Where the Desert Meets the Ocean

DISCOVER NAMIBIA

Romantic | Spacious | Dramatic

Namibia is one of Africa’s most fascinating destinations. With just over 2 million inhabitants it is the second sparsest populated country on the planet. ‘The Land God Made In Anger’ represents the perfect mix of drama, romance and adventure. This vast and arid expanse of land with its lonely roads winding through unbelievable vistas will sear itself into your memory and heart. It is rugged, elemental and savage. And ravishingly beautiful.

Namibia is one of the few African destinations to offer price options to suit all pockets. Holidays can range from self-drive options to more expensive private expeditions and luxury fly-in safaris. Whilst it is possible to see much of the country on a reasonable budget, some of the more remote parts of Namibia can only be accessed by air transfers, or on more specialist, private guided tours.

Namibian pricing is seasonal so pricing varies depending on the time of year you visit. On the lower end, a 10 – 14 day self-drive safari in Namibia (excluding international flights) starts at Euro 1800 per person sharing. A similarly guided safari would be in the range of Euro 3600 per person.

Namibia Highlights

Namibia is the fifth largest country in Africa and has a long Atlantic coastline. It shares land borders with Angola and Zambia to the north, Botswana to the east and South Africa to the south and east. Namibia is two hours ahead of Greenwich Mean Time (GMT) / Coordinated Universal Time (UTC).

Its currency is the Namibian Dollar (NAD) and the official language is English, with German, Afrikaans and 10 indigenous languages and their dialects widely spoken.

The Namib Desert

The Namib is reputed to be the oldest desert on our planet at 43 million years, and at least 2 million in its current form. It stretches along the entire Namibian coast. The Namib is a living desert thanks to the cold, nutrient-rich Benguela current. Although rainfall is less than 20mm per year the fog that moves in from the sea deposits moisture up to 50 kilometres inland. This sea of sand protects 300 endemic desert-adapted species of animals, insects and plants including the elusive brown hyena and iconic Welwitschia Mirabilis.

Sossusvlei, Deadvlei and Sesriem Canyon

Sossusvlei is formed by the ephemeral Tsauchab River's futile passage, its course to the sea blocked by the mass of sand. The Tsauchab creates a wide avenue as it flows past some of the world's tallest sand dunes. In years of good rains, the water reaches the vlei where it remains until the moisture evaporates to leave a cracked clay surface. Deadvlei is nearby. This dramatic amphitheatre has the skeletons of ancient camelthorn trees jutting out of its cracked, white clay surface. This deathly white pan inspires some of the most dramatic photographs taken of Namibia.

Etosha National Park

Namibia’s Etosha National Park is a must for any visit to Namibia. This large protected area measures 22 912 km² is one of the world’s great wildlife experiences. Unlike other parks in Africa, where you can spend days looking for animals, sitting patiently at one of Etosha’s many water holes brings the animals to you. The heart of the park is the Etosha Pan, an immense, flat, saline depression. ‘Great White Place’. In years of good rain, the pan fills with water and teems with flamingos and pelicans. Usually, it is dry and austere, shimmering with mirages and upward spiralling dust devils covering everything in the white chalky dust. Even if you’ve had a taste of African wildlife watching previously, you will be mesmerised by it here.

The Fish River Canyon

The second-largest canyon in the world lies in the lower reaches of Namibia’s longest river, the Fish River. Water created this spectacular phenomenon over millions of years. The dramatic gash is 161km long, 27km wide and up to 550 metres deep.

Twyfelfontein

Namibia’s first Unesco World Heritage Site is an open-air gallery of 2000 plus rock engravings estimated to be at least 6000 years old. The paintings and engravings here are attributed to San shamans who depicted the images they saw while connected to the spiritual world during a trance.

Kaokoland

Home to populations of uniquely desert-adapted elephants, rhino and lion. The outback of the outback and the wilderness’s wilderness. If getting off the grid appeals to you, Kaokoland is as far out of reach as it gets. Home to the Himba people, some of the world’s last remaining, genuinely nomadic peoples.

The Skeleton Coast

The Skeleton Coast was nicknamed the "gates to hell" by Portuguese sailors of old, who navigated the Atlantic's powerful currents en route to the Cape of Good Hope. Haunted by ghosts, littered with whales' bones and the ribs of wrecked ships, the Skeleton Coast National Park starts at the Ugab River and stretches northward to the Kunene River. This conservation area protects desert-adapted wildlife and ancient flora.

The Wetlands

In dramatic contrast with most of Namibia's arid drama, a paradise of 5 perennial rivers, expansive floodplains and lush riverine forest are found in the northeast of Namibia. Sticking out like a finger and formerly known as the Caprivi strip - the Zambezi Region is genuinely one of southern Africa's best-kept secrets. Small, traditional villages dot the countryside and life here continues much as it has done for hundreds of years. Four of the 'big five' animals can be found here, and it is a birders' paradise. The Zambezi region lies in the heart of KAZA, the Kavango Zambezi Transfrontier Conservation Area. Spanning over 444 000km², KAZA is the largest conservation area of its kind. The total elephant population here is estimated to be almost 50 000.

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