Namibia
Safaris to Namibia
Namibia is one of the world's least densely populated countries and a land of dramatic geographical contrasts which offers the most heart stopping scenery! The long west coast, washed by the cold Atlantic currents, consists of the spectacular Namib Desert which contains the world's highest sand dunes. The Namib runs northward to the barren, hostile, but completely stunning Skeleton Coast.
The wonderful flying safari run by the Schoeman family allows one a very privileged glimpse of the Skeleton Coast. This is a region otherwise hard to really visit (there is one permanent camp there) and the Schoemans fly between three mobile camps, usually starting with areas of Damaraland, the Burnt Mountain (a petrified forest) and the starkly beautiful sand-bed formations of the seasonal Ugab river. Their journey continues onto the Skeleton Coast via the seal colony at Cape Frio where wooden planks and other wreckage lie in the vicinity bearing silent testimony to the fate of ancient (and modern) vessels in the swirling ists of this wild, rugged and utterly unforgiving coastline. It is not all flying, parts of the day are spent exploring the sand dunes in a Land Rover and visiting the local Himba people as well as magnificent rock formations.
The final camp on the Skeleton Coast safari is on the border of Angola overlooking the Kunene River where there is great contrast; a strip of lush vegetation on the one hand and barren, endless sand dunes and fantastic mountain formations on the other, with glimpses of game en route. This is utterly spectacular.
There is substantial geographical variation in Namibia: the forests, waterways and greenery of the north-eastern Caprivi Strip, rugged mountains, the dunescapes of the coast and the flatter south. In this often arid landscape many of Namibia's animals, whilst obviously not prolific due to lack of water and sustenance, are unique and include desert-adapted elephants, Hartmann's zebra and lion that take their prey from the sea.It is important to emphasise that the reasons for visiting Namibia are the outstanding landscape, cultural aspects (especially surrounding the Himba and ova-Himba tribes) and to spend time in the desert wilderness. The most incredible regions of Namibia are the Namib Desert in the south, the Kaokoland / Damaraland region in the north west and the Caprivi Strip, which runs west/east along the northeast of the country and borders Angola, Botswana and Zambia.
On our Namibian safaris, one might stay at a tented camp where the owner is a geologist who will describe carbon dating methods and tectonic plate movement and then perhaps, for a complete change, move on to tracking black rhino on foot with the rangers of the Save The Rhino foundation - an exhilarating and rewarding experience! One might culminate a stay in Namibia on the Kunene River in the very north, quad biking along the immense sand dunes, or immersing oneself in Himba culture. The Caprivi, often overlooked, is also a fitting finale to a holiday in this glorious country. There are some wonderful camps on the Caprivi strip and it really does offer such a contrast to the desert scenery. Nearer Windhoek, Namibia's capital, one can visit the AfriCat Foundation which works to keep Namibia's cheetah, leopard and wild dog populations from becoming extinct. Namibia is one country where hot air ballooning at dawn is awe inspiring, drifting alongside the dunes of the mighty Namib desert as they change hue in the rising dawn light. Star-gazing and astronomy is also absolutely superb in Namibia. This is a very special country and completely different from the rest of sub-Saharan Africa.
However, one of the more adventurous ways to really explore Namibia is on a privately guided 4x4 safari; having a fully equipped vehicle and private guide to oneself allows ultimate flexibility. To really explore the more remote regions such as the Kaokoveld (the combination of Damaraland and Kaokoland) this is really the only alternative to flying and the only way to properly see and cover this remote region. We arrange private guided 4x4 safaris in the Kaokoveld (or any area where there are very few camps or lodges) especially oriented for those who want to experience the last true African wildernesses. On these safaris some nights are spent "wild camping". Here a basic, but quite comfortable, camp (dome tents large enough to stand in, with long drop loos and bucket showers) is erected for you each night in the wilderness. This is very special indeed but, as it is an adventure, we always suggest ending a 4x4 safari with an indulgence; perhaps a luxurious lodge on the Kunene River, the Caprivi Strip, Etosha the Namib Desert or the Waterberg Mountains.
We can also offer safaris to Namibia which leave on pre-arranged dates (very small group "set departures") which include a variety of luxury mobile camping and lodges, these are very reasonably priced. Finally it is easily possible to self-drive the main routes in Namibia as the more travelled roads (both tar and gravel) are, by and large, reasonably well maintained. One could self-drive around Windhoek and the coastal centre of Swakopmund as well as to Sossusvlei, Twyfelfontein (site of superb, ancient, rock art), Okonjima and Etosha but one must, if choosing this option, be prepared for long distances and considerable mileage on dirt roads; not for everyone!
