Namibia is located in southwest Africa. It is a large and mainly arid country sharing borders with Angola to the north, Botswana to the east, South Africa to the south and, in the Caprivi Strip, a narrow panhandle of Namibian territory jutting from the northeast corner of the country, with Zambia and Zimbabwe.  

To the west is 1280km (795 miles) of some of the most desolate and lonely coastline in the world. The port of Walvis Bay, situated roughly halfway down Namibia’s coast, was returned by South Africa to Namibian jurisdiction in February 1994.

Along its entire length, the vast shifting sand dunes of the Namib Desert spread inland for 80 to 130km (50 to 80 miles). In the interior, the escarpment of a north–south plateau slopes away to the east and north into the vast interior sand basin of the Kalahari. In the far northwest, the 66,000 sq km (25,500 sq miles) of the Kaokoland mountains run along the coast, while further inland lies the Etosha Pan (a dried-out saline lake), surrounded by grasslands and bush which support a large and varied wildlife. The Etosha National Park & Game Reserve is one of the finest in Africa, in that it remains, to a large extent, free of human influence.

GocheGanas

N/a'an ku sê

The almost 200-km-stretch of land, drawn with a ruler between the settlements of Divundu and Kongola, has been a nature conservation area since 1963. In 1999 the game reserve was renamed 'Bwabwata National Park'. This vast, flat area is largely covered by mixed forests and it has not really been opened up for tourism yet. Only on the eastern bank of the Okavango, in the vicinity of the Popa Falls, there is a communal camp site – which also happens to be the best place for capturing the rapids on film. In the south-eastern end of the park, a few kilometres from the village of Kongola, you can camp in the open at Horseshoe Bend. Getting there is quite an adventure, though, which should only be attempted by 4x4 drivers with considerable experience in wilderness tours.

Significant to it are the woodlands dominated by trees e.g. wild seringa, copalwood, Zambezi teak, wild teak, sanctuary to 35 small game species, elephant, roan, kudu, buffalo and 339 bird species.

Susuwe Island Lodge

In the eastern part of the park the road follows a river course. From your slightly elevated position you will ever so often enjoy fantastic views of the Okavango’s floodplains below. It is a picture of vast plains of grass and reeds, bordered by patches of shaggy palm trees or towering mighty Baobabs. In the west, on the other hand, the vegetation on the banks of the Mahango and Thinderevu omiramba is dominated by dense dry forest. You need a 4x4 to follow these subterranean river courses.

The Mahango Game Reserve is particularly known for its Elephant. You can also spot Buffalo or the shy Sitatunga and Lechwe. Similar riverine vegetation exists in very few other places in Namibia, as most of it has been destroyed by endeavours to till the land.

Divava Okavango Lodge & Spa

You can reach this easternmost corner of Namibia only in a roundabout way - it is the most wonderful experience. The boat which takes you across the Chobe River departs from Kasane in Botswana. Visitors to Impalila Island can join a tour of the river’s inlets in a mokoro, a dugout canoe; they can explore the island which is about 11 km long and 4 km wide, visit villages and their inhabitants or just enjoy the fishing.

Impalila Island Lodge

Ichingo River Lodge & the Ichobezi Safariboats

Chobe Area

Ntwala Island Lodge

One of the largest game reserves in Africa.

Significant to it is the Etosha Pan, the area that makes Etosha game viewing experience unique.

114 Mammals species are found, several are rare and endangered e.g. rhino, cheetah and black-faced impala.

Etosha's elephants are the largest in Africa. The tallest measure up to 4m. Blue wildebeest, zebra, hyena, lions, cheetah, leopard, giraffe, antelope species and about 340 bird species are also found in the area.

The area has about 30 springs and waterholes that provide excellent game viewing and photographic opportunities.

Visitors should approach and depart from waterholes slowly and with little noise so as not to disturb the game.

Epacha Game Lodge & Spa

Etosha Aoba Lodge

Mushara Bushcamp

Mushara Lodge

Mushara Outpost

Villa Mushara

Budget

Taleni Etosha Village

Kaokoland is one of the last remaining wilderness areas in Southern Africa. It is a world of incredible mountain scenery, a refuge for the rare desert dwelling elephant, black rhino and giraffe and the home of the Himba people. Although it is harsh and offers little respite at midday, the rugged landscape is especially attractive during the early morning and late afternoon when it is transformed into softly glowing pastel shades.

The topography in the south of the area is characterised by rugged mountains which are dissected by numerous watercourses, but north of the Hoarusib River the scenery is dominated by table-top koppies. Still further north, the Otjihipa Mountains rise abruptly above the Namib floor to form the eastern boundary of the Marienfluss, while the west of the valley is defined by the Hartmann Mountains. The Marienfluss valley is very scenic and relatively greener than the Hartmann's valley. Hartmann's valley is closer to the Atlantic and yet much more arid. However, it does have a strange atmosphere when the sea mists drift inland.

Grootberg Lodge

Okahirongo Elephant Lodge

North of Karibib and Usakos is one of Namibia's most popular tourist drawcards, the volcanic Erongo mountain range, of which the western peaks rise 2,320m above sea level. This roughly circular massif, dominates the flat plains west of Omaruru  and gives the Erongo region its name. The Erongo Mountains are flanked by the Namib Desert to the west and a mixed, woodland savannah to the east.

The mountain is an eroded relic of a volcano that was active some 140-150 million years ago. It collapsed in on its magma chamber, allowing the basin to fill with slow-cooling igneous material. The resulting hard granite-like core, that withstood the erosion, washed away the surrounding rock.

This rare confluence of ecosystems are home to a vast array of plant, reptile, mammal and bird species, some endemic to Namibia. Wildlife in the area includes leopard, cheetah, giraffe, elephant, rhino, blesbok, waterbuck, impala, warthog, wildebeest, kudu, oryx, eland, mountain zebra, springbok and steenbok. Amongst the nearly 200 varieties of bird species recorded here, include the yellow-billed hornbill, the colourful lilac breasted roller and crimson bou bou.

Apart from the fantastic scenery and flora and fauna, rock paintings are also a lure for visitors to the area. The most notable rock painting is the 'White Elephant' frieze in Phillip's Cave on the southern edge of the mountain. Situated on the farm Ameib, 30km from Usakos and 240km from Windhoek. 

Erindi Private Game Reserve

Erongo Wilderness Lodge

Embracing eastern Namibia and western Botswana, the Kalahari forms a large basin which stretches from north-eastern Namibia down to South Africa. Lines of parallel red dunes, usually with tufts of tall grass, are a characteristic feature. Due to underground water gnarled old acacias can often be found in the valleys between the dunes. As unbelievable as it may sound: this dry, inhospitable landscape is the habitat of many animal species. With a little luck you will encounter Springbok, Oryx and Ostrich. The further east you venture, the more probable it is to encounter predators as well.

Intu Afrika Private Game Reserve

The Namib-Naukluft National Park is an ecological preserve in the Namib Desert in Namibia, thought to be Earth’s oldest desert. The park is the largest game park in Africa, and a surprising collection of creatures survives in the hyper-arid region, including snakes, geckos, unusual insects, hyenas, gemsboks and jackals.

The winds that bring in the fog are also responsible for creating the park’s towering sand dunes, whose burnt orange color is a sign of their age. The orange color develops over time as iron in the sand is oxidized, like rusty metal; the older the dune, the brighter the color.

These dunes are the tallest in the world, in places rising more than 300 meters (almost 1000 feet) above the desert floor. The dunes taper off near the coast, and lagoons, wetlands and mudflats located along the shore attract hundreds of thousands of birds.

Desert Homestead

Budget

Desert Camp

KuanguKuangu

NamibRand, one of Southern Africa’s largest private nature reserves, originated as a dream of extending the desert frontiers through the integration of a large number of former sheep farms. The aim was to develop a sanctuary free of fences, so that the wildlife could once again roam their habitat unhindered.

Today NamibRand, which is located just south of Sossusvlei, is synonymous with some of Africa’s most breathtaking locations. The special attraction of the reserve is the diversity of desert landscapes.

Sossusvlei Desert Lodge

Wolwedans

The canyon of the Fish River is one of the main attractions in southern Namibia. Many call it the second largest canyon on earth and compare it to the Grand Canyon of the Colorado River in the US. Some argue that the Fish River Canyon is only the second largest in Africa, after the narrow valley of the Blue Nile. But neither comparison does justice to the Fish River Canyon which in its geological history and appearance clearly differs from the others. The main event in the formation of the gorges, which are up to 500 metres deep, was the break-up of the ancient continent of Gondwana about 130 million years ago, as a result of which the rim of the African landmass was lifted.

As is typical for Namibia, the Fish River is a seasonal river which only carries water after rainfalls in its catchment area. This occurs during a few weeks each year, usually between January and April, and in some years not at all. The famous canyon is located downriver. It cuts through a seemingly endless, stony semi-desert, dominated by shades of brown and beige which are only occasionally interrupted by green euphorbia or tall quiver trees.

Some 80 km of the canyon are accessible for visitors: the part between the Ai-Ais rest camp at the southern end and the main viewing point at Hobas in the north. Travelling between these points you will get a good grasp of the dimensions of the Fish River Canyon. The road along the eastern side of the canyon climbs several hills from which you can enjoy panoramic views of this magnificent landscape. The 80 km hiking trail through the Fish River gorge is regarded as one of the most beautiful in southern Africa. Four to five days are needed for the trail.

Fish River Lodge

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