Situated in Central Namibia, the cosmopolitan city of Windhoek serves as the capital of the country. It is home to an international airport and a plethora of restaurants, shops, entertainment venues and accommodation options. The city is clean, safe and well-organised, with a colonial legacy that is reflected in its many German eateries and shops, and the widespread use of the German language. Windhoek has an interesting mix of historical architecture and modern buildings, many of which are worth a look, including the Alte Feste an old fort, the 1896 Christuskirche Christ Church, and the more contemporary Supreme Court.
As there is no accommodation at Sossusvlei, visitors to this desert wilderness are likely to end up staying at Sesriem, 65 kilometres away, where camps and lodges serve as a base from which to explore the dunes. Sesriem Canyon, a deep chasm carved through the rocks by water, is a striking natural feature of the area that is best explored on foot. Stony walls rise up sharply on both sides of the canyon, while birds roost in its crags and lizards dart along the ledges. The canyon’s name was coined when early settlers used it as a water source, using six lengths of leather (‘ses riem – six thongs) tied together to lower buckets into the water at the base of canyon.)
Set along Namibia's coast on the Atlantic Ocean and surrounded by desert, the seaside town of Swakopmund is known for its wide avenues and beautiful colonial architecture.
Founded in 1892 as the main harbour for German South West Africa, Swakopmund is often described as being more German than Germany. Now a town with a distinctively resort character with plenty to keep its visitors busy, Swakopmund is the capital of the Skeleton Coast tourism area. The quirky mix of German and Namibian influences, adventure options and laid back atmosphere make it a popular Namibian destination. Visitors can look forward to a number of activities including quad biking, horse riding, paragliding, fishing, sightseeing, excursions to Sandwich Harbour or the seal colony at Cape Cross, scenic flights and fascinating desert tours. (ITT)
Located in Namibia's Kunene region, the city of Outjo is known as the gateway to Etosha. Outjo’s central position also makes it an excellent stopover en route to the Skeleton Coast and Damaraland, but that’s not the only reason to visit this small town. Set amidst rolling hills, Outjo is a charming getaway boasting attractive forest and savannah surrounds, friendly locals and several historical sites. Roughly an hour’s drive to the west you will find the Ugab Rock Finger, a 35-metre high stone monolith, while slightly further on is a 250-million-year-old petrified forest. Visitors can look forward to a variety of interesting sights including: visiting the local Franke Haus Museum, for a historical account of the area; and exploring the nearby Hopewell Farm to find magnificent volcanic tiger's eye deposits.
Etosha South is located just south of the world famous Etosha National Park in northwestern Namibia. Several private game reserves share a boundary with Etosha National Park, others are a bit further away towards Outjo. The access for all guests to Etosha, be it on a guided safari or in their own vehicle, is via the southern entrance at Andersson’s Gate.
Etosha is home to a great variety of wildlife including lion, giraffe, elephant, white and black rhino, giraffe, zebra, springbuck and a multitude of plains game. Popular activities include guided or unguided game drives, tracking rhinos on foot with a game ranger, guided nature walks, or simply watching the sun set over this magnificent landscape.
Located in Northwestern Namibia, Etosha East is a protected sanctuary in the eastern part of the world-renowned Etosha National Park, known as one of the most accessible game reserves in Southern Africa. Etosha East boasts vast open plains scattered with semi-arid savannah grasslands dotted with watering holes and secluded bush camps.
An impressive 5000-square-kilometre salt pan makes up a large area of the eastern side of the Etosha National Park and can even be seen from space. This remote area teems with abundant wildlife such as lions, elephants, black rhinos and giraffes, as well as a variety of birdlife featuring flamingos, ostriches, eagles, hornbills, and owls.
Bordering Angola, on the banks of the Okavango River in northern Namibia, the town of Rundu serves as the capital of the eastern Kavango region. Rundu is renowned for its local woodcarvers market and is filled with impressive woodcarvers' workshops. The town provides a great stopover to refuel for visitors heading to Katima Mulilo, enthralling Popa Falls, or Mahangu Game Reserve, home to the endangered wild dog and lion, leopard, elephant, cheetah, and hippo. Visitors to Rundu can also look forward to great game viewing, excellent bird watching as well as kayaking on the spectacular Kavango River.
Situated in the northwestern area of the Okavango Delta, the Panhandle is a stretch of the Okavango River that follows a more-or-less straight course for approximately 70 kilometres before entering the wetlands. This deep channel serves as the main water source feeding the delta and offers excellent tiger and bream fishing, while the surrounding woodlands and the river’s shallow waters teem with a myriad of birds. The Okavango Panhandle is dotted with several villages and serves as a gateway to the scenic Tsodilo Hills, some 40 kilometres west, with their various tribal cave paintings, some dating back as far as 20 000 years. Visitors can enjoy excellent fishing, first-class birding, boating on the Okavango River and game viewing in the Mahangu National Park.
Meandering through the spectacular Caprivi Strip in northwest Namibia, the Kwando River rises from the central Angolan highlands forming the boundary between Namibia, Zambia and Angola.
The area surrounding the Kwando River is known for its protected game reserves, national parks and wildlife sanctuaries. It offers excellent game viewing with the perennial waters of the river attracting plentiful wildlife including large herds of elephant, hippos, crocodiles, red lechwe, turtles, zebra, impala, spotted-necked otters and over 400 species of bird.
Visitors can enjoy a relaxing stay at one of the many lodges set on the banks of the river and soak up the spectacular views of wild Africa. Popular activities include: game viewing, bird watching, fishing, and camping. (ITT)
Situated in northeastern Botswana on the banks of the Chobe River, the town of Kasane is the main gateway to Chobe National Park and one of southern Africa's premier safari destinations. Renowned for its exceptional wildlife viewing, Kasane offers game drives and river cruises where visitors can encounter large herds of elephants, buffalo, hippos, and crocodiles, as well as abundant birdlife. Its location near the borders of Botswana, Namibia, Zambia and Zimbabwe also makes it a convenient base for exploring the wider region. Golden sunsets reflected on the river, the sounds of wildlife and a relaxed safari atmosphere combine to make Kasane an unforgettable destination for nature lovers.
Resting on the southern banks of the Zambezi River at the western end of the eponymous falls, this popular tourist town is compact enough to walk around and makes an ideal base for travellers exploring the Seventh Wonder of the World, the unfathomably vast Victoria Falls.
About two thirds of the Falls can be viewed from the Zimbabwean side and, whilst the falls are undoubtedly the star attraction, the area provides both adventure seekers and sightseers with plenty of opportunities to warrant a longer stay. Popular activities include scenic flights over the falls in helicopters or micro lights, bungee jumping off the Victoria Falls Bridge, white-water rafting (seasonal), and day trips to Chobe National Park in neighbouring Botswana. The town itself offers some excellent accommodation and restaurant options as well as a variety of African curios and authentic art sold by friendly Zimbabwean locals who are very welcoming and eager to help you enjoy your stay. (ITT)
