While Namibia boasts abundant wildlife, your most enduring memories will be the vast landscapes of deserts and endless plains.
“The stars at night do not get any brighter than in Namibia.”
Joan & Howard Weinstein
Atlanta, USA
Its immensity of space is accentuated by the fact that Namibia is the driest country south of the Sahara. But life there is, and in many diverse forms, from the Himba people (one of the last true nomadic tribes on Earth) to the unique desert-adapted elephant and the huge seal colonies of the Skeleton Coast. Dinosaur footprints preserved in sandstone, prehistoric rock art, and the ancient fossil plant Welwitschia mirabilis, all bear witness to the timelessness of this intriguing country.
The best time to visit Namibia is the dry season from autumn to spring (April – October) when daytime temperatures are warm. Winter nights in the desert regions can be very cold (May-July), while summer days can be extremely hot.
Highlights of Namibia
Windhoek
Windhoek, the country’s capital, is a bustling metropolis which lies in a picturesque valley. Its buildings combine modern city architecture with that of the German colonial era.
Sossusvlei
In the vast southern Namib-Naukluft Park is the Sossusvlei region, where one encounters massive, apricot-orange sand dunes that are the highest in the world.
Etosha
The springs surrounding the huge salt pan in Etosha, Namibia’s premier National Park, support a vast array of wildlife, including four of the Big Five, as well as rare species such as the black-faced impala.
Damaraland
In the breathtaking mountainous region of Damaraland, an assortment of unique desert-adapted animals, such as elephant, lion and rhino seek out an existence in the near-barren landscape.
Skeleton Coast
The Skeleton Coast is a graveyard for ill-fated seafarers and whales; the dense fogs that arise here shroud shipwrecks and bones as well as the surreal desert dunes.
Swakopmund
Renowned for adventure sports like sandboarding and quad biking, the quaint coastal town of Swakopmund retains a strong German flavour, from the picturesque buildings right down to the many German pubs and restaurants.
Recommended accommodation in Namibia
Sossusvlei Desert Lodge
Designed to capture the splendour and solitude of the desert, each of the 10 stone and glass desert villas at Sossusvlei Desert Lodge is set along the curve of the escarpment, affording absolute privacy. Each villa features a private, shaded verandah, split-level bedroom and living room with fireplace, glass-encased en suite bathroom with indoor and outdoor showers, fully-stocked personal bar and a compact spotting scope. The main lodge features a fire-lit bar, comfortable sitting room, mezzanine library with CD and book collection, swimming pool, wraparound verandas and African gift shop.
Led by expert rangers and naturalists, explore the desert on quad bikes (all-terrain 4-wheeled motorcycles), in open 4×4 vehicles or even by hot air balloon. Excursions to the famous Sossusvlei sand dunes (the highest in the world) and the Sesriem Canyon will add to this unforgettable desert-safari experience.
Serra Cafema
Serra Cafema is one of the remotest camps in southern Africa and is ideal for those who appreciate really wild places without compromising on luxury. The tented camp is built within an island of ancient albeida trees on the banks of the Kunene River, the only permanent source of water in the whole region. This area is shared with the Himba people who are some of the last nomadic people in Africa. Interaction with the Himba in their natural environment is a cultural highlight for guests.
Activities include quad biking over the dunes, 4×4 safaris and river cruises where one can bird watch and observe crocodiles basking on the river banks. Walking trails in the remote mountains and river valleys are a highlight for those who enjoy foot safaris.
Onguma Private Nature Reserve
Situated on the eastern side of Etosha National Park, Onguma Private Nature Reserve covers nearly 50 000 acres. Predators such as lion, cheetah and leopard are common residents and black rhino have recently been introduced. Seven spacious safari tents have been designed with attention to detail and a sense of natural luxury. Each tent includes an indoor and outdoor shower, a gorgeous zinc bath and a private sitting area. The tents are softened by white fabric draped from above and there is a direct view from the beds out onto a waterhole that is floodlit at night.
Onguma’s natural waterhole attracts prolific bird- and wildlife. Guests can take part in guided bush walks, as well as day and night drives in the reserve and in the neighbouring Etosha Pan National Park. Various waterholes in Etosha ensure fantastic photographic opportunities and the thrill of seeing some of the largest mammals in the world.
