Top Attraction 1
Etosha National Park. Namibia’s premier safari destination, centred on the immense Etosha Pan, offers top game viewing, with lion, elephant and rhino likely to be seen alongside the endemic black-faced impala. Activity peaks in the dry southern winter, when herds of ungulates converge on the waterholes. For more information, click here.
Clare Louise Thomas/Apa Publications
Top Attraction 2
Sossusvlei. This most iconic of Namibian dunescapes, set in the vast Namib-Naukluft Park, is stunning on any occasion, and on the rare occasions when the vlei fills with water it is nothing short of breathtaking. The short walk to Dead Vlei, its cracked floor punctuated with ancient tree trunks, is a must for all photographers. For more information, click here.
Clare Louise Thomas/Apa Publications
Top Attraction 3
Fish River Canyon. One of the world’s most expansive gorges, this highlight of southern Namibia is breathtaking when viewed from the rim, and even more dramatic if you walk to the floor (an option available to pre-booked hikers only). For more information, click here.
Clare Louise Thomas/Apa Publications
Top Attraction 4
Waterberg Plateau Park. Ideally suited to those who enjoy looking for wildlife on foot, this park is home to giraffe, white rhino, leopard, buffalo and antelope such as roan, sable, eland and kudu; while birds here include eagles and vultures. For more information, click here.
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Top Attraction 5
Caprivi Strip. Studded with reserves and national parks, this area offers some superb game viewing in an environment that is refreshingly moist compared to the rest of the country. For more information, click here.
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Top Attraction 6
Quiver Tree Forest. This cluster of ancient-looking tree-sized aloes, sprouting amid a field of massive volcanic boulders known as the Giants’ Playground, is other-worldly. For more information, click here.
Clare Louise Thomas/Apa Publications
Top Attraction 7
Cape Cross. An unforgettable highlight of the Skeleton Coast north of Swakopmund, Namibia’s largest colony of Cape fur seals assaults visitors on most sensory fronts – sight, sound and smell. For more information, click here.
Clare Louise Thomas/Apa Publications
Top Attraction 8
Twyfelfontein. A fantastic collection of prehistoric rock art – mostly engravings but also paintings, some of them up to 5,000 years old – can be observed in situ in this scenic valley west of Khorixas. For more information, click here.
Clare Louise Thomas/Apa Publications
Top Attraction 9
Swakopmund. This is the most appealing town in Namibia and the closest thing to a beach resort, with strong European roots, Art Nouveau architecture and plentiful street cafés. The town and environs hold many sightseeing possibilities and activities. For more information, click here.
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Top Attraction 10
Welwitschia Drive. This self-drive trail through western Namib-Naukluft is home to the bizarre Welwitschia, a desert conifer that grows just two immense leaves and has a lifespan of more than 100 years, alongside fragile lichen communities that rely on coastal fog to fulfil their liquid requirements! For more information, click here.
Clare Louise Thomas/Apa Publications