Namibia is a country best known for its vast landscapes, spectacular natural beauty and the opportunity to leave the beaten track and find peace away from the crowds. Lending itself especially well to self-drive adventures and having a multitude of excellent campsites and extremely well priced accommodation options, Namibia is easy to do on a budget! There are also lodge-to-lodge fly-in experiences available, making Namibia another wonderful Southern Africa destination for your bucket list.
Windhoek is the capital and with an international airport and a wide range of accommodations for all budgets and preferences, it makes the perfect starting point for a Namibian adventure. Whether you are self-driving or on a guided tour there are levels of adventure and activities suitable for all types of travellers to enjoy. The Hosea Kutako International airport receives daily flights linking Windhoek to Jburg, Cape Town, Frankfurt and Addis Ababa, and a number of weekly flights between Victoria Falls, Swakopmund, Walvis Bay, Katima Mulilo and Maun in Botswana.
The Namib desert is the oldest desert in the world, full of mystery and beckoning adventure. The driest desert for almost 55 million years, it is a marvel how the wildlife has adapted to survive with virtually no rainfall. From Desert Elephants to the Lions of the Skeleton coast, Namibia is a land of stark contrasts and immeasurable beauty. Not only are the animals adapted to this harsh environment, the plants such as the welwitschias family are able to survive for up to 2,000 years making every drop of moisture count..
Be humbled before the striking sand dunes at Sossusvlei in the Namib Naukluft National Park - these are the tallest dunes in the world and are great fun to climb and explore. The dawn light on Dune 7 is a remarkable photographic opportunity at a towering 383 metres high. Enjoy the views from the air in a hot air balloon ride. Kolmanskop, once one of the richest towns in Africa, is a famous ghost town in the desert which was abandoned after the diamond boom ended in the 20th century. A fascinating spectacle as the desert slowly claims the buildings back after the years.
The South of Namibia is where Africa’s largest canyon can be found, The Fish River Canyon, second only to the Grand Canyon in size. The Canyon is 161 km long, 27 km wide and up to 550m deep and meets the South African border at the Orange River. A popular destination for hiking and self-driving through the remarkable landscapes.
Walvis Bay is a harbour town at the Atlantic coast in Namibia and hosts the only deepwater port of the country. Walvis Bay is known for its high-quality fish, oysters and rock lobsters. Boat charters and eco marine tours are a great way to explore the area from the water. Nearby Swakopmund is known as the activity centre of Namibia, where travellers will find a variety of activities, guesthouses, bed & breakfasts, hotels and self-catering accommodations to choose from. Perfect to replenish supplies before heading out to the more remote regions of the country again.
The Skeleton Coast is famous for the many shipwrecks that have been claimed by the sea from explorers past. The sand dunes are powerful, and their relentless march has reclaimed land from the sea. Some shipwrecks from less than a century ago are now almost a mile inland. The rolling mists are a regular feature from the cool Benguela current, creating an eerie quality as they meet the hot desert air from inland. The largest seal colony in the world can be found at Cape Cross along the Skeleton Coast.
Damaraland is home to Africa’s largest population of free ranging, desert adapted Black Rhino as well as a threatened population of Desert Elephants that are uniquely adapted to the area. The landscape is rugged and isolated comprised largely of rolling gravel plains and bald mountains, once again testifying to the wonders of the wildlife that has adapted to surviving in a seemingly barren region. The Brandberg is Namibia’s tallest mountain and is home to thousands of ancient rock paintings. Twyfelfontein’s rocky outcrops showcase ancient Bushmen engravings that are some of their best-preserved artworks on the continent.
Etosha Pan National Park is undoubtedly one of the most popular attractions of Namibia, being easily accessible and a sanctuary for wildlife and birds. The Salt pan is the largest in Africa and can be seen from outer space, similarly, the night sky glistens brightly in return. Known for the Black rhino population being the most stable as well as a guaranteed game viewing destination of four of the Big 5 (Buffalo are not found in this park). There are many animals that congregate around the waterholes throughout the park, allowing for easy sightings and predator encounters. Lodges also have floodlit waterholes and hides for viewing making it a nature lovers and photographers dream destination! There is a variety of accommodation in the park to suit all budgets as well as self-drive or guided options to move around. There are airstrips as well for fly in options. This makes it a perfect destination for all your different safari needs to create the experience especially for you.
Caprivi is a strip of land in the north of Namibia between Angola, Botswana, Zambia and Zimbabwe that runs for about 450km. Second to Etosha for game viewing, the many waterholes and lush landscapes make for excellent sightings of all wildlife that are not typically found in Namibia. The area is unfenced, untamed, isolated from the crowds and guarantees an authentic wild African experience. Self -driving and guided options are easy from Chobe in Botswana and give an opportunity to escape into a true wilderness.
Namibia is a wonderful family destination or romantic getaway that offers a contrast of rugged and electric landscapes and wildlife that are unlike anywhere on earth. Take as long or as little as you like, it will leave you forever changed like the rolling of its sands.
