NamibRand Nature Reserve
NamibRand Nature Reserve
5
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This reserve represents all facets of diverse desert landscapes.
Meets animal welfare guidelines
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Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as wait time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
5.0
202 reviews
Excellent
169
Very good
26
Average
4
Poor
3
Terrible
0
Allan W
Johannesburg, South Africa39 contributions
Jul 2021
This is a definite place to put on your itinerary if travelling through Namibia. We camped at the Jupiter Campsite and would be my recommendation. If you want to see Fairy Circles then I recommend the Dune drive. Dune-boarding (boards provided at an extra cost) can be done at your own time and leisure. My recommendation is minimum 3 night stay to fully appreciate the experience. We were fortunate to see Gemsbok (Oryx) come to the waterhole located close to the camp. I will point out that although the reserve is a designated Dark Sky reserve conditions may determine the visibility. There was quite a lot of dust in the air during our visit and whilst the stars were spectacular you will have other opportunities in Namibia to view "dark skies". However, the conscious effort to reduce artificial lighting and maintain the dark skies designation is a huge achievement. We would certainly return to NamibRand if our travels take us back to Namibia one day. The staff were fantastic and very attentive and supportive.
Written August 22, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
AndrejaKo
Maribor, Slovenia1,042 contributions
Nov 2021
This was one of the most colorful part of our trip. If you are a photographer, I'd say take a whole day, because you'll be stopping a lot. The colors, the panorama. Delightful.
We also came across 3 dudes on bicycles. Which is absolutely crazy. Especially due to the temperatures.
We also came across 3 dudes on bicycles. Which is absolutely crazy. Especially due to the temperatures.
Written April 9, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
AzRat
Arizona2,311 contributions
Oct 2015
Didn't know where else to place this review. We were staying in Aus during our Namibia self drive and headed to Sosssusvlei. Our hosts suggested the route north C13 - D707 - C27 to reach our next lodge near Sesriem. The D707 was a spectacular two hour drive through an area that had stunning mountains on one side and the colorful dunes of the edge of Namib Naukluft stretching to the horizon on the other side. D707 is not a well traveled road - only one vehicle passed on our drive. Some of the sand was quite deep requiring extra driver attention, however most of the road was okay by Namibia gravel road standards. We saw quite a few antelope varieties and many ostrich on this section and even a distant 'Deadvlei - like' backdrop of trees and red dunes.
After the D707 road you reach a junction of the C27 you drive to Betta for a petrol and cold drink stop, if required. Heading north on the C27 you reach another junction with the D827. The GPS insisted we take the D827, our local host advised on the C27. Driving the C27 you soon enter the NamiRand Nature Reserve. Wow is the pejorative! Stunning vistas and our first zebra sighting. This was a very scenic drive through the heart of the reserve and offers more glimpes of the Namib Naukluft on the horizon. The C27 continues north to the Sesriem Gate area, we turned at the D845 junction to head for our lodging.
By my calculation this added one hour to our drive time from Aus to Sesrium area. Well worth the effort of this route. I cannot comment on the alternative route as I've never driven it, however further web research had some writers calling the D707/C27 "one of the most scenic drives in Africa". Enjoy your Namibia self drive and leave time on your route for alternatives, I am certainly pleased that I experienced this alternative route.
After the D707 road you reach a junction of the C27 you drive to Betta for a petrol and cold drink stop, if required. Heading north on the C27 you reach another junction with the D827. The GPS insisted we take the D827, our local host advised on the C27. Driving the C27 you soon enter the NamiRand Nature Reserve. Wow is the pejorative! Stunning vistas and our first zebra sighting. This was a very scenic drive through the heart of the reserve and offers more glimpes of the Namib Naukluft on the horizon. The C27 continues north to the Sesriem Gate area, we turned at the D845 junction to head for our lodging.
By my calculation this added one hour to our drive time from Aus to Sesrium area. Well worth the effort of this route. I cannot comment on the alternative route as I've never driven it, however further web research had some writers calling the D707/C27 "one of the most scenic drives in Africa". Enjoy your Namibia self drive and leave time on your route for alternatives, I am certainly pleased that I experienced this alternative route.
Written October 31, 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Michael R
Darnestown163 contributions
Jun 2014 • Couples
At the end of our two week safari we came to the Tok Tokkie Trail, met our guide for these three days and two nights and started off onto the dunes. Our first day was a short one, just the late afternoon ending in our first camp where we got to see what our 'room' looked like for the night. While we couldn't really picture what this would be like, we quickly became campers, finding the privy, learning how to arrange everything in little space and then went to dinner, as the sun began to set. After dinner, it became rather cold and I took off my hiking boots and just got in the cocoon that was my bed. Looking up at the dark sky with no light pollution, no clouds, no haze, just stars including the Milky Way was absolutely magical! In more than seven decades of life, I had not seen the sky as bright as this! But, sleep did come. In the morning we were up and ready to go for the full day. I joined the over the mountain gang while my wife joined the around the mountain gang. Over dunes, across plains and up and over the rocky trails we went. The tea stop was in the midst of the mountains with beautiful scenery in all directions. That night the wind was howling and, while the temperature was not as low as the first night, the effective temperature was much lower. So, even with the heavy ponchos we were given, my teeth were chattering unstoppably. Therefore, shortly after the sun went down, we were both in bed, getting warm and fascinated by the clear sky and the stars above. The next morning, my wife was awakened by our guide bringing hot coffee, to her delight. Shortly after that we were on the march again, but just for an hour or so. Our wondrous trek was over. We had joined the small number of folks who have had the marvelous experience of hiking the Tok Tokkie Trail!
Written July 6, 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Paulo R P Souza
Balneario Camboriu, SC222 contributions
Jan 2018
The NamibRand Nature Reserve is a few hours away from Swakopmund or Windhoek through a good road. When you arrive there, all worries with the heat or traffic vanish. The view is spectacular and the sense of vastness and void become very strong. Remember to take a lot of water with you and make sure your transport is well maintained.
Written August 25, 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Hanna L
Baltimore, MD16 contributions
Jul 2016 • Family
HIGHLIGHT of my Namibia trip!!!!!!! Must do... Scenery in unmatched as well as the service too. 3 Days/2 Nights total and you walk during the day and sleep outdoors on cots under the stars!! Service is amazing, chef and ground manager at the camp as well as your walking guide. Amazing meals and amazing facilities out in the middle of no where. Recommend Sebastian the guide and Lulu the cook. Learned a lot about Namibia and the desert ecosystem and saw a lot of wildlife while on foot which was a great experience! You can't get this anywhere else
Written August 3, 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Randy R
San Francisco, CA32 contributions
Sep 2015 • Couples
As part of a two week trip to Namibia, we spent 3 days hiking in the NamibRand Nature Reserve with the Tok Tokkie Trails group. This group runs both an environmental camp and a hiking trip program that leads your through the dunes and mountains of the NamibRand.
The first day was a short hike into a camp where we slept under the stars. And what stars! This part of the Reserve is a dark sky area, one of the three darkest places on the planet. The mobile kitchen was fabulous with good food for both dinner and breakfast.
The second day was a longer hike for most of us (about 8 miles done in two stretches) with a subset of the group doing 3 miles or opting for a motorized tour. The hike was relatively easy (although hiking in sand is never really easy) with wonderful scenery and animals. We lunched in a shelter and napped for about 2 hours to allow the temperature to drop before resuming our hike. Again, we slept out in the open with great stars.
The final day was a short one, about a 2 mile hike to a pickup point that took us back to the main area for departure. I would recommend this hike to anyone in reasonable shape - the experience is wonderful.
The first day was a short hike into a camp where we slept under the stars. And what stars! This part of the Reserve is a dark sky area, one of the three darkest places on the planet. The mobile kitchen was fabulous with good food for both dinner and breakfast.
The second day was a longer hike for most of us (about 8 miles done in two stretches) with a subset of the group doing 3 miles or opting for a motorized tour. The hike was relatively easy (although hiking in sand is never really easy) with wonderful scenery and animals. We lunched in a shelter and napped for about 2 hours to allow the temperature to drop before resuming our hike. Again, we slept out in the open with great stars.
The final day was a short one, about a 2 mile hike to a pickup point that took us back to the main area for departure. I would recommend this hike to anyone in reasonable shape - the experience is wonderful.
Written December 12, 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
MaSmaNa
Windhoek, Namibia203 contributions
Jun 2013 • Family
If you search for quiet, undisturbed place to calm your thoughts and mind...Namib Rand Nature Reserve definitely is NOT TO BE MISSED! Not only scenic landscapes and endless horizons will steal your heart away, you will experience feeling of being "far from civilization", so near nature, that even silence will shout with sounds and wonders! If you are camping-lover (as I am) you will return there time and again! At night, jackals will chorus around you. In the morning sand grouse calls will cheerily lift you up, when you sip your "open-air" espresso. I think music will be best to insert here to describe this place...which was recently inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage list..."The Namib Sea of Sand".
Written August 20, 2013
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Basspro-Namibia
Windhoek, Namibia91 contributions
Mar 2013 • Friends
Namibia has many beautiful places to visit and NamibRand Nature Reserve is one of them. It can be quite cold in the winter months June-September so take some warm clothing along. The scenery is wonderful and the abundant wildlife is the cherry on the top.
Written July 30, 2013
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
planetaugust
London, UK20 contributions
Aug 2018 • Couples
Namibia on the whole was an eye-opener for us. We travel a lot but this is the first time we've visited a large country with a tiny population of less than 3 million. The NamibRand Nature Reserve is absolutely, gloriously beautiful. The intense colors, the shapes of the landscape and the vistas transport one to some fantastical dream. A fantasy by day and a mesmerising star-crusted sky at night.
Written August 26, 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
HR
Seoul, South Korea
I am traveling alone. Are there any seat available this week? For going to desert
Written March 10, 2020
Is there somewhere else you can find Namibrand-like landscapes without having to stay in the park overnight? So red dunes mixed with green vegetation and mountains?
Written June 7, 2018
Hi AzRat (and anyone else who can help with this)
I'm so glad I came across your review. We want to drive from Luderitz to just north of Sesriem and saw there was a possibility of driving through the NamibRand Park but then lots of mentions of the private concessions in the Park and no mention of whether you could drive through without being part of a private tour.
Did you have to pay to enter the Park? I'm hoping things haven't changed since your visit. This sounds like a drive too good to miss.
Excellent review!
Written February 28, 2017
Where you get in, is where you get out. It is a tour. No way to do it differently in my opinion
Written April 16, 2017
Hilary Nonofo M
Gaborone, Botswana
how much is one night of camping for 6 adults
Written December 14, 2016
I am sorry not being in a position to answer your question..... You will have to go directly on Google and check the offers you can find. There are camping places but not many. I didn't camp when I visited NamibRand !
Written December 14, 2016
Can you drive to and from Windhoek in one day and see the NamibRand Nature Reserve. Are there any hostel/hotel accommodation there or is only tented accommodation?
Written November 26, 2016
1) Yes it's possible if you are an absolute sucker for driving endless hours nonstop. No it's NOT recommended and no it's NOT worth it. To "really see" the Nature Reserve you have to go on (at least) one drive with them in a 4X4 as driving around privately is not permitted.
2) Only tented, but very comfortable and cannot be faulted.
3) Answered although not asked: Don't go in summer!!
Written November 27, 2016
How many hours drive from windhoek ... can you do it in a day and see anytjing ??
Written September 7, 2016
About 6 hours. Plan your trip carefully. Almost all sand roads.
Written December 23, 2016
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