Our five best walking experiences in Namibia & bonus

Walking in Erongo Mountains

Best walking trails / tours in Namibia?

It´s hard to rank our best walking experiences in Namibia. We tend to like all the activities we book, and we like new challenges. However, based on five times in Namibia for 4-5 weeks every time, this is our “top five walking experiences in Namibia" (you are free to share links). 

The two first are shared number ones:

• Etendeka Overnight Walking Trail

Etendeka Overnight Walking Trail

Etendeka Overnight Walking Trail,
Crystal Mountain Camp

We trekked through one of Namibia’s most remote and untouched landscapes on foot in 2019. Had sundowners overlooking never ending vistas of ancient rock formations and slept under a blanket of amazing stars. This was a unique opportunity to connect with nature. Especially Crystal Mountain Camp, we found to be one of the most incredible places we have ever stayed. The only thing we would do different next time: Stay out an extra night at Crystal Mountain (3 night’s tour instead of 2). 

Read our full Etendeka Overnight Walking Trail report here: https://recollectionsafrica.blogspot.com/2019/08/etendeka-overnight-walking-trail.html ).

Also, read our description of the Etendeka Plateau, an unique hauntingly beautiful desolate landscape here: https://recollectionsafrica.blogspot.com/2019/08/etendeka-plateau-unique-hauntingly.html 

• Walking in Mundulea Private Reserve

Walking safari,
Mundulea Private Reserve

Mundulea, our tent

We did this walk 14 days ago. We walked for three days (3 nights) with the owner and specialist guide Bruno. He was an absolute extraordinary person with extreme knowledge about the nature. He literally knows all about plants, animals, insects, minerals, landscaping etc, and he is involved in multiple research projects and nature activities. Also, he has served as a photographer for National Geographic.  Our camp had the outline of a “kraal”; a fence of wooden sticks provide some protection against predators during night. We slept in simple – but fully adequate – tents with mosquito nets and an open bathroom. We checked the floor for snakes and scorpions, whenever we stepped out of our bed or entered the open-air bathroom. Our shoes were placed on hangers under the roof and bags kept zipped on tables all time. Nevertheless, we felt completely safe in this small paradise. Or as Bruno expressed it “Don´t mind all the sounds during the night, you are safe in your tent".  Every day, we did two daily walks 2-5 hours with Bruno as an extraordinary source of nature information.

Read our full Mundulea report here: https://recollectionsafrica.blogspot.com/2022/10/did-you-see-leopard.html

Read our story about “the tiger” a Mundulea here: https://recollectionsafrica.blogspot.com/2022/10/a-tiger-tiger-tiger.html

Now for the shared number two:

•  Tok Tokkie Trails in Namibrand Nature Reserve

Open air bedroom, Tok Tokkie Trails

This was a three days (2 nights) walking experience in stunning Namibrand Nature Reserve. We were exposed to extreme temperatures, but also to truly spectacular nature and an overwhelming night sky. We covered approx. 20 km in Namibrand Nature Reserve on foot and slept in open air. Wherever we looked around, we were surrounded by red / brown mountains and desert plains.

Read our full report on Tok Tokkie Trails here: https://recollectionsafrica.blogspot.com/2022/11/tok-tokkie-trails-namib-desert.html )

•  Walking with Bushmen i Kalahari Desert near Tsumkwe

Our son, Central Kalahari 2012,
(did not have 2009 photos at hand)

We stayed at Nhoma village for 2 nights in 2009 together with our children, at that time 9 and 10 years old. This is still one of our most memorable experiences in Namibia, especially doing it together with our children. We walked through Kalahari Desert with the bushmen for up to 7 hours per day and visited their nearby village. Our children learned how to make fire, make bird traps (and did catch birds!), catch a porcupine, and how to get honey from a hollow tree etc. The children played with the children in Nhoma village, and we all participated in games and dances in the evening. At the same time, we slept in nice and comfortable surroundings in Nhoma Safari Camp.

I heard there is new owners now, but from the homepage, it seems to be the same concept. Might not be an experience for everyone, especially if you don´t like to interact.

Link to Nhoma Safari Camp homepage https://www.nhomasafaricamp.com/

Least but not last:

• Quivertree George Trail / Arch Trail in Naukluft mountains

Quivertree George Trail

Quivertree George Trail, klipspringer

Rock Arch

We headed for the Quivertree George Walking Trail from BullsPort Lodge & Farmhouse. At the end of the day, this turned out to be one of the most fantastic trails we have hiked in Africa so far! Perhaps only surpassed by the "Etendeka Overnight Walking Trail" (see above) and our recent 3 days walking safari in Mundulea Private Reserve (see above). However, they were both several-days walking experiences, whereas Quivertree George Trail is a 5-7 hours tour. Next day, we took the “Arch trail”, truly magnificent! 

There are many good walking trails starting from BullsPort Lodge & Farmhouse, where we had our comfortable base and enjoyed extraordinary hospitality from the owners and genuine friendly staff.

Read our full report Quivertree George Trail here: https://recollectionsafrica.blogspot.com/2022/10/quivertree-gorge-trail-excellent-route.html ) 

Finally, two recommended experiences outside Namibia:

Chimanimani Mountains, Zimbabwe 1997

• Another amazing experience was to trek through the Chimanimani Mountains in Zimbabwe 1997  – but that is not Namibia
•  And walking alone in the untouched tropical rainforest of Nyungwe National Park in Rwanda for two days (take a guide!! - but that is another story)

 Link to https://www.nyungweforestnationalpark.org/untouched-tropical-rainforest/