Etosha National Park

Covering nearly 9,000 square miles, Etosha National Park is centered around the Etosha Pan, a huge expanse of salt with salt springs used by wildlife as salt licks. It has one of the world’s highest concentrations of big-game species, including rhinos, elephants, lions, and zebras. During the rainy season, the pan fills with water, attracting as many as a million flamingos.

Damaraland

Home to rocky mountains and desert-adapted wildlife, including rare and endangered species, Damaraland lies in a remote area of north-western Namibia, adjoining the Skeleton Coast. On an early morning drive, you might see everything from lion, elephant, and black rhino to kudu, oryx, and springbok. It’s also home to a petrified forest with giant fossilized trees and six- thousand-year-old rock art.

The Caprivi Strip

The Caprivi Strip is a nearly 250-mile-long narrow strip of land in the northeastern part of the country. Namibia’s wettest region, it has a tropical climate and receives significant rainfall during the rainy season. There are several major rivers including the Okavango and Zambezi, and smaller rivers such as the Chobe, sustaining many birds and a high concentration of elephants.

Windhoek

The capital and largest city in Namibia, Windhoek offers an interesting mix of African and European, new and old, with diverse cultures and cuisine. Tucked into a valley surrounded by mountains and the Khomas Highland, it’s clean, friendly, and has plenty happening without being too chaotic. Highlights include the Old Fortress, art galleries, museums, and an open-air market featuring arts and crafts.

Skeleton Coast

Namibia’s most evocative and haunting destination, the Skeleton Coast is a treacherous stretch along the Atlantic where the thrashing waves meet the Namib Desert and towering dunes. Numerous shipwrecks are partially swallowed by the sand in this place where lions, giraffes, black rhinos, and elephants somehow manage to survive, traveling between waterholes and feeding grounds as far as 45 miles apart.

Fish River Canyon

The world’s second largest canyon after only the Grand Canyon, Fish River Canyon is 100 miles long, up to nearly 17 miles wide, and over 1,800 feet deep in some places. Soak up the beauty from the main viewpoint near Hobas rest camp and other spots along the rim. Guided two- to five-day hikes are available from April through September.

NamibRand Nature Reserve

One of Africa’s most beautiful and largest private reserves, NamibRand covers over 772 square miles. A place of contrasts, it includes the Namib Mountains, dunes, and plains, along with unique wildlife like the Hartmann’s mountain zebra. It’s also home to the mysterious Fairy Circles, circles with no growth among the desert vegetation found nowhere else in Africa with no scientific explanation.

Swakopmund

Located west of the capital of Windhoek, Swakopmund is a coastal city where the ocean meets the desert. It’s known for its distinct German character with German architecture and cuisine. Often referred to as Nambibia’s adventure capital, it not only offers beaches but everything from quad biking, sandboarding, and horse riding in the desert to hot-air balloon rides and skydiving.c

Sossusvlei

Showcasing the desert at its best, Sossusvlei is located in Namib-Naukluft National Park with the two main attractions Deadvlei and Sossusvlei. These white salt and clay pans are surrounded by towering red sand dunes that stretch for miles making it popular among landscape photographers. After dark, the sky is so brilliant it almost seems as if you can touch the stars.

Where to visit in Namibia