Namib-Naukluft National Park

🇳🇦 Namibia

🦎 Watch Namib Sand Geckos Thrive
🌍 #130 Global · 3.9 ★★★★★ ★★★★★ #41 in Africa #6 in Desert & Scrub
Southern Africa, Namibia 908 spp. recorded

Namib-Naukluft National Park is a desert reserve stretching across southwestern Namibia, protecting a stark landscape of massive dunes, gravel plains, and coastal lagoons. Unlike tropical parks defined by dense forests, this harsh environment relies on coastal fogs and ephemeral rivers to sustain its specialized wildlife.

-24.065° S   15.102° E

Wildlife

SIGHTING PROBABILITY Share of citizen-science records from the park that report this species
<5%
Rare 5–15%
With luck 15–40%
Possible 40–70%
Likely >70%
Very likely
ACTIVITY PATTERN
☀️ Diurnal 🌙 Nocturnal 🌅 Crepuscular ☀️🌙 Day & Night

⭐ Iconic Species

Gemsbok ★
LC Endemic

Gemsbok

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Oryx gazella

50–60% · Likely
Namib Sand Gecko ★
LC

Namib Sand Gecko

Reptile

Pachydactylus rangei

40–50% · Likely
Afro-Australian Fur Seal ★
LC

Afro-Australian Fur Seal

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Arctocephalus pusillus

40–50% · Likely
Springbok ★
LC Endemic

Springbok

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Antidorcas marsupialis

40–50% · Likely

📊 Most Spotted

Cape Sparrow
LC Endemic

Cape Sparrow

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Passer melanurus

60–70% · Likely
Dominican Gull
LC

Dominican Gull

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Larus dominicanus

50–60% · Likely
Hartlaub's Gull

Hartlaub's Gull

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Chroicocephalus hartlaubii

50–60% · Likely
Greater Flamingo
LC

Greater Flamingo

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Phoenicopterus roseus

50–60% · Likely
Lesser Flamingo
NT

Lesser Flamingo

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Phoeniconaias minor

50–60% · Likely
Cape Wagtail
LC

Cape Wagtail

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Motacilla capensis

40–50% · Likely
Speckled Pigeon
LC

Speckled Pigeon

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Columba guinea

40–50% · Likely
Namaqua Chameleon
LC

Namaqua Chameleon

Reptile

Chamaeleo namaquensis

40–50% · Likely
Wedge-snouted Desert Lizard
LC

Wedge-snouted Desert Lizard

Reptile

Meroles cuneirostris

40–50% · Likely
Pied Avocet
LC

Pied Avocet

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Recurvirostra avosetta

40–50% · Likely
Cape Cormorant
EN

Cape Cormorant

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Phalacrocorax capensis

30–40% · Possible
Shovel-snouted Lizard
LC

Shovel-snouted Lizard

Reptile

Meroles anchietae

30–40% · Possible

⭐ Iconic Species

Gemsbok ★
LC Endemic

Gemsbok

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Oryx gazella

50–60% · Likely
Afro-Australian Fur Seal ★
LC

Afro-Australian Fur Seal

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Arctocephalus pusillus

40–50% · Likely
Springbok ★
LC Endemic

Springbok

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Antidorcas marsupialis

40–50% · Likely

📊 Most Spotted

Cape Ground Squirrel

Cape Ground Squirrel

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Xerus inauris

30–40% · Possible
Equus hartmannae

Equus hartmannae

Mammal

Equus hartmannae

20–30% · Possible
Chacma Baboon
LC

Chacma Baboon

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Papio ursinus

20–30% · Possible
Klipspringer
LC

Klipspringer

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Oreotragus oreotragus

20–30% · Possible
Rock Hyrax
LC

Rock Hyrax

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Procavia capensis

10–20% · Possible
Southern Giraffe

Southern Giraffe

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Giraffa giraffa

10–20% · Possible
Dassie Rat
LC

Dassie Rat

Mammal

Petromus typicus

10–20% · Possible
Greater Kudu
LC

Greater Kudu

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Tragelaphus strepsiceros

10–20% · Possible
Hyaena brunnea

Hyaena brunnea

🌅 Crepuscular Mammal

Hyaena brunnea

10–20% · Possible
Heaviside's Dolphin
NT

Heaviside's Dolphin

Mammal

Cephalorhynchus heavisidii

10–20% · Possible
Humpback Whale
LC

Humpback Whale

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Megaptera novaeangliae

10–20% · Possible
Cape Four-striped Grass Mouse
LC

Cape Four-striped Grass Mouse

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Rhabdomys pumilio

10–20% · Possible

📊 Most Spotted

Cape Sparrow
LC Endemic

Cape Sparrow

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Passer melanurus

60–70% · Likely
Dominican Gull
LC

Dominican Gull

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Larus dominicanus

50–60% · Likely
Hartlaub's Gull

Hartlaub's Gull

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Chroicocephalus hartlaubii

50–60% · Likely
Greater Flamingo
LC

Greater Flamingo

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Phoenicopterus roseus

50–60% · Likely
Lesser Flamingo
NT

Lesser Flamingo

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Phoeniconaias minor

50–60% · Likely
Cape Wagtail
LC

Cape Wagtail

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Motacilla capensis

40–50% · Likely
Speckled Pigeon
LC

Speckled Pigeon

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Columba guinea

40–50% · Likely
Pied Avocet
LC

Pied Avocet

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Recurvirostra avosetta

40–50% · Likely
Cape Cormorant
EN

Cape Cormorant

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Phalacrocorax capensis

30–40% · Possible
LADO

LADO

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Spilopelia senegalensis

30–40% · Possible
Black-bellied Plover
VU

Black-bellied Plover

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Pluvialis squatarola

30–40% · Possible
Crested Tern
LC

Crested Tern

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Thalasseus bergii

30–40% · Possible

⭐ Iconic Species

Namib Sand Gecko ★
LC

Namib Sand Gecko

Reptile

Pachydactylus rangei

40–50% · Likely

📊 Most Spotted

Namaqua Chameleon
LC

Namaqua Chameleon

Reptile

Chamaeleo namaquensis

40–50% · Likely
Wedge-snouted Desert Lizard
LC

Wedge-snouted Desert Lizard

Reptile

Meroles cuneirostris

40–50% · Likely
Shovel-snouted Lizard
LC

Shovel-snouted Lizard

Reptile

Meroles anchietae

30–40% · Possible
Peringuey's Adder
LC

Peringuey's Adder

Reptile

Bitis peringueyi

30–40% · Possible
Namib Day Gecko
LC

Namib Day Gecko

Reptile

Rhoptropus afer

30–40% · Possible
Horned Adder
LC

Horned Adder

☀️ Diurnal Reptile

Bitis caudalis

30–40% · Possible
Spotted Sand Lizard
LC

Spotted Sand Lizard

Reptile

Meroles suborbitalis

20–30% · Possible
Kalahari Tree Skink
LC

Kalahari Tree Skink

☀️ Diurnal Reptile

Trachylepis spilogaster

20–30% · Possible
Fischer's Thick-toed Gecko
LC

Fischer's Thick-toed Gecko

🌙 Nocturnal Reptile

Chondrodactylus laevigatus

20–30% · Possible
Anchieta's Agama
LC

Anchieta's Agama

☀️ Diurnal Reptile

Agama anchietae

20–30% · Possible
Variegated Skink
LC

Variegated Skink

☀️ Diurnal Reptile

Trachylepis variegata

20–30% · Possible
Short Blind Dart Skink
LC

Short Blind Dart Skink

Reptile

Typhlacontias brevipes

20–30% · Possible

📊 Most Spotted

Poynton's River Frog
LC

Poynton's River Frog

Amphibian

Amietia poyntoni

10–20% · With luck
Marbled rubber frog
LC

Marbled rubber frog

☀️🌙 Day & Night Amphibian

Phrynomantis annectens

0–10% · With luck
African Clawed Frog
LC

African Clawed Frog

☀️🌙 Day & Night Amphibian

Xenopus laevis

0–10% · With luck
Hoesch's toad
LC

Hoesch's toad

Amphibian

Poyntonophrynus hoeschi

Insufficient data
Tandy's sand frog
LC

Tandy's sand frog

🌙 Nocturnal Amphibian

Tomopterna tandyi

Insufficient data
Power's Toad
LC

Power's Toad

🌙 Nocturnal Amphibian

Sclerophrys poweri

Insufficient data
Senegal Kassina
LC

Senegal Kassina

☀️🌙 Day & Night Amphibian

Kassina senegalensis

Insufficient data
Boettger's dainty frog
LC

Boettger's dainty frog

☀️🌙 Day & Night Amphibian

Cacosternum boettgeri

Insufficient data

Animal Events

🐦

Coastal Fog and Marine Life Gathering

OctNov

Dense Atlantic fog rolls inland over the frigid coast, providing vital moisture while the Afro-Australian Fur Seal gathers in massive numbers along the shorelines to breed and nurse their pups.

🐦

Arid Plain Grazing and Rutting

Jun

During the cooler winter months, the Springbok engage in active social interactions, congregating in large herds across the gravel plains to take advantage of sparse winter grazing.

🐦

Endemic Dune Activity Peak

Jan

With the intense heat of mid-summer, nocturnal reptiles like the Namib Sand Gecko emerge to hunt actively across the cooling sand slopes, utilizing specialized behavioral adaptations to survive the harsh dunes.

Sighting Calendar

Chance of spotting each species, month by month

Months
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
Species Total
40–50
40–50
40–50
40–50
40–50
40–50
50–60
40–50
40–50
40–50
40–50
50–60
Gemsbok
40–50
50–60
40–50
40–50
40–50
60–70
50–60
40–50
50–60
60–70
50–60
50–60
Namib Sand Gecko
50–60
40–50
40–50
40–50
40–50
30–40
30–40
40–50
40–50
40–50
40–50
30–40
Afro-Australian Fur Seal
30–40
30–40
40–50
40–50
30–40
40–50
40–50
30–40
40–50
40–50
40–50
30–40
Springbok
40–50
50–60
40–50
40–50
40–50
50–60
30–40
40–50
30–40
40–50
40–50
40–50
Cape Sparrow
60–70
50–60
50–60
50–60
50–60
60–70
60–70
60–70
70–80
70–80
60–70
70–80
Dominican Gull
60–70
50–60
50–60
40–50
50–60
40–50
60–70
60–70
60–70
50–60
50–60
60–70
Hartlaub's Gull
60–70
50–60
50–60
40–50
50–60
50–60
60–70
50–60
50–60
50–60
50–60
60–70
Greater Flamingo
50–60
50–60
50–60
30–40
40–50
50–60
60–70
40–50
60–70
50–60
50–60
70–80
Lesser Flamingo
40–50
40–50
50–60
30–40
40–50
40–50
60–70
50–60
50–60
40–50
40–50
60–70
Cape Wagtail
50–60
50–60
40–50
30–40
40–50
40–50
40–50
60–70
50–60
40–50
40–50
50–60
Speckled Pigeon
50–60
30–40
40–50
30–40
40–50
30–40
40–50
50–60
40–50
50–60
50–60
50–60
Namaqua Chameleon
40–50
30–40
40–50
40–50
40–50
40–50
40–50
30–40
40–50
40–50
40–50
40–50
Wedge-snouted Desert Lizard
40–50
30–40
40–50
30–40
30–40
30–40
40–50
30–40
40–50
30–40
50–60
30–40
Pied Avocet
30–40
30–40
40–50
20–30
20–30
30–40
60–70
30–40
40–50
30–40
30–40
50–60
Cape Cormorant
30–40
30–40
30–40
30–40
30–40
30–40
30–40
40–50
30–40
40–50
30–40
50–60
Shovel-snouted Lizard
40–50
30–40
30–40
30–40
30–40
30–40
40–50
30–40
40–50
30–40
40–50
30–40
Animal Events
🐦 Coastal Fog and Marine Life Gathering
🐦 Arid Plain Grazing and Rutting
🐦 Endemic Dune Activity Peak

Sighting Zones

Warm areas are where all species together are recorded most, so they track where people go as much as where animals are. For one species, see the map on its own page.

0.0 ★★★★★ ★★★★★ Excellent
🦎 Watch Namib Sand Geckos Thrive

Where Wildlife Score

How good is this park for seeing wildlife?
🦜

Biodiversity

Very good

How rich is the wildlife?

4.3 Global avg
4.3 ★★★★★ ★★★★★
Species by taxon
🦅 Birds
538
🐒 Mammals
175
🦎 Reptiles
178
🐸 Amphibians
17
908 Total Species
841 Global average across 280 parks
48 Threatened 15 Endemic
🔭

Sighting

Very good

How likely to see animals?

3.6 Global avg
3.6 ★★★★★ ★★★★★
🎯
Top-12 Avg Probability
62% Global avg
50%
📊
Coverage (220 species at ≥5% of 908 in the inventory)
24% Global avg
24%
🔀
Taxon variety in top 12 (7 bird, 3 mammal, 2 reptile)
47% Global avg
76%
🌟
Iconic-group species (≥15%) (every species from the 19 iconic groups — monkeys, cats, toucans, macaws, sloths, crocodilians… — not just the 4 highlighted above)
14 Global avg
19
⭐
High-prob species (>40%)
26 Global avg
14
⚖️

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