Hiking in Namibia
Exploring Namibia’s landscapes on foot – at your own pace
The trails lead through very diverse landscapes. In the Kalahari, the path winds between red dunes and scattered camel thorn trees. In the Namib, the terrain opens up wide, with dry riverbeds cutting through plains of light sand and stone. In the Erongo, you walk among granite formations, passing rocks that rise from the ground in almost unbelievable shapes.
On foot, the pace slows down. You stop without planning to – because an animal doesn’t flee immediately, because tracks cross in the sand, or because a lizard scurries across the warm rock and pauses for a moment.
The path itself fades into the background. What matters more is what is happening right beside it.
Hiking in the Kalahari
Hiking in the Kalahari
The hiking trails in the Ondili Kalahari Nature Reserve are well-marked and regularly maintained. Hiking maps are available at the reception. If you have any questions about the routes, the reception staff will be happy to help. All hikes can also be booked on-site as guided tours.
Sundowner Walk
A 15-minute stroll to the dune sofa, where you can enjoy a great view of the sunset.
Red Dam Walk
A one-hour circular trail with two dune crossings. The sundowner sofa on the first dune invites you to linger for a moment. This hike provides a beautiful impression of the Kalahari landscape.
Tree Trail
A good two-and-a-half-hour hike through the Kalahari dune landscape and tree savanna. The first few kilometers are identical to the Red Dam Walk; it’s strenuous but beautiful.
Antelope Trail
Approximately a two-hour hike through the bush and tree savanna. No dunes, but this is the path where you are most likely to encounter animals. Giraffes, eland, wildebeest, zebras, springbok, and impalas prefer this habitat. The ground is firm with no sand or dune sections. Also well-suited for jogging as it is sand-free.
Dune Trail
A two-hour circular hike around the Kalahari Red Dunes Lodge with dune crossings and sandy sections.
Additional Info for Guests of Teufelskrallen Lodge
Special feature: a hiking trail leads from the lodge tents into the Ondili Kalahari Nature Reserve, where it meets the Antelope Trail. This hike takes about three hours.
For further hikes, guests of the Teufelskrallen Lodge have the option to drive to the Kalahari Red Dunes Lodge (approx. 15 minutes) and start their hike from there. Please check in briefly at the Teufelskrallen reception so they can inform the Kalahari Red Dunes Lodge of your arrival, allowing you to enter the Ondili Kalahari Nature Reserve. You can then park in front of the Kalahari Red Dunes Lodge reception. At the reception, you will receive a hiking map and be shown where your chosen trail begins.
Hiking in the Namib
Hiking in the Namib
Trails lead directly from the lodge out into the open landscape of the Namib. A shorter route (approx. 30 minutes) runs across a rocky ridge above the lodge – a narrow pass where the view opens wide across the plain before the path leads back again.
The longer route (approx. two hours) circles the local mountain and winds in a wide arc through the surroundings. No steep climbs, just steady walking through open spaces where the landscape unfolds peacefully.
A circular trail of about one hour begins directly at the lodge and leads over the local mountain. Once at the top, the view opens up to the surrounding landscape – a mix of mountains, plains, and dry riverbeds that stands out particularly clearly from this vantage point.
The climb up is noticeable, but that’s exactly what makes the moment: step by step you detach from the lodge until the surroundings spread out far below you.
Hiking in the Erongo
Hiking in the Erongo
The Hohenstein Nature Reserve practically begs to be explored on your own.
Several tours ranging from 3 to 12 km are possible on well-maintained and signposted hiking trails.
A hike in the Hohenstein Reserve doesn’t just bring you closer to the scenic beauty. You are also very likely to see animals. It is always a particularly intense experience to encounter large African wildlife on foot. Here, you might come across giraffes, zebras, oryx, kudu, springbok, blue wildebeest, Damara dik-diks, or even ostriches. The animals in the reserve live wild but are not shy, which can lead to wonderful sightings.
Hiking maps and any tips on where specific animals have been spotted can be obtained at the reception.
Route Overview
Damara Trail – Circular Route
An easy circular trail (1 – 2 hours | 3.5 km) starting at the reception – ideal for a first impression of the landscape around the Hohenstein Reserve.
Kudu Trail – Circular Route
A longer tour (2.5 – 3 hours | 8.5 km) through different areas of the reserve – varied and covering more distance.
Oryx Trail – Circular Route
A medium-length circular trail (2.5 – 3 hours | 6.5 km) with a balanced mix of distance and terrain – well-suited for an extended hike.
Bird Watching – Bush Hide
A short walk (1 km | Start: Reception) to a hidden hide near a bird bath – ideal for observing birdlife from up close.
Ondili Lodges, Regions, and Experiences
Each Ondili Lodge is inextricably linked to its surroundings—and that is exactly where the local experiences come from. What guests can do here isn't just based on a fixed program, but arises from the landscape itself.
Every region reveals different facets of Namibia: sometimes the focus is on the wildlife, sometimes on the vastness of the landscape or exploring on foot. The lodges embrace these unique features.
This creates an interplay of location, accommodation, and activity that makes each region uniquely experienceable – and invites you to discover Namibia from different perspectives.
Oberland
Oberland
Red Dunes
Red dunes, camel thorn tree savanna, open vast grasslands. Where the typical Kalahari landscape begins in the west, the lodge lies nestled in dunes by a dry lake.
Red Dunes
Teufelskralle
Teufelskralle
Desert Homestead
A place to arrive and feel at home. Not far from the world-famous Sossusvlei, Desert Homestead Lodge is situated in the open desert landscape of the Namib.
Desert Homestead
Namib Outpost
Located in the Namib Tsaris Nature Reserve, which directly borders the UNESCO Natural Heritage Namib Sand Sea with Sossusvlei and Deadvlei – twelve small estates amidst the vastness of the desert landscape.
Namib Outpost
Hohenstein
With panoramic views of the highest mountain in the Erongo Massif, Hohenstein Lodge is perfectly suited for exploring the sights of Namibia's central north.
Hohenstein
Twyfelfontein
Tented camp in the area of the desert elephants – near the famous rock engravings of Twyfelfontein.
Twyfelfontein
Brigadoon
Built in 1906 as a captain's house, Brigadoon is now a boutique guesthouse in the heart of Swakopmund.
Brigadoon
Ti Melen
Located on the outskirts of Windhoek, set in a large garden. A guesthouse with African and European influences.
Ti Melen