What to See in Namibia

last edited Dec 11, 2019

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Location Map of Namibia

Namibia Open the interactive map

UNESCO World Heritage Sites

Namibia has 2 sites listed as UNESCO World Heritage Sites:

Sossusvlei and the dunes of the Namib Desert (2013)
This salt desert with its stunning sand dunes is Namibia’s most visited site. It is a UNESCO World Heritage Site along with the nearby salt pans of Deadvlei and Hiddenvlei.

Twyfelfontein (2007)
Comprising scattered rocks in a desert environment, this UNESCO-listed rock art site is located a few kilometres from the Petrified Forest of Damaraland.

The Coast

Henties Bay
A seaside resort north of Swakopmund, also popular for fishing.

Lüderitz
It is the oldest town in southwestern Africa. The German colonial architecture, particularly its beautiful Art Nouveau villas, is very much in evidence here. Just 10 km away, you can visit the ghost town of Kolmanskop.

Oranjemund
On the South African border, this diamond-mining town has highly regulated access, as does the border crossing between the two countries at this point.

Swakopmund
It’s a tourist seaside resort with beautiful colonial architecture. More than for its beaches or surfing, visitors come mainly for the outdoor sports activities offered in the nearby desert.

Walvis Bay
This former South African enclave south of Swakopmund is the country's main port. Its tourist appeal lies in fishing, birdwatching, water activities, and walks on the surrounding dunes.

Natural Heritage

Sesriem Canyon
Just beside the eponymous locality, this small canyon is the country’s second most visited site.

Cape Cross
North of Swakopmund, Cape Cross is home to a colony of tens of thousands of fur seals.

Skeleton Coast
This is the northern part of the Namib Desert. Particularly inhospitable, this coast (a designated natural park) is littered with whale skeletons (hence the name) and shipwrecks.

Namib Desert
The world's oldest desert stretches along the entire length of Namibia's coast, with a maximum width of 160 km. It features several natural parks (Namib-Naukluft, Cape Cross, Skeleton Coast...) and immense dunes, some of which are UNESCO-listed among the tallest in the world (Sossusvlei, Deadvlei).

Brandberg Massif
These mountains in Damaraland near the coast are the highest in the country (2,606 m). You can see rock paintings and hike here.

Parc national de Namib-Naukluft, Namibie

Namib-Naukluft National Park
Africa's largest park and the fourth-largest in the world. It is internationally renowned for the orange dunes of Sossusvlei and Deadvlei, the country's top tourist attraction, as well as the Sesriem Canyon located a few kilometres before them. Local hiking is possible.

Sossusvlei (2013)
This salt desert with its stunning sand dunes is Namibia’s most visited site. It is a UNESCO World Heritage Site along with the nearby salt pans of Deadvlei and Hiddenvlei.

Spitzkoppe
A rocky massif in the Namib Desert that can be climbed. All around, you’ll find various San rock paintings.

The Interior

Gobabis
Primarily a stopover town between Botswana (or South Africa) and Windhoek on the Trans-Kalahari Highway.

Grootfontein
A small town in the northeast with partly colonial architecture and an old fortress. A few kilometres away, you can see one of the largest meteorites ever to fall to Earth.

Kaokoland
This former Bantustan in the north of the country, extending into Angola, is the territory of the Himba and Herero peoples, whose traditions remain very much alive. It is above all an isolated, semi-mountainous, and partly desert region where herds of elephants roam.

Keetmanshoop
A small town in the south with German colonial remnants, Keetmanshoop is primarily a base for visitors exploring the surrounding areas (Fish River Canyon, Quiver Tree Forest, Giant's Playground rocks).

Opuwo
This small town of fewer than 10,000 people is the capital of Kaokoland. It’s typically used as a base for exploring the nearby Himba and Herero villages.

Otjiwarongo
The small town in north-central Namibia typically serves as a starting point for exploring the Waterberg Plateau.

Outjo
This town in northern Namibia is considered the gateway to Etosha National Park.

Rundu
"Large" town on the Angolan border, its main tourist appeal lies in the Okavango River, which can be explored by canoe, as well as birdwatching in the surrounding area.

Tsumeb
A pleasant mining town in the north with a museum dedicated to this industry.

Windhoek
Namibia’s capital and largest city, situated at 1,700 m above sea level. It retains a number of architectural traces of its colonial past. Nearby, the Daan Viljoen Game Reserve offers hiking trails to discover local wildlife.

Natural Heritage

Fish River Canyon
It's the second-largest canyon in the world and the second-most visited site in Namibia thanks to its trekking opportunities. The Ai-Aïs hot springs can be seen in the south of the park.

Caprivi Strip
This "panhandle" juts about 500 km into Botswanan territory, averaging 30 km in width. The largely marshy area is rich in minerals and wildlife (elephants, hippos, birds), which can be observed in several parks, including Caprivi Game Park, Mamili, Mahango, and Mudumu National Park.

Epupa Falls
A series of waterfalls on the border between Angola and Namibia. Also worth seeing are similar falls further east at Ruacana Falls.

Ruacana Falls
Like Epupa, these are falls located on the border between Namibia and Angola. Nearby, you can also go rafting on the Kunene River.

Damaraland
A desert region in north-central Namibia where herds of elephants and rhinos can be seen.

Kalahari Desert
This is a legendary desert spanning South Africa, Namibia, and largely Botswana. In its arid landscape, you’ll find stunning scenery, diverse wildlife (including several national parks), and the indigenous San people who live there.

Okavango
Between its source in Angola and its delta in Botswana, the Okavango flows through northern Namibia, partly forming the border between Namibia and Angola. Near the town of Rundu, the river offers opportunities for canoeing and birdwatching.

Etosha National Park
Not far from the Angolan border, this is one of the country's most visited places. It's home to a wide range of wildlife, including lions, elephants, rhinos, giraffes, zebras, gazelles, birds, and more.

Waterberg National Park
In the northern part of Namibia, this small, somewhat hard-to-reach park is home to many bird species, as well as rhinos and antelopes. Trekking is available here.

Parc transfrontalier du IAi-IAis-Richtersveld, Namibie

IAi-IAis-Richtersveld Transfrontier Park
This vast mountainous desert expanse, straddling Namibia and South Africa, offers stunning landscapes and numerous outdoor activities. It is also a UNESCO-listed site for its unique blend of human and natural environments.

Daan Viljoen Reserve
A small reserve right next to Windhoek where you can explore wildlife via hiking trails.

Khaudom Reserve
Located on the border with Botswana, in the Kalahari, this hard-to-reach park is quite rich in wildlife, including lions, elephants, and giraffes. It is also home to the San people.

Twyfelfontein
Comprising scattered rocks in a desert environment, this UNESCO-listed rock art site is located a few kilometres from the Petrified Forest of Damaraland.