Namib Desert

Namibia is a country of remarkable landscapes and hugely contrasting environments. Traditional safari in the green northern half of the country can be combined with desert trekking and boat tours along the skeleton coast. It is undoubtedly the desert landscape that draws most visitors however. Namibia is the most arid country south of the Sahara and is the location of the world’s oldest desert with its flowing sand dunes and rocky landscapes. Despite being four times the size of Britain the country had just fewer than 2 million inhabitants making it the ideal refuge for those seeking peace and solitude.

Things to do
Weather
Self Drive
The Dunehopper

BAOBAB trips to Namibia can be arranged on a tailor-made and self-drive basis. Please examine the accommodation guide for a choice of hotels and guesthouses with guideline prices and itineraries and then contact us for a precise quote for your chosen holiday (or for further assistance to help you make up your mind!!).

Things to do

Namib Desert: The entire length of Namibia’s coastline is occupied by the sandy dunes of the Namib Desert. As well as the dramatic beauty of the landscape the desert also hosts a complex ecology with surprisingly large populations of oryx, zebra, ostrich, jackal and antelope. The best place to combine the splendour of the desert with wildlife is the Namib Naukluft national park – the fourth largest national park in the world.

Sossuvlei: No visit to the Namib Desert is complete without an excursion to Sossuvlei. Here in one of the world’s most photographed spots is the classic image of a petrified forest contrasted between the flowing mountains of bright red sand. It is possible to walk along the dune ridges to view the site from an elevated position before dropping into the basin of white clay and gnarled tree trunks.

Balloon Flights: One of the best ways to view the spectacular sand dunes and rocky outcrops of the desert is from the air. Balloon flights are possible from various locations across the Namib Desert with the area close to Sossuvlei being a particular highlight. The flights depart very early in the morning to make the most of the dawn sunlight as it streaks across the dunes. Each flight finishes with a champagne breakfast inside the national park.

Weather
The Namibian summer is October through to April and temperatures during this time can easily reach in excess of 35 degrees centigrade inland. The winter period is much cooler and is also drier as the rain that does fall is experienced during summer. There is less than 50 mm annual rainfall along the coast but the cool currents can produce cloudy days and foggy evenings.

Self Drive
Namibia is an extremely safe country in which to drive. Main roads are well surfaced and good quality road signs are present. Namibia drives on the left which is ideal for visitors from Britain. There is very little traffic outside of the main towns and you can drive for many miles without encountering another vehicle. Be aware however that distances are sometimes huge between the main tourist sites and you should not be tempted to visit too many sites in a short period of time as you will spend most of the day driving. Our consultants would be pleased to suggest an appropriate itinerary for your trip.

The Deserthopper
Although Namibia is best toured by car due to the high quality of the countries road network the desert landscape is best viewed from the air. We recommend travelling between Swakupmund and lodges in the Namib Naukluft national park by the Dunehopper scenic flights. The flight from Swakupmund to the Sossuvlei region is just over an hour and the plane hugs the shifting dunes below to give you a dramatic and unique experience. Scenic flights can also be taken from Wolwedans Lodges in the desert and we would be pleased to add this to your itinerary if desired.

Namibia Desert Accommodation