Soccer and rugby, the great popular sports
Rugby. Although rugby is the most popular sport among the population, the results of the national team are still somewhat timid at the top international level, especially when compared with the prowess of its neighbor South Africa. Namibia has participated in the last six World Cups, but each time they have exited in the group stages. On the other hand, the Welwitschias (nickname given to the national team in reference to an endemic plant that grows in the Namib desert) dominate African rugby with, among other things, seven African championship titles including the last five editions of the competition. Not bad for a country of 2.5 million inhabitants! Although it should be noted that due to its high level, South Africa only fields its hopeful players when it participates in this event. In May 2021, Namibia was ranked 24th in the world ranking of nations by the International Rugby Board (IRB)
Soccer. The most popular team sport in the world has naturally found a place in the hearts of Namibians. However, it is mainly the Premier League and the prestigious Champions League that regularly excite the locals. The local league is of a low standard and the results of the national team, the Brave Warriors, are poor: no qualification for the World Cup and only three appearances at the African Cup of Nations, with three first-round eliminations (in 1998, 2008 and 2019). In the last edition of 2019, the dream was quickly extinguished with three defeats in three group matches, against Morocco, Ivory Coast and South Africa
Treks and hikes of your dreams
In Namibia, many people come to practice hiking trek. Hiking means "to walk". A hiking trek is therefore a hike, generally rather sportive. It is recommended to have a relatively good physical shape to try the adventure. But it is undoubtedly one of the most beautiful ways to immerse yourself in the nature of the country. A hiking trail is a path to follow. The Waterberg and Naukluft National Parks and the Brandberg Climb, for example, have several trails that can be walked with or without a guide. Finally, the famous hiking trail in the Fish River Canyon is a must, but you should prepare it in advance as a medical certificate is required to obtain authorization. Five days at the bottom of the canyon (usually between May and mid-September) of the second largest canyon in the world (with a certified guide) in total autonomy... A hike of 85 km in this 550 m deep canyon: a walker's dream!
Horseback riding.
The nature and the wide open spaces of Namibia are ideal for the most beautiful horseback riding expeditions. The mineral highlands of Damaraland, the vast plains of the Kalahari and the dunes of the Namib are ideal for horseback riding. Notice to the amateurs!Beautiful mountain bike spots
Several tours have been created, especially in the Gondwana Sperrgebiet Rand Park, to discover the wild and grandiose landscapes of the Aus Mountains in the southern Namib. Some lodges or guestfarms also provide mountain bikes to explore the surroundings. In the immense dunes of Swakopmund, the use of fat bikes (mountain bikes with large tires adapted to sandy terrain) offers the opportunity for beautiful excursions.
Get out the oars!
Canoeing is available in the Okavango and kayaking in Walvis Bay on the Atlantic coast. For thrill seekers, it is possible to try rafting in the south in the Orange River along the border with South Africa, or in the north in the Kunene and Zambezi Rivers.
Surfing on water or on... sand!
Surfing. Namibia is not only a place of national parks and deserts. On the Skeleton Bay, you will find a unique surfing spot qualified by the greatest professionals as the most beautiful left in the world. Difficult to access because you have to go there by 4 x 4 to retract the endless dunes, this spot is also very technical. Beginners abstain. For the initiated ones, they are tubes of several tens of seconds which offer themselves to the boards. For that, you need a good wetsuit (water temperature around 14°C) and be careful with the aquatic fauna.
Sandboarding. Sandboarding is probably the most original and accessible sport adventure to do in Namibia. Standing on a snowboard or simply lying on a thin wooden board, you launch yourself from the top of the dunes of the Namib desert. Then it's time to try a downhill run while sitting, crouching, etc. A guaranteed adrenaline rush and a good slice of fun in an exceptional setting.
Windsurfing and kitesurfing, sports in the wind
In Walvis Bay and Lüderitz, the wind attracts windsurfing and kitesurfing enthusiasts. Every year in November, the Lüderitz Speed Challenge brings together champions from all over the world to break kitesurfing speed records. An impressive show! Still little frequented, the Namibian spots are a delight for the amateurs.
Great fishing opportunities
On the Atlantic coast (Lüderitz, Swakopmund, Walvis Bay, Henties Bay...), on the Zambezi or the Okavango, fishing enthusiasts will find something to enjoy. There is no shortage of fishing trips available from all providers. Angling, fly fishing, surfcasting, big game fishing, the possibilities are numerous to try to catch kabeljou, steenbras, copper sharks, pike or African tiger fish.
Namibia from the sky
In the series of nature sports, sky diving is practiced in Swakopmund. Tandem jumps over the Atlantic and the Namib are a unique experience. The brave ones will not regret it! Paragliding is also practiced in the Swakopmund area. Finally, hot air balloon flights over the desert are offered in Swakopmund, Sesriem and Solitaire. Spectacular and unforgettable options to discover the breathtaking Namibian nature.
