More

    Tourist Attractions in Namibia

    The most interesting and beautiful tourist attractions in Namibia. Photos and a brief description.

    About Namibia

    In the recent past, Namibia has experienced difficult events – the seizure of colonialists and the apartheid regime, the war of independence and the extermination of indigenous tribes. This is one of the most resource-rich countries in West Africa, there are diamond mines, deposits of copper, gold, and uranium. Tourism in Namibia is still poorly developed. People come here for wild African exotics, unearthly landscapes of deserts Namib and Kalahari, the beauty and diversity of the Namib-Naukluft and Etosha National Parks.

    The most famous tourist places in Namibia are Sandwich Harbor, Sossusflei, Skeleton Coast. Here travelers are offered photo safari trips, excursions to nature reserves, flights over the desert by planes, helicopters and hang gliders. Access to some border areas of the country is possible only in large groups accompanied by an armed convoy due to the turbulent situation.

    A trip to Namibia cannot be called completely safe, but the authorities are working to attract foreigners, new hotels are being built, infrastructure is improving. The country expects to actively develop the direction of beach tourism, as it has a long and picturesque coastline.

    Top Tourist Attractions in Namibia

    The city of Swakopmund

    A resort town on the coast of the Atlantic Ocean, where the leadership of Namibia likes to come on vacation. The influence of the German colonialists is clearly felt in the architecture, so the town looks like a cozy European province. There are also therapeutic mineral springs, which makes Svakopmund a balneological resort.

    The city of Swakopmund
    The ghost town of Kolmanskop

    The ghost town of Kolmanskop

    Once a thriving city of diamond miners in the desert Namib. At the beginning of the XX century there was a lively settlement with beautiful European-style houses, a school, a hospital and a swimming pool. But the discovery of other, richer deposits forced residents to leave the city. Gradually, the sands brought all the buildings. Now the territory has been turned into a museum.

    Namib Desert

    The oldest desert on the planet, it existed back in the time of the dinosaurs. This area is also called the "desert of mists" because of the water vapor constantly swirling above the surface. Plants grow here that can live for 1000 years and go without moisture for decades, and an amazing Himba tribe lives here, living according to primitive laws.

    Namib Desert
    Sossusflei Plateau

    Sossusflei Plateau

    Located in the desert Namib. The area is popular among tourists due to the high picturesque dunes of red sand. The best time to explore is at sunset or dawn, when the landscape is painted in scarlet and crimson colors, and the terrain becomes similar to the surface of some distant planet.

    Rock carvings in the Twiefelfontein Valley

    These images appeared during the Neolithic period. The valley has been inhabited for centuries by tribes engaged in gathering and hunting, they left behind a large number of drawings. The oldest of them are more than 5 thousand years old, the newest is about 500 years old. The pictures mostly depict different African animals.

    Rock carvings in the Twiefelfontein Valley
    Etosha National Park

    Etosha National Park

    A large nature reserve in the north of the country on the edge of the Kalahari Desert. It is home to 140 species of birds, 114 species of animals and 112 species of reptiles. Many of them are rare and endangered. Here you can see lions, elephants, giraffes, rhinos and antelopes. At the beginning of the XX century, the reserve was the largest in the world, but lost 75% of the territory due to political conflicts.

    Skeleton Coast

    The territory of the coast from the Ugab River to the river The Kunene is about 500 kilometers long. The remains of dozens of wrecked ships rest here. Some debris was carried almost a kilometer inland due to winds and the movement of the sands. Almost all crew members died due to the inability to reach populated areas.

    Skeleton Coast
    Waterberg National Park

    Waterberg National Park

    It is located on a rocky plateau 300 km away. from the capital of the country. Due to the subtropical climate, it is covered with lush green vegetation. At the foot of the plateau, the arid savanna typical of Africa prevails, forests and shrubs with rare representatives of the local flora grow on the hill.

    Spitzkoppe

    Granite rock with an age of more than 100 million years, around which the reserve of the same name is located. This peak is often visited by climbers, although it is not the highest in the region. At the foot of the cliff you can see a lot of Bushman drawings, zebras, antelopes and gazelles roam around.

    Spitzkoppe
    Fish River Canyon

    Fish River Canyon

    The largest canyon in Africa, the size is second only to the American Grand Canyon. It is 160 km long, 28 km wide, and the depth of the depression is about 500 m. Here you can admire basalt rocks, aloe thickets, thermal springs. Viewing platforms are equipped for tourists.

    Duvisib Castle

    The structure was built by a German baron for his wife. Local red sandstone was used as the material, interior and decoration items were delivered by ships from Germany. Now there is a museum there, where luxury items, paintings and collections of weapons are collected.

    Duvisib Castle
    Cape Cross

    Cape Cross

    A nature reserve where seals live in large numbers. Wooden passages have been built through the rookery of these funny animals, along which tourists walk and observation decks are organized. The locals have established the sale of souvenirs and various trinkets. Excursions to the cape are regularly organized from Swakopmund.