As a top safari destination in Namibia, visiting the Namib Desert should be on every traveller’s bucket list. With its vast desert landscapes and iconic ochre-colored dunes, the Namib Desert isn’t just one of the most beautiful deserts on the planet – it’s a mysterious place with plenty in store for nature lovers. The Namib is believed to have been dry for no less than 55 million years. This beautiful desert is in fact the largest desert on earth – it is certainly the oldest. The desert attracts thousands of travelers every year, making it an iconic attraction around the world.

Related: A self-guided tour is the best way to see Namibia

Visit the Namib Desert

The Namib is an arid region stretching 1,900 kilometers along the Atlantic coast of Africa from Namibe, Angola, through Namibia to the Olifants River in the Western Cape Province of South Africa. South. The Namib Desert is nearly uninhabited except for a few towns scattered across the desert – no wonder its name, taken from the Nama language, translates to “area where there is nothing”. The Namib Desert has two distinct seasons; the rainy and dry seasons, although the region receives only half an inch of rain each year. Wild desert animals are easy to spot during the dry season (May-September) as they flock to waterholes to drink water (they depend on it for survival). During the rainy season, desert plants revitalize, bringing life to desert animals and birds.

Where to stay

The desert camp

Visitors wishing to explore the Sossusvlei can stay at Desert Camp, offering travelers budget accommodation with catering services. This beautiful camp is in the Namib Naukluft Park and is the gateway to Sossusvlei. From the camp’s refreshing swimming pool, one can enjoy the view of the breathtaking landscape of the Namib Desert. There is a bar in the camp, where travelers can have an ice cold beer to help them relax. You can order and have food delivered to your room. Head to the nearby Sossusvlei Lodge Adventure Center – book and enjoy other exciting activities. Staying in the desert will give travelers an unforgettable safari experience as they can explore Sossusvlei at their leisure.

Sossusvlei Lodge

For the ultimate Namib Desert safari experience, stay at Sossusvlei Lodge and enjoy an amazing opportunity to enjoy some of the desert’s most breathtaking landscapes. Located right at the entrance to Namib Naukluft Park, this lodge allows visitors to explore the best of Namibia, including direct access to the black scorched trees of Dead Vlei, the most popular pan of Sossusvlei and Sesriem Canyon. . This is where visitors can get the most incredible views of the Namib Desert landscapes.

Woledans Dunes Camp

This camp offers travelers accommodation in safari tents, beautiful excursions and meals in the bush while enjoying the feeling of the wildest wilderness in Africa. The camp is located in the NamibRand nature reserve in Sossusvlei, and the tents are structured on wooden sites, giving visitors a breathtaking view of the beauty of this reserve. Visitors can explore the reserve and have the chance to spot wildlife adapted to desert life on game drives. Travelers can also take part in hot air balloon rides, scenic flights, bush walks, and cultural safaris to experience the way of life of the locals.

Hoodia Desert Lodge

In this magnificent lodge, visitors have access to comfortable accommodation and quality services. From here travelers can explore the famous dunes of Sossusvlei and enjoy the spectacular views. Visitors staying here can feel right at home as they are allowed to communicate all their needs. Enjoy a hike in the Naukluft Mountains and stunning views of Sossusvlei in a hot air balloon from above.

Top Tourist Attractions in the Namib Desert

The oldest desert in the world boasts a desolate but beautiful skeletal coastline landscape, wildlife uniquely adapted to desert nature, dunes, some of which are the largest on the planet, and other breathtaking natural attractions .

Skeleton Coast National Park

This national park features rough waters as well as inaccessible shores. The San community called him “The Earth God created in anger”. Not to mention its nature, this place is a beautiful destination made up of stunning natural formations. Photographers would love to be here. Some epic attractions around this place include the Hoarasib Clay Castles, the Agape Mountain Salt Pans, and the large colony of Cape Fur Seals located at Cape Fria. This place is ideal for travelers who like to surf and watch the stars and the moon.

Related: 20 beautiful photos of Namibia’s Skeleton Coast

Swakopmund

This beautiful seaside town sits right in the middle of the Namib Desert. It’s a perfect place to relax after spending a few days exploring the desert. It is the second largest city in Namibia and features cool temperatures all year round. It’s an epic vacation destination and offers plenty of opportunities for adventure, including sports, pubs to entertain, quaint structures, and typical German restaurants to sample delicacies. There are so many activities visitors can enjoy here, including shark fishing, sandboarding, dune karting, hot air ballooning, and quad biking. For visitors looking for less dangerous pursuits, take advantage of the town’s fine attractions – Cape Cross Seal Colony, National Marine Aquarium and the Rossmund Desert Golf Course.

Sossusvlei

The clay pans found here are worth exploring. With over 300m high red dunes with endless rolling shapes, Sossusvlei is the most spectacular attraction, making it a wonderful destination. This place would provide endless opportunities for photography enthusiasts, especially in the mornings and evenings. Sossusvlei means “dead-end mash”, a name it got for being the place where all the dunes come together, preventing the Tsauchab River from flowing any further. The shade formed by the thorny trees found in this area has white and black Oryx antelopes. Travelers can spot these beautiful animals here. One can also observe and follow the tiny trails of lizards left on the sand. Springbok and ostriches thrive in this stunning environment.

The Namib Desert has a lot to offer travelers. Its landscapes are a combination of beauty and mystery – something worth exploring.

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