MyAfrica More off-the-beaten-track you can hardly get. Namibia is a land of large open spaces. With a population density of 2.9 persons per km², the second lowest in the world, Namibia is the place to go to get away from it all.
The second largest canyon in the world, the Fish River Canyon, set in the 6th biggest desert in the world, the Kalahari Desert, contrasts sharply with the lush green of the Caprivi Strip. The highest fixed dunes in the world, best explored in the Sossusvlei, contrasts starkly to the flat salt pans of the Etosha National Park. Namibia offers extremes and everything in-between. If you think that Namibia is just endless desert, you will be pleasantly surprised to know that large areas are lush and green and the central plateau is covered in savannah grasses. The Waterberg, Erongo, Damaraland & Kaokaland areas are mountainous and give way in the far north to the perennial Kunene River. The famous Okavango River also spends a short while flowing though Namibia.
Namibia offers some of the world’s most unique experiences. The Twyfelfontein area has the most concentrated collection of rock art in Africa. Kaokaland and northern Damaraland are home to the unique desert adapted Rhino and Elephant. There are few things more surreal than seeing these huge mammals trekking through the hot, desert wastelands, silhouetted against huge bare mountains. It begs the question of what they eat and how they survive.
The coastline of Namibia is known as the Skeleton Coast due to the largest number of wrecked ships that lay buried in its sands. Often shrouded in morning mist, the Skeleton Coast is both forbidding and mysterious. Walking along its shores will make you feel like the only person on the planet. The coastline of Namibia is long, but as the cold Benguela current runs along its length, Namibia is not a beach destination. The water is cold and thus unpleasant to swim in. The Benguela current is rich in food for aquatic life making it a great destination for deep-sea fishing and even shore fishing is very rewarding.
Desert horses, towns taken over by the desert sands, authentic Bushmen and Himba cultural interactions, adventure activities, scenic flights, hot air ballooning, boating, birding, mokoro trips and walking are just some of the experiences Namibia has to offer in addition to your traditional wildlife safaris. Namibia has the highest number of the endangered Cheetah and has many wildlife reserves where the unique wildlife of Africa can be savoured.
