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Namibia Map
Please roll over the individual regions for a quick introduction,or click on them for a detailed exploration of what they offer
Caprivi
Caprivi is the only region in Namibia that shares its borders with four other countries and is surrounded by four perennial rivers – Chobe, Kwando, Linyanti and the Zambezi. Riverine forests with vast wetlands attract over 600 species of bird, and 4 of the Big 5 in four National Parks.
When to go
- A tar road runs down the Caprivi strip making it accessible year round and is of particular interest to birders in the summer months from Nov – Dec
- Self drivers combining Namibia and Botswana can cross between the countries and tar roads make this possible year round
- The drier winter months mean large concentrations of game are more accessible
What to do
Swakopmund & Walvis Bay
Swakopmund is a popular seaside resort with a Bavarian atmosphere, many tourist attractions and a lovely climate. Just south of Swakopmund, the special attraction of Walvis Bay is the huge natural lagoon with its abundance of seabirds. 120,000 birds were counted recently in the lagoon, including innumerable flamingos and pelicans and each year they are joined by some 200,000 migratory birds.
When to go
- Both towns enjoy year round sunshine and little rain, but summer is definitely the best time to visit as in winter there is always a mist and cooling Atlantic breeze
- Walvis Bay is a birdwatcher's paradise but in summer the many migrants that arrive make this even more spectacular
- September and October are the best time to see the rare Damara Tern which return to the coast to breed
- Nov – Dec is the breeding season at the Cape Cross seal colony where at its peak, 200,000 individuals can be seen
What to do
- Dolphin and bird cruises depart regularly from Walvis Bay and full day Sandwich Harbour cruises with Oyster lunches are a highlight
- Sea kayaking, catamaran cruises, quad biking, sand boarding, sky diving, fishing and horse riding
- Living desert and Cape Cross seal colony tours and a whole selection of escorted birdwatching options are available
Sossusvlei & Namib Rand
The Namib Desert is the world's oldest and at the heart of it is Sossusvlei; a huge clay pan, enclosed by giant sand dunes. Some of the spectacular hills of sand stand at a height of 300m, the highest in the world, which have developed over millions of years.
When to go
- In the winter months, the enormous clay pan, flanked by the famous sand dunes stand out starkly against the blue sky and flush red in the early morning sun
- After summer rains, the desert explodes into a riot of colour as from nowhere grasses and shrubs appear and ancient, dry riverbeds flow with water until the sun evaporates the last drops into the sand
- As part of a fly-in or self-drive itinerary, and if time permits, stopping in 2 places really enhances the journey
What to do
- Sunrise visits when the dunes are at their most spectacular
- Afternoon nature drives and walks through the private reserves in the area
- Horse riding and eco-sensitive quad biking
- Hot air balloon and scenic flights
Etosha National Park
Etosha National Park is one of Southern Africa's finest and most important National Parks covering an area of 22,270 sq km. The Park is home to 114 mammal species including the Big 5, 340 bird species, 110 reptile species and 16 amphibians
When to go
- The dry winter months means the game never goes far from the permanent water holes that are dotted across the park and in the rest camps
- Sumer months from Dec – Mar, the game is more dispersed but after rains the pan attracts thousands of wading birds including flamingos and the park is transformed into lush grasslands making game viewing more difficult but more rewarding
- A good network of tar roads mean it is accessible to self-drive visitors year round
What to do
- Self-drive visitors will find the excitement of finding the Big 5 and the multitude of other game found here themselves the most fulfilling experience
- Some of the most productive water holes in Africa are found at the 3 guest houses and as they are floodlit, game viewing continues well beyond sunset
- A series of superb private game reserves can be found adjacent to Etosha where fly-in guests and self-drive visitors are able to combine game viewing inside the Park with night game drives and bush walks outside
- One the best places in Africa to see black and white rhino
The South
Southern Namibia is dominated by the southern Namib and Kalahari Deserts, the seaside town of Luderitz, the coastal diamond concessions and the Fish River Canyon. With virtually no rainfall, unique plants like the quiver tree, halfmens or resurrection plant have adapted to this habitat which is also the home to Springbok, Oryx and Ostrich.
When to go
- Due to the heat of summer, Fish River Canyon hiking trails close and only reopen in May when the heat has subsided
- With little rainfall and bright sunny days the area can be visited all year round, but due to the lack of schedule services, this must be done by self-drive, escorted tour or private charter
- Even though it can get very hot in summer, deserts can drop to zero in the middle of the night
What to do
- Bagatelle Kalahari Game Reserve is a fascinating wildlife sanctuary in the southern Kalahari and Cheetah sanctuary
- Full day or multi day hiking options along the Fish River Canyon can be arranged
- The Quiver Tree Forest is a well-known tourist attraction of southern Namibia. It comprises about 250 specimens of Aloe dichotoma, a species of aloe that is also locally known as "quiver tree"
Windhoek & Surrounds
Windhoek is the starting point for most visitors and definitely worth a visit. The architecture is a mix of new and old Bavarian style buildings. The Central Highlands incorporate the Waterberg Plateau and Erongo Wilderness areas, along with private game reserves and the world famous Africat Foundation.
When to go
- Windhoek is a pleasant city that can be visited year round, although it does enjoy more summer rainfall that much of Namibia
- The Central Highlands are very much about wilderness and walking, and this is much more comfortable in the cooler winter months
- The Africat Foundation is open year round and is more than worth a visit on any itinerary
What to do
- Enjoy the cultural melting pot that is Windhoek, a warm and welcoming city, and a great introduction to the country
- Hiking and birdwatching in the Highlands is a must for lovers of the great outdoors and star filled night skies
- The Africat Foundation at Okonjima incorporates a private game reserve. Africat runs the largest cheetah and leopard rescue-and-release programme in the world – in the last 18 years 1,060 of these predators were rescued. Over 85% were released back into the wild. Those who weren't are now resident on the reserve, creating exceptional opportunities to photograph big cats up close
Skeleton Coast
The Skeleton Coast shoreline is dotted with bleached whalebones and other skeletal remains, as well as a host of shipwrecks. It is a wild, desolate environment, yet it supports a host of incredible adapted wildlife, in an area of absolute remoteness
When to go
- As there is so little rainfall along the coast, any time of year is equally good
- Temperatures can be high in the day but drop dramatically at night
- Due to its remoteness and lack of facilities, the Skeleton Coast can only be visited as part of an organised air safari. Self-drive is not feasible and even mobile safaris are not allowed inside the Park or concessions
What to do
- Full day excursions into the concession to see:-
- Strikingly beautiful topography and phenomenal diversity – littered with bleached whalebones and shipwreck debris
- Freshwater springs and morning coastal fog off the Atlantic Ocean sustain a surprising amount of life despite the general aridity, including predators such the reclusive brown hyaena and unique desert-adapted lion
- Inland water seeps attract gemsbok, springbok, giraffe, elephant and Hartmann's mountain zebra
Bushmanland
In Namibia, along the border with Botswana, is an area known as Bushmanland, which encompasses the Khaudum National Park and the Kalahari to the south. Here are scattered, small villages where the San Bushmen live their traditional lives.
When to go
- This is a year round destination but after the summer rains the area is so remote that access is only possible by light aircraft and Khaudum can become inaccessible
- For the more adventurous, Khaudum is remote even by Namibian standards and only accessible by 4x4 in the dry winter months
What to do
- Experience authentic daily life with the San bushmen, hunting and gathering as they have for thousands of years. This is not a show for the benefit of tourists
- Khaudum holds large herds of elephants, African wild dog, lion, leopard, buffalo and rare species of antelope. Only accessible by 4x4, this is for the more intrepid visitor seeking solitude or can be visited as a day safari from Nhoma
Kunene and Damaraland
The Kunene & Damaraland regions of Namibia cover a vast swathe of desert, making up much of north-west Namibia. Remarkably these seemingly inhabitable surroundings are home to superbly adapted wildlife that has evolved over time to survive in this arid environment, including herds of nomadic elephant and black rhino.
When to go
- The drier winter months Apr – Dec mean that the wildlife can't go too far from the few permanent lifelines of water that remain, so game viewing is generally better
- After rains, the game can move seasonally but this can still be a good time if the right camps are picked
- Summer rains transform this barren desert into a temporary oasis of colour
What to do
- Open vehicle game drives in search of elusive desert adapted wildlife including elephant, black rhino, cheetah, brown hyena, gemsbok and more
- Track black rhino on foot with Save The Rhino researchers
- Marvel at the largest collection of San Bushman rock art in Africa
- Star gazing and mountain biking
Namibia
Namibia is immense even by African standards, but it's what occupies this seemingly endless amount of space that makes it unique. Namibia is filled with rugged, beautiful landscapes creating an otherworldly environment in which an amazing wealth of wildlife has adapted and thrived.
When to go
- A year round destination; in the cooler winter months there is no rain and days are clear and sunny
- The summer months from Dec – Mar could see rainfall in certain areas which can make driving difficult, but visitors can be rewarded when the desert blooms and ancient dry river beds flow
- Day time temperatures are always warm, but in winter temperatures plummet in the desert
What to do
- Watch the colours and shadows create illusions over mile after mile of some of the highest sand dunes in the world
- Track desert-adapted elephant and the largest population of free roaming black rhino in Africa
- Explore the eerie Skeleton Coast, littered with ship wrecks and home to an unbelievable wealth of wildlife
- Hike the Fish River Canyon, the second largest in the world
- See the Big 5 in the famous Etosha National Park and its neighbouring game reserves
Go Beyond…
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0161 789 8838
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