A little more
Namibia.
A lot less roaming.

Travelling to Namibia: what to know before you go

Namibia, on the south-western coast of Africa, is a country of huge open spaces: red dunes in the Namib Desert, fog-bound shipwrecks on the Skeleton Coast, and one of Africa's great wildlife parks in Etosha. Good gravel roads and well-run campsites make it a classic self-drive destination. It suits road-trippers, photographers and safari-goers who enjoy long distances and silence.

Where to go

• Sossusvlei and Deadvlei. In the Namib Sand Sea, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, some of the world's tallest dunes rise around white clay pans.
• Etosha National Park. A vast salt pan surrounded by grassland and waterholes.
• Skeleton Coast. A long stretch of foggy Atlantic coastline in the north-west, littered with shipwrecks and whale bones.
• Swakopmund. A coastal town with German colonial architecture, cool sea air and adventure activities from sandboarding and quad biking in the dunes to boat trips from nearby Walvis Bay to see dolphins, seals and flamingos.

Best time to visit

The dry season from May to October is the best time for wildlife, as animals gather at waterholes in Etosha, and temperatures are comfortable by day though cold at night, especially in June to August. October and November get very hot inland.

Staying online in Namibia

Mobile coverage is good in Windhoek, Swakopmund, Walvis Bay and other towns, and along parts of the main highways. Across most of the country, including large stretches of gravel road, the desert, the Skeleton Coast and much of Etosha away from the rest camps, there is no signal for long distances. Many lodges and camps have Wi-Fi, sometimes only in the main area and sometimes slow. Download offline maps and let someone know your route. Install an eSIM before you fly and switch it on when you land in Windhoek.