Destinations stories Archives

December 21, 2024

Swakopmund Fat Bike Tours

If you’re visiting Swakopmund, Namibia’s coastal gem, and looking for a unique way to explore the region, Swakopmund Fat Bike Tours offers an unforgettable experience. Having recently gone on their "Up-close Living Desert Tour", I can say with confidence that their tours perfectly blend adventure, eco- consciousness, and exploration. This 3.5-hour journey, taken on a fat bike, allows you to discover the hidden beauty and biodiversity of the oldest desert in the world— an adventure I found both enlightening and exciting.

December 21, 2024

Oceans of Insight – museum

Anchors, propellers, masts, winches and an artistic sundial are arranged to create an outdoor walkway that marks the beginning of your journey through time and all things maritime. As we step into the newly opened Maritime Museum in Lüderitz, we are about to explore a rich and fascinating past. This world-class tourist attraction celebrates the town’s seafaring heritage and its deep connection to the ocean. Having visited maritime museums around the globe, I can confidently say that this one is as captivating as its international counterparts. Housed within the restored historic Lüderitz Old Power Station on Dias Street, the museum spans five floors, taking visitors back in time while also highlighting contemporary interactions with the ocean.

February 28, 2025

Discover Etosha National Park

In the hushed quiet of the afternoon, I found myself at a waterhole, the air alive with the sounds of nature. A soft breeze swirled white dust into the air, the particles dancing in the sunlight, the landscape all around barren and forlorn, yet the stretch of white pan before me is the epicentre of a prolific national park. A distant rumble of thunder hinted at rain, but for now, the drama unfolded under the expanse of an endless sky.

February 28, 2025

Serene and wide-open

Elephants playfully rolling in the mud on a scorching summer day – a huge herd, with several young ones of various ages. It is a sight of pure joy. I could watch them for hours, captivated by their carefree antics as they fling mud over their backs, the youngest sliding on its belly in the cool, soft earth, and the eager excitement palpable as they run to greet each other.

March 4, 2025

Discover Southern Namibia

In the cool stillness of the early morning, I stood at the edge of the Fish River Canyon, the world awakening around me in shades of gold and amber. The crisp air carried the faint scent of morning mist, and as the first light stretched across the canyon’s rugged expanse, it was as if the earth itself exhaled, revealing its ancient secrets. Plum and lilac purple hues swathed the landscape before me. Below, the winding river shimmered like a silver thread, its course carved over millennia – a testament to time and the raw power of nature.

March 6, 2025

The desert symphony

As I gaze upon the land from a distance, the vastness of the Namib stretches out endlessly before me. Up close, the landscape is an amalgamation of gravelly sand, tufts of dried grass and the stark silhouettes of blackened mountains. Somehow, these simple elements of nature harmonise in perfect balance. It is in the seamless orchestration of all these elements that the beauty is found. Much like a symphony where each note finds its place in a greater whole. In the desert, every individual detail is crucial to the song it sings collectively.

March 7, 2025

The sound of silence

The NamibRand Nature Reserve has made history as Africa’s first Wilderness Quiet Park, a prestigious recognition that underscores the reserve’s commitment to responsible, noise-conscious tourism. Awarded by Quiet Parks International (QPI), NamibRand became only the fourth location worldwide to receive this honour. The Wilderness Quiet Park accolade recognises vast, pristine areas offering exceptional sonic beauty and extended periods of natural quiet – a rare and modern luxury that enhances both human wellbeing and ecological health.

March 7, 2025

A whale of a day

The water was like glass – clear, calm and serene – as we set off from the Walvis Bay waterfront aboard the Olin with Mola Mola Safaris. The air was thick with anticipation. While we knew we would encounter the usual array of marine life, our hopes were set on something more elusive: the chance to witness majestic whales from up close.

March 10, 2025

Discover the Zambezi Region

This is Namibia’s Zambezi Region, formerly known as the Caprivi Strip – a verdant paradise tucked into the northeastern corner of the country. Unlike the arid deserts and rugged landscapes of Namibia’s south and west, the Zambezi Region is alive with rivers, wetlands and forests. It is a haven for wildlife and a crossroads of culture, where Namibia meets Angola, Botswana, Zambia and Zimbabwe.

March 10, 2025

Discover the Skeleton Coast & Kunene Region

In the cool, salty air of dawn, I stood on the windswept shores of the Skeleton Coast, the Atlantic waves crashing against the jagged remains of an ancient shipwreck. The rusted frame of the vessel stood defiant, a reminder of the treacherous waters that have claimed countless sailors over the centuries. Beyond the beach, the vast Namib Desert stretched into the horizon.

March 10, 2025

A castle of love and legends

That is what the story of Heinitzburg Castle is all about – the enduring love of one man for one woman in the 19th century, and the love of one woman for a 110-year-old castle in the 21st century. It is also a story of family, dedication and history. This is the essence of Hotel Heinitzburg.

March 25, 2025

Between a rock and a timeless place

As someone who has travelled extensively across Namibia, I often feel like I have seen it all. But this country never ceases to amaze me. Every journey reveals something new, something magical that leaves me in awe. My recent trip to Waterberg Plateau Park was no exception – it felt like stepping into another world.

March 25, 2025

Finding the fishermen of the sky

Located just 22 kilometres northwest of Mariental, Hardap Dam, which is fed by the Fish River, covers a sprawling 25 square kilometres. While it serves as a vital source of electricity and water for the region, it is also a sanctuary for certain wildlife species, drawing many nature enthusiasts to make a stop here while in the south of Namibia.

March 25, 2025

Ondudu rock art, landscapes and life

During the heat of summer, we made our way to Ondudu Safari Lodge, on the edge of the Erongo Mountains. Perched among towering granite boulders, the lodge’s cool, tented rooms each boast their own unique layout, cleverly tucked into the rocky terrain.

March 25, 2025

A Love Letter to the Sandhof Lilies

These extraordinary flowers bloom only when nature grants them the perfect gift: rain, and lots of it. They don’t follow schedules or care about convenience. One day they’re there, standing proudly in shallow pools of water, delicate yet resilient, a sea of white and pink stretching into the distance. The next, they could be gone. If you hear they’ve bloomed, you don’t think twice— you go.

March 25, 2025

A quick guide to the South

Southern Namibia is a land of striking contrasts, where vast deserts meet rugged coastlines, and history whispers from the ruins of once-thriving towns. From the hauntingly beautiful ghost town of Kolmanskop to the windswept shores of Lüderitz, the breathtaking depths of Fish River Canyon, and the untouched wilderness of Tsau //Khaeb National Park, this region offers a journey through time and nature unlike any other. Whether you’re drawn by the allure of towering dunes, rich biodiversity, or tales of diamond-fueled dreams, the south invites you to explore its captivating landscapes and uncover its hidden stories.

March 25, 2025

Exploring Walvis Bay’s Wild Side

The Pelican Point Guided Hike is a new initiative, offering adventurers a unique way to explore the beauty of Walvis Bay’s lagoon and RAMSAR site. Founded by Kelly Beukes, an avid hiker and nature enthusiast, this trek takes participants along the western edge of the lagoon. What sets this experience apart is the opportunity to witness marine and birdlife up close, away from the noise and distractions of the modern world. From playful seals and elegant flamingos to the dramatic shipwreck resting on the shore, every step of the journey reveals something remarkable.

March 25, 2025

A Place of Legends, Bones & Myths

In the land where time appears to slow down, where the sea meets the sandy touch of desert dunes, lies the Skeleton Coast. It is a place both feared and revered, whose name conjures images of ancient mysteries, dramatic shipwrecks and the eerie howling of the wind. Ever since my first visit, I have been captivated by its haunting beauty. As I explored the land, a deep curiosity grew within me – a love I was surprised to discover.

March 25, 2025

Hooves & Gardens

"Here, have some more!” Another batch of yellow baby tomatoes is generously stuffed into my hand, as we step between rambling rows of trellised tomatoes teeming inside a greenhouse. I am back at Hooves and Gardens, nearly a year after my own wedding reception was held on this spacious family farmhouse-style property. In between reminiscing about my wedding day, I am treated to a personal tour of the grounds and the most recent developments. Trailing behind Christiane Reé-Ahlenstorf, co-founder of Hooves and Gardens, I happily munch away. Sweet tomatoes burst with flavour inside my mouth. It is a beautiful, sunny Sunday morning.

March 26, 2025

Carved from rock

Rocks are silent keepers of ancient secrets, bearing witness to Earth’s movements, the collisions that shaped landscapes and the forces that continue to sculpt the world we marvel at today. Among the most captivating of these landscapes is the northwest of Namibia, where the rocks do more than just catch the eye with their striking hues and dramatic formations. These rocks, positioned with such eloquence to form mountains and valleys, are also some of the oldest on the planet. If these rocks could speak, they would have many stories to tell.