Getting to Know the 10 Best Natural Attractions of Namibia

Namibia, in southern Africa, shares a border with Botswana, South Africa, and Angola. With around 2.1 million people, the country enjoys a good standard of living. Tourism plays a major role in its economy, and as such, it is a major revenue earner for this African country.

The major asset of this nation is its breathtaking natural beauty from its colorful desert landscapes and rocky formations to wild coasts and spectacular gorges. Its rich cultural heritage and diverse mix of cultures add to the charm of the country, making Namibia a travel destination not to be missed.

Visitors should note that the best way to see the county is to do a land trip to cover the most ground. Hiring a rental car in Namibia is a good option to go around, although there are plenty of organized tours on offer. The roads are quite good and driving should not be a problem. Note that the distances are great between towns. Having a good map is your best bet as there will be areas where the GPS won't work.

Namibia is an all year travel destination but the best time to visit is during the cool, dry, winter period (June-August). The wet season is from December to March, although the country does not receive as much rainfall as other neighboring countries like Angola. From April to June, the weather is pleasant and dry.

From Sesriem, it is 700 kilometers to AIs-Ais, the southernmost point of Namibia. Here, you will see the second biggest canyon in the world, the Fish River Canyon, This is a gruelling and arduous ride but you will be rewarded with amazing sceneries and picturesque landscapes.

If you are staying in Ais-Ais, it is still another 10 kilometers drive to the Canyon. It is also possible to do an aerial tour, hike in the area, or camp. Bring good and comfortable trekking shoes as the nature trails can get difficult. A warm sweater or cardigan is also advised as the weather in the Canyon is unpredictable with cool and icy winds.

Reputed to be the highest dunes in the world (reaching up to 300 meters), the amazing Dunes in Sesriem is a must visit. Before entering the park, there is a filling station, a last chance to put fuel in your vehicles and stock on supplies if you are camping. There is one lodge located inside the Park giving guests the privilege of being the first ones to see the sun rise over the Dunes of Sossusvlei. Camping is also possible inside the Park's premises.

Sunrise and sunset are the best times to go to the Dunes. The drive to the first parking is about 45 kilometers. This stretch is commonly referred to as Dune 45 consisting of smaller dunes. Elin Drive is also another possibility and the dunes are easy climbs.

The Deadvlei is a typical scenery once you reach the second parking. This is a salt pan which was once a river. It looks tranquil and desolate, yet beautiful with dead and black trees due to the strong sun.

People who come to see the dunes often climb them with the challenge resting in scaling Big Daddy, the highest in the Deadvlei area. Big Mama comes in second. According to the locals or as your guides will probably tell you, there is another dune higher in elevation than Big Daddy, but more far. For the less enthusiastic, scale smaller dunes and roll down. Expect 10 or more showers to remove every bit of sand on the body. Go see a canyon as well in front of the only lodge inside the Park.

The Namib-Naukluft Park is a huge area covering 23,000 square kilometers of desert and sem-desert regions. You can visit the Namib Desert Park of the Naukluft Mountains. However, if you don't have much time, go for the Welwitschia Drive.

Travelers opt for this drive to see the Welwitschia, an ancient plant that survived to this day. This stretch is part of the Namib-Naukluft Park. A few things to remember, permits are needed to enter the premises; you get this from the Permits Office in Swakopmund open till Sunday, 13h00.

The scenic drive is pleasant and you can see lichens and dollar shrubs. Towards the end of the drive, look for the unusual Welwitschia plant, estimated to be between 1000 to 15000 years old.

If you skip the Skeleton Coast, and decide to head to Swakopmund, try to see the Seals of Cape Cross. Here thousands of eared seals can be seen from designated viewpoints. There are the occasional jackals straying.

Continue towards Swakopmund, Namibia's beach capital where you can do several activities such as quad biking on the sand, fishing, and dune boarding. Visit historic monuments such as the Alte Kaserne, National Marine Aquarium, and the Swakopmund Museum.

No trip to Namibia is complete without a tour of the Skeleton Coast. It is the coastline between the Swakop and Kunene Rivers. Countless ships sunk and thousands perished because of the treacherous, rocky sea, and the foggy condition. Tourist facilities are available in the area in the form of fly-in safari camps.

You can visit the Skeleton Coast Park in Ugabmund or head for the Skeleton Coast Wilderness for a true feel of the infamous foggy weather of the coast. Infinite stretches of foggy beaches dominate the scene with shipwrecks and seagulls dotting the coastline. Other points of interest in the area include the Cabo Frio Seal Colony and the Roaring Sands. There is also a small museum in Mowe Bay showing relics from sunken ships and newspaper clippings.

Mainly serving as a refueling station, Khorixas is the capital of Damaraland. It is a 35-kilometer drive from Kalkfeld. You have to go through Khorixas to enter Twyfelfontein.

The rock paintings are the primary attractions in Twyfelfontein with the area proclaimed as a UNESCO World Heritage site in 2007. A collection of 2,000 rock art, the area is accessible with stairs and steps for convenience. On your way out of the area, check the Petrified forest filled with fossilized trees.

In the same site, you'll also find Burnt Mountain and the Organ Pipes. The former resembles like a fire razed through it while the latter are basalt columns looking like organ pipes.

Vingerklip is about 450 kilometers from WIndhoek. You can make this area as a stopover or resting point on your way to Twyfelfontein. Reserve in advance if you intend to make Twyfelfontein as your base, which can run out of rooms early due to mass bookings.

Vingerklip or Rock Finger is a limestone formation resembling that of a pillar rising up to 35 meters. 15 million years, ago, this area was once a plateau. These are the remnants of the erosion. The display of colors is magnificent and the surrounding Ugab Terraces complete the majestic panorama.

Kalkfeld is a small town and it is about 150 kilometers from Okahandja. From a sightseeing point of view. you don't find many tourist attractions here. However, there is a lodge in the area where you can sleep and do game drives. If you're into dinosaurs, a visit to Otjihaenamemparo where the dinosaur tracks are found, is worth a trip.

200 million years ago, Namibia was once a sea and with encroachment of the sand, the land is now filled with rocks and boulders. The dinosaur footprints in Kalkfeld are located inside a farmer's property. For a minimal fee, you get access to the site and a map to find your way. Toilet facilities and a picnic site are also available. Follow the white paint on the rocks and you should see small and big dinosaur tracks. It is not hard to imagine that ages ago, these extinct animals once roamed on this land, the area so quiet and tranquil.

Covering around 20,000 sq km, the Etosha National Park is home to hundreds of mammal species, birds, reptiles, and amphibians. Two thirds of the park is open to visitors. The remaining third is reserved for tour operators. Rest camps are available inside the Park and there is also the possibility of sleeping outside the park gates.

You can drive all the way there or choose to take a chartered flight. Air Namibia flies daily from Windhoek to Mokuti Airport, with immediate access to the Von Lindequist Gate, one of the access gates in the Park.

Most visitors arrive in WIndhoek, Namibia's capital. although there are all sorts of possibilities to enter by land, passing through its border countries. There are direct flights from Europe, Johannesburg, and other neighboring African capitals.

Windhoek is a small city that sits at 1,660 meters. It makes a good base for organizing your trip around the country from arranging lodgings to renting a car or booking aerial visits. While in the capital, have a look at the Meteorites on Post Street. During the Gibeon meteor shower, approximately 21 tonnes of 'ferrous boulders' fell on Gibeon in the southern part of Namibia.