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Places to visit and things to do in Namibia : south and central

27/2/2019

22 Comments

 
Places to visit in Namibia: south and central
​By Roxanne Reid
I’ve been to Namibia more than 30 times and I still want to go again. It’s so diverse, with deserts, rivers and floodplains, wildlife big and small, spectacular landscapes, a place that touches your soul. People often ask for my tips on Namibia, so here’s my pick of places to visit and things to do in Namibia: south and central. I’ve written up the north elsewhere.

I'm breaking up my Namibia recommendations into south/central and north for two good reasons. First is that the post would simply be too long if I put them all together. Second, and much more importantly, it's a vast country and there's no way you can see it all in the two weeks most people devote to holidays in Namibia.

For that reason I suggest concentrating on either the south or the north unless you have at least four to six weeks to explore Namibia's points of interest. It's better to take it slow and enjoy what you see and do to the fullest instead of trying to stuff everything into a hectic fortnight. If you do that, you'll spend most of your time driving rather than adventuring and experiencing, and you'll be too exhausted to enjoy any of it properly.

1. Fish River Canyon and Ai-Ais National Park
  • Stand and marvel
    See Namibia’s spectacular 160km long and 27km wide Fish River Canyon, which starts in the Naukluft mountains and ends in the Ai-Ais National Park. Its deepest point is 549m.
    ​More about the Fish River Canyon
  • Do a 4-5 day hike through the canyon
    You can also do a four- to five-day, 85km hike here between May and September. It starts at the main viewpoint, 10km from Hobas campsite, and ends at Ai-Ais resort to the south. Book with Namibia Wildlife Resorts.​
  • Go slack-packing
    If the idea of carrying a heavy pack for days doesn’t appeal, do the Canyon Klipspringer Trail (3 days, 4 nights). Here your gear is lugged for you and all you have to carry are your camera, water and snacks. You also get cooking and bathroom facilities at each overnight stop.
Things to do in Namibia: Fish River Canyon
Fish River Canyon
  • Explore the Ai-Ais National Park
    To explore the national park further and enjoy some of its uncompromising desert mountain scenery, spend a night at the hot springs at Ai-Ais or at the Hobas campsite. This is a Transfrontier Park with the Richtersveld over the border in South Africa.
  • Visit the Canyon Roadhouse
    Don’t miss stopping at the Canyon Roadhouse on your way to the Fish River Canyon. You can have a drink or a meal here (even sleep over in the lodge or the campsite) but the highlight are the posters, memorabilia and old cars in the barnlike structure and some rusting hulks in the grounds outside. Petrol-heads will love it.
Namibia things to do: Canyon Roadhouse
Canyon Roadhouse
2. Sossusvlei
  • Climb a giant dune
    ​In this part of the Namib-Naukluft Park some of the sand dunes are 80 million years old. Two of the most popular to climb are Dune 45 to see the sunrise and Big Daddy for superb views over Dead Vlei.
    ​Read more about climbing Big Daddy
Best places to visit in Namibia: Sossusvlei and Dune 45
Dune 45, Sossusvlei
  • Discover fairy circles
    See mysterious naked circles in the veld in the Namib Desert. Nothing grows inside these clear-cut circles of one to three metres diameter, a bit like crop circles. It’s thought that euphorbias poison the soil around them or termites shed a chemical that prevents grass from growing – though the notion of fairies is more romantic.
    ​Read more about fairy circles of the Namib
  • Walk on Dead Vlei
    ​Soak up the sight of the white clay pan of Dead Vlei with its ancient camel-thorn skeletons surrounded by an amphitheatre of dunes. The dead trees are some 900 years old but the climate is so dry that they haven’t decomposed. This and the whole of Sossusvlei is a photographer’s dream.
Namibia points of interest: Dead Vlei
Dead Vlei
  • Fly in a hot air balloon
    Hot-air ballooning at dawn is a surreal and soulful experience. Look down on animals like gemsbok, springbok and ostriches, as well as fairy circles. It comes at a hefty price but remains one of our best-ever experiences so if you can scrape together the cash you won’t be sorry.
    ​Read more about hot-air ballooning at Sossusvlei
What to see in Namibia: hot air ballooning at Sossusvlei
View from a hot air balloon at dawn
  • Explore Sesriem canyon on foot
    Shaped by the Tsauchab River, parts of this canyon near Sossusvlei are 65 million years old. The river last ran in a flash flood during Oct 2018.
  • Sleep under the stars
    Choose from the luxury Little Kulala Camp (pictured below), mid-range Namib Dune Camp or the budget-friendly Namib Desert Campsite or Sesriem Campsite.
Things to do in Namibia: sleep under the stars
Star bed at Little Kulala Camp
3. NamibRand Nature Reserve
  • Stay on the reserve
    This 200 000 hectare reserve shares a 100km border with the Namib-Naukluft National Park and is one the largest private nature reserves in southern Africa. It’s a place of red sand dunes, golden-yellow grass plains and mauve mountains. You can’t get access to the private reserve without staying there. There’s luxury accommodation at Wolwedans but The Family Hideout offers off-the-grid campsites and a self-catering cottage for the more budget-conscious.
    ​Read more about the NamibRand Nature Reserve
Game Namibia: NamibRand Nature Reserve
NamibRand Nature Reserve
  • Go hiking in style
    ​For a really special adventure, book a three-day, fully catered walking trail in the NamibRand with Toktokkie Trails and learn more about desert ecology.
  • ​Enjoy star-gazing and fairy circles
    Indulge in some star-gazing in this Dark Sky Reserve and see mysterious fairy circles, which look similar to crop circles but are the work of termites.
    Read more about dark skies and fairy circles
Must see places in Namibia: NamibRand Nature Reserve is a Dark Sky Reserve
NamibRand Nature Reserve is a Dark Sky Reserve
4. Duwisib Castle
Be part of a love story at the pint-sized Duwisib Castle about 70km southwest of Matahöhe in southern Namibia, not far from the NamibRand Nature Reserve. Here you’ll discover a love story about a dashing army captain with a passion for horses, a wealthy heiress, a journey to a faraway land, and a castle at the edge of a vast desert. You’ll be fascinated by the sophisticated fireplaces and fittings imported from Europe and brought here from the port at Luderitz by ox wagon. Today it’s run by Namibia Wildlife Resorts and you can stay here and pretend you’re part of a fairy tale.
Read more about Duwisib Castle and its story
Namibia Wildlife Resorts Duwisib Castle: Namibia facts and fairy tales
Duwisib Castle near Matahöhe
5. Wild horses of Aus
The desert near Aus, about halfway between Keetmanshoop and Luderitz in southern Namibia, is home to a special herd of wild horses that can often be seen at the waterhole near Garub. They have adapted to desert life but still face a number of challenges, not least a clan of hyenas that moved into the area.
Read more about the wild horses of the Namib
Namibia wildlife: wild horses of Aus
Wild horses of Aus
6. Kolmanskop ghost town
If seeing crumbling buildings and taking unusual photographs is your thing, you’ll love the ghost town of Kolmanskop in southern Namibia. Back in the 1900s when it was a diamond boom town, you could pick diamonds off the ground by the fistful. But the boom went bust and today all that’s left is a haunting fascination. There are daily guided tours or get there early to catch the best light for photos.
Read more about Kolmanskop
Kolmanskop ghost town
Kolmanskop ghost town
7. Luderitz
Since Luderitz is on the Namibian coast just 10km west of Kolmanskop, it’s worth a short detour. It’s not beautiful, with stark sands and rock, but there’s some interesting Germanic architecture, a church built on a rock and some dark history at Shark Island (it was used as a concentration camp during the Nama and Herero wars of 1904-1908).
Read more about Luderitz
German architecture, Luderitz, Namibia
Goerke House, Luderitz
8. Quivertree Forest and Giants Playground
Outside the southern Namibia town of Keetmanshoop is the Quivertree Forest, a collection of some 200 of these unusual aloe trees. Try to be there early or late to catch the golden light of sunset pinks for your photographs. Nearby at Giant’s Playground, huge boulders form strange patterns like massive children’s building bricks.
Read more about Quivertree forest and Giants Playground
Quivertree Forest and Giants Playground near Keetmanshoop
Quiver trees at sunset
9. Kalahari
The Kalahari Desert sprawls across some 900 000 square kilometres of Namibia, Botswana and South Africa. It’s a fascinating semi-arid area of red sand dunes where a surprising number of plants thrive, as well as animals like long-horned gemsbok, huge eland and tiny meerkats. Sunrises and sunsets are spectacular and the night skies are jewelled with thousands of stars.
Read more about the Kalahari
Namibia national parks: the Kalahari
Red sand of the Kalahari (photo: the Gondwana Collection)
10. Windhoek
By European or American standards, the capital of Namibia is small with just 325 000 people. There are a number of interesting landmarks like the Christuskirche, the Alte Feste fort and the National Museum of Namibia. Daan Viljoen Nature Reserve is just 24km to the west. For a dash of Namibian culture, experience a guided tour of Katutura township and don’t miss a stop at the popular Joe’s Beerhouse for an atmosphere that’s quirky and different.
Christuskirche, Windhoek
Christuskirche, Windhoek
11. Walvis Bay
Once a whaling station and now the centre of Namibia’s fishing industry, Walvis Bay is worth visiting for its desert landscapes and wetlands. It’s a RAMSAR wetland of international importance where some quarter of a million birds gather, including pelicans and flamingos looking for food in the shallows. Go kite surfing, kayaking among Cape fur seals, or climb Dune 7 for views of the surrounding dunes and the sea.
Flamingos at Walvis Bay, a RAMSAR wetland
Walvis Bay is a RAMSAR wetland
12. Swakopmund
  • Travel back in time to see old buildings
    Walk the streets of Swakopmund to appreciate buildings that date back to the early 1900s. They have ornate features and a lyrical style typical of Art Nouveau or Jugendstil. Haus Hohenzollern, Woermann House, the old post office, old railway station (now a hotel) and the fort-like Kaserne barracks are just a few of them to look out for.
    Read more about Swakopmund
Haus Hohenzollern, Swakopmund, Namibia beach resorts
Haus Hohenzollern, Swakopmund
  • ​Knock yourself out on adrenalin sports
    Swakopmund is also Namibia’s adventure capital, offering quad biking, microlighting, paragliding, sand boarding and more.
  • See ancient welwitschias and moonscapes
    Drive the 140km route outside town to see strange welwitschia plants, lichen fields and moon-like landscapes. Get a permit from the Ministry of Environment and Tourism office first.
  • Experience the Living Desert
    Don’t miss a Living Desert tour to meet some amazing desert-adapted creatures in the sand dunes around Swakopmund – great for kids too.
    ​Read more about the Living Desert tour
Palmato gecko in the Swakopmund dunes
Palmato gecko on the Living Desert Tour, Swakopmund
13. Cape Cross Seal Reserve and the Skeleton Coast
The Skeleton Coast is nature in the raw – nothing soft or gentle about its rough seas, dense fog or rusting shipwrecks. Here, tiny fishing villages are the pinnacle of civilisation and the place to be if you’re a keen fisherman. Visit the Cape Cross Seal Reserve 120km north of Swakopmund to see an enormous colony of Cape fur seals. Depending on marine conditions, there can be up to 200 000 of them, and they give birth to pups in November and December. Wander along the boardwalk to enjoy the spectacle, but expect an overwhelming smell and thundering noise.
Seals at Cape Cross, Skeleton Coast, Namibia
Seals at Cape Cross
Note: More tips on the best time to visit Namibia and what to know before you go to Namibia in part 2, which focuses on the north of Namibia. ​

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Visiting Namibia? Find out about the best places to visit in Namibia and things to do in Namibia. Explore Namibian wildlife resorts, Namibia national parks, Namibia culture, Namibia beach resorts, Namibia wildlife, Namibia points of interest and holidays in Namibia. Highlights include Sossusvlei dunes, Dead Vlei, hot air ballooning, Fish River Canyon, NamibRand Nature Reserve, wild horses, Kolmanskop ghost town, quivertree forest, Swakopmund and Cape Cross. #Namibia #travel #afritravel #africa
Visiting Namibia? Find out about the best places to visit in Namibia and things to do in Namibia. Explore Namibian wildlife resorts, Namibia national parks, Namibia culture, Namibia beach resorts, Namibia wildlife, Namibia points of interest and holidays in Namibia. Highlights include Sossusvlei dunes, Dead Vlei, hot air ballooning, Fish River Canyon, NamibRand Nature Reserve, wild horses, Kolmanskop ghost town, quivertree forest, Swakopmund and Cape Cross. #Namibia #travel #afritravel #africa
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Places to visit and things to do in Namibia: the north
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Copyright © Roxanne Reid - No words or photographs on this site may be used without permission from roxannereid.co.za
22 Comments
Helena link
28/12/2019 08:14:24 am

wow love this article! I had no idea you could sleep in the desert like that! I have always wanted to see the Dead Vlei desert too! Thanks for sharing!

Reply
Roxanne
28/12/2019 09:19:42 am

Thanks, Helena. Yeah, Namibia is one of my all-time favourite countries, probably for its wide open spaces and its diversity of landscapes and things to do.

Reply
Sharyn link
28/12/2019 09:05:24 am

I have never considered this destination on my travels. But I think I will have to. I loved the photos of the sunsets and the tiny gecko. It looks like a hot and dry place, is it?

Reply
Roxanne
28/12/2019 09:15:52 am

Namibia is a must for adventurous travellers, and a great introduction to Africa. Yes, the south is hot and dry in summer (though winters are very cold at night), but there's lots of rivers and water in the far north east.

Reply
Jade Laurenza
2/5/2020 10:54:47 am

The Little Kulala looks so amazing! Definitely adding that to my Namibian bucket list! Thanks for sharing, beautiful post!

Reply
Roxanne
2/5/2020 02:33:31 pm

Thanks, Jade. Yes Little Kulala is wonderful and it has recently been totally refurbished too.

Reply
Sharyn link
2/5/2020 11:47:08 am

Namibia looks fantastic - I didn't know there was so much wildlife, both big and small.

Reply
Roxanne
2/5/2020 02:35:24 pm

It is fantastic, Sharyn. If you travel to Africa, Namibia is a must. Given that you can self-drive and there are lots of more affordable places to stay, it's can be cheaper option than countries like Botswana, Kenya and Tanzania (which are also fab, don't get me wrong).

Reply
Julia link
2/5/2020 02:04:18 pm

I can’t wait to make it to Namibia. It looks like such a stunning and unique country to explore. Overall if you could only do the north or central/south: which would you recommend starting with?

Reply
Roxanne
2/5/2020 02:38:38 pm

Namibia is a marvel, Julia. Given that the far northwest is very remote and rugged, demanding strong 4x4 driving skills, I'd say start with the south and central and then visit the north on your follow-up trip - because you will be back! Unless of course you're a wildlife fanatic, then Etosha and the Zambezi/Caprivi sections will be big drawcards.

Reply
Hazel link
3/5/2020 12:36:49 pm

Thanks for sharing this comprehensive post on Namibia, Roxanne. I'm considering a trip there in the next 2 years so I'll be visiting this post again in the future.

Reply
Roxanne
21/7/2020 10:47:39 am

Hope you get there one of these days, Hazel. It's definitely worth the trouble.

Reply
katy kuhlwilm link
18/7/2020 11:40:26 am

This is really useful! I'll use it next time I visit my brother in Durban. Im planning a mini trip within a trip!

Reply
Roxanne
21/7/2020 10:49:08 am

I wouldn't say, Katy, that Namibia would be a "mini trip" - rather a whole expedition in its own right. Don't scrimp on time because you'll be sorry :-)

Reply
Lucy link
18/7/2020 01:23:40 pm

Namibia looks spectacular! Definitely adding this to my travel bucket list. Thanks for sharing the inspiration

Reply
Roxanne
21/7/2020 10:50:12 am

Namibia is exactly that, Lucy - spectacular. People often think desert landscapes are dull but they are in fact quite stunning.

Reply
Shelley link
18/7/2020 05:59:53 pm

STUNNING photos... I even recognized Dead Vlei from the famous National Geographic photo! I've been planning my dream Africa trip in my head for some time now & your post really helped me understand Namibia so much better. Many thanks & I pinned this blog for later reference.

Reply
Roxanne
21/7/2020 10:51:27 am

Oh, Shelley, you have so much to look forward to in Namibia. I almost envy you going there for the first time.

Reply
Valentina Vucicic link
18/7/2020 11:46:56 pm

It looks magical! Paradise like! Thanks for sharing this with us!!

Reply
Roxanne
21/7/2020 10:52:31 am

It is magical, Valentina. I've been more than 30 times and it never gets old, just more and more special as you uncover new layers.

Reply
Carley link
4/10/2020 11:42:31 am

Wow! Awesome article! I keep hearing things about Namibia...maybe I need to add it to my list :) thanks for sharing!

Reply
Roxanne
4/10/2020 02:37:43 pm

You definitely should, Carley; you won't be disappointed.

Reply

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    About 

    I'm an independent travel writer and book editor with a passion for Africa - anything from African travel, people, safari and wildlife to adventure, heritage, road-tripping and slow travel.
    My travel buddy and husband Keith is the primary photographer for this blog.
    We're happiest in the middle of nowhere, meeting the locals, trying something new, or simply watching the grass grow.
    Use this website to discover new places to go, revisit places you've loved, or take a virtual tour of destinations you only dream about.

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