What are the Top National Parks in Namibia?

From the Namib Desert’s wind-sculpted red dunes to Etosha’s vast salt pans to the Skeleton Coast, Namibia’s national parks are astonishingly otherworldly.

Two people stand atop a large, windswept sand dune under a clear sky, with warm sunlight casting deep shadows on the orange desert landscape—an iconic scene from one of the best parks Namibia has to offer.

BROWSE NAMIBIA TRIPS

NAMIBIA

The Top National Parks in Namibia

The Ultimate Guide to Namibia’s Best National Parks for Safari

Namibia is one of the world’s most breathtaking wildlife destinations. To experience a safari in this destination at the southwestern tip of Africa is to watch a desert landscape come alive. Not only is Namibia home to some of the world’s largest and oldest freestanding dunes, but it’s also inhabited by a wide array of desert-adapted wildlife, including the world’s largest free-roaming populations of black rhinos and cheetahs. Read on for details on the country’s top national parks, and how to best explore each one.

ETOSHA

skeleton coast

Namib-Naukluft

A lion runs toward a herd of antelopes and gazelles across a dry, open landscape under a clear sky, capturing the wild beauty found in the best parks Namibia has to offer.

best parks in Namibia

Etosha National Park

UNESCO-listed Etosha National Park is known for its vast salt pan and seasonal watering holes, which attract large numbers of elephants, rhinos, lions, elephants, and rhinos during the dry season. On WT’s safari, explore the park from the remote eastern gate, away from the popular main entrance.

When to Go

January to October

Reasons to Visit Etosha National Park

Track black rhinos. The salt pan and grassy plains is home to one of the largest populations of black rhino in the world, thanks to successful protection efforts. During the dry season, one of the best times to visit Namibia, these majestic animals gather at watering holes that seem to emerge from the otherwise barren landscape.
Game walk alongside an anti-poaching team. What better way to experience one of Africa’s great conservation success stories than alongside the people behind it—on WT’s safaris, join anti-poaching rangers on an eye-opening bush walk and, depending on availability, enjoy a dinner with the head of a special anti-poaching unit to learn even more about what’s gone into these efforts.

Which Trip Should I Book?

Namibia Expedition | Namibia: Green Season Safari | Ultimate Namibia & Botswana | Namibia Private Safari

A small airplane's shadow is cast onto a sandy beach near the shoreline, with ocean waves in the background—reminiscent of coastal views found near the best parks Namibia has to offer.

best parks in Namibia

Skeleton Coast National Park

A hauntingly beautiful region of sand dunes, shipwrecks, whale carcasses, and coastal wilderness, the Skeleton Coast is one of Namibia’s most remote and mysterious landscapes. Despite the severe conditions, this surreal park is home to lions, elephants, giraffes, jackals, and a wide variety of antelope and bird species.

When to Go

January to October

Reasons to Visit Skeleton Coast National Park

Experience the coastline from above. On WT’s safari, embark on charter flight above the legendary shore to see huge colonies of fur seals, shipwrecked vessels, flocks of flamingos, even the ghost camps of the diamond hunters of the early 20th century.
Stay at a shipwreck-inspired hotel. Shipwreck Lodge comprises 10 cozy “shipwreck-style” chalets situated in the Skeleton Coast’s rolling sand dunes. Each accommodation at this one-of-a-kind lodge is solar powered and has a wood-burning stove and a private deck from which guests can enjoy the ocean breeze—and it provides a fantastic jumping-off point for exploring the region’s otherworldly geology and wildlife by 4WD.

Which Trip Should I Book?

Namibia: Green Season Safari | Namibia Private Safari | Shipwreck Lodge Extension

A lone oryx stands beside a small tree in a desert landscape, dramatic shadows stretching across the sand dune—capturing the striking beauty found in the best parks Namibia has to offer.

best parks in Namibia

Namib-Naukluft National Park

The oldest desert on the planet, Namibia’s Namib Desert is a sea of wind-sculpted red sand dunes that’s unlike anything else on Earth. Climbing the towering dunes is an unforgettable experience—and a WT Namibia safari grants special access.

When to Go

April to October

Reasons to Visit Namib-Naukluft National Park

Experience colossal sand dunes. On WT’s Namibia Expedition safari, overnight at a stunning lodge inside Namib-Naukluft National Park that allows you access to the Sossusvlei dunes at sunrise and after sunset. Photograph and climb these imposing hills while the light is right—no need to line up waiting for the gates to open..
Hike across the Deadvlei. Of all the things to do in Namibia, this is one of the most unforgettable. The Deadvlei is a white clay pan located in a valley between the dunes in the Namib-Naukluft Park, making for a surreal hiking experience. The pan is marked by dead acacia trees, which offer a dramatic photo opportunity come sunrise, when the trees appear as shadows against the white pans and red dunes.

Which Trip Should I Book?

Namibia Expedition | Namibia Private Safari | Sossusvlei Dunes Extension

Learn More

Talk to an Expert

Our Africa Specialists know every detail about our Namibia trips. They will be happy to answer any questions and help you choose the journey that’s right for you. Contact us to learn more or book your trip today!

Choose a Trip