Situated in Central Namibia, the cosmopolitan city of Windhoek serves as the capital of the country. It is home to an international airport and a plethora of restaurants, shops, entertainment venues and accommodation options. The city is clean, safe and well-organised, with a colonial legacy that is reflected in its many German eateries and shops, and the widespread use of the German language. Windhoek has an interesting mix of historical architecture and modern buildings, many of which are worth a look, including the Alte Feste an old fort, the 1896 Christuskirche Christ Church, and the more contemporary Supreme Court.
The best time to visit Sossusvlei is in the early morning. The park gates open at dawn and the golden light just after sunrise is perfect. Take along enough drinking water, sunscreen and a hat.
Situated in the largest conservation area in Africa (the Namib-Naukluft National Park), Sossusvlei is possibly Namibia’s most spectacular and best-known attraction. Characterized by the large red dunes that surround it, Sossusvlei is a large, white, salt and clay pan and is a great destination all year round. The dunes in this area are some of the highest in the world and provide photographic enthusiasts with wonderful images in the beautiful morning and evening light. Sossusvlei literally translates to “dead-end marsh”, as it is the place where the dunes come together preventing the Tsauchab River to flow any further, some 60km east of the Atlantic Ocean. However, due to the dry conditions in the Namib Desert the River seldom flows this far and the pan remains bone-dry most years.
Close to Sossusvlei, Deadvlei is a clay pan characterized by dark, dead camel thorn trees contrasted against the white pan floor. The pan was formed when the Tsauchab River flooded, and the abundance of water allowed camel thorn trees to grow. However, the climate changed, and the sand dunes encroached on the pan, blocking the river from reaching the area. The trees are estimated to be approximately 900 years old, however they have not decomposed due to the dry climate. Deadvlei is at least 1km walk from the parking lot so be sure to take drinking water with you.
Sesriem Canyon is located approximately 4.5km from the entrance gate of the Namib-Naukluft National Park. The Tsauchab River has shaped the Canyon over millions of years and it is one of the few places in the area that holds water all year round. The early Afrikaans explorers in the region named the canyon after the fact that they had to use six (“ses”) leather straps (“riem”) tied together to create a rope long enough to lower buckets into the canyon below, in order to fetch water.
Do not forget to carry enough water and protect yourself from the extreme sunlight.
Respect the delicate ecosystem of this region and be sure to stick to the path marked with stakes.
Since the dune area of Sossusvlei is only open during the day - from sunrise to sunset - you have to inquire about the exact opening hours.
The park entry fee can be paid at the NWR reception or at the 2x4 car park.
o Adults: N$ 280.00 per day
o Children under 16: N$ 180.00 per day
o Children under 8: free of charge
o Vehicles with fewer than 10 seats: N$ 60.00 per vehicle per day
A new, professionally guided hop-on / hop-off excursion service will operate daily from 07:00 to 17:00 from the 2x4 Parking area to Sossusvlei and Deadvlei.
• N$ 260 per adult
• N$ 130 per child under 12
Additional Visitor Services:
- A Ticket Sales Counter at the MEFT Gate Entrance
- A Refreshment Lounge at the 2x4 Parking Area
Set between the rolling dunes of the Namib Desert and the icy Atlantic coastline, Swakopmund is a relaxed seaside town in western Namibia known for its German colonial architecture, cool coastal climate, and adventurous spirit. Palm-lined streets, historic buildings, and ocean fog create an atmosphere unlike anywhere else in the country. Travellers visit for desert activities such as quad biking, sandboarding, and scenic flights over vast dunes and shipwreck-strewn shores. Cafés, bakeries, and small museums add to the town's laid-back charm, though the Atlantic waters are brisk rather than tropical. With its striking desert-meets-ocean setting and mix of adventure and history, Swakopmund is one of Namibia's most distinctive destinations.
Set in the Kunene Region of northwestern Namibia, Twyfelfontein is a spectacularly scenic area, featuring one of the largest and most important concentrations of rock art in Africa. The name ‘Twyfelfontein’ translates to ‘Fountain of Doubt’, which refers to the perennial spring situated in the impressive Huab Valley flanked by the slopes of a sandstone table mountain. It was this spring that attracted Stone Age hunters over six thousand years ago, and it was during this time that the extensive group of rock engravings and paintings were produced. Visitors can look forward to basing themselves at some wonderfully shady campsites along the Aba-Huab riverbed, while exploring over thirty different sacred ritual sites of the traditional hunter-gatherer communities.
Set just outside the south-western border of Etosha National Park, Etosha Heights Private Reserve offers enthralling landscapes, a huge variety of flora and fauna, and a wide range of thrilling activities. Vast savannah, rivers, forests, Mopani woodland, salt pans and dolomite hills spread themselves over the 60,000-hectare area. Numerous safaris and game drives offer the chance to see kudu, lion and the elusive mountain zebra (in the hills) and sable, black-faced impala, giraffe, aardvark, elephant and many more (around the waterholes). Visitors can also take night drives and bush picnics. A double-storey photography hide allows close-up encounters with an incredible diversity of gorgeous birdlife and animal life. Fantastic luxury facilities are provided by the accommodation options.
Located in Northwestern Namibia, Etosha East is a protected sanctuary in the eastern part of the world-renowned Etosha National Park, known as one of the most accessible game reserves in Southern Africa. Etosha East boasts vast open plains scattered with semi-arid savannah grasslands dotted with watering holes and secluded bush camps. An impressive 5000-square-kilometre Etosha salt pan makes up a large area of the eastern side of the park and can even be seen from space. This remote area teems with abundant wildlife such as lions, elephants, black rhinos and giraffes, as well as a variety of birdlife featuring flamingos, ostriches, eagles, hornbills, and owls.
Windhoek, the capital of Namibia, lies at the heart of the country, encircled by magnificent mountains, expansive valleys, and fertile farmlands. The landscape of the Greater Windhoek area surrounding this bustling city is characterised by vast valleys, thick scrub, rocky hills, and covered in golden savannah. Visitors can explore the dry river beds and mountainous scrublands, as well as enjoy birding, leopard-spotting and view large quantities of wildlife in the north; visit the more arid eastern part with its olive, potato, and date plantations; explore the rolling hills of the Khomas Hochland Mountains in the west of the Greater Windhoek area and soak up the epic views along a number of scenic passes leading off the high plateau, including Bosua Pass, Gamsberg Pass, and Spreetshoogte Pass.
