A Namibian Adventure

From the sea of sand dunes in the south, to the harsh landscape of Damaraland in the north, and across to the wildlife rich plains of the Etosha National Park, Namibia is a truly stunning country full of contrasts. The vastness of the country will both impress and delight first time visitors looking for adventure, and returning visitors will always find somewhere new to explore and enjoy.

Sossusvlei Photography Namibia is a vast country, so if you are planning a self-drive holiday here you must be prepared to do a lot of driving - the average distance between destinations is 5 hours driving on gravel roads - there are very few tarred roads in Namibia! We would normally recommend a 4x4 or a high clearance 2x4 - as whilst the grave roads are well maintained, they do still have the odd pothole along the way!

Otherwise, you also have the option to hop on a light aircraft and fly between the destinations - getting a birds eye view of the country as you travel as a bonus.

Windhoek is the capital of the country, and most visitors begin their trip here for a night, then head either northwards or southwards.

Southern Namibia has many attractions in its own right - the Fish River Canyon being the main one. The only roads to it are across vast areas of flat and barren landscapes, sparsely populated with desert plants, quiver trees and cacti. As a result of this physical isolation, the whole place feels magical and unvisited.

Sossusvlei is situated in the heart of the Namib Desert, which is one of the oldest deserts in the world. Sossusvlei is most famous for its huge red sand dunes, which are the most popular and visited tourist attraction in Namibia. The contrast between the clear blue skies, deep red dunes, and the cracked white base of the dry lakes (vleis) lends itself to some truly stunning photography, and climbing the easily accessible dunes to get a view over the spectacular 'dune sea' is unforgettable.

Black Faced Impala The coastal town of Swakopmund is Namibia's busiest resort town and offers a range of activities including quad biking, scenic flights and sandboarding.

In the north of the country, Damaraland and Kaokoveld are easy areas to visit, and the main attractions include the traditional nomadic Himba tribes and tracking desert elephants and rhino, and of course the harsh beauty and ruggedness of the region.

The Skeleton Coast is a fascinating area, but quite difficult to reach and trips here are generally on a fly-in basis which can add to the cost - but it is worth every penny!

The Etosha National Park offers some of the finest wildlife viewing in Africa, and is one of the undisputed highlights of any visit to the country. The Park is home to 114 different mammal species, including 4 of the Big 5 - leopard, lion, elephant and rhino (both black and white). The Park has recorded nearly 400 species of bird and is also home to 3 uncommon antelope species - the beautiful black-faced impala, the roan antelope, and Southern Africa's smallest antelope, the Damara dik-dik, which stands only 40cm to the shoulder as a fully grown male adult. The winter months (June-October) are the dry season in Etosha, which means the bush dries back, making it easier to spot game, plus the animals are more dependent on the waterholes.

Finally, a trip to Namibia would not be complete without a stay at the AfriCat Foundation at Okonjima. This is a non-profit organisation which aims for the long term conservation of large carnivores in Namibia. They rescue, relocate and even rehabilitate problem big cats, and try to raise awareness of the issues involved.

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