Namibia’s North vs South: What’s the Difference - and Where Should You Go?

Handily, Windhoek, Namibia’s capital city, is pretty much slap bang in the middle of the country and likely to be the place you touchdown in your aeroplane when you arrive. So, should you plan a vacation that will take you up north or down south from the airport?

The quick answer is that much depends on the kind of experience you’re looking for.  And the purpose of this guide is to let you know what the North and South have in store for you, so you can decide in which direction you’ll head.

Some say Namibia is two different worlds in one country, with the north greener and the south sandier. But the distinction is not so clear cut as there are mountainous and desert areas in the north and plenty of animal and plant species to see in the south.

If you’ve got the time and budget, a tour of both is recommended. If not, here’s a guide to help you decide whether it’s the north or south of Namibia for you.

The Red Corner - South Namibia

There are spectacular landscapes aplenty to enjoy in the southern part of the country which extends all the way to the border with South Africa including:

Kalahari Desert

Explore the rocks that form the Giant’s Playground, plus go back millions of years in time at the Mesosaurus Fossil site. There are animals aplenty to view too, not least cute meerkats, plus springbok, wildebeest and the black-maned Kalahari lions.

Sossusvlei, Deadvlei and Namib-Naukluft National Park

The Namib is the oldest desert on the planet, and this protected area extends for over 49,000 square kilometres of ecologically important land. Sossusvlei is a huge clay pan in the heart of the Namib Desert, surrounded by some of the highest sand dunes in the world, which in places reach up to and over 300 metres. The sand is believed to have originally come from the Kalahari and been washed down the Orange River 3 to 5 million years ago. Deadvlei is home to Big Daddy which, as the name suggests, is the tallest dune in the area, standing at an imposing 325 metres tall.

Luderitz, Kolmanskop and Tsau Khaeb (formerly Sperrgebiet) National Park

The most populous town in southwestern Namibia, Luderitz is situated where the desert meets the sea. It’s home to a busy port and popular harbour, with brightly painted German-inspired architecture that’s sure to delight the eye. Diamonds were discovered here in 1909. Lots of them. So you can imagine the rush and excitement of people eager to get here and grab their share. But don’t go getting your hopes up. Nowadays, most diamonds are discovered elsewhere or offshore.  So much so, there’s the Kolmanskop ghost town you can visit, formerly a mining settlement that’s now deserted and gradually being swallowed up by the sand dunes of the Namib Desert.

Many people make time to venture to the Sperregebiet (Forbidden Area) for a day trip from Luderitz. It’s the place to see large meteor craters and a variety of sites with archaeological significance. There are over 1,000 different species of fauna here too. On the eastern border of the park, you could see the last remaining survivors of a once thriving community of wild horses who gallop the plains near the town of Aus.

Fish River Canyon

Only the Grand Canyon in the USA offers you a bigger canyon experience. You can explore this vast, 160km long landscape in a 4x4 or on foot.

NamibRand Nature Reserve

A chance to see zebra, giraffe and hyena in the wild, as well as oryx and springbok. Guided tours are recommended to ensure you visit the places where these and other wildlife are most frequently to be found.

Richtersveld Transfrontier Park

Accessible only via a 4x4 vehicle, this is a remote national park that crosses into South Africa and offers challenging drives across terrain that only 4WDs can handle.

The Green Corner - North Namibia:

The main places that attract visitors to this part of the world include:

Etosha National Park & Onguma Game Reserve

Without doubt, this is one of the best places to view game in all of Africa. It’s certainly number one for self-drive and guided safaris in Namibia, with a huge variety of animal and birdlife to see, including black rhino, flamingo, and zebra that tend to gather next to water holes for refreshment. Bordering Etosha, Onguma Game Reserve spans over 20,000 hectares of protected land and offers the opportunity to spot black rhino.

Damaraland

The open plains and grasslands of this area of northern Namibia between Etosha National Park and the west coast are home to desert elephant, lion, black rhino, ostrich, springbok and more.  Damaraland is also well known for its striking geographical and archaeological features, including ancient solidified lava flows, unusual basalt rock formations, and some of the oldest rock art and engravings in southern Africa.

Skeleton Coast Park

Hugging the northwest coast of Namibia, this location gets its name from shipwrecks, plus whale and seal carcasses that wash up on its sandy shores. You’ll need a permit to explore its northernmost reaches, but further south is open to all and features Terrace Bay, known as an angler’s paradise. December and January are particularly popular months for fishing enthusiasts from all over the world to visit.

Bwabwata National Park (formerly Caprivi)

This is in northeastern Namibia, a good place to explore if you want to visit Victoria Falls that’s just over the border with Zambia and Zimbabwe. Hippo and elephant are often to be seen on the banks of the Kwando and Okavango Rivers.

Kaokoland & Kunene Region

This is the place to go for an off the beaten track, seldom visited experience. You’ll see mountain ranges, deserts and valleys, and the homeland of the Himba people. Distinctive by the red paste they wear on their hair and skin, the people still follow a traditional, semi-nomadic way of living. You’ll get the chance to meet the community and learn about their history and culture.

North, south, or both, we’ll get you where you want to go

The Namibia Tours and Safaris team is ready to get you to the places you want to visit in this great country. Rely on us to book a bespoke itinerary for you, or choose from our pre-arranged private guided, self-drive or fly-drive combo guided tours of Namibia.