Private African safaris in Namibia
Luxury Namibia Safaris
Red dunes, desert elephants, Etosha’s waterholes and the Skeleton Coast, linked by light aircraft and planned around you by our team.
Why Namibia with Nova
Namibia, Planned Around You
A luxury Namibia safari is the African safari for people who love space. Namibia is one of the least densely populated countries on earth, and its deserts, mountains and coast feel very different from the green bush of East Africa.
Distances here are large, so planning makes all the difference. We often link the regions by light aircraft, which turns long drives into short scenic flights over the dunes and the coast, and we use private guides where driving makes more sense. You might watch sunrise over the dunes at Sossusvlei, track desert-adapted elephants in Damaraland, then sit by a floodlit waterhole in Etosha after dinner.
Our team arranges the international flights, light aircraft, guides and lodges, and stays in touch from your first enquiry until you are home.
Our promise
“Luxury travel, focused on eco-tourism and protecting Africa’s wildest regions and animals.”
Namibia was one of the first African countries to write environmental protection into its constitution, and much of its wildlife now lives on community conservancies. Staying in these areas helps local people benefit directly from the animals around them.
Getting there
Nonstop from Frankfurt and Munich, or via Johannesburg, Cape Town or Doha
Best time
May to October, with June to October best for Etosha
Ideal for
Landscapes, photography, couples and active families
Combine with
Where we go
Namibia’s Safari Regions
Namibia is much more than one famous dune. These are the regions we plan journeys around, usually three or four in one trip.
Dunes and dead trees
Sossusvlei
Some of the highest dunes in the world, in the Namib-Naukluft Park. Climb at first light, then walk onto the white clay pan of Deadvlei among its dark, centuries-old trees.
Private desert reserves
NamibRand and the Southern Namib
Private reserves beside the dunes offer quiet drives, walks, hot-air balloon flights at sunrise and some of the darkest night skies in Africa.
Desert elephants and rock art
Damaraland
Red mountains and dry riverbeds, home to desert-adapted elephants and black rhino. Twyfelfontein’s rock engravings are a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Classic game viewing
Etosha
A huge salt pan ringed by waterholes. In the dry months animals come to drink in a steady stream, and private reserves on the park’s edge add quiet and comfort.
Fog, wrecks and seals
The Skeleton Coast
A remote shoreline where the desert meets the cold Atlantic, with shipwrecks, seal colonies and desert lions. Best reached by light aircraft.
The far north-west
Kaokoland and the Kunene
Rugged, remote country along the Kunene River, where Himba communities still live by their own traditions. Visits are arranged respectfully, with local guides.
Desert meets sea
Swakopmund and Walvis Bay
A coastal town with German-era buildings, dolphin and seal cruises on the lagoon, flamingos and 4×4 drives to where the dunes drop into the sea at Sandwich Harbour.
Rivers in the north-east
The Zambezi Region
A green strip of rivers and floodplains between Angola, Zambia and Botswana, close to Chobe and Victoria Falls.
Over the border
Botswana
From the desert to the water of the Okavango Delta: one of Southern Africa’s best combinations.
When to go
Namibia Month by Month
Namibia is dry for most of the year, with sunny days and very little rain. Here is how the year usually looks; weather patterns vary from year to year.
| Months | What to expect | Good for |
|---|---|---|
| January to February | Hot, with occasional afternoon storms in the north and east. | Green landscapes, newborn animals and birdlife |
| March to April | The rains ease and the desert is often at its clearest. | Photography, quieter lodges and good value |
| May | Dry, warm days and cooler nights. | All regions, with comfortable temperatures |
| June to August | Dry, clear and sunny, with cold nights in the desert. | Etosha’s waterholes, summer holidays and families |
| September to October | Dry and getting hotter, with wildlife gathered at water. | Peak game viewing in Etosha and Damaraland |
| November to December | Very hot inland, with the first storms in the north. | Dramatic skies and the start of the green season |
The coast stays cool and often misty all year, so bring a warm layer even in summer. Summer school holidays in July and August, in Europe, North America and the Gulf, fall in Namibia’s dry winter, with warm days and crisp nights.
Getting there
Getting to Namibia
Windhoek has nonstop flights from Germany and Doha, and easy connections through Johannesburg and Cape Town.
From Europe
Discover Airlines flies nonstop from Frankfurt to Windhoek in about ten hours, and from Munich several times a week, and Edelweiss adds summer flights from Zurich. From London, Amsterdam, Paris or Istanbul, connect through Johannesburg or Cape Town.
From the USA and Canada
Fly nonstop to Johannesburg from Atlanta with Delta or Newark with United, or to Cape Town, then connect to Windhoek. You can also connect through Frankfurt.
From the Gulf
Qatar Airways flies from Doha to Windhoek in around nine hours. From Dubai and Abu Dhabi, Emirates and Etihad connect through Johannesburg, and Emirates also through Cape Town; both are about two hours from Windhoek.
Between the regions
Light aircraft link Windhoek with private airstrips at the dunes, in Damaraland, at Etosha and on the Skeleton Coast. Flights between regions are often one to two hours, and the views are part of the trip.
Flight times are approximate and routes change, including seasonal and regional changes, so we confirm the current options when we plan your journey.
Experiences
Ways to Experience Namibia
Every journey is built around what matters to you. These are some of the things our guests ask for most.
Sossusvlei
Dunes at First Light
Reach the dunes as the park opens, climb while the sand is cool and walk into Deadvlei before the heat of the day.
Southern Namib
Balloon over the Desert
A sunrise flight over the dunes and plains, with breakfast once you land.
Damaraland
Tracking Rhino on Foot
Set out with expert trackers to find desert-adapted black rhino, in areas where this is permitted and carefully managed.
Etosha
Waterholes After Dark
Sit quietly by a floodlit waterhole and watch elephants, rhino and lions come to drink.
From the air
Scenic Flights
Fly over the dunes, the Skeleton Coast and its shipwrecks by light aircraft between lodges.
Under the stars
Night Skies
Some of Africa’s darkest skies, with star beds or a guided look through a telescope at some lodges.
Sample journey
Nine Nights: Dunes, Desert and Etosha
A starting point only. We change the regions, lodges and pace to suit you, and can add the Skeleton Coast, Botswana or Cape Town if you wish.
Day 1
Windhoek to the Dunes
Fly into Windhoek, nonstop from Frankfurt or Munich, or via Johannesburg, Cape Town or Doha. You are met on arrival and flown by light aircraft to a lodge in a private reserve near Sossusvlei.
Days 1 to 4
Sossusvlei and the Southern Namib
Three nights in the desert, with an early morning in the dunes and Deadvlei, a balloon flight if you wish, and quiet evenings under the stars.
Days 4 to 7
Damaraland
Fly north to Damaraland for three nights. Track desert-adapted elephants and, where possible, rhino, and visit the rock engravings at Twyfelfontein.
Days 7 to 10
Etosha
Three nights at a private reserve on the edge of Etosha, with game drives in the park and time beside the waterholes.
Day 10
Homeward
Fly to Windhoek to connect with your flights home, or continue to Botswana, Victoria Falls or Cape Town.
Good to know
Namibia Safari FAQs
Do I need a visa for Namibia?
Since April 2025, US, Canadian, UK and most EU passport holders, as well as UAE passport holders, need a visa for Namibia. At the time of writing it can be bought on arrival at Windhoek’s Hosea Kutako and Walvis Bay airports, or applied for in advance as an eVisa. Other GCC passports are not on the visa on arrival list, so please check the rules for your passport before you book.
What counts is the passport you travel on, not where you live. Rules and fees change, so please check the current requirements before you travel.
When is the best time for a Namibia safari?
May to October is the dry season and the most popular time, with June to October best for wildlife in Etosha. March and April are often lovely, with clear air and fewer visitors. December to February is very hot inland.
Is Namibia safe for a safari?
Namibia welcomes many international visitors each year, and its safari areas are remote and quiet. On a Nova journey you are met on arrival, guided throughout and flown or driven between lodges. We follow current government travel advice, such as that from the US State Department, the UK Foreign Office and the UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and plan routes accordingly.
Do I need malaria tablets or vaccinations?
Sossusvlei, the coast and much of the centre are low risk or malaria free, but the far north, including the Zambezi Region and, in the rainy months, parts of Etosha, carry a risk. Speak to a doctor or travel clinic before you travel, especially if you are combining Namibia with Botswana or Victoria Falls.
How much does a luxury Namibia safari cost?
It depends mainly on the season, the lodges, and how much you fly rather than drive. Light aircraft save time and add a lot to the experience, but they are a significant part of the cost. Tell us your budget and we will show you the best way to use it.
Is Namibia good for a family safari?
Yes, especially for families who like to be active: dunes to climb, desert walks, waterholes and starry skies. The desert and the coast are low risk for malaria, and some lodges have family rooms or private houses. Some activities set minimum ages, so we check these for you.
Combine Namibia with
More of Southern Africa
Start planning
Let’s Design Your Namibia Safari
Tell us when you would like to travel, who is coming and what you hope to see, and we will design a Namibia safari around you. Our team works across Dubai, the United States and South Africa, planning journeys for travellers from around the world.
Prefer email? info@novasafaris.com