With its well-developed infrastructure, some of the best tourist facilities in Africa and an impressive list of breathtaking natural wonders, touring Namibia is truly a pleasure. Visit the capital of Windhoek and the lovely coastal town of Swakopmund to discover remnants of the country’s German influence, reflected in the architecture, culture, cuisine and the annual Oktoberfest celebrations. To properly appreciate this extraordinary country, you will have to venture out of the cities to explore the remarkable natural landscapes Namibia has to offer. These include: the impressive Fish River Canyon Park; the vast Etosha National Park teeming with local subspecies, such as desert lions, desert elephants and the Hartmann's Mountain Zebra; the hauntingly beautiful Kalahari Desert; and of course the Namib Desert stretching for nearly 1000 km along the magnificent Atlantic coastline. Namibia is an ideal destination for travellers seeking an unforgettable African experience in a uniquely beautiful untamed wilderness.
With an area of 172,200 hectares spread across four distinct ecosystems, NamibRand Nature Reserve is among the largest privately owned game parks in southern Africa. Established with the aim to conserve the unique environment and wildlife species of the south-western Namib Desert, the park’s mix of dunes, mountains, rocky outcrops, sandy flats and gravel plains provides habitats for a variety of mammals – including hyenas, jackals, foxes, wildcats and antelopes – as well as countless bird species, reptiles, frogs, insects and plants.
Activities: Discover the mysterious ‘fairy circles’ on grassy plains; sip on sundowners while watching the sunset over this unspoilt ancient landscape; revel in the magnificent night sky – NamibRand is Africa’s first International Dark Sky Reserve, i.e. one of the least light-polluted areas in the world.
Stretching for approximately 270 kilometres through western Namibia, the Hoanib River flows between Kaokoland and the Skeleton Coast, creating one of the country's most remarkable desert wilderness areas. As one of Namibia’s last major desert watercourses, it provides a vital lifeline for an extraordinary variety of wildlife. The region is renowned for its desert-adapted elephants, lions, and rhinos, as well as populations of giraffe, zebra, kudu, and numerous other species uniquely adapted to this harsh environment. Visitors can explore the dramatic landscapes on scenic four-wheel-drive excursions, guided nature walks, and hiking trails, while towering sand dunes and striking rock formations offer endless opportunities for adventure and photography in this remote and captivating destination.
Skeleton Coast National Park extends from the dry Ugab River all the way north to the Kunene River, Namibia’s border with Angola. The inhospitable Skeleton Coast is known as the 'Land God Made in Anger'. It is desolate but breathtakingly beautiful – remoteness at its best. Fogs, caused by the cold Benguela Current, roll in from the roaring ocean and sustain an amazing array of fauna and flora that have adapted to this harsh but intriguing environment: colonies of seabirds and Cape fur seals, zebra, gemsbok, desert-adapted elephant, lion and more.
The name Skeleton Coast was coined because of whale bones washed ashore and the many ships that met their fate in these turbulent waters. The bleak desert environment along the entire coastline meant almost certain death for those who were shipwrecked.
