Pack the 4×4 and head off on a self drive in Namibia, where you are sure to find adventure, and you may just find yourself.
Namibia is a land of endless horizons. Sky scraping dunes crash into jagged coastline. Joyful music rings over the Savannah. Adventure is at every turn.The people of Namibia invite you to share their country and explore the rugged, natural, soulful, liberating place they call home.The ruggedness of the Namibian landscape has obviously done nothing to deter both flora and fauna from adapting and thriving. Here, the very act of survival can sometimes be an art. The shear abundance and variety of wildlife of all sizes is staggering.
NAMIBIAS WILDLIFE
Namibians are committed to living side by side with wildlife, including predators and large mammals. Namibia is the only country in the world where large numbers of rare and endangered wildlife are translocated from national parks to open communal land. This commitment to protecting wildlife is especially important given the country’s remarkable diversity of species and high level of endemism. Namibia is home to approximately 4,350 species and subspecies of vascular plants, of which 17% are endemic. Six hundred and seventy-six bird species have been recorded, of which over 90 are endemic to Southern Africa and 13 to Namibia. Furthermore, 217 species of mammals are found in Namibia, 26 of which are endemic, including unique desert-dwelling rhino and elephants. This high level of endemism gives Namibia’s conservation of biodiversity a global significance.
NAMIBIAS COAST
Red dunes, vast plains and rugged mountains make up the serene landscape between the inhospitable Namib Desert and the escarpment of the interior plateau. The majority of this region is occupied by the Namib-Naukluft Park, totaling 50,000 square km and home to both Sossusvlei and Deadvlei. With warm tints of apricot, orange, red and maroon, these dunes offer abstract beauty unseen anywhere else in the world.Further north, Swakopmund & Walvis Bay both possess a resort town atmosphere attracting both tourists and locals, offering plenty of opportunities to play in the surrounding dunes and ocean. The Skeleton Coast offers a mix of desolate beauty and one of the remotest places on the planet.
DAMARALAND AND KAOKAVELD
Enormous, wild and stunningly beautiful, this part of Namibia is perfect for adventure seekers and nature lovers. The Damaraland terrain is made up of grasslands and open plains, dotted with granite koppies and cavernous gorges, with ancient rivers snaking over the land. The west of the region is made up of sandy plains that are home to a fascinating array of wild species that have adapted in order to thrive in this harsh environment. These include black rhino, desert-adapted elephant, ostrich, giraffe and springbok. Guests to the region will undoubtedly delight in the sight of desert elephants moving across the plains in search of food and water: journeys which can reach up to 70km a day. Guests can also experience the thrill of tracking black rhino on foot.
ETOSHA NATIONAL PARK
Etosha is one of the most unique safari destinations to visit in Africa. Its main feature is a huge salt pan- so large that it is visible from space. Smaller pans can be found adjoining it- providing a base for a blend of predator life, plains game and spectacular birdlife. Etosha is also home to the Big 5. A number of luxury camps can be found in the park, providing accommodation and offering activities such as guided game drives and walks. Guests can also explore the park on self-drive safaris. atmosphere attracting both tourists and locals, offering plenty of opportunities to play in the surrounding dunes and ocean.
START PLANNING
There is no better way to explore Namibia than by the ultimate road trip in your own vehicle at a leisurely pace over a 2-3 week period. With a well-developed gravel road network you can get about the country in either your own vehicle or by hiring a specifically fitted out 4×4 rental. The Safari Index puts together a recommended tour route (which can be adjusted to fit your interests and budget requirements) that best explores this country. We arrange your vehicle hire (if needed) and all the accommodation along the way as well as detailed maps and directions for getting from point A – B. Although vast, driving 4-5 hours every 3-4 days allows you to absorb much of what Namibia has to offer. The tours can start from South Africa (Johannesburg or Cape Town) or from within Namibia itself by flying in and out of its capital, Windhoek.
ACCOMMODATION OPTIONS
There are a vast range of accommodation options throughout Namibia. Many campsites are of a good quality such as Sossus Oasis Camp. Self catering like Desert Quiver Camp or Desert Camp and lodges with meals and game drives included such as Sossusvlei Lodge, Ongava Lodge and Anderssons Camp. Or splash out and indulge in a super luxury lodge like Serra Cafema Camp, Damaraland Camp and Desert Rhino Camp.
ADVENTURE AWAITS
Land, air and water-based adventures include quad biking, hot air ballooning, 4×4 trails, hiking, birding, skydiving, kayaking, windsurfing and kite boarding along the coast. The adventures don’t stop there. Enjoy star gazing and guided safaris at the lodges or sand boarding on the dunes. Get introduced to indigenous people whose cultures are unrecognizable to most of the world, eating mushrooms as they emerge from termite mounds, being mesmerized by ancient rock art work at Twyfelfontein, Namibia’s only World Heritage Site, and taking time to listen to the silence are amongst the adventures of the mind, body and soul awaiting you in Namibia.
