Arch at Spitzkoppe, Damaraland, Namibia

Namibia Holidays

Home to some of Africa’s most dramatic desert scenery, Namibia is a collage of harsh reds, browns and yellows. Watch rhinos and elephants roam huge deserts and fly over the desolate dune-filled landscape of the Skeleton Coast.

We like Namibia because it is wild and inaccessible and because, despite being the size of Spain and Germany combined, it has a population of just two million.

As cliched as it may sound, Namibia is vastly different to any other country in Africa, not least because of its 300-mile northern coastline, the aptly named the Skeleton Coast, which is littered with the rusting hulks of ships that floundered in the notoriously rough seas.

Journey of giraffes, Etosha National Park, Namibia
Etosha National Park, Namibia
little Sossus aircraft,skeleton coast,namibia
Skeleton Coast, Namibia

What to expect on your Namibia holiday

A safari in Namibia will give you a feeling of pioneering adventure as each camp takes you further and further away from civilisation. Due to the remote location of many lodges, the accommodation tends to be more basic than in Botswana and other classic safari destinations, but the rewards are worth it tenfold.

Elephants approaching over the dusty plains of Etosha, Namibia
Etosha National Park, Namibia
Elephant drunk, Damaraland, Namibia
Damaraland, Namibia
Desert adapted elephant, Damaraland, Namibia
Desert-adapted elephant, Damaraland, Namibia
Himba Woman, Damaraland, Namibia
Damaraland, Namibia
Himba Woman, Damaraland, Namibia
Damaraland, Namibia

A little more about Namibia

Eighty per cent of Namibia is desert and it is amazing to see how the wildlife has adapted to this harsh environment. On your safari, you’ll find elephants, oryx, lions, kudu and even rhinos making the long trek in search of water.

Hopefully, you will also spend time with two of the indigenous tribes, the Herero and the closely related Himba, both pastoralists but with differing cultures.

Damaraland, Village, Firelighting, Namibia, Illona FAM 2018
Namibia
Sandwhich Harbour, Namibia, Illona, FAM 2018
Namibia
Driving to Swakop, Chad, Illona FAM 2018
Chad

The perfect family destination

Explore this desert-dominated country as a family, discovering the hardy wildlife that thrives here and sampling the array of unusual activities – from sand boarding down dunes to kayaking with seals.

Namibia is alive with possibilities – a brilliant (and safe) wilderness to explore. Swakopmund is activity packed, Etosha hides a wealth of big game and the south is home to vast dunes and deep canyons.

Read About Illona’s Family Holiday

Rhino, Huab Under Canvas, Damaraland
Damaraland, Namibia
Taking a break on game drive, Palmwag Reserve, Namibia
Palmwag Reserve, Namibia
Father and child running down dune, Namibia
Namibia
Giraffe walking in the bush on the desert pan at sunset, Etosha National Park, Namibia
Etosha National Park, Namibia
Seal Kayaking, Swakopmund, Namibia
Swakopmund, Namibia
Quad biking on dunes, Namibia
Namibia

Ideas for a family holiday to Namibia

  • Try sand boarding – descend huge dunes on Namibia’s version of a snowboard
  • Explore the boulder-strewn landscape of Damaraland on foot, horseback or by mountain bike
  • Kayak with playful Cape fur seals off Swakopmund’s Atlantic coast
  • Climb giant sand dunes, including the 325-metre-high Big Daddy, leaving a trail of footprints behind
  • Cross the desert on specially designed fat bikes or quad bikes, spotting ancient Welwitschia plants
  • Track big cats with experts, watch rhinos and cruise beside bottlenose dolphins on our Family self-drive safari adventure
North of Swakopmund, Skeleton Coast, Namibia
Skeleton Coast, Namibia
Resting cheetahs, Okonjima Nature Reserve, Namibia
Okonjima Nature Reserve, Namibia
Shipwreck Lodge, Skeleton Coast
Skeleton Coast, Namibia

Highlights of your Nambia holiday

  • A flying safari on the Skeleton Coast with the Schoemans family is a must – you cannot go with anyone else.
  • Search out the desert-adapted wildlife in Etosha National Park.
  • Go quad biking along the coast of Swakopmund.
  • Climb the beautiful sand dunes at Sossusvlei, the highest dunes in the world.
  • Visit the Africat sanctuary where cheetahs are the centre of attention.
  • For the independent traveller explore this area on a self-drive
  • In the north of Namibia, there is a pride of lions that hunts seals. How patient are you and how much time do you have?

Explore Namibia

  • Damaraland
  • Skeleton Coast
  • Sossusvlei
  • Swakopmund
  • Southern Namibia

Experiences

Exploring Namibia is simple with Steppes Travel. Choose your experiences and we’ll curate them into a tailor-made journey that’s perfect for you.

Milky way, Kwessi Dunes, NamibRand Nature Reserve, Namibia
Namibia

Stargazing in the Namib Desert

Lying in the Namib Desert at night, being hypnotised by the seemingly infinite milky way.

Sandboarding, Namibia
Namibia

Sand Boarding

Descend huge dunes on Namibia’s version of a snowboard.

Suggested Holiday Idea

Flying safari, Skeleton Coast, Namibia
Namibia

Flying Safari

Join one of the highly-regarded Schoeman brothers on a flying safari along the Skeleton Coast. Fly low over the landscape, spotting shipwrecks, meeting Himba communities and staying at remote camps.

Suggested Holiday Idea

Lioness on Skeleton Coast, Namibia
Namibia

Desert Lions

Set out in search of the region’s famed desert lions, whose numbers are shrinking fast. Track these predators across an inhospitable landscape.

Suggested camp

Damaraland, Namibia
Namibia

Explore Damaraland

Explore the boulder-strewn landscape of Damaraland on foot, horseback or by mountain bike.

Suggested camp

Himba Lady, Serra Cafema, Skeleton Coast, Namibia
Namibia

Meet the Himba

Visit the local Himba people, who call this arid landscape home. Learn about how their way of life and how they survive in such harsh conditions.

Suggested read: blog

Giraffe walking in the bush on the desert pan at sunset, Etosha National Park, Namibia
Namibia

Explore the Salt Pans

Head out across the vast Etosha National Park, spotting the wildlife that roams these salt pans.

Suggested Holiday Idea

Lone giraffe, Damaraland, Namibia
Namibia

Giraffe Conservation

Meet researchers from the Giraffe Conservation Foundation. Learn about the work they are doing to protect the population of Angolan giraffes that survives in this remote corner of north-western Namibia.

Suggested camp

Black Faced Impala, Etosha National Park, Namibia
Namibia

Time at a Waterhole

Visit one of Etosha’s prolific waterholes and wait for the wildlife to come to you.

Suggested Holiday Idea

Tracking lions, Hobatere Concession Area, Namibia
Namibia

Big Cat Conservation

Stay in the Hobatere Concession, on Etosha’s western edge. Learn about the work that AfriCat are doing here to monitor and protect the resident lion population.

Need Inspiration?
Browse our Namibia holiday ideas.

Our experts have created and curated these holiday ideas to get you started. Take the time to search through them and find something to spark ideas for a unique adventure.

Where to stay

Some of the wonderful places to stay that we frequently recommended.

Kwessi Dunes £££££

  • Africa
  • Wilderness

Deep within the NamibRand National Reserve lies Kwessi Dunes, surrounded by rolling desert plains, craggy mountains and iconic red dunes. A place where the space feels endless and time almost stands still.

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Sonop £££££

  • Namibia
  • Wilderness

Spread across a huge pile of boulders like an overgrown treehouse, Sonop is constructed from an elaborate maze of raised wooden walkways that link spacious canvas tents. The surrounding landscape is stunningly harsh: the rippling sands of the Namib Desert meet the dark rock of the Naukluft Mountains, as rugged wilderness encircles this rocky pinnacle.

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The Delight £££££

  • Namibia
  • City

Bright and modern, this colourful hotel is positioned in central Swakopmund, only a short distance from the main beach area, known as the ‘Mole’. The cheerful interior is matched by the friendly service, with staff only too eager to help. There are 54 rooms, with 10 of these designated as family rooms. All rooms are bright and spacious, with en-suite bathrooms, air conditioning and heating. The family rooms are loft rooms, split on to two levels, with twin beds on both.

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Onguma Tree Top Camp £££££

  • Namibia
  • Safari and Wildlife Lodge

Onguma Treetop Camp is a small and intimate camp, specially designed for those travellers who would like to truly experience the bush in all its raw splendour. This is where guests are able to come and relax for a few days in the midst of their busy travelling schedule, and just breathe in the aromas of the bush and take in all the wildness that this place has to offer.

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Little Ongava £££££

  • Namibia
  • Safari and Wildlife Lodge

Built on the crest of a hill in the Ongava Game Reserve, Little Ongava offers wonderful views of the plains below and is an ideal base from which to explore. Accommodation comprises three spacious suites, each with its own plunge pool, en-suite bathroom, a sala, an additional outdoor shower and a view of the waterhole in front of the camp.

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Sossusvlei Desert Lodge £££££

  • Namibia
  • Safari and Wildlife Lodge

Cradled against ancient mountains Sossusvlei Desert Lodge overlooks awe-inspiring dunes and stony outcrops – an unspoiled wilderness of vast spaces, endless horizons and rugged mountains. The Lodge offers luxurious accommodation in 10 free-standing glass and stone villas sympathetically built to the environment and designed to capture the splendour and solitude of the desert with absolute privacy.

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Meet our experts

A passion for travel runs right through every one of our experts - meaning they're always ready with first-hand insight about their specialist countries.

Illona Cross

Born in a small South African town, I have always followed my passion for nature and discovery. After studying Nature Conservation in Pretoria, I was one of the first women to complete a very tough cadetship in the Natal Parks Board. It was here where I cut my teeth in African wildlife management.

Talk with our experts
  • 01285 880 980

Frequently asked questions about Namibia

How does the standard of accommodation in Namibia compare to other countries in Southern Africa?

Is a flying safari a better option than driving?

Is Namibia a good place for bird watching?

Is Namibia a good safari destination?

What is the climate like in Namibia?

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