If you’ve never travelled beyond our borders, southern Namibia is an easy, yet beautiful, introduction to travel in Africa.
Roads are mostly well sign-posted and in good nick (even for sedans), people are friendly and English is widely spoken. But travelling here could not feel any further from home. Caramel landscapes and blue-grey skylines give way to burnt red dunes, the serenity occasionally disturbed by a lone car. The solitude and sense of isolation is at times overwhelming. The arid Namib desert is otherwordly.
Earlier this year, I travelled to the area with the Namibia Tourism Board. Here are some of my favourite photos from the trip. (For more pics, travel advice and spots you have to visit while in the south, don’t miss my article in the August issue of Getaway magazine, on shelves now.)
Alternatively, check out some of these affordable Namibia travel packages and if you’re the type who’d rather do it on your own steam, you’ll find a variety of accommodation options from campsites to lodges in Namibia here.
Eagle's Nest cottages at Klein Aus Vista
A popular local beer, Tafel Lager.
Sunrise over Dune 40, Sossusvlei.
Big Daddy's toe, Sossusvlei.
Kolmanskop
Kolmanskop
Sundowners at Klein-Aus Vista.
Game are skittish, blut plentiful.
Canyon Roadhouse is a great stop for a quick, but quirky, lunch.
Fish River Canyon's main viewing point.
Canyon Lodge
Canyon Lodge's chalets are tucked into the rocky hills.
The most beautiful pool in Africa? Canyon Lodge.
Quiver tree
The comical scarecrows at quiver tree forest at Garas Park are made by the locals out of scrap metal.
Solitaire's legendary apple strudel.
Ed’s note
For a country that many perceive to be just diesel and dust, Namibia really is full of surprises. We’ve sent countless journalists and bloggers up the coast and each time they’ve come back with a unique story. Whether it’s exploring NamibRand Nature Reserve: Namibia’s best-kept secret, Sossusvlei: Namibia’s not-so-secret gem, visiting Moose McGregor’s Desert Bakery: Namibia’s pastry oasis or exploring the car graveyards of Namibia you’ll be hard-pressed to find something that hasn’t been covered in Namibia on the Getaway Blog.
Oh, and if you like to keep things concise, here’s a list of our Top 10 things to do in Namibia.
Safe travels,
Tyson
