Incredible Remote and Romantic Namibia Venues for your honeymoon
Namibia is an extraordinary, dreamy place of wide-open spaces, endless blue horizons, and long-distance travel, a place for perfect honeymoons and couple’s escapes. Some of the most romantic venues in Namibia are hotwired for African romance but many travelers have never thought of entering this adventure destination on a romantic interlude! Now that can change because we have a choice of the most romantic venues in Namibia – luxury tented camps in the remote wilderness, chic 5-star safari lodges on rocky slopes where rare rhinos tread or stormy villas on the ocean where seals call all night. Choose dreamy lodges for couples in love or newlyweds out of season and you may just be the only ones there.
Welcome to the land of enormous contrasts where your sensory adventure begins on honeymoon. From the highest red sand dunes in Africa and the arid starkness of the deserts to the turbulent Skeleton Coastline and the wild horses of the Tsumeb, Namibia is so tantalising that you will never want to leave its deafening tranquility. Read on and see which romantic venue is yours for the taking:
Rocky Hiking Thrills for Two at Fish River Canyon
Some say that love gets stronger in wild and challenging landscapes and here, the magnetic Fish River Canyon is the scene of an extreme bonding trail in Africa. The second-largest canyon in the world, this mind-boggling site is also one of the most arduous hikes in Namibia. It’s hot, it’s rugged, it’s hard and your relationship will explore new depths with every step you take in the rocky habitat. The river only flows between February and March, the best time for hiking so that you can cool off together.
Go there on honeymoon and stay at the star-struck Canyon Village, nestling below an outcrop of bare kopjes. This stark rocky setting is your home for a few days while you revel in breathtaking sunrises and sunsets together and dream at night about your future as the millions of stars come out one by one. Canyon Village is 20 km from Fish River Canyon and Cape Dutch cottages offer cool respite from the untamed heat and spectacular views of the vast canyon. Take Instammagrable photos with captivating quiver trees and bright pink bougainvilleas around the central lounge area and allow the ancient Nama deity at the front door, Haitsi Aibeb, to bless your journey ahead.
Sunrise Love on Dune 45 at Sossusvlei
Sunrises for two, sunsets for love, red dunes for passion and deep stillness for honeymoon romance – Sossusvlei should be on every couple’s bucket list. Dune 45 is a famous red sand dune that towers some 100m into the sky enticing intrepid climbers to witness magnificent dawns and dusks, multi-coloured sun poetry for lovers in the desert. It’s a romantic spot sought after by myriad photographers who flock to Sesriem and Sossusvlei in the Namib Desert.
It’s new, it’s innovative and it’s a real treat for a couple only, alone, with no schedule, no demands and no noise whatsoever. A secret refuge in a famous desert, Desert Whisper is a sheer paradise for those who love huge open skies, vast desert landscapes and superb luxury. It’s elevated to make the most of the undulating dunescape where far in the distance guests can glimpse the beautiful Naukluft mountains of the Sossusvlei region. This ‘pod’ seems as if it fell from space in a Star Wars movie and landed perfectly here in the desert moonscape. Pinch yourself to make sure it all is real! The shower is in the bedroom, perfect for love in a pod. Tour the surrounds on an E-bike and laze by the unique blue swimming pool all day.
Starlit Dreamy Dinner in Etosha National Park on honeymoon
Intimacy takes on new meaning in the heart of the Namibian bushveld at Etosha National Park, probably the country’s most visited conservation area and a sensory wonderland of lush bushveld vistas and watering holes. A wide choice of rustic and luxury accommodations, thrilling game drives and nocturnal wildlife viewing ensure a romantic Big 5 safari. It’s the best romantic venue for a starlit dreamy dinner in the Namibian bushveld.
Imagine spending your honeymoon ensconced in the wilderness in a tree-top chalet on stilts overlooking a waterhole in the Onguma Game Reserve. So exclusive and private that you and your new spouse will seal your love in absolute solitude. Onguma Tree Top Camp comprises only three thatched elegant, tented suites and two tree houses with private lounges, decks with plunge pools and exquisite outside showers. This is one of the most romantic venues in Namibia and “the place you don’t want to leave.”
Private Safari for Lovers in Remote Kaokoland
Fall in love with the huge granite boulders and rocky hills rising sharply out of the arid plains in this spell-binding region. Rugged and surreal landscapes dotted with fascinating geological and archaeological sites. Romance abounds as you gaze at the crystal-clear night skies and their shimmering stars, enjoying your lavish and restful thatch and canvas ten. Sit around an open campfire and outdoor boma during calm evenings. This is the best to unwind, in Damaraland Camp, an eco-escape using new technology and ancient knowledge to keep its footprint on the earth very light. Appreciate fantastic nature drives and walks, just the two of you, to see desert-adapted wildlife, ancient rock art and striking geological formations.
Some honeymooners prefer the remote Serra Cafema Camp, only accessible by light aircraft or a hardy 4×4 vehicle in its dramatic setting. This is in the Kaokoland region of Namibia and Serra Cafema is a chic camp on the banks of the Kunene River offering 8 thatched villas made for intimacy. The dreamy honeymoon suite becomes a lovely refuge from the elements as the views seep into your soul. Fall asleep to the sound of rushing water, awakening to dry crimson sunrises.
Tracking Rhino on Honeymoon in Dramatic Damaraland
Newlyweds will make the right decision if they opt for an earthy camp to track rhinos and explore the rugged terrain of Damaraland, a unique region close to Etosha National Park and the spectacular Skeleton Coast. Experience flat-topped mountain plateaus, winding river courses, acacia forests, and rolling savannah. Damaraland is part of the Kunene Region in the northwest of Namibia and is located between the Brandberg and the little village of Sesfontein.
Making Desert Rhino Camp your romantic safari base in this awe-inspiring region increases a bond between the two of you that will never break. Rhino tracking on honeymoon in this awe-inspiring landscape is an extraordinary and exciting way to start out life together – meeting members of the Save the Rhino Trust, a conservation NGO, and seeing how the game rangers identify each animal.
Couples can spend many days exploring Damaraland, a treasure trove of some 5 000 carvings and paintings created up to 10 000 years ago by Stone Age people. Later the Khoi-Khoi hunter-gatherers who lived in the area depicted animals such as giraffes and lions, seals and flamingos. Bizarre sightings of Hartmann’s zebra, rare giraffe, the welwitschia plant and other desert-adapted fauna and flora fill your game viewing days here where expert game rangers share their intricate knowledge of all the region has to offer. Rest up in a luxury Meru-styled canvas tent with an ensuite shower and private deck. Explore this dreamy sublime and unearthly basalt landscape that emerged from giant magma eruptions about 125 million years ago. It’s truly romantic!
Rejuvenating Ocean Dramas on the Wild Skeleton Coast
Romantic interludes in Namibia hit new heights on the wild Skeleton Coast where giant waves crash onto desolate vast beaches littered with whale bones and shipwrecks. The indigenous San aptly described this unkempt section of the African coastline as “The Land God Made in Anger” and the Portuguese explorers named it “The Gates of Hell”. Love can change this!
Get out there to the Skeleton Coast to experience its unique hive of elemental energies where the cold Benguela current upswells and causes dense ocean fogs. It’s a good idea to discover the beautiful National West Coast Tourist Recreation Area south of the Skeleton Coast Park forming its own more than 200 km long landscape of beach and ocean bliss. This area is a paradise for anglers and a biodiversity hotspot – take selfies you will keep forever of one of the largest colonies of Cape Fur Seals at Cape Cross, an unforgettable experience.
The highlight of this romantic trip is a few days at the gorgeous Hoanib Valley Camp, an exclusive camp nestling in the dunes of the Hoanib River Valley. It’s remote and secluded, wild and unique – perfect for that romantic interlude in nature. What’s more, Hoanib Valley Camp is committed to a green ethic with its solar energy, and its semi-permanent structure on stilts. It is heartwarming to be able to participate as a couple in their giraffe and elephant conservation projects and see how they work with the local people to protect their rightful land and heritage together.
Waterberg Plateau Sensory Safaris and Solitude in Nature
Wilderness trails into the rare, lush vista of the Waterberg Plateau National Park in Namibia offer a rare sensory experience of wildlife and scenic beauty – ideal for an intimate escape for two. The remarkable Verreaux Eagles (Black Eagles) and Namibia’s only colony of Cape Vultures breed here in this ecological and safari hotspot. If you love history, you will be fascinated to know that this is the ancient sight of the 1904 Battle of the Waterberg when the Herero uprising occurred and between 40,000 and 65,000 Herero died and visitors can still see German graves at the base of the mountain. Three-hour drives into the park head to the top of the Plateau where game-viewing hides bring luck.
For an opportunity to get close to some of Namibia’s wild large cats, book a bed at Okonjima Bush Camp and visit the AfriCat Foundation in the Okonjima Reserve. Renowned for its rehabilitation and research center, the AfriCat Project highlights news about the more than 40 cheetahs in the camp and how Okonjima is involved in their survival. Imagine spending your romantic holiday participating in leopard tracking, hyena tracking, cheetah tracking and night drives! Let the romance bloom as you both find meaning in this extraordinary, dreamy holiday in Namibia.
Exclusive Suites Celebrate the Love in Windhoek
Setting off into the sunrise on a trip to Namibia is the highlight of any African tour for couples so why not start and end your dreamy adventure in Windhoek, its capital? Quite significant for honeymooners, it lies right in the geographical centre of Namibia. It’s a vibrant, cosmopolitan town so a good introduction to the rest of the enormous deserts, lush game reserves and wild ocean shores from its perch on the Khomas Highland Plateau.
Stroll the wide streets, take time to be still together, eat out in a funky restaurant and drink real Namibian beer with the locals. There is plenty to do in Windhoek so stay a few days and visit the nearby Eros Mountains, Daan Viljoen Game Park, and the Okahandja Craft Market. A must-see is the National Museum of Namibia, the TransNamib Railway Museum and the Owela Museum for an overview of the cultures and peoples of Namibia.
Spend a few days in the refuge of the beautiful Olive Exclusive Hotel, a luxurious and chic eco-boutique hotel, an intimate space in a tranquil neighbourhood, radiating the very essence of chic comfort. Each of the 7 deluxe suites has its own unique design, equipped with elegant king-sized beds, en-suite bathrooms with large bathtubs and private balconies with stunning views of the surrounding area. This hotel offers a tranquil respite from the rat race, where couples can sit quietly together in the private cinema late at night watching a romantic drama, then work out the next day in the well-equipped gym and grab a couple’s massage in the sophisticated spa.
The most romantic venues in Namibia offer something for every couple, whether on honeymoon or simply escaping the rat race together. Namibia provides the perfect adventure into a vast desert, starlit landscape where silence is golden and solitary safaris the answer to love.