A wild and wonderful tailor-made Namibia safari holiday can include remote sand dunes, the famous Skeleton Coast, and unique game reserves.

Few destinations in Africa, and indeed anywhere in the world, capture the imagination like Namibia. The country is dominated by the seemingly endless sands of the Namib and Kalahari deserts, home to a wonderful range of experiences as well as a huge variety of wildlife.

Only Mongolia and Greenland have lower population densities than Namibia, which means you’ll pass few people once you leave Windhoek. This is wilderness at its finest and travelling here can be an other-worldly experience, punctuated by a wonderful atmosphere of fun and camaraderie at the few lodges you’ll find dotted across the country.

The quaint Germanic capital, Windhoek, sits roughly at the centre of the country, making it the perfect start and end point for almost all luxury Namibia holidays. There is an excellent network of tarred, gravel and dirt roads, making it a great destination for self-drivers, with the majority of visitors choosing to explore under their own steam, although some excellent guides are available and flying safaris are also a possibility.

Most visitors leave Windhoek after a one-night stay and head north, sometimes breaking the journey in the beautiful Central Highlands before heading up to the Etosha National Park, Namibia’s best wildlife viewing area. Just south of Etosha, the towering rocky kopjes and desert plains of Damaraland are arguably the most beautiful part of the country and the rock art sites of Twyfelfontein are well worth a visit too. On the coast the seaside town of Swakopmund feels like it has been stuck in a time warp, making it a charming spot to relax or enjoy plenty of adrenaline activities. The iconic red sand dunes of Sossusvlei and beautiful NamibRand Nature Reserve round off the “circuit” beloved of first-timers to Namibia.

Further South the Fish River Canyon, the second largest canyon in the world, is top of many visitors lists and is especially popular with hikers and kayakers in the cooler winter months. The desert outpost of Aus and quirky coastal town of Luderitz are the ideal starting points to visit extraordinary Kolmanskop, an abandoned diamond mining town and one of Namibia’s most photographed sites. The Western fringes of the Kalahari Desert extend into Namibia and the charming lodges tucked in amongst the gently rolling sea of red sand are superb spots for a little R&R. In the far North-East of Namibia, the country almost comes to an end, before the Caprivi Strip extends like a finger between Angola and Botswana, eventually ending where the Zambezi River begins the final few miles of its journey before crashing over the iconic Victoria Falls.

Trip Spotlight

Classic Namibia Self-Drive

14 Days in Namibia Holidays

Windhoek
Okonjima
Etosha
Damaraland
Swakopmund
Sossusvlei

Classic Namibia self-drive which can be tailored to suit individual requirements

£4,715 ^pp. Learn more

When to go to Namibia

Find out the best time to visit Namibia with our month by month guide.

Best
Good
Mixed

January

Bring your umbrella, it's rainy season. January is mid-summer in Namibia with the possibility of torrential downpours mid afternoon, but with temperatures of 30-35 degrees it tends to be hot and humid.

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February

Similar to January, it is hot and humid with the chance of a downpour in the afternoon.

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March

In March, rainfall starts to decrease and temperatures lower with nights becoming increasingly cool. Although daytime temperatures remain hot reaching up to 30 degrees.

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April

April is predominantly dry and hot, although there can be a couple of sporadic rainy days across the month

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May

Winter is coming. May has little or no rainfall and the humidity is low, in northern regions around Etosha you'll find fresher, greener landscapes with wildlife gathering around depleting watering holes.

If you're looking to tackle the Fish River Canyon Hike this is the best time to visit Namibia.

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June

In June the nights are cold and temperatures can drop below 10 degrees, whilst in the Namib desert it can reach below freezing. There is no chance of rain as the dry season is in full flow.

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July

Visitors in July will experience one of Namibia's coldest months, be sure to pack warm clothing as game drives can be chilly.

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August

Like July, visitors in August will experience one of Namibia's coldest months, be sure to pack warm clothing as game drives can be chilly and night time temperatures can drop below freezing both at the coast and inland.

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