Situated between the Kalahari and the chilly South Atlantic, Namibia has deserts, seascapes, bushwalking, and boundlessness. Blessed with rich natural resources, a solid modern infrastructure and diverse traditional cultures, it is a beautiful country of vast potential.

Etosha National Park	Etosha National Park The Etosha Pan was once a shallow lake, which was filled by a river that long ago changed its course. The pan is now a salt desert, with several water holes used by wildlife. Namibia's premier wildlife reserve, Etosha is a semi-arid savannah grassland and thorn scrub expanse, surrounding a calcrete pan. Etosha Pan is "the place of dry water." It is transformed for a brief period each rainy season, only to return to a sea of mirages during the notoriously dry winter months. Large herds of elephant, zebras, giraffes and black rhinos congregate at water holes.
Baobab Tree	Kalahari Desert Derived from the Tswana word kgalagadi, meaning the great thirst, the Kalahari Desert is an arid region in southwestern Botswana and eastern Namibia. The desert surface is generally covered with red soil and low-growing grasses and brush. Heavy rains cause pools of water to form in the region's extensive mud flats. The Kalahari is inhabited by the Khoikhoi and San peoples.
Namib Desert	Namib Desert The world’s oldest desert extends along the coast of Namibia, reaching inland 60 to 100 miles. The Benguela Current carries icy Atlantic Ocean water to the African coast, helping to cool the desert. The collision of cold water with warm air creates a dense fog that causes a navigational hazard, known as the Skeleton Coast, to ships at sea. Some parts of the Namib Desert are spectacularly scenic. Sossusvlei is legendary for its huge orange and coral-colored sand dunes. Karakul sheep are raised in the south, where the Namib Desert merges with the Kalahari.
Himba Woman	The Kaokoveld The Kaokoveld is a rugged region of dramatic and spectacular landscapes. Often inaccessible by conventional sedan vechicles, the Kaokaveld is best explored by organised safari. Semi-desert and remote, it is well worth the effort to explore this fascinating region.
Sossusvlei	Sossusvlei The world’s highest sand dunes are said to be at Sossusvlei in the Namib-Naukluft National Park. In hues of orange, buttermilk, pumpkin and sienna, they are a spectacular and much-photographed sight. A Sossusvlei safari into Dead Vlei to see the ancient fossilised trees is possible via "pegged routes." The nearby Sesriem Canyon, although small, is also worth a visit.
The Skeleton Coast	The Skeleton Coast The Skeleton Coast was so named because of all the shipwrecks along this rough stretch of coast. Those that survived the shipwreck crawled to shore only to discover that they had arrived at one of the driest places on earth, and then died of thirst. Although a fascination region to visit, The Skeleton Coast is not the most accessible.

From classic tented camps, to mobile safaris, to luxurious lodges, Namibia offers a wide range of accommodations.

Sossusvlei Mountain Lodge	Sossusvlei Mountain Lodge Sossusvlei Mountain Lodge, in the northern foothills of the NamibRand Nature Reserve, is the perfect place to bask in a state of spiritual solitude. NamibRand is a world of vast space, far horizons, stunning desert landscapes and jagged mountain heights. In the cool of morning and evening, the resident naturalist will take you in 4WD open vehicles to explore the open grass plains and orange sand dunes, home to a unique gathering of wildlife, including Hartmann's zebra, Grant's golden mole, oryx, spotted hyena, African wildcat and the ubiquitous springbok. Sossusvlei Mountain Lodge is your retreat from which to explore this rolling sea of sand. From dawn to dusk, it's an ever-changing landscape of light and shadows.
Wolwedans Dunes Lodge	Wolwedans Dunes Lodge Wolwedans Dunes Lodge is superbly situated in the heart of the NamibRand Nature Reserve, on top of one of the dunes, and within easy access of Sossusvlei in the Namib Desert. Each of its eight spacious chalets has a verandah, with a private uninterrupted view. The extraordinary attraction of NamibRand is the phenomenal diversity of desert life and landscapes. Visitors can experience NamibRand's unique desert habitat by road, on foot, or in hot air balloons. Four-wheel drive vehicles are also available.
Impalila Island Lodge	Impalila Island Lodge Nxabega Safari Camp is situated in Namibia's Okavango Delta, on the western border of Moremi Game Reserve. The Okavango Delta is one of the planet's most extraordinary wild places. Nxabega means "Place of the Giraffe" in the language of the river bushmen, the Bayei. Near the end of the rainy season, a host of wildlife is drawn to the perennial, crystal-clear water. Sable, giraffe, zebra, buffalo, lion and elephant drift through the Kalahari woodlands. Nxabega has excellent wildlife viewing opportunities all year round. The camp offers a unique combination of poling in a mokoro (dugout canoe) and boating, with guided wilderness walks and wildlife viewing on evening game drives. Lion and hyena are routinely seen in camp at night, and birding is exceptional.
Susuwe Island Lodge	Susuwe Island Lodge Susuwe Island Lodge is located in Bwabwata National Park (in northeastern Namibia), on an island in the Kwando River. The lodge skillfully incorporates the riverine forest, and overlooks the lily-studded wetlands, endless savannahs and ancient Kalahari woodlands. The entire area abounds with an endless variety of birdlife. Relaxation, privacy and comfort are paramount here. Guests can view wildlife on interpretive walks, by small boat, or on elegant picnics.
Mowani Mountain Camp	Mowani Mountain Camp Mowani Mountain Camp lies in an area of astounding beauty in the heart of Damaraland between the Ugab and Huab rivers. Discreetly built high-up among massive red granite boulders, the Lodge provides unsurpassed views over the vast unspoiled wilderness with magnificent desert scenery, unique flora and fauna and fascinating geological formations and archaeological sites.

Namibia has several ethnic groups, including the Ovambo, the Kavango, the Herero, and the San. Cave paintings that may be more than 25,000 years old attest to the presence of hunter-gatherer groups in Namibia. The earliest identifiable inhabitants are the San, who were in the area by the 1st century AD. The Ovambo and Herero arrived much later.

Ovambo	Ovambo The Bantu-speaking Ovambo migrated from Central Africa in the 17th century, settling in an area that today includes northern Namibia and southern Angola. They lived in small villages. Extended families raised cattle and cultivated millet, sorghum, and beans. The Ovambo are closely related to the Kavango, and possibly to the Herero. Highly productive farmland, a flourishing metal-working industry, and trade in salt, copper, and iron ore have brought prosperity to the Ovambo. Many Ovambo men earn their livelihoods as mine laborers, while women continue to farm the land. They represent over half of the population in Namibia. Men wear overalls to protect their clothing, and often wear hats.
Herero	Herero The Herero now call themselves Ovaherero, and are thought to have arrived in Namibia during the 16th century. They migrated with other Bantu-speaking people, from the area around Lake Victoria. Some of these migrants settled in the northern Kaokoveld, and became known as the Himba. The nomadic Himba place great cultural and economic value on cattle. Cattle herds are an important measure of wealth. Many Herero/Himba feel they are discriminated against by the Ovambo-dominated government. They constitute around 7 percent of the Namibian population.
Kavango	Kavango The Kavango are descendants of Ovambo, who split from that society during the 17th century, and settled in the floodplain and on the islands of the Okavango River. Known as Kavangoland, this area has high seasonal rainfall. The river's silt deposits make the soil rich and arable. The riverine environment supports a variety of hardwood, nut, and fruit tree species. Papyrus, which grows in black water pools, produces leaves that are used for mats and thatch. The Kavango comprise fewer than 10 percent of the total population, and they are materially poor.
San (Bushmen)	San (Bushmen) The San people live mainly in the Kalahari Desert of Namibia and Namibia. They are also known as the Khoisan, and speak a language characterized by clicking sounds. The San continue to live as hunter-gatherers and are organized into small groups of about ten families. Women gather wild plants and fruit, which provide most of the nourishment. Men supplement the diet by killing animals with light bows and poison-tipped arrows. The San are skilled painters, and engrave pictures on the walls of their caves. They have lived in southern Africa for thousands of years. Many have recently begun working as farm laborers. As a result, their cultural heritage has been altered.

In the 1980’s Namibia created an innovative solution to the problem of poaching. People from rural communities were employed to scout for poachers. By making the preservation of wildlife important to the livelihood of rural people, without significantly disrupting their traditional way of life, the program has made wildlife conservation more effective, benefiting the country’s rural inhabitants. Wildlife populations rebounded, and ecotourism expanded. Wildlife includes buffalo, elephant, lion, leopard, cheetahs, impala and ostrich. Efforts are underway to reintroduce the endangered black rhinoceros.

Vegetable Ivory Palm	Flooded Grasslands and Savannas The Okavango Delta, and associated flooded grasslands and savanna habitats, are among the most important biological sites in Africa. Besides a rich diversity of birds, this region supports significant populations of large mammals, such as the African elephant.
Thornicroft's Giraffe	Tropical and Subtropical Grasslands, Savannas, and Shrublands This habitat features diversity of large mammal populations that make up the well-known savanna fauna. Much of the region remains sparsely settled and the resulting human population pressures are minimal.
Jackass Penguin	Temperate Upwelling The warm waters along the Indian Ocean coast of South Africa harbor a mix of mangroves, vast offshore coral reefs, and sea grass beds, which provide food resources and habitat for seabird colonies and five species of nesting sea turtles. The Atlantic Ocean coast of South Africa is home to abundant populations of fish, seabirds and marine mammals, as well as important migratory bird populations in coastal lagoons and bays.
Namib-Karoo	Xeric Shrublands and Deserts This habitat features the semi-desert vegetation of the Nama, Karoo, Namib and Kaokoveld deserts. These zones support 5,000 plant species, including the highest diversity of succulent plants in the world. Poor land management has resulted in the conversion of semi-desert land for cultivation, and also for ostrich, goat, cattle, and sheep ranching.

• How do I get to Namibia?
  
  
  Namibia is easily accessible by scheduled flights from Johannesburg and Cape Town (South Africa) to Windhoek or Walvis Bay. Scheduled flights from Maun (Botswana) and Victoria Falls (Zimbabwe) to Windhoek are also available. Regular flights also operate between Windhoek or Walvis Bay and Swakopmund/ Windhoek and Etosha.
  
  
• What types of wildlife will I see?
  
  
  Namibia's spectacular deserts and wilderness reserves boast a fascinating array of desert-adapted wildlife, including rhino and elephant in the Kalahari and Namib. Spotted hyena, cheetah, jackal, Cape and bat-eared foxes, aardwolf, African wildcat, springbok and Hartmann's zebra, ostrich, baboon, Grant's golden mole and oryx (gemsbok) can be seen. Namibia also offers superb birding, including the coastal areas.
  
  
• What should I wear?
  
  
  You will require comfortable, casual and semi-casual clothes for your safari to Namibia. Please note that bright colors are not suitable for game-viewing. It is best to have some warm clothing for early-morning and evening game-drives, especially in winter.
  
  
• How safe is Namibia?
  
  
  Your safety is of paramount importance, and even though Namibia is a safe destination, it is wise to take certain standard security precautions. Please carry a record of your passport number, airline tickets and travelers cheques, and ensure that these items are kept in a safe place. Make use of your hotel safety deposit box for expensive items and never leave baggage or personal items unattended, especially at airports.
  
  
• What kind of medical precautions do I need to take?
  
  
  Please consult your physician or health department for the latest health precautions and anti-malaria precautions when traveling north of Windhoek.
  
  
• Which is the best time to visit Namibia?
  
  
  Namibia enjoys sunshine virtually every day of the year, and you can expect hot summers (October - April) and pleasant winters (May - September) in this arid climate. Daytime summer temperatures can rise to 104ºF and drop to around 68ºF at night. Winter days are sunny and mild to warm with temperatures of about 77ºF, which may drop to as low as 41ºF at night. The coastal region is cool and dry throughout the year. Best birding: summer (November - April); best botanical months: Dec - May; peak season: July - October.
  
  
• When is the rainy season?
  
  
  It rains in summer during the first quarter of the year, but overcast and rainy days are few and far between. From February to March, average rainfall varies from less than 2 inches along the coast to 13 inches in the central and 27 inches in the far north eastern regions. No rain is experienced during the winter months.
  
  

Africa Guide
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