Take a trip to Namibia. Here’s why
No other country begins to compare. Its moniker ‘Africa for beginners’ does it no justice. It’s hard to think of another country anywhere in the world that can match Namibia, landscape for landscape, and that’s just for starters.
I cannot even compute ’55 million years ago’, which is how long the experts tell us the particles of Namibian sand, in shades of gold and rust and saffron, have been sifting over each other. I’m referring to the world-famous Namib desert, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and it’s just one of the highlights of this truly extraordinary country. So when you spend time in Namibia please make sure that a trip to the Namib desert is non-negotiable. The name Namib, of Nama origin, can be translated as ‘vast place’, so perhaps you are beginning to form a picture in your head of what the Namib desert looks like. The Namib Desert itself has boundaries that stretch for over 30,000 metres from the Forbidden Territories in the south to the north’s Skeleton Coast, so it’s a near certainty that you will not get to really explore it’, but there’s at least Dune 45 to challenge yourself, the most accessible (which, of course, is a relative term) of the dunes in the Namib Naukluft National Park.
When you eventually spend time in Namibia, you will discover a place where you can completely disconnect from your world, and learn, experience and explore a part of the world that, truly, is like none other.
Namibia for beginners
1. Set aside half a day to climb Dune 45, Sossusvlei
Experts suggest climbing the dune early in the morning when it’s cooler. You will need plenty of water and the usual suspects: sunscreen and loose-fitting clothes. This activity is best avoided if you are not very fit or have any heart conditions or other serious medical conditions; climbing the dunes has been likened to chasing the sun. When you conquer this challenge, you will be rewarded with the most breath-taking view of the horizon. See if you can spot an oryx (you’ll spot their magnificent spear-like horns first); marvel at the vastness of the desert with its rippling, rust coloured oceans of sand; look out for an ostrich or two along the horizon.
2. Unleash your adrenalin in Swakopmund, Namibia
Some refer to Swakopmund, the largest coastal city in Namibia, west of Windhoek, as Namibia’s ‘adventure playground’, and for good reason. Here, you can take part in a host of adrenalin-fuelled activities, from sandboarding the dunes (or motorbike on them) to camel riding to skydiving. There are also myriad unusual birds and plants to beguile even the most wildlife-indifferent visitor.
3. Visit Swakopmund’s colonial landmarks
Not to be missed are the Swakopmund Lighthouse and the old sea wall (Mole). Be sure to visit the Swakopmund Museum, too, which chronicles Namibia’s history. Swakopmund itself is an exhibition of German colonial architecture.
4. Treat yourself to a quintessential African safari
Enjoy watching the Mountain Zebra desert lions, desert elephants, rhinos and much more besides, courtesy of one of Africa’s most respected tour operators, Across Africa Tours. You will get to experience the extraordinary Etosha National park – at Etosha, a network of waterholes dotted amongst the bush and grasslands attracts huge congregations of animals – the dazzling Kalahari Desert and the mesmerising Fish River Canyon Park, the second-largest in the world. When you visit Namibia one of the first things you will notice is its unique landscape – and you will get to experience its many contradictions – a photographer’s nirvana.
When to visit Namibia
The best time to spend time in this extraordinary country is between May and September. You’ll find the temperature less oppressive during this period, although it can get very cold at night. Avoid the months between November and April, which is Namibia’s rainy season.
How to visit Namibia
Due to the limited availability of flights to Namibia, you are left with just a few options, of which the most popular is to travel to Johannesburg, South Africa, and then taking a connecting flight to Chief Hosea Kutako International Airport.
Where to stay in Namibia
Note that Namibia is not a cheap destination, and you can expect prices to be on par with those in the UK. One-of-a-kind places to stay include the Wolwedans, if you want to take in the majesty of the Namibian landscape; the Nambwa Tented Lodge, if you want to be right at the heart of Namibia’s wildlife; the quirky Canyon Roadhouse; and the Fish River Lodge.
