Where is Namibia?
Namibia, located in southwest Africa, is one of the driest and least densely populated countries in the world. This is mainly due to the Namib Desert, which is the oldest desert in the world. This coastal desert contains some of the largest dunes in the world, which range from hundreds to thousands of feet tall. Additionally, Namibia is home to Etosha National Park, one of the world’s greatest conversation areas.
Namibia is a very diverse country due to its location and geography, providing a home to many kinds of plants and wildlife. Moreover, it also has some of the darkest skies in the world, making the Milky Way visible during night time.
When is the best time to visit Namibia? Is Namibia safe?
It’s best to visit Namibia during the dry season in September, where the weather will be at its best and animals are more likely to show up around waterholes and rivers during your trip. Also, Namibia is a great place to visit if you’re traveling to Africa for the very first time. It’s one of the safest countries in Africa, and their official language is English, so it shouldn’t be too difficult to navigate through compared to other countries.
What is there to do in Namibia?
The great thing about Namibia is that it's filled with a huge amount of fun actviities that everybody can partake in.
Here are a few activities that you must-do when traveling to Namibia:
Sandboarding
In Swakopmund, you can experience quite an adrenaline rush by sandboarding down the tall sand dunes in the desert. You can choose from either lie down or stand up boards. For that fast head-first experience down the dunes, you should choose to ride laying down. However, if you want to carve and maneuver down the sand, stand up boards are the way to go.
Surfboarding & Seal Viewing
Also in Swakopmund, come and get your feet wet in the water on the coast of the town. The waves are nice and consistent and nice to surf in almost all year round. Additionally, you can drive up to Cape Cross and watch thousands of seals relaxing in the sand and swimming in the water.
Fish River Canyon
South of Namibia lies Fish River Canyon, the second largest canyon in the world behind the Grand Canyon. You can take a couple days hiking the trail and come across many kinds of wildlife while relaxing in the water of Palm and Ai-Ais hot springs. However, if you’re not a big fan of hiking, you can still visit the canyon and take in the amazing views it has to offer.
Quick Tips
When visiting Namibia, here are some tips, mainly about driving, to keep in mind:
- Rent a car with a 4WD and drive slow, as most of the roads are gravel with very few highways. It's also recommended to avoid driving at night, since wildlife are more likely to come out on the roads at that time.
- When driving in Namibia, it is likely that you’ll experience a flat tire or a cracked windshield so be cautious and get full coverage insurance on your rental car.
- Be sure to always fill up your car every time you pass a petrol station, as the distances between towns can be very far from each other.
Now that you know what to do in Namibia, book your trip through BudgetAir and start your adventure now!