Before visiting the country of Namibia, I had no idea what to expect. The only thing I knew was that most of Namibia is covered in desert. I had travelled through deserts before and they always intrigued me. What I discovered in Namibia however was truly breathtaking and definitely unexpected. Without a doubt, Namibia can be described with such superlatives as ‘surreal’, ‘awe-inspiring’, ‘stunning’ and ‘out of this world.’
Post last updated on December 2020
Have you ever asked yourself ‘Is Namibia worth visiting?’, I would say have a look at photos of Namibia. Photos can often say more than words and this is certainly true for Namibia. It is hard to make a selection of the most special pictures of Namibia, especially if you have travelled to a destination very often. I have so many images of Namibia, but I managed to make a selection of my favourite Namibia pictures that will for sure inspire you to book your flights and discover the pristine beauty of the Namibian desert. Any trip to Namibia should come with a bit of advance planning. Make sure to also read these 13 great things to know before visiting Namibia as well as our Namibia travel guide.
35 Photos that will inspire you to travel to Namibia
The vast open and colourful landscapes of Namibia
It is very difficult to make a bad photo while travelling in Namibia. The desert unravels its colours during the golden hour of sunrise and sunset when the whole area gets a deep orange glow. For miles around there is open space, there is silence, there is a lot of sand and in the distance you might hear the call of a jackal.
Did you know the fact that Namibia is the 2nd least densely populated country in the world?
The Fish River Canyon is the worlds 2nd largest canyon and is located in the southern part of Namibia. It’s a stunning place to visit, without large crowds and definitely a hidden gem in the Namibian desert that is well worth making a detour for.
Wildlife of Namibia
Namibia is renowned for its diverse wildlife. Etosha National Park in northern Namibia is one of Africa’s premier safari parks. A visit to Etosha National Park is highly recommended for any safari lover. I could spend hours by the various waterholes in the park to watch and observe wildlife in its natural surroundings. What makes Namibia so unique is that you can also see lots of wildlife while driving through the country. This does not mean that there will be lions, elephants and leopards lurking behind every bush. There are some desert elephants in the northern regions of Namibia, lots of antelopes and ostriches in the southern parts and what most people do not know a lot about is all the smaller wildlife living in the desert. The Namib desert is a living desert, with lots of geckos, snakes, spiders, little rodents, smaller predators like jackals and so much more.
The People of Namibia
Namibia has a very small population but nonetheless has in total 13 different ethnic groups. The most well known of the Namibian tribes are the Himba, famous for the women who cover their body in red ochre. The Himba tribe have a very interesting culture and if you would love to know more, you can find more information in this post about the Himba people of Namibia. One cannot deny that the women of the Himba tribe are very photogenic and should be part of any Namibia photography post.
The closest relatives of the Himba are the Herero. They are very recognisable by the large victorian dresses worn by the women. You can often find both the Himba and the Herero together at the side of the road selling their home made crafts.
What many people do not know is that the first inhabitants of Namibia were the Bushman or the San people. They have roamed the area of Southern Africa for tens of thousands of years as hunter gatherers. Nowadays, there are still the descendants of the San people, but they have more or less integrated into the modern African and Western worlds. It is worthwhile taking a tour where Bushman explain all about their culture.
The Nama is another tribe that is closely related to the Bushmen, they share the same linguistic family and have very similar features. Especially in the Southern part of Namibia, in most of the villages and towns you can meet people from the Nama tribe.
The Nature of Namibia
What makes Namibia so surreal is not only the bizarre and special landscapes, but also the diverse nature. Most of the plants and trees are entirely adjusted to the harsh and barren climate of the Namibian desert. Did you know that the Namib desert is the oldest desert in the world?
The things you see in the Namibian desert
Not all the things you see in Namibia are what you would expect to see in a desert. You have the vast open spaces and the contrasting nature, with some wildlife. But here are some things we discovered while road tripping through Namibia:
Read here for more information about the vintage cars in the desert and why they are there.
Namibia is not only inland desert, but also has around 1500 kilometres of coast line. Now don’t expect tropical beaches with palm trees, as a large part of the coastline is named the Skeleton Coast for a reason. Basically the Namibian desert and the Atlantic ocean meets on the beach.
It’s not all about the desert
There are some green areas in Namibia, like the north western region around Epupa falls as well as the south along the Orange or Gariep river. The Gariep river marks the border between South Africa and Namibia. The landscape is just stunning, with the desert mountains on the South African side and the lush green vegetation along the river banks. Canoeing on the river is one of the more popular activities and one of the things to do in Namibia that should be on your bucket list.
The Namibian Sunset and Sunrise
And last but not least, to see the sunset and the sunrise in Namibia is a unique experience. In this case, a photo will speak a thousand words but nothing beats sitting in the Namibian desert and experiencing this event first hand.
You may also be interested in following related posts:
Namibia travel guide: Prepare your trip with this information about Namibia, tips & tricks and places to go.
Best time to visit Namibia: Find out the best season to visit Namibia + tips per season
All you need to know before visiting Namibia: All information you need to know before starting your trip to Namibia
Inspired? Pin these to your Pinterest boards:
I love Namibia! I have family there and have visited a few times! Don’t those yellow billed hornbills look prehistoric!
Totally in love with Namibia myself, and your choices of reasons to love it are great. Super post.
Thanks a lot. It’s a beautiful place for any outdoor lover.
Namibia is really worth visiting, so maybe one day you’ll get there 🙂
Such an in-depth post! Loved your photos of the lion and the zebras… I really enjoyed reading about the Himba people..! The flamingoes are adorable! Never thought of visiting Namibia earlier, but it is now on the list!
Stunning capture. It’s one of the places on my bucket list. Hope I’ll save enough soon to explore this wonderful destination too. <3
What a beautiful photos!! They definitely inspire me to visit Namibia. I love your photo of the Dunes of Sossusvlei at sunrise and of the Zebras.
OMG this is in-freakin-credible! I can’t believe the victorian dresses on the women. I was not expecting that at all! How fun this trip looks. I need to goooo!
Wow these pictures are stunning. I always dreamt of going to Africa and I think Namibia might be the perfect country to dtart discovering this amaxing continent
Wow all these pictures are stunning! I haven’t visited the African continent but I think Namibia would be the perfect country to start discovering this amazing country.
This is fantastic! It has definitely inspired me! Fabulous photos of a fascinating country
Great post on Namibia ! The wildlife pictures are amazing. Have never thought of exploring this part of this world before. Thanks for sharing !
Your post had me nearly in tears (in the best way). I’ve never been to Africa. It’s on acwoah list I have to work my way up to emotionally. But your photos were breathtaking and gave great perspective into the country.
Such variety! From the barren brown land to the blue sea to the green trees! You’ve got me convinced! Just gotta buy a ticket now 😛 Such beautiful pictures.
Holy moly have I been inspired! Amazing photographs.
Stunning pictures! I love a good road trip into the middle of nowhere, and it looks like Namibia would be the perfect place to go! I also love a good reminder that Namibia isn’t just desert. It’s beautiful!
Your photos are so amazing, they do show the beauty of Namibia for sure. For me, Namibia is a very exotic destination, hard to get to. I would love to visit one day and get to know the local life of the tribes. It must be so fascinating!
Namibia has been on my list for ages and this isnt helping haha
Namibia looks incredible! It’s my dream to go on an African safari, so Namibia may be the perfect place to do that!
Wow these were some amazing photo!!! You can tell you truly care about the photos you take. I love it. Makes me want to visit here one day.
I fall totally in love with Namibia ! It’s I’m a truly nature lover and your photos of landscapes and wildlife are stunning. I also like reading about the Himba women who cover their body in red ochre. Your post on the The Himba tribe is really interesting as well. Sure, it has been a great learning experience.
Wow! Such beautiful photos! I had no idea flamingos lived in Namibia. I am definitely inspired to visit.
You’re right, these photos are so inspiring! Nambia looks so incredibly beautiful. The people, the animals, the landscape—you really captured it wonderfully.
You’re so right, these are stunning photographs! I’ve seen more and more about Namibia, and I would love to explore the entire country. How long were you there for?
Namibia is upcoming and getting more visitors every year. I have visited Namibia over 25 times during the last years, from a week to 10 days each time. 🙂
Namibia seems like such an adventure! I’ve always dreamt of visiting Africa, because my grandmother used to help lead tour groups there in her 70’s (what a cool lady, right?) This was a beautiful post!
Omg so beautiful! Visiting Africa is a dream of mine and these photos are really making me want to go sooner rather than later 😀
While the landscapes are absolutely breathtaking, I think I fell in love with your cheetah photo. They’re just such beautiful animals!! Namibia looks like an amazing place to visit 🙂
The shot of the Sossusvlei Dunes at sunrise is just absolutely breathtaking. The ones of the wildlife are also sooooo incredibly beautiful, wow! I’ve honestly never thought about visiting Namibia and now I just wanna book a flight there ASAP. Thanks for sharing!!
Looks like a really interesting place to visit.
I do love Namibia. I have been there twice and would return as well. My favourite spot is Sossusvlei – the combination of the colours is simply breathtaking. Thanks for sharing and for encouraging people to visit Namibia.
Your photos are incredible – they truly showcase the landscape, flora and wildlife. I am saving this for reference as Africa is on my bucket list in a few years.
Love your photos. We travel to Namibia twice a year for two months at a time. If you look at our website you will see why.
The photos are beyond stunning!This is definitely a very inspiring photo story 🙂
Very beautiful photos! I have been seeing more and more posts about Namibia – must head that way for a roadtrip soon. I especially love the photos of the people of Namibia.
Absolutely stunning! I am planning a trip to Southern Africa in the fall with my mother to go on a Safari and I am trying to convince her to add Namibia to the list. I’ll be sure to send her this.
Namibia is such a highlight to add to your trip. Where will you be going? Which countries?
Beautiful set of photos. Only missing a picture of the Dunes flowing into the sea. 😉
Such stunning photos. We have yet to explore most of Africa, but Namibia is definitely calling me.
Stunningly beautiful photos. Namibia’s been on my list for a long time.
I’ve visited Namibia in 2016 and fell in love with the country! I would love to go back
Beautiful pictures! Namibia has so much to offer! I didn’t realise there’s a beach. Love to visit one day and experience all of it!
OMGosh your photos are incredible! We were in Namibia a year ago and it is one of our top five favorite countries of all time (and I’ve been to 96 countries so that is saying something!). The flora, fauna, and people just amazing. Thank you for helping me relive it again.
Just stunning! Namibia is so high on my list of places to go…it must be nearly time to go!
A fabulous post and yes you have most definitely inspired me to visit. I loved the Zebra hug in Etosha National Park.
Gorgeous! This one’s definitely going on the bucket list. Those sand dunes are otherworldly!