Namib Desert Holidays

What can you find in the Namib Desert that you won't find anywhere else?

The Namib Desert may loosely translate to ‘an area where there is nothing’, but trust us, there is plenty to see in this dramatic coastal desert. Potentially the world’s oldest wasteland, it is defined by its rippled and undulating coral sand dunes, skeletal trees and bright blue skies. You’d be right to think that in a terrain where temperatures reach 45°C, there would be little signs of life, and for evidence of this, trek up the towering dunes where you’ll have views of sweeping stony plains, ancient waterways that occasionally flow and star dunes, which constantly change shape in the wind. You’ll also be hard pressed to find other travellers in this vast landscape (which, in our opinion, makes Namib Desert holidays all the more delightful, if a break from humanity is what you’re after). But you won’t be all alone, as despite its arid and unforgiving landscape, a number of animals and plants do call the Namib Desert home. From short-eared elephant shrew and gemsbok to karoo bustards, Hartmann’s mountain zebras and welwitschia mirabilis (a shrub of two leaves, which can live for almost 1,000 years), Namib Desert holidays are surprisingly replete with interesting wildlife - the majority of which is endemic to the region. With the expertise of a local guide, explore the desert’s flora and fauna and learn how they survive in the Namib’s arid conditions.

What are the best ways to discover the Namib Desert?

The best way to appreciate the full scale and magnitude of the Namib, which sprawls 1,240 miles down Namibia’s coastline, is from the skies. Set off in a private light aircraft and fly over Sossusvlei and the Sesriem Canyon, brush the caps of ascending sunburnt dunes, float through silent skies, steal glimpses of the glistening Skeleton Coast on the horizon and toast the day with a champagne breakfast on your return. If you have a need for speed, and are wanting to replicate ‘The Grand Tour’s’ Namibia special, hop in a dune buggy and test their horsepower across the desert’s rolling hills. Watch out for interesting insects in the sand’s undergrowth as you admire the views and stop for a well-earned (soft) drink. Namib Desert holidays also offer the perfect opportunity to stargaze - take advantage of your private rooftop skybed in the soundless Sossusveli expanse and delve into Africa’s secret skies. Spot familiar constellations and discover the rarely sighted Milky Way as it peeks through magnificent Magellanic Clouds.

Need to know about the Namib Desert

Isolated between sea and escarpment, the Namib is distinct in its landscape, and is protected as such. The largest conservation area in southern Africa, and the first African country to enact environmental policy in its national constitution, it is noted for its myriad minerals such as magnesium, copper, silver and zinc, which, in the early 1900s, could simply be plucked from the desert’s shoreline. If you have watched Clarkson, Hammond and May’s disastrous attempt to find a paved road in the desert, you’ll know that travelling through the region can get a little bumpy at times. While it may be worth investing in a good neck pillow, we think your eyes will be firmly glued to the scenic views outside. We’d also recommend packing a jumper, as temperatures can drop below freezing after sunset. So strap in and enjoy the ride. It’ll most definitely be worth it.