Namibia for adventurers: Activities, walking trails and wild camping

Splashing around in a pool, sunning yourself on a lounger, then relaxing in the bar or on a viewing terrace after dinner. They’re are all things you can look forward to doing on a visit to Namibia.

But if you’re the kind of person who also likes their fair share of thrills, new experiences and adventures into the unknown, then Namibia has you covered. It’s a vast, sun-drenched paradise where dunes meet mountains, and deserts meet the West African coastline, all ripe for activities and exploration. Let’s take a closer look at some of the delights that await adventurous spirits in Namibia.

An amazing array of activities:

Safaris: The chance to go on safari is obviously one of Namibia’s biggest draws. There are many camps dotted around the country from where you can go wildlife spotting. Take your seat in an open top vehicle specially designed for the job, and a ranger will guide you through the places you’re most likely to see lion, rhino, elephant and more wondrous wildlife.

Cycling: You can really put mountain bikes to the test in Namibia, on trails that range from the fairly easy to the pretty challenging. Wherever you pedal, be it along the Skeleton Coast (a place where many a ship has been wrecked, and where whale and seal bones are a common sight) or the rocky canyons and soaring mountains of the Namib Desert, the sights you’ll see will stay with you long after those leg muscle aches have gone.

Duneboarding: Basically snowboarding with the heat turned up. There’s a lying down version too that could see you reach speeds of 80 km/h. Base yourself in Swakopmund for easy access to the sandy slopes where you can also experience quad biking and dune carting.

Rock climbing: Those with a desire to take their holiday experiences to new heights tend to gravitate towards Damaraland. That’s home to Spitzkoppe, the 1728m high inselberg that’s earned itself the moniker “The Matterhorn of Africa”. It was first conquered in 1946 and still tempts climbers to scale its peak.

Skydiving: If you like your thrills even higher, then jumping out of a plane and freefalling for a while before your parachute glides you back to earth ought to suit you down to the ground. There are various companies in Swakopmund offering these kinds of adrenaline fuelled experiences, and we can build these and other activities into your itinerary.

Water sports: Namibia is lucky to have a vast, Atlantic Ocean-facing coast, with the water and beaches hosting all kinds of activities, including kitesurfing which you can do on land or water. Kayaking with seals in Walvis Bay is also popular, although you’ll have to do all of the paddling, as the seals prefer to watch. Look out for dolphin, pelican and flamingo on your travels.

Hot air balloon rides: Less active but no less popular, the chance to sedately glide over the Namibian landscape has tempted many a tourist up and up and up. It’s possible to book early morning flights followed by a champagne breakfast when you land. Not a bad start to the day.

Walking trails

Namibia offers you the chance to hike through epic desertscapes, along beautiful coastlines, across challenging ravines and up huge hills and mountains.

Between June and September are the best times of year to lace up your walking boots and hit the trails. The desert sun isn’t quite so fierce during these months, and you’ll get the best selection of wildlife to view too, including the chance to track rhino.

You can go it alone in some locations where there’s little wildlife to worry about. Some camps have pre-designated trails to explore, so as long as you can follow directions, you can’t get lost. But having an expert guide leading the way adds an extra dimension to the experience, giving you someone who can share insights about the local area and point out things of interest you might otherwise miss.

We can recommend the best walking trails for you depending on what you want to see and how long and far you want to walk. Our suggestions might include some of Namibia’s most popular routes such as:

The Onguma Trail: New for 2025, this camp is a hub for all things walking, with chances to track wildlife and learn about the ecology of the area, which borders the Etosha National Park.

The Etendeka Walking Trail: A 4-day trail through Kaokoland with endless views and wide open spaces at every turn.

The Olive Trail: This 8.5-10km hike that loops its way through the Namib-Naukluft park is a popular area for walkers. Part of the trail involves crossing a narrow gorge using a chain attached to the cliff face (you have been warned!)

White Lady Rock and Brandberg Mountain: At just a few paces over 5km long, this trail shouldn’t take more than 90 minutes. Located near Khorixas in Damaraland, the White Lady mentioned is actually rock art on Namibia’s highest peak, said to have been painted 2,000 years ago.

Dassie, Fountain and Porcupine Trail Loop: You’ll need a good level of fitness to tackle this 10km, 3 hour long looping trail near Otjiwarongo in the Waterberg region. But it will be worth it.

Wild camping

All those long walks and hi-energy activities are sure to leave you looking forward to resting up and recharging overnight, ready to do it all again tomorrow.

Namibia has a vast range of hotels, guesthouses, lodges and managed campsites. But if your spirit of adventure extends to where you sleep for the night, what are your wild camping options?

It’s important to note that camping out in the wilds in Namibia isn’t encouraged. However, most managed campsites will give you the option to experience a version of wild camping, such as sleep out under the stars experiences, often on raised platforms and usually with excellent views of a watering hole.

Some camps are not fenced off, allowing animals to roam free, which means you might get lucky and open your tent in the morning to be greeted by hippo drinking nearby. However, many sites in the Etosha National Park are fenced off for your safety, so you can move around after sundown without the fear of predators.

Here at Namibia Tours & Safaris, we offer a 4 day private wild camping experience that will see you explore some of Namibia’s most remote areas with an expert guide.

If you’re self-driving through Namibia, a 4x4 with a roof tent is a great option, as the elevated location of your sleeping area brings the added element of safety you won’t get from pitching on the ground.

That said, large animals rarely see tents as chances for a feed. To them, they are objects to be avoided. However, it’s common sense not to leave any items with your scent on them (such as shoes) out in the open overnight. Aside from the obvious dangers of attracting large animals, smaller insects such as spiders and scorpions might choose your shoes as their tent for the night, and you won’t want to wake them in the morning.

Choosing and booking made easy

If you don’t want the process of deciding which adventures are best for you to be a challenge, leave it to us. Once we know what you’re looking for, we can prepare the perfect itinerary of activities and experiences, with plenty of opportunities to relax and recharge around pools and fire pits built into your schedule. So contact our friendly team today.