ON SAFARI
- Namibia
Pricing
Namibia is one of the few African destinations to really offer the full spectrum of prices, from cheap camping tours and modest self-drive options to hugely expensive private expeditions and luxury fly-in safaris. It is possible to see much of the country on a reasonable budget, but some of the more remote parts of Namibia can only be accessed by expensive air transfers, or on more specialist overland tours which tend to be more expensive too.
Typically, a tailor-made two week self-drive holiday, including economy flights from the UK, will start at around £2750.00 per person in low season, and rise to somewhere between £3500.00 and £5000.00 per person in the shoulder and high seasons. If you fly between destinations or choose very exclusive, upmarket properties or private safaris, then the price can easily be much higher. December to March is generally considered low season, April to June and November, shoulder, and July to October, high season.
We appreciate that going on safari in Africa is an expensive holiday, but we are always conscious of providing ‘value for money’. Our selection of properties for any itinerary is based entirely upon those which we feel will most closely match your requirements, whether that be budget driven or experience driven. It is sometimes very difficult to differentiate between a top-quality safari property, and one which offers a lesser experience. Accordingly, a safari which offers value for money should not necessarily be confused with a ‘cheap’ safari.
If you are planning your first safari, we suggest you look at our Planning a Safari section. We do not offer mainstream package tours (minibus tours), coastal package tours or cheap camping trips.
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When to Travel & Seasons
Namibia seasons and weather
The dry season in Namibia is from mid April to late October, with the rains mainly falling from November through to March (January to March being the wettest).
In April/early May, the grasses are still long and foliage quite thick after the rains, making game viewing more challenging. More importantly for regions such as Etosha National Park, water is still available in seasonal waterholes throughout the bush, meaning the animals are still quite spread out.
From May onwards these waterholes dry up and game is forced to start relying on fewer permanent water sources. Game viewing is usually best from June to October, however the landscape can look harsh and very dry at this time, especially in September/ October, because grasses and foliage have withered or being eaten.
Migrant birds tend to start arriving in late September, staying until March/April.
Late October/November can bring the beginning of the rainy season, and whilst game-viewing can still be excellent with great visibility, animals will begin to disperse as soon as enough rain has fallen for them to survive away from permanent water sources.
The most challenging time of year for game-viewing in Namibia is from December to March, unless you are mainly interested in birds, and don’t mind a bit of rain!
In the desert regions where wildlife viewing is secondary to exploring the landscapes, wildlife can be encountered throughout the year. If your priority in Namibia is purely seeing the landscapes, and game-viewing is not important, then you can travel at any time of year, though of course conditions for travel may not be best during the rainy season. February to April tends to present the most challenging self-drive conditions as heavy rains and flooding can damage road surfaces.
Temperature-wise, Namibia does tend to display typical desert conditions of hot days and cool nights. May to September is the winter period, and whilst day time temperatures can still reach above 30c, it cools down significantly at night. Early mornings can be extremely cold, especially on the coast where cold air is blown in from the Atlantic. From October to April conditions are warmer, and day time temperatures can soar to around 40c, with milder evenings. However, even at the hottest time of year, evenings and early mornings can still be chilly. Humidity is rarely a problem, except along the Caprivi Strip during the rains (November to March).
The weather on the coast is always influenced by the cold Atlantic currents and it is very common for the Skeleton Coast, and coastal towns such as Swakopmund, Walvis Bay and Luderitz, to be shrouded in fog in the mornings.
- Namibia
Wildlife Highlights
Wildlife Highlights of Namibia
Namibia is predominantly a desert country and the range of wildlife that can be seen throughout much of the country reflects this. Species best adapted to the desert conditions include oryx, springbok, ostrich, bat-eared fox, black-backed jackal, meerkat and Hartmanns mountain zebra. Nocturnal species (only likely to be seen on night drives) can include shy creatures such as Brown hyaena, Cape fox, aardvark, aardwolf and caracal.
In the north-west of the country, in particular northern Damaraland and southern Kaokoland, desert elephant and desert rhino survive in surprisingly harsh conditions. Rhino are more limited in their range but ongoing conservation efforts are continually extending their protected habitat. It is possible to track black rhino on foot, a rewarding and potentially thrilling experience.
Key predators include lion, leopard and cheetah, though outside of the protected big game regions such as Etosha National Park, predator populations are relatively sparse. Cheetah and leopard do actually roam throughout the country, often coming into conflict with local farmers. For an interesting predator-based experience, Okonjima in the Waterberg region is home to the Africat Foundation and offers various predator orientated activities.
Along the coast, Cape fur seals can be seen in large numbers, with the seal colonies at Pelican Point (Walvis Bay) and Cape Cross being particularly accessible. Heavyside dolphins can be seen on boat cruises from Walvis Bay. Sighting brown hyaena would be a major highlight along the any stretch of the coastline.
In Etosha National Park, a wide range of wildlife can be enjoyed. In particular, the floodlit waterhole at Okaukuejo Restcamp is very productive in the evenings, with many rhino visiting to drink in the dry season. Lion will also use the waterhole as an ‘ambush point’ during the height of the dry season when game has little choice but to drink there. The elephant are particularly large, and Etosha is also home to the rare black-faced Impala.
Meerkats exist throughout much of Namibia, but are not prolific and are very difficult to get close to. Bagatelle Kalahari Game Ranch, near Mariental, has a habituated family which is arguably the best option for seeing them in Namibia.
The Caprivi region is much less arid, with several great rivers bringing a vast amount of water through the region, and this is the best part of Namibia to see more aquatic species such as hippo and crocodile, and wildlife that relies more heavily on water, such as buffalo. Wild dogs can also be seen in this region.
The varied habitats of Namibia make for very interesting birding. There are a number of sought after endemics, including Hartlaubs francolin, Ruppels parrot, Herero chat, dune lark and rock jumper. In Etosha, there is a vagrant blue crane population. The different regions offer very specific and individual birding opportunities.
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Beach Extensions
Beach extensions to a Namibia Safari
Whilst Namibia does have a huge coastline with the Atlantic Ocean, the coast is unsuitable for a beach holiday. The cold currents which make the waters rich in sea life, do not make for pleasant or safe swimming, and regularly create heavy and cold coastal fog. Flying along the Skeleton Coast, or visiting Swakopmund and Walvis Bay area for a few days is highly recommended as part of your holiday, and you can choose to give yourself a few extra days to relax in these destinations if you prefer. But we would not recommend treating them as potential ‘beach destinations’.
If you are just looking for a little relaxation within your Namibia itinerary, there are places where this can easily be included. Most notably there are luxury lodges in the Namib Desert where you can include extended stays in order to allow time to relax, read book and lie by a pool. Alternatively, you could begin or end your holiday with a few nights near Victoria Falls in Zambia/Zimbabwe, or in Cape Town (or other places) in South Africa, either of which will offer the potential for relaxing, whilst still enjoying a new and incredible experience.
If you are looking for a traditional beach destination to combine with Namibia, then many amazing beach locations can be comfortably reached via Johannesburg in South Africa, including Mozambique, Mauritius, The Seychelles, the South Africa coast and Zanzibar (Tanzania).
Contact us to find out more information on beach extensions while on safari in Namibia. One of our safari specialists would be happy to talk you through the best options.
- Namibia
Honeymoons & Weddings
Honeymoons to Namibia and beyond
Namibia is a potentially stunning honeymoon destination. The landscapes are unique and inspiring, and whether you choose to explore by self-drive, head out on a private guided camping adventure or fly into upmarket lodges in the wilderness, you are guaranteed a pretty original and exclusive honeymoon adventure.
However, whilst Namibia does have a vast coastline with the Atlantic Ocean, it is not a country able to offer comfortable beach relaxation. For the best beach extensions you need to look outside Namibia, to places such as Mauritius, Mozambique, The Seychelles and Zanzibar. All these exotic destinations can be combined with Namibia, via Johannesburg in South Africa. Namibia can also be combined with other southern African countries such as Botswana, Zambia and South Africa, where attractions such as Victoria Falls, the Okavango Delta and Cape Town can offer relaxation opportunities as well as incredible sight-seeing and/or safari activities.
If you are seeking top level luxury, exclusivity and pampering, consider Sossusvlei Desert Lodge, Little Kulala, Little Ongava, Serra Cafema, Ntwala Island Lodge
and Villa Mushara.
For incredible experiences and very comfortable accommodation, consider Wolwedans Dunes Lodge, Mowani Mountain Camp, Onguma Tented Camp, and Okonjima Bush Camp, whilst more active and adventurous honeymoons could include a unique flying safari such as Skeleton Coast Safaris or a private mobile camping experience with specialist operators Kunene Tours and Safaris.
Safari Weddings in Namibia
It is possible and fairly straight forward to get married in Namibia, and there are a number of stunning locations to consider, such as the iconic sand dunes of the Namib Desert.
Please see our general ‘accommodation on safari’ page for more information on different styles of accommodation on safari. If you are looking into your first ever trip to Africa, you may wish to visit our ‘planning a safari’ section.
Whatever your specific ideas and desires, we specialise in designing individually tailored itineraries and can offer you the expertise and personal service required to guarantee a perfect honeymoon or wedding safari. Please call us to discuss your ideas and requirements.
- Namibia
Private & Specialist Guiding
Private & Specialist Guiding
Most of our recommended safari camps and desert lodges in Namibia organise activities and game drives with between 4 and 9 guests on a vehicle. In typical circumstances, the best camps and lodges will usually put no more than 6 guests on one vehicle. Whilst sharing your experiences with a few other guests is normal and often great fun, it is sometimes possible to pay extra for ‘exclusive-use’ of a vehicle for all or part of your safari. A private vehicle naturally comes with a private guide and tends to be very appealing to more experienced travellers who have very specific interests such as birding or photography.
Taking things one step further, it is possible to hire ‘private guides’ in Namibia and if you simply wish to travel overland around the country, but prefer not to self-drive, then it is easily possible to arrange an experienced guide to host your tour.
Some guides specialise even further. Their knowledge of the regions in which they operate is exceptional, allowing you to consider journeys that most people would never attempt.
If you prefer to tour the country by air, there are private pilot guides who are able to host a full tour of the country, or a shorter highly specialised flying safari into regions such as the Skeleton Coast.
With many years experience as a leading Africa specialist we know personally and have worked with a several specialist guides and pilot/guides in Namibia. All of them are experts in their field. We highly recommend both forms of private guiding, especially when it allows you to explore the more remote corners of north-west Namibia.
If you feel that you would appreciate a private vehicle and/or a specialist private guide for all or part of your safari, please advise us when you speak to us. We are very flexible and different regions present different opportunities, so we will simply work with you to include the level of exclusivity and guiding that you desire.
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Family holidays
Family holidays in Namibia
If you are planning to travel with very young children, then Namibia offers malaria free regions and some excellent places to combine relaxation with sight-seeing and some gentle wildlife viewing. However, until children are old enough to cope with lengthy overland travel or internal light aircraft hops, or take malaria tablets in order to visit Etosha National Park, we would not specifically suggest Namibia as an ideal destination for families with very young children.
Once children are of an age to cope with these factors, Namibia becomes a superb family option. Whether you choose to self-drive, travel overland with a private guide (possibly including some camping), or undertake a ‘flying’ safari, there are many options to keep kids interested and happy. Many properties have swimming pools and the warm, dry climate (most of the time) makes it easy to combine amazing safari activities with more traditional family relaxation around the pool. The older your children, the greater the opportunities, and for families travelling with late teenagers (usually 16 or older), Namibia offers fantastic adventure activities such as quad-biking, dune boarding, horse-riding, rhino-tracking, hot-air ballooning and even sky-diving.
In terms of accommodation, some camps and lodges in Namibia have two-bedroomed ‘family units’, and safari tents or lodge rooms which are large enough to include an extra bed. There are also a couple of destinations which offer private safari house or ‘villa’ options. However, quadruple accommodation is difficult to arrange outside of the NWR restcamps.
If your family are keen on adventure and exclusivity, then you could consider a private camping safari (minimum two nights). The best regions for camping safaris are Damaraland and Kaokoland, and the longer you are prepared to camp for, the more remote and ‘off the beaten track’ your safari can be. On these camping safaris, the maximum number per tent would be 2.
Please visit our Family Safaris page for more general information on travelling to Africa with children, or contact us with your specific ideas and questions.
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Namibia Introduction
Introduction to the incredible space and beauty of Namibia
Namibia is a country totally dominated by spectacular desert wilderness, from rocky mountains and dramatic canyons to gravel plains and soaring sand dunes, and your main reason for visiting the country should be to experience these awesome landscapes. It is unusual for such extreme physical terrain to be so accessible and, in Namibia, they are relatively easy to explore. You can travel by road (self-drive or guided) or make use of a good network of internal air transfers.
Namibia safaris also offer fantastic wildlife viewing. Etosha National Park and the Caprivi region hold the greatest quantities of game. However wildlife exists throughout the country, including in some of the harshest regions such as the Namib Desert and along the Skeleton Coast. Damaraland, in particular, is famous for its desert rhino and desert elephant populations.
In addition to the incredible natural scenery and game-viewing options, Namibia offers some amazing cultural experiences, particularly the Herero clan with the traditional Himba people of Kaokoland, a wide variety of outdoor activities, and some of the most tranquil and inspiring places in which to relax.
For more information on Namibia safari options please call us on 01787 888590 or contact us to speak to one of our friendly safari specialists.
More information on seasons and when to travel »
- Namibia
Pete & Kathy travelled to Namibia
Fantastic holiday. We thought Botswana couldn’t be beaten but we both think Namibia had the edge. Maybe it was because we had more freedom.
The driving was interesting, the distances sometimes a bit long, but within your guide lines. Birding was excellent according to the different habitats. Managed 178 species including most of the endemics. Also had a brilliant selection of animals, 34 in all, including 5 rhino at Etosha, a genet and caracal at Erongo and a brief glimpse of a leopard at Etendeka. Thanks Rob, to you and your staff for giving us another excellent holiday.
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Joan & Hilary from Derbyshire travelled to Namibia
We were satisfied with all aspects of our trip. I felt your professionalism and invaluable help was outstanding. Possibly THE best tour operator I have ever used.