Windhoek, the capital of Namibia, lies at the heart of the country, encircled by magnificent mountains, expansive valleys, and fertile farmlands. The landscape of the Greater Windhoek area surrounding this bustling city is characterised by vast valleys, thick scrub, rocky hills, and covered in golden savannah. Visitors can explore the dry river beds and mountainous scrublands, as well as enjoy birding, leopard-spotting and view large quantities of wildlife in the north; visit the more arid eastern part with its olive, potato, and date plantations; explore the rolling hills of the Khomas Hochland Mountains in the west of the Greater Windhoek area and soak up the epic views along a number of scenic passes leading off the high plateau, including Bosua Pass, Gamsberg Pass, and Spreetshoogte Pass.
Spreading across Botswana, South Africa and Namibia, the Kalahari meaning 'the great thirst' is an exceptionally beautiful living desert. The landscape is characterised by a large semi-arid sandy savannah draped over a gently rolling inland sea of sand covering most of Botswana and large parts of Namibia and South Africa. It is also the last bastion of the indigenous San people with the modern world having enveloped all the other areas they once roamed. The Namibian portion is made up of red sands covered in thin, wispy, mostly golden grass and dotted with acacia trees and wide-ranging wildlife including gemsbok, impala, jackals and cheetah.
Carving out an epic rocky wonderland in the south of Namibia, the Fish River has created Africa’s largest and the world’s second-largest canyon. Hot, dry and stony, the Fish River Canyon measures a whopping 160 kilometres in length, at times 27 kilometres in width and 550 metres in depth. The awe-inspiring natural beauty of this ancient geological marvel draws visitors from around the globe. For those looking for adventure, the intense 85 kilometre Fish River Hiking Trail through1.5 billion years of geological history will definitely thrill avid adventure enthusiasts, and for visitors looking to relax, head over to the canyon's southern end to enjoy a soak in the mineral waters of the renowned hot springs of Ai-Ais, or take in the spectacularly scenic views from Hobas Restcamp as well as numerous other viewpoints along its rim. Other popular activities include: scenic chartered flights, horse riding, nature drives and seasonal kayaking.
Stretching for over 1000 kilometres along South Africa’s scenic West Coast, the Namaqualand is known for its stark, arid beauty. Once a year in early Spring, the Namaqualand landscape explodes into a kaleidoscope of colour. The dusty plains are transformed into a blanket of thousands of flowering wildflowers. International and local visitors flock here to see this seasonal natural splendour. Aside from the endless photogenic landscapes, visitors can look forward to viewing a wide variety of wildlife and exploring the quaint seaside towns dotting the coast as well as the various historic towns scattered in the hinterland.
Located in the scenic Olifants River Valley, the town of Clanwilliam is the ‘Rooibos Capital of the World’. The town features an array of tea houses and historical buildings. It is conveniently situated next to a large dam perfect for water skiing, swimming, and fishing. Visitors can enjoy a tour at the Elandsberg Rooibos Estate to view the unique tea-making process, learn about the town’s history at the Old Gaol Museum, explore the ‘Rooibos Route’ and enjoy a cup of tea at one of its many stopovers namely, The Rooibos Teahouse. Don’t miss the opportunity to explore the spectacularly scenic surrounds including: the Cederberg Mountains, the West Coast and the annual wildflower splendour of Namaqualand.
Set on the banks of the magnificent Langebaan Lagoon, the popular resort town of Langebaan is conveniently located only 120 kilometres from Cape Town, in the Western Cape province. This lovely little town is renowned for its pristine white sand beaches and turquoise lagoon, which provides an ideal environment for an array of exhilarating watersports including waterskiing, kayaking, sailing, fishing and kitesurfing. The lagoon also features tidal mudflats - a habitat for an impressive variety of local and migratory birds. Visitors can explore the beautiful West Coast Nature Park nearby, to enjoy game viewing, cycling, and hiking; and the West Coast Fossil Park, which offers a fascinating tour of a fossil dig and the chance to hunt for fossils. Biking, hiking and horse riding are also on offer.
Set at the confluence of the Indian and Atlantic oceans and backed by the iconic Table Mountain, the bustling city of Cape Town presents an alluring combination of drawcards. Incredible powdery white beaches, highly acclaimed wine routes, and astonishingly beautiful mountain trails surround a cosmopolitan hub. This diverse metropolis is filled with superb shops and restaurants, extraordinary heritage monuments, a multitude of entertainment venues, and a spectacular, chic waterfront harbour. Highlights include the Zeitz Museum of Contemporary African Art; Table Mountain's jaw-dropping views; Boulders Beach, where penguins might swim right up to you in the warm Indian ocean waters; the Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens, where you can walk along a treetop canopy among incredible native flora or watch an open-air concert at the base of the mountain; Robben Island, where visitors can see the cell where Nelson Mandela was imprisoned for 18 years; and many more.
