that initially sparked my interest in the country. Spoiler alert, it ended up being my second favorite (favorite revealed below) spot we visited.
We woke up extremely early to get out to the massive sand dunes, leaving our hotel around 5:30 a.m. while it was still dark out, and while there are many dunes to choose from (Big Daddy is the largest dune–what a name!), we headed to Dune 45, named for being 45 kilometers from the Sesriem Gate. The dune is a bit of a hike, but I wore my sequin blue dress nonetheless, and the reason it’s encouraged to get there so early is because by even 8:30 a.m., that Namibian sun is no joke.
After hiking, we enjoyed breakfast by our camper van while looking out at the dunes. It was the biggest pinch-me moment of the entire trip and one of those travel experiences I will be grateful for forever.
- I’d HIGHLY recommend where I stayed, which is Desert Quiver Camp. Another popular option is Sossusvlei Lodge which is right on site.
4. Deadvlei
Now, for my actual favorite place visited in Namibia: Deadvlei! After Sossusvlei, we headed out to Big Daddy dune to hike part of it (not to the top). Through Big Daddy, you can reach Deadvlei, and the contrast that awaits you on the other side is something straight out of a painting. You’ll have to trek through orange and amber toned sand for about 45 minutes, and then finally, you will see a pop of white with dark trees in the distance. Deadvlei is essentially a group of dead trees against a white clay ground. Once you reach the actual white ground, you can walk around and take it all in. I would allot for a minimum of two hours total here, but bring lots of water as it’s extremely hot and there is nowhere to purchase anything.
- If you don’t have time to book a 21-day adventure with Exodus Adventure Travels like I did, try this three-day Sossusvlei and Deadvlei dune tour.
5. Sesriem Canyon
By this point in our journey, I was fully on board with loving Namibia, but Sesriem Canyon was the icing on the cake. At Sesriem Canyon, you can walk through deep enclaves that feel like you’re traveling around Saudi Arabia or even exploring Petra, Jordan, but alas, you are indeed in Namibia. Like everything else, which might sound redundant but I will continue to repeat to emphasize its importance, Sesriem Canyon is super hot and you need to stay hydrated. And despite the intense heat, you’ll want to wear something, like a sunhat, that covers your shoulders and face to avoid getting burnt.
- If you’re weary driving yourself and have limited time, this three-day trip from Windhoek is a great way to see Sossusvlei, Deadvlei, and Sesriem Canyon.
6. Walvis Bay
As you make your way up the coast, you’ll first want to stop at the Tropic of Capricorn sign, somewhere between Sesriem Canyon and Walvis Bay. The Tropic of Capricorn sign indicates that you are at the southernmost point in the world where the sun can be seen directly overhead. This helps make sense of the intense heat of Namibia.
After you get your mandatory picture with the Tropic of Capricorn sign, it’s time to move onto Walvis Bay. Flamingo fanatics, rejoice! I tried to count how many flamingos I saw at Walvis Bay and lost track at around 100. They are EVERYWHERE, and it’s fun to just sit by the water and listen to them quacking away.
- Book a day tour to Walvis Bay here.
- When in Rome, right? Stay at Flamingo Villas Boutique Hotel for a fitting hotel based on your surroundings!
Pro-Tip: Photographing animals is difficult since they’re constantly moving. Invest in a good camera to ensure you get the best pics out of your trip.
7. Swakopmund
Oh, beloved Swakopmund. Swakopmund was a place I knew absolutely nothing about prior to visiting Namibia, and one of the first places I’d return to if ever back in the country. Swakopmund is known as the adrenaline capital of Namibia, so adventurous souls, you’ve met your match. The town is full of German food and German-style architecture, which isn’t as cute as it sounds, and is largely due to Namibia having been colonized by Germany in the past. Regardless, Swakopmund is seriously beautiful, located right on the coast, and it’s a great place to get your heartrate up and pumping:
- Try quad biking on Namibia’s sand dunes.
- Go tandem skydiving over Namibia’s coast
- Explore unique wildlife with the “Living Desert” Tour
- Take this “Scenic Desert” bike tour
Pro-Tip: You should not expect to have good service (or rather, any service) while road-tripping Namibia. Swakopmund was where I got the strongest connection of anywhere in the country. I stayed at Hotel a La Mer which had the strongest WiFi of my entire duration in Namibia.
8. Brandberg Mountain
Some things are not like the others; and Brandberg Mountains falls into that category. Admittedly, this was my least favorite stop, but it is a convenient stop along the way nonetheless, so to help break up your drive, I’d recommend still checking it out. And despite it not being my personal favorite, it could be yours. Plus, the hotel I stayed at here was a true oasis with several pools and really good frozen cocktails–basically, I made it work, and treated my time in Brandberg Mountains as a proper vacation from the serious adventure I had been on.
Brandberg Mountain is essentially a “burning mountain” thanks to its amber hue, which is quite similar to the USA’s Southwest (think Utah, Moab National Park, etc.). There are paintings or “rock art” in and on the mountain which are deemed a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The “rock art” of Brandberg Mountain was how indigenous people communicated thousands of years ago, which is still evident to this day.
- I’d recommend a stay at Grootberg Lodge for proper accommodation, or Etendeka Mountain Camp for a glamping experience.
9. Etosha National Park
You’re probably on your second or third week of exploring Namibia by this point, and all of that patience has paid off for the one quintessential African experience we all crave: a proper safari. Welcome to Etosha National Park! It is definitely an exciting destination to reach because you know you are about to see some incredible wildlife (which, I would like to note, we saw plenty of wildlife up to this point).
Etosha National Park, in true Namibia fashion, is much less green and overall drier than the typical national parks you might envision when thinking of the African savannah. However, you are very likely to see plenty of animals; we saw lions, elephants, springbok, plenty of birds, and several rhino. It is crucial to go with a guide since the animals are sometimes extremely far away, making them easy to miss.
- If you don’t go with a tour group like I did, book a half-day game drive here.
Pro-Tip: I highly recommend choosing comfortable lodging since you will have super long days on the extremely bumpy roads of Etosha. As jaw-dropping as the experience is, it can get quite uncomfortable, so consider staying at Gondwana Etosha Safari Lodge, Eldorado Lodge, or Eagle Tented Lodge & Spa for maximum comfort.
10. Kavango
Last but certainly not least, you’ll head to Kavango as its known in Namibia, Okavango Delta in Botswana, and Cubango in Angola, because, yes, this sublime river cuts through all three African countries. Here, hippos are the name of the game. Watching the sunset on the Kavango is a perfect way to round out your long Namibia road trip, and is like watching someone paint in real time. Note that you’re now officially in Malaria area, so you’ll want to take those preventative pills.
Stay directly on the river at:
- White Sands Lodge (often sold out, so book ahead!)
- Kuvira River Camp for a camping experience
- Shametu River Lodge
Short on time? Book a day trip to the Okavango here.
DISCLAIMER: I might make a small commission from some of the links throughout this article, but the price is the same for you. This helps keep my business running so I can continue to provide free travel tips!
DISCLAIMER II: Exodus Adventure Travels hosted me for their Cape Town to Victoria Falls lodging trip.