Free Namibia Guidebook

We've put together a guidebook with everything you need to know about Namibia. Written by our specialists, it details destination information, a wildlife guide, some suggested itineraries and plenty more to inspire your holiday. Fill in the form below and if you live in UK, your guidebook will arrive by post within the next couple of days. For those who live abroad, we will send you a link by email which will allow you to download your own copy.

The Namib

The translation of Namib as ‘vast place’ is an apt description for the expanse of desert which extends over 1000 miles along the Namibian coastline. Merging with the Kalahari to the east, and meeting the Atlantic Ocean to the west, the Namib is a desert of unimaginable beauty on an incomprehensible scale. The stark contrasts between its sun-scorched plains, plunging canyons, colossal sand dunes and pink tinted mountains, make it a truly unique and captivating destination.

Self-Driving Namibia

Home to a handful of the most romanticised landscapes in traveller lore, Namibia is an outstanding destination to discover on a self-drive holiday. Sparsely populated yet with an extensive network of well-maintained roads, linking renowned national parks, game reserves and safari lodges, Namibia is perfectly primed for a road trip. Empty desert roads, and high concentrations of game make for unforgettable roadside encounters, on your own time, at your own pace.

Meeting the Bushmen

Passionate about the wilderness and only 16 years old, here Zeki Basan shares tales of his unique experiences with Namibia’s Bushmen. He and his mother Ghillie travelled to Namibia with Imagine Africa on what was the first of many trips to this fascinating country for Zeki. He has since returned a number of times and has built a good relationship with the Bushmen.

Wildlife guide

Here is a list with wildlife you can spot in Namibia...

Helicopter safari in Namibia

Namibia continues to be one of the hottest destinations to head to in Africa and we are constantly looking for new ways to experience this diverse country. We believe a helicopter safari is a very worthwhile experience, giving you a different perspective as well as access to some of the most remote parts of the country.

Top 5 things to do in Swakopmund

Swakopmund is a small coastal town with a strong Germanic feel, nestled between the dunes of the Namib Desert and the crashing waves of the Atlantic Ocean.

1. SANDWICH HARBOUR TOUR BY 4X4

A 4x4 tour of Sandwich Harbour offers a pristine dune adventure through salt pans to the Sandwich Harbour lagoon, where the vertiginous sand dunes meet the Atlantic shores. Located in the Namib-Naukluft Park 55km south from Walvis Bay, Sandwich Harbour is one of the biggest sand fields in the world. Sand dunes 100m high run straight into the ocean, providing breathtaking scenery and a unique off-road driving experience.

2. QUAD BIKING OR SANDBOARDING

This is one of the most exciting ways to enjoy Swakopmund’s sand dunes, accessing areas that even 4x4s can’t reach! There is no better way to experience Namibia’s endless expanse of shifting sand dunes than to zoom around on a sandboard or quad bike. Enjoy the freedom of exploring the dunes and prepare for the roller coaster ride that they naturally provide – an unforgettable adrenaline rush!

3. KAYAKING AT PELICAN POINT

A fantastic way to spend a morning is on a gentle kayaking trip to Pelican Point to look out for colonies of Cape fur seals and even dolphins. On a kayak you become part of the ocean without disturbing the wildlife, so you have the opportunity to see the ocean’s spectacular species in their natural state. The seals are very playful and curious and love to interact with the kayaks. They will often come up to you and play with your paddles and splash water at you – sometimes they even jump over the kayaks!

4. LIVING DESERT TOUR

The Living Desert Tour is a 4x4 adventure into the Namib Desert, which specialises in bringing the desert to life. Although the endless dunes appear barren and lifeless, they are in fact alive with a fascinating variety of small desert-adapted species. On this tour you will gain a great insight into how the desert’s unique wildlife survives despite the odds. From the transparent Namib sand gecko to the dancing white lady spider that has to cartwheel 44 times per second to escape danger, these resourceful creatures have ingenious ways of surviving in the barren conditions.

5. SCENIC FLIGHT OVER THE SKELETON COAST

We believe the best way to see the Skeleton Coast is as part of a fantastic three or four night flying safari, but if you’re not able to do this, a scenic flight over this arid coastline is the next best thing. Departing from Swakopmund, you will fly over the treacherous landscape of the Skeleton Coast, littered with whale bones and shipwrecks, before returning to Swakopmund via Damaraland’s magnificent red table-top mountains and the picturesque Spitzkoppe.