Southern Africa has some excellent destinations for wildlife viewing but few can beat the country of Namibia. This large country is sparsely populated so if you love wide open spaces, this is the place for you. Once upon a time it was a German colony and the German influence is still strong in the historic architecture, German bakeries and local brews. With Namibia safari packages you can enjoy the magic of Africa and it's surprisingly affordable too.
The country lies along Africa's southwestern coast. To the north is Angola; to the south, South Africa. Botswana is its eastern neighbor. The capital is Windhoek, located more or less in the center and by far one of the most pleasant capital cities in the world.
Most of the country is either very dry or outright desert. It's hot here too. This is why the winter months are a much better time to visit. Aside from the heat being more bearable then, winter has the advantage that the vegetation is less dense and you'll spot those wild animals much more easily. Other sights to see include the spectacular Fish River Canyon, the desert ghost town of Kolmanskop and the charming Swakopmund with its German atmosphere.
The Namibian coast is almost entirely made up of the Namib Desert, which is the world's oldest. There are stunning sand dunes here, especially in the vicinity of Sossusvlei. The northern part of the desert is home to the ominously named Skeleton Coast, where shipwrecks are a stark reminder of how rough this part of the world is. At the seashore you'll find seals while more inland you may see jackals, oryx, springbok and, surprisingly, elephants. Large areas of the Namib are only accessible if you have a special permit due to the diamond mines here but one national park to visit is the Namib-Naukluft, which is the largest on the continent.
Another Namibian national park not to miss is Etosha. Find yourself a good vantage point along the Etosha Pan and watch the vast variety of animals that come to drink. There are several antelope species, elephants, giraffes, rhinos, lions and cute little warthogs.
Less visited but by no means less spectacular is Damaraland. This is a place of rocky, almost lunar landscapes. There are many surprises here, including the ancient rock paintings of Twyfelfontein and Brandberg, the rock formation known as Vingerklip and a petrified forest. It's not as desolate as you may think either. Local community organizations offer trips to go track rhinos and elephants.
Two other fascinating northern regions are Kaokoland and the Caprivi Strip. The former is near the Kunene River, which forms the border with Angola, and is home to the fascinating Himba people. Game is plentiful here too and you might even see cheetah. The Caprivi Strip is lush and greener than the rest of the country due to the Kavango and Kwando Rivers. From here the Okavango Delta in neighboring Botswana is within easy reach too.
Finding a safari package to suit your budget and needs is easy. One option is to book once you've landed at the airport in Windhoek. However, you can also book through travel agents or online. Many packages are all-inclusive.
The country lies along Africa's southwestern coast. To the north is Angola; to the south, South Africa. Botswana is its eastern neighbor. The capital is Windhoek, located more or less in the center and by far one of the most pleasant capital cities in the world.
Most of the country is either very dry or outright desert. It's hot here too. This is why the winter months are a much better time to visit. Aside from the heat being more bearable then, winter has the advantage that the vegetation is less dense and you'll spot those wild animals much more easily. Other sights to see include the spectacular Fish River Canyon, the desert ghost town of Kolmanskop and the charming Swakopmund with its German atmosphere.
The Namibian coast is almost entirely made up of the Namib Desert, which is the world's oldest. There are stunning sand dunes here, especially in the vicinity of Sossusvlei. The northern part of the desert is home to the ominously named Skeleton Coast, where shipwrecks are a stark reminder of how rough this part of the world is. At the seashore you'll find seals while more inland you may see jackals, oryx, springbok and, surprisingly, elephants. Large areas of the Namib are only accessible if you have a special permit due to the diamond mines here but one national park to visit is the Namib-Naukluft, which is the largest on the continent.
Another Namibian national park not to miss is Etosha. Find yourself a good vantage point along the Etosha Pan and watch the vast variety of animals that come to drink. There are several antelope species, elephants, giraffes, rhinos, lions and cute little warthogs.
Less visited but by no means less spectacular is Damaraland. This is a place of rocky, almost lunar landscapes. There are many surprises here, including the ancient rock paintings of Twyfelfontein and Brandberg, the rock formation known as Vingerklip and a petrified forest. It's not as desolate as you may think either. Local community organizations offer trips to go track rhinos and elephants.
Two other fascinating northern regions are Kaokoland and the Caprivi Strip. The former is near the Kunene River, which forms the border with Angola, and is home to the fascinating Himba people. Game is plentiful here too and you might even see cheetah. The Caprivi Strip is lush and greener than the rest of the country due to the Kavango and Kwando Rivers. From here the Okavango Delta in neighboring Botswana is within easy reach too.
Finding a safari package to suit your budget and needs is easy. One option is to book once you've landed at the airport in Windhoek. However, you can also book through travel agents or online. Many packages are all-inclusive.
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