Namib-Naukluft National Park

Translating to “land of open spaces”, Namibia is home to quite a few. The most prominent of which is the Namib-Naukluft Park, a national park that encompasses part of the Namib Desert – the oldest desert in the world – and the Naukluft mountain range. Established in 1907, this protected area makes up the largest game park in Africa, covering more than 30,000+ square kilometres.

Characterized by its imposing sand dunes and high, isolated rocky outcrops, the Namib-Naukluft Park is known for its breathtaking horizons drenched in rusted orange hues. The sand dunes – created by the winds from the Atlantic Ocean to the west – are the tallest in the world, rising to more than 300 meters in some places!

The park also caters to a surprising collection of creatures that manage to survive in the hyper-arid region. Snakes, geckos, hyenas and jackals are some of the unusual wildlife that call the mountainous desert region home. Although lauded for its big game hunting safaris, the park also serves as a sanctuary for the Hartmann zebra, which are native to Namibia and reside in the park’s Naukluft section.

The main attraction is the Sossusvlei, meaning “dead-end marsh” in the Afrikaans and Nama languages. This stunning dried lake is located in the southern part of the Namib Desert, and is one of the most photographed areas in Subsaharan Africa.

Since 2010, the Namib-Naukluft Park has been overseen by the Namib Skeleton Coast National Park, the biggest protected area of Namibia.