Welcome to my quick Namibia travel guide! I’m Anna – a free spirited world citizen with a massive passion to create. That’s me in a nutshell. Growing up in the center of Europe (Belgium) gave me a huge advantage to travel to many European countries.
Once I got really comfortable with stepping out of my comfort zone I was totally hooked. I was born in Poland, moved to Paris at the age of 18 and lived in Australia for a while. By travelling I discovered so much, not only about other cultures, but also about myself.
To me travel is the most important and timeless investment of knowledge you will ever find. Because let’s face it – is there truly anything more interesting and timeless than exploring the planet we are all coexisting on?
I wanted to visit Namibia because of the accomplished duo of photographers @helloemilie and @jasoncharleshill who actually inspired me to join them on their creative adventure. Namibia feels extremely peaceful and welcoming. It’s one of those off-the-beaten-track destinations where you can literally drive around for hours without seeing a single soul.
The only sound you’ll hear all day is one of your tires hitting the coarse gravel roads. Sounds adventurous, right? Did you know that Namibia is the second least densely populated country in the world with the biggest and oldest sand dunes? I think that’s a very good selling point.
No to mention the rock formations and pristine beaches Namibia has to offer. With almost zero light pollution you will also get the opportunity to enjoy the milky way in the most spectacular way possible.
Namibia Travel Guide: My 10 Day Journey
My 10 day journey kicked off in Namib Naukluft National Park where I got the chance to explore the Sossusvlei including the famous sand dunes. Brace yourself: Sossusvlei is waaay better in real life. Pictures don’t do it justice. It’s hard to comprehend that places like this actually exist.
After a few nights of camping and being woken up by a group of hungry jackals (yikes!) in Sesriem Camp, I visited Swakopmund. This colonial looking gem is nested right between the desert and the sea. It homes a fair amount of flamingos, fresh fish restaurants and seaside promenades. A fantastic, more luxurious place to spend a night or two.
Spitzkoppe, my next destination, showed me a completely different scenario. The 20 million year old massive granite peaks are called ‘The Matterhorn of Namibia’ for a reason. Dramatic, screensaver worthy views guaranteed!
Now, Namibia truly ‘had me’ at wild life. The game drives started in Hobatere at the Etosha National Park. If you haven’t done a safari before, you’re in for a real treat. Picture twenty (if not more!) elephants gathered at the waterhole during sunset or a mama lion feeding three baby cubs. It’s an image straight out of a children’s story book.
One of Namibia’s most cherished attractions are the Twyfelfontein rock engravings found in Damaraland. I found it very interesting to learn more about the ancient tribes and their history while visiting the open air museum.
Favourite Places and Memories on this Journey
Sossusvlei is photography wise the most magical place I have ever seen. I was fortunate enough to experience it for two days and to photograph the dead trees during sunrise, sunset and midday. The light and temperature changes by the hour, creating the most versatile setting to shoot pictures.
By the end of my trip I got to see the place from a helicopter and was literally blown away by its beauty. I would say Sossusvlei along with Spitzkoppe and Etosha National Park are definitely the most memorable places I have visited in Namibia. I highly recommend all three!
My favorite memory of Namibia was meeting the Himba tribe. One of our tour guides grew up in the tribe and introduced us to his family. Talking to the women in particular truly opened my eyes and made me refresh some important key values in life. We need to stop stressing ourselves out by our fast paced and commerce based lifestyles.
The Himba-people clearly live in the now. They don’t possess much but they also don’t pollute their minds by worrying about it. They thrive on human connection and live in harmony with nature. The present lifestyle of the tribe is such an inspiration for all of us. I loved hanging out with them.
The Amazing People of Namibia
Although many Namibians view tourism as their only source of income, they don’t come across as too pushy. On the contrary, the locals take pride in truly delivering outstanding handcrafted (art) work and show genuine gratitude for those who appreciate it.
I have seen a huge contrast in Namibia. The good and the bad, a lot of poverty and sorrow but also a lot of abundance, joy and compassion. Corny as it sounds, it’s always the little moments that stick.
It’s our tour guide carefully storing our leftovers to share with a local farmer. That little boy in a ripped Emirates-Tee smiling from ear to ear after being gifted pencils or a random student at the airport kindly offering me her bag of skittles ‘because your flight got delayed and I wanted to cheer you up.’ It’s been a rollercoaster of emotions and endless gratitude!
Namibia Travel Guide: Key Tips to Remember
Make sure you bring enough layers. It was freezing in the mornings and super hot during the day. For some weird reason my lips were dry all the time, so stacking up on lip balm is not a bad idea.
If you’re bringing your camera gear, make sure you can clean it too. The fine sand and dust can damage your lens and camera sensor. Drones are only allowed in some parts of Namibia, so make sure you do some research before you fly one up. Renting a 4×4 with a removable roof top is a great way to explore this versatile destination.
Thanks for reading my travel guide on Namibia. I hope it has inspired you to visit Africa one day soon!
