Namibia
Namibia is a country of startling contrasts and astonishing natural wonders and is rapidly becoming a safari destination “with a difference.” Renowned for its vast, geologically exceptional landscapes and abundance of uninhabited, undulating space, Namibia is simultaneously unique and jaw-droppingly beautiful. The many national parks and games reserves boast a wide variety of wildlife, but beyond that, the fascinating culture of the desert communities and the diverse environment contribute to the ethereal and intriguing character of this country.
From the inspiring splendour of the Namib Desert with it’s majestic, deep-red dunes, to the hauntingly beautiful Skeleton Coast National Park, to the glorious Kaokaveld, to the stark yet game rich salt pans of Etosha – Namibia is challenging, provocative, and mysterious.
The Namib Desert
This is a coastal desert whose name means “vast place.” From its rocky, arid mountains to the dramatic, towering sand dunes of Sossuvlei, this is a desert of striking contrasts.
Widely considered to be the highest in the world, many of the dunes reach over 1200 feet above the surrounding desert, attracting the more adventurous photographers from all over the world to Namibia, to try to capture their dramatic beauty.
The Skeleton Coast
The Skeleton Coast begins to the north of the Orange River and continues across the Kunene River some 200 km into Angola.
Named after of the skeletal remains of numerous ships that were wrecked along this unforgiving coastline, the Skeleton Coast Park is one of the earth’s most inhospitable, but hauntingly beautiful places – it is wild, desolate and deserted.
The coast boasts everything from roaring sand dunes, windswept plains, towering canyons, and salt pans to seal colonies, and it is one of the most productive fishing grounds in the world. In addition, fresh-water springs permeate through barren sands to create desert oases that sustain pockets of wildlife.
Kunene Region
To the extreme north-west of Namibia, the Kunene River cuts a swathe through rugged mountains and vast sweeping dunes, creating a spectacular valley oasis in the middle of an otherwise hostile desert.
This unexpected and beautiful corner of the Kaokaveld is one of the most scenic areas in Namibia, and is home to the intriguing Himba people, among the last truly nomadic communities in Africa.
A superbly executed trip with a phenomenal guide. Africa Bound Safaris is a rare company where a meticulous planner and an extraordinary guide amplify one another’s gifts.