The Boundless Wildlife of Namibia

You’ll begin your holiday in the nation's capital Windhoek, a cultural hub of Namibia. Wander a city steeped in monumental European history. Swing by the Katutura Township and take a bike tour among a community that hosts daily markets. At the Old Fortress, take in the sight of a striking monument known as Reiterdenkmal. End a day immersed in culture at Joe’s Beerhouse, an eclectic place full of German and African memorabilia.

Begin your day early on a desert safari where vultures swoop overhead and hartebeest feed from the culms of vegetated dunes. Whether you choose to move by foot, hot air balloon, or truck, the sight of mountains, gravel plains and the mysterious fairy circles of the NamibRand Nature Reserve will exhilarate you in this contrasting land. Be sure to look up at night and take in the stunning sight of a skyline full of glistening stars.

Drive to a coastal city by the Atlantic Ocean. Swakopmund represents a strong sense of Namibia’s colonial history. But it’s the lighthouse found by an ocean where waves crash against the sand that will take your breath away. If you’re looking for adventure, why not sandboard a towering sand dune? Back in town, take a breather and walk through a tunnel at an underwater aquarium. End a day with a glass of Chardonnay and sumptuous shellfish.

If bouldering takes your fancy, then you’ll want to visit Erongo Mountains, a mineral-rich volcanic range. A day spent hiking this mountainous region rewards with climbing opportunities, bird watching, and mammal sightings that include the warthog, springbok, and if lucky, a cheetah. Still not enough? Well, perhaps take in some rock art that dates to the Neolithic times and be wowed by the stone carvings they represent.

Next up on your African holiday is a place of dramatic landscapes that range from red-rock mountains to white trees that grow through the cracks. Damaraland invites you to scale Brandberg Mountain and investigate the “The White Lady,” a bushmen rock painting that dates two thousand years. Visit Twyfelfontein to experience a Living Museum and learn of the Damara people’s traditions that includes an interactive program of canoeing, kraai, and hunting. Wildlife sightings, of course, are a given.

Drive inland towards Etosha National Park and ready yourself for wildlife sightings that can include the elusive black rhinoceros. With over 100 species of animals and a whopping 400 bird species, it’s handy to have your camera fully charged on entry after a morning safari. Look across desiccated crater soil towards salt pans that host pink flamingo when in season. As night falls to blanket the sky in stars, make camp on this crater-like soil next to a fire, and take it all in.

Spend your last day in Namibia soaking in more spectacular nature at Okonjima Nature Reserve. Get up close to lions, leopards and the pangolin on a safari game drive. Learn of the tracking that takes place for conservationists to gather research. End with a dip in a pool at a luxurious safari lodge and then a spicy African meal at sunset, one that’s packed full of Namibian flavour.