THINGS TO DO:
Brandberg Mountains -- The highest mountain in Namibia at 2 573 m.
Etosha National Park -- Etosha National Park is the 2nd largest of Namibia's game reserves (after Namib-Naukluft Park, Africa's largest and the worlds 4th largest nature reserve). It spans 20,000km˛ in Northern Namibia. Wildlife that can be seen here include: Rhinos, Lions, Zebra, Gemsbok, Springbok, Wildebeest, Elephants, and Jackals. The park surrounds the Etosha salt pan, which attracts animals, particularly in the drier winter months, because it is a source of water in a very dry land.
Kolmanskop -- Kolmanskop is a ghost town in Namibia. Founded in 1908, it was a major settlement for diamond miners until richer ore and alluvial deposits were found near Oranjemund. The last settler left in 1956, giving the town over to the sand dunes that have crept in and started to take over the town. It is one of Namibia's premier ghost towns.
Waterberg Plateau Park -- Waterberg Plateau Park is located on the Waterberg Plateau in Northern Namibia. The nearest major city is Otjiwarongo about 68 kilometers to the west of the park, by conventional roads. The park is 40,549 hectares in area.
Sossusvlei -- Sossusvlei is a common tourist destination in the southern part of the Namib Desert, Namibia. The word "vlei" is an Afrikaans word that means "marsh" and Sossusvlei is in a small valley between the dunes which sometimes gets snow! The name of the 'town' (i.e. petrol station) is Sesriem, also the name of a nearby canyon.
- Watch the sunrise This sounds like a see activity, but is actually very much a do thing. Climb dune 45 (or any other) in the dark and then watch the sunrise in the world's oldest desert.
- Hike in the Namib Hike from the end of the tarred road in to Sossusvlei. Get some nice close contact with dried mud flats, dunes, and the odd animal. Don't get lost.
Skeleton Coast -- Namibia's Skeleton Coast was once and is still a synonym for the horrors a sailsman could face when his ship sank. All along the coast are the bodies of ships and there are many stories of sailors dying or only escaping the desert by accident. Spitzkoppe -- the Matterhorn of Namibia.
- West coast tourist recreation area. This area stretches from outside of Swakopmund in the south up to the Ugab River and for approximately 50km inland.
- The Skeleton Coast National Park has its southern boundary at the Ugab river and stretches northward to the Namibian border with Angola.
Fish River Canyon--The Fish River Canyon (Afrikaans: Visrivier Afgronde) in Namibias South is one of the worlds largest Canyons and one of Namibias most recognised Natural Wonders. For more than 160 km the Fish River, Namibias longest river, washed into the ground up to 550 meters deep and up to 27 km wide. The Fish River has its source in the Eastern Naukluft Mountains and in Richtersfeld flows into the Orange River, after travelling for more 650 km through the desert of Southern Namibia. In its lower part (between Seeheim and Ai-Ais) it crosses a mountain range and thereby forms the Fish River Canyon. Today nearly all of the Canyon is preserved by Nature Reserves: In the South where the deepest part is located by the Ai-Ais / Richtersveld Transfrontier Park, in the North by private Nature Reserves such as the Canyon Nature Park or Vogelstrausskluft.
- Fish River Canyon Trail: Though a very tough trail, the Fish River Canyon Trail is one of the most popular hikes in Southern Africa. It is an 85 km hike from Hobas to Ai-Ais. Beware that temperatures of 40C are not uncommon on the trail.
- One- or Two-Day Trips inside the Canyon: Vogelstrausskluft offers one or two-day excusions into the Canyon and to several Viewpoints.
- Scenic flights from several vantage points
Spitzkoppe -- The Spitzkoppe rises majestically out of the surrounding plains and is visible from great distances away. The Groot Spitzkoppe is considered to be a 'inselberg' (island mountain, alike the Monument Valley mountains). Do climb around the magnificent rock formations. Enjoy the dassies playing on the rocky surfaces.
Opuwo & Kaokoland--Home to the Himba tribe, desert elephants, Epupa waterfalls and many more attractions in this north-western corner of Namibia. Walk around one of the most interesting towns in Africa and experience it's diverse people. Buy some cultural ornaments from the street markets and support the local economy. Drive to Epupa waterfalls (180km north) or a nearby traditional village.
|