Narrowing down the best national parks in Namibia is no easy feat. But we’re up to the challenge. For excellent wildlife and bird-watching opportunities, head to Etosha National Park and Bwabwata National Park. If you're looking for surreal landscapes, visit Namib-Naukluft and Skeleton Coast national parks, while Ai-Ais Richtersveld Transfrontier National Park is your go-to for rugged hiking trails. Read on to learn more about what Namibia’s parks have to offer…
- Etosha National Park
- Namib-Naukluft National Park
- Bwabwata National Park
- Skeleton Coast National Park
- Ai Ais Richtersveld Transfrontier National Park
Etosha National Park
It’s only right to begin our list of the best national parks in Namibia with Etosha National Park, one of Africa's largest and most diverse nature reserves. The park is famed for its extensive salt pan, which covers nearly a quarter of the reserve and attracts springboks, zebras, lions and elephants to its watering holes. If it’s dramatic wildlife displays you’re after, visit during the rainy season. From November to April, large colonies of flamingos flock to the salt pans as they fill with water. Etosha National Park's grassy plains and mopane woodlands also thrive during this time.
Image by Un Cercle
Namib-Naukluft National Park
Namib-Naukluft is next up on our list of the best national parks in Namibia. This is the country’s largest park, stretching across 19,000 square miles of dusty desert landscape and glimmering salt pans in western Namibia. The iconic Sossusvlei sand dunes take centre stage here, reaching heights of up to 1,000ft. For the best travel snaps, climb the famous Dune 45. The dune’s striking orange hue is caused by high iron oxide content in the sand and after a lung-busting trek to the summit you’ll be rewarded with dramatic views across the terracotta terrain. If it’s wildlife watching, you’re after, hop in a 4x4 and look out for lions, zebras and giraffes on a private game drive accompanied by an expert tracker and guide.
Image by Jackie Cole
Bwabwata National Park
Swapping sand for savannah, Bwabwata National Park is in northeastern Namibia. Zambezi teak and false mopane trees punctuate the landscape, while over 400 bird species populate the sky – including African skimmers, Cape parrots and yellow-billed oxpeckers. With its varied ecosystems, the best way to explore the park is on a private game drive. Pack a pair of binoculars and look out for lions roaming the grasslands, leopards slinking through the dense woodlands and elephants drinking from the rivers.
Image by Un Cercle
Skeleton Coast National Park
Aptly named after the shipwrecks dotted across its treacherous shore, Skeleton Coast National Park is home to some of the country’s most remote wilderness areas. Despite its seemingly barren appearance, this park on Namibia’s northwest coastline is home to various desert-adapted wildlife, including lions, elephants and antelopes. Head to the Hoarusib River area to see the striking Clay Castles (natural geological formations made from clay and silt), or visit the Hoanib River Delta to explore the desert landscapes once traversed by the San People (keep an eye out for giraffes and oryxes too). If you want to see marine life, visit between June and August for the chance to spot benguela dolphins and migrating humpback whales.
Image by Jérôme Galland
Ai Ais Richtersveld Transfrontier National Park
Last on our list of the best national parks in Namibia is Ai-Ais Richtersveld Transfrontier National Park. Straddling the border between South Africa and Namibia, the park is home to the dramatic Fish River Canyon (the second-largest canyon in the world). If you fancy a challenge, hike the multi-day trail to experience the park’s rugged beauty and visit the viewpoint near Hobas Lodge for sweeping sunset vistas. Or, if you’d prefer to explore in comfort, jump in a 4x4 to explore the desolate desert in style. Make a pitstop at the ‘Hand of God’ rock formation near Sendelingsdrift – locals believe God pressed a hand down on the rock face, leaving a striking imprint.
Written by Amy Larsen | Header Image by Un Cercle
