AAC Sales and Marketing Coordinator Brooke traveled to Namibia this fall. She joins us on the blog to share stories and photos from her safari. Welcome, Brooke!
When you first step off the plane in Namibia, the warm desert air wraps around you and the possibilities of discovering the wonders this vast country seem endless. From that first breath, you know you’ve arrived somewhere extraordinary. My journey began in Windhoek, where I was greeted with the kind of warmth Namibia is known for. After a long flight, Galton House offered a gentle landing: a quiet space to rest, unwind and settle into the rhythm of the country.
The following morning, we made our way southwest, and the terrain slowly opened into the rich oranges and deep reds of the Namib Desert. We paused for a scenic picnic overlooking miles of untouched wilderness: a beautiful preview of what awaited us. By late afternoon, we entered Namib Naukluft National Park for our first look at the famous towering dunes glowing in the soft evening light. We climbed massive sand mountains, wandered through Deadvlei’s ghostly and wildly Instagrammable camelthorn trees and listened as our guide unraveled the secrets of the creatures that thrive in this harsh yet beautiful environment.
After exploring the area and watching the colors shift across the sand, we continued on to Camp Sossus, tucked into a granite amphitheater in the Namib Tsaris Conservancy. With its recycled oil-drum roofing, low-impact design and hidden star beds, the camp blends seamlessly into the landscape. Guests at Camp Sossus can enjoy mountain biking, nature drives, bush walks, incredibly scenic sundowners and some other special surprises. The star beds might have been my favorite – sleeping in the cool air on the roof under a blanket of stars then watching dawn slowly break was heavenly.
Leaving the desert behind, we traveled northwest through rugged canyons toward the coast. By the time we reached Swakopmund, the cool and refreshing Atlantic breeze felt like we had entered an entirely different world. With its German colonial architecture, oceanfront promenades and relaxed seaside energy, it’s a charming stop between desert adventures. It also has a handful of wonderful restaurants and good shopping. We spent the evening enjoying fresh seafood at a local favorite, The Tug, situated at the end of a wooden pier with waves dramatically crashing below and the sun sinking behind the horizon. Namibia’s coastal seafood dining is incredible, including the local catch kabeljou, a firm and meaty whitefish.
After Swakopmund, the landscape shifted again as we made our way along the edge of the Skeleton Coast. Misty shores, rusted shipwrecks, windswept dunes and whale bones scattered along the sand were features of the scenic drive. At Möwe Bay, we met our Shipwreck Lodge guide and continued deeper into the private concession, a place so remote it feels like the end of the earth.
As soon as we arrived at Shipwreck Lodge I was completely blown away. With its shipwreck-inspired chalets perched on the sand, is unlike any other camp in Africa. Here, the Atlantic roars, the fog rolls in without warning and the desert feels almost alive. Days were filled with quad biking (ATVs) over rolling dunes, searching for desert-adapted wildlife and savoring picnics on wide and empty beaches where the rest of the world feels wonderfully far away.
From the Skeleton Coast, we traveled inland to Damaraland; a dramatic tapestry of red rock mountains, ancient riverbeds and hardy desert-adapted flora and fauna. It’s a rugged, beautifully desolate place. At Camp Doros, perched above a dry riverbed, we set out early to track Namibia’s free-roaming desert black rhinos. Walking in the footsteps of these rare animals, guided by expert rhino rangers, was one of the most humbling moments of the entire trip. Later, golden-hour drives revealed hidden oases, sweeping vistas and the sheer scale of this remarkable region.
Continuing deeper into Damaraland, we arrived at Onduli Ridge, tucked between granite outcrops with views stretching toward the Brandberg, Namibia’s highest mountain. The suites here blur the line between indoors and outdoors, and at night, the star beds offer front-row seating to the clearest, most brilliant skies I’ve ever witnessed. Our time was filled with desert-adapted elephant tracking, nature walks, e-biking across open plains and exploring the incredible ancient rock engravings at Twyfelfontein. Each experience felt rooted in a sense of connection with the land and the wildlife.
Eastward toward Ongava Private Game Reserve the landscape opened once again into savanna dotted with mopane trees and wildlife. From Anderssons at Ongava, we ventured into Etosha National Park, one of Africa’s great wildlife sanctuaries. Etosha’s enormous salt pan stretched to the horizon like a shimmering white ocean. Around waterholes, elephants, rhinos, giraffes, lions and countless antelope gathered in the golden light.
After returning to Anderssons, we headed down to the underground hide, where animals wandered to and from the waterhole just steps away. What unfolded there was some of the most unforgettable wildlife viewing I’ve ever had. We also had the opportunity to visit the Ongava Research Centre, where conservation and science meet the realities of modern-day wildlife protection, an inspiring reminder that safaris help sustain landscapes like these.
For my final night, we returned toward Windhoek and settled into Zannier Omaanda, a luxurious retreat overlooking the Khomas Hochland plateau. With its thatched Owambo-style huts, stunning infinity pool and deeply peaceful atmosphere, it was the perfect place to end the journey. The next morning, as we drove back toward the airport, I realized that Namibia had worked its way under my skin in the best possible way.
It’s a place of contrasts. A land where desert beauty captures the imagination, ocean waves crash on desolate shores, rhinos roam freely in the stark landscapes and starlight feels close enough to touch. Leaving was bittersweet, but like so many travelers before me, I know this is not goodbye … only see you again soon.
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Photos courtesy AAC Sales and Marketing Coordinator Brooke Dare, Galton House, Camp Sossus and Zannier Omaanda