“Namibia is a land of the starkest contrasts: from the haunting beauty of Sossusvlei’s whispering sand dunes and the game-packed golden savannahs of the Etosha National Park to the adrenalin buzz of Swakopmund’s adventure activities and desert elephants of Damaraland, there’s an eclectic range of Namib safaris for all ages, tastes and budgets.” – quote
Namibia is a without a doubt, one of the MOST beautiful countries in the world. It is renowned for its abundant sunshine, unspoilt landscapes, large variety of game, and a feeling of total unconfined space. Characterised by wide horizons, clear unpolluted skies, colours, contrasts, light, shade, burning red sand, echoing mountains, empty rolling deserts and misty oceans…it’s one long mesmerising landscape!
Namibia is one of the larger countries in Africa and draws an increasing number of visitors from various parts of the planet. Perched on Africa’s south-west Atlantic coast, it is located south of the Equator, Namibia is bordered by the countries of Angola, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Botswana and South Africa. Safe, friendly and accessible, with a well-maintained road network making travelling an absolute pleasure, and a population density which is among the lowest in the world – what an ideal destination!
Namibia is the first country in the world to include protection of the environment and sustainable utilisation of wildlife in its constitution. About 15,5% of the country has been set aside as National Parks. In these areas, rare and endangered species of animals, birds and plant life are preserved and protected. Most of the African game species are well represented in Namibia, with the largest concentration in the Etosha National Park. Wilderness and modern amenities co-exist happily in this land of vivid contrasts.
Namibia is the oldest desert of the earth with a unique flora and fauna. The wind-whipped coast with innumerable shipwrecks stretches all along the hostile Namib desert. The orange-red dunefields are up to 150 kilometres wide with the mightiest dunes being up to 300 metres high. It gets quite hot between December to February, but because of its high altitude, humidity is low and nights are pleasantly cooled by a light breeze. It does rain quite heavily in summer but the evaporation rate is extremely high so it does not stay damp for long. Winters can get very cold at night with some frost in low lying areas, but the days are warm, sunny and cloudless.
Namibia can be as docile or as wild as you choose. For those seeking some relaxation, you can partake in a sunset game drive, bird watching, visit the gentle Himba tribespeople of the northern Kaokoveld, sip G&T’s by the pool, pamper yourself to an aromatherapy massage at your luxury lodge, or just absorb the drama of the shipwreck-strewn beaches of the unforgiving Skeleton Coast Park. For those with adventure in mind, hike the jagged Fish River Canyon, make a quad bike leap over sand dunes in the Namib Desert, position yourself at an action-packed waterhole in the Etosha National Park, slalom a canoe through the rapids of the Orange River, or hunt for Bushman rock art or gaspingly old geological phenomena in the desert. It is not the right place for those who like busy beaches and have fun in crowds. But if you love nature, stillness, grandiose landscapes, desert and expanse, you will become attached to Namibia for life.
National Parks and Game Reserves include: Caprivi Game Park; the small but picturesque Mahango Game Reserve; the largest wetland area, Mamili National Park; the dense savannah and mopane woodlands, Mudumu National Park; and of course, Namibia’s best-known tourist attraction and one of the most interesting game reserves in the world because of its unusual terrain, Etosha National Park.
