"Welcome to our curated list of recommendations for traveling in Namibia. These suggestions are personal insights gathered from myself and my team at Timeless Africa Safaris. These recommendations are personally vetted by us, they come highly recommended. Please feel free to add your own favourite spots or share any updates in the comments section below." Marco van Embden, Cape Town
Namibia’s untamed beauty is a land of contrasts—where vast deserts, rugged mountains, and shimmering seascapes create an awe-inspiring backdrop. Home to the world’s oldest desert, its dramatic landscapes and uniquely adapted wildlife make it a dream destination. Whether exploring the fiery dunes of Sossusvlei, spotting game in Etosha, or soaking in Windhoek’s cultural vibrancy, every journey is infused with adventure. The best time to visit is during the dry winter months of May to October, ideal for wildlife viewing, though nights can be chilly. Light summer rains from November to March bring bursts of greenery, while mid-summer heat varies across regions. With 300 days of sunshine a year, Namibia promises unforgettable experiences, whatever the season.
1. Tour Operator Recommendation
Marco van Embden owns a great tour operator based in Cape Town South Africa, Timeless Africa Safaris with expertise in 15 African countries: Namibia, Kenya, Tanzania, Rwanda, Botswana, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Mozambique, Madagascar, Malawi, South Africa, Uganda, Republic of Congo, Mauritius and Seychelles.
Timeless Africa Safaris is a family business with Marco’s eldest daughter, Casey, being involved in the business for the past twelve years. The team truly understands the YPO philosophy – many of the travel managers have fostered relationships with local and international YPO’ers through the personal and/or family trips curated for them, their friends and their Forums as well as Intl YPO chapter visits to South Africa. These YPO’ers have become ambassadors for the work that Timeless Africa Safaris does in Africa, spreading their positive – and often life-changing – experiences with future YPO travellers.
There are a lot of good people out there, doing great work in bringing travellers to Africa. The most important thing is that you come to our magnificent continent which greatly relies on foreign travellers to support the communities and the wildlife.
2. Best Time to Go to Namibia
- Peak Season: May - October
- Mid Season: April, November, December
- Rainy Season: January - March
The dry winter months of May to October are considered best times for visiting Namibia. This is particularly good for game viewing in Etosha. Mid-winter, the morning and nights however can get very cold. There are light summer rains between November and March which turn parts of the country lush and green. It is very hot mid-summer. It varies though considerably from region to region.
3. Access to Namibia
Typically involves flying to Hosea Kutako International Airport (Windhoek), located near the city, via a number of cities in Europe, the Middle East, or Johannesburg and Cape Town, South Africa. Walvis Bay is an alternative hub, accessed from Johannesburg or Cape Town.
Considering its vastness, getting around in Namibia depends on how much time you have, you budget and travel style: self-drive, guided safaris and fly-in safaris.
4. Insights on Namibia
- Known to the indigenous Nama San people as ‘The Land God Made in Anger’, featuring devastatingly beautiful, rugged scenery, Namibia is an amazing destination to escape normal life and rewild your soul.
- Namibia offers spectacular stargazing and astronomy experiences, from the heart of Dark Sky Reserves, thanks to its small human population and swathes of remote, untouched desert landscapes.
- If you’re a fitness lover, Namibia is a wonderful destination for trail runs, surfing, horse riding, mountain biking or river rafting down the Orange River in season.
- Expand your cultural horizons when you meet local Himba, Herero, San or Demara tribes. We can also arrange for you to spend time with astronomers and conservation experts to add depth to your experience.
- For encounters with Namibia’s wildlife that have adapted to harsh environments, visit Etosha to see the desert lion, desert elephant, oryx, kudu, springbok and rhino.
- A hot air balloon ride over Sossusvlei – an incredible landscape of red dunes, dried out trees and harsh white pans – will etch the spirit of Namibia into your mind as you take in her unique landscapes from above.
- Namibia is an adventurer’s delight: quad biking, sand boarding, horse-riding, rafting and more.
5. Marco’s Activities Recommendations
- Hot Air Balloon Flight over the Sossusvlei Dunes, followed by Champagne Breakfast amongst the dunes
- Climb Dune 45, aka Big Daddy, one of the wrldat 325 meters high
- Take a moment to be still in the surreal Dead Vlei
- Searching for the mysterious 'Fairy Circles’ in the Namib Naukluft Park
- Tracking remarkable Desert Adapted wildlife
- Visit Twyfelfontein, a UNESCO World Heritage Site with ancient rock engravings
- Learn about the Herero and Himba people’s way of life
- The NamibRand Nature Reserve is a certified Dark Sky Reserve, where on a clear night, with telescopes and guided observatory experiences, you can witness one of the most spectacular night skies on Earth — a glittering canopy of stars, planets, and constellations stretching across the desert horizon.
- Discover the fascinating history behind the mysterious shipwrecks that line Namibia’s coastline, best experienced on a scenic flight over this dramatic and rugged shore.
6. Marco’s Top Accommodation Recommendations
7. Trip Inspiration
4-Night Men's Forum Retreat in Swakopmund
This action-packed retreat in Namibia’s coastal playground blends adventure, camaraderie, and indulgence. Stay at Strand Hotel Swakopmund, where ocean views set the stage for an unforgettable journey.
Savour craft brews, coffee, and local delicacies on the West Coast Bites & Brews Tour before diving into adrenaline-pumping quad biking and sandboarding through desert landscapes. Cycle through Swakopmund’s historic streets on a Fat Bike City Tour, then unwind in the surreal Moon Landscape with sundowners and fresh oysters.
Wrap up the adventure with a marine cruise in Walvis Bay, spotting dolphins and seals, followed by a 4x4 expedition to Sandwich Harbour’s towering dunes. With vibrant experiences and breathtaking scenery, this retreat is the perfect blend of thrill and relaxation.
15-Night Wildlife, Culture and Landscapes of Namibia
This incredible safari blended Namibia’s breathtaking landscapes, rich culture, and thrilling wildlife encounters. Sharon, Yuval, and their teenagers explored the iconic Sossusvlei dunes, soaring over the desert in a hot air balloon and sleeping beneath a brilliant starry sky.
In Swakopmund, adventure took centre stage with quad biking, sandboarding, and kayaking alongside playful seals. Their journey continued along the Skeleton Coast, where shipwrecks and vast seal colonies set a dramatic scene before heading into Damaraland to uncover ancient rock art.
The safari peaked in Etosha, with game drives through private reserves offering intimate encounters with Africa’s Big Five. The adventure concluded with scenic landscapes and unforgettable wildlife moments before heading back home, enriched by Namibia’s wild beauty.
8. Destinations Namibia Pairs Well With
Botswana - direct flights between Windhoek and Maun. Combine Namibia’s stark desert beauty and wide-open spaces with Botswana’s lush waterways and wildlife in the Okavango Delta.
South Africa – connect to either Cape Town or Johannesburg for city life, winelands, food, culture, and of course incredible Wildlife Reserves a short flight away. From South Africa, you can extend to anywhere in Southern and East Africa.
9. Namibia Key Regions
Namibia’s remote and rugged landscapes stretch across vast deserts and dramatic coastlines, offering an extraordinary mix of wildlife, adventure, and cultural heritage.
- Etosha National Park is a premier safari destination, home to an incredible diversity of wildlife, including Africa’s Big Five, best experienced on game drives through its expansive plains.
- Skeleton Coast is a hauntingly beautiful stretch of coastline, where shipwrecks and wild desert landscapes create an eerie yet mesmerising contrast.
- Sossusvlei, The NamibRand and Namib Naukluft National Park boast towering red dunes, with sunrise and sunset revealing a surreal, colour-shifting landscape perfect for photography and exploration.
- Windhoek, Namibia’s capital, blends German and African influences with a lively atmosphere, offering a cultural gateway to the country’s diverse experiences.
- Damaraland is one of Namibia’s most scenic regions, with rugged mountains, ancient rock art, and a chance to spot the rare desert-adapted elephants.
- Kaokoland is a remote and untamed wilderness, home to the Himba people, prehistoric welwitschia plants, and fascinating desert wildlife.
- Swakopmund, the adventure capital of Namibia, combines German charm with thrilling activities like quad biking, sandboarding, and marine excursions along the Skeleton Coast.
Zambezi Region (previously Caprivi Strip) is a lush, tropical area with rivers and wetlands, rich in wildlife and birdlife.
