AFRICAN SAFARIS :: ADVENTURE TRAVEL
:: GOLF :: BEACH :: ISLAND :: VACATIONS
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Namibia
is a country with vast diversities in its landscape, wildlife
and people, together creating a unique wilderness experience,
eco travel and adventure destination. |
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| Namibia
is a combination of large
uninhabited open spaces,
ship-wreck strewn beaches,
colorful people, ancient
desert dunes and the wildlife
that roam this beautiful
arid region. Traditions,
customs and architecture
are as diverse as the
mixing bowl of nations
that have governed it,
known until recently as
South West Africa.
The
Namib desert is considered
to be one of the oldest
deserts in the world.
With its harsh landscapes
and climate, it is remarkable
to find that a number
of wildlife species have
adapted and thrived here;
desert elephant, lion,
herds of antelope, black
rhino in Etosha national
park and of course the
little guys – lizard,
snakes and insects, highly
adapted to the desert
eco systems.
Birdlife
is surprisingly well represented
with flamingoes making
up a large percentage
of the water birds but
endangered species such
as the chestnut banded
plover also congregate
here.
Download our Namibia
brochure…
(PDF File size: 750 kb)
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Namib-Naukluft
National Park
Brushing the Atlantic Ocean to the south
is the Namib-Nauklut National Park.
True to the contrasting landscapes of
Namibia, it is an adventure wilderness
of purple hued mountains and towering
apricot colored sand dunes. This region
of the Namib is believed to be the oldest
desert known to man. The older the sand
dune the brighter it’s color due
to slow iron oxidation and a zillion
tiny fragments of garnets. Sandwich
lagoon, an estuarine lagoon and wetland,
emerges as a surprise from the desert
landscape. Protected from the Atlantic,
this important part of the desert eco
system supports 200,000 birds drawn
to the mudflats. |
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The Skeleton
Coast
Namibia’s Skeleton Coast owes
its name to the many ship wrecks strewn
along its remote shores, icons to the
battle between man and the ocean with
its dense coastal fogs. Large whale
skeletons lie scattered on desolate
beaches, evidence of their offshore
migrations to and from the whale breeding
grounds. Access to the Skeleton Coast
is limited to 4x4 vehicles and light
aircraft. Fly in safaris provide the
easier way to reach the northern part
of this unique 80,000 square mile (2-million
hectare) park, providing a bird's eye
view of the spectacular desert landscapes.
Gigantic dunes give way to open plains,
rugged canyons, mountain ranges filled
with multi-colored volcanic rock and
beaches scattered with colored pebbles
of lava, granite and agate. |
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The Himba
people of Namibia
The Himba people of this beautiful and
often colorful desert live a short distance
inland from the harsh Atlantic coastline.
As with the wildlife, they have learnt
to adapt to their harsh environment.
They compliment their surroundings by
dressing themselves in goat skins and
jewelry fashioned from leather, metal
and shells. They cover their bodies
in ochre mud mixed with animal fat,
turning their skin into a rich chocolate
brown. |
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Etosha
National Park
East and inland of the Skeleton Coast,
Etosha National Park’s vast salt
pans, savanna and woodlands provide
host to a diverse variety of wildlife
including Africa’s Big 5 and a
breeding ground for flamingos flourishing
around the salt pans. In the rainy season
from January through March the pan fills
with water and it is not uncommon to
see a herd of fifty elephant walking
straight down the road. Green feeding
grounds abound with animals giving birth. |
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Damaraland
Damaraland lies south of Etosha offering
up petrified forests, ancient valleys
and the massive Brandberg Mountains.
Many prehistoric rock paintings have
been found in the caves and ravines
of Brandberg (translation - Burnt Mountain).
One of the better known rock paintings
is that of the “White Lady”
of Brandberg. She was named by the surveyor
who found her in 1917 but remained in
obscurity until around 1948. Most recent
investigations suggest however that
she may not be a lady after all. Whatever
wildlife is seen in this region must
be treasured as a special moment since
migration is dependent on the availability
of food and water. With increased conservation
efforts numbers of the highly endangered
black rhino have almost doubled in this
area since 1985. Even lion and cheetah
move into the area when springbok and
oryx are resident. This is remarkable
since this area has no official conservation
status. |
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Eco Travel
Destination
Visitors are attracted to this region
by its pristine desert wilderness, remote
and rugged shores, ghostly shipwrecks,
extraordinary geological landscapes,
4x4 exploration across fields of dunes,
comfortable camping under desert stars
and proximity to exotic people and wildlife
eco safaris. Dunes magically change
color with the rise and fall of the
sun, providing a kaleidoscope of interest
to the wildlife photographer. A lizard
buries its body in the sand for protection
from the scorching sun as desert elephants,
giraffe and antelope meander for miles
in search of water. Lion and black rhino
are found in small numbers due to heavy
poaching but conservation efforts aided
by revenue brought in through wildlife
tours have saved them from extinction. |
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more about the Skeleton Coast... |
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