Namibia travel guide

The Petrified forest is a site with tree trunks, which have turned to stone millions of years ago. The process is called diagenesis and leaves each individual cell fossilized, which preserves the appearance of the wood. On the site nothing has been excavated, but some of the exposed trunks are more than 30 meters long. The site is also rich in welwitschia plants, which only exist in the Namib desert within Namibia and Angola. The plants are famous for their extreme old age. Some individuals are probably more than 2000 years old, though the ones on site are probably "just" 600-700 years old. The site is fenced off and you are led through the sights with a guide.

With at least 2,500 rock carvings the petroglyphs site at Twyfelfontein is one of the largest concentrations of rock petroglyphs in Africa. Most of the motifs are easily recognizable animals, but there are also more spiritual engravings. It's believed that the nomad tribes who lived in the valley made them between 6,000 and 2,000 years ago. The Twyfelfontein Petroglyphs became Namibia’s first UNESCO World Heritage site in 2007.

The most famous section of the Namib Desert, and one of the few places where the public has access to the famous red dunes, Sossusvlei and Deadvlei ("vlei" simply means "pan") are two of Namibia's biggest tourist attractions. A number of the dunes can be climbed, providing views across the red sea of sand. But equally striking, and sublimely surreal, are the stark contrasts provided by the dead trees, light ground, red dunes and blue sky at Deadvlei itself. It is a hostile and stark environment, but closer observation of the sand reveals the tracks of many small desert dwellers, and grass hugs the slopes of many of the dunes. The desert is best visited in the early morning or late afternoon, when it is cooler (but make sure to bring plenty of water anyway). Note that although rare, this park occasionally floods. That - and strong winds - can result in the roads becoming impassable and conditions generally unpleasant. Equally unpleasant to some might be the huge crowds of people that flock to see these dunes, particularly during winter. The only way to avoid this is to stay inside the park, as this allows for earlier access to the dunes. Ostrich and oryx, able to survive in this extreme environment, can be seen on the 60 km drive from the park gate to the parking area. This section of the Namib Desert is without a doubt a must-see for all visitors to Namibia.

The dramatic rock formations at Spitzkoppe rise up to 700 meters above the surrounding flat plains. As you venture closer to the granite outcrops, you see rock pools, rock arches and giant boulders balancing on top of each other. Spitzkoppe means "pointed dome'' in German, but the rock surface is surprisingly non-slippery, so it's highly recommended to scale one of the less steep summits for amazing views, particularly at sunset or sunrise.

Swakopmund is Namibia's main seaside resort. Its centre is colourful, and quaint enough by African standards - its German and Afrikaner heritage apparent. The seafood is excellent, and the shores around the city are famous for the fishing. Swakopmund (or Swakop, as it is known locally) is located right at the edge of the Namib desert, and is - together with Walvis Bay - an ideal place for desert adventures: scenic flights, skydives, quad biking, dune boarding and much else besides can be organised here. If such is your desire, it is wise to allow for more than one day, as Swakop frequently gets inundated in fog. The dunes beyond the city host many relics from the First World War, and occasionally play host to Hollywood productions.