A dune a day: 9 breathtaking adventures in stunning Namibia

Namibia was voted your top destination in 2020's Wanderlust Reader Travel Awards. Find out why on these extraordinary adventures to the country’s vast landscapes, abundant wildlife and Bushman culture...

4 mins

1. Camp amongst the towering dunes

Sunrise at Dune 45 (Shutterstock)

Sunrise at Dune 45 (Shutterstock)

Experience the vast and humbling emptiness of Namibia's great deserts on this extraordinary dune camping holiday with Intrepid.

There is no better way to experience the giant sand dunes, sprawling clay pans and scattered mountain outcrops of this incredible country. You’ll be there when the sun first kisses the dunes, painting colours across the landscape as it opens up new spectrums of beauty in the sand. And in the evenings, in the canyons, you’ll watch the tiny geckos scurry across the rocks to hunt down bugs for their dinner. 

Camping under the stars, you’ll listen the wild jackals call to their family members as the cool air sets in – and be ready to climb the famous Dune 45 at sunrise, well before anyone else turns up. You’ll also visit the renowned Dead Vlei and Sossusvlei ancient lake beds, scattered with skeleton camel thorn trees dating back over 1,000 years.

Trip: Namibia Dunes: Camping

Who: Intrepid

Type: Small group

When: Departures throughout the year

How long: Three days

How much: From £475 (exc. flights)

2. Explore Namibia's epic Deep South

Fish River Canyon, south Namibia (Shutterstock)

Fish River Canyon, south Namibia (Shutterstock)

Explore the peace and tranquillity of Namibia’s largely uninhabited south on this self-drive adventure with Cox & Kings.

Having your own set of wheels opens up a whole new world of sights and experiences in this vast country. You’ll marvel at the ever-changing vistas of the Kalahari, Fish River Canyon and Naukluft National Park, with their kaleidoscope of colours and textures formed over millions of years.

You’ll explore the fascinating ghost town of Kolmanskop and the sleepy German town of Luderitz, and enjoy a gentle hike in search of wild Namib feral horses. En route back from Sossusvlei to Windhoek, you’ll drop by the Naukluft mountains, home to a number of enjoyable hiking trails.

Trip: Namibia's Deep South

Who: Cox & Kings

Type: Tailor-made

When: Flexible departures throughout the year

How long: 14 days

How much: From £4,375 (exc. flights)

3. Help save Namibia’s threatened carnivores

Cheetah hunting a springbuck in Namibia (Shutterstock)

Cheetah hunting a springbuck in Namibia (Shutterstock)

Play your part in saving Namibia’s native carnivores like cheetahs and hyenas on this rewarding conservation holiday in Beurus with The Great Project.

Based in an incredibly diverse and breathtaking landscape, you’ll be an important member of the Carnivore Conservation and Research Project team. You will take part in crucial conservation activities such as setting camera traps, game counts, cheetah feeding and radio telemetry tracking, noting when the animals are on the property.

You’ll focus on observing and monitoring carnivores and other wildlife in their natural habitat, adding invaluable knowledge to research which is used to help sustain these often-threatened species for future generations. 

It’s unforgettable opportunity to help reduce conflict between humans and these incredible animals, ensuring they can stay in a more natural environment rather than having to relocate them to an animal sanctuary.

Trip: Carnivore Conservation and Research in Namibia

Who: The Great Projects

Type: Small group

When: Departures every Friday

How long: 16 nights

How much: £1,340 (exc. flights)

4. Discover ancient landscapes of northern Namibia

Spitzkoppe, a unique rock formation in Damaraland (Shutterstock)

Spitzkoppe, a unique rock formation in Damaraland (Shutterstock)

Short on time but looking for a big adventure? This pocket-sized self-drive holiday through northern Namibia with Rainbow Tours could be for you.

Focussing on the northern areas of Etosha and Damaraland, you will enjoy a host of land and ocean activities in the coastal town of Swakopmund before heading out to the vast rocky deserts of Damaraland in search of wildlife and ancient rock-art.

Next, the waterholes of Etosha National Park await, where an extraordinary array of animals gather to drink. Your journey ends at the Africat project, Okonjima, where you’ll witness first hand their inspirational work with rescued big cats.

Trip: Pocket-Size Northern Namibia Self-Drive

Who: Rainbow Tours

Type: Tailor-made

When: Jan

How long: 12 days

How much: From £2,055 (inc. flights)

5. Spread your wings over Namibia

A hot air balloon over Sossusvlei (Shutterstock)

A hot air balloon over Sossusvlei (Shutterstock)

Get a truly awe-inspiring perspective on the vast landscapes of Namibia on this ten-day air safari across the country with Wexas Travel.

Travelling from Windhoek to Etosha National Park via Soussusvlei, the Skeleton Coast and Damaraland, you’ll experience the stark beauty of Namibia’s landscapes and coastline from the air on a series of scenic light aircraft flights.

Back on land, you’ll climb the towering dunes of Sossusvlei, clamber amongst the shipwrecks along the mysterious Skeleton Coast and enjoy unforgettable wildlife encounters on the huge salt pans and plains of the Etosha National Park

Trip: Wings over Namibia

Who: Wexas Travel

Type: Tailor-made

When: Flexible departures throughout the year

How long: 10 days

How much: From £7,220 (inc. flights)

6. Experience the best of Namibia

A busy waterhole in Etosha national Park (Shutterstock)

A busy waterhole in Etosha national Park (Shutterstock)

Wild oceans, vast desserts, towering dunes and incredible wildlife – Namibia is jam-packed with once-in-a-lifetime adventures. If you want to experience them all, then this 15-day trip through the country’s classic sights with Peregrine is for you.

Travelling down the coast from Windhoek, you’ll drop by Etosha National Park, one of Africa’s premier game-viewing destinations, and Damaraland, an otherworldly place of rock sculptures, petrified forest and ancient rock paintings. The iconic dunes of Sossusvlei are next, including an unforgettable climb up Dune 45.

After a night in unique accommodation among granite boulders of Fish River Canyon, you’ll drift down the Orange River in a canoe, reminiscing about all the incredible sights you’ve seen.

Trip: Classic Namibia

Who: Peregrine

Type: Small group

When: Departures throughout the year

How long: 15 days

How much: From £3,855 (exc. flights)

7. Discover culture and nature in the desert

San Bushmen gather around a fire at dusk (Shutterstock)

San Bushmen gather around a fire at dusk (Shutterstock)

Experience Namibia’s breathtaking landscapes and meet its incredible people on this culture and nature tour of the country with TravelLocal.

The tour is designed to get you under the skin of both Namibia's wildlife and indigenous communities. You’ll enjoy numerous game drives in the astonishing Etosha National Park, witnessing the daily spectacle of thousands of animals gathering at the park’s water holes.

And you’ll be humbled by the Bushmanland experience, a unique opportunity to spend time with the local Bushmen and get to know about their daily life in this hostile, but harshly beautiful environment.

Trip: Culture & Nature

Who: TravelLocal

Type: Tailor-made

When: Departures throughout the year

How long: 10 days

How much: £2,930 (exc. flights)

8. Wander through wild Namibia

An elephant enjoying a dust bath in Etosha National Park (Shutterstock)

An elephant enjoying a dust bath in Etosha National Park (Shutterstock)

Meet Namibia’s extremely diverse wildlife in their equally diverse environments on this wildlife-focused adventure through the dunes, deserts and plains of this incredible country with Wildlife Worldwide.

Staying largely in exclusive accommodation in private reserves, you'll visit Sossusvlei’s soaring dunes, take a boat trip at Swakopmund, explore the desert in Damaraland, and marvel at Etosha’s prolific wildlife. As well as wildlife spotting in Namibia's iconic national parks, you'll mountain bike on sand dunes, seeing ancient rock engravings at Twyfelfontein and help track rhino in a leading conservation park.

Trip: Faces Of Namibia

Who: Wildlife Worldwide

Type: Small group

When: Jan to Dec

How long: 10 days

How much: From £3,495 (exc. flights)

9. Cycle through Namibia’s epic landscapes

Cycling Namibia’s dunes (Exodus)

Cycling Namibia’s dunes (Exodus)

Ride through some of the world’s most magnificent and diverse landscapes on this epic cycling tour through Namibia with Exodus.

Cycling through the wide open spaces and endless skies is the best way to truly experience the exceptional beauty of this desert nation. Sand dunes gradually turn into granite hills, whilst rocky outcrops give way to vast plains where elephants, giraffes and lions roam.

You’ll experience the thrill of cycling over sand dunes on a modified ‘fat’ bike, watch the sun rise over the tallest sand dunes in the world and enjoy game drives in one of southern Africa’s best game reserves, Etosha National Park.

Trip: Cycle Namibia

Who: Exodus

Type: Small group

When: Mar to Apr & Sept to Dec

How long: 12 days

How much: From £1,999 (exc. flights)

Related Articles