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If it is stunning landscapes, adventure activities and wildlife safaris that you are after, then you have come to the right place. Namibia’s natural wonders include Fish River Canyon, where it looks like someone has taken a giant slice out of the earth and the wildlife utopia of Etosha National Park. Yet, travelling round Namibia is a joy too: desolate desert roads are surrounded by slabs of granite that thrust themselves out of the swirling sands. Book a beach hotel in Namibia on the coast and those sand dunes finally meet the crashing waves of the Atlantic for a thrilling sight. The Art Nouveau architecture of the cities held to calm things down a little but festivals, such as Windhoek’s legendary Oktoberfest, ensure the thrills don’t stop for too long.
Namib-Naukluft Park - The swirling sand dunes here are a must-see sight and you can enjoy them in one of the world’s largest national parks, encompassing around 23,000 square kilometres of arid and semi-arid land. Book a hotel close to Namib-Naukluft Park and see dunes to die for.
Etosha National Park – Equally large, but impressive for different reasons, is this 20,000 square kilometre national park. This is one of the world's greatest wildlife-viewing spots. When the flat saline desert is converted by rain into a lagoon flamingos and pelicans flock here, but the surrounding bush is always home to 114 mammal species and 340 bird species. Grab a hotel close to Etosha National Park and head to a waterhole to wait for lions, elephants and springboks to rock up.
Fish River Canyon – Take a hike through the world's second largest canyon. This is certainly no walk in the woods: the beautiful canyon is 550 metres deep, 27 kilometres wide and spans 160 kilometres. There is an 85 kilometre trail through it, accessible only from May to September due to the heat, which will take you 1.5 billion years of geological history. Experience this natural wonder with a hotel close to Fish River Canyon.
Windhoek – For some cultural pleasures head for this attractive city. It’s not too big, so it’s eminently walkable, yet it contains plenty to keep you interested. Neo-baroque cathedral spires, as well as a few German castles, punctuate the steel-and-glass high-rise skyline and the restaurants, cuisine options, relaxing bars, shopping, museums and galleries all make it a great place to book a hotel and get ready for your next adventure.
Lions, elephants, springboks and so much more must be one of the sights you plan to tick off on your visit to Namibia, but you shouldn’t neglect that slice of geologic history that is the Fish River Canyon or those timeless dunes that gradually wend their way to the crashing Atlantic waves.
From the cultural pleasures of cities such as Windhoek, where hanging out at museums, galleries and cafes is the order of the day, to the natural delights of the national parks, where hanging out at a watering hole watching the lions arrive offers a thrilling sight. Namibia has made a name for itself as the adventure destination of Africa: try rock climbing at Spitzkoppe, skydiving over the stunning dunes, sandboarding in the Namib Desert, kitesurfing and landboarding at Swakopmund, paragliding over the Atlantic, hot air ballooning over Namib-Naukluft National Park, hiking the Fish River Canyon and many more exhilarating pursuits that make watching lions seem suddenly rather tame.