Discover Namibia
Namibia, a land of stark, haunting beauty, is a true jewel in the crown of African safaris. This vast, sparsely populated country is renowned for its diverse landscapes, from the mesmerizing red dunes of the Namib Desert to the rugged mountains and endless horizons of Damaraland. Etosha National Park, one of Africa’s premier wildlife destinations, is a testament to the rich biodiversity found here. Home to the iconic Etosha Pan and a teeming array of wildlife, including the Big Five, it offers an unparalleled safari experience. Beyond the wilderness, Namibia’s unique cultural tapestry, rooted in the traditions of its indigenous peoples, adds depth and dimension to any visit. With its commitment to conservation and community-based tourism, Namibia is a haven for those seeking an authentic, enriching safari adventure.
SOSSUSVLEI
One of the best places to visit in Namibia is Sossusvlei – is the endless sea of rust-red dunes, the bleached white pan and its gnarled ancient trees. Sossusvlei is the oryx flashing its flowing tail and giving you front and side views of its extraordinary features in front of a bright red dune that soars into the deep blue sky above.
A visit to Namibia is incomplete without making the long trek into Sossusvlei, climbing Big Daddy and sitting atop the world’s tallest dune looking out over a sea of equally big dunes disappearing into the western horizon.
And from the air, in a hot-air balloon at sunrise, the landscape just beggars belief.
ETOSHA NATIONAL PARK
Etosha National Park, one of Africa’s greatest game reserves and an assured safari experience second to none.
With the full quota of wildlife including elephant, lion, leopard, black and white rhino, cheetah, caracal, brown and spotted hyena, giraffe, zebra and many antelope, the mammal count is impressive – 114 to be precise. Birdlife is equally impressive with 340 species on record including a high proportion of raptors.
The unique natural waterholes that surround an ancient pan attract a daily parade of wildlife and staying in the park gives you a floodlit spectacle to boot. Stay in the private parks on the edge, take a guided safari through the park or just sit at a waterhole with a thermos and your binos – whichever way you want to experience it, Etosha is the genuine African safari experience.
SKELETON COAST
Without doubt a destination in its own right but, being so achingly close to Etosha en route from the Skeleton Coast, the beauty and solitude that is Damaraland is so often missed.
Home of desert-adapted elephant, rhino and lions as well as oryx, springbok and hundreds of bird species, Damaraland is at once beautiful, unique and fascinating with rocky mountains, grass-covered plains and every conceivable range of brown from dark russet to bleached blonde. Except the sky which is invariably a deep vivid blue.
DAMARALAND
“Home of the African Elephant”
Amboseli National Park is located in Loitoktok District, Rift Valley Province of Kenya.
Crowned by Mount Kilimanjaro, Africa’s highest peak, the Amboseli National Park is one of Kenya’s most popular parks. The name “Amboseli” comes from a Maasai word meaning “salty dust”, and it is one of the best places in Africa to view large herds of elephants up close. Nature lovers can explore five different habitats here ranging from the dried-up bed of Lake Amboseli, wetlands with sulphur springs, the savannah and woodlands. They can also visit the local Maasai community who live around the park and experience their authentic culture.
Amboseli has an endless underground water supply filtered through thousands of feet of volcanic rock from Kilimanjaro’s ice cap, which funnel into two clear water springs in the heart of the park and has an ecosystem that spreads across the Kenya-Tanzania border.
VICTORIA FALLS
Victoria Falls is not technically in Namibia but it’s only a hop, skip and jump away from the tip of Caprivi (via Botswana’s Chobe game reserve) making this Natural Wonder of the World a very popular add-on for private, tailor-made tours.
Victoria Falls is a cliff one mile wide and 100m straight down. Over this precipice the Zambezi plunges at the mind-boggling rate of 90 million litres a minute. The noise is terrifying, the vertigo feeling alarming and the view – from a rain forest across the gorge at eye-level with the cascade – is mesmerising. The spray in high water season will soak you to your underwear.
And then of course there are the adventure activities. The so-called Flight of Angels is an absolute must as is a gentle sunset cruise on the placid river upstream of the falls. Try white-water rafting or a game viewing safari in either the Zambezi National Park on the Zimbabwean side or the Mosi-oa-Tunya National Park on the Zambian side.
NAMIB-NAUKLUFT PARK
Sossusvlei is a dot inside one of the world’s largest conservation areas. Covering 50,000sq km, the Namib-Naukluft park begins on the plateau of central Namibia and drops to the vast basin of the Namib Desert – the 20-million year-old remains of an ancient sea.
Wide open spaces framed by purply-blue mountains and impossible sunsets make the Namib-Naukluft a place of singular beauty and peace. The only sound you’ll hear is the gentle breeze and time seems to stand still. The NamibRand Reserve in the Namib-Naukluft Park has some sensational eco-lodges – like Wolwedans, Sonop and Kwessi Dunes – that offer a magical desert experience. Horse riding, quad bike trails, scenic drives and overnight hikes and hot air ballooning all offer a unique take on the world’s oldest and most beautiful desert. We’re not biased. Not at all.
