Sand dunes are great, but here's what else you should do in Namibia
Just between South Africa and Angola sits Namibia, a country where you’ll find everything from colossal sand dunes to sprawling floodplains. The Namibian night sky is heralded for being one of the clearest skies on the planet and 2,500-year-old rock art engravings can be witnessed in it’s Damaraland valleys.
With its plethora of captivating scenery, tourists can easily overlook a deeper cultural experience as they get lost in the landscape tourism.
It’s not that the dramatic scenery of Namibia isn’t worth traversing. It’s just that there’s so much more to be experienced just beneath the surface. Within Namibia’s 13 major tribes lies rich cultures and lifestyles that also deserve to be explored.
As you plan your next trip, include these cultural excursions so that when you leave, you have had a well rounded Namibian experience to take back home with you.
5 Ways to Explore Namibia Beyond Landscape Tourism
1. Visit an Open Market (youtube vid)
Are you ready to have your taste, smell, and sight senses stimulated simultaneously? Then make a stop at one of Namibia’s open markets. You’ll find these outdoor marketplaces sprinkled all across Namibia where locals sell meat, traditional produce, and miscellaneous items like used clothing. There are often hair salons and tailor shops sitting adjacent. But most of all they are social hubs where locals and foreigners can easily get to know each other. Not only will you get to taste some of Namibia’s succulent and pure beef, but you’ll also have a front seat to a Namibian cultural venue. In the video above, I shared one of my own Namibian open market experiences with you!
2. Stop by the independence MEMORIAL museum in Windhoek.
Namibia has only been independent since 1990 so there is plenty of very recent history that you’ll want to learn about. So a stop at its independence museum in Windhoek is a must. If you truly want to understand the country you’ve decided to visit, dig into the details of the liberation struggle that led the country to the freedom’s Namibians experience today. Many of the people who fought for the country’s independence are still alive today. So visiting the independence museum will give you great respect for many of the elders you’ll be walking by during your stay.
3. Support small vendors.
While on your Namibian holiday you’ll find lots of big-name supermarket chains around the country. But how about supporting Namibia’s smaller entrepreneurs - the vendors who sell products right on the street. That’s right, you can buy fruits and vegetables from street vendors for a cheaper price while supporting informal business traders. They sell everything from traditional produce to flip flops. As you support these vendors your interactions will be another lesson in Namibian social culture. But remember not to haggle them! If you’re coming from an economy with a stronger dollar, your pockets won’t need any discount. However, these traders will need every dollar they can get.
4. Experience village life
A trip to Namibia is not complete without a trip to the village. That’s because a significant portion of the Namibian population lives in rural communities. Now, we’re not advocating just rolling up on someone’s private farmland. You can simply sign up for a village excursion with a tour company or with local residents like the San bushmen in Tsumkwe constituency will offer you tours of their villages themselves.
What’s there to be gained by visiting the village? It’s usually like stepping back in time. You’ll get a glimpse into a lifestyle that’s the total opposite of your own and learn what it’s like to live off the land, off cattle or through hunting. There’s also the likely lack of internet which can actually be a very peaceful experience. In the video above I give you a walk through of my in-laws rural village in Northern Namibia.
5. Spend the night in a smaller town
Most tourists come to Namibia, stay in the capital city, and for the rest of their visit stay in rural safari locations. However, that leaves out experiencing a significant part of the country where large populations of Namibians live - its smaller towns. Instead of simply driving through its these towns consider staying for a night or two in one. You can go on walks, drive through the neighborhoods, and explore local restaurants. This is how you can really get a feel for Namibia’s “town life” which is how so much of the country lives. Watch the video above for a tour of my own small Namibian town.
That’s me, learning how to cook over a fire in my Namibian in-laws’ village.
An African vacation is not complete without diving deep!
Now you understand why it’s so important to delve a bit deeper on your trip to Namibia. And these tips can actually be applied to any African country. So strive for unconventional ways of experiencing African cultures. Be sure to mingle with the everyday life of the people. Not only will your trip expenses be even better well spent, but you’ll also return home with a much clearer understanding of Namibia, the people, and the country.