Namibia’s well-maintained roads and well-established tourist infrastructure make self-drive travel a pleasure. Travelling by road between parks can be much more affordable than in other destinations, dramatically reducing the overall cost of a family trip.
Family Safari Holidays in Namibia
Namibia is a very good destination for families and can be superb for children of all ages.
Namibia is an excellent destination for adventurous families. Its great-value accommodation and fascinating assortment of landscapes, cultures, and wildlife make it a great choice for children of all ages. There are also opportunities to enjoy all sorts of adventure-filled activities while exploring this unique African destination.
Why Choose Namibia for Your Family Safari Holiday?
Adventurous Activities
Namibia is famed for its striking landscapes, but the country offers plenty of things to do beyond wildlife safari. Adventurous families will discover an array of adventure activities, including dune surfing, quad biking, canoeing, whale watching, cycling, and skydiving.
Self-Drive Safaris
Flying Safaris
Flying safaris open up many of Namibia’s most remote, isolated destinations and exclusive camps and lodges, making this the ideal way to explore the country’s farthest reaches. Light aircraft allow access to less-visited areas, giving you the feeling of getting off the beaten track.
Family-Friendly Accommodation
Namibia has a wide range of accommodation options at varying price points, so there’s something for everyone! There are plenty of family-friendly camps and lodges throughout the country, with interleading suites and activities designed especially for kids.
Where to Go
What is the Best Time to Visit Namibia?
There are a couple of important things to consider when deciding the best time of year for a family safari holiday in Namibia. The climate is largely dry, with clear days and sunshine throughout most months. However, October and November are often blisteringly hot, followed by a humid rainy season with dramatic and unpredictable afternoon thunderstorms. April and May are usually ideal when the humidity subsides and the landscape is green. The dry season, between June and October, is best for wildlife viewing in Etosha National Park. This is also a great time to travel in the desert regions, including Sossusvlei and the Skeleton Coast, where the daytime temperatures are warm and nights are cold.
Family Activities
Game Drives
Stargazing
Kayaking
Hot Air Balloon Safari
Quad Biking
Whale Watching
Cultural Encounters
Guided Scorpion Night Walks
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Etosha National Park is exceptionally well organised and has excellent infrastructure, making it a superb option for a family wildlife safari. Head out in a 4×4 vehicle and see black-faced impala, Hartmann’s mountain zebra, giraffe, and perhaps even a rare black rhino among its incredible wildlife population.
The ancient Namib Desert is home to Africa’s first International Dark Sky Reserve and is renowned for its astonishing, zero-light pollution skies. Here, stargazing transports you to the realms of countless planets and constellations. Guides are on hand to point out notable observations and provide an introduction to the fascinating topic of astronomy.
Wildlife enthusiasts will enjoy a guided kayaking adventure, which provides close encounters with Cape fur seals off the coast of Walvis Bay. There’s a splendid array of bird life here too, and lucky explorers might even spot dolphins en route.
Ascend into the brilliant blue sky, gliding silently above Namibia’s towering red sand dunes. This is an epic way to experience the dramatic landscape from an aerial perspective. Then, enjoy a delicious champagne breakfast at the landing site.
Led by an experienced guide, breeze through the desert on an electrifying quad bike adventure with sunlit sand dunes as far as the eye can see. Quad biking is conducted with great care in a bid to cause minimal disturbance to the natural environment.
Take to the Atlantic Ocean on board a catamaran and experience Namibia’s unexpectedly diverse marine life. Whale watching season is typically between June and November, when you might spot migratory southern right and humpback whales, as well as dolphins, seals and pelicans.
Namibia’s cultural experiences are both rich and extremely rewarding, particularly the sensitively organised visits to Himba villages, where you’ll gain insight into the traditional lifestyle of this semi-nomadic people. Damaraland is also fascinating for its enormous collection of ancient rock art.
While you’ll want to avoid unexpected encounters with these little desert critters, guided scorpion night walks offer a fascinating way to spot arachnids under UV light. Kids are usually captivated by this unique, after-dark desert wilderness experience.
Wildlife You Can Expect to See on Safari in Namibia
Namibia conjures up images of haunting desert landscapes, with an occasional lone oryx roaming its endless dunes. So, many are surprised to find that it’s full of wildlife with infinite potential as a safari destination in its own right. Etosha National Park attracts an array of wildlife to its waterholes, including lion, leopard, elephant, zebra, wildebeest, and kudu. The otherworldly Skeleton Coast is home to vast numbers of Cape fur seals, while other signs of life include the odd cheetah, jackal, or brown hyena. Nature drives in ancient Damaraland deliver chance encounters with desert-adapted elephant, rare black rhino, and the occasional roaming lion.
Best Lodges for Families
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Wilderness Hoanib Skeleton Coast Camp
From AU$1,714 – AU$2,635 ppOverall, Wilderness Hoanib Skeleton Coast Camp is an excellent all-rounder in a dream destination! Highly recommended by Yellow Zebra. The quality of guiding is seriously impressive – all guides are knowledgeable and happy to answer any questions. Staff at…
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Shipwreck Lodge
From AU$1,927 – AU$2,564 ppOwned and run by Natural Selection, Shipwreck Lodge is one of the latest additions to the new company’s growing portfolio of properties throughout Namibia, Botswana, and South Africa. The price of your stay includes accommodation, all meals, all local drinks,…
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Wilderness Serra Cafema
From AU$1,417 – AU$2,352 ppSet in the arid wilderness of the Hartmann Valley, Wilderness Serra Cafema is a unique and extraordinary property in the remote north-western corner of Namibia, on the banks of the Kunene river. This is a land of striking contrasts, as scorched earth and…
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Wilderness Kulala Desert Lodge
From AU$680 – AU$907 ppLocated within the private Kulala Wilderness Reserve, Wilderness Kulala Desert Lodge is one of our top choices for the Sossusvlei region. A highlight of staying here is the lodge’s exclusive-use gate to the Namib-Naukluft National Park, allowing guests to…
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Hoanib Valley Camp
From AU$1,629 – AU$2,224 ppHoanib Valley Camp is owned and operated by Natural Selection, a company of experts offering characterful safaris in Namibia, Botswana, and South Africa. Relatively new to the safari scene, already Natural Selection’s properties are receiving first-rate…
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Sossusvlei Desert Lodge
From AU$1,813 – AU$3,046 ppSossusvlei Desert Lodge is owned and run by &Beyond, a company that operates a range of luxurious properties across Safari Africa, among other destinations. In Namibia alone, the &Beyond portfolio encompasses not only Sossusvlei but also the Skeleton Coast,…
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Okonjima Plains Camp
From AU$468 – AU$468 ppOkonjima Plains Camp provides beautiful accommodation with great facilities, a first-rate service, and a unique opportunity to witness big cats – and all without the high price-tag of other places!
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Ongava Tented Camp
From AU$1,544 – AU$1,544 ppLocated in a quiet valley in its own private reserve, Encounter by Ongava is an excellent option for a more traditional safari experience at a camp with an elevated feel in Namibia. The country is famous for its extraordinary landscapes – the vast dunes of…
Best Trips for Families
Talk to someone who’s been there
Real expertise doesn’t come from a few trips to Africa. All our specialists have either been guides, run the camps, or grown up and lived in Africa. That’s over 600 years of genuine safari experience.
