Johannesburg is one of Africa’s largest and most vibrant cities. It is an economic powerhouse in Africa and the gateway to Southern Africa. This bustling city offers a wide range of activities, attractions and plenty to do in and around the city including nearby Pretoria. Downtown is a multi-cultural mixture of traditional medicine shops, Chinese restaurants, taxi ranks and ultra-modern skyscrapers. There are excellent museums, art galleries and organised tours of historical and political interest. The shopping is Southern Africa’s best and the many restaurants cater for all tastes. Soweto, a township steeped in history and a significant part of the Greater Johannesburg metropolitan area, is a popular tourist destination.
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.
Set on the TransNamib railway in central-north Namibia, near Etosha National Park, Otjiwarongo, meaning ‘the place of fat cattle’, is an affluent town with a suburban feel and numerous attractions. The town is known for its excellent conservation projects, which include several parks protecting large wild cats, such as the famous Cheetah Conservation Fund, and the Crocodile Ranch, where visitors can view and learn about these fascinating creatures. Hiking, guided nature walks, and safaris are popular activities. The lively, traditional craft market adds appeal. History enthusiasts should make sure to visit the Locomotive No 41 monument, and the culturally significant site of the Battle of Waterberg on the Waterberg Mountain.
Situated east of Etosha, bordering Fisher's Pan, Onguma Game Reserve is one of Namibia's best-kept secrets. The reserve offers visitors the opportunity to experience Africa in all her beauty and diversity. Onguma Game Reserve features over 35 480 hectares of protected land scattered with a variety of wildlife including plains game, black rhino, kudu, giraffe, zebra, lion, cheetah, leopard and more than 300 bird species. The seasonal rains attract thousands of migrating birds to the Fisher’s Pan wetland area. The neighbouring Etosha National Park is home to a rich array of wildlife, including 4 of the Big 5. Visitors can enjoy game drives, guided walks and rhino research drives within the private reserve as well as wildlife safaris into Etosha National Park to view abundant game in the largest national park in Namibia.
The Epacha Private Game Reserve is one of the largest in Namibia, a 13, 000-hectare area of enthralling hills and plains fringing the famous Etosha National Park. The reserve is home to various antelope, some endangered, and rare animals like the Black-faced Impala and Bat-Eared Fox. Visitors can look forward to game drives, night-time excursions, clay pigeon shooting and indulge in the various treatments offered by the onsite spa. Guests can also visit the traditional Himba village, where they'll be able to learn more about the fascinating and ancient Himba culture.
Palmwag is a nature reserve idyllically located along a palm-lined tributary of the Uniab River, halfway between Swakopmund and Etosha, providing an ideal base from which to see the sights of the Kunene region or embark on one of the many local hiking trails. Water is scarce in this area, so the river’s presence often lures elephants closer to the camps. The reserve is notable for its unusual species of palm tree, the hyphaene petersiana, and for being home to the largest population of southwestern black rhinos in Africa. Animal lovers can also get a peek at leopard, lion, cheetah, mountain zebra, Angolan giraffe, springbok, kudu, and African bush elephant.
Situated in the Kaokoland area of Namibia, Epupa Falls lies near the border of Angola. Named by the Herero people after the spray it creates, Epupa means ‘water falling’. The falls consist of a series of cascades created by the Kunene River as it drops 60 metres, forming hundreds of natural pools that provide the Himba people and visitors with a fantastic recreation spot. These jaw-dropping beautiful falls create a spectacular contrast to the arid desert and rugged surrounding mountains. Visitors can look forward to discovering the unspoilt environment, the majestic baobabs and wild fig trees dotting the surroundings. Don’t miss the opportunity to enjoy world-class birdwatching and spot an array of species including the bee-eaters, hornbills, kingfishers, fish eagles, flycatchers, and herons.
Opuwo, meaning 'the end' in Herero, lies in the north western Kunene region of Namibia. It serves as the capital of the region and is known as the gateway to the magnificent Epupa Falls. The surrounding landscape is characterised by low-lying hills, and vast dry desert plains inhabited by a wealth of desert-adapted wildlife. It serves as the central hub for the Himba culture. The town provides a perfect base for visitors wishing to explore the Kaokoland area and visit the local villages of the itinerant Himba people. The town and the Opuwo surrounding area is known as one of the cultural highlights of a trip to Namibia as it features an incredibly rich cultural heritage. Don’t miss an opportunity to learn about the fascinating Himba community within this starkly beautiful landscape.
As previously described
Set in the Kunene Region of northwestern Namibia, Twyfelfontein is a spectacularly scenic area, featuring one of the largest and most important concentrations of rock art in Africa. The name ‘Twyfelfontein’ translates to ‘Fountain of Doubt’, which refers to the perennial spring situated in the impressive Huab Valley flanked by the slopes of a sandstone table mountain. It was this spring that attracted Stone Age hunters over six thousand years ago, and it was during this time that the extensive group of rock engravings and paintings were produced. Visitors can look forward to basing themselves at some wonderfully shady campsites along the Aba-Huab riverbed, while exploring over thirty different sacred ritual sites of the traditional hunter-gatherer communities.
Situated in Namibia’s desolate, awe-inspiring Namib Desert, between Usakos and Swakopmund and about two hours’ drive from Swakopmund, the Spitzkoppe are a group of bald granite peaks forming one of Namibia’s most recognizable and dramatic landmarks. These enormous towering domes are a mecca for hikers and mountaineers, from beginners interested in guided historic walks to professional climbers seeking an adrenaline boost. Numerous ancient rock paintings can be visited as part of a guided walking tour. The extreme, barren landscapes and striking rock formations create an excellent setting for photography.
Set along Namibia's spectacularly scenic coast, the seaside town of Swakopmund is known for its wide-open avenues, colonial architecture, and its surrounding otherworldly desert terrain. Founded in 1892 as the main harbour for German South-West Africa, Swakopmund is often described as being more German than Germany. Now a seaside resort town, Swakopmund is the capital of the Skeleton Coast tourism area and has plenty to keep visitors happy. The quirky mix of German and Namibian influences, adventure options, laid-back atmosphere and cool sea breeze make it a very popular Namibian destination. Visitors can look forward to a number of exciting activities including: quad biking, horse riding, paragliding, fishing, sightseeing and fascinating desert tours.
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.)
Stampriet is a tiny rural town in the Hardap Region of Namibia, which lies over the banks of the Auob River roughly ten kilometres north of Mariental. Founded in 1898 as a trading post in what was then German South-West Africa, the little town of Stampriet boasts a rich history and diverse culture. The town is best known for being the starting point of an amazing heritage route, which is scattered with memorials and battle sites of the war with the Germans, which took place between 1904 and 1907. The water flowing from the Kalahari and the plentiful boreholes of the area have made it possible to produce excellent fruit and vegetables here. The historic guest house is a must-see.
