Dunes, Shipwrecks & Rhinos: Our Namibia Adventure

“Seeing the many different landscapes of Namibia from the air was one of my favorite experiences. It was like the surface of Mars had flowed into a large sandy desert before ending at a beautiful coastline occupied by seals, flamingoes, and shipwrecks.”

Traveling to Namibia was truly an otherworldly experience! Each place we visited—Sossuvlei, Skeleton Coast, Damaraland, and Ongava Game Reserve—offered something new.

I will remember Sossuvlei for its dark night skies and the time we spent gazing at the stars and contemplating our place in the universe. While there, I could not believe how much I struggled with the strong desert winds while admiring the tall red dunes. And I really lucked out when I got to enjoy the beauty and stillness of the trees at Deadvlei before the crowds arrived.

Shipwreck Lodge on the Skeleton Coast was my favorite of all the amazing places we stayed. The rooms, reimagined as small individual shipwrecks, were so comfortable and cozy. I appreciated the attention to detail in their design. A drive along the coast with the tide coming in under the jeep was a wonderfully peaceful experience. I got a chuckle watching pieces of seafoam that had washed up on the beach break off and roll away like tumbleweeds. I will always remember the long conversations we had with our guide. And a surprise lunchtime barbecue on the beach is just one example of how we were treated so graciously by the lodge staff.

In Damaraland, we were lucky to see desert-adapted elephants (our guide made sure of it) and more ostriches in one place than I could have ever imagined. At Onduli Ridge, we left the retractable glass doors of our room open at night, and it felt like we were part of the landscape and starry skies.

Our Namibia adventure ended perfectly at Anderssons at Ongava where we enjoyed watching impalas, kudus, warthogs, and zebras at the on-site waterhole. But the most special experience was ditching the jeep and setting out on foot to a safe place where we quietly watched three rhinos grazing on the grass.

I could not imagine a better way to end our trip than the time we spent in Cape Town and the Cape Winelands. Our hotel by the V and A Waterfront was a perfect location for us. We slept in, slowed down, and enjoyed great food, a lovely botanical garden, scenic drives, and penguins! The Cape Winelands introduced us to unique wineries—one where we even had a lovely conversation with the owner (and bought some of their wine that conveniently shipped from California)—and more great food.

We could have never planned, or even imagined, such a special trip. From planning, to preparation, to support if we needed it, you were with us all the way. Thank you for another wonderful adventure!