Namibia is a wild and untamed place that will leave you in awe of its stark beauty and vast openness. It is a country characterised by great contrasts: deserts that creep over mountains, huge dune fields that roll down into a wild ocean. Swirling mists carried along the ocean breeze that sustain alien-like plants and insects in a harsh world that belies its diversity of life. In most parts, it is characterised as a desert country with some of the oldest and highest sand dunes in the world. In other parts, it is known for its wild and stormy coastline that has sent many a ship to its grave along the aptly named Skeleton Coast. And yet, this stark and empty place is also home to the lush and green wilderness of the Caprivi Strip, a green oasis of waterways, a place of unbridled abundance and sanctuary to a huge array of wildlife. Namibia has the largest population of wild Cheetah as well as desert-adapted animals like the lion, elephant and rhino. And no visit to Namibia can be considered complete without experiencing the hive of activity to be found around a waterhole in the wildly contrasting Etosha National Park.
Namibia is one of the most sparsely populated countries in the world with a population of only 2.1 million in an area larger than France & Germany combined. Yet as isolated as they are, its people are a wide variety of proud, culturally diverse tribes that are still very much in touch with traditional ways of life.
The Caprivi is one of the richest and most unique wildlife destinations in Namibia. It is where two mighty African rivers, the Chobe and Zambezi, meet and it is the only place in the world where 4 countries meet - Namibia, Botswana, Zambia and Zimbabwe. From the air, an amazing mosaic of waterways, floodplains and bushveld. On the ground, exceptional birdlife, game viewing and assorted vegetation. And in the waters, outstanding fishing opportunities.
Located southwest of Etosha National Park and on the eastern side of the Skeleton Coast National Park. There is fascinating desert-adapted wildlife like elephants, black rhinos, zebras and lions. The home to the Himba people, some of the last truly nomadic tribes of Africa and the Herero people with their unique Victoria traditional dress. It is also the place of Twyfelfontein, one of Namibia's two UNESCO World Heritage Sites, awarded for its impressive rock art paintings.
Etosha National Park is enormous in size and famous for its white salt pans that cover many kilometres, so much so that they are even visible from space. After the rains in the wet season, these salt pans fill with shallow waters that reflect the deep blue African skies in their still, mirror-like surface. The Big 5 can be spotted here, including the rare and endangered black rhino. The waterholes offer dramatic game-viewing as they draw the thirsty desert animals in for a drink.
Desert adapted wildlife in the Kalahari and an amazing variety of flora and fauna. The Fish River Canyon is the biggest canyon in Africa, has a depth of up to 550 meters and opens very abrupt, which is something you should see to believe it. The Fish River Canyon is also a very popular hiking destination.
Located in the very North West of Namibia, east of the Skeleton Coat Park. Koakoland is a highly remote area and only accessible by a light aircraft. It is not likely to spot a lot of wildlife, but if you are lucky you might spot the springbok, giraffe or zebra.
Lüderitz is a small seaside harbour town located in southwest Namibia. The town is known for its colonial architecture (including some Art Nouveau work) and for wildlife including seals, penguins, flamingos, ostriches and not too far from here, wild desert horses. It is also home to a museum and a remarkable arched rock.
At over 200,000 hectares ,the NamibRand Nature Reserve is one of the largest private nature reserves in Southern Africa. Sharing a 100 km border with the Namib-Naukluft National Park (itself one of the largest conservation areas in Africa), the NamibRand is a located in the heart of the Namibian Desert and within close proximity to Sossusvlei. Discover the unique plants and animals that are specially adapted to the desert climate. Breathtaking views, dramatic desertscapes and unspoiled desert wilderness are all to be found at this reserve.
An extremely remote and unpopulated area in Namibia. The Skeleton Coast lies in the west of Namibia and is a stunning self-drive destination. The coastline is named after the many ships that sank here along the coastline. But as the name also suggests, you also encounter skeletons of all descriptions such as elephants.
Situated in one of the largest conservation areas in Africa (the Namib-Naukluft National Park), Sossusvlei is possibly Namibia’s most spectacular and best-known attraction. Sossusvlei is a large white salt and clay pan that is surrounded by some of the oldest and highest sand dunes in the world. Some of these iconic orange and red sand dunes reach almost 400 meters high. The vast ocean of sand that makes up the Namib Sand Sea UNESCO Heritage Site is best appreciated from the air in a hot-air balloon or light aircraft. Even though the desert has sparse vegetation and low rainfall, it supports a rich diversity of life.
Swakopmund on the coast of Namibia is a small and remote town with a strong German flair. With long empty beaches, it is the ideal place for some relaxation by the sea and catching a deep African tan. Also for adventurer lovers, Swakopmund is an excellent destination with numerous options to go quad biking, sand boarding, surfing, sky diving, dolphin cruising, taking scenic flights over the desert and many more.
The Waterberg Plateau rises about 200 meters above the surrounding plains of the Kalahari and eastern Namibia and supports a wide diversity of flora and fauna in the folds of its brick-red sandstone and lush vegetation. The plateau is a perfect overnight stop for those on a self-drive adventure, as it is situated between Etosha and Windhoek. The area was declared a National Park in 1972 and as it is largely inaccessible from beneath, several of Namibia's endangered species were relocated here for conservation. The programme was so successful that the Waterberg now supplies other Namibian parks with rare animals and the rare and endangered Black Rhino has been reintroduced here.
Windhoek is the capital of Namibia and its largest city. This quiet city offers a blend of African and European cultures and is the place from where most tours start and end. With around 230,000 inhabitants, Windhoek is quite a small and compact city but with the largest airport in Namibia nearby, nearly all of Namibia's visitors pass through its streets at least once during their trip, usually at the beginning or at the end.
Namibia can be visited year round and is a true year-round destination. The seasonal changes are not very extreme. If we could advise you on the best time to travel we suggest May to October because temperatures at night are cool and the days are warm and sunny. Also game viewing is at its best during this period.
Step into the twilight zone. Take a short walk over a small sand dune and you will soon find yourself in a parallel universe where the concept of time slips away to irrelevance. It is as if you have stepped through the door to another world altogether, where the eerie silence plays tricks on your mind and the hot sun beats down onto your skin. The black skeletons of long dead trees dot this haunted landscape, the white salty sand crusts the parched ground and the huge red sand dunes cast a strong outline against the deep blue of the clear African sky. Dead Vlei in the heart of the Namib Naukluft National Park in Namibia is a photographer’s dream but no doubt it will be an experience to cherish for a lifetime for anyone who has stood here and felt as if time itself has stopped.
With its gentle pace and close proximity to nature, a horse back safari is another excellent option for experiencing the African bush. This unique experience combines the pleasure of riding with the adventure of an African safari, giving you close access to the scenery and wildlife of the African bush. Wild animals are less afraid of the shape and smell of a horse and therefore grant them (and you on top of them) much closer quarters than you would normally achieve in a game vehicle. Imagine riding alongside a herd of giraffe or in the middle of a herd of impala or wildebeest. No matter your level of skill, this option is open to both beginners and advanced riders as you will be assigned a well-trained horse to suit your level. Here, horse and rider become one with the environment and horse-lovers and first timers alike should not miss this unique opportunity.
