 One has to
search very far to find a country that has such a spectacular variety of scenery, cultures, good
weather, wildlife and above all a hospitality that is intoxicating. The western part of Namibia consists mainly
of desert, but a desert that constantly changes - from rocky moon landscapes to red sand dunes that
towers many hundreds of meters above sea-level. The north-east part of Namibia is thick bushveld and is home
of the biggest part of the population. The south of Namibia is grassy savannah which can become barren in
times of draughts.
MAIN CITIES
Windhoek
Although it is the capital of Namibia,
it still maintains a town-feeling. Not to be missed, the Christuskirche, an Evangelical Lutheran
Church completed in 1910 appears on most of the postcards of Namibia. The design is a mixture of
Romanesque, Art Nouveau and neo-Gothic styles and was built with local sandstone. Also close to the
Christuskirche, is the Tintenpalast (Ink Palace) dating back to the German Colonial era. Today it is
the seat of the Namibian government and it is surrounded with beautiful gardens.
Swakopmund
The
town receives virtually no rain (less than 15mm per year). However, the cold ocean does provide
moisture for the area in the form of mist that sometimes travels as far as 100 km inland. Swakopmund
is widely known and loved for its Old World charm of beautiful, well-kept buildings from the
founding days in a setting of parks, lawns and palm trees. 11 of these buildings have been declared
national monuments. Swakopmund is an ideal base for the tourist who wants to explore both the desert
and the coast. It is also a perfect base for exploring the Skeleton Coast and the Namib Desert. A
number of these routes need to be tackled in 4x4 vehicles and, while these can be hired locally,
there are also a number of experienced tour and safari operators who cater for every requirement. On
warmer days, Namibians and visitors alike, flock down to the beaches, especially Palm Beach in front
of the Lighthouse.
Luderitz
The little town is in a small harbor and has a finger
of land stretching out into the sea connecting the mainland with Shark Island. There are numerous
beautiful old colonial buildings, often lining whole streets. These include the Geohrke House, with
its unusual colors, a sundial on the roof, ball-topped spires, balconies and protruding windows.
Just a few kilometers before entering the town, one passes the ghost town of Kolmanskop. In the
early years of the 20th century diamonds were discovered in this area and this town risen amongst
the sand dunes. Today, the desert is slowly claming its property back. This excursion is highly
recommended.
NATIONAL PARKS
Namibia boasts
with numerous game reserves and parks, one more fascinating than the other. Game viewing is good for
most part of the year but the best time to visit is in the winter, which is also the dry season,
from May through September.
Daan Viljoen Game Park
The smallest park in Namibia, Daan Viljoen lies just 18kms west
of Namibia's capital city, Windhoek, making it popular with day and weekend visitors.
Animals
to be spotted include including kudu, red hartebeest, springbok, klipspringer, steenbok, eland and
Oryx antelopes, baboons, blue wildebeests and giraffes and over 200 bird species including helmeted
guinea fowl, red billed francolin, yellow billed hornbill, rock runner. The park has no large
predators so walking around the park is permitted and there is a network of walking tracks to
explore.
Etosha National Park
Located in northern Namibia, approximately 500 kilometers north of
Windhoek, Etosha covers an area of approximate 23 000 square kilometers and is one of
Namibia's most famous parks and one of the largest preserves on the African continent. The park
encompasses a vast salt pan which covers an areas of approximately 5,000 square kilometers
It
is home to elephant, both Burchell's and Hartmann's zebras , giraffe, lion, leopard, black
rhinoceros , red hartebeests, blue wildebeests, cheetah, hyena, eland, kudu, springbok, gemsbok,
black-faced impala and many other types of antelope as well as over 340 species of birds, including
large flocks of flamingoes and white pelicans which come to breed in years of good rainfall. Also
spotted are ostrich, kori bustard, which can weigh over 30 pounds, and Yellow-billed hornbills
Halali Camp
Located in the middle of Namutoni and Okadukuejo camps, south of the pan,
this camp offers accommodation in either 4 bed tents or two to four bed bungalows. Amenities include
a shop, restaurant, bar, Kiosk, petrol station, swimming pool, and floodlit water hole.
Fish River Canyon National Park
Located in the Southern part of Namibia, Fish River
Canyon is the second largest canyon in the world. With a depth of up to 550 meters in parts, the
enormous gorge winds along a distance of approx. 160 kilometers through the fissured Koubis Massif
all the way down to Ai-Ais. The canyon starts near Seeheim, is 161 kilometers long.
The Fish
River Hiking trail is one of the most famous hikes in Southern Africa. The hike covers a distance of
just over 80km in the base of the canyon and takes over 5 days with absolutely no facilities
whatsoever. To undertake the hike you should be in reasonable fitness and obtain a hiking permit. In
the summer (Nov to mid March) temperatures can reach some 50° Centigrade, resulting in the canyon
being closed to the public for hiking during that time
Ais-Ais hot springs can be found
within the Fish River Canyon conservation area. These sulfurous springs originate deep underground
and are rich in minerals, which have been reported to be beneficial for those with rheumatic or
nervous disorders. Ais-Ais hot springs are a public facility, attached to a resort that includes an
indoor spa with Jacuzzi. The resort is closed from November to mid March
Namib-Naukluft National Park
 The
park is a combination of the Namib Desert Park and the Naukluft Mountain Zebra Park as well as
sections of the Diamond Area. There are four sections in the park: Sossusvlei and Sessriem, Naukluft,
Namib section and Sandwich Harbor.
Rain is rare - the raining season is between Feb and
April. The months of November to March are the hottest when day time temperatures seldom drop below
35°c. During the months of June/July and August night time temperatures can drop to below 5°c
At
almost 50,000 km² it is the largest conservation area in Namibia and 4th largest in the world . The
area is home to some of the rarest plant and animal species in the world. The animals of this harsh
landscape include the oryx, springbok. Welwitschia Mirabilis, large lichen fields and Hartmann's
Mountain Zebra.
The park's main attractions are Sossusvlei; the world's largest sand dune.
Sandwich Harbour; a paradise for ornithologists and nature lovers visiting Namibia. The Naukluft
region is a favourite for hiking and four wheel drive trails.
Namutoni Camp
Situated on the eastern side of the pan close to Von Lindequist Gate.
Accommodation is in the form of either the camp has mobile homes, 2/3 bed rooms, and four bedroom
flats with hotplate and fridge. Camp amenities include a shop, restaurant, bar, Kiosk, petrol
station, swimming pool, and floodlit water hole.
Okaukuejo Camp
Located approximately 17 kilometers from the main admission gate in the
south of the park, accommodation is in either 2,3 or 4 bedroom bungalows. Camp amenities include a
shop, restaurant, bar, Kiosk, petrol station, swimming pool, and floodlit water hole which is
popular with elephant and lions and very occasionally black rhinos visit
Skeleton Coast Park
The Skeleton Coast Park stretches from the Kunene River in the
north for approximately 500km to the Ugab River in the south. The landscape includes sand dunes,
canyons and mountain ranges. This is one of the least accessible regions of Namibia. |
