Namibia

Namibia is blessed with truly spectacular scenery and in a country with such a sparse population, it has a great deal of exciting and unique game. The majestic gemsbok; ochre coloured Desert elephant; and an abundance of cheetah. It is hard to believe, but in Namibia cheetah are considered a pest. The country is also home to a thriving population of Black rhino and one of the properties that we offer, is a sanctuary where you can track this impressive beast on foot.

Most visitors head north from Windhoek to the vast arid landscape of the Etosha National Park. Despite its hostile conditions this is one of the best places to see big game in Namibia. Inside the park it is possible to find accommodation at one of the excellent government-run self catering villages, or there are plenty of lodges outside of the park gates. Visitors can self drive throughout the park or join one of the guided game drives which depart from the park offices.

Around the edge of the park, there are a number of smaller private reserves, sometimes these have no dividing fence to Etosha so animals are free to roam. Onguma and Ongava both offer game drives on their own properties as well as excursions into Etosha.

Heading west, the route to the coast passes through Damaraland, a spectacularly beautiful region. This is home to a number of excellent lodges where the emphasis is on scenery and natural phenomenon such as the Petrified Forest, the Burnt Mountains and the Organ Pipes. It is also one of the best places to see the Desert-adapted elephant.

Swakopmund on the coast has made a name for itself as the adventure capital of Africa, enjoy boat trips, quad biking, sand boarding and explore the coast line. To the north is the Skeleton Coast, the graveyard of numerous beached ship wrecks, and to the south, the stunning formations of the red dunes. A pleasure flight from Swakopmund or Walvis Bay is one of the best ways to see these.

Sossusvlei and the Dead vlei can be found about 3 hours south of Swakopmund in the Namib Desert. Sossusvlei is actually just one of the salt and clay pans surrounded by high red dunes, but it has become synonymous with the area and is one of the most popular visitor attractions of Namibia. No visit to the country would be complete without an early morning pilgrimage to see the sunrise from the top of the dunes.

Continuing south, the Fish River Canyon is the second largest in the world. For the adventurous it is possible to hike down into the canyon and even camp there for a couple days whilst you explore the floor of the canyon. Most people content themselves with peering over the edge from the spectacular viewing points. The canyon can be reached by light aircraft if the long drive doesn’t appeal or you are pushed for time.

We can arrange a tailor made safari holiday in Namibia for you, tell us what style of accommodation you would like, we can offer everything from home stays on farms to ultra luxury lodges. Most people opt for a self driving holiday in Namibia which is safe and easy to navigate with our specially prepared and personalised Travel Digest. Alternatively we can book guided tours which can last from 7 days to 21 days.

Call us on +44 208 249 5919 to speak to our Africa experts about safari holidays in Namibia. Or contact us here.