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Namibia is
a country of epic proportions with four distinct natural environments:
the barren sand dunes of the Namib Desert which runs the length of the
country’s coastline; the semi-arid mountainous plateau of the country’s
central interior; the low-lying north-east and south-east, which run
into Botswana’s Kalahari Desert and South Africa’s Karoo; and in the far
north, the shimmering expanse of the Etosha Pan. A visit to Namibia is
more about the scenery rather than animal-spotting - there is nowhere
else on earth that quite compares with its rugged grandeur...
Caprivi
(north east):
Set in the Mudumu National Park, where
dry mopane woodlands are in complete contrast to the beautiful Kwando
wetland ecosystem, the birdlife is phenomenal with over 400 species.
There is also excellent viewing of savannah species including buffalo,
zebra and waterbuck. Elephant and hippo are abundant and predators such
as lion, leopard and wild dog are occasionally seen.
Etosha (north):
Etosha National Park is Namibia’s
premier wildlife destination and one of Africa’s largest game parks.
Wildlife teems around the waterholes and the endless plains offer
breath-taking vistas. Elephant (seasonal), springbok, black rhino, kudu
and hartebeest can be seen at numerous waterholes and fringing habitats,
as well as apex predators like lion, leopard, cheetah and hyena.
Namib
Desert & Skeleton Coast (west):
Early
morning fog, generated by the icy Atlantic Ocean meeting the warm desert
air of the Skeleton Coast drifts inland, providing precious water to the
flora and fauna which have adapted superbly to this harsh environment.
This area is home to desert-adapted elephants as well as Hartman’s
mountain zebra, giraffe, gemsbok, springbok, cheetah and hyena.
Sossusvlei (south west):
Sossusvlei itself means “the gathering
place of water” in the local Nama language, and in good years seasonal
rains in the foothills of the Naukluft and Tsaris Mountains succeed in
reaching the vleis, creating temporary lakes that mirror the sand dunes
surrounding them. The dunes rise up to 300 metres above the valley floor
with razor-sharp edges that stand out against the blue sky. Its huge red
dunes and flat valley floors make up the archetypical view of the Namib
that is world famous. Desert-adapted wildlife such as ostrich, springbok
and gemsbok eke out an existence and are sparsely distributed here. |
