NAMIBIA

Namibia – A Stunning Desert Wonderland 🇳🇦😍

Namibia is one of the most beautiful and unique countries I’ve ever visited.

Endless desert landscapes, dramatic dunes, incredible wildlife, and some of the most breathtaking road-trip scenery imaginable. Every kilometer looks different, with constantly changing colors, textures, and landscapes. 🥰

Flights & Visa

We flew to Windhoek with Ethiopian Airlines.

For the visa, we obtained it upon arrival and paid by credit card at the airport.

Before your trip, make sure to check the latest visa requirements, as regulations can change. Online information mentioned passport photos, hotel confirmations, travel itineraries, and travel insurance documents.

In our case, none of these were requested. They even took the photo on-site. I told the immigration officer I had printed all the documents, and she simply said they weren’t needed. 😅

SIM Card

We purchased a local SIM card for internet and calls directly at the airport.

There is a shop inside the terminal, and the staff set everything up for us. It was inexpensive and very convenient.

Windhoek

Okapuka Safari Lodge

We booked Okapuka Safari Lodge through Agoda.

The lodge is located about 30 minutes from the airport.

At the airport, we negotiated with taxi drivers and managed to reduce the fare significantly due to competition between drivers.

Although the lodge is outside the city center, it’s situated in a beautiful natural setting with wildlife roaming around the property.

There’s also a restaurant on-site.

We stayed for one night, and it was the perfect soft landing after a long flight.

Transportation – Go2 Shuttle

We decided not to rent a car.

Instead, I found a shuttle company called Go2, which operates transportation between Namibia’s main tourist destinations.

The cost was approximately 50$ per direction.

Every shuttle departed on time, the drivers were professional, and during one of the journeys, our driver even stopped at scenic viewpoints so we could take photos.

Personally, I highly recommend using the shuttle service. The roads are long, and driving isn’t always easy.

The scenery during the drives was absolutely incredible. 🤩

Shuttle link

Solitaire

One of Namibia’s most famous roadside stops.

Solitaire is a gas station, café, guesthouse, and iconic landmark in the middle of the desert.

Our shuttle stopped there both on the way to Sossusvlei and on the return journey.

The place is decorated with vintage cars and has a unique atmosphere that perfectly matches Namibia’s desert charm.

Definitely worth the stop.

Sesriem & Sossusvlei 🏜️

Desert Homestead Lodge

We stayed at Desert Homestead Lodge, a beautiful and peaceful desert lodge that included breakfast and dinner.

I booked it through Trip.com.

The lodge is located about 15 minutes from the entrance to the national park.

The property offers several activities, including horseback riding and visits to their small horse farm. There’s even a friendly zebra living on the property.

Sunrise Horseback Ride

I joined a sunrise horseback ride through the desert surrounding the lodge.

It was a wonderful experience and a beautiful way to start the day.

A Small Tip

Before arriving, communication with the hotel was a little frustrating.

I contacted them about transportation and activities, but responses took several days and weren’t very helpful.

Once we arrived, the staff apologized and explained that I had been communicating with the central reservations office rather than the lodge itself.

The lodge staff spoke excellent English and were very helpful.

If you’re staying there, I recommend contacting the lodge directly before arrival.

Transportation Note

The Go2 shuttle does not stop directly at hotels.

Instead, it stops at designated meeting points, and you’ll need to arrange transportation from there to your accommodation.

In Sesriem there are very few transportation options, so it’s important to organize transfers in advance.

There is also a guesthouse near the park entrance that can help reduce transportation costs for travelers on a tighter budget.

Sossusvlei, Deadvlei & Dune 45

Without question, one of the highlights of Namibia.

The main attraction is Deadvlei, a surreal white clay pan filled with ancient dead trees that have stood there for hundreds of years.

The contrast between the white ground, black trees, red dunes, and blue sky creates one of the most spectacular landscapes I’ve ever seen.

Simply unforgettable. 😍

Dune 45

We also visited the famous Dune 45, one of Namibia’s most iconic sand dunes.

Massive, impressive, and incredibly photogenic.

Touring the Park

We hired a local guide who drove us around the area.

We actually met him at a gas station after getting off the shuttle while looking for transportation to our hotel.

During our conversation, we ended up arranging the entire excursion with him, and afterward he also drove us back to the lodge.

It’s also possible to visit the park independently.

There are internal shuttle services operating within the reserve.

Both our hotel and the guesthouse near the entrance offer organized tours.

The guesthouse tours are significantly cheaper, but they don’t provide pickups from other hotels, and transportation options in the area are limited.

Walvis Bay 🌊

Lagoon Suites Boutique Hotel

For our stay in Walvis Bay, we booked Lagoon Suites Boutique Hotel through Agoda.

The property is a charming boutique villa divided into elegant guest rooms.

Breakfast is served in a beautiful open kitchen area.

The location was excellent—just a few minutes’ walk from both the ocean and the meeting point for our excursion.

The shuttle dropped us at a shopping center, and from there we took a short and inexpensive taxi ride to the hotel.

Sandwich Harbour

One of the most spectacular places in Namibia.

This is where the giant sand dunes meet the Atlantic Ocean.

The scenery is simply breathtaking. 🥰

Sandwich Harbour Dune Tour

Our dune tour was absolutely perfect. 👌🏻

We booked it through GetYourGuide.

Tour link

The landscapes were unlike anything I’ve ever seen.

Restaurants

Anchors Waterfront Restaurant

We had dinner at Anchors Waterfront Restaurant.

There are vegetarian options available, and I ordered sushi.

Everything was delicious, and I definitely recommend it. 👌🏻

Flamingo Hotel

For lunch, we ate at the restaurant at the nearby Flamingo Hotel, within walking distance from our hotel.

The food was excellent.

Getting to the Airport

For our airport transfer, I simply flagged down a taxi on the main road and negotiated a much better price than what the hotel offered.

In Namibia, hotels often arrange transportation at tourist prices, so it’s worth checking local options when possible.

Flying to Zambia

From Walvis Bay, we flew to Johannesburg on our way to Zambia.

The airport is small and located right in the middle of the desert, which made for a unique and memorable departure.

Final Thoughts

Namibia is an incredibly beautiful country.

The desert landscapes are unlike anywhere else in the world, and even the drives between destinations felt like attractions on their own.

From Deadvlei and Sossusvlei to Sandwich Harbour and the endless desert roads, every day brought a new and unforgettable view.

If you love nature, wide-open spaces, and extraordinary landscapes, Namibia is a destination you absolutely shouldn’t miss. 😍

Enjoy your trip!

– Keren

For photos, locations, and travel inspiration, feel free to follow along on Instagram. 📸✨

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