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Best places to visit in Namibia

Inhabited by bushmen, a people used to the extreme aridity, a country of oryx (antelopes) and kokerbooms (desert trees), Namibia, with its terrain and the sun's intensity, is known for its grandiose desert-like scenery and almost martian atmosphere... But what are the must-sees during a trip to Namibia?

Its capital, Windhoek, is a pleasant city, where it's worth making the most of the attractions and resting well before heading out into the arid, endlessly stretching bush. 

Descending to the South, the main attraction is the Namib Desert and its Dune 45, from the top of which you'll have an incredible view of the sunrise. Further to the South, at the South African border, the Fish River Canyon sinks into the depths of the ocre ground, resulting in magnificent, towering rocky gorges.

Climbing up towards the North again, visitors will discover Etosha National Park. There, you'll see the famous oryx, the antelope which forms the country's symbol, but also any number of lions, elephants, buffalo, giraffes, leopards, cheetahs and more. It's a rich range of wildlife, all of whom gather together around the water holes in dry season.

At the Angolan border, and quite difficult to access, live the renowned Himbas, an impressive tribe who coat their skin and hair with a red clay. The Caprivi strip, linking the country to the Victoria falls, is an extraordinarily green and fertile piece of land which forms a migration corridor for elephants and which is partially submerged each rainy season.

Lastly, the Kalahari Desert, which separates Namibia from Botswana and South Africa, is one of the vastest and wildest on the planet. It's here that the Bushmen live, a tribe menaced by drought and the exploitation of the region for mining, made famous by the film The Gods Have Fallen on their Heads (1980).

As with many Namibian attractions, Gondwana is privately owned property situated not far from Fish River Canyon that has three separate establishments to host the many visitors passing through.
All the way in the north of Namibia the Kunene River is one of the rare rivers that is not dried up and that really has a good hydrometry level.
In the middle of nowhere, Aus is about halfway between the road that descends towards South Africa and Luderitz on the coast, an epic in the heart of the Namibian desert.
An expanse too great to be travelled in one single trip, the Kalahari Desert is one of the largest deserts in the world and does not only cover Namibia. It is an ecosystem specific to this part of Africa. 
The canyon that has been carved out by Fish River is emblematic in Namibia, not only for hiking but also for the amazing views it offers from different locations. Fish River Canyon is actually the second largest canyon in the world.
During your trip to Namibia, in addition to visiting Etosha National Park, why not discover the enchanting environment of this private reserve, rich in animals?
This river is only a river in name, as it's often dried up, but that doesn't prevent you from admiring a beautiful landscape in the surrounding area.
Sesfontein is the gateway to Kaokoland and the Himba peoples, a famous nomadic people of Namibia, alas the exhibition that the Himbas make of themselves in town is not what you find at some distance in the countryside. 
Towns are rare in Namibia, but Grootfontein is one of three towns that form a triangle East of Etosha together with Otavi and Tsumeb. A town of passage when you are going towards Rundu and the Caprivi region, it serves mainly as a stopping place.
Mudumu National Park is located in the Caprivi Strip in Namibia, on the border with Botswana. It extends over 740 km² and includes a part of the Cuando River, particularly enjoyed by animals, especially elephants.
The Caprivi Strip is an area 19 ml wide and 280 ml long, located in Namibia's Caprivi region. It is bordered by Angola, Botswana and Zambia and leads to Victoria Falls .
The plateau at Waterberg is a fairly different area from the rest of Namibia, greener and with a much more luxurious nature. A stopping place which is worth the detour, going up to the north and the park at Etosha. 
Halfway between Windhoek and Keetmanshoop, Mariental is in the heart of the orange dunes of the Kalahari Desert.
The Spitzkoppe is a strange mountain in the heart of Damaraland with an astonishing view point and also an opportunity for a really lovely hike off the beaten track .  
Kamanjab is a small settlement in the region of Kunene , 112 ml south of Epupa and 68 ml north of Khorixas . Kamanjab is the last stopping place in direction of Damaraland or Kaokoland.
Solitaire bears its name well, this market town or rather this petrol station/supermarket/post office that acts as a locality, serves as a stopping place when you visit Namib-Naukluft National Park.
Henties Bay, a small village North of Swakopmund, is well-known as a fishing and holiday spot and mainly for its seal colony.  
The town of Uis is nothing extraordinary in and of itself, but it is located not far from several Damaraland sites such as the White Lady and Twyfelfontein frescos.
Khorixas is a dreary town with the wrong sort of people that can be useful for filling up with petrol, but is not worth spending time in for much longer than that. 
Keetmanshoop is an essential stop when southbound in Namibia, a compulsory stopping place located at the junction of Luderitz and Fish River Canyon. 
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