3 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.