Namibia is a place where the concept of ‘vastness’ can not only be truly comprehended, but also felt. It is of course the gigantic, incomparable sand dunes of the ancient Namib Desert that feature most prominently on a Namibia holiday itinerary. But this Southern African country, lying between the Kalahari and the Atlantic Ocean, has much more up its sleeve.
Huge, sparsely populated Namibia is a country of gigantic skies and dramatic scenery. Destinations such as Damaraland, the shipwreck-strewn Skeleton Coast, or the Kaokoveld literally echo with emptiness and atmosphere, yet excellent lodges are tucked away in these remote regions and provide intrepid travellers with havens of serenity and comfort. And there’s a lot more wildlife than you might think!
If spotting unique animals is on your wish list, then the Namibia wildlife won’t disappoint. Excellent game viewing is what you’ll get at Etosha National Park, famous for its animal-packed waterholes and abundant predators. Small populations of desert-adapted elephant, black rhino, giraffe, ostrich, oryx, and lion can be seen in off-the-beaten-path destinations like Damaraland and Kaokoveld. These unique animals have adapted their lifestyles to survive in one of our planet’s harshest environments and spotting them is a highlight on any Namibia safari.
The Namib Desert, the oldest desert on Earth, not only makes the country one of the least densely populated places in the world, it’s also responsible for providing unrivalled, see-it-to-believe-it Namibia landscapes. The Namib’s enormous sand dunes, arid gravel plains, and mountainous terrain make Namibia’s scenery and landscapes some of the most dramatic you will ever see. In fact, in some areas of Namibia, you’ll feel like you’ve landed on Mars.
During Namibia’s dry season (May to October), the temporary water holes around Etosha Pan become a magnet for animal numbers of biblical proportions. Etosha National Park is dominated by this colossal mineral pan (the size of Holland), while the surrounding grasslands are feeding grounds for dense herds of plains game and Namibia wildlife like elephant, rhino, lion, leopard, cheetah and giraffe. When it comes to sheer scale and natural beauty, Namibia’s epic landscapes are hard to beat. Imagine ochre sand dunes more than 300 metres (985 feet) high, soaring inselbergs, or a tempestuous coastline scattered with shipwrecks and whale- and seal bones.
From sandboarding down the dunes of our planet’s oldest desert to climbing the granite flanks of the ‘Matterhorn of Africa’, a Namibia vacation offers a plethora of activities for thrill seekers.
