With its wide-open spaces and good road network, Namibia provides for easy self-drive trips, either in a standard hire car or a 4x4. Getting away from the main drag is fairly easy in Namibia as it is the second least densely populated country in the world!

There are plenty of activities to fit into a Namibian holiday. Spending time on the dunes and in the desert is almost physically unavoidable due to their sheer scale. Adventure seekers can spend time sand-boarding down the dunes, taking a quad bike tour or clambering up to the top of the worlds highest dunes and taking in the view!!

The large rivers that border Namibia in the north and south are ideal for river trips. These range from short day excursions on slow flowing sections of the river to more extensive ten day trips, incorporating exhilarating rapids and the chance to see plenty of wildlife. Despite being almost devoid of game, the Orange River is a Mud Hut favourite, and it is a great holiday for families, friends or couples. Read about our river trips in more detail in 'Our Holidays'.

There are numerous national parks across Namibia's length and breadth. Etosha is the most popular and one of the most impressive in Africa. The Ovambo word “Etosha” means “place of dry water” and the reserve was thus named because of the vast, shallow salt pan which shimmers a silvery bright-white.

The Namib Naukluft and Skeleton Coast national parks account for approximately 80% of the enormous coastline. The attraction of this remote area lies in the colours, changing moods and untouched profiles of the landscape. The aura of mystery is largely due to the dense coastal fog caused by cold sea breezes. The bones of many stranded ships and their crew scatter the landscape of the Skeleton Coast.

For hikers, there are some fantastic trails all over the country. The number one spot is the magnificent Fish River Canyon, which is one of the largest canyons in the world. Unfortunately due to extreme summer weather, walking trails are closed to the public from December to April. The Canyon is also easily accessible by car, and there are many viewing points along its rim. After a long day of walking or driving, you can unwind and relax in the hot spring resort of Ai-Ais, at the southern end of the canyon.

There are also many walking safaris in the country, including tracking desert elephants or merely exploring wild undeveloped desert terrain. This is potentially dangerous without a guide, but Mud Hut has some superb local contacts to organise your walking safari. Please read about walking safaris in 'Our Holidays' section.

· Big game viewing on the large white, flat pan of Ethosha
· Spend a night at Okaukuejo camp's floodlit waterholes for some fantastic nocturnal game viewing
· Lie down, stand up or flat on your face…take a ride down one of the world’s biggest dunes at Sossusvlei
· Get up early to watch the sun rise over the desert in the Namib Naukluft Park
· Spot marine life off Walvis Bay, or head inland for some adrenalin dune activity.
· Hike along the Fish River canyon, and unwind at the end with some time in the hot springs of Ai-Ais
· Walk around laid back Swakopmund and take in the German colonial architecture
· Head up the Skeleton Coast or to one of the far flung corners of Namibia with a guided or self drive 4x4 tour.
· Explore the mining ghost towns in the dunes near Luderitz
· Taste some of the local 'German' beers on a night around the capital Windhoek

Reading:
To find out more about Namibia or to bag some books, dvd's or music for your trip, please take a look at the Mud Hut's Reading List!