23 Best Sights in Namibia

If you're not up to trudging up the steep edges of sand dunes, head in the direction of Sossusvlei and take a shorter, gradual walk from the parking lot to the much-photographed Dead Vlei. This stark white dried pan is dotted with dead, black camel thorn trees, thought to be almost 900 years old, and surrounded by red sand dunes. The image of Dead Vlei is almost synonymous with Namibia and is as picturesque as it is remarkable.

If you're not traveling by 4x4 you can park at the 2x4 parking and pay to take the NWR shuttle (it runs all day long and costs N$200 return) that covers the 5 km (3 miles) to Sossusvlei.

Though you may have already visited higher or more visually stunning dunes, the Swakop dune belt is well worth a visit (especially Dune 7) for its easy access from Swakopmund and Walvis Bay, and for the wealth of tours available, including a truly fascinating search for the numerous—and normally invisible—creatures thriving in this surreal ecosystem of the Namib Desert. Activities within the dunes include quad-biking, camel rides, sandboarding, hikes, 4x4 drives, and horseback rides.  Generally, the dunes are visited on a tour and your activities would be organized through the operator.

This national monument and UNESCO World Heritage site is home to around 2,000 rock engravings, estimated to be close to 6,000 years old; it's extremely rare for this many paintings and engravings to be found at the same site. The entrance fee includes a knowledgeable guide who narrates the timeline of the landscape and the people who lived here. Start early (it's hard to make out some of the art in full sunshine), bring binoculars, wear sturdy shoes, and bring lots of water (at least a liter) and a hat.

If you're in good shape, you can hike to the top of Big Daddy, the highest sand dune in Namibia at around 360 meters (1,181 feet). It's tough going: around an hour of very hot trudging and wading through ankle- and sometimes knee-deep sand to climb along the ridge that overlooks the famous Dead Vlei (where ghostly skeletons of ancient camel thorn trees jut up from a flat, sandy, dried-up lake). If you don't feel up to any physical exertion at all, then sit in the shade of camel thorn trees at the bottom of the dunes and watch the birdlife, or focus your binoculars on the distant climbers.

This souvenir and curio shop on bustling Independence Avenue distinguishes itself from the rest with its fairly sizable collection of cultural objects (religious, ceremonial, drums, etc.) and domestic utensils of local bushman and Himba tribes (not for sale). A large assortment of other carvings and antiques from around Africa adorn the walls and display cases, as well of course as the usual selection of Namibian curios for purchase.

The Lutheran Christ Church is a good representation of German colonial architecture—a mixture of art nouveau and neo-Gothic dating from 1896. If you plan ahead, you can take a look inside but it's really the exterior that's worth a photo or two.

You must book in advance to be able to go inside.

The Damara are one of Namibia's oldest nations. This living history museum provides insight into how the hunter-gatherer bushman once lived with a reconstructed village. It can feel a little contrived, but is still an interesting stop.

If you're fairly fit, it's well worth climbing the towering Elim Dune, the nearest sand dune to Sesriem, about 5 km (3 miles) away; it will take you more than an hour, but the superb views of the surrounding desert and gravel plains are infinitely rewarding. Be warned: dune climbing is exhausting, so make discretion the better part of valor. This is an excellent place to photograph the early-morning or late-afternoon light as it's a lot closer to the park's entrance gate.

Driving the dusty plains of Damaraland, one of the last things you'd expect to find is a winery, but this beautiful spot is one of Namibia's few wine estates. The glass-fronted restaurant and tasting room lead out onto a large veranda that overlooks the small vineyard. Red grapes are grown on-site, but the white grapes are bought from South Africa---perhaps unsurprisingly, the white varietals are better than the reds. They also produce a fairly smooth whisky made from millet, barley, and maize. The restaurant serves a selection of mostly meaty dishes for lunch; bookings are advised.  It's off the beaten track and the approach road is best tackled in a 4x4.

Created in the early 1960s for the forced evictions of black people from the town center under Apartheid, Windhoek's vast informal settlement (Katutura) translates to "The place where people do not want to live" in the Otjiherero language. It now houses more than half of the capital city's population and makes for an insightful guided tour. You will learn about the Old Location Uprising and the reason why Namibia commemorates Human Rights Day on 10 December each year. Be sure to visit the Oshetu Market ("our market"), where northern Namibian fare like mopane worms and dried patties of a type of local spinach are sold, and whose bustling meat market includes a barbeque area where the adventurous can try succulent slices of all types of roasted meat, dipped in kapana, Namibia's signature spice blend. You can also have the chance to engage with community members and small-business owners while visiting various NGO projects in the informal settlement.

Be sure to go with a guide, who can navigate the dirt roads and provide commentary; Katu Tours and Safaris (a Black, female-owned company) does this via bicycle (12 km, 3½ hours, two daily departures) and it's one of the best ways to experience it. Contact the tourism office for a list of accredited local guides.

This sizable gallery houses the largest-known quartz-crystal cluster in the world—an awesome natural wonder more than 520 million years old and weighing 14,000 kilograms (30,864 pounds). Numerous smaller but no less beautiful chunks of Namibian minerals and gems, including a wide variety of quartz crystals, rainbow tourmalines, and other semiprecious stones, are also on display. Some great souvenirs can be had in the adjoining large gift shop and high-end jewelry boutique to allow you to take home a unique piece of Namibia. There's also a "scratch patch," where kids can sift through non-precious stones and select a bagful to take home.

With more than 25 species of Namibian snakes, lizards, chameleons, and scorpions, this small museum will excite herpetologists large and small. Several of southern Africa's most dangerous snakes can be seen here, including the black mamba and puff adder. Snake feedings take place on Saturdays between 10 am and 1 pm.

The designated swimming beach at Swakopmund, The Mole, is actually a failed engineering project. In 1899 the South Africans controlled the closest harbor at Walvis Bay, so attempts were made to build a harbor at Swakopmund. The engineer, FW Ortloff, failed to take into account the force of the Benguela current flowing down the length of Namibia and dumping desert sands on the shore. The result is the promontory you see today with The Mole now forming a secluded swimming beach. A short walk from the center of town, the beach is serviced by a number of restaurants and small cafés. The Atlantic Ocean is generally cold and rough, so if you're set on swimming, you'll have to brave it. Lifeguards are on duty during the summer. Amenities: lifeguards (in summer); toilets. Best for: sundowners; sunsets; swimming.

On Tal Street in the striking old breweries building, the Namibia Crafts Centre offers beautiful and unique pieces of work. Dozens of stalls showcase the work of more than 1,500 rural craftspeople, and include items such as fine woven baskets, original beadwork, distinct Caprivian pots, handmade contemporary jewelry, eye-catching prints, and much more.

This vast private reserve encompasses almost half a million acres of the Namib Desert. Sharing a 100-km (62-mile) border with the Namib-Naukluft National Park, this is a pristine environment in which to appreciate the ecology of the desert. There are strict visitor quotas to protect the fragile ecosystem here, and visits are arranged through one of a handful of concessions scattered around the reserve. Activities include hot-air balloon rides, hiking, and star-gazing. In 2012, NamibRand was declared Africa's first International Dark Sky Reserve, making it one of the best places in the world for some astronomy, and most of the accommodations within the reserve take advantage of this with guided night-sky safaris.

This small but lovely museum features the country's best art. The basement hosts temporary exhibits often focusing on traditional Namibian art, while other spaces host bright, modern works from young Namibian artists. Many of the paintings are on sale. There's a courtyard café next door serving a superb range of traditional Namibian dishes, plus nice cold beers.

Probably Swakops's most notable landmark, the gorgeous, historic Old Station Building was built in 1901. Declared a national monument in 1972, this magnificent example of German colonial architecture came to life again in the early 1990s, when it was restored and renovated in a style evoking the charm and nostalgia of the old railway days. Today, the building houses the Swakopmund Hotel and Entertainment Centre, with the hotel's lobby and lounge in the main station building.

At a manageable 500 meters (1,640 feet), Palm Beach, which stretches along the western side of Swakopmund and effectively forms the western border, is the recommended beach for gentle walking. Swimming isn't encouraged due to rough waters and strong currents (and the icy Atlantic waters). Instead stroll from the north, starting at The Mole beach, and watch the sun go down in the west. Enjoy a sundowner on Swakopmund's famous Jetty 1905 restaurant and if you're hungry try the festive scene at the famous Tug restaurant. The palms the beach is named after are set back against the access road offering limited shade. Busy in summer, but quiet in winter, Palm Beach is also often in fog due to the cold air of the Atlantic hitting the heat of the desert. Amenities: food and drink; parking; toilets. Best for: sunsets; walking.

About 4 km (2½ miles) from Sesriem Gate, your entry point to Sossusvlei, is Sesriem Canyon, named after the six rieme (belts) that were tied to the buckets of the early Dutch settlers when they drew up water from the canyon. A narrow gorge of about 1 km in length, the Sesriem Canyon is the product of centuries of erosion. Plunging down 30–40 meters (98–131 feet) at its end are a series of pools that fill with water during the rains, which might only happen during the rainy season (October to March). If you are really lucky you will get to cool off in the pools, otherwise climbing down into the canyon offers you a wonderful escape from the desert heat as you wander along in the deep shade. In the summer months, after good rains, the whole canyon fills with water, and while you can't hike the canyon bed then, it does make for wonderful photographs.

What could be described as Namibia's Matterhorn, Spitzkoppe towers nearly 610 meters (2,000 feet) above the plains. Plan to spend at least three to four hours exploring Spitzkoppe's Golden Snake—a gigantic rock formation popular with rock climbers—and the Bridge—an interesting arch-like rock formation. The San paintings at Bushman's Paradise are included in the entry fee and are definitely worth a look. You can visit under your own steam, but you'll get a lot more from the experience if you hire a guide to show you around.

The largest private museum in Namibia, this historical building down by the lighthouse was built in 1951 and houses a surprisingly large and varied collection of items. Displays on everything from natural history, archaeology, and ethnology to the German colonial period and the town's beer brewing history are informative and worth a look, especially if traveling with kids.

The handsome circa-1912 "Ink Palace"—so named for all the paper and ink used by those working within—is fronted by beautiful formal gardens. Formerly the administration offices of the German colonial government, the two-story building now houses the National Assembly. Nearby is the Office of the Prime Minister, decorated in mosaics, indigenous woods, and murals. You can take gorgeous photos from the outside.

The Brandberg (Burnt Mountain) rises 2,606 meters (8,550 feet) out of the desert, claiming the title of Namibia's highest peak. This stark and impressive mountain range provides an impressive backdrop for Namibia's most famous rock paintings. Excellent guides lead the way on an hour-long walk to reach the overhang that's home to the millennia-old White Lady. Rediscovered by German surveyors at the start of the 20th century, it was erroneously named, and experts now agree that the painting depicts a shaman (medicine man). Surrounded by other ancient etchings, it's well worth the walk, which crosses dry river beds between the granite mountains. It's best to go as early in the morning as you can, as the walk can get scorching hot, even in the cooler months and despite being fairly flat.