Namibia

San people on duneMysterious and enigmatic, Namibia possesses a unique beauty. From the harshly inhospitable Skeleton Coast with its shipwrecks to the vast salt pans of Etosha National Park, Namibia is one of the most amazing countries in Africa. Massive, shifting sand dunes, said to be the highest in the world, form an ever changing interplay of light and shade under the hot Namib Desert sun at Sossusvlei. This area is a must for photographers.

Along its entire length, the vast shifting sand dunes of the Namib Desert spread inland for 50 to 80 miles. In the interior one finds the vast sand basin of the Kalahari. In the far northwest the 25,500 sq miles of the Kaokoland mountains run along the coast, while further inland lies the Etosha Pan (a dried-out saline lake), surrounded by grasslands and bush which support a large and varied wildlife. To the west is 1280km (795 miles) of some of the most desolate and lonely coastline in the world. The port of Walvis Bay, situated roughly halfway down Namibia’s coast, was returned by South Africa to Namibian jurisdiction in February 1994.

Botanists and zoologists are often keen to observe the adaptation of both animal and plant species to the apparently hostile environment. Namibia offers a rare chance to see fascinating animals such as the oryx, known as “master of the desert”, and the endangered desert elephant, both of which are very specialized. The Huab Valley also has rare specimens of Welwitschia mirabilis, a strange tree that has been stunted by the desert climate and is a supreme example of evolutionary adaptation. The desert is a wonderful place for those seeking solitude and the time in which to reflect, yet Namibia also offers so much more. Fascinating animals, a strange and interesting plant world, the heart-pounding thrill of adrenaline sports and some of the most strangely haunting landscapes in the world.

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Suggested Namibia Discoveries
  • Botswana
  • Egypt
  • Ethiopia
  • Kenya
  • Libya
  • Madagascar
  • Malawi
  • Mauritius
  • Morocco
  • Mozambique
  • Namibia
  • Seychelles
  • South Africa
  • Tanzania
  • Zambia
  • Zimbabwe