10 Reasons Why Namibia is a Must-visit in 2023

Where else can you find a sand dune covered in scorched black trees that died 600 years ago? Sand that is five million years old? Zebras wandering past your swimming pool? 

All this and more is in Namibia, one of the world’s most dramatic and unforgettable adventure travel destinations.

Climb a red star dune 

Clear blue skies contrasting with powder-soft, rolling red dunes make Sossusvlei’s fascinating and surrealistic landscapes one of the most photographed places in Subsaharan Africa.

The dunes of the Namib Desert were created by sand carried by the wind from the coast of Namibia – so, that sand is five million years old! In the evening light, the floor of the Sossusvlei salt pan has been described as a “moonscape,” and is truly a sight to behold.

*Sossusvlei Lodge offers easy access to the towering sand dunes, the famous clay pan of Sossusvlei, the scorched black trees of Dead Vlei, and the remarkable depths of the Sesriem Canyon.   

Walk a dead marsh punctuated by 600-year old dead trees

Deadvlei (“Dead Marsh”) is a photographic wonder punctuated by the dramatic skeletons of blackened, dead acacia trees, which are believed to have died from lack of water some 600–700 years ago, yet are still standing!

Explore the largest ship cemetery in the world

Namibia has several thousand shipwrecked vessels strewn across its vast coastline, with several of them clearly visible. This bleakly-beautiful and visually-stunning area is one of the world’s most unusual coastal wildernesses.

 

 

Rock the rock art of Stone Age hunter-gatherers 

One of the largest and most important concentrations of Stone Age rock art in Africa can be found in the spectacularly scenic Twyfelfontein area. It’s a fantastic experience to stroll the ancient Aba-Huab riverbed while looking at ancient paintings, and learning about the sacred ritual sites of the traditional hunter-gatherer communities.

 Spot a Spotted Hyena

Also known as the laughing hyena, this mammal is only one of 100+ species of mammals you’ll see in Etosha National Park, but it may well be the most memorable: the hyena’s far-carrying whoop is the very essence of a night in the African bush. Now you really know you’re in Africa!

Fun fact: Female spotted hyenas are substantially more aggressive than males and are socially dominant to males, as well as being ten percent larger! You go, girl…

Experience the ultimate in “safari chic” 

Onguma Tented Camp is a study in contrast. The ultimate in “safari chic,” sophistication and earthiness co-exist in this luxurious camp. Textures such as stone, suede, linen, and steel create a setting that is sleek and modern but inherently of the earth. 

Expect elegant lamp-lit dining on a deck overlooking the watering hole only about 60 meters away! And when things heat up, stroll to the rim-flow pool and order an ice-cold cooler.  You won’t need any desert-hued Instagram filters for your photos: it’s all-natural… 

Experience “The Place You Don’t Want to Leave”

This could apply to almost every aspect of our adventurous Private Guided Namibia Safari! However, Onguma – appropriately – means “the place you don’t want to leave” in the Herero language. Bordering Fisher’s Pan wetlands, Onguma Game Reserve is one of Namibia’s must-sees, with over 34,000 hectares of protected land scattered with wildlife including plains game, black rhino, kudu, giraffe, zebra, lion, cheetah, leopard, and thousands of local and migrating birds. 

 

 

Stop off at your local watering hole

No, not the local brewpub kind… 

Watering holes play a big role in Namibia and are the perfect spots to view wildlife from a distance. Camps like Onguma Tented Camp and Mowani safari camp have their own elephant watering holes for the dozen or so “regulars” who visit the camps, as do the parks on our private guided Namibia safari. And, yes, you can sip a beer from the deck while viewing the local “holes.”

Become a Black Rhino Guardian

With rhino horns now reaching $60,000 per kilo, poaching is a huge problem. As custodians of Onguma nature reserve, Onguma Tented Camp is committed to helping and protecting the wildlife, perhaps most importantly the highly-endangered Black Rhino. The company has a well-trained, fully equipped Anti-Poaching Unit patrolling their 34,000-hectare private nature reserve, day and night. So, visiting Onguma is not just about experiencing wildlife, but contributing to the protection of these beautiful horned creatures. *Yes, rhinos are beautiful, if you squint a little!

Go bolder with boulders

In the heat, dust, and stunning boulder-covered landscapes of Damaraland, there is a sanctuary: Mowani Mountain Camp. Dwarfed by massive ochre boulders, the eco-tourist camp is absorbed into the landscape of this red-soiled prehistoric land. A stay in your luxurious thatched hut will feel a miracle. Even the outdoor bush baths and showers boast a gorgeous view! The camp is very involved in conservation and energy-reduction efforts, as well, supporting desert elephants (who regularly drop into the camp’s watering hole) and a scientific desert lion project.