Namibia posesses some of the most stunning landscapes in Africa, and a trip through the country is one of the great road adventures. Natural wonders such as that mighty gash in the earth at Fish River Canyon and the wildlife utopia of Etosha National Park enthrall, but it’s the lonely desert roads where mighty slabs of granite rise out of swirling desert sands that will sear themselves in your mind. It’s like a coffee-table book come to life as sand dunes in the world’s oldest desert meet the crashing rollers along the wild Atlantic coast. Among all this is a German legacy evident in the cuisine and art nouveau architecture, and in festivals such as Windhoek’s legendary Oktoberfest. Namibia is also the headquarters of adventure activities in the region, so whether you’re a dreamer or love hearing the crunch of earth under your boots, travel in Namibia will stay with you long after the desert vistas fade.
Stretching over 25,000 hectares from the Namib Desert to the Naukluft Mountains, the Namib‑Naukluft Habitat, also known as the NamNau Habitat, is a private reserve that sits at the edge of the Namib‑Naukluft National Park. The desert environment supports free-roaming wildlife, including giraffe, oryx, kudu, springbok, and mountain zebra across plains and granite outcrops. Evening activity brings bat-eared foxes, aardwolves, and occasional hyenas, while walking trails, waterholes, and bird hides allow observation of Namaqua sandgrouse, black-breasted snake eagles, bustards, and vultures. Under the region’s unpolluted skies, the Milky Way and Southern Cross are visible, and the calls of desert geckos echo across the sand.
Sossusvlei is where you will find the iconic red sand dunes of the Namib. The clear blue skies contrast with the giant red sand dunes to make this one of the natural wonders of Africa and a photographers heaven. Aside from the attractions at Sossusvlei - Dune 45, Hiddenvlei, Big Daddy and Deadvlei - other attractions in the area include the Sesriem Canyon and Namib-Naukluft National Park, where the mountains of the Namib meet its plains.
