Mysterious, lyrical and evocative, Namibia is where most of the nature and adventure love visit to take delight in its stark rough –hewn beauty. An ideal combination of spectacular deserts and forests and a diverse wildlife make this country rather popular with the travellers. Read on and learn about some of Namibia’s most incredible natural marvels!
Namib Desert
Often referred to as the world’s oldest desert, Namib Desert stretches along for more than 2,000 kilometres along the Atlantic coast of three countries. The desert impresses you with its red sand dunes that can reach amazing heights. It covers the entire western section of the country and also spreads beyond its borders and flows into the Northern Cape Province of South Africa as well as into the southern Angola. You can spot a variety of plants and animals here, some of which are found nowhere across the globe.
Sossusvlei
Surrounded by gigantic red sand dunes, Sossusvlei is a salt and clay pan situated in the southern part of Namib Desert. Tsauchab River flows through the desert, watering the vegetation that survives in the clay soil. The colour of the soil keeps changing constantly throughout the day, presenting scenic vistas day and night. Many tourists visit this salt and clay pan to take delight in the splendour of the landscape with ever-shifting colours and shapes.
Etosha National Park
Spanning an area of 22,270 square kilometres, Etosha National Park is centered on the vast Etosha salt pan in north-western Namibia. With an abundant wildlife congregating around the waterholes, this national reserve is easily accessible with guaranteed game sightings. Leopard, elephant, lion, cheetah, black and white rhino, brown and spotted hyena, zebra, caracal and antelope are the different animal species that can be spotted here. Besides, the national park is home to many rest camps providing ideal accommodation options, restaurants and viewing decks.
Fish River Canyon
The largest canyon in Africa, Fish River Canyon is among Namibia’s most visited tourist attractions, situated in the far south of the country. It takes almost five days to hike up to the canyon, which takes you through around 1.5 billion years of geological history. Moreover, there is a luxurious hot springs resort at the lower end of the canyon where tourists can experience the most exciting and fun-filled stay.
Swakopmund
The fourth largest city in Namibia, Swakopmund draws the attention of beach lovers with its exclusive range of sandy beaches overlooking the Atlantic Ocean. It also houses many beautiful German colonial buildings all around, making a dramatic contrast with the beaches and the Namib Desert at the edge of the town. Some of the major adventure activities offered here include horse riding, sand boarding and quad biking as well as dolphin cruises. Besides, Swakopmund Lighthouse and the Mole – an old sea wall are two of most prominent tourist spots to explore in Swakopmund.
