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By Africa specialist Robin

Unlike other African safari destinations, Namibia isn’t a common choice for honeymooners, but I think that’s what makes it extra special. Here, you can enjoy whole swathes of dune-sculpted desert, wave-battered coast, and wildlife-rich national parks with very few others around. After all, Namibia is the second most sparsely populated country on Earth — remoteness is pretty much guaranteed.

While Namibia does luxury very well, the most exclusive stays, such as the Skeleton Coast’s Shipwreck Lodge, come at a steep price. If your budget allows, I suggest taking a read of our dedicated luxury Namibia safaris guide instead. But if you’re after action-packed adventure with a sprinkle of indulgent stays and experiences, read on.

Where to go on a honeymoon to Namibia

Unless you’ve been to Namibia before, I suggest taking the classic circular route through the north of the country, starting and ending in the capital city of Windhoek. That way, you can see most of Namibia’s main highlights during your honeymoon.

Along the way, you’ll get to gaze up at the towering red dunes of Sossusvlei, kayak alongside playful Cape fur seals near Swakopmund, spot desert-adapted elephant in Damaraland, and go on safari in the sprawling Etosha National Park.

Though many are gravel tracks, Namibia’s roads are well maintained, so I recommend renting a car and driving from one destination to the next. It’s much more budget-friendly than going with a private driver-guide, which means you can splash out on some special honeymoon experiences or room upgrades throughout your journey instead.

If you want to add on some time to relax just after your wedding or at the end of your honeymoon, I suggest a few days wining and dining in Cape Town, which is just a quick flight from Windhoek. Alternatively, if you want to stay within Namibia, Zannier Hotels Omaanda is located just on the edge of Windhoek and offers lavish thatched-hut abodes, a heated infinity pool, and a collection of holistic spa treatments inspired by local healing techniques — the perfect way to unwind.

What to do on honeymoon in Namibia

One-to-one private tours are hard to come by in Namibia, but groups are typically very small. What’s more, going out with a guide will give you a deeper insight into the country’s intricate ecology and rare desert-adapted creatures. As such, I’ve paired my top experiences below with stays that offer your own slice of solitude you can retreat to after a day of exploring.

Sunrise & sunset desert experiences in Sossusvlei

Riding off into the sunset is perhaps one of the biggest romantic clichés around. But in the midst of the Namib Desert, looking out across golden stretches of mountain-lined wilderness, it’s a cliché I can more than get behind.

You’ll mount your horses at Desert Homestead and set off on a journey across the scrubby, sunbaked earth, passing herds of grazing zebra and oryx as you go. Later, you’ll stop for drinks as the sun melts into the burnt-orange dunes in the distance — some of the tallest in the world.

For a completely different perspective of the desert, I can arrange for you to soar above it in a hot-air balloon, starting at the crack of dawn for the very best views. From this vantage point, gently drifting across the desert in near-silence (save for the occasional roar of the burners), you can fully appreciate the dramatic contrast of light and shadow that cuts through the dunes. Then, once back on terra firma, you’ll sit down to a Champagne breakfast looking out across the seemingly infinite sands.

Honeymoon stays in Sossusvlei

Stay a night or two in a thatched-roof chalet at Desert Homestead Lodge to make the most of its horse-riding trails. Sparsely spaced out with private verandas for sundowners overlooking the mountains, each chalet feels like your own secluded desert nook.

Alternatively, you could stay at Hoodia Desert Lodge, nestled on the banks of the Tsauchab River. Again, you’ll have your own private thatched chalet, this time with an open-air bathtub for quiet evening soaks under the inky night sky. Here, you can take a guided trip out to the dunes and Deadvlei, a white clay pan littered with the skeletons of camel thorn trees preserved for hundreds of years by the arid climate.

Kayaking with seals & spotting the ‘Little Five’ in Swakopmund

For a light-hearted honeymoon experience, the Cape fur seals at Pelican Point near Swakopmund are a joy to watch as they comically waddle along the shore, hop out from the waves, and slumber on the sand. I recommend taking a kayak for two out onto the water to get a closer look. The seals are often curious enough to approach, giving you ample opportunity for photos — and the occasional spray as they dart past you through the water.

For an extra wildlife-spotting opportunity in the area, I recommend heading out into the desert to spot Namibia’s ‘Little Five’: the Namib web-footed gecko, Peringuey’s adder, the dancing white lady spider, the Namaqua chameleon, and the shovel-snouted lizard. These tiny desert creatures can be elusive, so going with a guide is essential. It’s quite incredible when your guide scoops their hands into the seemingly barren sand only for a little head to poke out, their camouflage slipping away with each grain that spills back onto the dune.

Honeymoon stays in Swakopmund

A quirky boutique hotel drenched in vivid turquoise and red, The Delight has a fresh, modern style that goes in complete contrast to Namibia’s more traditional lodges. While not luxurious, it’s more than comfortable and just a short walk away from the city’s sandy beaches and waterfront restaurants.

If you do want a more luxurious honeymoon stay, the Strand Hotel is the best in town. For sea views, spacious rooms, and an indulgent freestanding bathtub, opt for a suite. The standard rooms here provide the same sleek style and tastefully cosy furnishings, but they’re more compact and overlook the gardens instead.

Elephant tracking & bush walks in Damaraland

It’s always thrilling to see a big cat out in the wild, but often they’re fast asleep under a tree. It’s rare to see them in action. Elephant, on the other hand, are almost always doing something, whether they’re marching in convoy across the desert, yanking branches from a tree with their trunks, or frolicking around in muddy waterholes.

Damaraland is one of the best places to spot these lumbering desert-adapted creatures in the wild, and you might see giraffe, black rhino, zebra, and springbok on drives, too. The area limits visitor numbers, which only adds to the remoteness of this sparsely populated desert landscape, giving you many a moment of hushed peace to enjoy as a couple.

Most of your activities will be led by local guides at your camp, so let me tell you about two of my top choices for honeymooners.

Honeymoon stays in Damaraland

Whether you opt for a simple bungalow or a sprawling suite with its own plunge pool, staying at Camp Kipwe feels like a luxury. Nestled among clusters of giant boulders, all the rooms here are styled to blend with the natural environment. They’re perfectly secluded and oh-so-quiet. In between safari drives to see elephant herds and trips to admire the local rock art, the staff are also known for planning a surprise treat or two for honeymooners, making your stay all the more romantic.

Etendeka Mountain Camp, in contrast, is stripped back, rustic, and designed to help you feel as close to nature as possible. You’ll stay in a traditional, no-frills tent with a bucket shower — though there is hot water and a basalt-rock wall surrounding each tent for privacy. As such, this camp is ideal for more adventurous honeymooners and puts a special focus on guided bush walking to give you a more granular insight into the local ecosystem.

Classic safaris & romantic sleepouts in Etosha National Park

Four of the Big Five wander the sweeping salt-pan flats and scrubby savannahs of Etosha National Park. Elephant, lion, giraffe, rhino, and a whole cast of other creatures congregate at the park’s scattered life sources: the waterholes. Here, you might see a giraffe sinking into the splits for a sip of water, a pride of lion commandeering a corner of the waterhole as other animals scatter, or a dazzle of zebra wading knee-deep for a much-needed soak.

Despite it being one of the continent’s largest parks, Etosha is very accessible for self-driving, with roads leading to all the main waterholes. That way, you can while away the hours gazing at the resident wildlife just the two of you. The camps you stay at will offer guided tours too, as well as a few special experiences you can’t access on your own.

Honeymoon stays in Etosha

Perhaps one of my most cherished memories of Etosha is sitting down to breakfast at Safarihoek Lodge, just outside of the main park. As I tucked in, I had the privilege of watching ten or so elephant splashing around in the waterhole directly opposite me. Though the chalets themselves aren’t particularly characterful, it’s this prime location — paired with some wonderful guides — that puts Safarihoek on my list of top honeymoon stays near Etosha.

However, if you’re going to splurge on one extravagant experience during your honeymoon, I highly recommend a stay at one of the luxury Onguma Safari Camps, where you can add on a night in the Dream Cruiser. This custom-built Land Cruiser has been carefully converted into a split-level sleepout tucked away in the middle of the Onguma Reserve wilderness. While you’re left alone for the night, a ranger is just a call away if you need them.

With an open-air sleeping platform atop the vehicle, you can both enjoy uninterrupted views of the starry night sky without a single other soul around. For me, it perfectly captures the startling remoteness — and romance — that Namibia has to offer.