NAMIBIA: Deserts and savannah

Namibia is a fascinating country where large spaces leave you speechless and where the sense of freedom is contagious; the immensity of the Namib Desert, the animals and safaris in the Etosha National Park, the majesty of the Fish River Canyon are the highlights of this trip.

A 12-day trip to Namibia allows you to grasp the essence of this beautiful African country.

Namibia is a mostly desert country; in fact, here is the Namib Desert, the oldest desert in the world that occupies a large part of the country’s territory; the tall orange dunes lie along the coast and plunge into the cold Atlantic Ocean.

The rest of the country is also semi-desert and is part of the Great Kalahari basin.

The Etosha National Park, in Northern Namibia, contains a large dried up salt lake and a portion of savannah where animals are concentrated and where safaris are carried out.

The trip also allows you to enjoy breathtaking views and travel along some of the most scenic roads on the continent; it will also take you to admire the majesty of the Fish River Canyon, the second largest canyon in the world after the Grand Canyon in the USA.

This itinerary also allows you to learn about the culture of the native populations of Namibia such as the San and their petroglyphs, as well as the cities and ancient settlements of the European colonizers, walking through the streets of Swakopmund is like diving into a corner of Bavaria.

Safari at the Etosha National Park in Namibia

The Etosha National Park is a wonderful and unique natural and protected area, the landscapes are spectacular and dominated by the immense expanse of the pan, the great dried up salt lake.

The park is home to numerous animal species, it is an unmissable destination for nature and animal lovers, safaris at the Etosha National Park always give great satisfaction, especially during the dry season, in the months from June to October, during which the animals are concentrated near the pools making sightings rather simple.

The “great white place”, as it is called in the local language, is a protected area that hosts lions, hyenas, leopards, zebras, rhinos, kudus, the endemic black-faced impalas and the “ghost elephants” called like this because they use the sand of the pan to protect their skin and then they turn white.

Swakopmund and the Skeleton Coast

Swakopmund is a wonderful historic town overlooking the Atlantic Ocean, with its sloping roofs and its decidedly German architecture giving it a particular atmosphere, it seems a bit like being in Bavaria and in fact there is no shortage of excellent breweries.

Not far from Swakopmund is Cape Cross, where you can see the largest colony of sea lions in the Southern hemisphere, an unforgettable experience; it is estimated that the sea lions present on the beach and in the waters of Cape Cross are a variable number between 80,000 and 100,000 specimens.

North of Swakopmund and Cape Cross is the infamous and feared Skeleton Coast, here there are several wrecks of ships, some rusty remains of some mysterious instrument and stretches of sand; not everyone decides to go into this extreme and inhospitable territory, but it is possible to spot the wreck of Zeila before arriving at the Spectral gate of the Skeleton Coast.

Exploring the Namib Desert at Sossusvlei

The Namib Desert is the oldest desert in the world and a magical and indescribable place; here it is possible to admire the large orange sand dunes, such as the famous Dune 45, Dune 17 and above all the Big Daddy, the highest dune; it is possible to climb the dunes to enjoy indescribable views from the top. Also not to be missed is the visit of the vlei, especially the Deadvlei where the black skeletons of ancient trees stand out against the red of the dunes and the white of the salt of the dried up pools.

Visit to the Fish River Canyon

The Fish River Canyon is a wonder of nature, carved and shaped over millennia by the Fish River; admiring the majesty of this place, from the numerous vantage points, leaves you speechless.

The Fish River Canyon is the second largest canyon in the world, after the Grand Canyon, and, in addition to the views, it offers the opportunity to observe different animals that live both on the banks and on the bottom of the canyon.

Useful Info

The climate of Namibia is mostly desertic, especially along the coast, in the Southern part of the country and in the North-East, while it is sub-tropical in the North on the border with Angola and in the Caprivi Strip; however, there is a rainy season in the months from December to March, even if the rains are infrequent and are often short but intense showers.

The Namib Desert area receives very little rainfall while temperatures are regulated by the cold Benguela ocean current.

The best time to enjoy a trip to Namibia is from March until December.