Guide to Namibia

Namibia

‘Namibia’ means ‘open plains’ in the ancient Hottentot language. It is a sought after tourist destination defined by endless sunshine, scenic beauty and unusual and contrasting topography. It offers amazing scenery from huge sand dunes and arid desert of the coastal strip, to rugged mountains and vast areas of open bush where 26 parks and reserves are home to a huge variety of game. As o­ne would expect temperatures can be high in the desert although nights can be cold. Sunshine is abundant and rain is rare although the cold Atlantic can produce fog o­n the coast.

Namibia’s southern border with South Africa is formed by what is now the quiet and peaceful Orange River, which originates in the Drakensberg Mountains and was responsible for Namibia’s diamond deposits. Diamonds carried by the river from the Kimberley area to the sea were swept up the coast to be deposited in dunes of the Namib desert. They can still be found today although access is prohibited in some areas. North of the Orange River is the remarkable Fish River Canyon, second largest in the world after the Grand Canyon, and north again an ancient African desert where the world’s highest sand dunes at Sossusvlei reach over 300m and turn brick red at sunrise and sunset.

Other attractions are the narrow gorge of Sesriem Canyon, about 1 km long with pools along its length. These pools o­n a gravel bed in an otherwise arid region, attract many birds and animals. Swakopmund is a true oasis and respite from the desert and its heat. A seaside holiday resort full of old-world charm and modern amenities. The Cape Cross Seal Colony is north of Swakopmund. During breeding season as many as 200 000 Cape fur seals (the world’s largest fur seal) gather in the cold waters along this coast. The numerous islets and isolated parts of the shore are used as nurseries for their young.

The Etosha National Park is o­ne of the largest game reserves in Africa and o­ne of the major sanctuaries for wildlife. Its definitive feature is the Etosha Pan, a vast shallow depression of about 5 000 km². This great, white expanse locals call ‘great place of dry water’, often shimmers with mirages and herds of game can be seen within this eerie setting. Tours to Namibia are available by safari from the Western Cape or by small group tours flown in to Windhoek, the capital.

There are 144 mammal species in the park, including elephant, giraffe, blue wildebeest and black rhino, predators such as lion, cheetah, leopard, wildcat, hyena and jackal.

Tours to Namibia are available by safari from the Western Cape or by small group tours flown in to Windhoek, the capital.

Each of the following regions may be selected for full information and details of holidays that visit that region.