Rolling red sand dunes, arid deserts, wild seascapes, the mighty Zambezi river, and an abundance of wildlife. Often called' the land of the wide open space', Namibia is stunning from below and even more so from above. It’s the only country in the world to include conservation and protection of its natural resources in its constitution.
Yet in tourist terms it’s largely empty, with visitors to Africa favouring Tanzania and Botswana for their ease of logistics. But if you want to go off the beaten track, find yourself in a tiny group in the Namib Desert under a thick constellation of stars, or feel like you’re the only ones watching a magnificent sunset over the Sossusvlei dunes, this is the place to come. The combination of great open spaces, excellent wildlife, diverse cultures and spectacular scenery will always satisfy - and thanks to Nature Friend Safaris, organising a trip here couldn’t be easier.
Besides bespoke safaris (by car and/or light aircraft), they offer flying safaris on a join-in basis, so you can hop quickly between destinations without chartering a plane just for yourselves; but, being small Cessna 210 6-seaters, you will only have a maximum of 4 or 5 companions, so it never feels like an (aerial) bus tour! They also co-own the Dunehopper daily air-taxi between Windhoek and Sossusvlei / NamibRand - which makes getting seats a breeze.
Why we chose this partner
- Unrivalled knowledge of the country: most of the team have lived here all of their lives, and have worked in travel for most of it
- Leander's team is small enough to give you individual attention; but big enough to offer excellent value for money
- As soon as 2 people book, the departure is guaranteed, so you don't have to worry about cancellations due to insufficient numbers
- During our recce, everything they organised for us ran like clockwork and every time we needed to speak to the office there was somebody available; very reassuring
- A detailed booklet described each day of our tour with driving instructions, rough timings and a useful highlighted map
Please be aware
- i-escape can only vouch for those properties which are featured and reviewed on our website. For other areas and accommodations, while we do trust our operator to provide the best options for your needs, you should make sure that you are happy with their suggestions before confirming
Best time to go
Lodges and hotels in Namibia are open all year round. The best time to visit slightly varies according to region, but broadly speaking we'd recommend winter time - between April and September. The rainy season is November to March, but Namibia is a desert country and rainfall is sporadic. The summer months can be unbearably hot if you're headed to the desert, but they are the best for bird watching in Etosha.
Location
Nature Friend Safaris' HQ is in Windhoek, central Namibia, in southwest Africa.
By Air
Windhoek Hosea Kutako International Airport (40km) is the arrival point for overseas flights. If you're flying internally, you'll arrive at Windhoek Eros Airport (8km). Click on the links below for a list of airlines serving these airports.
From the Airport
A NFS representative will meet your flight - and, if you are self-driving, deliver your rental vehicle and driving info pack.
Detailed directions will be sent to you when you book through i-escape.com. 
More on getting to Namibia and getting around