For part 2 of our journey through Namibia, we’re travelling to Damaraland, the Skeleton Coast and Etosha National Park. (read part 1)
A country of vast, dramatic landscapes, Namibia offers a totally unique experience that is at times either adventurous or spiritual – but always wholly rewarding.
There is no better place to observe social distancing than in the isolation offered by the wide-open spaces of the Namib Desert
Damaraland and the Kaokoland
The Damaraland and Kaokoland regions are arid yet dramatic and are home to various desert adapted wildlife and the tall, slender Himba people, who rub their bodies with red ochre and fat to protect their skins against the harsh climate. It’s a harsh, hot and dry part of the world but fear not, there are many great desert lodges and luxury camps to choose from and you do not have to rough it at all. Wildlife encounters are rare, but you may be lucky enough to see giraffe, mountain zebras, some antelope and the rare desert adapted elephants or black rhinos. Brandberg in Damaraland, is home to thousands of ancient rock paintings and Twyfelfontein, further north, has a massive open-air ancient art gallery carved into the red rock by the ancient Bushmen. One of the more unusual attractions is the Petrified Forest, which dates back millions of years and offers a haunting site of gigantic fossilized trees, some up to 100feet in length.
Huge, untamed and ruggedly beautiful, Damaraland is an exceptionally scenic landscape featuring open plains, ancient valleys and spectacular rock formations.
The Skeleton Coast
The Skeleton Coast National Park covers one third of Namibia’s northern shore. The landscape ranges from windswept dunes to rugged canyons, extensive mountain ranges and a coastline with forgotten shipwrecks, best viewed by air, especially the northern sector. The beautiful Shipwreck lodge is located in the Skeleton Coast National Park and the remote Serra Cafema lies at the remote, very edge of the northern part of the Skeleton coast.
Thousands of miles of sandy desert dotted with shipwrecks meet with the cold waters of the Atlantic and somehow an amazing array of wildlife and flora manages to survive in this harsh but beautiful environment.
Etosha National Park
Etosha is home to a variety of wildlife and the vast, shallow, shimmering Etosha pan. During the dry season, thousands of animals seek the life giving water at the waterholes and makes for spectacular and unique sights. After the heavy rains of the rainy season, the salt pan transforms into a beautiful lake, attracting large flocks of flamingoes. Accommodation ranges from rest camps inside the park, to private reserves adjacent to the park, such as Ongava or Etosha Heights private reserve, home to Etosha Mountain lodge, Safari House and Safari lodge.
The perennial springs along the edges of the Etosha Pan draw large concentrations of wildlife and birds and offer plenty of great spots to just sit and watch.
Off The Beaten Track travel comes naturally in Namibia. If you’ve got more time there is so much more to explore. second time , one could add on the Caprivi strip, wedged between Botswana, Zambia, Zimbabwe and Angola, and attracts an incredible concentration of game due to the wetlands and perennial rivers of the area. While other unique and remote areas of Namibia includes Kolmanskop (known as the Ghost Diamond Town ) near Luderitz, which is completely deserted and covered in sand or the adventurous Fish River Canyon.
It’s a fact that Namibia is the most in-demand destination for repeat travellers to Southern Africa – there is so much to discover!
Let’s start planning your Namibian itinerary!
NOTE: The COVID-19 situation is evolving rapidly, thus protocols and regulations are subject to change. We have the latest information and ammendments at our fingertips.
Read our Blog – Namibia, Land of Endless Space…