These are the best places to travel this summer

Botswana & Namibia

Lonely Planet's Best in Travel 2025

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Fighting Burchell's Zebra, Etosha National Park.

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Overview

Ever wanted to experience the raw, natural beauty of Africa? Teeming with wildlife and lush with extraordinary landscapes, Botswana and Namibia unfurl so many unforgettable moments.

Attractions

Must-see attractions

  • Herd of Springbok passing in front of a red dune in Sossusvlei, Namibia; Concept for traveling in Africa and Safari

    Sossusvlei

    Namibia

    Sossusvlei, a large ephemeral pan, is set amid red sand dunes that tower up to 325m above the valley floor. It rarely contains any water, but when the…

  • Christuskirche

    Christuskirche

    Windhoek

    Windhoek’s best-recognised landmark, and something of an unofficial symbol of the city, this German Lutheran church stands on a traffic island and lords…

  • The dead Camelthorn trees in the famous Deadvlei are one of the Hotspots for Photographers all over the world.

    Deadvlei

    Namibia

    Although it's much less famous than its neighbour Sossusvlei, Deadvlei is actually the most alluring pan in the Namib-Naukluft National Park – it's…

  • Jetty

    Jetty

    Swakopmund

    In 1905 the need for a good cargo- and passenger-landing site led Swakopmund’s founders to construct the original wooden pier. In the years that followed,…

  • Chapman’s Baobab

    Chapman’s Baobab

    Botswana

    About 11km south of Green's Baobab is the turn-off to the far more impressive Chapman’s Baobab, which, until it crashed to the ground suddenly on 7…

  • Kuru Art Project

    Kuru Art Project

    Botswana

    This fabulous art project provides opportunities for local artists (14 at last count) to create and sell paintings and other artwork; it’s worth spending…

  • Sesriem Canyon

    Sesriem Canyon

    Namibia

    The 3km-long, 30m-deep Sesriem Canyon, 4km south of the Sesriem headquarters, was carved by the Tsauchab River through the 15-million-year-old deposits of…

  • National Marine Aquarium

    National Marine Aquarium

    Swakopmund

    This recently overhauled waterfront aquarium provides an excellent introduction to the cold offshore world in the South Atlantic Ocean. Most impressive is…

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