Privately Guided Safaris | Safari Training | Beat About The Bush

Namibia is a relatively young country, having attained independence from South Africa in 1990. It is a large country and is dominated by semi-arid to arid landscapes.

It is a true wilderness with only 2 million people, most of which are confined to the more arable northern parts along the border with Angola. Having been a German colony up until the early 20th century, there is still a strong German influence in architecture (especially in the quaint seaside town of Swakopmund), cuisine and language with most people in the country speaking English, German and Afrikaans.

The country is well known for its vast open spaces, spectacular scenery, stunning weather and superb night skies, and for the fact that even the most rural of destinations are accessible via a superbly maintained road network.
Aptly named after the Namib – the oldest desert in the world – the country has a variety of wildlife and scenic attractions: the towering red dunes of Sossusvlei; the stark white salt pan surrounded by life-giving springs that is Etosha; the hauntingly beautiful Skeleton Coast; the endless expanse of wilderness in the Kaokoveld and the truly nomadic Himba tribes.

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Attractions

Wildlife

Due to the fact that most of the country is very arid, wildlife is generally not prolific but there are a number of species or populations that are of note.

The springbok and the gemsbok (oryx) are to be found even in the dune areas as are jackals, bat-eared foxes and caracals. Namibia has the largest population of cheetah on the continent and the semi-desert scrub areas of the north are also home to Africa’s largest free-roaming population of the endangered black rhino and the desert elephant.

The bush areas of the famous Etosha National Park are home to some of Africa’s largest lions, vast herds of zebra and antelope and the rare and diminutive damara dik-dik (small antelope) and the black-faced impala (a sub-species of the normal impala).

The desolate Skeleton Coast may deliver sightings of the secretive brown hyena while the huge cape fur seal colonies are a sight to behold. Besides animals, there are a myriad interesting desert-adapted plants – including the 1000-year-old welwitschia plants – and the richest lichen fields on the planet!

Cultural

Namibia has a varied, albeit a rather recent, cultural history and besides the very recent colonial influences, there are a number of different tribes that reside in various parts of the country.

Unless travelling off the beaten track to the extreme south-east of the country, one is unlikely to encounter the so-called ‘bushmen’ (San) but for a truly cultural experience (and perhaps the most authentic in all of southern Africa), a visit to one of the nomadic Himba villages in the north is highly recommended.

Here you can (sensitively) observe a people that has only very marginally been influenced by modern human cultures, giving wonderful insight into how people have adapted to and lived in these conditions for hundreds of years.

Scenic

Namibia is a land of contrasts and is a scenery photographers dream: the jagged beauty of the Fish River Canyon in the south; the towering red dunes – at up to 1200ft, reputed to among the world’s highest – and the ancient dead trees that stud the salt-encrusted pans at their bases; the huge variety of mountain chains throughput the country that reflect rich hues of purple, red and gold in the morning and afternoon sun; the astonishing Namib as it tumbles directly into the icy Atlantic; the mist-enshrouded villages and wrecks along the Skeleton Coast and narrow ribbon of green that is the Kunene river as it winds its way through the desert.

What we consider to be HIGHLIGHTS of a visit to Namibia

• Tracking black rhino on foot in Damaraland
• Searching for the elusive desert elephant of northern Namibia
• Game viewing in the Etosha area
• Dead Vlei at Sossusvlei
• Quad-biking in the desert
• Visiting the nomadic Himba people in the north of the country
• The roaring dunes and brown hyenas of the skeleton coast

Best Seasons to Travel to Namibia

Because rain is something of a rarity in a country dominated by deserts, this factor is not as much of an influence on travelling season as in other African countries.

October to April (summer months) are hot, making activities in the desert locations tough-going but visitors can be rewarded with the odd electrical storm, beautiful cloud formations and sunsets, mass blooming of wild flowers, luxurious grasses on usually barren landscapes and the young of many animals.

The winter months (May – August) have lovely days but the nights can be exceedingly cold in the desert areas and the days are shorter.

Game viewing s generally better toward the end of this season and as a result, August – October is best for the game areas.

OUR FAVOURITE MONTHS March –October

Safari Areas in Namibia

• Skeleton Coast National Park
  Selected Lodges / Camps
  Skeleton Coast Camp, Serra Cafema

• Namib-Naukluft National Park / Sossusvlei
  Selected Lodges / Camps
  Little Kulala

• Etosha National Park
  Selected Lodges / Camps
  Ongava Lodge and Little Ongava

• Damaraland
  Selected Lodges / Camps
  Desert Rhino Camp, Doro !Nawas

• Windhoek
  Selected Hotels
  Hotel Heinitzburg

• Swakopmund
  Selected Hotels
  Swakopmund Hotel

Fast Facts about Namibia

• Capital: Windhoek
• Population: 2 million
• Government: Multi-party democracy
• Head of State: President Hifikepunye Pohamba
• Length of term: 5 years
• Maximum terms: 3
• Currency: Namibian Dollar
• Exchange rate: USD 1 : NAD 7
• Dominant religion: Christianity
• Major Industries: Diamonds, fisheries, mining
• Literacy: 88%
• Urbanisation: 37%