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Why Go on a Namibia Safari?

Explore One of the Oldest Deserts on Earth

The Namib Desert is known as the ‘Living Desert’, sandwiched between the coastal towns of Swakopmund and Luderitz, and is one of the largest conservation areas in the world. The word ‘Namib’ translates to ‘vast’ in the local language. This dreamlike desert landscape is the undisputed draw card of Namibia. 

Superb, Year-round Game Viewing

Although Namibia’s captivating desert landscapes may feel mercilessly harsh, they are rich in wildlife, managing to shelter populations of Africa’s most icon wildlife. Desert-adapted elephants are found digging in dry riverbeds to extract water and desert-adapted black rhino and lions roam the landscape.

One-of-a-Kind Experiences

Adventure down the Orange River white water-rafting, gain fascinating cultural insights into the San Bushmen, and the Himba people and hike through the craggy Fish River Canyon - the world’s second largest canyon following the Grand Canyon in the USA. Namibia is the place for experiences found nowhere else in the world. 

Exclusive Lodges & Camps

Ranging from luxury safari lodges on the edge of the celebrated Etosha National Park to tented camps in the Namib Desert and modern city hotels, accommodation in Namibia is as varied as the destination itself. Many of the Namibia lodges are aware of the environmental fragility of their spectacular locations and minimise their impact wherever possible.

Quick & Easy Air Transfers

Namibia is an amazing self-drive destination but if you want to splurge and see Namibia’s spectacular landscapes from the air, then flying between your accommodations by light aircraft is the way to go. This costs much more than driving but frees up much more of your time: a drive of several hours is radically condensed, giving you more time to enjoy the lodges, go on game drives or see the sights.

Convenient Add-ons

Frequent flights and accessibility make it easy to combine your Namibia safari with other spectacular destinations like South Africa, Botswana and Victoria Falls. Pair a safari with a beach vacation by visiting Cape Town’s beaches or continue on exploring the wilds of Africa with a Kruger safari.

The Kruger

South Africa’s biggest and best-known national park is home to the country's greatest diversity of animals and exquisite safari lodges on private game reserves. As one of the oldest conservation areas in Africa, it boasts healthy populations of wildlife and highly sought-after sightings of cheetah and wild dog. But the Kruger’s pièce de résistance is the almost guaranteed encounter with the super-celebrities of the safari circuit: Africa’s iconic Big 5.

Dry Season: 

May–Oct

The dry winter season is considered the best time to go to Kruger for game viewing. Vegetation is low and sparse, making animals easier to spot and follow, and wildlife will not move far from remaining water sources at this time of year. It’s a very comfortable time for a safari with few mosquitoes around, little if any rain, and pleasant temperatures.

Highlights

• Luxurious lodges with spas, gyms, private pools and star-beds

• 5-star service and exquisite cuisine – some of the best safari food in Africa

• Virtual guarantee to see all the Big 5

Green Season:

Nov–Apr 

The summer’s afternoon thundershowers transform the Kruger into a beautiful, thriving green landscape that makes for superb photography. Game viewing is still good – with many young summer-born animals around it's a predator's paradise – and it's the best time to visit the Kruger for bird watching plus safari-and-beach holiday combinations.

Top Safari Destinations in Namibia

Consider Adding …

Kaokoveld 

Kaokoveld is where the famous ochre-painted Himba people have long made their home. Kaokoveld is perhaps Africa’s last true wilderness, a wild, sun-soaked and remote region that invites you to discover how life can thrive in seemingly impossible conditions. There are only a handful of lodges in this area, making it an exclusive experience.

Swakopmund

Windhoek is one of Africa’s favourite capital cities and its central location and international airport makes it an ideal base from which to begin or end a safari adventure. The city’s centre has bustling shops and market stalls and there is a strong café culture where you can keep a look out for Herero women in their traditional dress.

Windhoek

Swakopmund is a seaside holiday town that blends its German colonial heritage with an unmistakable African character. It is often blanketed by early morning sea fog and this is where the Namib Desert meets Namibia’s Atlantic coast. It offers easy excursions into the desert landscape and is noted for being a perfect stop-over and stock-up destination.

When To Go

Days

Etosha, Damaraland & Sossusvlei

THE EXPERIENCE:

Flying between destinations, this safari packs the best of Namibia into 10 well-paced days. Dramatic and enchanting, this exhilarating journey will take you from the wildlife haven of Etosha to the rugged landscapes of Damaraland before unveiling the ancient Namib Desert.

Start off with thrilling wildlife encounters in the harshly beautiful yet game-rich environment of Etosha, a place where a multitude of animals gather in great numbers at waterholes and big cats prowl. Super-rare black rhino and desert-adapted elephants are the main draw card in Damaraland whereas in the south of the country, you will discover incredible dune landscapes at Sossusvlei and look for fascinating desert wildlife in the enigmatic NamibRand Nature Reserve.

Namibia Safari Trip Ideas

Private Guided Namibia

THE EXPERIENCE:

You are hosted by an experienced guide with vast knowledge of Namibia. Lodges range from comfortable to luxurious, and are located on private concessions to allow you to have an exclusive experience.

First is Sossusvlei where you can walk on top of iconic red dunes and experience the night sky from a star bed. The adventure continues to Swakopmund for a beach picnic and to see the abundant marine life of the Atlantic. Travel up the Skeleton Coast and marvel at shipwrecks, old ruins and unique plant life. As you move into the plains of Damaraland, savannah animals like ostrich, jackal and antelope are joined by desert specialists like black rhino, zebra, giraffe, elephants and predators like cheetah, hyena and leopard.

Consider Adding… 

Here are some of our best packages, all completely customisable to your requirements and travel wishes:

This trip is perfect for couples or honeymooners. Each accommodation on this safari is an elegant tented camp with facilities such as swimming pools, spa treatments and private dining. The distances between destinations are taken care of by short flights, enabling you to enjoy as much time on safari as possible. You can look forward to a unique rhino tracking adventure and seeking out the Special 5 – Beisa oryx, reticulated giraffe, Grevy’s zebra, long-neck gerenuk and Somali ostrich – in Samburu, plus incredible game viewing in private conservancies along the Masai Mara. 

Days

The Kruger

South Africa’s biggest and best-known national park is home to the country's greatest diversity of animals and exquisite safari lodges on private game reserves. As one of the oldest conservation areas in Africa, it boasts healthy populations of wildlife and highly sought-after sightings of cheetah and wild dog. But the Kruger’s pièce de résistance is the almost guaranteed encounter with the super-celebrities of the safari circuit: Africa’s iconic Big 5.

Dry Season: 

May–Oct

The dry winter season is considered the best time to go to Kruger for game viewing. Vegetation is low and sparse, making animals easier to spot and follow, and wildlife will not move far from remaining water sources at this time of year. It’s a very comfortable time for a safari with few mosquitoes around, little if any rain, and pleasant temperatures.

Highlights

• Luxurious lodges with spas, gyms, private pools and star-beds

• 5-star service and exquisite cuisine – some of the best safari food in Africa

• Virtual guarantee to see all the Big 5

Green Season:

Nov–Apr 

The summer’s afternoon thundershowers transform the Kruger into a beautiful, thriving green landscape that makes for superb photography. Game viewing is still good – with many young summer-born animals around it's a predator's paradise – and it's the best time to visit the Kruger for bird watching plus safari-and-beach holiday combinations.

Rates generally depend on timing (i.e. key travel seasons like holidays) and level of luxury (the type of amenities and exclusivity). As a guideline, South Africa safaris can range anywhere from approximately 450 USD per person per night in low season to over 1 550 USD at the finest lodges in high season.

How Much is a 
South Africa  Safari?

How Much is a Namibia Safari?

Rates generally depend on timing (i.e key travel seasons like holidays) and level of luxury (the type of amenities and exclusivity). As a guideline, Namibia safaris can range anywhere from approximately 450 USD per person per night in low season to over 1650 USD at the finest lodges in high season.

Rates generally depend on timing (i.e key travel seasons like holidays) and level of luxury (the type of amenities and exclusivity). As a guideline, Namibia safaris can range anywhere from approximately 450 USD per person per night in low season to over 1650 USD at the finest lodges in high season.

What Costs are Included?

Most accommodations are all-inclusive; all your meals, snacks, beverages, alcohol (with some exceptions) are part of your room rate. In addition, your game drives, and other excursions will all be included. To operate in such remote areas at such a high level of hospitality, it takes some serious logistics and often means guest-to-staff ratios of more than 5 to 1. Not to mention many accommodations offer services like laundry, so you can pack light and travel easy.

The only things you’ll have to pay for are special activities (like hot-air balloon rides and spa treatments) and, in some cases, imported spirits. Beyond that, just gratuities for the incredible staff who will make your stay at each lodge so memorable.

How Much is a Namibia Safari?

Why Travel With Go2Africa

We are African

Based in Cape Town, our team of experts are all born and raised in Africa. We spend our own holidays on safari, and understand what goes into making every trip a once in a life-time experience.

We have first-hand knowledge of every single destination, lodge and activity we recommend. We spend more than 365 days a year on safari to ensure you get the best, unbiased advice.

We are safari experts

Our size and trusted relationships with Africa’s top operators gives us access to the best possible rates. If you find a better quote for your itinerary, let us know and we’ll match it.

Our best price promise

Your money stays in Africa

 As an African company, we ensure 100% of the money from your safari stays in Africa, supporting local communities and conservation projects, making a difference long after you return home.

24/7 On-safari support

Book with us and we’ll be alongside you from our first chat, offering 24/7 assistance and local know-how from the right time zone, whenever you need it.

Why Travel with Go2Africa

Complete financial protection

Your money is safe with us. All our clients are protected by our supplier default insurance and our accreditation bond with the Southern Africa Tourism Services Association.

We are African

Based in Cape Town, our team of experts are all born and raised in Africa. We spend our own holidays on safari, and understand what goes into making every trip a once in a life-time experience.

We are safari experts

We have first-hand knowledge of every single destination, lodge and activity we recommend. We spend more than 365 days a year on safari to ensure you get the best, unbiased advice.

Our best price promise

We have first-hand knowledge of every single destination, lodge and activity we recommend. We spend more than 365 days a year on safari to ensure you get the best, unbiased advice.

Your money stays in Africa

 As an African company, we ensure 100% of the money from your safari stays in Africa, supporting local communities and conservation projects, making a difference long after you return home.

24/7 On-safari support

Book with us and we’ll be alongside you from our first chat, offering 24/7 assistance and local know-how from the right time zone, whenever you need it.

Complete financial protection

Your money is safe with us. All our clients are protected by our supplier default insurance and our accreditation bond with the Southern Africa Tourism Services Association.

What Our Clients Say

Top Safari Destinations in Namibia

Deep in the Namib Desert is one of Africa’s most magical destinations, the Sossusvlei. Renowned for its red sand dunes - some of the tallest on the planet - it makes an extraordinary centrepiece to this extraordinary ocean of sand. The Namib has many surprises and when you make your base here, you will discover ancient wildlife secrets and be enthralled by this hauntingly beautiful landscape. Photographic opportunities are plentiful, particularly at dawn and sunset. 

Namib Desert & Sossusvlei 

One of Africa’s biggest and famed conservation areas, Etosha National Park is in Namibia’s far north and is dominated by its huge salt pan. It is an unmissable wildlife destination and along with herds of springbok, zebra and blue wildebeest, you’ll see the likes of the heavy hitter’s elephants, lions and cheetah. The park has also been dubbed the best place in Africa to see black rhino and a host or rare and interesting species. 

Etosha National Park

An inland region of Namibia with rugged mountains, gravel plains and flash-flood rivers, Damaraland is where to go for exceptional scenic beauty. In the day, the views are breath-taking and at night, the sky glows with countless stars. Intimate lodges in Damaraland are tucked away in exclusive locations and this is a hotspot for ancient Bushmen art and geological oddities. 

Damaraland

Battered shipwrecks litter the beaches of the Skeleton Coast National Park and it’s how Namibia’s far northern shoreline has gotten its name. It is a genuine off-the-beaten track destination for anyone looking for complete isolation, tranquillity while staying in exclusive lodges. Most of the Skeleton Coast falls under the protection of the national park and the sweeping vistas of desert, ocean and sky are quite a sight to behold. 

Skeleton Coast

Highlights

• Crowd-free game viewing, nature walks and off-road game drives in private game reserves

• Custom-made safaris for every traveller type – from families and honeymooners

• Incredible year-round game viewing, especially predators

• The Great Wildebeest Migration (December to October)

Consider Adding … 

Kaokoveld

Kaokoveld is where the famous ochre-painted Himba people have long made their home. Kaokoveld is perhaps Africa’s last true wilderness, a wild, sun-soaked and remote region that invites you to discover how life can thrive in seemingly impossible conditions. There are only a handful of lodges in this area, making it an exclusive experience.

Swakopmund

Swakopmund is a seaside holiday town that blends its German colonial heritage with an unmistakable African character. It is often blanketed by early morning sea fog and this is where the Namib Desert meets Namibia’s Atlantic coast. It offers easy excursions into the desert landscape and is noted for being a perfect stop-over and stock-up destination.

Windhoek

Windhoek is one of Africa’s favourite capital cities and its central location and international airport makes it an ideal base from which to begin or end a safari adventure. The city’s centre has bustling shops and market stalls and there is a strong café culture where you can keep a look out for Herero women in their traditional dress.

When to Go

Dry Season:

The dry season runs from May to October and these winter months are widely regarded as the best times to visit Namibia for game viewing, particularly in the Etosha National Park. The skies are clear, the risk of malaria is at its lowest and the animals congregate around precious water sources. You should be prepared though for plummeting temperatures in June and July and hot weather in September and October. 

Green Season:

The summer rains in Namibia from November to April turn the country green and sometimes bring floods to the desert. December is pegged as a rewarding game viewing experience in Etosha National Park, and summer is the best time for bird watching. Predators are active during this season, and you can be sure to have great sightings. 

Days

Etosha, Damaraland & Sossusvlei

Also Consider Kenya

Samburu National Reserve 

Samburu is an arrestingly beautiful, rocky landscape that heralds Kenya’s vast northern deserts. It’s the traditional homeland of the Samburu people and a haven for the unique Special 5: Beisa oryx, reticulated giraffe, Grevy’s zebra, long-neck gerenuk and Somali ostrich.

Laikipia

The high plains of Laikipia are increasingly recognised as one of Kenya’s 
best safari regions. It’s home to some of the country’s most encouraging conservation success stories like Lewa Wildlife Conservancy, a sanctuary 
for black and white rhinos as well as Grevy’s zebra.

Kenya Beaches

Relaxing along Kenya’s dazzling tropical coastline is one of the best ways to crown your safari. From family-friendly resorts to exclusive beach villas, the country’s coastline offers excellent accommodation and superb diving and snorkelling spots.

Namibia Safari Trip Ideas

Here are some of our best packages, 
all completely customisable to your requirements and travel wishes:

THE EXPERIENCE:

Start off with thrilling wildlife encounters in the harshly beautiful yet game-rich environment of Etosha, a place where a multitude of animals gather in great numbers at waterholes and big cats prowl. Super-rare black rhino and desert-adapted elephants are the main draw card in Damaraland whereas in the south of the country, you will discover incredible dune landscapes at Sossusvlei and look for fascinating desert wildlife in the enigmatic NamibRand Nature Reserve.

Days

Private Guided Namibia

THE EXPERIENCE:

You are hosted by an experienced guide with vast knowledge of Namibia. Lodges range from comfortable to luxurious, and are located on private concessions to allow you to have an exclusive experience.

First is Sossusvlei where you can walk on top of iconic red dunes and experience the night sky from a star bed. The adventure continues to Swakopmund for a beach picnic and to see the abundant marine life of the Atlantic. Travel up the Skeleton Coast and marvel at shipwrecks, old ruins and unique plant life. As you move into the plains of Damaraland, savannah animals like ostrich, jackal and antelope are joined by desert specialists like black rhino, zebra, giraffe, elephants and predators like cheetah, hyena and leopard.

10

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Browse our Okavango Delta resources

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Everything is about relationships. Fortunately, we've built great ones working with the top names in Africa for more than 20 years.

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Everything is about relationships. Fortunately, we've built great ones working with the top names in Africa for more than 20 years.