1. A Most Luxurious Outpost

Located in the heart of Damaraland in a private concession of the Doro !Nawas Conservancy, Onduli Ridge is a luxury outpost that boasts a personal touch. Its six suites sit nestled among boulders and take advantage of Namibia's striking landscape. Take advantage of Damaraland's temperate climate and roll your bed out onto the deck for a night under the stars. With four nights there, you'll be able to explore nearby areas and sights such as Twyfelfontein and track desert-adapted elephant and rhinos. 

2. Visit with the Himba 

Isolation has left this tribe mostly unaffected by westernization. Connect to culture and learn the history of the semi-nomadic people who have been living in Namibia since the early 16th century. 

3. Explore the Skeleton Coast 

The infamous Skeleton Coast is known for its scattered remains of shipwrecks and thousands of Cape fur seals. Accessible only by light aircraft, Hoanib Skeleton Coast Camp may be one of the most exclusive desert camps in the world. Explore unspoiled beaches, cape fur seal colonies, and shipwrecks along the coast in a full-day flightseeing excursion. In the evening, return to eight chic tents with floor-to-ceiling windows that are so well insulated you might forget you’re in the desert. 

Twelve miles from the coast, on an island in the dry Khumib riverbed, the Skeleton Coast Camp provides a luxurious refuge in Meru-style en-suite tents. Ride through the beautifully desolate region in a 4×4 vehicle, darting in and out of the windswept plains, towering canyons, and wide saltpans. 

4. See Desert-Adapted Wildlife 

Etosha National Park is a rare sight of large saltpans and slight depressions carved by the powerful winds. Considered Namibia’s premier wildlife destination, the harsh yet captivating landscape is one of Africa’s largest game reserves. Its outlying springs and waterholes attract adapted elephant, wildebeest, springbok and gemsbok—along with 340 bird species. This is one of the few places in Africa where visitors can also see black rhino and white rhino living together in the same region. Stay within Etosha’s confines at the exclusive Little Ongava, a retreat with only three suites (each with its own private deck and plunge pool). 

5. Glimpse the First Light of Day from a Hot Air Balloon 

View the vast Namib Desert from a hot air balloon as light breaks. During that first hour of sunlight, find a rich contrast in the colors of the sand dunes, plains, and surrounding mountain ranges … it all makes for incredible photos. 

6. Stargazing at Sossusvlei Desert Lodge 

The NamibRand Desert in Namibia is one of the darkest accessible places on the earth. While you don’t really need a telescope to make out the Milky Way, Sossusvlei Desert Lodge’s telescope is state of the art. The resident astronomer also assists in pinpointing constellations only seen in the southern hemisphere.

Pro Tip: Sleep out under the stars in your own private “kulala” at Kuala Desert Lodge —just climb up to the rooftop bed, wrap up in luxury bedding, and look to the sky. - Haley Beham

Explore Namibia with Ker & Downey

Namibia is one of the world's most rugged and spectacularly beautiful countries. Discover why a Ker & Downey journey to Namibia is different. Contact a designer to start planning your journey today.